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The Murder Quartet #1
Two for Joy
Not yet published
Expected 6 Jul 27One for sorrow…
Margaret “Magpie” Adams is aimless. Her life is nothing like her favorite romance novels: her ex was a jerk; college isn’t in the cards; and she’s still working a summer gig at the Chain Ferry in her hometown of Two Pines. Twenty years ago, a cult classic was filmed here, so locals rely on a churn of customers through the Two For Joy bus tour.
When gruesome vandalism strikes multiple tour stops, Magpie finds herself sucked into the hunt for a criminal. Her best friend is convinced it’s the work of a local developer, but Magpie suspects something far more sinister—and possibly supernatural. How else to explain the creepy music that’s been following her around?
Two for joy…
Magpie’s hunch becomes certainty when a corpse shows up. And as if that’s not complicated enough, her ex is visiting town too. And oh yeah: things are getting weird between her and Buck, her best friend’s dependable (and gorgeous) brother. Magpie is definitely not supposed to want to kiss him—and Buck is definitely not supposed to want to kiss her back.
When Magpie discovers today’s violence connects to a mystery woman from the Two For Joy film set twenty years ago (a woman who looks an awful lot like Magpie), she grows more and more determined to uncover the truth.
Even if it will mean putting her life—and her heart—on the line.
Margaret “Magpie” Adams is aimless. Her life is nothing like her favorite romance novels: her ex was a jerk; college isn’t in the cards; and she’s still working a summer gig at the Chain Ferry in her hometown of Two Pines. Twenty years ago, a cult classic was filmed here, so locals rely on a churn of customers through the Two For Joy bus tour.
When gruesome vandalism strikes multiple tour stops, Magpie finds herself sucked into the hunt for a criminal. Her best friend is convinced it’s the work of a local developer, but Magpie suspects something far more sinister—and possibly supernatural. How else to explain the creepy music that’s been following her around?
Two for joy…
Magpie’s hunch becomes certainty when a corpse shows up. And as if that’s not complicated enough, her ex is visiting town too. And oh yeah: things are getting weird between her and Buck, her best friend’s dependable (and gorgeous) brother. Magpie is definitely not supposed to want to kiss him—and Buck is definitely not supposed to want to kiss her back.
When Magpie discovers today’s violence connects to a mystery woman from the Two For Joy film set twenty years ago (a woman who looks an awful lot like Magpie), she grows more and more determined to uncover the truth.
Even if it will mean putting her life—and her heart—on the line.
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 5, 2026
318 people want to read
About the author
Susan Dennard
25 books9,406 followersSusan Dennard is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of the Witchlands series (now in development for TV from the Jim Henson Company), and the Something Strange and Deadly series, in addition to various other fiction published online.
Before becoming an author, she got to travel the world with her M.Sc. in marine biology. She also runs the popular newsletter for writers, the Misfits and Daydreamers. When not writing or teaching writing, she can be found rolling the dice as a Dungeon Master or mashing buttons on one of her way too many consoles.
You can learn more about Susan on her website, blog, newsletter, Twitter, or Pinterest.
Before becoming an author, she got to travel the world with her M.Sc. in marine biology. She also runs the popular newsletter for writers, the Misfits and Daydreamers. When not writing or teaching writing, she can be found rolling the dice as a Dungeon Master or mashing buttons on one of her way too many consoles.
You can learn more about Susan on her website, blog, newsletter, Twitter, or Pinterest.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 24, 2025
Ah yet another masterpiece from Sooz! The murder, quite mysterious; the characters; so fun and relatable; the romance, very compelling. One of my favorite things about Dennard's writing is that it's always very tight and intentional. Nothing is throwaway or fluff, and there's always buried clues to not only the mystery, but also the characters' personalities and how or why they react in certain situations. Also, her characters are incredibly three dimensional. No one is ever just one flat thing, rather they're multi-faceted and feel as real as an actual person you'd meet in your life. And these two qualities of hers especially shine in this book. She's always leveling up her writing with each book, and just when I think it can't get any better, it does.
Two For Joy is a delicious oh so slow burn summer romance, a Scooby-Doo worthy murder mystery, a wait those are shivers down my spine when did it get so spooky tale. Magpie and gang have my whole heart, and I'm excited to see what comes next in The Murder Quartet (which is a series of interconnected but standalone spooky murder mysteries full of romance)!
Two For Joy is a delicious oh so slow burn summer romance, a Scooby-Doo worthy murder mystery, a wait those are shivers down my spine when did it get so spooky tale. Magpie and gang have my whole heart, and I'm excited to see what comes next in The Murder Quartet (which is a series of interconnected but standalone spooky murder mysteries full of romance)!
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September 20, 2025i'm sat, ready
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews