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http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com for some intriguing excerpts. Mine is found at eclecticwriter.blogspot.com and is from Murder and Iced Tea, a collection of short stories
Blurb:
When the mayor declares there will be no Halloween parade, a village tradition, Kate and her friends are surprised by the announcement. Sarah, Kate’s neighbor and friend is furious and she vows there will be a Halloween parade. A chance meeting with the mayor on Labor Day, also a no parade day sets Sarah and the mayor at odds. What can be done? There should be a parade, since there hasn’t been one since the start of the COVID epidemic.
Sarah gathers signatures on a petition she presents to the mayor. Mayor Bloom, refuses to acknowledge the gesture. Sarah vows she will find a way to thwart the over-weight man she calls Mayor Lard.
Kate receives a phone call from a friend in Vermont. The town where her friend lives has recently purchased some lamp post decorations that look like those she remembers from the Hudson River village. Are they the same. Kate sets out to learn.
While exploring the basement storage room at the town hall, Kate discovers the decorations for all the holidays are gone. She also discovers the body of the mayor. He has been hit over the head and also stabbed. Kate wonders who was so furious. Suspicion falls on her friend, Sarah. Kate sets out to find the killer and prays it’s not her friend.
EXCERPT:
Mayor Bloom straightened in his seat. “Greetings, Ladies. What a beautiful day for a
ride around our marvelous town.” He smiled. “I’ve heard you’re planning a neighborhood
feast to celebrate the end of COVID.”
Was he aiming for the invitation I knew wouldn’t be offered? Since his election as
mayor, Sarah has turned cool.
Nothing special,” Sarah said. “Just a few neighbors.”
His smile brightened. Did he intend to claim a spot? He and his third wife lived three
miles from here. He wasn’t part of the neighborhood.
Sarah stepped closer to the car. “Why are you riding around in an irreplaceable
antique car?”
For a moment there was silence. I edged away.
The mayor leaned forward. “We’re honoring Labor Day.”
Sarah placed a hand on the car. “A parade would have been a better way to honor the
day. Crowds would have brought customers to town and helped the merchants and the
restaurants.”
“Assembling a crowd isn’t good. Too soon. Maybe next year.”
Sarah stiffened. “You won’t have a say if you’re not re-elected. A thought. What
happens to the money allocated for parades when the money isn’t used?”
“Saved to build a surplus for something important.”
“Like what?” Sarah’s hands fisted.
“I haven’t decided.”
She scowled. “I’ve heard a rumor that troubles me.” What had she heard and when? I couldn’t recall hearing any new rumors pointing to
trouble. I waited for an answer.
Sarah straightened her shoulders. Her expression changed to one of determination.
A chill rolled down my spine. Was she inventing the rumor?
Mayor Bloom laughed. The sound emerged thin and strangled. “There are always
rumors.”
Sarah’s hands tightened into fists. “I heard you’re cancelling the Halloween parade.”
His lips formed a tight line. “There’s no reason to have one. Three years have passed
since the last one. No one is pushing to restore the event. I informed the committee there
is no reason for a parade.”
“You’re wrong.” Sarah leaned forward and raised a fist. “Kate, how do you feel about
there being no parade this year?”
Before I had a chance to answer, the mayor spoke. “There’s no reason to have one. No
one has pushed for a Halloween parade. The town council agrees with me. There’s no
need.”
I grasped her arm to stop the attack. “I feel sad to see a tradition ended. I understand
why there’s been no parade for several years. To prevent the spread of COVID crowds
were to be avoided.”
Harold Bloom nodded. “How true. We don’t need to spread the disease among the
fine people of our town.”
Sarah’s face reddened. “You’re breaking a tradition for no good reason.”
“I am not.” The redness of the mayor’s face matched hers. “COVID achieved that goal.
We will have a new tradition.” He leaned forward and touched his friend’s shoulder. “Time
to move on. We’ve wasted enough time here.”
Was he angry about no invitation to our dinner? With a jerk, the ancient car moved.
The mayor grasped the seat to keep from being propelled. “Be careful,” he cried.
I watched the car chug away. What had the meeting accomplished? Nothing that I
could see.
“Good riddance,” Sarah said.
