Dolores Johnson – författare

Discover the history of the African American holiday Kwanzaa in this comprehensive, easy-to-follow nonfiction middle grade guide.Each year on December 26, the African American holiday of Kwanzaa begins. What is the purpose of Kwanzaa? How did it get its start? This comprehensive resource gives detailed descriptions of Kwanzaa’s principles and symbols and includes recipes and craft and gift ideas, as well as suggestions to help young readers and their families create their own special Kwanzaa celebration.

In this cozy mystery, the new proprietor of a dry cleaners takes on a load of trouble when a bag of bloody clothes sends her on the trail of a killer.When Mandy Dyer inherits her uncle''s dry cleaners, she knows she''ll be dealing in some pretty grimy business. But when a homeless woman brings in a bloody suit, suddenly Mandy has a foul mess on her hands. Did the suit belong to a murderer—or his victim? Now Mandy is sharing clues with a hunky homicide detective—and trying to discover a little dirt on the killer herself. With one man dead and a potential witness missing, returning this suit to its rightful owner isn''t going to be easy—until Mandy figures out how to make the killer come clean.Praise for Dolores Johnson and the Mandy Dyer Mysteries"Delightful. Good, clean fun." —Dorothy Cannell, author of The Thin Woman"Dolores Johnson writes with wit and panache. I love her sense of humor." —Diane Mott Davidson, New York Times–bestselling author of the Goldy Bear Culinary Mysteries

When her competitor is discovered dead in her dry-cleaning plant, the top suspect turns amateur sleuth to find the real murderer in this cozy mystery.Dry cleaning entrepreneur Mandy Dyer has a spotless reputation as a business owner—and as a part-time amateur sleuth. Yet when the body of her sleazy business rival is discovered hanging from a conveyor belt in her cleaning plant, Mandy is the lead suspect. So much for making a good impression on sexy homicide detective Stan Foster. But Mandy isn''t the kind to turn away from a tough spot. Instead, she begins searching for the real culprit, starting with the colorful cast of characters she calls her employees. That is, until the killer begins working their way through Mandy''s staff with a ticket to kill . . .Praise for Dolores Johnson and the Mandy Dyer Mysteries"Delightful. Good, clean fun." —Dorothy Cannell, author of The Thin Woman"Dolores Johnson writes with wit and panache. I love her sense of humor." —Diane Mott Davidson, New York Times–bestselling author of the Goldy Bear Culinary Mysteries

When a woman is murdered after buying a valuable vintage design, her dry cleaner-turned-amateur sleuth is left to sort out the clues in this cozy mystery.Mandy Dyer is feeling the heat—and not just because she''s the owner of Dyer''s Dry Cleaners. When she discovers that her dear friend Kate Bosworth has been strangled by a vintage scarf, Mandy has a real mess on her hands. Days earlier, Kate had brought an antique gown into Dyer''s for a cleaning. The dress was a 1920s Fortuny that Kate claimed was worth thousands, but she''d gotten for a steal—and it may have cost Kate her life.No stranger to digging up dirt, Mandy begins searching flea markets and garage sales, trying to track down someone who might have a claim to the gown—someone who would kill to get it back. With the police on the trail too—and her new boyfriend Det. Stan Foster determined to keep her out of it—Mandy makes sure to leave no trace behind in a case that draws her closer and closer to some pretty dirty laundry—and a murderer''s rage.Praise for Dolores Johnson and the Mandy Dyer Mysteries"Delightful. Good, clean fun." —Dorothy Cannell, author of The Thin Woman"Dolores Johnson writes with wit and panache. I love her sense of humor." —Diane Mott Davidson, New York Times–bestselling author of the Goldy Bear Culinary Mysteries

In this "tightly plotted who-done-it," a dry cleaner-turned-amateur sleuth searches for clues behind a missing person who is found murdered (Publishers Weekly).When Det. Stan Foster shows up at Mandy Dyer''s dry cleaning shop, Mandy hopes her one-time boyfriend has come back to win her heart. Instead, he soothes her ego by asking for her help with his homicide investigation. But if Stan thinks she''ll walk away from the case after answering his inquiry, he''s dead wrong. Because these days, Mandy is as famous for her amateur sleuthing skills as she is for her freshly pressed clothes. Mandy''s investigation puts her in touch with a colorful cast of characters, from Betty the Bag Lady to Harpo the Mime. Of course, the chance to butt heads—and more—with Stan has its appeal. Which means nothing will keep Mandy from the dirty business of a man whose less-than-spotless reputation may have gotten him murdered . . .Praise for Dolores Johnson and the Mandy Dyer Mysteries"Delightful. Good, clean fun." —Dorothy Cannell, author of The Thin Woman"Dolores Johnson writes with wit and panache. I love her sense of humor." —Diane Mott Davidson, New York Times–bestselling author of the Goldy Bear Culinary Mysteries

A dry cleaner-turned-amateur sleuth investigates her ex-husband when his new wife-to-be turns up dead in this cozy mystery.There''s nothing unusual about a young bride entrusting Mandy Dyer with her wedding dress. Mandy runs a dry cleaners—her customers bring in gowns all the time. But when Mandy realizes the bride-to-be is marrying her womanizing ex-husband, she sees red—especially when she discovers the bride stabbed to death in her bridal suite. With Larry as the prime suspect, Mandy is up to her neck in her ex''s dirty laundry once more. Only this time, the stink of it is even worse. Putting her sleuthing skills to use, Mandy is determined to make sure that whoever killed this innocent woman gets their just deserts. And Mandy most certainly doesn''t mean wedding cake . . .Praise for Dolores Johnson and the Mandy Dyer Mysteries"Delightful. Good, clean fun." —Dorothy Cannell, author of The Thin Woman"Dolores Johnson writes with wit and panache. I love her sense of humor." —Diane Mott Davidson, New York Times–bestselling author of the Goldy Bear Culinary Mysteries

A dry cleaner-turned-amateur sleuth uncovers "surprising answers" to the murder of one of her beloved customers in this "cozy crowd-pleaser" (Publishers Weekly).Learning her dear friend and valued customer Thelma Chadwick is dead is one thing, but when Denver dry cleaner Mandy Dyer discovers the sweet old woman left her a cryptic message and a bag of clothes that Mandy has never seen—nor cleaned—she is awash in suspicion. Thelma knew Mandy had a hand in solving mysteries in town—Was she asking Mandy to use her sleuthing skills to find her killer? And if so, were the unusual buttons that covered the dresses Thelma left in her care some kind of clue?With the local police calling poor Thelma''s death an accident, Mandy knows she''s not going to get any dirt out of her detective ex-boyfriend. So Mandy takes what she knows to a local gumshoe—only to discover the PI is none other than the boy Mandy stood up in high school. Not one to let his grown-up good looks knock the starch out of her, Mandy hires Travis to help, figuring that if they find a murderer together, who knows what the future holds? But will the witnesses button their lips, or will the truth about Thelma''s demise come out in the wash?Praise for Dolores Johnson and the Mandy Dyer Mysteries"Delightful. Good, clean fun." —Dorothy Cannell, author of The Thin Woman"Dolores Johnson writes with wit and panache. I love her sense of humor." —Diane Mott Davidson, New York Times–bestselling author of the Goldy Bear Culinary Mysteries

A dry cleaner-turned-amateur sleuth finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer in this "fast-paced" cozy with a "smashing climax" (Publishers Weekly).Mandy Dyer is more than ready to give up her second career as an amateur sleuth. After all, she has an in-demand dry cleaners to run! But when her cousin Laura comes in and asks for Mandy''s help locating a coat she lost in a restaurant, Mandy can''t say no. Besides, it seems like a fairly harmless investigation—until a hit-and-run driver nearly takes Laura out. And when Mandy heads to Laura''s apartment to cheer her up while she heals from a broken leg, Mandy is suddenly attacked by an unknown assailant. Pressed into detective work once more, Mandy hopes that this time, she isn''t hung out to dry.Praise for Dolores Johnson and the Mandy Dyer Mysteries"Delightful. Good, clean fun." —Dorothy Cannell, author of The Thin Woman"Dolores Johnson writes with wit and panache. I love her sense of humor." —Diane Mott Davidson, New York Times–bestselling author of the Goldy Bear Culinary Mysteries

In this "sparkling" cozy mystery with "an oddball cast of characters," a dry cleaner-turned-amateur sleuth discovers someone is murdering her customers (Publishers Weekly).Mandy Dyer is happy to see her straitlaced customer Ardith Brewster suddenly bringing a fresh, fun new wardrobe into Mandy''s Denver dry cleaners. When Ardith confides she''s got a new man in her life—someone she met at Mandy''s open house, no less—Mandy is delighted for her . . . until Ardith turns up dead. Mandy is sifting through her customers, trying to find someone who matches Ardith''s mystery beau''s well-heeled description, when suddenly another customer is killed. And just when Mandy is about to turn to her PI boyfriend Travis for help, she wonders if the stylish perp might be even closer to home than she realized . . .Praise for Dolores Johnson and the Mandy Dyer Mysteries"Delightful. Good, clean fun." —Dorothy Cannell, author of The Thin Woman"Dolores Johnson writes with wit and panache. I love her sense of humor." —Diane Mott Davidson, New York Times–bestselling author of the Goldy Bear Culinary Mysteries