Deadly Gamble: A Girl and Her Dog Cozy Mystery Read online

Deadly Gamble

  The First Charlie Parker Mystery

  By Connie Shelton

  Copyright © 1995 Connie Shelton

  All rights reserved

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure the accuracy and completeness of information contained in this book we assume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or any inconsistency herein. Any slights of people, places or organizations are unintentional.

  Book layout and design by Secret Staircase Books

  Cover watch image © Weixin Shen

  Cover silhouettes © Majivecka

  Cover Victorian house © Katie Smith

  Also published in trade paperback

  First trade paperback edition: July 2010

  What others are saying about the

  Charlie Parker Mystery Series

  “An impressive debut mystery.” –Albuquerque Journal

  “Charlie is a fabulous amateur sleuth.” –Midwest Book Review

  “Tension is fast-paced in this involving account.” –Midwest Book Review

  This book is also available in print at many bookstores and online book retailers.

  Meet Connie Shelton and find out about all of her titles at www.connieshelton.com

  Get another Connie Shelton book—FREE! Click here to find out how

  Author’s Foreword to the 20th Anniversary Edition of Deadly Gamble

  Twenty years ago this month, I attended my first mystery conference and did my first book signing at The Poisoned Pen bookstore in Scottsdale, Arizona. It’s hard for me to believe it’s been that long since the hardcover publication of Deadly Gamble in 1995. So many things have changed—the internet was in its infancy, far fewer people carried cell phones and an e-book was just a glimmer in some techie-person’s eye. Technology alone would have changed the way I wrote this book if those things had existed then. Time passes much more quickly for us than for our characters, as well. Charlie has aged roughly five years in the twenty which have actually passed. Each writer makes hundreds of choices along the way in deciding how to handle these aspects of writing a continuing series.

  Plus, of course, every writer grows and improves with practice. The early years are spent honing our skills, hoping a publisher will see our potential, and praying that reviewers and readers will simply enjoy the fruits of our labors. I was very fortunate to receive strong early reviews for Deadly Gamble, and although I know the later books in the series are written with more finesse, I am truly grateful to those who saw the potential for Charlie and the other characters in the beginning. One thing that kept me writing in the early ’90s was that I read many other mystery authors of the day—Marcia Muller, Sue Grafton and Sara Paretsky provided much inspiration—and I saw that each of them improved their writing style and depth of plots as their series’ moved forward.

  Time passes, a major anniversary date comes around, a writer struggles with the decision—rewrite with greater skill or let a debut novel stand on its own? Knowing that my characters do develop and grow with time, I’ve chosen not to change anything in this story. I hope you will enjoy Deadly Gamble and appreciate the many improvements in the subsequent titles as you continue to follow Charlie’s life through the rest of this series.

  With deepest gratitude,

  Connie Shelton

  January, 2015

  Chapter 1