by Martin Brown
The two were standing close to each other in James’ richly appointed wood-paneled office; her lawyer, mentor, and one of her legion of former lovers brushed his lips against her bare right shoulder as he imagined taking her right there.
“Don’t get any naughty thoughts, James; we agreed to keep our relationship strictly business going forward.”
“That would be easier to do if I didn’t find you so irresistible.”
“Well, try darling, try. If I continue to tempt you, I might have to take my business elsewhere.”
“You tease, but you would never do that. I’ve made you too much money.”
“If making me money were the only criteria, then I would take Henri LeBon to bed with me every night of the year.”
“I don’t think you're his gender of choice.”
“Dear Henri might surprise you.”
“I’d rather not find out,” James said with a smirk, while his eyes followed her delicate and tempting curves as she headed to his office door.
“Be a good girl to William if you meet him at the symphony’s gala. I think you two would hit it off. I'm serious!”
Willow never gave the idea of meeting James’ partner a second thought until Viktor’s tantrum occurred just before their planned departure. She dismissed James’ comments regarding William’s wealth as one more example of his penchant for overstatement. But in the few quiet moments she had in the car heading south down Van Ness Avenue toward the gala, Willow thought it wise to quickly search Wikipedia on her iPhone to see if this man, William Adams, was someone she wanted to meet.
“Oh my God,” she said softly to herself, as her driver negotiated yet another busy night on San Francisco’s streets. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized that Adams was indeed on Forbes’ list of the world’s wealthiest individuals. Not only on the list but up near the top.
She was suddenly taken by the thought of how such great wealth would forever change her life. Her success and a series of wise investments had brought her millions, but his billions made her look like the forlorn flower girl she saw on the street corner as her limousine stopped for yet another red light.
For over ten years, her life had been photo shoots, personal appearances, Lear jets, gorgeous women, handsome men, and embarrassingly high earnings. But Willow was well aware that the shelf life of a top model is even less than that of a world-class athlete. As Oscar and Gloria Bukowski frequently told Willow as a child, “All good things must come to an end.” She doubted most of her parents’ advice, but not that bit of wisdom. William Adams’ great fortune would undoubtedly outlive the lucrative but short-lived fame of Willow Wisp.
Buy The Wicked Wife
Novels in the Murder in Marin Series
The Gossiping Gourmet
(Book 1)
Warren Bradley, renowned as the local gadfly in the picture-perfect community of Sausalito, California, is esteemed by his admirers and despised by his detractors. But for love of his caramel chicken and cherry fudge brownies, everyone has a story to share regarding their fellow citizens--
Stories that too often find their way into his weekly gossip-filled newspaper column, "Heard About Town."
When the great chef and his admirers, the Sausalito Ladies of Liberty, take offense to a newly arrived Manhattan power couple, their insular world of tasty sauces and stinging insults leads to deadly results.
Everyone has his or her own theory as to who killed Warren. But it takes the combined efforts of Rob Timmons, the local newspaper publisher, and Eddie Austin, his childhood friend and Marin County’s top detective, to unravel this tale of delicious dishes and malicious deception.
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The Wicked Wife
(Book 2)
When billionaire William Adams—Belvedere’s most eligible widower—marries international superstar model Willow Wisp, local society’s leading women are dismayed. After all, she is half his age and, in their view, not interested in anything other than his money!
Like everyone else, newspaper publisher Rob Timmons, his assistant, Holly Cross, and his childhood friend, Sheriff’s Detective, Eddie Austin, are baffled when Willow suddenly disappears.
Is she dead or simply hiding in some far flung corner of the world with one of her many rumored lovers? Or was she the victim of a cuckolded husband, who learned too late that his trophy bride was in truth, a very wicked wife?
The truth lies somewhere between the posh hotels of Paris, the dazzling parties of San Francisco, and the lush green hills of Marin.
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The Phantom Photographer
(Book 3)
Michael Marks, the community-spirited volunteer photographer for the picture perfect town of Mill Valley, always has a smile on his face and a camera ready to capture his adopted hometown’s community events.
Not only is Michael one of Mill Valley’s most popular citizens, he’s also a source of wonder to his neighbors. How can this camera store clerk, who lives year-round in sweatshirt and sweatpants, afford to dine in the town’s most expensive restaurants and vacation in exotic places around the globe?
His sudden death puts Mill Valley’s rumor mill into overdrive. Was he just a generous eccentric with a particular passion for pleasing others? Or, was there another side to Michael Marks: a side that only his victims have had the chance to see?
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The Terrifying Teacher
(Book 4)
The death of Henrietta Hammer, Sausalito’s retired fifth grade teacher, who once terrified her students including Sheriff's Detective Eddie Austin, newspaper publisher Rob Timmons and his assistant Holly Cross, is greeted with bemused nostalgia.
But Hammer, who was left a very wealthy widow by her enterprising late husband, was the target of every one of the town’s charitable societies none of which could afford to await her natural death.
It all appeared to be a perfectly executed crime until the secret Mrs. Hammer kept for half a century inconveniently appears.
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The Horrible Husband
(Book 5)
William Bent, a.k.a. “Wild Bill,” is the top-ranked morning host on San Francisco’s KBUD. Known as the “King of Bro Talk Radio,” he is also the husband of Barbara Bent, a longtime girlfriend of Karin Timmons, Sharon Austin, and Holly Cross.
When Barbara admits to Holly that her marriage is a disaster and she needs to create a life for herself, Holly suggests she apply for a position at KLIB, a competing station known as “Radio for the Modern Woman.” Before long, “The Battling Bents” are Topic Number One throughout the Bay Area, and for good reason: the disdain between the soon-to-be divorced couple is obvious in their on-air barbs and very public slights.
When Wild Bill disappears without a trace, Barbara is naturally a suspect. But as Sheriff’s Detective Inspector Eddie Austin digs deeper he learns that Wild Bill had a long list of men and women who would be happy to see KBUD’s morning drive celebrity permanently off the air.
About Martin Brown
Martin Brown is an author and journalist whose articles on health and relationships have appeared in Redbook, Playboy, and Complete Woman magazines.
Martin, a native of New York City, is a graduate of the New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He began his career as a community affairs writer with WCBS Radio. He also worked as the public affairs officer for the New York City police association; and later in the same capacity for the Atlanta and Georgia police associations.
He began his work as a community news reporter in Atlanta with Creative Loafing. Later, in Marin County, he founded Signal Newspapers published in Sausalito, Tiburon, and Belvedere, California.
Today, he and his wife, novelist Josie Brown, live in the city of San Francisco, where their grown children and granddog also reside.
www.murderinmarin.com
Praise for Martin Brown
"I loved the setting--the characters pop off the page. The writing paints wonderful word pictures, bringing me right int
o the story. If you love small-town mysteries in the style of a parlor mystery ala Agatha Christie, this one's for you!"
Deborah Coonts, The Lucky O'Toole Vegas Adventure Series
“Martin Brown is an expert at crafting a tale that draws you in and keep your interest.”
Amazon’s DeeDee B.
"Hands down, my favorite mystery writer."
John Gray, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus
“Skillful writing. I love a mystery that takes a final twist, and has a great surprise ending. Better than many I've read recently. Good entertainment!”
Amazon’s Laura A.
"Martin knows Marin County, and it shows. With snarky humor, he's captured the essence of living in small affluent communities, where nosy neighbors relish learning dirty little secrets."
Josie Brown, The Housewife Assassin Series
Mr. Brown did a great job in the mystery's twists and turns while staying true to his characters. I highly recommend this book.
GrizzlyWife, Amazon
Copyright Information
The Gossiping Gourmet
A Murder in Marin Mystery – Book One
Text, Content and Design are registered trademarks of Martin Brown. © 2014 Martin Brown.
A Signal Press book.
V011321
ISBN# 978-1-942052-01-2
No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and authors assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of information contained herein.
This is a work of fiction. All incidents, corporate entities, and dialogue, and all characters with the exception of some well-known historical and public figures, are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Where real-life historical or public figures appear, the situations, incidents, and dialogues concerning those persons are entirely fictional and are not intended to depict actual events or to change the entirely fictional nature of the work. In all other respects, any resemblance to persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
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Published by Signal Press Books
San Francisco, California, USA
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Cover Design: ClickTwiceDesign.com
eBook Conversion: Austin Brown