Books published by Secret Staircase Books

Newlywed Pauly Caton watches, horrified, as the hot air balloon-the one she should have been riding in-falls from the sky. She races to the wrecked basket to discover both the pilot and her husband Randy dead in the fiery crash. The lone survivor appears to be an unknown child, who runs from the scene, naked and fearful, and disappears from sight. Shocked, Pauly turns to her Grams, a flashy grande dame and carnival owner, and a source of comfort for her pain. During the ensuing weeks, Pauly learns that nearly everything she knew about her new husband was based on lies and deception. As Christmas approaches, she attempts to pick up the pieces of her life and uncovers a host of other surprises about Randy-things that make her question everything about her choice to marry him. She senses she can trust no one, not even the police, and learns that there are secrets which threaten to put her own life in danger. Praise for Susan Slater's previous mystery novels:The 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 The Ben Pecos mystery series:"Solid, suspenseful narrative and colorful glimpses of Native American life ... strongly recommend." -Library Journal "A series to watch." -Booklist "… Ben Pecos-raised far from New Mexico's Tewa Pueblo-could become as lasting a fictional presence as Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee." - Chicago Tribune "… a gripping, interesting tale." -5 stars, online review

"A thriller with lots of southwestern atmosphere and a puzzler of a plot that's calculated to keep a reader guessing through the last chapter." -Thomas Perry, New York Times bestselling author Chicago insurance investigator Dan Mahoney is sent to the prosperous Double Horseshoe Ranch in southern New Mexico to investigate the deaths of several prized-and well-insured-cattle. The stakes are high, and Dan hasn't counted on witnessing a murder or falling in love. But it's the flash flood that changes everything, sweeping away a vintage Cadillac and its occupants in a torrent of raging water. Dan stays on at the ranch to continue his investigation, but suddenly, dead people aren't really-and the list of suspects becomes completely convoluted in this mystery filled with twists and turns. Praise for Susan Slater's Flash Flood: "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 from alien experiments to voodoo, before Slater closes out this lively, surprising case, first of a series." - Kirkus Reviews

Booklist calls the Ben Pecos mysteries, from award-winning author Susan Slater, "A series to watch." Psychologist Ben Pecos takes a transfer to Florida in his job with the Indian Health Service. His first assignment in St. Augustine puts him right in the middle of a terrifying case where a student has brought a gun to school and threatened his teacher. Ben works with both the troubled eight-year-old and the traumatized teacher, Maureen Beltzer. When Mo is offered a new job with the botanical garden at the prestigious Whitney Labs, she jumps at the chance to get out of teaching, little knowing that cataloging and photographing rare orchids may actually involve more danger than her pint-sized adversary ever dreamed of inflicting. Praise for the Ben Pecos mystery series:"This is a wonderful book with loveable heroes." - Library Journal, (on The Pumpkin Seed Massacre) "Susan Slater's Thunderbird is a witty, absorbing tale." -Publishers Weekly "Slater effectively combines an appealing mix of new and existing characters … dry humor; crackling suspense; and a surprise ending." -Booklist "Take a great plot idea and Susan Slater's skill with language, combine them with her understanding of the religion and culture of a proud and ancient people, and you have a gripping novel. The Pumpkin Seed Massacre is her first novel. We mystery lovers hope it's the first of many." - Tony Hillerman "A solid, suspenseful narrative and colorful glimpses of Native American life strongly recommend this …" - Library Journal (on Thunderbird) "… Ben Pecos-raised far from New Mexico's Tewa Pueblo-could become as lasting a fictional presence as Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee." - Chicago Tribune

It's here -- USA Today bestselling author Connie Shelton's newest Samantha Sweet cozy mystery. With nearly 2 million books sold and downloaded in more than 60 countries, find out what the fuss is all about! Breaking into another house, creating chocolates worth $200 a box, and helping her sheriff husband solve a traffic accident-turned-murder … Samantha Sweet has her hands more than a little full as the new year begins. "Love Connie Shelton's work. She usually has me at the first word."-5 stars, Terry Brown It's the beginning of a new year at Sweet's Sweets pastry shop and chocolate factory, and Samantha Sweet finds herself busy as ever, especially when her top client comes in with a new idea. His travel firm is selling a new Travel the World itinerary for the jet-set, and Sam is to come up with special chocolates to make the spectacular trip even more memorable for his wealthy clientele. At $200 a box, she can't exactly say no. Things get a little sticky when a friend calls with a problem, which involves Sam going back to her old job (temporarily, at least) of breaking into houses. How she manages to juggle it all ... well, it just might involve a little magic.Meanwhile, Beau answers the call to a traffic fatality that turns way more complex when he realizes he has a murder to solve. The couple's paths cross less frequently than they would like, but as luck would have it, Sam ends up providing some of the critical clues in Beau's case and the answers come as a surprise to both of them. "I get started reading and find myself not wanting to stop"-5 stars, Amazon review "I love this series. This is one that is hard to put down when you start to read it."-5 stars, Goodreads "Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life." -Albuquerque Journal "Connie Shelton gets better with every book she writes."-The Midwest Book Review

The fiery midnight crash of a Stealth fighter on a New Mexico reservation and the disappearance of a young Navajo woman put psychologist Ben Pecos and tribal police officer Tommy Spottedhorse on a sinister and mysterious trail. Tribal police lock horns with air force personnel over jurisdiction and the right to search for the missing woman. The murder of a local park ranger and several livestock mutilations complicate the whole picture and take the case from strange to downright bizarre. When it appears the missing Navajo woman, Brenda Begay, may have witnessed what happened that fateful night and might still be alive, Ben and Tommy Spottedhorse race to connect the pieces of the puzzle. Because, otherworldly or not, something evil is out there in the desert, awaiting a final showdown among the ruins of the Ancient Ones. Critical acclaim for Susan Slater's Thunderbird:"Thunderbird is a witty, absorbing tale." -Publishers Weekly "A solid, suspenseful narrative and colorful glimpses of Native American life strongly recommend this ..." -Library Journal