This snippet is related, however. This is Investigator Pepper Black's story, the same cop, many of the same characters, and the same town as in the Milk Carton Murders. It predates MCM so as not to revel anything. I did it in April for Camp NaNoWriMo and Blogging A-Z (a different letter every day). I did the whole story daily on my blog. You can read the entire murder mystery here.
A body is found along a hedge row in the rural town of Lamont. Some creative punctuation is used to keep it to 10.
***
She had been a beautiful woman in life. If it wasn’t for the polka dot scarf around her neck it would be obvious her head was no longer attached to her body. An adze lay only a few feet away embedded in a partially hewn log. Sheriff Clayton Nazzaro walked over to the hedgerow where the coroner, Herbert Wilde, was crouched down near the body.
“So, the murder weapon you think, Herb?” asked Clayton, with a tilt of his head towards the log.
“I’m not guessing on that one until I get her back to the morgue,” said Herb, “and not until your forensic guys have that adze removed—no mistaking who she is though.”
“Nope. Jack Webster’s daughter,” said Clayton. “Worked up at McCormick’s boat rental last I heard—quiet girl. What do make of the clothes?”
“Well, I wouldn’t say I’ve ever seen her dress this flashy. Skirt seems a might short for her, and the blouse a bit too revealing.”
“So, the murder weapon you think, Herb?” asked Clayton, with a tilt of his head towards the log.
“I’m not guessing on that one until I get her back to the morgue,” said Herb, “and not until your forensic guys have that adze removed—no mistaking who she is though.”
“Nope. Jack Webster’s daughter,” said Clayton. “Worked up at McCormick’s boat rental last I heard—quiet girl. What do make of the clothes?”
“Well, I wouldn’t say I’ve ever seen her dress this flashy. Skirt seems a might short for her, and the blouse a bit too revealing.”
***
If you would like to read snippets from other great authors the links to them are above. Thanks for visiting and any comments.
Love how the mystery builds up right through the end of the snippet. Intriguing.
ReplyDeleteI remember this one, are you planning to extend it into a novel?
ReplyDeleteThanks, S.J. it was fun blogging a story day by day when I didn't even know myself what was going to happen next. :)
ReplyDeleteI might, Linda. I need to finish editing The Milk Carton Murders first so I can publish it.
Ooh, lots of questions, which is good! Great job!
ReplyDeleteYou're so good with mystery! Now i'm going to be pondering all the possibilities....excellent excerpt!
ReplyDeleteGreat snippet! And now I'm going to have to go read it on your blog.
ReplyDeleteI'd forgotten how much I love your stories. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteNice mystery building in this snippet. I want to know more about the murder weapon.
ReplyDeletePepper has her own story? How cool is that?!
ReplyDeleteGreat scene, too---Sherriff Clayton's not dumb.
Yeah, I like short skirts and revealing blouses! LOL
ReplyDeleteLove the set up and the mention of the woman's clothes. Possible clue? Intrigued!
ReplyDeleteGreat little tease at the end there as to question what she was wearing out of the norm. Mystery.....
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