Blog Hop Mystery!

2023/March by Marji Laine 3 Comments

The authors of the Ever After Mysteries are celebrating today’s release of my newest book! Enjoy a little mystery this week and be sure to get your copy of A TROLL FALLS on Amazon at this link!

“I just found it on the porch,” I told my daughter as we put up the groceries.

“Well, it’s a lovely rose.” My daughter collected the bags and put them in our storage bin.

“Not such a lovely message, though.” I tugged the ribbon that held the card in place and pulled it through the hole in the card, untangling it from the leaves of the flower. Leaving the flower on the counter, I squatted and dug through the lower cabinet to find the heart-shaped bud vase that had belonged to my mother. “And it was rather strange to just find it laying on the doorstep.”

“No one rang the bell,” my daughter said. “The dogs would have thrown a fit, and I never left my office. I would have heard it too.”

“Strange.” I shut the cabinet and paused. “You didn’t leave it there did you?”

She halted and tilted her head. “Really, Mom? If I’m going to spend the big bucks to get flowers for you, then I’m sure as heck gonna take credit for them.”

I chuckled. “True enough.” I filled the vase and picked up the bud. “Ouch.”

I dropped it immediately and stuck my finger in my mouth. One of the ugly thorns that covered the stem caught my finger just above the knuckle.

“You’re bleeding.” She trotted to the bathroom and came back with an antiseptic and a bandage. “Who leaves so many thorns on a flower, especially when it’s a gift?”

I stuck my finger under the faucet. “Someone who uses a rose to camouflage a threat.”

“You think it’s a threat?” She dabbed my finger with a kitchen towel and then sprayed it with an antiseptic.

“I do.” I flinched as the burn connected with my exposed nerve endings. “What else could it be?” I smoothed the bandage around my finger.

“Maybe we’re missing something.” She collected the trash and tossed it in the wastebasket. “Maybe one of the other authors like Chautana Having wanted to congratulate you about your coming release.”

“That could be.” I slipped an oven mitt on my injured hand and snipped several of the thorns and most of the leaves from the stem before dropping it into the vase. “I should give Chautona a call just to see. If she did send the flower, then I want to thank her.”

“Even with the thorns?” My daughter laughed, picked up her coffee, and went back to her office.

I reached for the card that had come with it. I should probably just toss it in the trash and not think about it again, but the message bugged me. How else could it be taken except as a threat? Surely, Chautona wouldn’t have been threatening me, though.

What type of wicked troll would send a note like this?

Your day has come.

I hope you enjoyed the first part of our little mystery. You’ll find the next part of the story at Chautona Havig’s blog at this link tomorrow: https://chautona.com/a-troll-falls-release

Don’t miss out on a special giveaway to celebrate the release of A TROLL FALLS! Sign up at the link below: https://promosimple.com/ps/24b03/a-troll-falls-marji

You can order A TROLL FALLS right now from Amazon at this link: https://amzn.to/3Kb9XbN

And when you order, send your receipt and US shipping address to ATROLLFALLS@gmail.com for a special gift with purchase while supplies last!