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I spot a large poster propped on an easel beside the stage, holding up Belladonna’s new release, Death Checks In at Midnight. The cover features a creepy Victorian bed-and-breakfast silhouetted against a full moon, fog rolling across the lawn, and a shadowy figure lurking in one of the upstairs windows.
Very on-brand for a cozy mystery. And come to think of it—it’s a perfect replica of the Haunted Mansion stretching skyward behind her. I’d like to think my humble, homicide-prone park was the inspiration for that soon-to-be cozy classic.
“Welcome, welcome—one and all!” Belladonna’s voice carries across the hollow without a microphone. The woman has projection skills that could shatter stemware. “To our annual Boo Crew Hallo-Queen Week! In honor of all of the queens of cozy mystery here with us for the next seven days.”
The crowd roars with delight, and perhaps a bit of fright.
“I’m Belladonna Hershey, and I’m thrilled to welcome you all to Huckleberry Hollow Wonderland Theme Park for a week of mystery, murder, and mayhem!” She pauses for effect. “The fictional kind, of course.”
One can only hope.
Polite laughter ripples through the crowd. How I wish the murder part would stay fictional. Homicides have a nasty habit of moving themselves into the nonfiction category at this lovely death trap I seem to have wandered into. At this point, the coroner should have a season pass.
Belladonna lifts a hand. “We have over twenty incredible cozy mystery authors joining us this week, each launching their brand-new Halloween releases,” she goes on. “I want to thank all of you wonderful readers for coming out tonight and supporting your favorite authors, and maybe discovering some new ones along the way.”
More applause goes off and so does a few catcalls and loose threats. Mostly from Georgie.
“Here’s how this magical week will work,” Belladonna continues, gesturing grandly, and I notice the orange and purple twinkle lights roped overhead cast creepy shadows that stretch her face into something from a horror movie. I’m sensing a theme. Another chill rides up my spine at the thought. “Each day, our authors will be stationed in different hollows throughout the park, reading from their new releases, chatting with fans, and signing books. We’ll also have workshops. ‘How to Poison Your Characters,’ ‘Kill Your Darlings,’ murder mystery dinner theater, and more!”
The crowd goes feral. I guess they’ve been waiting a good long while to learn how to kill their darlings.
Two hundred superfans and one poison seminar. I make a mental note to padlock the rat bait in the maintenance shed.
Delora clutches Ree’s arm so hard I’m worried she’ll cut off circulation. “Do you think they’ll add extra workshop sessions? Because I have questions about arsenic versus cyanide, and I need to know if Belladonna takes appointments.”
Ree stares at her. “You want to schedule a meeting about poison?”
“It’s for research purposes,” Delora says, giving me the side-eye. “I’m thinking of writing my own cozy mystery. About an event coordinator who snaps.”
Ree inches back. “That’s oddly specific.”
Take notes, Josie, Fish’s voice drifts up from somewhere near my ankles. That’s called foreshadowing.
“I’m drawing from life experience.” Delora shoots another sideways glance my way, and I swear I just heard Dexter growl.
Swoon.
“And I want to give a very special thank-you,” Belladonna says as her smile widens, “to the park’s owner, Delora Drake, for inviting us and offering such wonderful accommodations!”
Both Dexter and I turn to stare at Delora as my mouth falls open.
She brushes us off quickly. “She must have misunderstood me. Or perhaps I got caught up in the moment when we were planning.”
“Mother,” Dexter says slowly.
“Not now, dear.” She’s quick to wave him off. Funny. When she waves me off, she usually holds up a special finger a moment too long. And here I thought it was an anatomical quirk.
Belladonna is still going strong. “Delora has generously provided complimentary buffet stations at each author event throughout the week, and the grand culmination will be our Boo Crew Tricks, Treats, and Trouble Bash, held right here in front of the Haunted Mansion on Halloween night!”
“Free food?” I gasp at the thought of what this might cost me.
Dexter closes his eyes. “Mom, say it isn’t so.”
“Oh, hush, you. I’m sure the park makes enough to cover the costs,” Delora says quickly. “Besides, look at all the tickets I’ve sold! Everyone knows you can’t get into the events without buying park admission.”
“And speaking of tickets,” Belladonna adds with a dazzling smile, “a special thank-you to Delora for providing free park admission to all our wonderful readers who hold Boo Crew event tickets!”
Dexter and I gasp in unison this time.
