Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: A Good Day to Buy
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://sherryharrisauthor.com/
CITY:
STATE: VA
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/author.aspx/30599
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
AVOCATIONS:Going to garage sales.
MEMBER:Sisters in Crime (New England Chapter; president of Chesapeake Chapter).
WRITINGS
Blogger on the WickedCozyAuthors.com website.
SIDELIGHTS
Sherry Harris is a writer of crime novels, who is based in Virginia. She has been affiliated with multiple chapters of the writing group, Sisters in Crime. She served as president of the organization’s Chesapeake chapter.
Tagged for Death
In 2014, Harris released her first novel, Tagged for Death. The volume is the first in her “Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery” series. In it, Harris introduces the protagonist of the series, Sarah. She is married to CJ, who is in the Air Force and who she finds out has been unfaithful. CJ’s lover becomes pregnant, and he is summarily demoted. Sarah also decides to leave him. CJ takes a job as police chief in a nearby town. Sarah believes he may be authorizing the cops he manages to harass her. She finds solace in going to garage sales to search for great deals. Sarah’s life becomes more complicated when CJ’s lover disappears. It seems she may have been brutally attacked in the process of being taken from her home. Against the advice of her friends, Sarah determines to help with the investigation.
A critic on the Nightstand Book Reviews website, suggested: “Harris’ personal knowledge of garage sales (something she discovered back in the second grade) weaves a convincing thread to tie the action and sub-plots together. Through Sarah’s character, we learn how to organize a successful sale, even how to create a part-time job out of it.” A reviewer on the Carstairs Considers… website, commented: “Most scenes and chapters seem to start with multiple short sentences in a row, which came across as choppy and annoyed me. Once a scene got going, that would disappear.” The same reviewer added: “The tone of the book overall is perfect for the events happening in the story. … It was masterfully done.”
The Longest Yard Sale
Sarah returns in The Longest Yard Sale, the second installment in the series. She is organizing a massive garage sale for her town’s residents. During the event, someone steals her friend Carol’s painting. Additionally, someone is setting fires in town, the mayor is never around to help, and there may also be a forger on the loose. Later, someone is murdered, and the body is discovered in Carol’s studio. Carol becomes a suspect in the killing, and Sarah determines to save her friend and find the real killer.
A writer on the Nightstand Book Reviews website asserted: “We have a great mystery that intrigues and satisfies.” The same writer added: “The great dynamic between Sarah and the men in her life, the nicely developed cast of characters, the twists in the engaging plot(s) in The Longest Yard Sale.” A contributor to the Carstairs Considers… website, commented: “The plot is strong, with plenty of things happening to keep you turning pages. There are also several sub-plots to keep your attention, and they tie into the story or theme for the book wonderfully. It really does all come together beautifully in the end.” The same contributor continued: “This is a strong second mystery that will leave you wanting more.”
All Murders Final!
All Murders Final! finds Sarah launching a website for people wanting to unload some of their personal possessions, essentially an online garage sale. Her great idea quickly becomes complicated by disputes involving buyers and sellers. One of the people Sarah has a conflict with, Margaret More, is found dead the following day. Sarah must clear her name before CJ can charge her with Margaret’s murder.
Cynthia Chow, reviewer on the Kings River Life website, asserted: “This third book in the “Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery” series continues to feature the voice of a strong, very intelligent, and always witty lead heroine. Even though one might question Sarah’s reluctance to report incidents of cyber stalking, her confusion over the state of her relationship with CJ makes it understandable. Author Sherry Harris succeeds in incorporating very timely, serious themes into the novel without distracting one bit from the thoroughly entertaining humor and dialogue.” Chow added: “The romantic subplot only enhances the novel, as the allure of a new relationship fueled by attraction rivals one based on strong feelings and history but is tainted with mistrust. The writing has grown stronger with each installment.” A contributor to the Carstairs Considers… website commented: “The characters in this series have always been strong, and this book is no exception. We see plenty of the regulars as well as meet great new characters. All of them felt real.” The same contributor concluded: “If you want a fun mystery that will keep you reading, be sure to pick up this book today.”
A Good Day to Buy and I Know What You Bid Last Summer
Tragedy occurs as Sarah helps a couple plan a garage sale in A Good Day to Buy. During the preparations for the sale, Sarah finds the husband dead and the wife gravely injured. In addition to investigating the incident, Sarah deals with difficult relationships with her brother, her boyfriend, and CJ.
“Harris’s fourth … is a slam dunk for those who love antiques and garage sales. The knotty mystery has an interesting premise and some surprising twists,” asserted a Kirkus Reviews critic. Paula Mitchell, contributor to the Community Bookstop website, suggested: “This book is a great continuation in the next installment of Sarah Winston’s series. … This is definitely a great book for garage sale lovers and those who love a mystery.” A writer on the Nightstand Book Reviews website, remarked: “The mystery of the murder in A Good Day to Buy, the serious story behind Luke’s reappearance, the funny scenes that lighten the drama, the wonderful cast of characters, and Sarah’s always superb internal dialogue, will keep you turning the pages and have you coming back for book number five.”
In I Know What You Bid Last Summer, Sarah is attacked while planning garage sale and silent auction at a local school, and another woman is killed. The killer also stole many items in the auction. Sarah investigates. A Kirkus Reviews writer commented: “Fans of Harris … will appreciate both the clever mystery and the tips for buying and selling at garage sales.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 2017, review of A Good Day to Buy; December 15, 2017, review of I Know What You Bid Last Summer.
ONLINE
Carstairs Considers…, http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/ (December 2, 2014), review of Tagged for Death; (June 30, 2015), review of The Longest Yard Sale; (April 26, 2016), review of All Murders Final.
Community Bookstop, http://communitybookstop.blogspot.com/ (May 1, 2017), Paula Mitchell, review of A Good Day to Buy.
Kensington Books Website, http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/ (February 3, 2018), author profile.
Kings River Life Online, http://kingsriverlife.com/ (June 24, 2016), Cynthia Chow, review of All Murders Final.
Nightstand Book Reviews, https://nightstandbookreviews.com/ (February 13, 2015), review of Tagged for Death; (February 19, 2016), review of The Longest Yard Sale; (October 27, 2017), review of A Good Day to Buy.
Sherry Harris Website, https://sherryharrisauthor.com/ (February 3, 2018).
ABOUT:
Sherry Harris is the author of Agatha Award–nominated Best First Novel Tagged for Death, as well as The Longest Yard Sale, All Murders Final! and A Good Day to Buy in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series. Sherry started bargain hunting in second grade at her best friend’s yard sale. She honed her bartering skills as she moved around the country while her husband served in the Air Force. Sherry combined her love of garage sales, her life as an Air Force spouse, and her time living in Massachusetts as inspiration for this series. Sherry is an independent editor for fiction and nonfiction writers, a member of Sisters in Crime, Sisters in Crime New England, and Sisters in Crime Chesapeake Chapter. She blogs with New England mystery writers at WickedCozyAuthors.com.
About Sherry
headshot
Sherry Harris started bargain hunting in second grade at her best friend’s yard sale. She honed her bartering skills as she moved around the country while her husband served in the Air Force. Sherry combines her love of garage sales, her life as a military spouse, and her years living in Massachusetts as inspiration for the Sarah Winston Garage Sale series. Tagged for Death, first in the series, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel.
Sherry is a member of Sisters in Crime, Sisters in Crime New England, and is the President of the Chessie Chapter of Sisters in Crime.
Sherry, her husband, and guard dog Lily are living in northern Virginia until they figure out where they want to move to next.
Agatha award nominated author, Sherry Harris, started bargain hunting in second grade at her best friend's yard sale. She honed her bartering skills as she moved around the country while her husband served in the Air Force. Sherry uses her love of garage sales, her life as a military spouse, and her time living in Massachusetts as inspiration for the Sarah Winston Garage Sale series.
QUOTED: "Fans of Harris ... will appreciate both the clever mystery and the tips for buying and selling at garage sales."
Harris, Sherry: I KNOW WHAT YOU BID
LAST SUMMER
Kirkus Reviews.
(Dec. 15, 2017):
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Harris, Sherry I KNOW WHAT YOU BID LAST SUMMER Kensington (Adult Fiction) $7.99 2, 27 ISBN:
978-1-4967-0753-6
A garage-sale aficionado continues her crime-solving sideline.
Sarah Winston is living without CJ, the ex-husband who was offered a job in Florida. Despite all the times
she moved for his career, he refused to stay in Ellington, the Massachusetts town she's grown to love, where
her career as a garage-sale manager has taken off. Sarah's doing a freebie for the school district, a swap of
athletic equipment and a silent auction of some donated sports-related memorabilia. While she's working
late at the school, the lights go off, and someone beats her and throws her into the equipment room. After
she frees herself, the police arrive to find the place a mess and many of the silent auction items missing.
After a successful swap marked by a near fight over a Tom Brady jersey, Sarah finds school superintendent
Melba Harper dead in the equipment room, a vintage ski pole piercing her heart. Although Melba seemed to
have been beloved by most, she did divide school board members who couldn't agree about where to spend
the district's money. Sarah busies herself setting up a fancy-shmancy garage sale for Kelly Long, whose
husband, Lance, is a board member, and checks out the lasagna at a number of nearby restaurants for her
friends Rosalie and Angelo DiNapoli, who are determined to win a local best lasagna contest. When word
spreads of her tasting trips, she's forced to wear a disguise. Surfing the internet trying to find the missing
auction items, Sarah uncovers a mob connection. Then a dummy with a ski pole through its body is spirited
into her house. Never one to give up, she continues her hunt for the killer in some unlikely and possibly
dangerous places.
Fans of Harris (A Good Day to Buy, 2017, etc.) will appreciate both the clever mystery and the tips for
buying and selling at garage sales.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Harris, Sherry: I KNOW WHAT YOU BID LAST SUMMER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Dec. 2017. General
OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A518491495/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=541e709f. Accessed 28 Jan. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A518491495
QUOTED: "Harris's fourth ... is a slam dunk for those who love antiques and garage sales. The knotty mystery has an interesting premise and some surprising twists."
1/28/2018 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1517171140227 2/2
Harris, Sherry: A GOOD DAY TO BUY
Kirkus Reviews.
(Mar. 1, 2017):
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Harris, Sherry A GOOD DAY TO BUY Kensington (Adult Fiction) $7.99 4, 25 ISBN: 978-1-4967-0751-2
You meet a lot of people at garage sales. Some are made to be murdered.Sarah Winston's life has taken a
turn for the better. The ongoing garage sale business she runs in Ellington, Massachusetts, and online is
going well, and she's dating her ex-husband, Police Chief CJ Hooker, who once dumped her for a younger
woman. Sarah's working on a garage sale for Velma and Verne Spencer, who plan a move to Florida. As a
former Air Force wife, Sarah appreciates the laid-back Vietnam vet, but his wife drives her crazy. Things
only get worse when she discovers Verne dead and his wife badly injured in their off-limits garage in the
middle of the sale. As if that discovery isn't traumatic enough, Sarah's estranged brother, Luke, turns up at
her apartment looking for a place to hide out. Luke claims to be working a story as an investigative reporter,
but he won't give her any details and refuses to talk about the years since he last saw her. Despite his
reticence, she can't believe that he was involved in Verne's death even though his fingerprints have been
found at the scene. Sarah continues to help Tim Spencer clear out his parents' house while his mother lies
unconscious in the hospital. When a homeless man is found dead near the Air Force base with Luke's
backpack in his possession, she still assures CJ that her brother is innocent. But why would anyone, anyone
at all, want to kill Verne Spencer? That question turns out to be the key to the investigation Sarah persists in
despite CJ's warnings. Harris' fourth (All Murders Final!, 2016, etc.) is a slam dunk for those who love
antiques and garage sales. The knotty mystery has an interesting premise and some surprising twists and
turns as well.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Harris, Sherry: A GOOD DAY TO BUY." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Mar. 2017. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A482911866/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=2fcc9283.
Accessed 28 Jan. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A482911866
QUOTED: "This book is a great continuation in the next installment of Sarah Winston's series. ... This is definitely a great book for garage sale lovers and those who love a mystery."
Review: A Good Day to Buy by: Sherry Harris
Posted by Paula Mitchell with No comments
Title: A Good Day To Buy
Author: Sherry Harris
Publisher: Kensington
Series: Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery #4
Pages: 311
Format: e-book ARC
Source: NetGalley & GEBT
Description:
HER BROTHER IS NO BARGAIN
When Sarah Winston s estranged brother Luke shows up on her doorstep, asking her not to tell anyone he s in town especially her ex, the chief of police the timing is strange, to say the least. Hours earlier, Sarah s latest garage sale was taped off as a crime scene following the discovery of a murdered Vietnam vet and his gravely injured wife her clients, the Spencers.
BUT IS HE A KILLER?
All Luke will tell Sarah is that he s undercover, investigating a story. Before she can learn more, he vanishes as suddenly as he appeared. Rummaging through his things for a clue to his whereabouts, Sarah comes upon a list of veterans and realizes that to find her brother, she ll have to figure out who killed Mr. Spencer. And all without telling her ex . . .
My Thoughts:
This book follows Sarah Winston who is hosting a garage sale for Mr and Mrs. Spencer who are planning on moving to Florida to be near their son. When in the midst of the garage sale Mr. Spencer is found dead and Mrs. Spencer is gravely injured Sarah wonders who could have killed the couple? Next thing Sarah finds is her estranged brother Luke showing up at Sarah's apartment. Where has Luke been and what is he working on is anyone's guess. Luke is very hush hush about everything. Someone seems to be on the move of eliminating vets and no one knows why all Sarah knows is the murder suspect is non other than her brother. Can Sarah get to the bottom before her brother is behind bars?
This book is a great continuation in the next installment of Sarah Winston's series. This one shows a lot of flaws within Sarah's character especially where her brother is concerned. She keeps secrets from everyone including CJ and the police. This is definitely a great book for garage sale lovers and those who love a mystery this one was so good I couldn't put it down! Can't wait to see what is next for CJ and Sarah!
QUOTED: "The mystery of the murder in A Good Day to Buy, the serious story behind Luke’s reappearance, the funny scenes that lighten the drama, the wonderful cast of characters, and Sarah’s always superb internal dialogue, will keep you turning the pages and have you coming back for book #5."
“A Good Day to Buy” by Sherry Harris
Published October 27, 2017
Book Cover - A Good Day to Buy
Sarah Winston is back in “A Good Day to Buy,” and she is working with a couple that wants to downsize their belongings before moving to Florida. The wife is difficult to deal with and wants to hold onto everything, even the plastic storage tubs. The husband wants to get rid of it all and move on. The day of the sale arrives, Sarah turns on the music to create a happy buying mood for the customers, and disaster strikes.
A scream is heard from behind the sheet that Sarah has hung to separate the sale items from those staying in the garage. The husband is dead and the wife is barely clinging to life. Did Sarah see anything? Not really. Maybe. It might have been someone she knows.
As if the garage sale death of this pleasant senior citizen veteran isn’t baffling enough, Sarah’s long lost brother, Luke, pops up out of nowhere. Why here? Why now? What’s he been doing all these years and is he really an investigative reporter? He’s hiding a LOT, but why? Can she trust him?
“A Good Day to Buy” is the fourth book in the entertaining Sarah Winston Garage Sale Series. There is a solid group of core characters, most notably her hunky ex-husband, CJ; her landlady/pal Stella Wild; two police officers, Pellner and Awesome; the DiNapolis, owners of a local restaurant; and Seth, the sometime boyfriend. They always add layers of intrigue to the basic storyline, with CJ still confused as to why Sarah divorced him, and Stella more knowledgeable about what happens in her house than she lets on.
CJ wants more than Sarah may be willing to give. Will her doubts keep them apart? The relationship between Sarah and CJ continues to have its ups and downs, progressing naturally with real-life authenticity, as Sarah tries to regain her equilibrium. Seth, a good catch, hovers, ready to re-enter Sarah’s life if she changes her mind. (A reminder never to get involved with someone that maintains a connection with his/her –ex.)
Harris has kept the series absorbing and topical, with nods to the serious issues of life in and after military service, divorce and reconciliation, and of course, the murders. The tag/garage sales are guaranteed to tie the plots and subplots together in clever ways. I’ve conducted garage sales as I moved around the country and trust me, Sherry Harris’ are way more fun! Aside from the bodies, that is. 😉
The mystery of the murder in “A Good Day to Buy,” the serious story behind Luke’s reappearance, the funny scenes that lighten the drama, the wonderful cast of characters, and Sarah’s always superb internal dialogue, will keep you turning the pages and have you coming back for book #5. “I Know What You Bid Last Summer” comes out in February, 2018.
QUOTED: "Harris’ personal knowledge of garage sales (something she discovered back in the second grade) weaves a convincing thread to tie the action and sub-plots together. Through Sarah’s character, we learn how to organize a successful sale, even how to create a part-time job out of it."
“Tagged for Death” by Sherry Harris
Published February 13, 2015
Book Cover - Tagged for Death
“Tagged for Death,” Sherry Harris’ debut novel, tells the story of Air Force wife, Sarah Winston, recovering from her husband’s betrayal. She can’t forgive him getting drunk at a party and winding up in bed with a young female airman under his authority. Especially when the gal gets pregnant during the supposedly one-night stand. That indiscretion causes the hubby to lose his command, as well as Sarah, in a matter of a few short months.
After CJ (the ex) becomes Chief of Police in the neighboring town, Sarah gets crank phone calls with gunshots in the background, and is harassed by his cop cronies – pulled over for bogus tickets. Sarah can't go to CJ to complain, not sure if the pranksters aren’t following his orders.
Sarah, ever resilient, uses her knack for bargain shopping at garage sales for distraction, but finds bloodied evidence in one of her collection bags that probably belonged to CJ. To make matters worse, CJs ‘one night stand’ goes missing. When blood (and lots of it) is found in the woman’s room, CJ comes under suspicion. Inexplicably, Sarah wants to help. I did say they were exes. The cops and even her old friends on base are wary of her motives. Harris does a nice job of teasing us along, while we wonder ‘why in the world is she doing that?’ and has the characters ask questions at just the right moments in order to move the story forward.
Sarah is a bit nosier than she should be, but how else would our amateur sleuth solve the likely crime(s) and uncover the truth? She doesn’t see that her actions could get her dead, as the pranks turn lethal and enemies pop up in unexpected places. She doesn’t know whom to trust, but there are secrets to be found and as she works her suspicious, naïve way through the twists and turns of the plot, she uncovers all.
Harris, no stranger to military living herself, gives us an insider’s look at life on an Air Force base: the many fundraising events, short-term friendships that are the norm, how personal mistakes become career nightmares, and friendships are sometimes based on spousal rank rather than on how the gals hit it off. It is great to discover that more experienced military couples do mentor the younger people on base.
Harris’ personal knowledge of garage sales (something she discovered back in the second grade) weaves a convincing thread to tie the action and sub-plots together. Through Sarah’s character, we learn how to organize a successful sale, even how to create a part-time job out of it. She includes great tips at the end of “Tagged for Death.”
Harris also explores the idea of second chances in a marriage. Sometimes people have poor judgment, but leaping to conclusions before all the facts are in? can cause irreparable harm.
Harris’ “Tagged for Death” has just been nominated for an Agatha Award-2015 in the best first novel category. Well-deserved recognition for this enjoyable read. It is the first in the ‘Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery’ series.
Please visit www.sherryharrisauthor.com for more information about Ms. Harris and her other projects.
QUOTED: "We have a great mystery that intrigues and satisfies."
"The great dynamic between Sarah and the men in her life, the nicely developed cast of characters, the twists in the engaging plot(s) in The Longest Yard Sale."
“The Longest Yard Sale” by Sherry Harris
Published February 19, 2016
Book Cover - The Longest Yard Sale
Sarah Winston is back in “The Longest Yard Sale,” the second installment in Sherry Harris’ habit-forming Garage Sale Mysteries. In addition to conducting her usual private home tag sales, Sarah has taken on the enormous job of running a one-day, town-wide event. And almost everybody has a great time. Including the thief that steals a valuable painting from an art studio belonging to Sarah’s friend, Carol. Law enforcement is focused on putting out fires as well as the Yard Sale crowds, so they don’t have quite as much fun.
Art theft? Fires? Add in a murder, a mayor who is never where she’s supposed to be, embezzlement, possible forgery, a ‘framed’ body discovered the day after the theft occurs, and we have a great mystery that intrigues and satisfies. Why was the body found at Carol’s studio? Is the body connected to the theft or merely a wild coincidence? And, what’s really going on in that studio?
CJ, the Chief of Police and Sarah’s ex, warns Sarah to stay out of it, but she can’t help herself. She needs to collect information to save Carol from being prosecuted and her own reputation from being smeared. There are plenty of suspects to go around in “The Longest Yard Sale,” and Harris deftly deals with throwing suspicion in all the right places while the layered plot unfolds.
Although Sarah has divorced her former Air Force husband, she still has ties to the local Base and the thrift store there, and maybe even to said hubby, CJ. Just because she now has to be buzzed onto the Base to gain access to the thrift store (and a possible new crime) Sarah’s interest in getting to the bottom of the bargain bins and ferreting out suspicious scams never wanes.
Life in and after the Air Force is further explored in “The Longest Yard Sale,” and all is not as it should be. One of the subplots discusses a normal real-life pre-retirement activity: officers that use military connections to help set up post military life. In this case, people may have lost money in the process, but were they actually swindled? How? By whom?
There is a new guy in Sarah’s life, but is CJ still in the picture as well? She struggles with why she was so quick to believe the worst about him and so ready to divorce. Harris creates a believable mental tug-of-war for Sarah, with CJ and the new guy playing strong male roles, each unaware of the feelings that Sarah may have for the other. An interesting balancing act that adds another layer to the tale. Which guy will she choose? Will she wait too long to make that decision? Does she need to make any decision at all?
The great dynamic between Sarah and the men in her life, the nicely developed cast of characters, the twists in the engaging plot(s) in “The Longest Yard Sale,” all drive me to one conclusion: can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
Harris’ debut novel, “Tagged for Death,” an Agatha Award nominee, is reviewed here.
Please visit www.sherryharrisauthor.com for more information about Sherry Harris and her work. :-)
QUOTED: "This third book in the A Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series continues to feature the voice of a strong, very intelligent, and always witty lead heroine. Even though one might question Sarah’s reluctance to report incidents of cyber stalking, her confusion over the state of her relationship with CJ makes it understandable. Author Sherry Harris succeeds in incorporating very timely, serious themes into the novel without distracting one bit from the thoroughly entertaining humor and dialogue."
"The romantic subplot only enhances the novel, as the allure of a new relationship fueled by attraction rivals one based on strong feelings and history but is tainted with mistrust. The writing has grown stronger with each installment."
All Murders Final! By Sherry Harris: Review/Giveaway/Guest Post
IN THE JUNE 24 ISSUE
FROM THE 2016 ARTICLES,
ANDCYNTHIA CHOW,
ANDMYSTERYRAT'S MAZE SECTIONS
by Cynthia Chow
& Sherry Harris
This week we have a review & giveaway of a fun Garage Sale mystery by Sherry Harris, along with a fun guest post about garage sales from Sherry. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the All Murders Final!, and a link to purchase it from Amazon.
All Murders Final!: A Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery By Sherry Harris
Review by Cynthia Chow
As great as the internet can be, it has its downside. A virtual garage sale, where sellers and buyers conduct their business through a closed web group, was in theory a great idea. Unfortunately, it also opens the door to exploitation and corruption, as the web site owner Sarah Winston soon learns. Complaints about failed payments and unhappy bidders pale in comparison to Sarah’s discovery of Margaret More, dead in her car with a tablecloth stuffed in her mouth. The fact that Sarah had the night before argued with Margaret online over the tablecloth only makes Sarah’s situation more precarious, especially considering that her ex-husband is Ellington, Massachusetts’ current chief of police.
The darker side of the ibooknternet continues with PopIt pictures that suddenly appear and disappear off of Sarah’s phone, showing her at moments throughout the day. Sarah’s reluctance to open up her life to her ex, as well as gossip implicating her in the death of such a prominent resident, have Sarah intent on clearing her reputation, figuring out if she has a stalker, and uncovering a murderer. Margaret may have been a philanthropist, but many believed that her gifts came with strings attached. Oddly enough, a mobster moving in as her new next-door neighbor proves to be surprisingly comforting, while dating a District Attorney and still having feelings for her ex-husband the police chief do not. Sarah and her ex CJ are taking a break to allow her to breathe, while attorney Seth Anderson, Massachusetts’ Most Eligible Bachelor, is proving to be as intoxicating as he is complicated.
This third book in the A Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series continues to feature the voice of a strong, very intelligent, and always witty lead heroine. Even though one might question Sarah’s reluctance to report incidents of cyber stalking, her confusion over the state of her relationship with CJ makes it understandable. Author Sherry Harris succeeds in incorporating very timely, serious themes into the novel without distracting one bit from the thoroughly entertaining humor and dialogue. While I thought that I had the culprit easily identified, the conclusion proved just how cleverly misleading Harris could be. The romantic subplot only enhances the novel, as the allure of a new relationship fueled by attraction rivals one based on strong feelings and history but is tainted with mistrust. The writing has grown stronger with each installment, and this latest in the series proves to be as enjoyable as it is satisfying for readers looking for novels with romance, suspense, and even helpful bargain hunting advice.
Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).
Garage Sales
By Sherry Harris
Someone recently asked me how I became an expert in yard sales. I was taken aback! Me? An expert? As I thought about it, I realized I have been sharing a lot of my knowledge about yard sales in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale series. Oddly, it’s knowledge I didn’t even know I was carrying around in my head. And if I am truthful, nothing I ever thought I’d write about. But through a series of fortunate events, I get to write this series and call going to yard sales research!
So how did I become an ‘expert’? Years of going to garage sales that started in elementary school at the home of my best friend. I had no idea you could sell used things. My parents haven’t ever had a garage sale, and I can only think of one time that they went to one. Their friend’s mother was holding one, and they bought her dining room table and chairs for $60. I’m still using the set today. But somehow that early experience embedded itself in my head, and I’ve loved garage sales since.
author
Sherry Harris
Throwing yard sales is hard work! Pricing can take forever and it can be difficult to price things correctly. If it’s too cheap, you can’t bargain, and trust me people who go to yard sales want to bargain. If you ask too much people walk away. Lump like things together whenever possible — all hardback books $1 — it saves time pricing. Take time to arrange things and make sure they look good. Don’t think it has to look like garage sales do on TV or in magazines, but don’t just dump it all on a tarp on the driveway either. One great tip I heard was to have a garage sale around pay day.
Going to yard sales is fun! You never know what you will find. Sometimes I go out looking for something specific. I’m still trying to find vintage Jonathan Adler plates for a friend. Another friend has me looking for old Barbie dolls. More often I go out looking for things I collect: vintage tablecloths, cobalt glass, and vintage postcards. Of course I’m always open to that perfect, unexpected find. A couple of weekends ago while I was at a yard sale, I glanced down and saw a wooden dumbbell. The wood was beautiful and something about its shape just spoke to me. It’s now sitting on my mantle.
garage sale
Garage sale find
Be respectful when bargaining whether you are the buyer or seller. I don’t have a set amount that I’m willing to take off as a seller or offer as a buyer. Usually, at a garage sale (rules of thumb vary at antique stores, flea markets, and estate sales) I’ll offer half of what the item is priced. That allows both of us wiggle room to bargain and to walk away feeling satisfied with the final result. The wooden dumbbell I bought was marked $2. The price seemed reasonable so I didn’t ask for anything more off. When I came home and looked them up on eBay, I’d found I’d gotten quite the bargain.
My final bit of advice — the early bird has the biggest selection but not the best price. Go forth and have fun out there!
To enter to win a copy of All Murders Final!, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “final,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen July 2, 2016. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.
Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section.
QUOTED: "The characters in this series have always been strong, and this book is no exception. We see plenty of the regulars as well as meet great new characters. All of them felt real."
"If you want a fun mystery that will keep you reading, be sure to pick up this book today."
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Book Review: All Murders Final! by Sherry Harris (Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries #3)
Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Strong mystery filled with strong characters
Cons: Climax a bit rushed, but a minor issue overall
The Bottom Line:
A virtual sale
Turns up a real dead body
Pages fly by quickly
You’ll Enjoy This Mystery to the Final Page
There are so many cozy series out there right now that it seems there’s always a book about to come out I’m really looking forward to reading. After how much I enjoyed the first two books in the Sarah Winston Garage Sales Mysteries, All Murders Final! was definitely a book I was looking forward to reading, and it didn’t disappoint at all.
The book finds Sarah in the middle of a mild Massachusetts February winter, but even so, winter in New England is not a time to be hosting garage sales, so Sarah has turned to running a virtual garage sale website for the town of Ellington to make some money. In addition to being the admin, she’s also a member of the site, buying and selling things herself.
One morning, Sarah goes to pick up some things from Margaret More, a rich and powerful local woman. Only when she arrives, Sarah finds Margaret dead in her car with a table cloth stuffed in her mouth, the same table cloth that Sarah had been fighting with another woman over on the garage sale sight the nite before. While she is waiting for the police, someone sends Sarah a picture – of Sarah waiting for the police. What in the world has Sarah stumbled into?
When I write my teasers for my review, I always try to tease as little of the plot as I can. Here, I’ve teased just the opening few pages of the book. When a story starts that strongly, I’m always hopeful that this portends a strong story to follow, and in this case it definitely does. There is always something happening, whether it is Sarah learning something new or some new event that keeps her on her toes and us turning pages. I did feel that the climax was a little rushed, but when thinking it over, everything did make sense in the end.
The characters in this series have always been strong, and this book is no exception. We see plenty of the regulars as well as meet great new characters. All of them felt real to me, and I’m already ready to go back and visit them again. I hope a few of the characters introduced here pop up again as well because that would be awesome.
There’s been a love triangle so far in this series as Sarah struggles between CJ, her ex-husband, and Seth, the most eligible bachelor in the area. We got some nice advancement of this story arc here, and I was very happy with how things ended, although I want to see more of both of them in future books.
I can’t review this book without mentioning the humor. There are a couple of scenes that made me laugh near the middle of this book and several more great scenes and lines throughout. They were wonderful at easing the tension a little before we started the climb back to the climax.
At the end of the book, we get a few tips for garage sales, real and virtual. I really need to start taking advantage of some of these tips, and if you saw my condo you’d understand why I say that.
I was disappointed to reach the final page of All Murders Final!, and I’m already looking forward to Sarah’s next adventure. If you want a fun mystery that will keep you reading, be sure to pick up this book today.
Don't miss any deals! Here are the rest of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries in order.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
QUOTED: "The plot is strong, with plenty of things happening to keep you turning pages. There are also several sub-plots to keep your attention, and they tie into the story or theme for the book wonderfully. It really does all come together beautifully in the end."
"This is a strong second mystery that will leave you wanting more."
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Book Review: The Longest Yard Sale by Sherry Harris (Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries #2)
Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Well-crafted plot filled with fun characters
Cons: None
The Bottom Line:
Yard sale as cover
Creative set up for book
Executed well
Arson, Stolen Painting, and Murder
While garage sales and shopping in general aren’t normally a theme I pick when it comes to cozies, I did give Sherry Harris’s debut a try last year, and I loved it. In fact, I was anxious to read The Longest Yard Sale, the second in the series. Now that I’ve read it, I can say it is just as good as the first.
For the last few months, Sarah Winston has been working hard organizing the Longest Yard Sale in New England to take place in and around Ellington, Massachusetts. The main focus is on the town green, where various dealers and charity organizations have set up booths, but other people in town are hosting sales at their home that day.
Things are progressing wonderfully until a series of fires spring up outside of town, distracting the police. That night, Sarah’s friend Carol discovers that the copy of a famous local painting she’d been commissioned to paint is missing. That’s nothing compared to the next day when Carol returns to her shop on the town green to find the dead body of a stranger in her storeroom. With the police focusing on Carol, Sarah begins to dig to figure out what happened and figure out who used her event as cover for crime. What will she uncover?
Before I go any further, I do want to issue a warning – this book spoils a minor plot point from the previous book. Since it involves Sarah’s personal life, there is no way around it, and there is still plenty of mystery to that first book. However, if you want to go into that book knowing nothing about what will happen, by all means read it first.
That’s really not a hardship however, since both books in the series are great. The characters are such fun you want to spend time with them. Sarah is in her late 30’s, so she’s not a typical cozy heroine, but I appreciate that. Still, she’s trying to deal with some interesting dilemmas in her personal life that make her very relatable. We get to know Carol a little better in this book since she figures so much into the plot. But my favorite characters by far are the owners of Sarah’s favorite Italian restaurant. The suspects introduced in this book are just as real as the returning characters, and that helps you get caught up in the plot.
The plot is strong, with plenty of things happening to keep you turning pages. There are also several sub-plots to keep your attention, and they tie into the story or theme for the book wonderfully. It really does all come together beautifully in the end.
Sarah’s trying to decide between two men in this book, and I also liked how that progressed. In fact, I was actually cheering for something that happened at one point late in the book. But with how that sub-plot ended, I’m now anxious for the next book to see what happens next.
Ellington is located next to the fictional Fitch Air Force Base, and once again that factors into the mystery. It’s one aspect that really sets the series apart from many cozies I read. Since Sherry Harris is an air force wife herself, I appreciate this picture of military life.
I found Sherry's books because of the group blog she is part of, Wicked Cozy Authors. As a result, I really enjoyed a scene early on where she worked in references to the books the rest of the authors on the blog write.
This is a strong second mystery that will leave you wanting more. Don’t let The Longest Yard Sale sit for too long before you pick it up.
Don't miss any deals! Here are the rest of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries in order.
NOTE: I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
QUOTED: "Most scenes and chapters seem to start with multiple short sentences in a row, which came across as choppy and annoyed me. Once a scene got going, that would disappear."
"The tone of the book overall is perfect for the events happening in the story. ... It was masterfully done."
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Book Review: Tagged for Death by Sherry Harris (Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries #1)
Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Sarah and a complex, interesting plot
Cons: Writing can be a bit choppy at times
The Bottom Line:
Bloody clothes from sale
Lead Sarah to mystery
In this strong debut
Tag This as a Great Series Debut
I realize Thanksgiving was last week, but I’m so thankful I found the Wicked Cozy Authors blog this year for two reasons. First, I have fun reading and commenting on it every day. Second, I have found some great new authors as a result. Today marks the debut for blog member Sherry Harris, and Tagged for Death is a sure winner.
After almost twenty years as an Air Force wife, Sarah Winston finds her husband, CJ, had a one night stand with a young woman also in the Air Force, resulting in Tiffany becoming pregnant. Sarah immediately divorces CJ, but stays in the area to rebuild her life.
One thing she loves to do is go going to garage sales on Saturdays, often returning to pick up donations for the thrift store on base near the end of the day. However, when she starts sorting through her most recent load of donations, she stumbles across two shirts covered in blood. Worse yet, she recognizes them as belonging to CJ and Tiffany. When she learns that Tiffany has disappeared, she truly begins to worry. What has happened to the young woman? And who planted the items in Sarah’s car?
The story starts off with a bang (literally) and doesn’t really slow down until it reaches the end. There are some believable and well developed red herrings that really kept me guessing along the way. I had a small part of the solution figured out, but only a very small part. The rest completely surprised me.
The characters are great as well. Sarah is well developed and very sympathetic, and the characters important to the story are real as well. I felt that a couple of her friends didn’t seem completely real to me, but then I realized they didn’t actually spend much time on the page. For the amount of time they were on the page, they were fairly well developed, and I’m sure they will grow as the series does.
The only complaint I do have about this book is the writing style. Most scenes and chapters seem to start with multiple short sentences in a row, which came across as choppy and annoyed me. Once a scene got going, that would disappear, and I’d be right there as part of the action.
On the other hand, the tone of the book overall is perfect for the events happening in the story and Sarah’s frame of mine. It was masterfully done.
Tagged for Death is a winning debut that will have you turning pages until you reach the final one. I’m already looking forward to Sarah’s next bargain with death.
Don't miss any deals! Here are the rest of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries in order.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.