Her last bit of Vienna music. She recognized it instantly. It was Aase’s Death, from Peer Gynt, by Edvard Grieg, but where she was used to hearing the recording in her grandmother’s house performed by an entire orchestra, the sound was coming from a lone violin. It was fragile, and heart-wrenching.
She looked up to see a little boy, no more than seven or eight, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, standing near a pillar, his violin case open in front of him. He was busking for change, but at that moment, money seemed to be the last thing on his mind. He was moving the bow so effortlessly across the strings, his eyes closed, as if he was the only person in the world and completely in tune with the music.
Diana heaved in an uneven breath as she listened, letting the mournful song set her spirits aloft. She thought of the many problems she’d had on this trip, with her family, the murders, the missed connections and skipped sightseeing opportunities, all the other obstacles that had settled in her way and seemed so insurmountable, and her heart felt light. This wasn’t a race, or a competition, or an escape, and it certainly wasn’t about ticking off points on a map. Everything seemed so trivial now. What mattered was that she was here, and the world was open for her, waiting for her to discover, and discover herself. That was all there was to it, to this crazy journey. Discovering herself.
She only knew she was crying when she felt the lone tear, making its way down her cheek, past her lips, and dangling off the end of her chin.
When the train pulled into the station, she walked over to the little boy, who’d just finished playing his tune, and dropped a few euros into his case. He nodded, his blonde curls bouncing, and said, “Danke sehr aufmerksam.”
She wasn’t quite sure what that meant, but she knew enough to understand that Danke meant “thank you,” so she shook her head. “No. Danke to you. You have no idea what your playing meant for me.”
The little boy grinning, showing two missing front teeth. “Auf Wiedersehen!”
“Goodbye!” she said, hoisting her bag onto her shoulder and climbing onto the train.
She couldn’t stop smiling as she settled herself into her seat and got herself comfortable for the long journey ahead. She pulled out her journal and happily marked a line through the words, Be moved to tears by beautiful music.
Her phone buzzed with a text from Bea: Hai took me out for sushi. It’s actually not that terrible. In fact, I’m craving a dragon roll right now.
She laughed. That was Bea, rushing head-first into battle without knowing who her opponent was. She typed in: I knew it would work out. Love you. On to Barcelona.
Bea responded with: Love you, too, Mommy. Have a great time. J
Picking up her journal, she turned the page and wrote: Barcelona.
Now, she thought, what do I want to do there?
As she was trying to decide, her phone started to ring with an unfamiliar number. For a moment, she thought about not answering, but in the last second, she decided to pick up. “Hello?”
“Is this the lovely Diana St. James?”
She recognized the accent at once, and her pulse thrummed with excitement. It was her old Irish friend that she’d met in Paris, Sean. It felt like ages since she’d last seen him, when he’d been ready to travel off somewhere . . . He, too, said he’d be tooling around Europe for the next few months, and hoped that maybe they’d run into one another. “Sean? How nice to hear from you!”
“That’s me, love. How are you making your way through Europe?”
“Very well, thanks. I’m in Vienna, now, but just getting on a train. Heading out tonight.”
“Where are you heading to?”
“Barcelona, by way of Zurich. Where are you?”
“Barcelona, eh? You were talking about going there the last time we saw each other, I think. What happened?”
“Oh. I flipped that coin like you told me to, and it landed on heads, so I went to Florence instead!”
“Ah. Well, now I think it’s time you explore the tail-end of that coin. And I think that’s a sign. I haven’t made my way up to Ballygangargin just yet. I’m here in Portugal. What do you say I meet you halfway?”
“Halfway?” Her heart started to beat madly. “You really would?”
“That’s right, lass, I was thinking that should be my next stop, anyway. And I’d love to see you.”
“Great! I’ll be there tomorrow evening.” She checked her ticket. “At eight. You’ll meet me at the station?”
“It’s a date. I look forward to seeing you, love. Say hello to Austria for me.” He ended the call, and she found herself grinning some more as she stared out the window. Without her realizing it, the train had begun pulling from the station, and now Vienna was disappearing from view as the skies darkened.
She reached into her bag and found the coin Sean had given her in Paris, to flip so she could make her decision between Florence and Barcelona. It was old, and more octagonal than circular, with what looked like Gaelic runes upon it. She wasn’t sure if she believed that certain items could bring good luck, but she held it close to her heart and stroked its raised surface, she felt for sure it was possible to will things into existence, if only a person dreamed about them enough.
After all, she’d finally been moved to tears by music, which proved that she wasn’t as jaded as she thought. So maybe that meant that she wasn’t too old to find love?
She stared down at the empty page, then uncapped her pen and began to write.
NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!
A FATALITY IN SPAIN
(A Year in Europe—Book 4)
“When you think that life cannot get better, Blake Pierce comes up with another masterpiece of thriller and mystery! This book is full of twists, and the end brings a surprising revelation. Strongly recommended for the permanent library of any reader who enjoys a very well-written thriller.”
--Books and Movie Reviews (re Almost Gone)
A FATALITY IN SPAIN is book #4 in a charming new cozy mystery series by USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose #1 bestseller Once Gone has received 1,500 five-star reviews. The series (A YEAR IN EUROPE) begins with book #1 (A MURDER IN PARIS).
Diana Hope, 55, is still adjusting to her recent separation when she discovers her ex-husband has just proposed to a woman 30 years younger. Secretly hoping they would reunite, Diana is devastated. She realizes the time has come to reimagine life without him—in fact, to reimagine her life, period.
Devoting the last 30 years of her life to being a dutiful wife and mother and to climbing the corporate ladder, Diana has been relentlessly driven, and has not taken a moment to do anything for herself. Now, the time has come.
Diana never forgot her first boyfriend, who begged her to join him for a year in Europe after college. She had wanted to go so badly, but it had seemed like a wild, romantic idea, and a gap year, she’d thought, would hinder her resume and career. But now, with her daughters grown, her husband gone, and her career no longer fulfilling, Diana realizes it’s time for herself—and to take that romantic year in Europe she’d always dreamed of.
Diana prepares to embark on the year of her life, finally turning to her bucket list, hoping to tour the most beautiful sights and sample the most scrumptious cuisines—and maybe, even, to fall in love again. But a year in Europe may have different plans in store for her. Can A-type Diana learn to go with the flow, to be spontaneous, to let down her guard and to learn to truly enjoy life again?
In A FATALITY IN SPAIN (Book #4), Diana decides to let go and take a chance at love, meeting up with her newfound friend in Barcelona, and trying to muster the courage to fulfill her lifelong dream of running with the bulls in Pamplona. Between the great food, the sunny streets, and her new love, life seems alive again—until a murder turns her world upside down. Can Diana save the case and herself—along with her summer?
A YEAR IN EUROPE is a charming and laugh-out-loud cozy mystery series, packed with food and travel, with mysteries that will leave you on the edge of your seat,
and with experiences that will leave you with a sense of wonder. As Diana embarks on her quixotic quest for love and meaning, you will find yourself falling in love and rooting for her. You will be in shock at the twists and turns her journey takes as she somehow finds herself at the center of a mystery, and must play amateur sleuth to solve it. Fans of books like Eat, Pray, Love and Under the Tuscan Sun have finally found the cozy mystery series they’ve been hoping for!
SCANDAL IN LONDON (Book #5), AN IMPOSTER IN DUBLIN (Book #6), SEDUCTION IN BORDEAUX (Book #7), JEALOUSY IN SWITZERLAND (Book #8), and A DEBACLE IN PRAGUE (Book #9) are now also available!
A FATALITY IN SPAIN
(A Year in Europe—Book 4)
Did you know that I've written multiple novels in the mystery genre? If you haven't read all my series, click the image below to download a series starter!
Blake Pierce
Blake Pierce is the USA Today bestselling author of the RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seventeen books. Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising fourteen books; of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising six books; of the KERI LOCKE mystery series, comprising five books; of the MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE mystery series, comprising six books; of the KATE WISE mystery series, comprising seven books; of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising six books; of the JESSIE HUNT psychological suspense thriller series, comprising nineteen books, of the AU PAIR psychological suspense thriller series, comprising three books; of the ZOE PRIME mystery series, comprising six books; of the ADELE SHARP mystery series, comprising thirteen books; of the EUROPEAN VOYAGE cozy mystery series, comprising six books; of the new LAURA FROST FBI suspense thriller, comprising four books (and counting); of the new ELLA DARK FBI suspense thriller, comprising six books (and counting); of the A YEAR IN EUROPE cozy mystery series, comprising nine books (and counting); of the AVA GOLD mystery series, comprising three books (and counting); and of the RACHEL GIFT mystery series, comprising three books (and counting).
ONCE GONE (a Riley Paige Mystery--Book #1), BEFORE HE KILLS (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 1), CAUSE TO KILL (An Avery Black Mystery—Book 1), A TRACE OF DEATH (A Keri Locke Mystery—Book 1), WATCHING (The Making of Riley Paige—Book 1), NEXT DOOR (A Chloe Fine Psychological Suspense Mystery—Book 1), THE PERFECT WIFE (A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller—Book One), IF SHE KNEW (A Kate Wise Mystery—Book 1), and MURDER (AND BAKLAVA) (A European Voyage Cozy Mystery—Book 1) are each available as a free download on Amazon!
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
BOOKS BY BLAKE PIERCE
RACHEL GIFT MYSTERY SERIES
HER LAST WISH (Book #1)
HER LAST CHANCE (Book #2)
HER LAST HOPE (Book #3)
AVA GOLD MYSTERY SERIES
CITY OF PREY (Book #1)
CITY OF FEAR (Book #2)
CITY OF BONES (Book #3)
A YEAR IN EUROPE
A MURDER IN PARIS (Book #1)
DEATH IN FLORENCE (Book #2)
VENGEANCE IN VIENNA (Book #3)
A FATALITY IN SPAIN (Book #4)
SCANDAL IN LONDON (Book #5)
AN IMPOSTOR IN DUBLIN (Book #6)
SEDUCTION IN BORDEAUX (Book #7)
JEALOUSY IN SWITZERLAND (Book #8)
A DEBACLE IN PRAGUE (Book #9)
ELLA DARK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER
GIRL, ALONE (Book #1)
GIRL, TAKEN (Book #2)
GIRL, HUNTED (Book #3)
GIRL, SILENCED (Book #4)
GIRL, VANISHED (Book 5)
GIRL ERASED (Book #6)
LAURA FROST FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER
ALREADY GONE (Book #1)
ALREADY SEEN (Book #2)
ALREADY TRAPPED (Book #3)
ALREADY MISSING (Book #4)
EUROPEAN VOYAGE COZY MYSTERY SERIES
MURDER (AND BAKLAVA) (Book #1)
DEATH (AND APPLE STRUDEL) (Book #2)
CRIME (AND LAGER) (Book #3)
MISFORTUNE (AND GOUDA) (Book #4)
CALAMITY (AND A DANISH) (Book #5)
MAYHEM (AND HERRING) (Book #6)
ADELE SHARP MYSTERY SERIES
LEFT TO DIE (Book #1)
LEFT TO RUN (Book #2)
LEFT TO HIDE (Book #3)
LEFT TO KILL (Book #4)
LEFT TO MURDER (Book #5)
LEFT TO ENVY (Book #6)
LEFT TO LAPSE (Book #7)
LEFT TO VANISH (Book #8)
LEFT TO HUNT (Book #9)
LEFT TO FEAR (Book #10)
LEFT TO PREY (Book #11)
LEFT TO LURE (Book #12)
LEFT TO CRAVE (Book #13)
THE AU PAIR SERIES
ALMOST GONE (Book#1)
ALMOST LOST (Book #2)
ALMOST DEAD (Book #3)
ZOE PRIME MYSTERY SERIES
FACE OF DEATH (Book#1)
FACE OF MURDER (Book #2)
FACE OF FEAR (Book #3)
FACE OF MADNESS (Book #4)
FACE OF FURY (Book #5)
FACE OF DARKNESS (Book #6)
A JESSIE HUNT PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
THE PERFECT WIFE (Book #1)
THE PERFECT BLOCK (Book #2)
THE PERFECT HOUSE (Book #3)
THE PERFECT SMILE (Book #4)
THE PERFECT LIE (Book #5)
THE PERFECT LOOK (Book #6)
THE PERFECT AFFAIR (Book #7)
THE PERFECT ALIBI (Book #8)
THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR (Book #9)
THE PERFECT DISGUISE (Book #10)
THE PERFECT SECRET (Book #11)
THE PERFECT FAÇADE (Book #12)
THE PERFECT IMPRESSION (Book #13)
THE PERFECT DECEIT (Book #14)
THE PERFECT MISTRESS (Book #15)
THE PERFECT IMAGE (Book #16)
THE PERFECT VEIL (Book #17)
THE PERFECT INDISCRETION (Book #18)
THE PERFECT RUMOR (Book #19)
CHLOE FINE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
NEXT DOOR (Book #1)
A NEIGHBOR’S LIE (Book #2)
CUL DE SAC (Book #3)
SILENT NEIGHBOR (Book #4)
HOMECOMING (Book #5)
TINTED WINDOWS (Book #6)
KATE WISE MYSTERY SERIES
IF SHE KNEW (Book #1)
IF SHE SAW (Book #2)
IF SHE RAN (Book #3)
IF SHE HID (Book #4)
IF SHE FLED (Book #5)
IF SHE FEARED (Book #6)
IF SHE HEARD (Book #7)
THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE SERIES
WATCHING (Book #1)
WAITING (Book #2)
LURING (Book #3)
TAKING (Book #4)
STALKING (Book #5)
KILLING (Book #6)
RILEY PAIGE MYSTERY SERIES
ONCE GONE (Book #1)
ONCE TAKEN (Book #2)
ONCE CRAVED (Book #3)
ONCE LURED (Book #4)
ONCE HUNTED (Book #5)
ONCE PINED (Book #6)
ONCE FORSAKEN (Book #7)
ONCE COLD (Book #8)
ONCE STALKED (Book #9)
ONCE LOST (Book #10)
ONCE BURIED (Book #11)
ONCE BOUND (Book #12)
ONCE TRAPPED (Book #13)
ONCE DORMANT (Book #14)
ONCE SHUNNED (Book #15)
ONCE MISSED (Book #16)
ONCE CHOSEN (Book #17)
MACKENZIE WHITE MYSTERY SERIES
BEFORE HE KILLS (Book #1)
BEFORE HE SEES (Book #2)
BEFORE HE COVETS (Book #3)
BEFORE HE TAKES (Book #4)
BEFORE HE NEEDS (Book #5)
BEFORE HE FEELS (Book #6)
BEFORE HE SINS (Book #7)
BEFORE HE HUNTS (Book #8)
BEFORE HE PREYS (Book #9)
BEFORE HE LO
NGS (Book #10)
BEFORE HE LAPSES (Book #11)
BEFORE HE ENVIES (Book #12)
BEFORE HE STALKS (Book #13)
BEFORE HE HARMS (Book #14)
AVERY BLACK MYSTERY SERIES
CAUSE TO KILL (Book #1)
CAUSE TO RUN (Book #2)
CAUSE TO HIDE (Book #3)
CAUSE TO FEAR (Book #4)
CAUSE TO SAVE (Book #5)
CAUSE TO DREAD (Book #6)
KERI LOCKE MYSTERY SERIES
A TRACE OF DEATH (Book #1)
A TRACE OF MUDER (Book #2)
A TRACE OF VICE (Book #3)
A TRACE OF CRIME (Book #4)
A TRACE OF HOPE (Book #5)
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