USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR “An impossible-to-put-down Harvey Wallbanger of a mystery. With a smart, funny protagonist who’s learning to own her power as a woman, Send in the Clowns is one boss read.” – Ellen Byron, Agatha Award-Nominated Author of Plantation Shudders Haunted houses are scary enough without knife-wielding clowns. Especially murderous knife-wielding clowns. So thinks Ellison Russell, single mother, artist, and reluctant sleuth. Now death wears a red nose and Ellison is up to the blood-stained collar of her new trench coat in costumes, caffeine, and possible killers. Who stabbed Brooks Harney? And why? Money? Jealousy? Drugs? With Mother meddling, her father furious, and her date dragged downtown for questioning, turns out Ellison’s only confidante is Mr. Coffee. Related subjects include: cozy mysteries, women sleuths, murder mystery series, whodunit mysteries (whodunnit), amateur sleuth books, book club recommendations, humorous murder mysteries, historical mysteries. Books in the Country Club Murders Humorous Mystery Series: • THE DEEP END (#1) • GUARANTEED TO BLEED (#2) • CLOUDS IN MY COFFEE (#3) • SEND IN THE CLOWNS (#4) Part of the Henery Press Mystery Series Collection, if you like one, you’ll probably like them all…

Sally Markum crossed her ankles and donned a smile that invited secrets.

The man across from her sipped his coffee, seemingly more interested in the activity in the studio than her.

“We’re on in five.” The call came from the darkness.

Four, three, two…

Sally adjusted her posture and turned up the wattage of her smile. “I’m Sally Markum and this is Kansas City Tonight. We’re on with Detective Anarchy Jones of the Kansas City Police Department. Detective Jones, your first name is somewhat unusual. How did your parents come to select such a unique moniker?”

The man across from her leaned back in his chair. “My father is a politics professor at UC Berkley. My mother is an artist.” He smiled. “I’m just glad they didn’t name me Hemp.”

That smile. Sally resisted the urge to fan herself. “A politics professor at Berkley? How does he feel about your chosen profession?”

“We don’t discuss it.”

The sudden chill in the room had nothing to do with the temperature.

Sally shifted in her seat and smoothed the skirt stretched across her lap.

“I thought you had questions about the Harney case.” Detective Jones’ killer smile was fifty degrees cooler now.

Don’t discuss family. She got the message. Loud and clear.

“Of course. Please—” she nodded to the main camera “—tell our viewers about the Brooks Harney murder. How can they help catch a killer?”

“Anyone having seen someone dumping in the river on Sunday nights in the area of the West Bottoms is encouraged to call the police department.”

“Dumping? You mean the body?” No smile for this question. Sally went for serious and sad, an expression the viewers would read as empathetic.

“Brooks Harney was stabbed then dumped in the river.”

Sally swallowed. “A confidential source tells me that local socialite Ellison Russell is embroiled in the investigation. Can you confirm that for our viewers?”

Icicles formed on the camera equipment. “No comment.”

“My source says that—”

Anarchy’s eyes narrowed. “No comment.”

The detective wanted to discuss Ellison Russell even less than he wanted to talk about his father. Message received. “Do you have a suspect?”

“The police department is actively pursuing all leads.”

Sally shifted in her chair. When she’d seen the detective she’d formulated a plan. A plan that included a chummy interview, drinks after the cameras quit rolling, and then…The plan wasn’t working. There was nothing chummy about their exchange and Detective Jones seemed oblivious to the deep vee of her blouse and the length of her toned legs. “What else can you tell our viewers, Detective Jones?”

“Avoid clowns carrying knives.” He sounded deadly serious.

Sally squeaked. Squeaked. They’d have to edit that out. “Excellent advice.”