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SensualPoet · 10-08-2011, 09:24 PM

Getting an unpublished first novel noticed is challenging but in Phyllis Smallman's case, mystery solved. Margarita Nights, about amateur detective (ok, she serves drinks in a Florida bar for a living) Sherri Travis came to the notice of Louise Penny, and other members of the Crime Writers of Canada. In 2007, it instituted a new prize, the "Unhanged Arthur" to recognise best unpublished first crime novel; Smallman was the inaugural recipient. The CWC's main Arthur Ellis award is granted annually in mid-Spring; it is named after Canada's 18th century executioner known by the pseudonym Arthur Ellis over several generations. She has since gone on to write (and have published) four Sherri Travis mysteries.

Jimmy Travis, only son of a wealthy Florida couple, leads a frenetic, adventurous life, almost always in some trouble or other. Sherri, his high school sweetheart and wife, has tired of his drinking, cheating and scattered career moves. Handsome, devilish, and currently local golf pro will soon be single again -- Sherri has had enough and moved out a year ago. But then, his boat explodes with Jimmy on it and Sherri is the prime murder suspect. When it turns out she has more to gain than getting even, the cops are on her tail and only she can clear her name. As she digs further into Jimmy's recent business deals, the situation gets murkier and more dangerous ... and the local cops are lying in wait gathering the necessary evidence against her. With the help of her friends, and Sunset Bar regulars, things go quickly from bad to worse. Which of those friends is truly a friend?

Comfortably residing within the cozy realm, this adventure had more than enough twists and exotic local colour to keep up the interest in what is, admittedly, a somewhat long read. Sherri is the best drawn of all the characters, with a healthy libido and sufficient paranoia to keep her alive at the more dangerous moments. The closeted gay journalist, local minister, her best friend, another high school chum down on his luck and suffering schizophrenia, land development king-pins and the cops ... all make up Sherri's local landscape and keep the reader engaged and chuckling.

Available for Kindle or Kobo at the pleasingly attractive price of $2.

10-08-2011, 09:24 PM	#252
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	Phyllis Smallman - Margarita Nights Getting an unpublished first novel noticed is challenging but in Phyllis Smallman's case, mystery solved. Margarita Nights, about amateur detective (ok, she serves drinks in a Florida bar for a living) Sherri Travis came to the notice of Louise Penny, and other members of the Crime Writers of Canada. In 2007, it instituted a new prize, the "Unhanged Arthur" to recognise best unpublished first crime novel; Smallman was the inaugural recipient. The CWC's main Arthur Ellis award is granted annually in mid-Spring; it is named after Canada's 18th century executioner known by the pseudonym Arthur Ellis over several generations. She has since gone on to write (and have published) four Sherri Travis mysteries. Jimmy Travis, only son of a wealthy Florida couple, leads a frenetic, adventurous life, almost always in some trouble or other. Sherri, his high school sweetheart and wife, has tired of his drinking, cheating and scattered career moves. Handsome, devilish, and currently local golf pro will soon be single again -- Sherri has had enough and moved out a year ago. But then, his boat explodes with Jimmy on it and Sherri is the prime murder suspect. When it turns out she has more to gain than getting even, the cops are on her tail and only she can clear her name. As she digs further into Jimmy's recent business deals, the situation gets murkier and more dangerous ... and the local cops are lying in wait gathering the necessary evidence against her. With the help of her friends, and Sunset Bar regulars, things go quickly from bad to worse. Which of those friends is truly a friend? Comfortably residing within the cozy realm, this adventure had more than enough twists and exotic local colour to keep up the interest in what is, admittedly, a somewhat long read. Sherri is the best drawn of all the characters, with a healthy libido and sufficient paranoia to keep her alive at the more dangerous moments. The closeted gay journalist, local minister, her best friend, another high school chum down on his luck and suffering schizophrenia, land development king-pins and the cops ... all make up Sherri's local landscape and keep the reader engaged and chuckling. Available for Kindle or Kobo at the pleasingly attractive price of $2.