Murder (and Baklava) (A European Voyage Cozy Mystery—Book 1)
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“I’m glad I found you two!” she said. “And I must say, it’s good to see both of you safe and sound. No more adventures since this afternoon, eh?”
London smiled and crossed her fingers.
“No, and we’ll try to keep it that way, won’t we, Bryce?”
“Absolutely,” Bryce said.
Elsie petted the clean and well-trimmed little dog that London was holding in her arms.
“Goodness, I don’t believe I’ve seen this adorable puppy before,” she said.
London and Bryce laughed.
“Yes, you have,” London said. “It’s Mrs. Klimowski’s dog. But I’m not surprised that you don’t recognize him. He was such a mess when we dragged him out of the water, as soon as I got the chance I took him to the Nachtmusik’s beautician. She gave him a shampoo, and then we looked up how to take care of a Yorkshire Terrier’s coat. Most people who keep them as pets rather than show dogs keep their coats trimmed short, like his is now.”
“Aw, now he looks like a teddy bear,” Elsie said, scratching the dog under the chin.
“He looks like a real dog, if you ask me,” Bryce said. “An authentic scrappy little terrier, ready and eager to tangle with international jewel thieves. And the change was long overdue.”
A worried look crossed Elsie’s face.
“But who’s going to keep him now that Mrs. Klimowski is gone?” she said.
“Well, I talked to Captain Hays about that a while ago,” London said. “I guess you’ve heard that Mrs. Klimowski didn’t have any heirs. And it seems that she’s leaving her whole fortune to some semi-secret society called the Sisters of Mnemosyne. She didn’t leave any instructions for this little guy’s care, and no money either. So …”
London’s heart warmed as she finished her sentence.
“… it looks like I get to keep him.”
She also felt a lump form in her throat. It had never occurred to her until today that she might really love having a dog of her very own. Especially this little dog.
She added, “I don’t think he was very happy with Mrs. Klimowski, getting carried around in a bag like that. I want to give him a whole new life. And no more calling him Sir Reginald Taft. From now on it’s just Sir Reggie—isn’t it, buddy?”
The newly renamed dog let out a yap of approval. As London and her two friends laughed again, her phone rang.
“Oh, dear,” she said as she saw who was calling. “I’ve really got to take this.”
“Don’t tell me,” Elsie said. “It’s Jeremy Lapham.”
“That’s right,” London said. “After I talk to him, I’ll probably turn in for the night. I’ll see you both in Vienna when we get there!”
London walked toward the elevator as she took the call.
“Well done, London Rose!” Mr. Lapham exclaimed. “The captain told me all about your superb detective work! Congratulations and cheers and kudos are definitely in order. You’ve not only solved the mystery of our unfortunate passenger’s death, but you’ve put the Nachtmusik back en route to her next destination. With a little bit of luck, Epoch World Cruise Lines is likely to survive after all! And all thanks to you! Brava, my dear!”
“Thank you, sir,” London said as the elevator took her down to the Allegro deck.
“Now I suppose you’ll be happy to get back to your regular duties.”
“I think so, sir.”
But London felt an odd pang as she said so. At first she’d been reluctant to try her hand at crime solving, but something had changed. Was it possible that she was going to miss the mental challenge and adrenaline rush of being an amateur detective? Without meaning to, she’d been developing a taste for it.
Well, I might wind up doing it again someday, she thought. Who knows?
She also remembered what Borsos had said Swain Warrington said about her.
“I look forward to the day when London Rose and I match wits again.”
Was her path destined to cross his again one of these days?
London had no idea how she felt about that possibility.
“Where are you right now?” Mr. Lapham asked.
“On my way back to my room,” London said.
“Excellent! You’ll find a little surprise waiting for you there!”
And without another word, Mr. Lapham ended the call.
What on earth … ? London wondered.
She walked inside her room, set Sir Reggie down, and turned on the light. As the little dog clambered tiredly up onto the bed, London saw a startling and familiar sight. A silver compote cover was right in the center of her little table. She lifted the shiny lid, and sure enough, a golden piece of baklava was underneath. In front of it was a card that read:
With compliments and gratitude from Jeremy Lapham—
a favorite of yours, I believe!
London let out a gasp of surprised delight.
How did he know? she wondered.
She sat down and took a taste of the delicately layered, almost unbelievably rich and tasty dessert.
I guess that’s another mystery, she thought with a smile.
At least it didn’t involve anybody’s murder. And now she had the delicious pastries of Vienna to look forward to—and a pleasant, uncomplicated visit.
Or so she hoped.
Who knows what the future holds? she wondered.
NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!
DEATH (AND APPLE STRUDEL)
(A European Voyage Cozy Mystery—Book 2)
“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)
DEATH (AND APPLE STRUDEL) is book two in a charming new cozy mystery series by #1 bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose Once Gone has over 1,500 five-star reviews. The series begins with MURDER (AND BAKLAVA)—BOOK #1.
When London Rose, 33, is proposed to by her long-time boyfriend, she realizes she is facing a stable, predictable, pre-determined (and passionless) life. She freaks out and runs the other way—accepting instead a job across the Atlantic, as a tour-guide on a high-end European cruise line that travels through a country a day. London is searching for a more romantic, unscripted and exciting life that she feels sure exists out there somewhere.
London is elated: the European river towns are small, historic and charming. She gets to see a new port every night, gets to sample an endless array of new cuisine and meet a stream of interesting people. It is a traveler’s dream, and it is anything but predictable.
In Book 2, DEATH (AND APPLE STRUDEL), the cruise takes them into Vienna and Salzburg, home of Mozart and the birthplace of music, and all seems picture-perfect. Until, that its, their tour guide turns up dead after giving the passengers a tour of Mozart’s theatre. Suspicion falls on them. Who could have killed her? And why?
Laugh-out-loud funny, romantic, endearing, rife with new sights, culture and food, DEATH (AND APPLE STRUDEL) offers a fun and suspenseful trip through the heart of Europe, anchored in an intriguing mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing until the very last page.
Book #3 (CRIME AND LAGER) is now also available.
DEATH (AND APPLE STRUDEL)
(A European Voyage Cozy Mystery—Book 2)
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 K
ATE WISE mystery series, comprising seven books; of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising six books; of the JESSE HUNT psychological suspense thriller series, comprising fourteen books (and counting); of the AU PAIR psychological suspense thriller series, comprising three books; of the ZOE PRIME mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); of the new ADELE SHARP mystery series, comprising four six books (and counting); and of the new EUROPEAN VOYAGE cozy mystery series.
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), and IF SHE KNEW (A Kate Wise 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
EUROPEAN VOYAGE COZY MYSTERY SERIES
MURDER (AND BAKLAVA) (Book #1)
DEATH (AND APPLE STRUDEL) (Book #2)
CRIME (AND LAGER) (Book #3)
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)
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)
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 LONGS (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)