Murder at the Zoo
An Agatha, Raymond, Sherlock and Me Mystery
by Marcia Rosen
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GENRE: Cozy Mystery
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BLURB:
A body is tossed into the lion’s habitat at the zoo where Miranda Scott is the senior vet. She and Detective Bryan Anderson join forces to unravel that mystery and several more murders. A fan since childhood of Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler, and Sherlock Holmes they seem to live in her head frequently telling her what to do…and not do. Murders, family, deceit, revenge and a gangster father and godfather often get in the way of a fine romance between Miranda and the Detective.
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EXCERPTS (Exclusive Excerpt):
While Miranda and Emma were on their way to the Rescue Center, Senator Matthew Graham was giving an impromptu press conference about the Zoo murders. His right hand man (better know as his left hand flunky) Carl Reed, a year older and years younger in behavior, was standing next to him.
Senator Graham and Carl Reed served each other’s egos and purposes. They met when Graham first got into politics years earlier. His climb from city councilman to state senator was built on a reputation of being someone who helped his community and his state. Much of what he accomplished was through back doors maneuvering and help from Reed. It was politics.
As soon as the Zoo’s Media Manger, Deidre Carter heard about the conference she called Emma to turn on the radio. “Two murders at the Zoo and where is the Senior Veterinarian and Curator? They’re off to play with a horse at the animal center miles out of town. It’s disgraceful.”
“He is such a jerk and trouble maker. I’ll respond when I get back.” Emma was livid.
Idiot Senator. Sherlock was pacing, he’s going to put you in danger.
It was late morning as they headed to the Center and Miranda noticed that the endless drought continued to take its toll on the landscape. They passed a dilapidated building once a popular bar, ranches, farmland with grazing cattle and a couple of small Indian casinos.
Still, the sun could be seen blazing on the distant mountains in Santa Fe and on the Sandia’s framing Albuquerque. ‘It always feels like this land hides so much mystery,” Emma said, watching the miles pass by, not wanting to think about the mess she would have later with the media.
Miranda drove into the Center, at the entrance there was a huge welcome sign made of light-colored wood, its name painted in colors of rust and orange and teal and yellow. The director was waiting to take her to the animal surgery building. The distraught owner was sitting on a bench outside the building.
Emma sat near the man, put her arm around him, telling him his horse was in good hands. Tears were streaming down his face and he was fearing the worse. “It was an accident, I never saw her. I never saw her!”
When Miranda came out to ask him a couple questions about the horse and the accident Emma stepped aside to call Deidre. “What is the fallout from senator jackass’s press conference?”
“At least half a dozen calls from the local media asking for your response. I told them you plan to have a statement later addressing the senators inflammatory and untrue remarks.” Deidre Carter was a pro at her job. She had been at it for over a dozen years.
“Thanks, we’ll be back by late afternoon.”
The huge gash she saw on the left side of a beautiful young horse was at least four inches long and two inches wide, her insides staring at Miranda as she put her to sleep. She was grateful it wasn’t on one of his legs forcing her to put the horse down.
Nearly two hours later, the rancher went over and hugged Miranda. She told him,“your horse is doing well but I want her to remain here until all her vital signs are stable. The Center staff will watch over her and call me to come back if there’s any serious change in her condition.”
They were soon going to be thanking him. Senator Graham’s press stunt inspired a few crazies. Getting in her van, she checked her phone messages, one of them from Fish, “Joseph said be very careful. The senator may have put you in danger.” Click. He certainly was a man of a few words!
As Miranda and Emma left the Center a pickup truck intentionally rammed into Miranda’s much smaller white van.
The voices had been silent during the ride to the Center, now at the hospital they seemed to all be talking at once.
Why is Joseph so worried? Agatha sound worried.
Sherlock adding, he must know something.
Sure he does. He knows Senator Graham and Reed are big troublemakers. Remember he knows them from a very long time ago. Even Raymond sounded worried.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Marcia Rosen (aka M. Glenda Rosen), award winning author of eleven books including The Senior Sleuths and Dying To Be Beautiful Mystery Series and The Gourmet Gangster: Mysteries and Menus (Menus by her son Jory Rosen). She is also author of The Woman’s Business Therapist and award winning My Memoir Workbook. For 25 years she was owner of a successful national marketing and public relations agency, Marcia has frequently been a speaker and/or program moderator at organization meetings and conferences, bookstores, libraries and Zoom Programs. Topics she has taught and presented over the past twenty years include: Encouraging the Writer Within You, Marketing for Authors, Writing Mysteries…Not A Mystery, Writing Your Memoir and recently “Anatomy of Writing A Murder.” Many articles on these topics have been published on mystery reader blogs and in newsletters and magazines including “Mystery Scene Magazine” and “Mystery Reader International Journal.”
She is a member of Sisters in Crime National and New Mexico (Croak & Dagger), Southwest Writers, New Mexico Book Association, Women Writing the West, Public Safety Writer’s Association, and National Association of Independent Writers and Editors—for which she is also a board member. www.MarciaRosen.com
“Marcia Rosen’s new book is hard to put down! The characters are engaging and you enjoy getting to know them as you read this mystery. I enjoyed discovering the world and people in Murder at the Zoo and can’t wait to read more from this author!”
Cat Harper
National Steinbeck Center
Links:
Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Agatha-Raymond-Sherlock-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0BNNYB5X6
B&N.com: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-at-the-zoo-m-glenda-rosen/1141672342
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Marcia Rosen will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
3 comments
Thank you for hosting today.
The story sounds really good.
Murder at the Zoo sounds like an awesome mystery read, if this book was made into a movie, who would you like to see in the starring roles?