Ladies' Book Club Murder: Ellie Reid, #1

Chapter One

Oh, Ellie, look, May Reid gasped. He’s cute!

Hmm? Ellie replied. She was too busy scratching the head of her dog Beau while he rested behind the counter to notice what her grandmother was talking about. The only cute thing Ellie was concerned about at that moment was Beau.

Her grandmother, or Ma’May as Ellie had called her since she was barely able to speak, had quickly given in to having Beau in the shop during open hours once she learned how popular he was with the customers. As for the nickname, everyone tried to teach Ellie to say ‘Grandma May’ when she was little, but it just kept coming out as ‘Ma’May’. Eventually everyone gave up and let the girl go on calling her grandmother that, even now that Ellie was nearing thirty years old.

Don’t look, Ma’May hissed as she pushed Ellie behind the checkout counter of the bookstore they now co-owned together. May’s Books had been an institution in Dundurn, Wisconsin since the late seventies, and it was only after Ellie moved back home from Chicago a few months ago that the store had become hers as well.

Okay, now look, Ma’May whispered and Ellie finally found herself looking at what her grandmother had been whispering about.

Oh wow, Ellie whispered under her breath when she finally saw who Ma’May had pointed out as cute.

Wow was right. The man who’d entered the store not ten minutes before closing time was what some of the romance novels she read would call devilishly handsome, while others might refer to as rugged. With dark eyes and darker hair, the tall man was sporting a five o’clock shadow and was obviously in pretty good shape, even with his light autumn jacket on. She’d never seen him in the bookstore before, nor had she seen him around town. Not that it meant he was new in town, Ellie herself had only moved back to her home town three months earlier. Still, she imagined that she would have noticed him before now if he was a long-time resident.

It was the thought of her being only recently back in town herself that got her to come back to reality. Not only had she only been home for a few months, it wasn’t that long ago that she’d technically been a married woman.

The divorce, in a word, had been what Ellie would describe as ‘hard’. Not that it had been complicated; no, it had been relatively simple. She and Alex had been very good about dividing their assets, not that they had that many of them. Their apartment was rented, they’d sold their furniture, and split the smaller items between them. The hard part had been the emotional toll the split had taken, and Ellie was still in a frame of mind that she might not ever want to date again, let alone get married. Watching their once shared things get packed up and taken away was hard enough, but that final good-bye had nearly shattered her heart.

Months before the papers were even signed, Alex had moved in with a friend.  A few weeks after that Ellie realized she couldn’t afford the apartment alone so she had come home to Dundurn and found herself in the apartment she now shared with her grandmother. Ma’May had offered her a stake in the bookstore, more for Ellie’s sake than the aging woman’s so-called need for assistance with the store, and claimed her as a roommate.

The store itself wasn’t in need of much help, though business had really started to grow recently. A new subdivision of housing had gone up a year earlier and Dundurn’s population had grown to almost two thousand people. It might not sound like much, but with the town’s internet being as slow as it is and cable being so expensive, books were a cheaper alternative form of entertainment that most of the residents still enjoyed.

May’s Books sells everything from the popular bestsellers right through to local, self-published books by people in town who fancy themselves as writers. There’s even a series of local history books that Stu Cranston updates every year to include every birth, death, and monumental event in town, not that any more than two copies of each version are ever sold. May only carried them, year after year, because she was too nice to say no to Stu and his two loyal readers.

Go ask if he needs help, Ma’May whispered. The devil was in her eyes and her curly, silver hair with its touches of gold bounced around her shoulders as she held back an excited giggle. For a woman who’d just passed seventy, she had a knack for still acting like a teenaged girl.

Sure, Ellie told her as she stepped out from behind the counter and left Beau to gnaw on a stuffed duck toy. Not that I’m going to flirt with him like you want me to, she mentally added.

The mysterious and handsome customer was taller than Ellie imagined when she got close to him. She was five-foot-five herself, but he had at least seven inches on her.

Did you need a hand with anything? she asked. Her attempt to sound casual came across a little too flat, but he didn’t appear to notice anything off. He turned to her and held up a paperback as he replied, I’m good. Found what I came for, in a deep, silky voice.

Then I’ll ring you up, Ellie told him as she led him back to the counter.

The back of her neck was hot as she tried to walk normally, but at least her own curls covered it if her skin was turning crimson. He really was attractive, even if Ellie had no interest in pursuing anything with him. He was easily the most attractive man she’d seen since she left Chicago, and his unexpected appearance in their shop was leaving her flustered.

His book of choice was one Ellie recognized well. Back when she lived in Chicago, she’d worked in acquisitions for a medium-sized publisher. The book in question was Marko’s Flame, one she herself had acquired. It had sold for peanuts, despite being one of her personal favorites. Every time she heard someone talk about it, or rarer still, buy it, she beamed with pride.

Good choice, she told him as she rang up the book. Let me know what you think of it when you’re done.

A curious smile touched the corners of the man’s lips as he handed over a twenty dollar bill for the book. I definitely will, he said as he got his change and tucked it and the book into his pocket.

Thankfully, Ma’ May waited until he was out of the store before she exclaimed, I think he likes you!

Ellie blushed, but laughed it off. He was just being polite, she insisted. When Ma’May looked like she was about to argue, Ellie cut her off saying, Come on, we need to close up quickly. The book club ladies will get here soon and I still need to go get the punch and cookies from upstairs and Beau needs his dinner.

Her dog’s ears perked up when he heard the words ‘dinner’ and ‘Beau’ together and his crooked tail began to wag. Besides cuddles with Ellie and the pets from customers, food was Beau’s all-time favorite thing in the world.

The book club was Ellie’s first big idea since joining her grandmother in owning the shop. The first task Ma’May had given her was to get readers more engaged and Ellie had decided a book club was the way to do it. Their first meeting was tonight, and they planned on meeting every other Wednesday going forward. So far they only had ten members, eight if she didn’t include herself or Ma’May, but it was a good start and Ellie hoped that number would grow by word of mouth.

The first book had been assigned two weeks ago. Abbie Ainsley, one of the younger members of the newly formed club, had her book of choice selected at random for their first read. It was from one of Ellie’s favorite genres, a culinary cozy mystery that she’d loved reading curled up on the couch of the apartment she and Ma’May shared. Beau loved those nights because it meant he not only got extra snuggles, but he could help himself to any crumbs Ellie might drop from the snacks she liked to enjoy while reading.

With the two of them working together, closing took only a few minutes and Ellie raced upstairs for the pre-prepared cookies she’d made from scratch and the punch Ma’May had mixed up. With a bowl of kibble in front of him, Beau munched happily while Ellie packed everything up and then he followed hot on her heels as she took the back stairway down to the bookstore below their apartment.

The tray of shortbread cookies, Ellie’s own special recipe, were laid out in a circular fan pattern just before the first knock rapped at the glass window of the shop’s front door. Simone Dietz, the middle aged woman with a knack for fashion and a put on southern accent who ran the clothing shop down the street, was the first to arrive. Despite the cool autumn breeze, she was wearing a thin jacket and a silk scarf that would do nothing against the chill in the air. Still, Ellie had to admit she looked gorgeous and would give any of the fashionistas she saw in Chicago a run for their money.

Not long after Simone’s arrival came the book club’s oldest members, Margot Hume and Hettie Stone. Both ladies played cards with Ma’May down at the seniors’ center a few times a week and were the first to sign up when the club was announced a couple weeks earlier.

Abbie Ainsley came a few minutes after them and sat down almost immediately. She was only a few years older than Ellie and quiet as a dormouse. When her book was picked from Simone’s designer hat at their first, albeit short, meeting, she only cracked a delicate smile while everyone else congratulated her.

Well, everyone except the next woman to arrive.

Lilith White stepped through the door before Abbie had a chance to get settled in her seat. The meeting hadn’t even began and she already appeared to be exasperated. Not that Ellie was surprised. When Abbie’s book was picked, Lilith wasted no time in complaining that mysteries weren’t her genre, that the book she’d submitted was bound to be better and more interesting, and that since she and Abbie went so far back, that Abbie would be fine with switching.

Abbie didn’t protest, and no one expected she would. When it came to Lilith and her, Abbie always took the backseat. At least, that was what Ellie had been told by a few of the ladies after the nearly disastrous first meeting of their book club.

It was Ellie who’d put her foot down and insisted the club wouldn’t work if they just traded turns when a book they didn’t know if they’d like came up. The club was about trying new things and Lilith would get her turn. Everyone else agreed, but it still took Ellie promising they’d read Lilith’s book next to stop her from causing any more of a scene.

With five minutes to spare before the official start of the meeting, Roni Andrews trotted up to the front door of the bookstore and pulled it open. Behind her were Cynthia Baker and Katie Rollins, a pair of women who were both in their fifties and were both voracious readers.

Roni, the youngest member of their small, but hopefully soon to be growing book club, held the front door open for the two women. Cynthia and Katie tutted about how sweet she was for it, and Roni beamed back a gracious smile. Roni managed The Grey Dove, Dundurn’s one and only café, and Ellie knew that her polite and enthusiastic demeanor was part natural, part being unable to turn off the customer service side of her personality. Ellie had only been at the bookstore for a couple months, but she was already finding it hard to know when to turn off ‘Retail Ellie’.

With everyone in attendance, Ma’May gave Ellie a little shove with her elbow to get the meeting started.

Welcome everyone, Ellie greeted the group, most of whom were mulling around the cookies and punch without grabbing any. Thank you so much for coming. Please help yourself to the punch and cookies and –

Before Ellie could get any further, a golden pile of fluff and energy came bounding out of the back room. Beau was racing right for the cookies! Ellie sprinted to get between him and the card table she’d set everything up on, while all the ladies laughed, some politely and some, well, some only imitated laughter while annoyance touched their faces.

Sorry everyone, Ellie apologized while she got her dog under control. He was usually exceptionally well behaved, but between the crowd of people in the shop and the pile of treats, he was a little over stimulated. I must not have latched the door to the backroom all the way and he got in.

It’s okay, dear, Hettie said as she slowly bent down to pet Beau. He’s a sweetie, yes he is!

Most of the women, save Lilith and Katie, agreed Beau was a welcome addition to the meeting. They were used to seeing him in the shop by now, and he’d become a sort of unofficial mascot for the store.

Okay, now that he’s settled, Ellie laughed as she slipped her pooch a shortbread cookie. How about we let Abbie take over? It was her book choice, after all.

A couple of the older women helped to make sure no one got missed once the refreshments were handed out and Abbie stood up, a copy of the paperback in one hand. She was about to get started when she was rudely interrupted.

Here, Lilith said with an all too sweet smile plastered on her red painted lips as she held out a glass of magenta punch for Abbie. Don’t want to have you left out.

Oh, thanks, Abbie said as she accepted the clear plastic cup and took a polite sip before she set it down on the floor beside her chair. "Anyway, thank you guys for reading my book. Well, not my book, but Carolyn L. Dean’s book, ‘Bed, Breakfast, and Bones.’ So I guess... um, I don’t know how to start this," Abbie said with a shy laugh.

Just ask what everyone thought, Lilith chuckled as she sipped her own plastic cup of punch.

A few of the other women shot Lilith some dirty looks, but she didn’t appear to notice as she watched Abbie struggle. Ellie wanted to step in to help. She knew Abbie could be shy and having Lilith barking at her couldn’t be helping, but she didn’t want to start some kind of rift before the club had even gotten a chance to get started. The rest of the group appeared to feel the same way and they waited patiently for Abbie to find her footing once more.

Okay, yeah, what did everyone think? Abbie asked. Did you figure out who did it?

Goodness no, Hettie said, and the rest of the ladies let out a kind-hearted, agreeable laugh. It was so twisty and turny that it made my head spin.

So... Ellie had to ask. You liked it?

Of course! Hettie confirmed enthusiastically. And that Granger woman, what a hoot. I want a book starring her.

Ellie breathed a sigh of relief, and noticed that Abbie did the same before taking another sip of punch. The last thing either woman wanted was for everyone to hate Abbie’s book of choice. Even though Abbie hadn’t read it before, it would be hard to not take it personally if people didn’t like it.

I couldn’t believe the cause of death, Cynthia spoke up. So original, I really don’t know how some writers come up with this stuff.

I completely agree, Katie said with a hard nod of her head. A few other women were nodding too, and Ellie let herself relax a little more. And I like that it wasn’t violent. I’ve read too many mysteries that are more focused on blood and guts than plot. This was much more my speed.

And the clean language is very much appreciated, Simone mentioned in a thicker than normal southern drawl. I can’t stand bad language in books. It hurts my sensibilities.

Ellie fought back the urge to roll her eyes at Simone, even if it was just a little. Simone somehow thought she was a mix of Paris fashionista and Southern Belle, yet she had lived her whole life in Dundurn and her attempt at an accent waxed and waned as regularly as the moon.

It was Roni’s turn to speak up next. I liked the potential love triangle, she told the group. The sparks between Amanda, James, and Derek were cute. I think I’ll need to keep reading the series to find out what happens there.

As the ladies agreed with her, Ellie noticed Abbie hadn’t spoken up in a bit. Abbie, she said, shifting the attention back to the woman who’d picked the book. What did you think? Did it live up to your expectations?

Abbie shot her an uncomfortable glance and shifted in her seat. Yeah, she said with an awkward nod. I, um, she mumbled as her hand moved to her stomach. Sorry, Ellie can I use the bathroom? I suddenly don’t feel so good.

Of course! Ellie said as she jumped up from her chair. This way.

Ellie led Abbie from the center of the store where the meeting was held and toward the back storage room, Beau following close behind them. From the store, she could hear the ladies chatting on and on without them.

At least they don’t need me to guide the discussion, Ellie thought to herself as she unlocked the staff bathroom.

Here you go, Ellie told Abbie once she’d opened the