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The Country Club Murders #20.5
Rich Girl: A Country Club Murder Novella
One secret. Two decades. And a body on the patio.
A whirlwind marriage to a French count who wanted her father's money more than he ever wanted her? It's a secret Libba has kept for twenty years.
She's never told anyone. Not even Ellison.
But secrets can be deadly — and this one is revealed with a knife in his side on Ellison's back patio.
Ghislain de Fevre is dead. Quite obviously murdered. And the police think Libba might have killed him.
The truth is tangled in two decades of lies, heartbreak, and unsigned divorce papers.
To clear her name, Libba will have to do something she's assiduously avoided — face the worst mistake of her life.
Fortunately, she has Ellison, a sharp lawyer, and a pitcher of martinis. Unfortunately, the killer isn't finished.
A whirlwind marriage to a French count who wanted her father's money more than he ever wanted her? It's a secret Libba has kept for twenty years.
She's never told anyone. Not even Ellison.
But secrets can be deadly — and this one is revealed with a knife in his side on Ellison's back patio.
Ghislain de Fevre is dead. Quite obviously murdered. And the police think Libba might have killed him.
The truth is tangled in two decades of lies, heartbreak, and unsigned divorce papers.
To clear her name, Libba will have to do something she's assiduously avoided — face the worst mistake of her life.
Fortunately, she has Ellison, a sharp lawyer, and a pitcher of martinis. Unfortunately, the killer isn't finished.
135 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 10, 2026
309 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Julie Mulhern
41 books1,679 followersJulie Mulhern is the USA Today bestselling author of The Country Club Murders and the Poppy Fields Adventures.
She is a Kansas City native who grew up on a steady diet of Agatha Christie. She spends her spare time whipping up gourmet meals for her family, working out at the gym and finding new ways to keep her house spotlessly clean--and she's got an active imagination. Truth is--she's an expert at calling for take-out, she grumbles about walking the dog and the dust bunnies under the bed have grown into dust lions.
She is a Kansas City native who grew up on a steady diet of Agatha Christie. She spends her spare time whipping up gourmet meals for her family, working out at the gym and finding new ways to keep her house spotlessly clean--and she's got an active imagination. Truth is--she's an expert at calling for take-out, she grumbles about walking the dog and the dust bunnies under the bed have grown into dust lions.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 16, 2026
A Country Club murder where the Country Club barely gets a mention. Of course, Ellison does find the body – in her backyard no less – but this novella is told from Libba’s point of view, rather than from Ellison’s.
The victim is French, not American, and recognised only by Libba. He is someone from Libba’s long ago past, of whom she has never spoken. And the secret threatens to wreck Libba’s upcoming marriage to Charlie.
Not a wide range of suspects, a few motives, but also alibis, though often shaky. Some expensive retail therapy.
Pansy (dog) gets accused of digging up and trampling the neighbour’s garden yet again, but surprisingly this time is completely innocent.
Another great story in the Country Club series. Highly recommended.
The victim is French, not American, and recognised only by Libba. He is someone from Libba’s long ago past, of whom she has never spoken. And the secret threatens to wreck Libba’s upcoming marriage to Charlie.
Not a wide range of suspects, a few motives, but also alibis, though often shaky. Some expensive retail therapy.
Pansy (dog) gets accused of digging up and trampling the neighbour’s garden yet again, but surprisingly this time is completely innocent.
Another great story in the Country Club series. Highly recommended.
March 15, 2026
3.5 - fun, but I don't really feel like this really felt like the Libba we've seen in other books
March 12, 2026
A great novellla featuring Libba. Now to wait until September for the next full length novel in this great series.
March 10, 2026
The only problem…..too short! I a never get enough of this series!!!!
March 22, 2026
I love Libba and I was really happy to get this entry from her POV.
March 22, 2026
3.5 stars - The premise felt a little convoluted and retcon-y to Libba's backstory but as with all things in the CCM universe, I just rolled with it. I've always loved Libba and glad we got a book in her POV. I do wish the story had been longer, it ends at the 89% mark the rest is a preview of JM trad pub book.
March 11, 2026
More like 3.5/5, but rounding up because I always enjoy being back in this world. There just felt like a lot left unexplored and I would have been happy to have this be a full-length story.
BUT, I unfortunately have to say this: the presence of a third party breaks attorney-client privilege. Nothing Libba told Hunter with Ellison present is actually privileged. And, uh, Hunter should probably know that, otherwise he's maybe not such a good lawyer. Also, the neighbor's husband was a litigation attorney in chapter two, and a corporate attorney by chapter four. A beta reader probably should have caught that. (Actually, this whole book felt like trying to explain away the reference to Libba having been divorced in one of the early books in the series. Of course, that still doesn't make any sense if she never told anyone but her parents about the marriage. But I digress.)
BUT, I unfortunately have to say this: the presence of a third party breaks attorney-client privilege. Nothing Libba told Hunter with Ellison present is actually privileged. And, uh, Hunter should probably know that, otherwise he's maybe not such a good lawyer. Also, the neighbor's husband was a litigation attorney in chapter two, and a corporate attorney by chapter four. A beta reader probably should have caught that. (Actually, this whole book felt like trying to explain away the reference to Libba having been divorced in one of the early books in the series. Of course, that still doesn't make any sense if she never told anyone but her parents about the marriage. But I digress.)
March 12, 2026
Very interesting to read Libby's pov.
March 19, 2026
As with all the others in this series, I could not put this down. It did take a while to get used to the fact that it was Libba, and not Ellison, that I was following along with, but once I got used to not having conversations with Mr. Coffee, I was happy to learn more about Libba and her past. The mystery itself was well-developed but predictable; I figured out who did it early on, but that’s sometimes to be expected with a novella. Aggie, always a favorite, was hilarious in this one, and the unhinged neighbor was a nice addition. Can’t wait to read more in this series!
March 11, 2026
The Country Club Murder series is one of my very favorites and I loved peeling Libba's layers to see who she is beneath the Bloody Mary's and quick wit. When the next dead body in Ellison's backyard is known to Libba---she is on the "hot seat". In spite of her personal distress of having to deal with the suspects, Libba solves the murder herself, (with a little help from her bestie).
This is a great addition to the series and I loved it.
This is a great addition to the series and I loved it.
March 23, 2026
I love this series. And we finally got a story from Libba's POV! She isn't my fav character but I love her friendship and how much she is there for her friend! I did actually guess the who which I am not great at in this series but it was a good addition! We got to truly see how dedicated Charlie is (as he should be), how naughty her dog is (clearly a KC issue), and we got see our handsome lawyer again.
I can't wait to read more one of my FAVORITE series.
I can't wait to read more one of my FAVORITE series.
March 11, 2026
Good Read
I only have one complaint about this book. It ended too soon! As usual, there were new interesting characters. There were many clues and suspects, but in true Agatha Christie style, the culprit was not revealed until the end. I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes mysteries!
I only have one complaint about this book. It ended too soon! As usual, there were new interesting characters. There were many clues and suspects, but in true Agatha Christie style, the culprit was not revealed until the end. I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes mysteries!
March 17, 2026
Binge Read Worth It
I love this author. I love this series and all its characters and all the mysteries involved with the murders. I did NOT see this one coming! I won't ruin it. Please read it for a great story and ending. It has Ellison, Anarchy, Charlie and Libba and the normal crew all doing their thing. So good!
I love this author. I love this series and all its characters and all the mysteries involved with the murders. I did NOT see this one coming! I won't ruin it. Please read it for a great story and ending. It has Ellison, Anarchy, Charlie and Libba and the normal crew all doing their thing. So good!
March 10, 2026
I really enjoyed this novella. It was centered on a secret from Libba's past and she was the star of the show. Learning this backstory explains a great deal about Libba and her behavior. I enjoyed the mystery and was glad the Libba solved the case.
March 10, 2026
I pre-ordered this book and got it this morning. I could not put it down. It's a great part of the series. Libba takes her star turn in this one, and she does not disappoint. Who would have thought that she would have a deep, dark secret?
March 11, 2026
LIbba's story at last.Loved it-not as much Ellison and Anarchy but I for one was gad to get the back story of Libba. Charlie is also fleshed out and a true winner. Couldn't put it down once I got it. IT is now a long wait for the next adventure!
March 11, 2026
Not as fun as when Ellison is main character. But still enjoyable series
March 11, 2026
Loved it. Love Libba and obviously Ellis and Anarchy and the whole crew. Great short!
March 11, 2026
Too short is right! Libba doesn’t have the same attraction for me. That’s why the 3 star rating.
March 12, 2026
So fun to see another pov in this series. We've seen Frances and now Libba. Next, I'd love a short story featuring Anarchy.
March 14, 2026
I wasn’t expecting Libba’s POV, but it was really good. I can’t wait for the next full length release!
March 16, 2026
A great story about Libba.
March 17, 2026
So much fun to get to know Libba in a different way!
March 18, 2026
This one got extra points for being a Libba story.
March 19, 2026
Fun read
Fun read as always. A little bit of a twist focusing on Libby. Love the era and setting, KC. Just wish they were longer.
Fun read as always. A little bit of a twist focusing on Libby. Love the era and setting, KC. Just wish they were longer.
March 22, 2026
great read
A great read . I enjoyed getting to know Libba better and learn more about her background. As always looking forward to reading the next book.
A great read . I enjoyed getting to know Libba better and learn more about her background. As always looking forward to reading the next book.
March 22, 2026
I loved Libba's back story. It was so much fun to learn more about her.
March 23, 2026
A novella from Libba’s first person. It was convoluted to say the least but gave some perspective on why she’s been so quiet about her life when she wasn’t in Kansas City.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews