A Real Basket Case (A Claire Hanover Mystery)
Beth Groundwater
Language: English
Pages: 312
ISBN: 0738727016
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
THE FIRST BOOK IN THE CLAIRE HANOVER MYSTERY SERIES
An Agatha Award Finalist for Best First Novel
Feeling neglected by her workaholic husband, forty-something gift basket designer Claire Hanover joins an aerobics class at the urging of her best friend Ellen. Divorced and bitterly unhappy, Ellen and most of the other women in the class add a little vicarious excitement to their lives by flirting with the handsome instructor, Enrique. In a moment of weakness, Claire agrees to let the charming Enrique come to her house to give her a massage. She realizes she has made a deadly mistake when Enrique is shot and killed in her bedroom and her husband Roger is arrested for the murder.
Determined to clear Roger’s name and save her marriage, Claire sets out to find the real killer, encountering drug dealers, jealous ex-girlfriends, and angry cops along the way.
Praise:
“A tense, exciting debut.”―Kirkus Reviews
“Will appeal to Desperate Housewives fans and those who like cozies with a bit of spice.” ―Booklist
“A real winner! Don’t miss it.”―Maggie Sefton, bestselling author of Knit One, Kill Two
Three Blind Mice and Other Stories
Tiger Shrimp Tango (Serge Storms, Book 17)
The Murderers (Badge of Honor, Book 6)
did the right thing.” Damn, I sound like a blithering idiot. Wilson raised his head and stared at her. “Do you remember the address?” She’d done that right, at least. Claire rummaged in her purse. “I wrote it down. Here.” She handed him a copy of her original notes. Wilson peered at the paper. “Who’s this Leon?” Claire shrugged. “I don’t know. The name and phone number were in one of the jacket pockets.” “Did you find anything else?” “No.” “Mrs. Hanover, I
more than you already are, that is.” Claire felt a lump growing in her throat. “Thanks. I’ll be careful.” Ellen glanced at the clock on the wall. “Time for class. A sub is teaching. When I came in, I heard some of the women talking about you in the hall. Can you handle it?” Claire put on a brave smile, even though her stomach was quivering. “I’m ready to face the masses.” As she followed Ellen to the door, she had an idea. “Did Enrique ever mention a name that you remember?
any clue, that would prove his innocence. “I don’t expect you to forgive me right away,” she said. “I know that will take time. I just want the chance to earn your forgiveness.” Roger nodded, his sad eyes tearing at her heart. “I guess after twenty-six years, I owe you that.” “I can see tonight is too soon. I’ll come again tomorrow. We can talk more then.” Claire stood and put out her hand. “Will you walk me to the door?” Roger took her hand. They walked down the hall in
limousine, and the two shoved her inside. Howling, “Let me go! You can’t do this to me,” she landed on all fours on the car floor. The door slammed shut behind her, whacking her on her rump and heel. Sharp pains zinged up the nerves from both sites. The door lock clicked. Another loud click sounded from the back seat of the limo. Her head whipped up. A wicked switchblade gleamed, reflecting rays from the streetlight overhead. She bit her lip to still the trembling. Leon’s
realized. Maybe Ellen believed that Jill would feel even worse if she knew that Enrique had dealt drugs, too. Claire glanced at Jill, who waited for an answer. “Enrique was a massage therapist remember?” Awkwardly, Claire looked away as she lifted her arms overhead, avoiding Jill’s puzzled gaze. At the end of class, Claire hurried toward the locker room but got stuck behind two wide, slow-moving chatters. She darted from side to side until she could move around them. She wanted to