When a local historian is found dead, Norrie Ellington has to dig through the clues to prove the cause was not a centuries-old curse but coldblooded murder . . . It's rare that the summer solstice and a full moon fall on the same night, but winery manager Norrie Ellington is all too familiar with the curse that supposedly accompanies the event: the death by suffocation of someone in the area. She's inclined to write the whole thing off as folktale nonsense―until the president of the local historical society is found smothered on that very night. Local law enforcement aren't quite so superstitious, however, and they've pegged a close friend of Norrie's for the murder. Determined to discredit the curse and get her friend off the hook, Norrie begins digging into the background of the victim, only to discover that he had no shortage of enemies. And as evidence emerges of his questionable connections and shady dealings, Norrie follows a trail of clues...

Roanoke, Virginia, is home to some of the country’s most exquisite gardens, and it’s Camellia Harris’s job to promote them. But when a political fundraiser turns deadly, everyone’s a candidate for murder...Alyse Carlson is the author of the Garden Society Mysteries, including The Azalea Assault and The Begonia Bribe. Keeping Mum is the third in the series.Praise for *The Azalea Assault* “A very good first cozy mystery with an interesting cast of characters and a lovely setting. The Patricks’ gardens are described in such a way as to inspire gardeners and non-gardeners alike…The mystery is well laid out with plenty of clues and hidden secrets revealed along the way.”—The Mystery Reader “With a nod to the English Garden Mystery series by Anthony Eglin, the alpha Garden Society Mystery is a fun amateur sleuth starring a likable, caring heroine who relates in the third person her investigation while also providing a delightful tour of the city…Cozy fans and garden aficionados will enjoy Alyse Carlson’s entertaining opening act.”—The Mystery Gazette “Carlson has given her fledgling series a great start, with strong characters, good story sense, and sense of place, as well as a sly sense of humor that I hope will come even more to the forefront as the series progresses. The gardening is a great bonus, but as a reader, you’ll stay tuned for the mystery.”—AnnArbor.com “Fans of garden-variety, engaging amateur-sleuth cozies will want to read the alpha tale of what looks to be an entertaining series as Alyse Carlson plants an opening winner.”—Gumshoe Review

When the perennially cloudy skies of Cadbury unleash a torrential downpour, yarn retreat host Casey Feldstein watches in dismay as the streets surrounding Vista Del Mar become flooded and she and her retreat guests are trapped there. But the storm is the least of their worries when a man is found dead in his room, and the guests begin to speculate that he may have been murdered. With the police unable to reach them, Casey is forced to fill their soggy shoes and investigate.She's quick to discover evidence pointing to foul play, but with the guests growing restless and suspicious, it's everything Casey and the staff can do to keep them fed, distracted—and safe. Then another body is found, and as the weather finally begins to clear, Casey realizes she has to act fast before the killer makes a clean getaway. Because the culprit has tampered with the evidence and is tying up loose ends, and Casey fears she may be left high and dry—or drenched and dead . . .