J.R. Ripley – författare

Cafe owner Maggie Miller's special Halloween promotional evening ends in disaster when she discovers the body of one of her regular customers, strangled to death with an expensive cashmere scarf. What secrets had the late Nancy Alverson been hiding? And why had she been studying books on witchcraft?

After she finds a body in her brand-new birding shop, a North Carolina woman must train her binoculars on a killer . . .  For Amy Simms, hatching a birding shop in her hometown of Ruby Lake, North Carolina, hasn’t exactly been a breeze. But could a deadly discovery clip her wings for good?   It’s just days before Amy plans to open Birds & Bees on the first floor of her creaky Victorian house, but delayed seed shipments have prevented the fledging owner from stocking her shelves. And it doesn’t help that Amy’s best friend and business partner is out of town indefinitely. With locals skeptical about the niche shop taking flight, the last thing Amy needs now is a dead man in her storeroom—or for a crotchety tenant to catch her holding a bloody birdfeeder hook over his body . . .   Pigeonholed as a leading murder suspect by police and lacking a solid alibi, Amy’s delving into the victim’s ugly past and buzzing around Ruby Lake for clues on his killer . . . before she ends up like so many of her beloved feathery friends—trapped behind bars!

When Birds & Bees owner Amy Simms volunteers to act in a local production of Annie, Get Your Gun, she finds herself upstaged by a killer waiting in the wings . . . Who’s got time for birdwatching? Amy has enough to do running her shop, fighting attempts by the town planning commission to demolish her old Victorian house, and rescuing an injured towhee. Yet somehow she allows herself to get roped into performing in the Ruby Lake, North Carolina, community theater’s new musical after some cast members get injured by mysterious mishaps. The production seems plagued by bad luck, but events turn tragic when a member of the company is found murdered in a locked dressing room. Trading in her binoculars for a magnifying glass, Amy steps into the role of amateur sleuth and soon discovers the victim ruffled a lot of feathers. With a flock of suspects, Amy will need to beat the bushes before the cagey killer takes flight. After all, the show must go on . . . Praise for J.R. Ripley’s Buried in Beignets “Those who like their mysteries relatively nonviolent and delivered with a smile will thoroughly enjoy this little gem.” —Booklist “A fun new cozy series. I would definitely read another, so I hope this is the first of many.” —Myshelf.com

A red-bellied woodpecker may lead to a yellow-bellied killer . . .One morning when unwilling early bird Amy Simms grabs her binoculars for a closer look at the woodpecker who’s been waking her up, she can''t believe her eyes. Across Ruby Lake, through a curtain of rain, she sees a body being tossed out of an upstairs window at the old McKutcheon place.Or at least she thinks she does. The police chief finds no body—only a discarded dressmaker''s dummy—and complains that Amy sent him on a wild-goose chase. She should probably focus on minding her store, Birds & Bees, but Amy can''t help snooping. And when she turns up another body—a murdered member of her birdwatching group—Amy once again needs to wing it as a sleuth to zoom in on a killer . . .Praise for J.R. Ripley’s Buried in Beignets“Those who like their mysteries relatively nonviolent and delivered with a smile will thoroughly enjoy this little gem.” —Booklist“A fun new cozy series. I would definitely read another, so I hope this is the first of many.” —Myshelf.com

For Amy Simms, owner of Birds & Bees, nothing is more important than impressing her old professor, but this odd bird is about to fall to earth . . .When her favorite ornithology professor comes calling, Birds & Bees owner Amy Simms hangs six hummingbird feeders around the shop to welcome Professor Livingston with a flock of his favorite flying creatures. But Amy soon finds that the sugar water in the feeders brings more than a swarm of hummingbirds. It also attracts murder.Professor Livingston is just as friendly as Amy remembers, but something seems to be troubling him. When Amy pays him a visit that night, she finds the professor slumped over a table with a pair of scissors buried in his neck. And standing over his body is Rose Smith, the local bookseller, who claims she killed him. But while the police believe they have a bird in hand, Amy thinks the real killer may still be in the bush . . .Praise for J.R. Ripley’s Beignets, Brides and Bodies“A clever, amusing cozy.” —Publishers Weekly“Ripley’s entertaining second series outing is a tasty option for foodie mystery fans of Sandra Balzo and Jessica Beck.” — Library Journal

Ruby Lake, North Carolina, might be the perfect place to go birdwatching during autumn, but it’s also a habitat for murder . . . As Birds & Bees owner Amy Simms guides a halfhearted birding group around Ruby Lake, rumors soon start flying about the annual Fall Festival’s classic car and tractor show. Local eccentric Chick Sherman—boasting the hottest ride in town—has ruffled feathers by mysteriously entering the contest, and curious Amy hatches a plan to sneak a glimpse at the phantom automobile before the big event kicks off . . . But competition turns deadly when Amy finally spots the sleek ’56 El Morocco—and it’s on top of Chick’s very dead body. With her neighbor and business partner framed as the murderer and priceless Audubon prints suddenly missing from Chick’s home, only Amy can identify the telltale markings of a killer before another hapless victim is plucked from the flock . . . Praise for J.R. Ripley’s Beignets, Brides and Bodies “Appealing . . .  A clever, amusing cozy.” —Publishers Weekly “Ripley’s entertaining second series outing is a tasty option for foodie mystery fans.” —Library Journal

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and the only things on Birds & Bees owner Amy Simms’s wish list are peace, quiet, and birding beside her beau.  But in small town Ruby Lake, ‘tis the season to solve murders . . .Before Amy can get into the holiday spirit, she meets Franklin Finch—the cocky new owner of Christmas House Village, one of the most beloved attractions in town. Locals have been squawking over his decision to sack veteran staff members for cheaper help. And when Finch blows off a business deal with Amy, it confirms that he’s the biggest scrooge around. Still, she’s stunned the night his dead body is found swinging in the attic of a festive Victorian . . .Clashing against Chief Kennedy once again, Amy sets off to prove that Finch was murdered. But while her investigation quickly reveals a gaggle of disgruntled ex-Christmas House Village employees and unusual clues, Amy must move with caution as she focuses in on the seedy killer . . .Praise for J.R. Ripley’s Beignets, Brides and Bodies“Appealing . . . A clever, amusing cozy.” —Publishers Weekly“Ripley’s entertaining second series outing is a tasty option for foodie mystery fans.” —Library Journal

It really is the dead of winter in Ruby Lake when a party becomes an invitation to murder for Birds & Bees owner Amy Simms . . . No one ruffles Amy’s feathers like Craig “The Gigolo” Bigelow. Not only has the two-timer returned to town, but his new girlfriend has invited Amy to a dinner party. And at Usher House of all places—legendary home to ghosts, freak accidents, and now, most horrifying of all, an ex-boyfriend and his fiancé. Regrettably, there are also sick ducks on the property that need attention. For a bird lover like Amy, it’s fowl before pride. When everyone becomes snowbound, Amy can’t imagine the evening getting worse. Until a guest is found with a carving knife stuck in his chest. And he’s not the first to call it a night. Now Amy’s got till dawn to go hunting for a killer—before someone else ends up a dead duck . . . Praise for J.R. Ripley’s Beignets, Brides and Bodies “Appealing . . . A clever, amusing cozy.”—Publishers Weekly “Ripley’s entertaining second series outing is a tasty option for foodie mystery fans.”—Library Journal

When the guest of honor is killed at an annual birding convention, justice will be swift . . .  A flying visit to the City of Brotherly Love takes a murderous turn for Amy Simms, owner of Birds & Bees . . .   Amy and her bird-loving crew are ducking out of Ruby Lake, North Carolina to attend the annual American Birding Expo in Philadelphia. The event will generate publicity for Birds & Bees, though assistant manager Esther is strangely reluctant to attend. Before she’s even set up their booth, Amy manages to insult JJ Fuller, famed bird photographer and the expo’s guest of honor. An inauspicious beginning, made worse when JJ is found dead as a dodo, his head caved in by a pair of binoculars.   The police suspect Esther is mixed up in murder, and her mysterious past starts coming to light. Amy isn’t sure what to believe. JJ boasted that he would be the first to locate a near-extinct woodpecker. Did a rival decide to beat him—literally—to the punch? With a ZombieFest convention taking place in the exhibit hall next door, there’s all kinds of creepiness to contend with. And somewhere among the birders and the walking dead there’s a killer hoping to fly the coop before justice is served . . .

Birds & Bees owner Amy Simms will need help from her fine-feathered friends when an uncommon bird sighting plunges her into a hornet’s nest of black magic and murder most foul . . .  Amy’s enjoying a rare moment of relaxation when a customer shows up seeking her expertise in ID-ing an unusual bird she’s seen flying around her wooded cabin at the edge of town. Ruby Lake, North Carolina, newcomer Yvonne Rice resembles an exotic bird herself—apparently the kind that doesn’t fly. When she’s found shot to death in her locked cabin, the only witness found is a statue of a voodoo deity staring down from the mantel. Does the rare yellow cardinal Yvonne spotted hold any clues to her demise? What about the Ouija board spelling out the words I am murdered? As Amy delves deeper into Yvonne’s life and meets her strangely secretive neighbors, she’s determined to stop a fowl-hearted murderer from migrating to a new killing ground . . .

Charles Trenet of the Gendarmerie Nationale has just arrived on St. Barthelemy for three years in paradise.  The exclusive island in the French West Indies lives up to its jet-setters' reputation as a beautiful and peaceful retreat for models, moguls and movie stars. However, Trenet's life is suddenly thrown into turmoil when he is assigned to solve the murder of Bobbi Freon, a rich and eccentric American fashion designer who has been found stabbed to death in his pricey villa. Murder on St. Barthelemy is nearly unheard of, and Trenet's superiors are eager to protect the island's thriving tourist industry by discreetly and swiftly handling this mounting crisis. The inexperienced young gendarme's investigation into the fashion designer's life uncovers a dark world of decadence and unsavory business practices, with the victim's former business partners quickly scrambling to take control of the multimillion dollar company he created.  Bobbi Freon clearly was disliked by many people who all stand to gain by his death and Gendarme Trenet must sort through the seemingly endless list of suspects... First in a series, Murder In St. Barts introduces the likeable and boyish Gendarme Charles Trenet in this entertaining tale of murder and redemption.

Welcome to St. Barts, beautiful and sensual, vacation spot of models, moguls and movie stars and home to Gendarme Charles Trenet. Life is one sunny day after another and the life of the young gendarme is one of blissful tranquility—even his love life is looking up—that is, until the annual marbles tournament rolls around. The locals always look forward to the good-natured competition and this one looks to be the most exciting event yet. But what has made the stakes suddenly so high? And why does a seemingly friendly marbles competition appear to be at the center of an ugly plot that stirs the passions of all involved? A seemingly harmless old man's murder raises questions that demand solutions, and long kept island secrets and deceptions come to light as Gendarme Trenet doggedly tracks down the truth in this exciting sequel to Murder In St. Barts.

What happens when South Florida's most unscrupulous real estate salesman meets South Florida's biggest con artist? And what happens when they meet on the roof of the Florida mansion belonging to the world's most ruthless scrap dealer? Who knows? But sparks are bound to fly, especially with that hurricane coming straight at them. Another fast-paced Todd Jones comic thriller/caper by bestselling author JR Ripley! Praise for the Todd Jones comic thriller series! "e;…Joins the growing list of Florida crime writers (Carl Hiaasen, Laurence Shames, Tim Dorsey) who mix capers with comedy. This lightweight romp stars unscrupulous real-estate salesman Todd Jones, whose wheelings and dealings have landed him a hot Ft. Lauderdale condo and an even hotter girlfriend but who seems to have run out of luck. The story opens with Todd being threatened at gunpoint by his best friend, Dr. Doug Freeman, who is miffed that Todd slept with his wife, Caroline. When Doug is killed in a boating accident, and Caroline is found dead soon after, things don't look good for Todd. To make matters worse, he has sold a bum property to a mobster and unwittingly involved himself in a drug deal with a surfer dude. Then his mother comes to visit. Readers will fall hard for this lovable loser as he struggles to stay alive while keeping his girlfriend from finding out what he is doing and his mom's pet pig from eating his stuff. Further adventures would be most welcome."e; Booklist "e;..A darkly funny, rip-roaring novel about a fast-talking realtor who is quite possibly the world's worst judge of character. Hunted down by drug dealers, irate customers, a betrayed girlfriend and the husband of a married woman he had an affair with, he has five minutes to live at the opening of the story - perhaps more if he can persuade the angry husband not to point the gun at his head. Then again, perhaps not. Oh, and his mother has come to live with him and won't take no for an answer. A wildly frantic novel about a ne'er do well whose bad deeds have caught up with him, and his wacky struggle to stay just one step ahead of the trigger, suspenseful to the very last word."e; Midwest Book Review "e;It's a comic thriller with a wacky plot. Todd Jones is a hotshot realtor in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with a hot girlfriend. The story begins with Todd getting a routine physical from his doctor and friend Doug Freeman. After the physical Todd asks Doug how healthy he is, Dr. Doug tells him he has five minutes to live. Todd laughs and says no, really is there a problem? Dr. Doug repeats that Todd has Five minutes to live. The doctor goes to a cabinet and pulls out a gun and points it at Todd and tells him he has five minutes to live because he slept with his wife. As Todd is trying to deny everything and stop the madness the doctor is counting down. He does get away and is constantly followed by the obsessed Dr. Doug who continues to try to kill him. Lots of great characters...the last sentence in the book is extremely clever. The book is only 245 pages and is a quick read. I liked it."e; Just Plum Crazy "e;As Oliver Hardy used to say"e; well...here's another nice mess you've gotten me into "e;. As a former RE guy myself, luckily, I have never encountered such an obvious set up, but Todd had his thinking mind disconnected when the knockout babe started talking big money. From there it rolls downhill quickly and actually picks up considerable speed at the ending. That all this conniving takes place in South Florida is no surprise...But makes it easier to digest. The love for money is the root of all evil and the roots go very deep in this story. Great characters brought to life by great and humorous writing (as usual) in any JR Ripley story. I loved Todd's mom...what a hoot....and the addition of Mr. Squeals was icing on the cake. Another triumph!"e; Eddie D Amazon Vine Voice

First in a new series by bestselling author J.R. Ripley! Jane Bright is a college-educated news reporter with loads of talent and determination. But she's stuck writing a gardening and southern living column for a local South Florida paper. Jane wants more. Lots more. James Stewart, on the other hand, hasn't been able to figure out what to do with his life. He's a law school dropout. And this whole struggling musician thing has proven to be too much of a struggle. Jane and James stumble onto each other and into a murder case. And detective school. Bruno Caliostro's School of Detection, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to be precise. If you're going to be a PI, you've got to be precise, right? Neither Jane nor James quite knows what they are doing when it comes to the detective biz. They are going to have to learn fast if Jane wants to get her story and James, framed for a murder he didn't commit, wants to figure out the real killer's identity so he doesn't end up trading a classroom for a prison cell.

Kelly and Harry are back! It's summertime and Kelly's retired father, Ben, has joined an oldies rock 'n roll band called the Beach Dawgs. Ben finds himself with a new girlfriend who is also in the band. Before long, love is in the air and music is on the airwaves! Kelly is already planning concerts to drum up business for the inn. But now a mysterious killer is trying to murder all the Beach Dawgs and put an end to the music. Gasp! Can Kelly and Harry catch a killer before the music comes to a stop?

New from bestselling author JR Ripley! Anthony Mulish believes he's the world's greatest author. Unfortunately, the world and his long-suffering agent disagree. Out of frustration, he's written a cozy mystery novel under a pen name. To everyone's surprise (especially his agent's) and his chagrin, it's a bestseller. Now Anthony is being toasted as the special guest of honor at a mystery conference. Anthony being Anthony, he rubs everyone the wrong way, especially the other authors - anyone of whom would probably love to see him dead. Then one of the attendees is brutally murdered. Anthony vows to find the killer. He's already successfully solved a murder mystery in a bestselling novel so how hard can it be? AUTHOR INTRO: Death Gets Cozy is an affectionate spoof/satire/sendup? of mysteries in general and cozies in particular. I decided to write this story, the story of the most pompous, annoying, blowhard, takes-himself-too-seriously author that I could devise. Okay, maybe I just looked in the mirror and wrote what I saw…I'll let you, the readers, decide. Remember, I am a cozy writer too. That fun I'm poking, I'm poking at myself.   A sense of humor, especially directed at oneself, I believe is essential.

Meet Kelly Green and Harry Leland. One is the new owner of the Beach Lovers Inn in Myrtle Beach, SC. The other is a mystery writer staying at the inn who sees mysteries and murders everywhere. When Kelly's aunt decides to retire, she jumps at the opportunity to run the inn. Soon after, a guest is murdered and Kelly and Harry are determined to find the killer before any more guests check out for good.  So who wanted Dr. Charlie Barron dead and why? Was it a member of the reunion party or was it a local? Not even the Beach Lovers Inn employees are above suspicion as Kelly and Harry, at times working together and many times butting heads, track down a killer in this fun and fast-paced mystery.