Free Mosaic Mayhem (Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mini-Mystery) by Lois Winston Page A

of jealousy, greed, and sex...” and a “Sopranos-worthy lineup of eccentric character...” – Publishers Weekly
     
    “Winston provides a long-suffering heroine, amusing characters, a...good mystery and a series of crafting projects featuring cloth yo-yos.” – Kirkus Reviews
     
    “A fun addition to a series that keeps getting stronger.” – Romantic Times Magazine
     
    “Chuckles begin on page one and the steady humor sustains a comedic crafts cozy, the third (after Death by Killer Mop Doll )... Recommend for Chris Grabenstein (“John Ceepak” series) and Jess Lourey readers.” – Library Journal
     
    “You'll be both surprised and entertained by this terrific mystery. I can't wait to see what happens in the Pollack household next.” – Suspense Magazine
     
    “The book has what a mystery should...It moves along at a good pace...Like all good sleuths, Anastasia pieces together what others don't...The book has a fun twist...and it's clear that Anastasia, the everyday woman who loves crafts and desserts, and has a complete hottie in pursuit, will return to solve another murder and offer more crafts tips...” – Star-Ledger

 
    Mosaic Mayhem
     
    An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mini-Mystery
     
    by Lois Winston
     
     
    Also by Lois Winston
     
    Talk Gertie to Me
     
    Elementary, My Dear Gertie
     
    Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception
     
    Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun
     
    Death by Killer Mop Doll
     
    Crewel Intentions
     
    Revenge of the Crafty Corpse
     
    Top Ten Reasons Your Novel is Rejected
     
    Once Upon a Romance
     
     
    Writing as Emma Carlyle
     
    Hooking Mr. Right
     
    Finding Hope
     
    Four Uncles and a Wedding
     
    Lost in Manhattan
     
    Someone to Watch Over Me

 
     
     
     
    Mosaic Mayhem copyright 2013 by Lois Winston. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
     
    This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, locations, or events is coincidental or fictionalized.
     
     
    Cover design by Scott Winston

 
     
     
     
    Dedication
     
    to all of Anastasia’s fans

 
     
     
     
    Acknowledgments
     
    Special thanks to the real Elaine Naiman for her Malice Domestic auction donation which entitled her to be named as a character in this book.
     
    Also, for their critiquing and editing skills, much appreciation and huge thanks to authors Donnell Bell and Irene Peterson.

 
     
     
     
    ONE
     
    Not again! I stared down the barrel of a big black bad-ass gun pointed at my chest. Ever since last winter when Karl Pollack, my not-so-dearly-departed husband, died suddenly, people have been trying to kill me. First, Karl’s loan shark. Then a crazy co-worker. Most recently, a hired assassin.
    My name is Anastasia Pollack. I’m a debt-ridden, pear-shaped, middle-aged single mom, and crafts editor at a woman’s magazine. I’m also apparently a killer magnet, not only in my home state of New Jersey but also across the Atlantic Ocean in Spain.
    Worst of all, unlike my three previous run-ins with killers, I had no idea who this guy was or why he wanted me dead. He apparently didn’t speak English, and my Spanish is limited to a few words and phrases picked up from watching Sesame Street years ago with my kids. My Catalan is non-existent.
    So much for a quick getaway to Barcelona.
    After the relief of finding that my passport hadn’t expired, I thought my biggest problem would be arranging extra care for my semi-invalid mother-in-law during my three-day absence. Silly me.
    I landed in this situation thanks to Zack. When Karl dropped dead, leaving me with debt that rivaled the gross national product of an average third-world country, I was forced to rent out the apartment over my