A Grave Issue

December 11, 2017
An on-air gaffe that goes viral—a rant against old people—sends Los Angles TV news anchor Desiree Turner fleeing to her hometown of Verbena, Calif., where she ends up managing the family funeral parlor, in Bell’s fun debut and series launch. When Rosemarie and Alan Brewer’s pet emu, Vincent, suddenly dies, the couple claim that the barking of two dogs belonging to Desiree’s neighbors and surrogate parents, Lola and Kyle Hansen, frightened Vincent to death. The police do not prosecute. When someone fatally shoots Alan, whose corpse is delivered to Desiree’s funeral home, the police arrest Kyle. In her efforts to clear Kyle’s name, Desiree gets help from a local cop, a local reporter, and the coroner, while remaining oblivious to their obvious attraction to her. Bell draws Desiree’s suitors with enough detail for the reader to care which one she chooses, and supplies enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Cozy fans will find all the right ingredients for a satisfying series. Agent: Andrea Somberg, Harvey Klinger Literary.

January 1, 2018
A disgraced reporter who returns home to work at her family's funeral parlor runs into even more fatalities than the job provides.After a hot mic incident gets Desiree Turner fired from her job at KLVX TV, she slinks home to Verbena, a tiny town outside Sacramento, to lick her wounds. There's plenty of room for her in the spacious digs atop the Turner Family Funeral Home, where her Uncle Joey, sister Donna, and brother-in-law Greg already live. And since her father's recent death in a surfing accident, there's plenty for her to do downstairs at the mortuary, especially when pregnant Donna gets put on bed rest and can't run the funeral services. Nor is there any lack of old friends to welcome her back. She and best gal pal Jasmine meet up for drinks at Tappiano's, and Luke Butler still calls her Death Ray, a nickname she's resented since elementary school. Rafe Valdez even offers her a job on the Verbena Free Press. But Desiree's attention is focused on clearing her late father's best friend, Kyle Hansen, who's accused of gunning down banker Alan Brewer, which may be related to a squabble over the death of Vincent, Brewer's pet emu. Desiree's not entirely sure the Hansens are responsible for Vincent's untimely demise, but she's more than sure that Kyle didn't kill Alan. Persuading Luke Butler, now Verbena's police chief, may take all of Desiree's skills as a newshound, with a little bit of mortician thrown in.Bell's debut is a worthy addition to the "home again" corner of the cozy world, with enough wit and moxie to warrant a return appearance.

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