It’s my absolute pleasure to showcase Heather Weidner’s latest release, and the second book in her Delanie Fitzgerald Mystery series. Heather is the force behind the multi-author blog, Pens, Paws, and Claws, of which I am one of the authors, and she’s also a very talented writer and gifted storyteller.
Author Name: Heather Weidner
Book Title: The Tulip Shirt Murders
Book Genre: Mystery/Female Sleuth
Release Date: November 15, 2017
Synopsis: Private investigator Delanie Fitzgerald, and her partner, Duncan Reynolds, are back for more sleuthing in The Tulip Shirt Murders. When a music producer hires them to find out who is bootlegging his CDs, Delanie uncovers more than just copyright thieves. And if chasing bootleggers isn’t bad enough, strip club owner and resident sleaze, Chaz Smith, pops back into Delanie’s life. The police have their man in a gruesome murder, but the loud-mouthed strip club owner thinks there is more to the open and shut case.
Excerpt: Delanie Fitzgerald hopped on the stool at Lucille’s Lounge to get a better view of the guy she tailed. He leaned forward, inching closer to a raven-haired woman at the end of the bar. Delanie ordered a ginger ale and straightened her Lycra dress. The glances from the other male patrons let her know that it was the perfect outfit for this evening.
The man looked past his companion and stared at Delanie, who smiled and tossed her red curls over her shoulder. She sipped her drink and waited. The dark-haired woman moved on to talk to two guys at the pool table. The man picked up his drink and slid into the empty seat next to Delanie. That didn’t take long, she thought.
“Hey, there,” he said, moving in closer and brushing her shoulder with his.
“Hi,” she said as she pressed her lips together in a half-smile.
“I haven’t seen you in here before.”
“I’m new in town. And this looked like a fun place to spend a Saturday night. I didn’t want to stay home by myself.
“It’s a friendly place,” he said, signaling the bartender for a refill.
“I’ll be back in just a minute. Don’t go anywhere, and save my seat,” she said, winking at the forty-ish man next to her.
“Hurry back,” he said, leaning toward her.
A few minutes later, she pulled her barstool back. “Did you miss me?” A full drink greeted her on her return.
“Most certainly,” he said, scooting his barstool closer to hers.
“Thanks for the refill. I didn’t catch your name.”
“It’s Joey.”
“Well, hello, Joey. I’m Misti,” she said, sticking two fingers into her glass. When she pulled her hand back, the pearly white nail polish turned purple. She smiled and pretended to take a sip. “So, Joey, what do folks do for excitement around here in Mechanicsville? I’ve only been here a month or so. And I need some ideas for fun.”
He leaned toward her again. Any closer, and he’d be sitting in her lap. “I like to have a good time. We could go somewhere quiet and have our own party. And we could talk about other things we could do next weekend.”
About the author: Heather Weidner’s short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series and 50 Shades of Cabernet. She is a member of Sisters in Crime – Central Virginia, Guppies, Lethal Ladies Write, and James River Writers. The Tulip Shirt Murders is her second novel in her Delanie Fitzgerald series.
Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.
Heather earned her BA in English from Virginia Wesleyan College and her MA in American literature from the University of Richmond. Through the years, she has been a technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. Find her at www.heatherweidner.com.
Find the book on all the usual suspects, including Amazon.