Dont Shoot The Messenger Bag by Wendy Kendall
About Author Wendy Kendall…
The result of Wendy Kendall’s passion for purses, mystery and romance is the intriguing In Purse-Suit Mysteries published by The Wild Rose Press. Kat Out of the Bag, also published by Harlequin, introduces Katherine Watson, purse designer/sleuth. As Katherine moves from designer bags to body bags, she’s uncovering clues to a murder. The exciting sequel is Don’t Shoot the Messenger Bag: It’s the perfect accessory to murder. The prequel, Purse-Stachio Makes A Splash delves into a chilling cold case. Finalist for Best Suspense at Killer Nashville, Snow Kiss Cookies To Die For creates a tangle of mystery and love, raising suspicions about a teacher’s romantic new sweetheart. A summer rom-com, Cherry Shakes In The Park blends danger, divas, and frothy delights. Ribbons of love run through the holiday book, Heart of Christmas Cookies and Dreams. Wendy enjoys investigating the Pacific Northwest life, and she leaves a trail of her own clues as a blogger, YouTube podcaster, speaker, teacher at Seattle’s Hugo House, and syndicated columnist.
Twitter – @wendywrites1
Instagram – wendyekendall
This is a spotlight on “Don’t Shoot The Messenger Bag” by Wendy Kendall
Don’t Shoot The Messenger BagBlurb
Where fashion sense meets criminal intent.
A romantic New Year’s Eve takes a dark turn. A college professor found dead in a field, and days later a local woman’s body is discovered. Who’s next?
To catch this killer, it will take a purse designer’s sharp eye for detail, her desire to help, and a handbag filled with savvy style. Fear invades the community of Bayside. Katherine dives into a mixed bag of secrets, lies, and corporate greed. Shocking discoveries surface. The investigation includes people in close relationships with the victims, and others eerily distant. The misplaced messenger bag taunts her with its hidden clue.
Packed with suspense, humor, and heart, this mystery keeps readers guessing to the end.
What Readers can expect fromDon’t Shoot The Messenger Bag…
This mystery is such an exciting sequel.
Katherine Watson’s romantic New Year’s Eve with Officer Jason Holmes ends with a police alert. Katherine’s son finds his College Professor dead. Put under police surveillance, Katherine must clear her son’s name. Then a woman’s body is discovered. Who’s next?
Department orders sideline Jason and his K-9 partner Hobbs. Tailed by her cat Purrada, Katherine hunts clues. Moonjava, Katherine’s hippie Mother offers meditations, advice, humor, good vibes, and protest marches as needed.
An attempt is made on Katherine’s life. Can she solve this mystery? Will she be alive for the Valentine’s Gala at her Purse Museum, with the opening of the 1960’s exhibit she created with Moonjava? Or has she reached the end of the line?
Don’t Shoot The Messenger BagPurchase Links
An excerpt fromDon’t Shoot The Messenger Bag…
“Tonight’s the night to risk it. The New Year’s Eve will keep the cops busy.” His words came with wisps of breath hanging on the crisp, cold air. The clear night sky enticed him. He went on with his familiar lecture, “No ridiculous law restricting flight to daylight hours should be enforced, especially in Seattle’s dead of winter.”
“I know.” Amber sighed and pulled her long, thick brown hair back over her shoulders. “Darkness dominates sixteen hours out of twenty-four.” Thankful for the day off from work at the Purse onality Museum gift shop, Amber had enjoyed a fun evening watching fireworks. She’d dressed in her customary tight-fitting jeans, tucked into her fluffy white, high ankle boots. Her lacy, baby blue blouse, her favorite color, stood out above the zipper of her winter jacket that casually fitted to her waist.
Nicky wore his ever present souvenir jacket from the aeronautics museum, adding warmth to his sweatshirt and jeans. He made an obvious move to check on Gladys across the street. Her house sat dark and silent. No sign of the old busybody sitting vigilant at her living room window, so no concern she’d shout complaints at him or call the police. Nicky prepared to launch off the balcony. He’d wanted to be a pilot ever since he could remember. Piloting his drone drew him closer to a someday dream.
Time for a reconnaissance night flight. Amber grinned, as she sensed Nicky’s excitement when the drone rose. The flashing red and green lights against the starry background intensified. He maneuvered the drone away from the house, dodged trees, and avoided the beach. She suspected he wanted to protect the coveted new camera from an accidental dive into the water. He steered toward the top of the street. Over the hill he’d be into the college campus, but he slowed it over the field instead. The drone’s LED lights floated over the ground. Nicky concentrated on the live feed. Amber peered over his shoulder, impressed by the screen’s clarity.
Amber jumped when a low voice boomed from the balcony threshold, “So, Nicky Mercurio celebrates New Year’s with his joystick.”
Nicky’s hold slipped. He adjusted the drone’s altitude and laughed. “Jealous?”
“Not tonight. Everyone’s partying down at the fire pit on the beach. I came back for a thicker jacket.” William waved at Amber. “Hey, Amber, I saw your man Michael in the kitchen. He says yes for the beach party, if you want to go. Interested?”
“Oh yeah.”
“Nicky, how about you?”
“I’m good.” Nicky grinned. “I’m getting in flying time while no one’s around.”
“Cool.” William leaned on the balcony rail and scanned the sky. “I don’t see it.”
Nicky pointed up the hill. “In the field. I saw something on the other side of that tree in the south corner of the lot.”
William paused. “Now I see the lights. Got the new camera working?”
Amber nodded. “With a video sharp and clear as cut glass.”
Nicky clicked through some options on the controller’s settings tab. “I’m switching to the new infrared.”
William laughed. “Sounds like geek time.”
“Check out this close up.” Nicky showed William the screen.
“Shoes? What’s next to them?” He pointed at the screen. “Can you zoom in?”
Nicky pulled the controller back again. “I’ll fly lower around the tree for a better angle.”
William squinted. “That’s a dude.”
Nicky went wide eyed. “He’s totally face down and passed out.”
Amber studied the screen. “Is he hurt? Should we go help him?”
William sighed. “He’ll wake up with a hangover, sorry he partied.”
Nicky flipped a switch and brought the drone lower. “My thermal readout shows cold.”
“I told you, man. It’s freezing tonight.” William zipped up his jacket.
Nicky groaned. “No, the guy’s body temperature. He only registers 91 degrees.”
Amber gasped. “What?”
William checked the readout. “That’s not normal.”
Nicky frowned. “Either my new thermal camera is broken, or the guy’s in big trouble.”
William’s grip on the railing tightened as he peered through the darkness. “Or he’s dead.”
