Connie Shelton Books In Order

Deadly Gamble

Charlie Parker really doesn’t want to track down killers. She’s an accountant and a partner with her brother in a private investigation business. But when her old friend Stacy North comes looking for help, Charlie gives in and agrees to help. Stacy’s Rolex watch is missing and she’s afraid her husband Brad will find out. The truth is that she was seeing another man, and she’s terrified of Brad’s legendary temper. Charlie finds the missing watch no problem but when the ‘other man’ suddenly turns up dead, Stacy is desperate. Could Charlie find out who the real killer is before the police connect Stacy to the victim? Solving the puzzle turns out to be the challenge of Charlie’s life. ‘Charlie is just what readers want.’ Booklist ‘An impressive debut mystery!’ Albuquerque Journal ‘Charlie is slick, appealing, and nobody’s fool’ Booklist

Vacations Can Be Murder

In Charlie’s words, ‘Vacations mean different things to different people. There’s the planning, the packing, the anticipation. Then there’s the late arrival, the sunburn, the fuzzy pictures. In my case, add a romance with a good looking pilot and fourteen stitches in the back of my skull.’ Gilbert Page was a slick businessman from California, with an alcoholic wife, a spoiled rotten son, and a blonde on his arm. Charlie is riding front seat on a helicopter tour when she and the pilot spot Page’s lifeless body lying on the rugged rocks of Kauai’s NaPali coast. Drake is the pilot flying the tour helicopter that gives Charlie her aerial vantage point. When the flight is over, Charlie assumes her acquaintance with Drake is, too. Within twenty four hours, though, Drake’s friend and employer, Mack Garvey, is arrested for Page’s murder. Although Charlie would rather avoid the whole mess, Drake persuades her to help clear Mack. The investigating officer has an old grudge against Mack, and it doesn’t help that Mack knew the victim and owed him a half million dollars. Charlie roots out the suspects one by one, never guessing that her own life will be in danger before her vacation is over. ‘A good selection for all collections.’ Library Journal ‘Tension is fast paced in this involving account.’ Bookwatch ‘Shelton has created a female sleuth with an original slant to her methods.’ Small Press Magazine

Partnerships Can Kill

Charlie returns home to Albuquerque after her Hawaiian vacation. Her brother, Ron, meets her at the airport. And guess what? Ron’s in love. Is there anything worse than a middle aged man smitten silly?Yes Charlie finds out, when it turns out that Ron’s new sweetie is almost twenty years younger! Cute Vicky is full of secrets and Ron is about to get hurt. In addition to Ron’s problems, Charlie runs into an old friend whose business partner has apparently just committed suicide. If that’s true, Sharon Ortega will probably lose her business. If it wasn’t suicide, Sharon might end up in jail for murdering her partner. It’s a no win situation until Charlie sorts out the puzzle. Here’s what others have said about the Charlie Parker mysteries:’A well written, by the book whodunit that will enthrall purists. Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth.’ Midwest Book Review’Down to earth and very readable.’ Library Journal’Charlie is slick, appealing, and nobody’s fool…
‘ Booklist

Small Towns can be Murder

Tucked into the mountains and valleys of northern New Mexico are the hidden towns, little enclaves of history and tradition and secrets. Charlie and her office assistant Sally Bertrand decide to visit Sally’s hometown of Valle Escondido over the July 4th weekend, and when they drop in on a friend they learn that Cynthia Martinez suddenly suffered a miscarriage and died. Privately, friends wonder if spousal abuse caused her death. Charlie agrees to ask a few questions and see what she can find out. Meanwhile, Charlie and her brother Ron have an ongoing dispute over gun control. Since the two of them were trapped by a killer only a month earlier, he’s insisting that she learn to defend herself. And Drake Langston, the helicopter pilot she met in Hawaii, is coming to visit and the romance is heating up. The three plots intertwine and Charlie discovers awful secrets buried deep in the small town. ‘…
superbly crafted story…
‘ Gothic Journal ‘Another delicious read for the beach.’ The Pilot, Southern Pines, N.C ‘Three plot strands are capably and grippingly entwined, and Shelton doesn’t shirk from confronting big issues while keeping us deftly entertained with an enjoyable and resourceful character. Soft, but with a hard center. Or vice versa.’ Crime Time, Birmingham, England

Memories can be Murder

A trip to the attic can be a voyage into a frightening past. Charlie Parker has no idea, when she begins organizing storage space for her fiance’s move in, that simply cleaning out the attic will throw her back in time to the events leading up to her parents’ fatal plane crash. Drake will arrive in a few days and Charlie is making room to combine their two households. But the dusty attic holds more than just memories. In her father’s small leather notebook is a cryptic message that translates into danger for Charlie as she discovers that his top secret work as a scientist at Sandia Labs during the Cold War years still has certain people worried. ‘Memorable details…
and an edgy, paranoid atmosphere.’ Booklist ‘Connie Shelton has another winner.’ The Book Report

Honeymoons Can Be Murder

It’s Christmas and Charlie and Drake are finally able to go on their honeymoon. It’s a mixed blessing they get to spend three months at the famed Taos Ski Valley, but Drake will be working as he shuttles skiers to the top of the mountain with his helicopter. When Drake’s assistant, Eloy Romero, is accused of killing his own brother, a Catholic priest, Charlie offers to help sort out the clues. Drawn into the art world for which Taos is known, Charlie begins to uncover connections between the murdered priest and the theft of millions of dollars in religious artifacts. As the pieces click into place, she finds that she and Drake are placing their lives on the line. ‘Shelton again has done a superb job in bringing New Mexico to life in her colorful, vivid descriptions…
. Readers can only hope the likable characters, fast paced plots and local color will continue in another installment.’ Albuquerque Journal ‘…
a delightfully complex mystery.’ Romantic Times 4 out 5 five stars ‘…
a good bet…
‘ Booklist

Reunions Can Be Murder

An unpleasant female lawyer barges into Charlie’s office and demands that the firm immediately drop everything and find her elderly father, who has gone missing all because there is a big family reunion coming up. Charlie knows she’s going to regret this, but she gives in. The hunt takes her on a wild chase when she learns that Willie McBride was an avid gold prospector. Praise for the Charlie Parker mystery series: ‘…
a female sleuth with an original slant to her methods.’ Small Press Magazine ‘Charlie is slick, appealing, and nobody’s fool just what readers want in an amateur sleuth.’ Booklist ‘Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth.’ Midwest Book Review ‘A good story and a challenging puzzle.’ Robert O. Greer, National Public Radio ‘Down to earth and very readable.’ Library Journal ‘Tension is fast paced in this involving account.’ Midwest Book Review

Competition Can Be Murder

Charlie and Drake are off to Scotland, where they will live in a cottage on the grounds of an ancient castle. Taking a helicopter contract to help a friend, they’ll shuttle workers out to the oil rigs in the North Sea. Unfortunately, the boat operators in the area have waged an embittered battle with the helicopter operators and the animosity is palpable. Meanwhile, Charlie is asked by the lord of the castle to help with an unsolved case there, and soon three mysteries are competing for her time. Lives hang in the balance and Charlie’s flying skills are put to the ultimate test over the frigid waters of the North Sea. Praise for the Charlie Parker Mysteries: ‘Charlie is slick, appealing, and nobody’s fool–just what readers want in an amateur sleuth.’ — Booklist ‘A well-written, by the book who-done-it that will enthrall purists. Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth.’ — Midwest Book Review ‘Shelton’s engaging story, likable hero*ine, and comfortable prose make this a good choice.’ –Library Journal

Balloons can be Murder

‘Shelton has created a lively hero in Charlie and puts her into situations that require prompt action and good common sense. A Charlie Parker mystery is always a good read.’ Southwest BookViews

Three days before the start of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, balloon pilot Rachael Fairfield walks into the offices of RJP Investigations. She received a threatening note, which she believes came from her father, a convicted felon whom she sent to prison 15 years earlier. To complicate matters, her brother has initiated a huge publicity campaign for the world altitude record Rachael plans to attempt on the final Sunday of the fiesta.

It seems simple enough. Charlie and her brother Ron will locate William Fairfield and keep him away from Rachael for the duration of the fiesta. But as they follow leads on William Fairfield, the threats escalate, and Ron and Charlie start to wonder whether he’s really the stalker. Amid the color and beauty of the world’s largest ballooning event, Charlie also finds herself at odds with her husband and reas*sessing her life’s priorities. Only when she nearly loses her own life do the answers begin to fall into place.

Connie Shelton is a lifelong mystery fan who wanted to be Nancy Drew when she grew up. Now she relives her mystery fantasies through her Charlie Parker series. In addition to writing the series, she has served as president of her local writers group and is active in Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America. Shelton is also a frequent speaker at writing and publishing conferences. She lives in northern New Mexico and central Arizona with her husband, author and helicopter pilot Dan Shelton.

Obsessions can be Murder

Charlie is on vacation. A cozy cabin, a diner that serves delicious guilty pleasures, and Drake all Charlie needs to relax and enjoy herself. But the town of Watson’s Lake has a little unsolved mystery. Four years ago, a showplace home beautiful and serene and tucked away on the mountain blew sky high, due to an apparent gas leak. A young woman died. The owner disappeared. His gold digging wife wants the insurance money, and his daughter wants to know what happened to her father. Charlie can’t resist this kind of investigation…
As she sifts through the clues, Charlie finds that the residents of this small lakeside town in northern New Mexico seem to know more than they’re willing to say including the sheriff. The more Charlie learns, the more mysterious the missing David Simmons becomes. Could David have intentionally double crossed his family, or is there a more sinister reason for his disappearance?

Holidays Can Be Murder

In Charlie’s words, ‘Vacations mean different things to different people. There’s the planning, the packing, the anticipation. Then there’s the late arrival, the sunburn, the fuzzy pictures. In my case, add a romance with a good looking pilot and fourteen stitches in the back of my skull.’ Gilbert Page was a slick businessman from California, with an alcoholic wife, a spoiled rotten son, and a blonde on his arm. Charlie is riding front seat on a helicopter tour when she and the pilot spot Page’s lifeless body lying on the rugged rocks of Kauai’s NaPali coast. Drake is the pilot flying the tour helicopter that gives Charlie her aerial vantage point. When the flight is over, Charlie assumes her acquaintance with Drake is, too. Within twenty four hours, though, Drake’s friend and employer, Mack Garvey, is arrested for Page’s murder. Although Charlie would rather avoid the whole mess, Drake persuades her to help clear Mack. The investigating officer has an old grudge against Mack, and it doesn’t help that Mack knew the victim and owed him a half million dollars. Charlie roots out the suspects one by one, never guessing that her own life will be in danger before her vacation is over. ‘A good selection for all collections.’ Library Journal ‘Tension is fast paced in this involving account.’ Bookwatch ‘Shelton has created a female sleuth with an original slant to her methods.’ Small Press Magazine

Gossip Can Be Murder

Charlie is invited to a plush Santa Fe spa, a week long spiritual/medical retreat with her friend Linda Casper. The massages and spa treatments sound great, but she doesn’t realize that there is something darker going on at the mountain resort. Meanwhile, Drake has his own set of concerns. He’s been asked to testify as an expert witness in a helicopter crash case and it’s causing him more anxiety than any feat of flying ever did. It seems that Charlie and Drake are each on their own, but their two cases overlap and they find their lives in danger, in more ways than one. ‘Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth.’ Midwest Book Review ‘Charlie is slick, appealing, and nobody’s fool just what readers want.’ Booklist ‘This is a dandy. Don’t miss it!’ Book Talk

Sweet’s Sweets

Samantha Sweet is about to realize her dream of opening her pastry shop, Sweet’s Sweets. Juggling the crazy amount of work it takes to get her new business off the ground, with her old job of breaking into houses, she’s got her hands full. When a blood soaked garment is found among the discards at one of her properties, and a friend makes a shocking confession, Sam finds herself pulled into a pair of mysteries. The wooden box that came into her possession in Sweet Masterpiece is still working its magic, giving Sam the power to see inside people’s secrets and figure out who the killer is. Praise for Connie Shelton’s previous mysteries: ‘Shelton continues to combine suspenseful storytelling with sensitive portrayals of complex family relationships.’ Booklist ‘Connie Shelton has another winner.’ The Book Report