This month the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles will reach an even two dozen books in the series.
Twelve authors setting their stories in that idyllic Texas Hill Country town — where murder waits in the wings.
Before I go any further, you’ll probably want to pick up your pre-order copy of Courtin’ Disaster by Cindy Davis. It’s only 99¢ and you can get it on Amazon. I read a proof copy a while back and it is good.
Even though the Magnolia Bluff stories are all set in that little town nestled on the shore of Burnet Reservoir, being twelve authors, we actually have 12 mini-series rather than one big series.
I thought I’d give a quick breakdown of these mini-series so you can read them together if you so wish.
Graham Huston
Graham Huston features in two books by the late Caleb Pirtle III, the founder of the Underground Authors:
Eulogy in Black and White
Death in the Absence of Rain
Graham is the editor of the Magnolia Bluff Chronicle, the town newspaper, a position he inherited upon the murder of Neal Holland, the former editor.
I think these are the best books in the series. Written by a master craftsman of the written word. You don’t want to miss them.
Bliss Jager
Bliss is homeless by choice, but gets captured by Magnolia Bluff’s gravitational pull and can’t escape.
She’s the creation of Cindy Davis and I think the books are some of the funniest in the series.
You can read Bliss’s escapades in:
The Great Peanut Butter Conspiracy
When Bad Things Happen to Good Mice
Only the Good Die Young
Courtin’ Disaster
Father Lee/Father Frank
James Callan brings his Father Frank to Magnolia Bluff on vacation, where he solves a crime before it happens.
You Won’t Know How… Or When
JJ and Jo
Authors Breakfield and Burkey bring two characters from their Enigma series to Magnolia Bluff for some R & R. Of course, that’s not what they get.
The Flower Enigma
The Killer Enigma
Dr. Mike Kurelek
Richard Schwindt writes some of the best indie fiction being written.
His characters step out of the page every time you open the book. They are that real.
He infuses his stories with humor, suspense, and pathos. We relate to what he writes and the stories he tells because in the final analysis they are about us.
You can follow Dr. Mike’s adventures in
The Shine from the Girl in the Lake
Men Lying Dead in a Field
Caroline McCluskey
Every town of some size has a library and its head librarian, and so Magnolia Bluff has Caroline McCluskey.
Linda Pirtle has given us a charming, witty, and intelligent librarian sleuth. A worthy addition to the librarian sleuth sub-genre of mystery fiction.
Her books are funny, suspense-filled cozy mysteries, filled with a host of delightful characters, as well as a few villains. Check ‘em out.
The Dewey Decimal Dilemma
The Dog Gone Diamond Dilemma
Girlfriend Retreat… Cheaper Than Therapy
Madison Jackson
State Conservation Officer Madison Jackson leads anything but a quiet life in our town.
This mini-series by Kelly Marshall runs on high-octane suspense and plenty of thrills.
Justice
Bye Baby Bye
Blue Bonet
Jinx Schwartz brings us to the ultimate in cozy mystery delightfulness with the adventures of Blue Bonet.
Born and Bred Texan
Texas Summers are Murder
Maddy Dawson
KD McNiven introduces us to Deputy Detective Madeline (Maddy) Dawson.
Maddy is starting her career over in peaceful and quiet Magnolia Bluff. Little does she know that murder is waiting in the wings.
McNiven is known for her intense thrillers and she doesn’t disappoint.
Who Killed Lilly Paine?
Brandon Turner
Joe Congel writes top drawer fiction. I’ll read anything he writes. Why? Because it is just doggone good.
His characters are real people. They are cut from the cloth of life. They are your neighbors and co-workers.
Turner is an ex-NYC narcotics cop who chooses to early retire in Magnolia Bluff. He does so not by design but by chance. He literally puts his finger on the map and says, This is it. Little does he know he’s about to face murder once again.
Second Chances
Mike and Maureen Donovan
RC and JP Carter are new to the Underground Authors, but they aren’t new to writing. They’re the creators of the O’Rourke series of traditional mysteries with a contemporary vibe.
In their first offering in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles, they give us a paranormal mystery that is based on their own experience as paranormal investigators. It is one heck of a fun ride.
A Chance of a Ghost
Harry Thurgood and Rev. Ember Cole
I had the daunting task of writing the inaugural book of the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles. And I was nervous as all get out.
That I did okay can be seen in comments such as:
“A well-crafted whodunnit that keeps the reader guessing.”
“This book is awesome!”
“…a master storyteller…”
Harry and Ember are amateur sleuths not by choice. They are forced into sleuthing by MBPD Investigator Reece Sovern who arrests them for murder on more than one occasion.
Couple some romance with mystery and characters I love writing about and you get a top-notch read.
“This book has it all. I loved it.”
Death Wears A Crimson Hat
Ten Million Ways To Die
Who Mourns Elektra?
Read the books from 1 to 24, or read them randomly, or read them as mini-series. The Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles has something for everybody.
Pick them up on Amazon.
Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!
CW Hawes is a playwright; award-winning poet; and a fictioneer, with two bestselling novels. He’s also an armchair philosopher, political theorist, social commentator, and traveler. He loves a good cup of tea and agrees that everything’s better with pizza.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider buying me a cup of tea. Thanks! PayPal.me/CWHawes
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