Alyssa Day

A small-town mystery with laughter, kissing, mayhem, and magic

When private investigator and tiger shapeshifter Jack Shepherd is celebrating Fourth of July with his new bride, the last thing they want is another mystery to solve. But when the new fireworks provider ends up dead in his own tent, they need to leap into action.

Pawnshop owner Tess Callahan won’t rest until she and Jack discover the truth, even though it involves multiple suspects who all had the motive, means, and opportunity to do the dirty deed. And even when a magical truth-telling piece of jewelry is causing havoc throughout Town Hall.

And if they create their own fireworks doing it, their friends and family in Dead End are only too willing to help.

Welcome to Dead End, Florida, where fireworks aren’t the only thing exploding. Because life in Dead End can be as dangerous as it is funny, and sometimes it takes a Tiger's Eye to see the truth.

Excerpt— A DEAD END FOURTH OF JULY:

Eleanor gave me a hug, shot one last suspicious glance at our customer, and left. Once she was gone, Mr. McKee underwent a bit of a personality transformation.

He got even smarmier.

"So, you're just back from your honeymoon. What a terrible loss that is to me and the rest of the bachelor population." He smiled at me, showing an awful lot of teeth.

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, yes. You're very charming. Now, can we get on with what you need?"

He laughed and turned off the act. "I'm sorry. Sometimes my salesperson-persona switch gets stuck in the on position. Seriously, thank you for helping me if you can. The police in North Carolina couldn't or wouldn't."

The door that connected my shop to Jack's private investigation office opened, and my husband walked into the shop.

"The police couldn't or wouldn't do what? Hey, where are the thank-you donuts?" Jack casually glanced at Cletus, but I knew he'd cataloged everything about my customer in that one look. Once a soldier, always a soldier.

Cletus tensed. "Jack Shepherd. I've heard about you. Never mind. It's nothing important."

"Jack, this is Cletus McKee. He's having a problem with a stalker who got her hands on some nasty magic."

"And guns," Cletus said despondently. "Lots and lots of guns."

It had to be a record. Less than an hour back at my shop after two glorious weeks away, and I was already up to my elbows in problems. Magical and gun problems. After the troll had helped us catch the zealots who'd planted bombs at the church, I'd hoped I'd be done with that sort of thing for a long, long time.

"Welcome to Dead End," I said, sighing. "I feel like this conversation needs donuts. Lots and lots of donuts."

Cletus grinned at me. "Well, if we have donuts, how bad—"

"No!" Jack and I both shouted.

There were some phrases you never, ever spoke in Dead End.

Also in this series: