“When writers as sharp as Margaret Maron, Earlene Fowler, and Jerrilyn Farmer all rave about a colleague as convincingly as they have about Denise Swanson . . . take notice."

—Chicago Tribune

Murder of a Chocolate-Covered Cherry

“Denise Swanson neatly seasons the cleverly crafted plot . . . with a generous dash of romance as Skye’s relationship with Scumble River’s police chief, Wally Boyd, continues to simmer neatly along.”

—Chicago Tribune

“The Scumble River mysteries are great fun. . . . Denise Swanson makes humorous writing appear effortless.”

—Mystery News

“Top-notch storytelling with truly unique and wonderful characters.”

—Crimespree Magazine

“[A] hilarious mystery.”

—The Pilot (North Carolina)

Murder of a Botoxed Blonde

“With its endearing hero, terrific cast of realistically quirky secondary characters, and generous soupçon of humor, Murder of a Botoxed Blonde . . . is a delight.”

—Chicago Tribune

“Tight plotting and plenty of surprises keep this series on my must-read list.”

—Crimespree Magazine

“This fast-paced cozy has it all.”

—Romantic Times

Murder of a Real Bad Boy

“Swanson is a born storyteller.”

—Crimespree Magazine

“Another knee-slapping adventure in Scumble River.”

—The Amplifier (KY)

“It’s no mystery why the first Scumble River novel was nominated for the prestigious Agatha Award. Denise Swanson knows small-town America, and she writes as if she might have been hiding behind a tree when some of the bodies were being buried. A delightful new series.”

—Margaret Maron

Murder of a Smart Cookie

“[Swanson] smartly spins on a solid plot and likable characters.”

—South Florida Sun-Sentinel

“[A] hilarious amateur sleuth mystery. . . . [Swanson] has a lot of surprises in store for the reader.”

—Midwest Book Review

Murder of a Pink Elephant

“The must-read book of the summer.”

—Butler County Post

(KY)

“One of my favorite series. I look forward to all my visits to Scumble River.”

—Crimespree Magazine

Murder of a Barbie and Ken

“Swanson continues her lively, light, and quite insightful look at small-town life . . . a solid plot [and] likable characters who never slide into caricature.”

—The Hartford Courant

“Another sidesplitting visit to Scumble River . . . filled with some of the quirkiest and most eccentric characters we ever have met, with a sharp, witty protagonist.”

—Butler County Post (KY)

Murder of a Snake in the Grass

“An endearing and realistic character . . . a fast-paced, enjoyable read.”

—The Herald News

“This book is delightful. . . . The characters are human and generous and worth following through the series.”

—Mysterious Women

“Swanson’s Scumble River mysteries are marvelous.”

—Jerrilyn Farmer

Murder of a Sleeping Beauty

“A smooth, pleasant, and ultimately satisfying book.”

—Chicago Tribune

“Another delightful and intriguing escapade.”

—Mystery News

Murder of a Sweet Old Lady

“More fun than the whirligig at the county fair and tastier than a corn dog.”

—The Charlotte Austin Review

“Swanson is on her way to the top of the genre . . . a magnificent tale written by a wonderful author.”

—Midwest Book Review

Murder of a Small-Town Honey

“Bounces along with gently wry humor and jaunty twists and turns. The quintessential amateur sleuth: bright, curious, and more than a little nervy.”

—Earlene Fowler, Edgar^® Award–winning author

“A lighthearted, entertaining mystery.”

—South Florida Sun-Sentinel

“A likable new heroine reminiscent of some of our favorite childhood detectives—with a little bit of an edge. . . . A fresh, delightful, and enjoyable first mystery.”

—The Charlotte Austin Review

“A charming, insightful debut.”

—Carolyn Hart

Other Scumble River Mysteries

Murder of a Chocolate-Covered Cherry

Murder of a Botoxed Blonde

Murder of a Real Bad Boy

Murder of a Smart Cookie

Murder of a Pink Elephant

Murder of a Barbie and Ken

Murder of a Snake in the Grass

Murder of a Sleeping Beauty

Murder of a Sweet Old Lady

Murder of a Small-Town Honey

Copyright © Denise Swanson Stybr, 2009

All rights reserved

In memory of Caroline Babcock