Murder Unfolds (Stain-Busting, Book 5) [Mass Market Paperback]

Sharon Short (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 27, 2007

As her big 3-0 approaches, Josie Toadfern's life seems more or less wrinkle-free. Since the laundromat owner, stain removal expert, and confirmed snoop's local stain-busting column went regional, she's become a true small-town celeb. And now she's been asked to give a speech in honor of her deceased junior high school teacher, Mrs. Oglevee—even though Josie remembers finding herself in hot water with the dour disciplinarian on numerous occasions.

But then the late educator's alleged long-lost daughter hands her a note claiming that Mrs. O was murdered. Suddenly more than unpleasant middle school memories keep Josie up nights, as her unauthorized investigation begins turning up some very interesting dirt. Mrs. O, apparently, was more than just a tight-lipped prude who ruled detention with an iron fist. And when an Oglevee relative ends up dead, Josie realizes she'll have to air all of the family's dirty laundry . . . or she'll be spending her thirtieth birthday removing bloodstains.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Sharon Short’s clever and amusing mystery, DEATH BY DEEP DISH PIE, is a delicious read!...sure to satisfy” (Earlene Fowler, praise for DEATH BY DEEP DISH PIE )

“Cozy fans will find DEATH BY DEEP DISH PIE delicious and satisfying.” (Carolyn Hart, praise for DEATH BY DEEP DISH PIE )

“...as cozy as it is cunning with cleaning tips galore and a simply wonderful domestic goddess on the scene.” (Mystery Scene, praise for DEATH OF A DOMESTIC DIVA )

“...as cozy as it is cunning with cleaning tips galore and a simply wonderful domestic goddess on the scene.” (Mystery Scene, praise for DEATH BY DEEP DISH PIE )

“Sharon Short’s Josie Toadfern is wonderfully quirky.” (Jill Churchill, praise for DEATH OF A DOMESTIC DIVA )

“DEATH OF A DOMESTIC DIVA is an immaculate conception, and more importantly, good clean fun!” (Mary Kay Andrews, praise for DEATH OF A DOMESTIC DIVA )

About the Author

Sharon Short's humor column, "Sanity Check," appears every Monday in the Dayton Daily News. Her fiction credits include several short mysteries published in Murderous Intent Mystery Magazine and Orchard Press Online Mystery Magazine. In addition, Ms. Short is a principal of her own marketing communications firm and has a bachelor's and a master's degree in English. She lives in Miamisburg, Ohio, with her husband and two daughters.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Avon (February 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060793279
• ISBN-13: 978-0060793272
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #305,999 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I had only one ambition as a child--to be a writer. When everyone told me hardly anyone ever makes a living as a writer, I briefly considered becoming a policewoman (because the trench coats looked so cool in all those '70's police dramas) or a psychologist (with the hope of finally understanding my family). Nevertheless, heart won out over practicality, and I became a writer. The police and psychology bits, though, come through in my mystery writing.

Now, I delight in mixing humor with mystery in my Stain-Busting Mystery Series, published by Avon Books. The series features Josie Toadfern, self-taught stain expert and Laundromat owner, and is set in fictional Paradise, Ohio. Josie cleans up crime one hilarious load at a time, while sharing changes, advances and set-backs in her personal life. She's guardian to her cousin Guy, an adult with autism, and her best friends are Sally and Cherry. Her love life is currently a roller-coaster!

I am also a humor columnist; my column, Sanity Check appears every Monday in the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) and covers everything from shredding pantyhose for stress relief, to talking refrigerators. My fiction credits include short mysteries published in Murderous Intent Mystery Magazine, Futures Mysterious Anthology Magazine, and Orchard Press Online Mystery Magazine.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Was Mrs. Ogilvee murdered?, May 25, 2007

By 

Dawn Dowdle "Mystery Lovers Corner reviewer" (Lynchburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Murder Unfolds (Stain-Busting, Book 5) (Mass Market Paperback)

Josie Toadfern, local stain removal expert and laundromat owner, has been asked to give a speech honoring Mrs. Oglevee, her deceased junior high school teacher. When Mrs. Oglevee was alive, Josie was often in hot water with her. She has a lot of trouble finding much of interest to talk about.

When Mrs. Oglevee's long lost daughter gives Josie a note that Mrs. Oglevee was murdered, Josie beings to investigate further. She and her friends turn up some interesting and unknown facts about her. All Josie ever knew her as was a grumpy teacher. Seems there was more to her than that.

To complicate Josie's life further, she's turning 30 and has two men vying for her affections.

When Josie is attacked and one of Mrs. Oglevee's relatives killed, Josie knows she's getting close. Can she find the killer without anyone else being killed, especially her?

I really enjoy this series. Josie is such a fun person. I want to go hang out in her laundromat! I love her friends and the men in her life. They all work so well together. The author has created a great small town in Ohio for the setting. It's a place I'd love to visit.

This latest installment was very enjoyable and a quick read. I liked that it was set away from home. It changed the dynamics, but in a good way. I can't wait to read the next one! I highly recommend it and the whole series.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Murder and stain removal advice all in one!!, April 30, 2007

By 

Robert E. Keesey "WC Keesey" (Harrisburg, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murder Unfolds (Stain-Busting, Book 5) (Mass Market Paperback)

Did Pearl Oglevee die of a heart attack or was she murdered? That's what she wants to know. She goes to Josie Toadfern for the answers.

Approaching her thirtieth birthday is no party for Josie; even though her stain-removal column is growing in popularity; her Laundromat is bustling; she has two men vying for her attention; and her apartment is getting a new look. Yet, she is plagued by nautical visits from the most disliked junior high teacher in Paradise, Ohio. Mrs. Oglevee appears in her dreams, nagging her with advise and criticizing her life style. Josie agrees to a deal; she will find out how her grumpy teacher died and Pearl Oglevee will agree to leave her alone forevermore. It might be a good birthday after all.

When Josie starts sorting through the dirty laundry, she's attacked, a relative of Pearl's is killed, Josie and her friends are kidnapped and left to die. It is truly a birthday she will never forget--if she lives.

No way will you put this book down without getting all the answers.

This is the first Stain-Busting Mystery I've read, it won't be the last. Thank you, Sharon Short, for Josie Toadfern, Pearl Oglevee, and this very entertaining series.

Review by Wanda C. Keesey

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Series, May 7, 2007

By 

A Reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murder Unfolds (Stain-Busting, Book 5) (Mass Market Paperback)

I enjoyed this installment of the series a lot. It was a great idea to tie in Josie's visions of Mrs. Oglevee that have been a running part of the series with an actual story.

Looking forward to the next installment.