Death Drops
Authors: Chrystle Fiedler
“Death Drops
is a gem! Entertaining, informative, and with a mystery that had me completely baffled!”
—Gayle Trent, author of
Killer Sweet Tooth
NATURE’S WAY MARKET AND CAFÉ SELLS HEALTHY FOODS AND NATURAL CURES FOR WHAT AILS YOU. BUT THERE IS NO CURE FOR MURDER. . . .
Even naturopathic doctors need a little stress relief—that’s why Willow McQuade, ND, takes a break to visit her Aunt Claire, owner of Nature’s Way Market and Café, on Long Island’s North Fork. But Willow’s serenity is shattered when she finds her aunt’s lifeless body on the market floor, a bottle of Mimulus lying nearby. Taken to calm one’s fear of misfortune, the flower essence clearly failed Aunt Claire . . . for her death was no accident.
But who would want to kill her? The police soon zero in on Willow herself, who stands to inherit Claire’s business and the rights to a breakthrough anti-aging cream. Desperate to prove her innocence, Willow turns to former police officer Jackson Spade for help. Together they unearth a slew of suspects, each with something to gain by Claire’s unnatural demise. But as Willow gets closer to the truth, a killer waits to administer one final dose of
death.
“An absorbing mystery and entertaining debut.”
—Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, writer/producer of
Designing Women
 | CHRYSTLE FIEDLER, |
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COVER DESIGN BY MIN CHOI • COVER ILLUSTRATION BY DAN CRAIG
Who would want to hurt Aunt Claire? A disgruntled customer? Someone she ticked off at the post office?
Despite her Zen nature, Aunt Claire did have a knack for getting into confrontations with certain folks. This child of the sixties was also a real activist, holding meetings for causes like workers’ rights and animal rights every week in the store. Suddenly, I heard a startled gasp from behind me. “What happened?”
Turning around, I found Aunt Claire’s passive-aggressive right hand, Janice Dorian, a stricken look on her face. Despite being surrounded by natural ways to calm down, she was an uptight forty-something, with a perpetually pinched face. “What have you done to her?”
“Nothing!” There was no one I loved more than my beloved Aunt Claire. “She’s gone, Janice. The police will be here any minute.”
Janice pushed past me and bent over Aunt Claire’s body. “Everything was fine until you came home. I’ve never seen her so agitated since you arrived.”
This was true but had to do with my efforts to bring my mother and Aunt Claire back together. Or maybe, her agitation had something to do with her new business venture. Even then, she hid it very well. “Janice, you know that we loved each other very much.” I pointed to the bottle of Mimulus. “I think she was murdered.” I explained my theory.
She snatched up the bottle before I could stop her and snarled, “You did this!” She waved the bottle at me. “This is your fault!”
DISCLAIMER
This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its author. It is intended to provide helpful and informative material on the subjects addressed in the publication. It is sold with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering medical, health, or any other kind of personal professional services in the book. The reader should consult his or her medical, health or other competent professional before adopting any of the suggestions in this book or drawing inferences from it.
The author and publisher specifically disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book.
Gallery Books
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2012 by Chrystle Fiedler
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Gallery Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Gallery Books trade paperback edition February 2012
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Designed by Jacquelynne Hudson
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Fiedler, Chrystle.
Death drops / Chrystle Fiedler.—1st Gallery Books trade paperback ed.
p. cm.—(Natural remedies mystery series)
1. Naturopathy—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3606.I327D43 2012
813'.6—dc23 2011043575
ISBN 978-1-4516-4360-2
ISBN 978-1-4516-4362-6 (ebook)
Dedicated to My Detective Dachshunds:
Holmes, Fletcher, and Wallander.
Best Friends, Protectors, Muses.
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