Maggie Pill – författare

In this cozy mystery, the first of a series, middle-aged sisters Faye and Barb decide to open a detective agency in Allport, their small town in northern Lower Michigan. They agree that Retta, their baby sister, will NOT be included, since she tends to take over any organization she's part of. Sweetly but firmly, Retta will tell you what you should do, could do, and will do.The agency does not take off, and Faye reconsiders the decision to leave Retta out, since as the widow of a slain state trooper, she's got contacts all over Michigan. Retta's only too willing to "e;help out"e; and immediately begins second-guessing their decisions, which leads to sparks between her and Barb.The sisters finally get a decent case: finding a man who apparently murdered his wife years ago and has been on the run ever since. As they try to investigate what happened, they're opposed at every turn. Local cops doubt the "e;lady detectives,"e; and most of the town is convinced Neil Brown killed his wife and brother-in-law in a fit of anger. The murder victims' father has no doubt Brown is guilty, and he's furious that anyone might take a different view.Still, someone wants to keep the sisters from finding Brown and digging into what really happened the day he left Allport. As the sisters piece things together, the new police chief seems like a possible ally. The problem is that both Barb and Retta are attracted to him, and Retta seldom meets a man she can't get. Accepting defeat in that arena, Barb tries to concentrate on the case and proving Brown isn't guilty of murder. She succeeds, but it means she must face a desperate killer in a remote, dangerous spot. Only Faye and Retta can save her, and they have no idea where she is.Family humor--particularly the close-but-oh-so-different status of sisters, plays a big role in this murder mystery. Each sister has strengths and foibles. Barb, intelligent and composed, sneaks around town at night, correcting the spelling and grammatical errors on signs that drive her bonkers. Faye, kind-hearted but insecure, can't see herself as the capable person she is. And Retta? Retta knows she's attractive and clever. She's only trying to help when she tells you exactly what you should do with your life--or your detective agency.One reviewer's comment: "e;If you have sisters, you have to read this book!"e;

2nd Sleuth Sisters Mystery.Since the Smart Detective Agency opened, Retta has plotted to join her sisters Barb and Faye as a private investigator, but she never thought the chance would come in a case that involves her. Retta’s “gentleman friend,” Winston Darrow, is accused of murder, and the victim is Darrow’s wife.Convinced that Darrow is no murderer (though it’s clear he is a louse), Retta and her sisters search for the real killer, aided by Barb’s attractive friend, Chief Rory Neuencamp. Soon they have more suspects than they ever imagined: a smooth but sinister type, a couple of rough-edged thugs, and a shadowy figure that seems to show up wherever they are. Who can they trust except each other?Well, they do have a couple of dogs with instincts no human can match. That’s a pretty good team, right? Three Sleuths, Two Dogs, One Murder is 69,000 words.

Sleuth Sisters #3The abrupt disappearance of the renters at the Sleuth Sisters’ family farm presents Faye with the chance to do something she’s always dreamed of--start a retirement home for draft horses. Still, the circumstances surrounding the move are strange, and Faye, Barb, and Retta begin to suspect that at least some of the family members didn’t leave voluntarily.Things just aren’t right in the boonies, and the sisters are determined to find out what happened to their former renters. Along with managing a menagerie of abandoned animals, they search for clues as to where Ben, Rose, and her three young daughters might have gone. What they find is a series of surprises that lead to more problems and dangers they never anticipated. Something hidden on the farm has attracted the interest of unsavory characters with no qualms about hurting those who get in their way.Though Barb continues her Correction Episodes, Faye busies herself with caring for a host of animals, and Retta plans more and better shopping excursions, signs of impending peril keep them on alert. The danger grows to full-blown disaster on Michigan’s beautiful Mackinac Island when they realize they have to stop an imminent attack on innocent, unsuspecting people. Can they manage it? If they can, it will be by working together: Sister Power!