About this item
Where there's smoke ... Katie Bonner, the reluctant manager of Artisans Alley in the quaint shopping district of Victoria Square, is no stranger to ambivalence. Things have been going hot and heavy with pizza maker Andy Rust - so much so that Katie has moved in over his pizza parlor. But now that summer's ushered in a heat wave, an apartment above pizza ovens without an air conditioner is making Katie hot and bothered. At the height of the heat wave, a tragic fire strikes Victoria Square. Wood U, a small store selling wooden gifts and small furniture, is destroyed. But the fire may just be a smoke screen - for murder. A body is found among the charred wreckage, and the victim didn't die from smoke inhalation. He was shot. Now - despite making Detective Ray Davenport hot under the collar - Katie is determined to smoke out a coldhearted killer .
About the Author
The immensely popular Booktown Mystery series is what put Lorraine Bartlett's pen name Lorna Barrett's name on the New York Times Bestseller list, but it's her talent -- whether writing as Lorna, or L.L. Bartlett, or Lorraine Bartlett -- that keeps her in their hearts. This multi-published, Agatha-nominated author pens the exciting Jeff Resnick Mysteries as well as the acclaimed Victoria Square Mystery series, and now the fantasy Tales of Telenia series, as well as many short stories and novellas to her name(s) . Check out the links to all her works here: http://www.lorrainebartlett.com/index.htmlBiographyLorraine Bartlett writes the Victoria Square Mysteries. Under the name L.L. Bartlett, she writes the Jeff Resnick suspense series. She also writes the Agatha-nominated, New York Times bestselling Booktown Mystery series under the name Lorna Barrett.Lorraine says: "My mind has always been filled with what my father called "tommyrot." I called them stories. But it wasn't until I was a teenager that I started writing them down--and much later until I sold my first short stories. (Romance!) But in my heart I wanted to write mysteries."What others are saying about Lorraine's books:"Fun plot, fanciful characters, really fabulous crafts...Bartlett put her art and soul into this mystery."--Laura Childs, New York Times bestselling author"Bartlett combines murder, a touch of romance, and a lot of intrigue in this charming story. With a cast of personable characters and a lively, fast-paced story line, readers will be enthralled and delighted with this fresh new series."--Fresh Fiction"A fun new mystery with a cast of charming characters . . . Readers will look forward to more with Katie and the artisans from Artisans Alley."--The Mystery Reader"A sweet new mystery series by a top-notch author who writes under a few pen names. Katie is a likable heroine, fallible yet strong, tough but tender. A great book for readers looking for something light--and who also look for happy endings. I expect this series to go on for a long time."--The Cozy Library"[A] fantastic start to a new cozy series . . . A Crafty Killing kept my attention from the very first word until I turned the last page. The red herrings were aplenty, and the killer a complete surprise. Ms. Bartlett has created a crafty tale that must be read."--The Best Reivews
