Willkommen to Poppy and Mary Ellen Deliver the Goods, book one of the Frankenmuth Murder Mysteries series!
Cover photo by Cyndi Major
When the Stanley family gathers in the number one tourist town in Michigan—Frankenmuth—the festive, fun town experiences its first murders. The solution, though, isn’t obvious since there are plenty of suspects to consider. Nieces? Nephews? A disgruntled caterer? A carriage driver? Someone else entirely? Or multiple killers with completely different motives?
The local police step into the investigation under the spotlight of the press, and the local private eyes, Mary Ellen and Poppy—known for finding lost dogs, catching errant husbands, and playing mah-jongg in coffee houses and the library—find themselves in new roles. They are hired by an out-of-state lawyer to find a missing heir, and the local police welcome their inside information to help bring a killer (or killers?) to justice.
Even Poppy’s Boston terrier, Babycakes, has a role in closing the case. How long will it be before tourists are enjoying their chicken dinners again without looking over their shoulders?
The Frankenmuth Murder Mysteries series means you won’t have to say goodbye to your favorite crime investigators, Poppy and Mary Ellen, police detectives C.J. and Ed, everyone’s favorite lawyer, Barney Mead, or even Babycakes and the dogs. What will those mah-jongg playing, coffee-drinking girls and their entourage deliver next? Book two, for one thing!
Praise for Poppy and Mary Ellen Deliver the Goods
“What a hoot it was to follow the adventures of Mary Ellen and Poppy, a couple of coffee klatch Columbos....and mah-jongg mavens, to boot—what's not to love? With a bizarre family reunion, some literal shaggy dog stories, and a gastronomical tour of charming Frankenmuth, you are sure to be fully entertained. I can't wait to read more adventures from this seemingly tranquil little tourist town!”
— Karen Gooen, internationally known mah-jongg expert and author of Searching for Bubbe Fischer: the Path to Mah Jongg Wisdom and Small World: A Mah Jongg Table Talk Tale
“I laughed out loud while trying to navigate the escapades of amateur supersleuths Mary Ellen and Poppy, as they found themselves smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation in an unlikely location. Where? A cozy tourist town where folks are better known for being hospitable and schmaltzy, serving great chicken dinners, and everyone knows everyone.”
—Mary Anne Ackerman, mayor of Frankenmuth
“The unbelievable news of two murders in two days has shocked this charming community. There are human characters who resemble people you know, and canines with all too familiar personalities. Who is the murderer, and what piece of evidence is the key to solving these crimes?”
—Kathleen King, retired English/Education professor, and board member and rescue mom for West Highland Terrier Rescue Michigan