Visit me at http://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com and find a pathway to some great authors found here http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com Murder and Poisoned Tea is the second of the Mrs. Miller mysteries.
BLURB:
The moment she hears his mastery of the organ, Katherine covets him as St. Stephen’s new Minister of Music. Handsome, charming and vastly talented, the women of the congregation adore him. Even Katherine is swayed by his manners and ability, But Roger not only brought beautiful music, he brings poisoned notes to the choir. Katherine seeks to find the secret of why he has changed churches yearly. She prays the discovery will be in time to prevent a tragedy.
Review
The Mrs. Miller Mysteries series is a sheer delight. Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher would love Katherine Miller. I know I do. ~~ Writer Gail Roughton
EXCERPT:
After rehearsal we adjourned
to the reception room for coffee and heart-shaped cookies in honor of St.
Valentine, my temporary position, and the choir’s monthly refreshment night.
I moved from group to group
to chat with old friends and new acquaintances. The choir had divided into
several cliques who acted like rivals for my attention. The new choir director
would need better than average skills in meshing the dissenting factions.
The largest and loudest of
the groups clustered around Judith Hanson. She sat on one of the
brocade-covered chairs near the front windows and looked like a queen on her
throne. The majority of the group was male. No real surprise. At one
time or another, every male in the congregation, married or not, had flirted
with Judith. Each had held her attention until she decided to blow them off
with cruel remarks.
Her brown eyes slant, giving
her an almost Oriental look. Straight dark hair cut to shoulder length added to
the image. As she spoke, her hands moved in exaggerated gestures. A constant
flow of kinetic energy crackled as she stroked the new tenor’s arm. He smiled.
Martin ended the moment of
seduction by handing her a cup of coffee. Bearded, balding and overweight, he
appeared to be a weak man, but beneath the surface lay a nurturing kind of
strength. Did he mother his daughter as well as he did his wife?
Judith looked up at him.
From across the room, I saw resentment on her face and in her body language.
Her shoulders stiffened. Her mouth pulled into a tight line. Martin whispered
in her ear. She nodded.
“Beth, Beth, darling,”
Judith called. “Are you coming to the Pub with us?” Her shouted invitation rose
over the hum of conversation.
“I’m taking Mrs. Miller
home,” Beth said.
Judith waved at me. “Come
with us and get away from this stuffy crowd. I need a drink before I perish.
The well’s been dry too long.” Brittle laughter followed her words.
“Another time.”
“Beth?” Judith asked.
“It’s late. Marcie has
school tomorrow. Your daughter’s so conscientious she won’t nap while she’s
watching Robby. I’ll send her home.”
Judith rose. “Spoilsport.
Don’t worry about Marcie. She’d welcome an excuse to cut school. No music
classes on Friday. If it weren’t for them, she’d be a drop-out.” She put a hand
on Beth’s shoulders. “Take Mrs. Miller home and join us.”
Beth stiffened. “Maybe.”
“I’ll have a drink waiting
for you. Maybe you’ll find a man.” She rubbed against Martin. “Three years
since your husband’s death. I don’t know how you’ve survived. Men are
so...so...”
Beth’s face flamed. She
reached for her jacket. I put on my coat. Judith, Martin and several other
people strolled from the room.
Beth shook her head. “I
don’t know why I let her get to me.”
“She likes to watch people
squirm. Don’t let her hurt you.”
“It’s not fair.” Beth
grabbed her music folder. “She has a string of men. Maybe I hope some of her
allure will rub off.”
“Have you ever watched a cat
play with a mouse? That’s what she does. You don’t need her friendship.”
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