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    Fatal Pickings: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #5
    Fatal Pickings: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #5
    Fatal Pickings: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #5
    Ebook81 pages1 hour

    Fatal Pickings: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #5

    By Maggie West

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    About this ebook

    When one of antique pickers Sherri Green and Carol O'Brien's best customers dies, they become suspicious. Was the cause of death really an accident? 

    After learning that Benedict Joslin's death likely was not an accident as originally thought, the pair begins digging around to find out who killed the old man.The problem is Benedict wasn't very well liked and the suspect list keeps getting longer.

    Fatal Pickings is a clean, short read perfect for lovers of cozy mysteries set in a small town that feature an amateur sleuth.

    Fatal Pickings is the fifth short book in the Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mysteries series, and is a complete mystery that you can read in an hour or two. As a clean read, it does NOT contain strong language or graphic violence. Just Sherri and her sidekick Carol. Oh and Sherri's husband Ralph and their sweet cat, Kitty Jo.

    Be sure to check out the rest of the books in the Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery series, Picked to Death, Cotton Picking Murder, Picked On, and Pick a Letter, for more small town fun and crime solving in the close-knit community of Paradise.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMaggie West
    Release dateFeb 16, 2017
    ISBN9781386720102
    Fatal Pickings: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #5

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      Book preview

      Fatal Pickings - Maggie West

      Our admiration of the antique

      is not the admiration of the old, but of the natural.

      ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

      Chapter 1

      ––––––––

      I can’t believe we’re really here. Carol O’Brien clutched the cream colored paper too tightly, crumpling it. She looked around at the foyer of the large home they’d just entered. Benedict Joslin is really dead.

      Sherri Green moved to one side to let an elderly couple pass. When they’d heard the news, she and Carol had decided it would be the right thing to do and were now at the memorial service of one of their best private customers. She looked at the photo on the front of her program a moment and wondered when the photo had been taken.

      Hey, look at this picture, Carol. It has to be at least twenty years old. I don’t remember him ever looking like this.

      Carol nodded and smirked. Well, we know Benedict was kind of vain.

      Sherri nodded and then opened the program she’d just picked up from the walnut table at the entryway to the large wood paneled foyer where they were standing. She breathed deeply and smelled lemon oil.

      Benedict Rupert Joslin

      1939 – 2017

      Memorial Service

      Opening Prayer:  Reverend Michael Beardall

      Hymn:  We’ll Be Together Again

      Remarks

      Closing Hymn:  How Great Thou Art

      Benediction:  Reverend Michael Beardall

      May Mr. Joslin find eternal peace.

      Sherri shook her head, and walked toward the large open room where at least thirty people were gathered. Even with all of the people mingling in the room—Was it a living room? A parlor? Sherri didn’t know—it didn’t feel crowded.

      Carol sidled up next to Sherri. Look at that. She nodded toward a large portrait on display in the center of the room. The easel holding a framed painting of Benedict Joslin stood at least six feet tall. Carol lowered her head and snickered but abruptly stopped when a young man in black slacks and crisp white shirt stopped next to them.

      Hors d’oeuvre, ma’am? The young man smiled and nodded at both Sherri and Carol. They each took a cocktail napkin from the tray then two small canapés each.

      Thanks! Carol said then stopped the young man by reaching for a stuffed mushroom from the tray. She popped it straight into her mouth before the young man had a chance to move on to other guests.

      Carol sure loves her food, Sherri thought as she smiled at her friend and picking partner. At least the food’s good. Carol nodded around her mouthful of food.

      Across the room a woman that Sherri had seen around Round Bottom at the grocery store a time or two nodded to her. Sherri didn’t know her name but smiled all the same. She then turned to Carol. It's hard to believe that anything could have killed that stubborn man.

      He was sure larger than life. Now he is in death, too. Carol directed her eyes at the large framed painting.

      Yes, he was and is! Sherri laughed taking in the oversized portrait. Like nothing could touch him. I guess obscene wealth like his can make you feel that way though.

      I wouldn’t know. Carol licked her fingers and looked around for the tray of food. It was nowhere to be found. But it doesn’t stop you from taking a tumble after you've had too much to drink. Carol lowered her voice as more people arrived for the memorial. She straightened and stood taller as several well-dressed people filed past them. Do you really think it's okay that we're here?

      Sherri laughed. Of course. He was one of our best private clients. I think it’s appropriate. I mean I don’t think Benedict would have minded our being here to help send him off. Sherri watched as the well-heeled population of Round Bottom and surrounding areas continued to file into the large ornate room. I think it’s good we’re here to pay our respects.

      Carol’s gaze returned to the home’s opulence. Or did you just want to come to get a good look at what’s going to be in the estate sale? Carol quirked an eyebrow as she took in the framed paintings on the walnut paneled walls, shiny vases and statues balanced on wooden pedestals and built-in shelves, and furniture that looked almost too fragile to sit on. Because frankly, Sher, I think this stuff might be out of our league. You know?

      Sherri surveyed the room. Never mind that, we're here now and that’s all that matters. Her gaze swept over a glass case against one wall. With a nod of

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