Books published by Secret Staircase Books

"Mallory and Garth are destined to become icons in the jazz age, historical mystery genre. They are private investigators with flair!" -Connie Shelton, USA Today bestselling author Private investigators Mallory, Garth and Mallory are settling into their new California lifestyle, and Woodie Garth has a new girlfriend. The vivacious Victoria Davis is the epitome of the Jazz Age, living the flapper lifestyle in 1920, and for Garth, she might be the romantic interest of his life. But first, she challenges the MG&M detectives to solve a year-old murder case. Her father, Ashton Davis, was a successful jeweler on San Carlos Avenue and founder of the San Carlos Business Guild. And he was murdered a year ago, most likely by a member of that group. The Guild is a group of businesses within the small picturesque neighborhood that help and refer business to each other. Each year, in September, they all get together for a weekend business meeting and a relaxing gathering at the huge Davis estate. Last year Ashton Davis died during the festivities when he fell down a flight of stairs and broke his neck. The police ruled it an accident. But Vicky doesn't believe that was true, and at least one cop within the San Ricardo precinct agrees with her. The problem is, many of the police are crooked and the case is closed. Vicky enlists the help of Garth, and his MG&M Detective Agency to solve the case. They have the perfect cover to infiltrate the Guild-Anneka Mallory's younger sisters are looking for a location in which to open their new Swedish restaurant, and a vacant building on San Carlos Avenue would be ideal. As they meet the new neighboring business owners, the Mallorys quietly gather clues in Davis's death. They discover a host of possible suspects, and uncover a number of other crimes as they find that all is not beautiful among the lovely little shops and restaurants of the San Carlos Business Guild. Before the crime is solved, MG&M themselves are threatened and attacked. Will they survive to reveal the ugly goings-on and to reveal the killer's identity? Praise for Rick Adelmann's MG&M Detective Agency series: "Spellbinder! A great first book. I can't wait for the next one. Great surprise ending!" - 5 stars online review "Sherwood Garth and James Mallory seem like an unlikely partnership in sleuthing, but their skills and experience provide a unique combination in the fine art of solving murders. Garth is reminiscent of our old friend, Sherlock Holmes, while Mallory, the retired cavalry officer, embodies the spirit of the old West. Rick Adelmann's debut novel takes you into a world where automobiles are replacing horse drawn buggies and the Jazz Age is coming into its own. Set against the rich backdrop of turn-of-the century Americana, The Greek Coins Affair is sure to please." -Mysticmoods book review "Sizzles with Jazz Age mystery and intrigue" -J Shaw, online review

"Mallory and Garth are destined to become icons in the jazz age, historical mystery genre. They are private investigators with flair!" -Connie Shelton, USA Today bestselling author When Major James Mallory and his bride Anneka relocate, along with their extended family and business partner Sherwood Garth, to Beverly Hills, it's with the idea of enjoying the warm California sunshine. It doesn't take long, however, before they are invited to a swanky dinner at the home of a neighbor, a Hollywood movie producer. A lot of the big names in the business are there, from Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, to Gladys Cooper and Charlie Chaplin. Jim and Anneka are more than a little bit wowed by the illustrious company. And when Hew Sizemore, the producer, offers them bit parts in his newest movie, well, the offer sounds like too much fun to pass up. Off they go to the Blue Sky Resort outside Apple Valley, to begin filming. However, before the first camera rolls, someone is taking shots of another sort. With their director gone, the production screeches to a halt and Sizemore doesn't trust the small-town county deputies to adequately investigate. He hires the Mallorys and their MG&M Detective Agency to solve the murder. As they start asking questions it doesn't take long to discover the gossip, infighting, and egos intrinsic in the film business. Bathtub gin, flappers, thugs, and a not-so-secret speakeasy at the resort provide the backdrop, and it's not a sure thing whether Mallory, Garth, and Mallory will survive long enough to set their trap and catch the elusive killer. Praise for Rick Adelmann's new series: "Spellbinder! A great first book. I can't wait for the next one. Great surprise ending!" - 5 stars online review "Sherwood Garth and James Mallory seem like an unlikely partnership in sleuthing, but their skills and experience provide a unique combination in the fine art of solving murders. Garth is reminiscent of our old friend, Sherlock Holmes, while Mallory, the retired cavalry officer, embodies the spirit of the old West. Rick Adelmann's debut novel takes you into a world where automobiles are replacing horse drawn buggies and the Jazz Age is coming into its own. Set against the rich backdrop of turn-of-the century Americana, The Greek Coins Affair is sure to please." -Mysticmoods book review "Sizzles with Jazz Age mystery and intrigue" -J Shaw, online review

On the eve of his wedding, Major James Mallory receives an invitation to attend a reunion of his old Army comrades, to be held at the Wyoming ranch home of his former commander, Colonel Isaiah Johnston. James and Anneka decide the trip to Wyoming will suffice as a honeymoon, for now, until the couple relocates to their new home in California. Hilltop Ranch is remote and secluded and by the second day the dozen guests, their wives, and the household staff are snowbound. And that's when the murders begin. With no other law enforcement at hand, Mallory, Garth, and Mallory search out the evidence and put together the clues in this devious and complex puzzle. Praise for Rick Adelmann's new series: "Spellbinder! A great first book. I can't wait for the next one. Great surprise ending!" - 5 stars online review "Sherwood Garth and James Mallory seem like an unlikely partnership in sleuthing, but their skills and experience provide a unique combination in the fine art of solving murders. Garth is reminiscent of our old friend, Sherlock Holmes, while Mallory, the retired cavalry officer, embodies the spirit of the old West. Rick Adelmann's debut novel takes you into a world where automobiles are replacing horse drawn buggies and the Jazz Age is coming into its own. Set against the rich backdrop of turn-of-the century Americana, The Greek Coins Affair is sure to please." -Mysticmoods book review "Sizzles with Jazz Age mystery and intrigue" -J Shaw, online review

"Mallory and Garth are destined to become icons in the jazz age, historical mystery genre. They are private investigators with flair!" -Connie Shelton, USA Today bestselling author A fortune in stolen antiquities, a bag of loose diamonds, and two dead men. It's bitter cold in February, 1918, when Pinkerton detective Sherwood Garth is assigned to team up with Major James Mallory. Their job is to ferret out the missing diamonds, but when the trail leads directly to a dead body in an abandoned barn, the two men join with the Cleveland Police Department to solve both the murder and the question of the gems. They discover no shortage of suspects. The dead man, Henry Spellman, seemed disliked by family and colleagues alike. Could the killer be one of the adventurer's traveling companions? Or perhaps one of Spellman's own sisters or a member of the household staff is behind his death? And then there's Henry's flapper girlfriend, who is maybe a little too chummy with other men. Nearly everyone, it seems, has a motive and most had the means to carry out the crime. The search takes the two detectives into the local jazz clubs, where Garth seems at home and Mallory sees a whole new world beyond his Army experience. It's truly a by-the-book whodunit using the Pinkerton man's keen skills of observation and the military officer's pure brawn. When they put the clues together, the revelations come as a surprise to all. Perfect for fans of classic detective stories from Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle.

Women are flocking to invest in film producer Robert Williams' latest project, and Gracie's mother is no exception. She has sunk her life savings into his latest movie investment scheme. Big returns were promised, along with the chance to hobnob with famous actors. Now, the money's gone, the bank is threatening foreclosure, and Mama has also taken on the responsibility of Gracie's younger sister and her two kids. Left homeless, the whole brood may be showing up at Gracie's door! As the Heist Ladies investigate, they learn the film's producer is a fake, a crooked, dirty rat, and the legal system is doing nothing to help. That's when they decide they're going to take him down! Praise for USA Today bestseller Connie Shelton and the Heist Ladies: "What I loved most is the international flair of this story … I gave this a 5-star because of the grab, the clutch, the pace, and most of all, because of the characters. Great job!" -Amazon review "The Heist Ladies series is going to be off the charts! Thank you, Connie Shelton for such an awesome book." - 5 stars, Goodreads reviewer "Wonderful characters, terrific plot and story line. I highly recommend Diamonds Aren't Forever … can hardly wait for the next installment!" -5-stars, Amazon review

"Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth." -Midwest Book Review Charlie and Drake are working a helicopter job in rural Maine when a man approaches and asks for their help. At first glance, it seems he's just an old man who needs to get to his son's remote cabin in the woods. But the cabin holds more secrets than Fergus McNab will admit, and it isn't until Charlie returns to Albuquerque that she discovers they may have just aided and abetted a criminal who has escaped the law back home. The secrets get twistier, the more she looks into the ten-year-old case where Rory McNab, facing a life in prison, seemed to vanish from the reach of the law. Just as Charlie is thinking she should report McNab's whereabouts, there's a murder that seems to rock the foundation of the old case. And Charlie is in handcuffs, caught in the middle. Praise for the Charlie Parker mysteries:"Charlie is just what readers want." -Booklist "Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes." -The Midwest Book Review

"Susan Slater can flat-out write." -Don Winslow, New York Times bestselling author of The Cartel It's Christmas in St. Augustine, where Dan and Elaine Mahoney are taking an extended honeymoon. But not all is sunny in Florida when Dan's company sends him to investigate the theft of 1.2 million dollars' worth of religious relics from the famed Basilica. Immediately, he knows it won't be easy to track down the missing items-far too many people had access to the safe where they were stored when not on display for the parishioners. And although the church and rectory were filled with people, when Dan questions them, it seems no one saw a thing. Adding another wrinkle to their newlywed life is the fact that Dan's mother has moved to a small town up the road. Dragon's Bend is known for the fact that everyone who lives there is involved in the spiritual realm-from seers to gurus. Most are sincere practitioners in their beliefs, but some … not so much. Is Maggie Mahoney's new job giving tarot readings at the Center for Spiritual Learning a legit way for her to help those who want to find deeper meaning in their lives? Or is she becoming caught up in something far darker? A visit from Elaine's son Jason brings the family together for a fun Mahoney Christmas, but not before there's a murder in Dragon's Bend. The clues finally come together and the scope of the crimes goes far beyond anything Dan could have imagined. Praise for Susan Slater's Dan Mahoney series: "Dan Mahoney is an appealingly resilient character, a welcome addition to the roster of sleuths that make the Southwest a hotbed of current mystery fiction." -Publishers Weekly "Flash Flood is just what it sounds like-a fresh, surprising, adrenaline-rush whitewater ride. It's also funny. Susan Slater can flat-out write." -Don Winslow, New York Times bestselling author of The Cartel "There'll be much, much more, with whispers of everything before Slater closes out this lively, surprising case, first of a series." - Kirkus Reviews

Hair of the Dog sees Dan Mahoney and fiancée Elaine Linden traveling to Florida for his next investigation, where five insured racing greyhounds supposedly died in a kennel fire. But circumstances are suspicious right from the start. Who is the dead body at the kennel entrance, and how is it possible the knife sticking out of his back is not the cause of death? Dan spends his time gathering evidence and chasing leads, while Elaine starts her training as a private investigator. Adding to the mix, Dan's mother, Maggie, decides to move to Florida in her retirement years and meets a suave new boyfriend. Another mystery arises when the two seniors take off on a last-minute cruise. Dan and Elaine find themselves tracking bad guys from several sectors as the clues come together in this complex story set in the high-stakes world of dog racing and millionaire investors. Praise for Susan Slater's Dan Mahoney series: "Flash Flood is just what it sounds like-a fresh, surprising, adrenaline-rush whitewater ride. It's also funny. Susan Slater can flat-out write." -Don Winslow, New York Times bestselling author "Slater's excellent sequel to Flash Flood takes insurance investigator Dan Mahoney to tiny Wagon Mound, New Mexico … Readers will be glad they're along for the ride."- Publishers Weekly (starred review) "There'll be much, much more, with whispers of everything from alien experiments to voodoo, before Slater closes out this lively, surprising case, first of a series." - Kirkus Reviews "Dan Mahoney is an appealingly resilient character, a welcome addition to the roster of sleuths that make the Southwest a hotbed of current mystery fiction." -Publishers Weekly

Held five years in captivity by the Comanche, Katherine Bellamy and the child she brings home are shunned by polite Texas society. Her brother Ford wasn't a man to settle down-he'd gone away, seeking a life of adventure, trying to forget the girl who waits at home. When Kate sets out to find Ford and bring him home, she encounters Slade, a mercenary soldier and Texas Ranger who rides the plains, seeking revenge for the deaths of his wife and infant son. Sparks fly whenever the two are together, but Katherine fears that Slade will discover her greatest secret. As their attraction becomes impossible to deny, Kate wonders-can they build some semblance of a normal life together? Will either of them want to try? Praise for Winds Across Texas:"Action packed and poignant. ..builds tension from the very beginning and will keep you turning pages until the very end. Ms. Tanner's straightforward style never allows for a dull moment."-Linda Sandifer, author of Embrace The Wind "Susan Tanner captures the fierce independence and adventurous spirit that marked the developing West. A heart-touching read." -Elizabeth Leigh, author of Prairie Ecstasy