Isabel & Alma Trumbo Cozy Mystery Series

Quiet Anchorage, Virginia, is like any other sleepy small town until Jake Robbins is murdered, and his fiancée Megan Connors is arrested for it. The laidback, good ole boy Sheriff Roscoe Fox feels smugly confident he’s got the right culprit, Megan Connors, locked up in his jail. It’s a feather in his cap to help give his re-election campaign for town sheriff a boost. However, not all the townies believe Sheriff Fox has so niftily solved Jake’s murder. Megan’s feisty septuagenarian aunts, Isabel and Alma Trumbo, are angry with Sheriff Fox. They decide they better set aside their hobby of playing Scrabble and get busy as amateur sleuths. They are avid mystery fans with their large home library filled with every whodunit they’ve read, so they know the tricks of their craft. They befriend the twentysomething Sammi Jo Garner who takes no guff off anybody and becomes the sisters’ assistant as they snoop away and unravel Jake’s murder mystery. The debut series novel from Ed Lynskey, QUIET ANCHORAGE is a fun addition to the cozy mystery genre in the tradition of Agatha Christie, Jessica Fletcher, and Anne George.

Down in the sleepy, quaint Virginia small town of Quiet Anchorage, murder is the last thing any person living there would expect to happen on a summer day. Sisters Isabel and Alma Trumbo—both are retired seniors in their seventies although Alma is quick to point out she’s the younger sister—look forward to spending their leisurely days playing Scrabble and sipping tall glasses of iced tea. They love nothing better than chatting with the Three Musketeers—Ossie Conger, Blue Trent, and Willie Moccasin—lolling on their wooden bench just outside of Main Street’s flower shop. Or relaxing at Eddy’s Deli where they munch on his irresistibly delicious bear claws, catch up with his waitress Tabitha, and drink his fresh brewed coffee. When the sisters’s young friend Sammi Jo Garner becomes the prime suspect in her father Ray Burl's homicide; however, they shrug off taking it easy and get back to work investigating his murder. Of course, someone driven to bump off Ray Burl isn’t likely to be intimidated by a pair of little, old lady sleuths snooping around—until they get too close to revealing who the killer is. The Cashmere Shroud is the second title in the popular, well-received cozy mystery series featuring a memorable cast of funny characters and a charming small town setting. The series titles are clean reads and traditional whodunits. Join Isabel and Alma Trumbo with their beagle Petey Samson when they set off on their latest mystery as amateur sleuths that is as fun and challenging for them as it is for the reader.   

Phyllis Garner, the kooky and funny bag lady, refuses to accept her best friend Ladybug Miles’ death is an accidental drowning in the Cornet River. The blustery, know-it-all Sheriff Roscoe Fox has officially called it that way. However, Phyllis holds it was murder, plain and simple. No matter how much Sheriff Fox tries sway her thinking, she refuses to budge. So, she asks her retired friends Isabel and Alma Trumbo to do their crafty snooping in small town Quiet Anchorage, Virginia. Phyllis hopes they can root out the truth about what happened to Ladybug and bring her killer to justice. Phyllis’ devoted niece Sammi Jo also pitches in to assist the sisters, and the game is afoot. Isabel and Alma reach out for aid from the elderly but spry Three Musketeers warming their wooden bench in front of Main Street’s flower shop. The bonus for dog lovers comes when Isabel and Alma’s adorable, mischievous beagle Petey Samson plays a big role. The mystery plot takes a couple of surprising end twists before they can bring it to a satisfactory close. The Ladybug Song, the third book in the popular, well-received Isabel and Alma Trumbo Cozy Mystery Series, delivers the usual delightful small town setting, gentle humor, and good-hearted amateur lady sleuths who never say slow down or quit until it’s finished. Join Isabel and Alma when they set off on solving their latest mystery as amateur sleuths that is as fun and challenging for them as it is for the reader.

For their next outing, Isabel and Alma Trumbo, the ace sister sleuths living in small town Quiet Anchorage, Virginia, are planting marigolds in their flowerbed when Alma unearths a curious bone. Isabel suspects it’s a dinosaur bone while Alma insists it belongs to Betsy Sweet, a young woman who went missing three summers ago. After a spirited debate, Isabel finally accepts Alma’s explanation, and they take their evidence to Sheriff Roscoe Fox who’s been enjoying a quiet, peaceful summer. He is reluctant to accept the bone and their speculations of murder. Isabel and Alma call on their young assistant Sammi Jo Garner and their elderly gentlemen friends known as the Three Musketeers for help. They discover the murder victim’s father Russell called her “Sweet Betsy” before his fatal construction accident in Florida. The arrival of Betsy’s grieving mother Doris in Quiet Anchorage from Florida and her meeting Isabel and Alma increases the urgency to find the truth behind Betsy’s murder. The sisters use their beagle Petey Samson to play an important role in their snooping. Sweet Betsy is a clean read and a traditional whodunit set in a charming small town. Join Isabel and Alma when they set off on solving their latest mystery as amateur sleuths that is as fun and challenging for them as it is for the reader.

Quiet Anchorage, Virginia, is just like any other small town but with one notable difference: the dead bodies keep turning up. Fortunately, Sheriff Roscoe Fox, who never met a sugar-glazed doughnut served with coffee he didn’t like, can depend on the sisters sleuths Isabel and Alma Trumbo. This time tragedy strikes Blue Trent, one of the codgers affectionately known as the Three Musketeers who warm the wooden bench just outside the flower shop on Main Street. One summer morning, Blue’s nephew Ralph is discovered murdered while seated inside his taxicab, leaving Blue devastated. Alarmed about their old friend’s emotional state, Isabel and Alma put away their Scrabble board, grab their pocketbooks, and get busy doing what they do best: snooping. The clues have never been any scarcer, and they have their detective work cut out for them. Their spunky young assistant Sammi Jo also pitches in. The amber “top hat” sign mounted to the roof of Ralph’s taxicab just might hold the key to unlock the mystery of his murder. The fourth series title, The Amber Top Hat is a clean read and a traditional whodunit set in a charming small town. Join Isabel and Alma when they set off on solving their latest mystery as amateur sleuths that is as fun and challenging for them as it is for the reader.

For their next mystery, Isabel and Alma Trumbo, the ace sister sleuths living in Quiet Anchorage, Virginia, are called in by Sheriff Roscoe Fox to investigate the puzzling murder taking place in the florist shop. The late Moses Eppes worked briefly for Corina Moccasin, the owner of Azul Lago Florist Shop, during the busy year’s end holidays, and she now finds him dead here in May. Isabel and Alma quickly develop three murder suspects, including Moses’ ex-wife Liz, the hardware store owner Blaine Matthiessen, and the local plumber Sean O’Flaherty. Isabel and Alma call on their young helper Sammi Jo Garner and their elderly gentlemen friends known as the Three Musketeers for their able assistance. Murder in a One-Hearse Town is a clean read and a traditional whodunit set in a charming small town. Join Isabel and Alma when they set off on solving their latest mystery that is as fun and challenging for them as it is for the reader.

For their seventh mystery, Isabel and Alma Trumbo, the retired sister sleuths living in Quiet Anchorage, Virginia, tackle one of their more unusual murder cases to date. Stan Bennett, Alma’s first ex-husband, pays them a visit and reveals his younger sister Violet “Vi” Bennett has been murdered at the local Buttercup Bed and Breakfast. Stan and Vi stayed overnight there on their way to a doll collectors’ convention. It doesn’t take Isabel and Alma very long to identify Stan’s young and beautiful wife Nicole, a tax attorney, and the bed-and-breakfast owner Chloe Glover as the two possible murder suspects. Isabel and Alma call on their young helper Sammi Jo Garner and their elderly gentlemen friends known as the Three Musketeers for their able assistance. Meantime, Sammi Jo continues to deal with her fiancé Reynolds Kyle who just can’t quite commit to marrying her and always has a reason why. Vi’s Ring is a clean read and a traditional whodunit set in a charming small town. Join Isabel and Alma when they set off on solving their latest mystery that is as fun and challenging for them as it is for the reader.

For their eighth mystery, Isabel and Alma Trumbo, the retired sister sleuths living in Quiet Anchorage, Virginia, undertake solving yet another murder mystery. Uncle Jimbo who runs the town antique shop discovers the dead body of Angelo Conti, the town EMT and firefighter. Sheriff Roscoe Fox launches his investigation while Isabel and Alma don their sleuth hats. The first suspect is Eloise Starr, a schoolteacher whose fourteen-year-old daughter Bunny drowned in the Coronet River, and Angelo was unable to revive on the scene, angering Eloise. The second suspect is Twyla Coolidge, a wealthy socialite who recently moved to town. Isabel and Alma call on their young helper Sammi Jo Garner and their elderly gentlemen friends known as the Three Musketeers for their able assistance. Meantime, Isabel and Alma give Sammi Jo an old cameo broach, a family heirloom with reputed strange magical powers. Heirloom is a clean read and a traditional whodunit set in a charming small town. Join Isabel and Alma when they set off on solving their latest mystery that is as fun and challenging for them as it is for the reader.

For their eleventh mystery, Isabel and Alma Trumbo, the retired sister sleuths living in Quiet Anchorage, Virginia, undertake to solve yet another murder mystery. Their hairstylist Laura Isherwood is found murdered in the beauty shop on Main Street. Isabel and Alma put on their detective hats, sharpen their wits, and commence their snooping. Of course, Sammi Jo Garner, their gritty sidekick, and Petey Samson, their irrepressible beagle, help to develop the leads, identify the suspects, and unmask Laura's killer. The trio of old codgers affectionately known as the Three Musketeers also makes their contributions. The bumbling Sheriff Fox does his best to keep up with them. Told with lots of good humor and funny situations, To Dye For is a clean read and traditional whodunit set in a charming Southern small town. Join Isabel and Alma when they set off on solving their latest mystery that is as fun and challenging for them as it is for the reader.

For their tenth mystery, Isabel and Alma Trumbo, the retired sister sleuths living in Quiet Anchorage, Virginia, undertake solving yet another murder mystery. When their friend Eve Palmer phones Isabel to ask for the sisters' assistance in searching for her lost winning lottery ticket, they drive out to her house and make a shocking discovery: Eve has been slain. Outraged and puzzled, Isabel and Alma put on their detective hats, sharpen their wits, and commence their snooping. Of course, Sammi Jo Garner, their gritty sidekick, and Petey Samson, their irrepressible beagle, help to develop the leads, identify the suspects, and unmask Eve's killer. The trio of old codgers affectionately known as the Three Musketeers also makes their contributions. The bumbling Sheriff Fox does his best to keep up with them. Told with lots of good humor and funny situations, Eve's Win is a clean read and traditional whodunit set in a charming Southern small town. Join Isabel and Alma when they set off on solving their latest mystery that is as fun and challenging for them as it is for the reader.

On the same day sister sleuths Isabel and Alma Trumbo's beloved beagle Petey Samson runs away from home, they confront their ninth murder mystery. Holly McBride, owner and operator of the popular spice shop A Big Dill on Main Street, is found slain behind the checkout counter. Isabel and Alma quickly identify Holly's ex, Sterling McBride, and her landlady, Tallulah Pettigrew, as the two leading murder suspects. Meantime, Sammi Jo Garner, the Trumbo sisters' young friend and able assistant, contends with her ongoing romance problems with her footloose boyfriend Reynolds Kyle. Sharp in both mind and tongue as ever, Isabel and Alma snoop in their Virginia small town of Quiet Anchorage to hunt down the right clues to solve the whodunit. The latest series novel from Ed Lynskey, A BIG DILL is a fun addition to the cozy mystery genre in the tradition of Agatha Christie, Jessica Fletcher, and Anne George.

For their twelfth mystery, Isabel and Alma Trumbo, the retired sister sleuths living in Quiet Anchorage, Virginia, undertake solving yet another murder mystery. Their neighbor Trish Cox's grandson Jason is found murdered on the old highway bridge spanning the Cornet River. Isabel and Alma put on their detective hats, sharpen their wits, and commence their snooping. Of course, Sammi Jo Garner, their gritty sidekick, and Petey Samson, their irrepressible beagle, help to develop the leads, identify the suspects, and unmask Eve's killer. The trio of old codgers affectionately known as the Three Musketeers also makes their contributions. The bumbling Sheriff Fox does his best to keep up with them. Told with lots of good humor and funny situations, Fowl Play is a clean read and traditional whodunit set in a charming Southern small town. Join Isabel and Alma when they set off on solving their latest mystery that is as fun and challenging for them as it is for the reader.