Scrapbook of Murder

by Lois Winston

  Scrapbook of Murder

  An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery

  By Lois Winston

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Acclaim for the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries

  About Scrapbook of Murder

  Scrapbook of Murder

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  FOURTEEN

  FIFTEEN

  SIXTEEN

  SEVENTEEN

  EIGHTEEN

  NINETEEN

  TWENTY

  Anastasia’s Scrapbooking Tips

  Drop Dead Ornaments

  A Note from the Author

  About the Author

  Books by Lois Winston

  Copyright

  Scrapbook of Murder copyright 2017 by Lois Winston. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, locations, or events is coincidental or fictionalized.

  Cover designs by L. Winston

  Acclaim for the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries

  Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun

  “Crafty cozies don’t get any better than this hilarious confection...Anastasia is as deadpan droll as Tina Fey’s Liz Lemon, and readers can’t help cheering as she copes with caring for a host of colorful characters.” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)

  “Winston has hit a homerun with this hilarious, laugh-until-your-sides-hurt tale. Oddball characters, uproariously funny situations, and a heroine with a strong sense of irony will delight fans of Janet Evanovich, Jess Lourey, and Kathleen Bacus. May this be the first of many in Winston’s Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series.” – Booklist (starred review)

  “A comic tour de force...Lovers of funny mysteries, outrageous puns, self-deprecating humor, and light romance will all find something here.” – ForeWord Magazine (Book-of-the-Year nominee)

  “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum. Funny, gutsy, and determined, Anastasia has a bright future in the planned series.” – Kirkus Reviews

  “...a delightful romp through the halls of who-done-it.” – The Star-Ledger

  “Make way for Lois Winston’s promising new series...I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next installment in this thoroughly delightful series.” – Mystery Scene Magazine

  “...once you read the first few pages of Lois Winston’s first-in-series whodunit, you’re hooked for the duration...” – Bookpage

  “...madcap but tough-as-nails, no holds barred plot and main character...a step above the usual crafty cozy.” – The Mystery Reader

  “...Anastasia is, above all, a JERSEY girl..., and never, ever mess with one of them. I can’t wait ‘til the next book in this series...” – Suspense Magazine

  “Anastasia is as crafty as Martha Stewart, as feisty as Stephanie Plum, and as resourceful as Kinsey Millhone.” – Mary Kennedy, author of the Talk Radio Mysteries

  “Fans of Stephanie Plum will love Lois Winston’s cast of quirky, laughable, and loveable characters. Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun is clever and thoroughly entertaining—a must read!” – Brenda Novak, New York Times best-selling author

  “What a treat—I can’t stop laughing! Witty, wise, and delightfully clever, Anastasia is going to be your new best friend. Her mysterious adventures are irresistible—you’ll be glued to the page!” – Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity award-winning author

  “You think you’ve got trouble? Say hello to Anastasia Pollack, who also happens to be queen of the one-liners. Funny, funny, funny—this is a series you don’t want to miss!” – Kasey Michaels, USA Today best-selling author

  Death by Killer Mop Doll

  “Anastasia is a crafting Stephanie Plum, surrounded by characters sure to bring chuckles as she careens through the narrative, crossing paths with the detectives assigned to the case and snooping around to solve it.” – Booklist

  “Several crafts projects, oodles of laughs and an older, more centered version of Stephanie Plum.” – Kirkus Reviews

  “In Winston’s droll second cozy featuring crafts magazine editor Anastasia Pollack...readers who relish the offbeat will be rewarded.” – Publishers Weekly

  “...a 30 Rock vibe...Winston turns out another lighthearted amateur sleuth investigation. Laden with one-liners, Anastasia’s second outing (after Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun) points to another successful series in the works.” – Library Journal

  “Winston...plays for plenty of laughs...while letting Anastasia shine as a risk-taking investigator who doesn’t always know when to quit.” – Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine

  Revenge of the Crafty Corpse

  “Winston peppers the twisty and slightly edgy plot with humor and plenty of craft patterns. Fans of craft mysteries will like this, of course, but so will those who enjoy the smart and snarky humor of Janet Evanovich, Laura Levine, and Laura DeSilverio.” – Booklist

  “Winston’s entertaining third cozy plunges Anastasia into a surprisingly fraught stew of jealousy, greed, and sex...” and a “Sopranos-worthy lineup of eccentric character...” – Publishers Weekly

  “Winston provides a long-suffering heroine, amusing characters, a...good mystery and a series of crafting projects featuring cloth yo-yos.” – Kirkus Reviews

  “A fun addition to a series that keeps getting stronger.” – Romantic Times Magazine

  “Chuckles begin on page one and the steady humor sustains a comedic crafts cozy, the third (after Death by Killer Mop Doll)... Recommend for Chris Grabenstein (“John Ceepak” series) and Jess Lourey readers.” – Library Journal

  “You'll be both surprised and entertained by this terrific mystery. I can't wait to see what happens in the Pollack household next.” – Suspense Magazine

  “The book has what a mystery should...It moves along at a good pace...Like all good sleuths, Anastasia pieces together what others don’t...The book has a fun twist...and it’s clear that Anastasia, the everyday woman who loves crafts and desserts, and has a complete hottie in pursuit, will return to solve another murder and offer more crafts tips...” – Star-Ledger

  Decoupage Can Be Deadly

  “Decoupage Can Be Deadly is the fourth in the Anastasia Pollock Crafting Mysteries by Lois Winston. And it’s the best one yet. More, please!” – Suspense Magazine

  “What a great cozy mystery series. One of the reasons this series stands out for me as a great one is the absolutely great cast of characters. Every single character in these books is awesomely quirky and downright hilarious. This series is a true laugh out loud read!” – Books Are Life–Vita Libri

  “This is one of these series that no matter what, I’m going to be laughing my way through a comedy of errors as our reluctant heroine sets a course of action to find a killer while contending with her eccentrically dysfunctional family. This adventure grabs you immediately delivering a fast-paced and action-filled drama that doesn’t let up from the first page to the surprising conclusion.” – Dru’s Book Musings

  “Lois Winston’s reluctant amateur sleuth Anastasia Pollack is back in another wild romp.” – The Book Breeze

  A Stitch to Die For

&
nbsp; “A Stitch to Die For is the fifth in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries by Lois Winston. If you’re a reader who enjoys a well-plotted mystery and loves to laugh, don’t miss this one!” – Suspense Magazine

  Scrapbook of Murder

  “This is one of the best books in this delightfully entertaining whodunit and I hope there are more stories in the future.” – Dru’s Book Musings

  “Scrapbook of Murder is a perfect example of what mysteries are all about—deft plotting, believable characters, well-written dialogue, and a satisfying, logical ending. I loved it!” – Suspense Magazine

  “I read an amazing book recently, y'all — Scrapbook of Murder by Lois Winston, #6 in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries. All six novels and three novellas in the series are Five Star reads.” – Jane Reads

  “Well written, with interesting characters.” – Laura’s Interests

  “…a quick read, with humour, a good mystery and very interesting characters!” – Verietats

  Drop Dead Ornaments

  “I always forget how much I love this series until I read the next one and I fall in love all over again...” – Dru’s Book Musings

  “Drop Dead Ornaments is a delightful addition to the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series. More, please!” – Suspense Magazine

  “I love protagonist Anastasia Pollack. She’s witty and funny, and she can be sarcastic at times…A great whodunit, with riotous twists and turns, Drop Dead Ornaments was a fast, exciting read that really kept me on my toes.” – Lisa Ks Book reviews

  “Drop Dead Ornaments is such a fantastic book…I adore Anastasia! She's clever, likable, fun to read about, and easy to root for.” – Jane Reads

  “…readers will be laughing continually at the antics of Anastasia and clan in Drop Dead Ornaments.” – The Avid Reader

  “I love this series! Not only is Anastasia a ‘crime magnet,’ she is hilarious and snarky, a delight to read about and a dedicated friend.” – Mallory Heart’s Cozies

  “It is always a nice surprise when something I am reading has a tie in to actual news or events that are happening in the present moment. I don't want to spoil a major plot secret, but the timing could not have been better…Be prepared for a dysfunctional cast of quirky characters.” – Laura’s Interests

  “This is a Tour de Force of a Murder/Mystery.” – A Wytch’s Book Review

  “A series worth checking out.” – The Ninja Librarian

  “I flew through this book. Winston knows how to make a reader turn the page. It’s more than a puzzle to solve—I was rooting for people I cared about. Anastasia Pollack is easy to like, a good mother, a good friend, and in a healthy romantic relationship, the kind of person you’d want on your side in a difficult situation.” – Indies Who Publish Everywhere

  “Lois Winston’s cozy craft mystery Drop Dead Ornaments is an enjoyable…roller-coaster ride, with secrets and clues tugging the reader this way and that, and gentle climbs and drops of suspense and revelation to keep them reading.” – Here’s How It Happened

  “Anastasia is a take-charge woman with a heart for her family–even her ex-family members who don’t (in my opinion) deserve her kindness… What I like best about Anastasia is how she balances her quest for justice with the needs and fears of her family… I can’t wait to read more of her adventures and the progress of her relationship with her family and her boyfriend.” – The Self-Rescue Princess

  “…a light-hearted cozy mystery with lots of energy and definitely lots of action and interaction between characters.” – Curling Up By the Fire

  “I thought the plot was well thought out and the story flowed well. There were many twists and turns…and I enjoyed all the quirky characters. I was totally baffled as to who the killer was and was left guessing to the very end.” – Melina’s Book Blog

  “(Anastasia’s) wit and sarcasm lend a bit of humor to this cozy, and the story kept me intrigued right up to the end.” – The Books the Thing

  Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide

  “Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide” is a laugh-out-loud, well plotted mystery, from a real pro! A ho-ho hoot!” – Suspense Magazine

  “Merry Crises! Lois Winston has brought back Anastasia’s delightful first-person narrative of family, friends, dysfunction, and murder, and made it again very entertaining! Anastasia’s clever quips, fun stories, and well-deserved digs kept me smiling, and reading the many funny parts to my husband…does that count as two thumbs up in one? What a great journey!” – Kings River Life Magazine

  “Once again, the author knows how to tell a story that immediately grabbed my attention and I couldn’t put this book down until the last page was read…. This was one of the best books in this delightfully lovable series and I can’t wait to see what exciting adventures await Anastasia and her friends.” – Dru’s Book Musings

  “This was such a fun quick read. I can't wait to read more of this series.” – A Chick Who Reads

  “The story had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.” – 5 Stars, Baroness Book Trove

  “Christmas, cozy mystery, craft, how can I not love this book? Humor, twists and turns, adorable characters make this story truly engaging from the first to the last page.” – LibriAmoriMiei

  Take a murder mystery, add some light-hearted humor and weird characters, sprinkle some snow and what you get is Handmade Ho-Ho Homicide—a perfect Christmas Cozy read. –5 stars, The Book Decoder

  About Scrapbook of Murder

  An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery

  By Lois Winston

  Crafts and murder don’t normally go hand-in-hand, but normal deserted craft editor Anastasia Pollack’s world nearly a year ago. Now, tripping over dead bodies seems to be the “new normal” for this reluctant amateur sleuth.

  When the daughter of a murdered neighbor asks Anastasia to create a family scrapbook from old photographs and memorabilia discovered in a battered suitcase, she agrees—not only out of friendship but also from a sense of guilt over the older woman’s death. However, as Anastasia begins sorting through the contents of the suitcase, she discovers a letter revealing a fifty-year-old secret, one that unearths a long-buried scandal and unleashes a killer. Suddenly Anastasia is back in sleuthing mode as she races to prevent a suitcase full of trouble from leading to more deaths.

  Scrapbook of Murder

  An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery

  By Lois Winston

  Dedication

  In memory of Carolyn Grayson

  Acknowledgements

  Special thanks to Donnell Bell and Irene Peterson for their superb editorial skills.

  ONE

  “Lupe called me at work this afternoon,” I told Zack. We had escaped after dinner to his apartment. Situated above my detached garage, it afforded us a spot out of earshot of my mother-in-law Lucille, whose contempt for Zack grew exponentially with each passing day. Being permanently saddled with the woman was hard enough on a good day. Today was not a good day.

  Zack finished pouring two glasses of chardonnay and handed one to me. I wandered over to the sofa and curled up in the corner. He followed, taking a seat next to me. The seconds ticked by. He shifted his body to face me. I suppose he was waiting for me to say something further, but my brain had stopped sending signals to my mouth.

  Zack continued to wait. And wait. And wait some more. Finally, he asked, “Should I run an errand during this extremely long, pregnant pause, or are you planning to elaborate sometime soon?”

  I heaved a sigh, then polished off half my wine before answering him. “She asked if she could come over this evening to talk.”

  “About?”

  I speared him with my best duh! look. “Isn’t it obvious?”

  “You have to stop blaming yourself, Anastasia. You’re not responsible for what happened.”

  Right. And the captain of the Titanic wasn’t responsible for steering his ship into a giant iceberg. “Carmen is dead because of me. How can Lupe not blame me?” />
  Lupe Betancourt is Carmen Cordova’s daughter. She grew up down the street from me. Years ago she occasionally babysat my boys. Now they often babysit her kids. Or they did. I doubt Lupe will want any of us Pollacks in her home ever again.

  Two-and-a-half weeks ago Lawrence Tuttnauer, my mother’s sixth and latest husband, was arrested for orchestrating the cold-blooded murders of two of my neighbors, Lupe’s mother Carmen and Betty Bentworth. He’d never met either of them. His hit man had chosen them at random because Lawrence wanted my attention diverted from the suspicious death of his daughter Cynthia. I didn’t know it at the time, but I’d poked my nose into the wrong person’s business.