The Novel Art of Murder, Paperback

Mystery bookstore owner Samantha Washington is trying to keep her grandmother from spending her golden years in an orange jumpsuit . . .

The small town of North Harbor, Michigan, is just not big enough for the two of them: flamboyant phony Maria Romanov and feisty Nana Jo. The insufferable Maria claims she's descended from Russian royalty and even had a fling with King Edward VIII back in the day. She's not just a lousy liar, she's a bad actress, so when she nabs the lead in the Shady Acres Senior Follies--a part Nana Jo plays every year in their retirement village production--Nana Jo blows a gasket and reads her the riot act in front of everyone.

Of course, when Maria is silenced with a bullet to the head, Nana Jo lands the leading role on the suspects list. Sam's been writing her newest mystery, set in England between the wars, with her intrepid heroine Lady Daphne drawn into murder and scandal in the household of Winston Churchill. But now she has to prove that Nana Jo's been framed. With help from her grandmother's posse of rambunctious retirees, Sam shines a spotlight on Maria's secrets, hoping to draw the real killer out of the shadows . . .

Praise for The Plot Is Murder

"Readers of Carolyn Hart and Vicki Delany will appreciate the lively seniors, the humor, and the bookstore environment."
--Library Journal

About the Author:

V.M. Burns is the acclaimed author of screenplays, children's books, and cozy mysteries, including the Dog Club Mysteries, the RJ Franklin Mysteries, and the Mystery Bookshop Series. Born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, V.M. Burns currently resides in Tennessee with her poodles. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Dog Writers Association of America, Thriller Writers International, and a lifetime member of Sisters in Crime. She can be found online at www.VMBurns.com.