Top Dog Murder

A newly wealthy Rhode Island empty-nester hones her sleuthing skills in the latest novel in this fun and fast-paced new cozy series from the New York Times bestselling author of the Lucy Stone mysteries.

Carole Capobianco knows life can take unexpected detours—and not just the kind her beloved Brittany spaniel, Poopsie, drags her on during their daily walks. Sometimes, those surprises are delightful—including the family’s recent windfall thanks to her husband Frank’s plumbing invention. But sometimes, they’re shocking, like the sudden death of her daughter Connie’s boyfriend, Jared.

Jared was gunned down outside a Providence restaurant, and Connie, who sustained minor injuries at the scene, is grief-stricken. True, Connie hadn’t known Jared Mayes long. In fact, as Carole does a little digging, she starts to wonder if there was an awful lot about Jared that her daughter didn’t know. His shooting seems to have been a targeted attack and may be connected to a new movie being filmed in nearby Newport. Clearly, Carole will have to infiltrate behind-the-scenes . . .

Snagging a role as an extra alongside her mother-in-law, Carole reluctantly swaps her designer duds for a scullery maid’s faded costume. Between on-set antics, a very friendly producer, and keeping various relatives—and pampered Poopsie—out of mischief, she has plenty to keep her busy while she works to catch a killer. It’s no easy feat, as Carole quickly learns there’s no more convincing actor than one determined to get away with murder . . . | LESLIE MEIER is the New York Times bestselling author of the Lucy Stone Mysteries and the Carole and Poopsie Mystery series. She has also written for Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, and like her series protagonist, Lucy Stone, she worked as a New England newspaper reporter while raising her three children. She lives outside of Boston and can be found online at LeslieMeierBooks.com.