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Primary Source: A Cassandra Sato Short Mystery
Rare letters, shady dealings, and a chili cook-off that's heating up fast.
When a renowned poet’s letters from the Morton College archives are called into question, Marcus Fischer enters the seamy underworld of private collectors to investigate. Meanwhile, Shannon Bryant and Meg O’Brien are turning up the intensity, perfecting their recipe to out-spice the competition in the chili cook-off.
With Cassandra Sato off at a conference, it's up to Marcus and their friends to navigate this culinary adventure. Who knew life at Morton College could be more alarming than a vat of jabanero peppers?Why do readers like this story?
The Academic Mystery – A forgery threatens the reputation of Morton college’s rare collection
The Reluctant Sleuth – A facilities VP with no business solving crimes… but here we are
The Hidden Paper Trail – A rare letter from Hemingway… or is it?
The Clueless Authority Figure – The board chairman who thinks Marcus is the library’s personal detective
A Crime That Could Ruin Reputations – One forgery could bring down the whole collection
The Chili Cook-off Catastrophe – Because bad chili decisions can be just as dangerous as bad crimes!
Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with food, humor, and a reluctant sleuth!
Primary Source is a standalone story from the world of the Cassandra Sato mysteries at Morton College. A version of Primary Source was previously published in "A Bookworm of a Suspect (A Cozy Mystery Tribe Anthology)" ©2023 by Aconite Cafe. This edition has been revised and expanded to provide a deeper exploration of the characters and themes.
When a renowned poet’s letters from the Morton College archives are called into question, Marcus Fischer enters the seamy underworld of private collectors to investigate. Meanwhile, Shannon Bryant and Meg O’Brien are turning up the intensity, perfecting their recipe to out-spice the competition in the chili cook-off.
With Cassandra Sato off at a conference, it's up to Marcus and their friends to navigate this culinary adventure. Who knew life at Morton College could be more alarming than a vat of jabanero peppers?Why do readers like this story?
The Academic Mystery – A forgery threatens the reputation of Morton college’s rare collection
The Reluctant Sleuth – A facilities VP with no business solving crimes… but here we are
The Hidden Paper Trail – A rare letter from Hemingway… or is it?
The Clueless Authority Figure – The board chairman who thinks Marcus is the library’s personal detective
A Crime That Could Ruin Reputations – One forgery could bring down the whole collection
The Chili Cook-off Catastrophe – Because bad chili decisions can be just as dangerous as bad crimes!
Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with food, humor, and a reluctant sleuth!
Primary Source is a standalone story from the world of the Cassandra Sato mysteries at Morton College. A version of Primary Source was previously published in "A Bookworm of a Suspect (A Cozy Mystery Tribe Anthology)" ©2023 by Aconite Cafe. This edition has been revised and expanded to provide a deeper exploration of the characters and themes.
61 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2024
7 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Brakenhoff
33 books262 followersKelly Brakenhoff is the author of 17 books and a seasoned ASL interpreter. She splits her writing energy between two series: cozy mysteries set on a college campus and children’s books featuring Duke the Deaf Dog.
In 2025, two of her children’s books were selected for the CBC Favorites Award Lists, honored by teachers and librarians nationwide for excellence in children's literature. Parents, kids, and educators love the Duke the Deaf Dog books and activity guides because they introduce ASL and the Deaf community through engaging stories.
And if you enjoy a smart female sleuth, want to learn more about Deaf culture, or have lived in a place where livestock outnumber people, the Cassandra Sato Mystery series will have you connecting the dots faster than a group project thrown together the night before it’s due.
A proud mom to four adults, head of the dog-snuggling department, and grandma to a growing brood of perfectly behaved grandkids, Kelly and her husband call Nebraska home.
In 2025, two of her children’s books were selected for the CBC Favorites Award Lists, honored by teachers and librarians nationwide for excellence in children's literature. Parents, kids, and educators love the Duke the Deaf Dog books and activity guides because they introduce ASL and the Deaf community through engaging stories.
And if you enjoy a smart female sleuth, want to learn more about Deaf culture, or have lived in a place where livestock outnumber people, the Cassandra Sato Mystery series will have you connecting the dots faster than a group project thrown together the night before it’s due.
A proud mom to four adults, head of the dog-snuggling department, and grandma to a growing brood of perfectly behaved grandkids, Kelly and her husband call Nebraska home.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 18, 2026
If you're a fan of the series, you'll enjoy it. If you're new to the series, don't start here. The books focus on Cassandra, and this one takes place with other cast members while she's away at a conference. You won't get a solid feel for the overall culture and drama in the books. But fun getting to know the library staff and a bit more about Cassandra's sort-of-love-interest.
June 16, 2024
This one was fun. Even though it's listed as a Cassandra Sato short story. She is an even in it and the main star is her colleague and boyfriend Marcus Fisher who gets involved in a mystery of his own. Also there is a side plot with Shannon Bryant and Meg O’Brien entering a chill cook off.
June 28, 2024
This book is a stand alone novella in the Cassandra Sato mystery series. Cassandra was out of town at a conference, so the POV was of her boyfriend Marcus Fischer. The story was about a forged letter supposedly from Hemingway being auctioned off to help pay for a scholarship at Morton College. Marcus, Andy, & Shannon figured out how it happened and saved the day!
March 17, 2025
Short mystery. It would seem the world of collecting artifacts, letters, and other things, isn't quite on the up and up. For Cassandra, this could mean trouble, especially regarding a rare Hemingway letter. The author puts a lot of story in a small space, but makes it intriguing.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews