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Midlife Crisis Mystery #8
Hopeful in Texas
I’m Holly Parker and I’ve been tackling my bucket list, trying to visit all fifty states. It seemed like a good idea after my fiftieth birthday, when I had to face the fact that I wasn’t getting any younger.
But now, after seven bucket list trips, each with its own murder investigation, I’m starting to lose hope that I’ll be able to do any traveling that doesn’t include at least one dead body.
My trip to Texas has a promising start when I end up sitting next to Jasmine Vaughan on the flight to Dallas. She’s eager to chat, funny, and full of interesting stories about her life. And she’s more than happy to agree to do some sightseeing around Dallas with me, too. She just has to work around the various events taking place as part of her fortieth high school reunion, which is the reason why she’s making the trip to Dallas for the first time in decades.
Everything seems to be going well until Jasmine suddenly stops answering my texts. I’m hesitant to report her missing. Maybe she simply got tired of my company. It isn’t hard to find some of her former classmates so that I can make a few discreet inquiries. No one will admit to knowing where she is, and most people don’t seem at all concerned. Events from the past year make it hard for me to remain Hopeful in Texas, though.
But now, after seven bucket list trips, each with its own murder investigation, I’m starting to lose hope that I’ll be able to do any traveling that doesn’t include at least one dead body.
My trip to Texas has a promising start when I end up sitting next to Jasmine Vaughan on the flight to Dallas. She’s eager to chat, funny, and full of interesting stories about her life. And she’s more than happy to agree to do some sightseeing around Dallas with me, too. She just has to work around the various events taking place as part of her fortieth high school reunion, which is the reason why she’s making the trip to Dallas for the first time in decades.
Everything seems to be going well until Jasmine suddenly stops answering my texts. I’m hesitant to report her missing. Maybe she simply got tired of my company. It isn’t hard to find some of her former classmates so that I can make a few discreet inquiries. No one will admit to knowing where she is, and most people don’t seem at all concerned. Events from the past year make it hard for me to remain Hopeful in Texas, though.
172 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 8, 2026
About the author
Diana Xarissa
273 books271 followersDiana started self-publishing in 2013 and over a decade later she now has over a hundred books available for readers. Writing remains her passion and she has no plans to stop writing in the foreseeable future.
Diana grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and earned a history degree from Allegheny College. She met her husband, an Englishman, while living and working in Washington, DC. Following their marriage, she moved to Derbyshire. A short while later, the happy couple moved to the Isle of Man.
During their years on the island, Diana and her husband welcomed two children, and Diana completed a master’s degree in the history of the island. In 2008, the family made the decision to move to the US. Now empty-nesters, Diana and her husband are living in the suburbs of Buffalo, New York, and contemplating moving somewhere that doesn’t get snow.
Diana also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future as Diana X. Dunn and Young Adult fiction as D.X. Dunn.
Diana grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and earned a history degree from Allegheny College. She met her husband, an Englishman, while living and working in Washington, DC. Following their marriage, she moved to Derbyshire. A short while later, the happy couple moved to the Isle of Man.
During their years on the island, Diana and her husband welcomed two children, and Diana completed a master’s degree in the history of the island. In 2008, the family made the decision to move to the US. Now empty-nesters, Diana and her husband are living in the suburbs of Buffalo, New York, and contemplating moving somewhere that doesn’t get snow.
Diana also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future as Diana X. Dunn and Young Adult fiction as D.X. Dunn.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 9, 2026
Hopeful in Texas
It's not a murder mystery! I have been reading Diana Marissa' s mysteries for the last couple of years. They are certainly interesting stories taking place in interesting places. But the main characters find a lot of dead bodies, and there are other scenarios. This time it involves a high school reunion, some old grudges, a class bully and a kidnapping. It's a rather short read, but good.
It's not a murder mystery! I have been reading Diana Marissa' s mysteries for the last couple of years. They are certainly interesting stories taking place in interesting places. But the main characters find a lot of dead bodies, and there are other scenarios. This time it involves a high school reunion, some old grudges, a class bully and a kidnapping. It's a rather short read, but good.
May 12, 2026
Diana Xarissa does it again! Another book in the Holly Parker series. They are light cozy mysteries. I do enjoy them, even though I don't believe there's a employer in the US who would let someone store up that much vacation time. Still, if you can overlook that, the books are little gems.
May 9, 2026
An excellent mystery, and I was relieved that no-one was murdered in this one! And Holly has made a new friend, which is even better.
June 25, 2026
Great read
This series is lots of fun to read. This one was different, no one got killed. I am eagerly waiting for the next one I enjoy when George is around.
This series is lots of fun to read. This one was different, no one got killed. I am eagerly waiting for the next one I enjoy when George is around.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews