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Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman (A Salem B&B Mystery)
by Traci Wilton
Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman (A Salem B&B Mystery)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting – Massachusetts
Kensington Cozies (August 22, 2023)
Mass Market Paperback : 304 pages
ISBN-10 : 1496741374
ISBN-13 : 978-1496741370
Digital ASIN : B0BNWG9V65
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Saturday night at the movies has some added flair now that Darren and Elise Shultz are reopening one of Salem’s classic theaters. Charlene is delighted to help the couple with their venture, and Darren has lined up a cult classic double-header featuring Lon Chaney in The Wolfman. But things get hairier than expected when Elise starts to choke on her popcorn mid-movie—and once the lights go up,
she’s dead . . .
When tests reveal Elise’s popcorn was poisoned, Detective Sam Holden eyes her husband as the guilty party. Charlene doesn’t believe Darren would hurt his wife—even if his company’s specialty seasoned salts were sprinkled on the fatal snack. But who else had a motive to do something so unsavory? With a little help from Jack, the handsome ghost who haunts her B&B, Charlene delves into the ill-fated couple’s past. And the more she learns, the more Charlene wonders if this time, she’s bitten off more than she can chew . . .
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Enjoy this peek inside:
Excerpt from Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman after Charlene and Avery arrive at the Spellbound Movie Theater for opening night and the double feature of The Wolf Man, and Frankenstein meets the Wolf Man.
The historic three-story brick building had a flat rooftop sporting castle-like crenellation. It had been many things since first built in the 1800s. During the last few years, the brickwork had fallen in disrepair as the building had been empty and derelict.
Darren and Elise Shultz had moved from Saint Mary’s, Pennsylvania, to Salem six months prior and saved it from the wrecking ball. Opening a theater was a dream come true for Darren who’d made over a million dollars creating specialty seasoned salts. They’d picked Salem because Elise was from here, and her sister, Patty Wagner, owned a bakery that would supply the soft-baked pretzels at the theater, making it a family affair.
Charlene, new business liaison for Salem, had welcomed Darren and Elise with open arms. Her bed and breakfast thrived and Brandy Flint, president of the City of Salem business board, had talked her into accepting the position to share her expertise as part of the community.
“Someday I want a car like Darren’s,” Avery said as they walked by the sleek black Tesla. It screamed understated success.
“I’m working on a passenger van.” Charlene kept her tone droll. “The Pilot will have to suffice for a while longer.”
“I think you should forget the van and order the gazebo and hot tub.” Avery peered at Charlene from over the rim of pink sunglasses. The teen was adorable in short cutoff jeans, sneakers without socks, and a T-shirt advertising Spellbound Movie Theater. Her soft light-brown hair bounced at the top of her slender shoulders.
“You’ve been talking to Minnie,” Charlene said.
“Maybe.” Avery laughed, guilty as charged.
Charlene could attribute the B and B’s success directly to her housekeeper’s magic in the kitchen, and it had earned Charlene’s amazing reviews online. Gaining positive reviews was part of her marketing strategy, and she’d shared that tidbit with Darren and Elise for the movie theater.
She was impressed by the updated building as well as the miracles time and money could buy. What had leaned sadly to the left was now rebricked and straight. Outside aesthetic, check. Movie specials to bring in the crowds, check. This was just the sort of venue to draw people into Salem. There was no city better at making lemonade from lemons.
“Hey! Can you get the door?” a female voice called from behind them.
Charlene turned as Avery said, “Sure!”
A stylish brunette woman in a leather mini skirt with suit jacket and three-inch black heels held a bouquet of purple-blue flowers. “I can hardly see,” she said, shifting them to one side of her face. Long lashes with cat-eye liner showed off mirthful brown eyes.
Avery opened the door and the scent of fresh popcorn with butter and salt escaped. Charlene had been clueless about designer seasoning salts until meeting Darren. They weren’t his passion though; that had been the movie theater, so he didn’t mind pouring money into the venture to get it off the ground. Elise backed his project all the way.
“I’m Klara Maxwell,” the woman behind the flowers said. “Darren’s salt sales rep from Pittsburgh. You see that new car out there? Well, I aim to ensure he can afford ten of them by this time next year. We’re going global!”
Charlene laughed at the young woman’s enthusiasm. It reminded her of when she and Jared, her beloved soulmate, had worked at the ad agency in Chicago. There was a lot of energy in creation and vibrant salespeople made a world of difference in a product launch. This was the first time she’d met the rep and Darren spoke of Klara highly.
“I’m Charlene, and this is Avery.” She was glad they weren’t the only late attendees. “Nice to meet you.”
The door shut behind them.
“And you,” Klara said, long lashes blinking as she took it all in. “Wow.”
The interior of the movie theater rivaled the bright lights of a casino. Yellows, blues, reds. Plush carpet beneath their feet, a popcorn machine, pretzels, soda. She even smelled roasted peanuts.
“This is so cool!” Avery removed her sunglasses and scanned the deceptively dim lobby. There were no other movie-goers down here, but laughter was audible from upstairs. Her gaze was drawn to the teen boy across the lobby by the popcorn machine.
Movie posters of The Wolf Man, Frankenstein meets the Wolf Man, House of Frankenstein, Dracula, The Mummy, Frankenstein, and Frankenstein’s Bride, were in mega color on the walls. It was like going back in time. Charlene could appreciate the art of the old posters if not the movies themselves. She was willing to keep an open mind.
Darren’s vision all along had been to bring the movie theaters from his childhood to life. He’d grown up in Germany and escaped what he referred to as his personal hell in the cavern-ish sanctuary of darkness. The Wolf Man franchise starring Lon Chaney Jr. was his favorite series and he and Franco knew all the lines.
Franco Lordes was the film expert at the theater. Things were digital now, but Franco’s expertise was in the old-fashioned reels. He could repair them and had a reverence for them shared by Darren.
You just never knew who might get you in this world. Charlene didn’t care for Hollywood, old or new, but she was all about the buttery, salty popcorn that Darren somehow elevated to new heights with his unique flavors. According to Elise, he had a palate on par with the top chefs of the world.
“Welcome!” Darren called as he and Elise strode toward them. He was dark-haired and Elise blonde. Darren was just a smidge taller than Charlene at five-eight compared to Elise’s five-foot even. He had a muscled chest with a broad forehead, and she was petite to her toes.
“Klara!” Darren roared her name, laughing as he carefully accepted the bright purple-blue flowers and took the vase from her hands. “Only you would dare bring wolfsbane to my opening night.”
Elise blinked prettily. Diamonds winked from her earlobes as well as her fingers and she wore an ivory sundress. “Wolfsbane? Isn’t that poison and supposed to ward off werewolves?”
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About Traci Wilton
From cozy mysteries to seaside romance, USA Today bestselling author Traci Hall writes stories that captivate her readers. As a hybrid author with over sixty published works, Ms. Hall has a favorite tale for everyone. Mystery lovers, check out her Scottish Shire series, set in the seaside town of Nairn, or the Salem B&B Mystery series, co-written as Traci Wilton. Her latest project is an Irish Castle cozy as Ellie Brannigan. Whether it’s her ever-popular By the Sea romances, an Appletree Cove sweet romance, or a fun who-done-it, Traci finds her inspiration in sunny South Florida, living right near the ocean.
Author Links: Website / Facebook / Facebook / Facebook / Twitter
Amazon / Instagram / Kensington
Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Apple – Kobo
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Joyce Proell is the award-winning author of Amaryllis, Eliza and the Cady Delafield mysteries: A Deadly Truth, A Burning Truth and A Wicked Truth. Along with her husband and little dog, Nellie, she lives in Minnesota in her very own little house on the prairie. She loves to hear from readers.
Brenda Whiteside is the award-winning author of romantic suspense, romance, and cozy mystery. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have settled in Central Arizona. They admit to being gypsies at heart and won’t discount the possibility of another move. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW fishes, Brenda writes.
