Category Archives: Crime Thriller

#21 Family Lies

A Miranda and Parker Mystery

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What do you do when your best friend’s brother is accused of murder?

Things at the Parker Agency have been pretty slow since Maui, and Miranda wonders if this is the real way to retire…until Parker gets a call from Dr. Jackson Taggart, Chief of Staff at Saint Benedictine Hospital—Parker’s best friend.

Jackson just got a frantic call from his brother. There’s been an accident. He needs their help.

They rush to the scene and find cops all over the place. A woman has been stabbed to death beside her own backyard pool in an upscale Buckhead neighborhood.

It’s a grisly scene.

And the prime suspect is standing there covered in the victim’s blood.

Jackson’s brother.Now Miranda and Parker have to prove he’s innocent—even though all the evidence says he’s guilty.

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CHAPTER ONE

DANIEL’S JOURNAL – WEEK 1

I love my wife. Really, I do. She was my soul mate.

And yes, I used the past tense. Things have changed. But how could they not after all these years?

I’ll admit we’ve had some rough patches in our marriage, but that’s to be expected over the course of a life-long commitment, isn’t it?

Feelings don’t remain at the same intensity. That isn’t normal. We shouldn’t expect it. If we did, we would be fools.

I don’t know why she thinks we’re having trouble. We do everything right. We talk. We make love on a regular basis. We even have date night. We’re fine.

There’s nothing wrong with us.

We don’t need a marriage counselor. There. I put it down in writing.

No disrespect to your profession, Doctor, but we simply don’t need you.

That’s all I have to say.

CHAPTER TWO

In her fancy ergonomic chair in her fancy office at the Parker Agency, Miranda Steele stretched her arms and yawned.

For a moment she closed her eyes, but when she caught herself almost snoring, she opened one of them to check the time.

Nearly five. Quitin’ time. Yay.

Slowly, the memory of trudging over volcanic ash, her thighs burning, her heart pounding with sheer dread, came over her.

It had been just over a week since their harrowing adventure in Maui—where they had decided not to retire from hunting down killers.

They must have done a reverse psychology number on the universe. When they’d wanted to retire, cases had kept coming their way.

But now that they had said, heck no. We’re not retiring. There was nothing but…crickets.

That was a good thing. They needed the time to recover.

And yesterday evening, she’d introduced Mackenzie to her grandfather in a three-way call between Atlanta, London, and Maui.

One of the best moments of her life.

But today things were almost too quiet around the office. Most of what was once Miranda’s team was on assignment. And Gen was off on vacation, so Parker had her doing admin work.

Yippee.

But she did have the nice dinner Parker had promised her to look forward to.

Deciding to get the grunt work over with, she sat up and peered at her computer screen. Ah, the zen of payroll. As in, boring as all get out.

She squinted at the form. Holloway had worked sixty-eight hours last week? Doing what? Had Parker approved that?

She scrolled down. Didn’t see his signature. Or an explanation.

Better ask before she put it through. Holloway could be sneaky.

She got up, made the short L-shaped turn to Parker’s office, and stepped inside to the gleaming modern decor.

Parker sat at his desk, his dark hair perfectly styled, not the hint of a wrinkle in his dark blue suit and tie, as fresh as if he’d just stepped out of the shower. Or the salon.

But his handsome face was creased with concern.

He was on his phone.

“Calm down. We’ll do all we can. We’re on the way.”

Uh oh.

He hung up and looked at her with a piercing gaze.

“What’s wrong?”

He rose from the desk. “Get your things. We’ve got to go now.”

“What is it?” “I’ll tell you in the car. And bring your Beretta.”

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Family Lies: A Gripping Mystery That Will Keep You Guessing

For fans of Harlan Coben, Lisa Gardner, and “The Undoing”

When a wealthy architect’s wife is found brutally murdered beside their luxury pool, everyone assumes he’s guilty. But private investigators Wade Parker and Miranda Steele know the truth is never that simple.

Hired by the suspect’s desperate brother, this dynamic husband-and-wife detective team races against time to prove his innocence. What they uncover is a twisted web of forbidden love, deadly jealousy, and family secrets that will shock even seasoned investigators.

Perfect for readers who devoured Gone Girl, binge-watched Big Little Lies, or can’t get enough of Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware series and Michael Connelly’s Lincoln Lawyer books. If you love the sophisticated mysteries of Ruth Ware and the domestic suspense of Shari Lapena, you’ll be captivated by this twisty thriller.

What readers are saying:

  • “Couldn’t put it down!”
  • “The perfect blend of suspense and romance”
  • “Move over Stephanie Plum—Miranda Steele is my new favorite!”

Miranda and Wade navigate Atlanta’s elite social circles, where designer suits hide dark motives and picture-perfect marriages conceal devastating betrayals. With forensic detail worthy of CSI and relationship dynamics reminiscent of Hart to Hart, this unputdownable mystery delivers shocking reveals right up to the final page.

Download now and discover why readers are calling this “the most addictive mystery series since JD Robb’s In Death books!”

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#20 Deadly Encore

A Miranda and Parker Mystery

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Once again, Miranda and Parker are on their way to Maui.

Not for a second honeymoon this time.

For a murder trial

After which, they are determined to retire. For real, this time.

But when they reach the exotic tropical island, nothing is what they expected.

Once again, Parker’s life is at stake and so is Miranda’s.

Can they stop this vicious killer in time?

Or will their retirement start with death?

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CHAPTER ONE

Jonathan Ha’aheo sat alone at a table in the visiting room of the jail, drumming his fingers on the cheap laminate table bolted to the floor.

Two tables away another prisoner was talking to a little boy while his woman held a baby and smiled at him tearfully.

Sickening.

A few guards stood along the gray cinder block walls at the edge of the room keeping a sharp eye on things.

The good part was that the family reunion had their attention.

No one had noticed the wooden shank in his pocket. He’d spent months shaping it to a sharp point.

He wasn’t going to use it here. He’d kept in shape. Nobody bothered him.

No, the shank was for the trial.

His dumb shit public defender had told him someone very special would be there to testify.

That haole, Wade Parker.

The man who killed his father.

And in the courtroom, when Parker walked to the witness stand, that was when Jonathan would make his move.

He’d have just one chance. He’d have to be fast. The guards would shoot him. But if the last thing he ever did was stab Wade Parker to death, it would be worth it.

He heard shuffling.

A man was coming toward him accompanied by a guard.

His visitor.

He’d thought it was his lawyer, but this was somebody else.

Jeans torn at the knees, a dark aloha shirt, worn athletic shoes. Stringy dark hair, a short dark beard, a patch over one eye. He would have been scary, but Jonathan didn’t scare easy.

Who the heck was he?

He walked funny. Like he had a stone in his shoe.

He reached the table and sat down.

“Twenty minutes,” the guard said and moved to the wall to stand watch.

Jonathan stared at the man.

After a long moment, he spoke. “Hello, Jonathan. How are you?”

Haole accent.

Jonathan sneered. “How do you think I am trapped in this place for something I didn’t do?”

The man smiled smugly, as if he was all too familiar with that lie.

Jonathon studied his tan leathery skin.

Now he knew who this man was. Cho’s uncle. He lived on the mainland. And he was rich. His former toady must have sent him here.

Nice of Cho to give him some company.

“Your trial is tomorrow.” the man said.

“So?”

“The news stations say you’ll get life.”

Except he’d never serve it. “What’s it to you?”

Cho’s uncle glanced at the guard, turned a bit, and spoke under his breath. “I’m in need of a helper.”

Jonathan snorted out a laugh. What was this guy smoking? “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He leaned in closer. “I understand you have certain…skills.”

Skills? Everyone knew what kind of skills he had. He had been the head of Huaka’i Po. The Night Marchers, the street gang named after an ancient legend that struck terror in the heart of every tourist and native.

Wait. He had no reason to trust this man. He’d never even met Cho’s uncle. Was he working for the prosecution? Was he trying to get more evidence against him?

Jonathan sat back and curled a lip. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I think you do.”

His brown eyes glowed with intensity. He was serious.

Idly, Jonathan ran a fingertip over the surface of the table. “Maybe.”

“I would like to hone those skills.”

How was he going to do that? After tomorrow he’d be dead. “I don’t think I have room in my schedule.”

He chuckled. “I can take care of that.”

What the hell did that mean?

“I just need your cooperation. If you’re brave enough.”

He was plenty brave. He would show everyone how brave he was in the courtroom tomorrow.

Cho’s uncle got to his feet.

That was it?

“I hope you’ll consider my offer. It could be the chance of a lifetime.” He reached for Jonathan’s hand and shook it.

Then he turned and walked away.

Stunned, Jonathan stared at him until the guard came and took him back to his cell.

When the door was shut and the guard was gone, Jonathan went to the corner.

He had felt something when Cho’s uncle shook his hand, but the dumb shit guard hadn’t seen it.

Slowly he opened his fist.

On his palm was a piece of paper. He opened it. Instructions.

As he read the words, he began to shake. He couldn’t believe this guy. Was he for real? Was Jonathan ready to find out?

The chance of a lifetime.

Maybe, just maybe he would take it.

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