In this delightful new installment of the Senior Sleuths Mysteries, readers will laugh out loud, cheer for the sister-in-law duo, and speed through the pages as they try to solve the mystery of this whodunit. The perfect companion for Peg and Rose’s latest adventure, whip up a batch of brownies before you settle in to read this cozy mystery. These brownies are so easy to make and so delicious that once you’ve tried them, you’ll never use brownie mix again!
- 4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate*, chopped
- ¾ cup unsalted butter**
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
- Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 13x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large, microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate and butter. Heat in a microwave oven on 50% power until butter melts, approximately 2 minutes, stopping and stirring occasionally. Stir until chocolate melts completely.
- Stir in sugar until incorporated. Stir in eggs and vanilla extract until well blended. Stir in flour and nuts (if using) until well combined. Spread batter evenly into prepared baking pan. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, approximately 30 minutes*** for fudgy, chewy brownies. Let cool before cutting and enjoying.
**Margarine can be substituted for butter, but the taste will be slightly less rich.
***Overbaking will make these brownies dry. It’s better to check them early than late.
Murder, She Wrote meets The Odd Couple in award-winning author Laurien Berenson’s brand-new mystery series, spun off from her much-loved Melanie Travis series and featuring Melanie’s elderly aunts—tough-as-nails Peg and soft-spoken Rose—who’ll put their differences aside to stop a killer, if they don’t throttle each other first. The latest installment will tickle all cozy lovers, especially fans of “senior” sleuths in the tradition of Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher.
When a typically closed-off Peg attempts online dating at Rose’s strong urging, the experience plays out like an embarrassing mistake. At least, until she matches with Nolan Abercrombie—intelligent, attractive, and a self-proclaimed dog lover. The two share an instant connection that has Peg cautiously excited to finally bring someone special into her busy world of standard poodles and conformation shows.
Before Peg can admit that Rose was right and let down her walls for the budding romance, a terrible accident claims Nolan’s life. As details about his background and tragic death come to light, Peg has a serious hunch that someone successfully plotted to kill her first real date in decades . . .
With suspects galore and a slew of puzzling clues to peel through, Peg and Rose team up to solve a dangerous mystery unfolding before their eyes. The question is: Can the unlikely duo turn their radically different personalities into an advantage as they scramble to ID the guilty culprit—or will they manage to work against each other and find themselves precisely where a meticulous murderer wants them to be?
Laurien Berenson is the award-winning author of the long running Melanie Travis mystery series and the new Senior Sleuths series starring Peg Turnbull and Rose Donovan. Her work has appeared in numerous magazines and the New York Times. She and her husband live on a farm in Kentucky, surrounded by dogs and horses. Visit her online at www.laurienberenson.com.
