Death on Torrid Ave.

Paws for murder

Far from the publishing world that once defined her, Sheila Mackey has found a new life, a new home, and a new love. The love has four legs, a plumey tail, and a lot of fur. Meet Gracie the rescue collie. Too smart for her own good – certainly too smart for Sheila’s good, when Gracie discovers a dead body during a dog park gambol.

Especially since Sheila delves into mysteries surrounding this dead body ... only to discover the new guy at the Torrid Avenue Dog Park is a barely retired cop. Not good for an amateur sleuth with a big secret of her own that she intends to keep. She’s not exactly who she says she is. At least, she’s not who she pretended to be for 15 years.

Will Sheila untangle the murder mystery before her secrets are untied, exposing her previous identity to her new small-town neighbors?

And will Gracie ever learn the “Quiet!” command?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This whodunit with humor is the second book in USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn’s new cozy mystery series, Secret Sleuth, which begins with a murder on a transatlantic cruise in Death on the Diversion. In Death on Torrid Avenue and later books, accidental investigator Sheila Mackey returns to dry land in the Midwest, where mysteries abound in her new small-town home.

On the spectrum of McLinn's mystery novels, the Caught Dead in Wyoming cozy series is in the middle, Proof of Innocence is edgier (and has more romance), and Secret Sleuth is a bit less edgy.

Secret Sleuth series

Death on the Diversion

Death on Torrid Avenue

Look for more Secret Sleuth mysteries to come!

Death on Beguiling Way

Death on Covert Circle

More cozy mystery from Patricia McLinn:

Caught Dead in Wyoming

Sign Off

Left Hanging

Shoot First

Last Ditch

Look Live

Back Story

Cold Open

Hot Roll

Reaction Shot

"While the mystery itself is twisty-turny and thoroughly engaging, it's the smart and witty writing that I loved the best." -- Diane Chamberlain, New York Times bestselling author

If you like mystery with romance and a bit of humor, try also:

Proof of Innocence

Price of Innocence

Ride the River: Rodeo Knights (romantic suspense; includes cameos from Caught Dead in Wyoming characters)

Bardville, Wyoming series (romance with a little mystery)

A Stranger in the Family

A Stranger to Love

The Rancher Meets His Match

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn spent more than 20 years as an editor at the Washington Post after stints as a sports writer (Rockford, Ill.) and assistant sports editor (Charlotte, N.C.). She received BA and MSJ degrees from Northwestern University.

McLinn is the author of more than 47 published novels, which are cited by readers and reviewers for wit and vivid characterization. Her books include mysteries, romantic suspense, contemporary romance, historical romance and women’s fiction. They have topped bestseller lists and won numerous awards.

Now living in northern Kentucky, McLinn loves to hear from readers through her website, Facebook and Twitter.