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POISON IN PICKENSBURG
"The mayor is dead, the suspects are weird, and the detective's ex-wife keeps showing up at crime scenes. Just another day in Pickensburg."
Dale Hampton, the charismatic mayor of Pickensburg, Arizona, and real estate mogul with his eye on bigger political prizes, opens a letter in his office and collapses dead moments later. The mysterious white powder that killed him leaves behind more questions than answers.
Enter Brian a 45-year-old ex-detective who inherited a quirky roadside motel and a second chance at life after a near-fatal shooting. Brian traded his badge for bestsellers and his crime scenes for a reading chair. The last thing he wants is to be dragged back into the world of murder investigations.
But when Sheriff Watkins begs for help and Brian's young desk clerk is arrested for the crime, he can't turn away.
The list of suspects grows by the
• The scorned wife who knew about every affair
• The latest mistress with secrets of her own
• The powerful florist with a suspicious $50,000 check
• The Norse bodybuilder with a temper as legendary as her battle-axe
• The emotional psychic whose predictions prove disturbingly accurate
To complicate matters, Brian's estranged wife and sharp-tongued defense attorney, arrives in Pickensburg just as the investigation heats up. Their chemistry is undeniable, their history complicated, and their future uncertain.
When a second victim is poisoned, Brian realizes the killer is still hunting. In a town where everyone knows everyone's business, the deadliest secrets are the ones hidden in plain sight.
With lives on the line and time running out, Brian must navigate small-town politics, old flames, and a twisted web of greed and betrayal to catch a murderer who's always one step ahead.
POISON IN PICKENSBURG is a page-turning mystery perfect for fans of cozy mysteries featuring quirky characters, desert noir atmosphere, and a detective who proves you can never truly leave the job behind.
Dale Hampton, the charismatic mayor of Pickensburg, Arizona, and real estate mogul with his eye on bigger political prizes, opens a letter in his office and collapses dead moments later. The mysterious white powder that killed him leaves behind more questions than answers.
Enter Brian a 45-year-old ex-detective who inherited a quirky roadside motel and a second chance at life after a near-fatal shooting. Brian traded his badge for bestsellers and his crime scenes for a reading chair. The last thing he wants is to be dragged back into the world of murder investigations.
But when Sheriff Watkins begs for help and Brian's young desk clerk is arrested for the crime, he can't turn away.
The list of suspects grows by the
• The scorned wife who knew about every affair
• The latest mistress with secrets of her own
• The powerful florist with a suspicious $50,000 check
• The Norse bodybuilder with a temper as legendary as her battle-axe
• The emotional psychic whose predictions prove disturbingly accurate
To complicate matters, Brian's estranged wife and sharp-tongued defense attorney, arrives in Pickensburg just as the investigation heats up. Their chemistry is undeniable, their history complicated, and their future uncertain.
When a second victim is poisoned, Brian realizes the killer is still hunting. In a town where everyone knows everyone's business, the deadliest secrets are the ones hidden in plain sight.
With lives on the line and time running out, Brian must navigate small-town politics, old flames, and a twisted web of greed and betrayal to catch a murderer who's always one step ahead.
POISON IN PICKENSBURG is a page-turning mystery perfect for fans of cozy mysteries featuring quirky characters, desert noir atmosphere, and a detective who proves you can never truly leave the job behind.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 16, 2025
7 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 20, 2026
Full of quirky characters
I didn’t know that I have ever enjoyed a book so much. This town is full of hilarious people. From the psychic to the body builder to the sheriff to Ira. It describes this part of Arizona perfectly, especially the unrelenting heat. Prepare to laugh and be surprised.
I didn’t know that I have ever enjoyed a book so much. This town is full of hilarious people. From the psychic to the body builder to the sheriff to Ira. It describes this part of Arizona perfectly, especially the unrelenting heat. Prepare to laugh and be surprised.
Displaying 1 of 1 review