WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER?

Posted on by Diana Deverell

Nine of us explore that question in the new issue of MYSTERY, CRIME, AND MAYHEM, available from February 15, 2025.

Not every crime is perfectly planned or executed. Sometimes, there’s a witness. Who wasn’t supposed to be there. At all.

Or are we seeing something not-quite-right about that bystander on the sidelines? Are they truly innocent?

These nine tales of crimes and those watching them will leave you guessing up to the last moment.

In my story, “Guilt Trip”, a female client hires security pro Bella Hinton to protect her when she speaks at a candlelight vigil in Washington, DC. The client will advocate for stricter gun controls and she insists that Bella carry no weapon on this job. A new challenge for gun-loving Bella! I had fun learning how she deals with it.

Come and have fun with INNOCENT BYSTANDERS, MCM issue 21, starting our sixth year. Available in ebook from most vendors and in paperback from Barnes & Noble.

Get your copy from the publisher or follow this universal link to buy from your favorite online bookseller.

 

 

 

 

JOLLY SEASON TREAT FROM DAWNA!

Posted on by Diana Deverell

Jolly is what we want to be during December and FBI Special Agent Dawna Shepherd is ready to help us get there.

From now through December 24th, her short mystery set during the holiday season is bargain-priced at less than a dollar. For only ninety-nine cents, you get “Boot Scoot: A Dawna Shepherd Short Story.”

Boot Scoot by Diana Deverell

Dawna Shepherd loves her family, working as an FBI Special Agent, and playing basketball.

She’s celebrating Christmas in her home town when a bounty hunter pursues her college student brother home from Lubbock.

Certain that Fugitive Team Leader Tommy O’Brien is chasing the wrong quarry, Dawna stops him cold at the Shepherd front door.

But she knows O’Brien won’t give up. And all her crime-fighter instincts are screaming that the bounty hunter is going to ruin this holiday for someone she loves.

Can law-abiding Dawna find a way to save Christmas?

“Boot Scoot” was a finalist for the 2003 Macavity Award for best mystery short story.

Click on the cover above or follow this universal link to your favorite online retailer to get your digital copy and let Dawna jolly up your season!

Give Yourself a Gift!

Posted on by Diana Deverell

Give yourself the gift of reading these 15 Christmas stories and investigate the mysterious side of the holiday. From detectives to elves, superheroes to bounty hunters, sheriffs to ghosts, explore these stories that delight and surprise! Click on the image to reach your favorite ebook vendor and pay only $2.99 for the whole bundle!

The mysterious side of Christmas
Give yourself a gift of 15 holiday mystery stories!