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Charlie Parker #9
Balloons can be Murder
USA Today bestseller Connie Shelton puts her own real-life experience as a balloonist to work in this, the ninth Charlie Parker mystery.
Three days before the start of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, balloon pilot Rachael Fairfield walks into the offices of RJP Investigations. She has received threatening notes, which she believes came from her father, a convicted felon whom she sent to prison fifteen years earlier. To complicate matters, her brother has initiated a huge publicity campaign for the world altitude record Rachael plans to attempt on the final Sunday of the Fiesta.
It seems simple enough. Charlie and Ron will locate William Fairfield and keep him away from Rachael for the duration of the Fiesta. But as they follow leads on William Fairfield, the threats escalate and Ron and Charlie start to wonder whether he's really the stalker. Amid the color and beauty of the world's largest ballooning event, Charlie also finds herself at odds with her husband and reassessing her life's priorities. Only when she nearly loses her own life do the answers begin to fall into place.
Three days before the start of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, balloon pilot Rachael Fairfield walks into the offices of RJP Investigations. She has received threatening notes, which she believes came from her father, a convicted felon whom she sent to prison fifteen years earlier. To complicate matters, her brother has initiated a huge publicity campaign for the world altitude record Rachael plans to attempt on the final Sunday of the Fiesta.
It seems simple enough. Charlie and Ron will locate William Fairfield and keep him away from Rachael for the duration of the Fiesta. But as they follow leads on William Fairfield, the threats escalate and Ron and Charlie start to wonder whether he's really the stalker. Amid the color and beauty of the world's largest ballooning event, Charlie also finds herself at odds with her husband and reassessing her life's priorities. Only when she nearly loses her own life do the answers begin to fall into place.
282 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2005
103 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
Connie Shelton
94 books310 followersMy love of books started with weekly trips to the library as a child and from the moment I learned to read I can't remember a time that I didn't have at least one book going. For the past 25 years, that list has grown to include what I'm reading and what I'm writing at any given time.
I began writing my Charlie Parker series when my husband and I lived on Kauai, then continued them in my home state of New Mexico. Charlie lives in Albuquerque and manages to travel to a variety of locations, wherever her investigation business and her husband's helicopter business take them. My second series featuring Samantha Sweet, the 50-ish woman who breaks into houses for a living, is set in Taos, New Mexico.
In addition to reading and writing, I've traveled quite a lot, taught writing courses, and been a speaker at a whole lot of mystery conventions and writing conferences. In my spare time I also love to paint, draw, cook and spend time at the beach.
Series:
* Charlie Parker Mystery
I began writing my Charlie Parker series when my husband and I lived on Kauai, then continued them in my home state of New Mexico. Charlie lives in Albuquerque and manages to travel to a variety of locations, wherever her investigation business and her husband's helicopter business take them. My second series featuring Samantha Sweet, the 50-ish woman who breaks into houses for a living, is set in Taos, New Mexico.
In addition to reading and writing, I've traveled quite a lot, taught writing courses, and been a speaker at a whole lot of mystery conventions and writing conferences. In my spare time I also love to paint, draw, cook and spend time at the beach.
Series:
* Charlie Parker Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 22, 2013
I picked up this book because the setting was the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta where more than six hundred hot air balloons take flight. I've seen pictures of the colorful event, and the book has good descriptions of the ballooning.
Rachel Fairfield is going to attempt to break the world altitude record for women at this balloon event. She has been receiving threatening letters so she hired Charlie Parker and her brother Ron to investigate. Rachel's father was just released from prison, and he's on the list of suspects.
There were a lot of things in this mystery that didn't seem too credible, but that often happens in the cozy mystery genre. Charlie Parker is a likable amateur sleuth and sometimes has good insights, but I can't imagine anyone paying someone that just happens to "forget" their gun back at home. It's a light beach read.
Rachel Fairfield is going to attempt to break the world altitude record for women at this balloon event. She has been receiving threatening letters so she hired Charlie Parker and her brother Ron to investigate. Rachel's father was just released from prison, and he's on the list of suspects.
There were a lot of things in this mystery that didn't seem too credible, but that often happens in the cozy mystery genre. Charlie Parker is a likable amateur sleuth and sometimes has good insights, but I can't imagine anyone paying someone that just happens to "forget" their gun back at home. It's a light beach read.
October 17, 2015
Charlie and Ron are hired to protect Balloon aviator Mary Fairchild. She is going to try for world record for high at the Balloon Festival. She has been receiving death threats. The main suspect is her Father who now out prison. Mary was responsible for putting him there. Ron starts looking for the father and Charlie will stay with Mary. This book has many turnes to keep you guessing and theend will surprise you
January 5, 2025
This was a decent mystery. I have to admit I wanted to read it because I have always wanted to go to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival. This read really didn't provide me with enough description to feel like I "was there", but it was enjoyable enough to finish it and decide to try another one of her mysteries.
February 19, 2018
Hot Air Ballooning & a Mystery too.
PG-13
No Sex
Limited strong language
Danger and tension but no gory violence
I hesitated to get this book because it is several stories in to the series, but it looked promising. I'm glad I did. There is no dependence on previous books in order to under understand the characters, nor are there any annoying references to other plots or adventures .
Charlie & her brother are hired after a hot air balloonist gets threatening notes just before she attempts a world record. They are to track down the #1 suspect, who was just released from prison, and keep him away. Trouble is, he seems to be quite innocent. Then who is writing the notes and why?
My guess was complete!y wrong.
Read and enjoy.
PG-13
No Sex
Limited strong language
Danger and tension but no gory violence
I hesitated to get this book because it is several stories in to the series, but it looked promising. I'm glad I did. There is no dependence on previous books in order to under understand the characters, nor are there any annoying references to other plots or adventures .
Charlie & her brother are hired after a hot air balloonist gets threatening notes just before she attempts a world record. They are to track down the #1 suspect, who was just released from prison, and keep him away. Trouble is, he seems to be quite innocent. Then who is writing the notes and why?
My guess was complete!y wrong.
Read and enjoy.
August 18, 2022
Charlie takes on some bodyguard work, trying to protect a balloonist angling for a world record flight. Naturally, things don't go as planned.
Great story! I've only been to New Mexico once, but reading about the festivals, people, and food (of course) makes me want to go back for a visit. Nicely done!
Great story! I've only been to New Mexico once, but reading about the festivals, people, and food (of course) makes me want to go back for a visit. Nicely done!
September 25, 2024
very exciting, I guessed Charlie was pregnant right at the beginning with all her symptoms. It was sad when she lost the baby.
It is also sad that now she has PTSD to fly the helicopter since the last book.
It is also sad that now she has PTSD to fly the helicopter since the last book.
February 25, 2019
hoopla audio still not as good as the Sweet series
February 29, 2020
Fun to read about the balloon fiesta
January 12, 2024
Yet another great book in the Charlie Parker series. Love the characters and narrator!
July 21, 2025
Always fun to read a book with a subject I am unfamilar with - Hot Air Ballooning. Great plot & good read.
October 22, 2025
Killed cat for no reason
October 11, 2013
Racheal Fairfield is attempting to set a new women's balloon flying record at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. She begins to receive threatening notes and can not figure out who is behind these notes, altho she suspects it might be her father who was recently released from prison. She hires the Investigation Firm owned by Ron Parker to find out who is behind the notes and to be her bodyguard as she pursues her attempt to break the balloon record. Ron assigns his sister, Charlie, to help out with the case. This book is a fun, quick and easy read.
August 13, 2015
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5...
An enjoyable murder mystery. I've only been ballooning once, but it was a great experience & I wouldn't mind doing it again some time.
An enjoyable murder mystery. I've only been ballooning once, but it was a great experience & I wouldn't mind doing it again some time.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews