Patricia H. Rushford – författare

Two dead bodies. A web of conspiracies and cover-ups. A young detective, searching for answers to the case . . . and to his heart.

The body of a retired, wheelchair-bound rail yard worker has been discovered on the tracks near his home. A tragic accident--or murder?

Detective Antonio "Mac" McAllister and his new partner, attractive rookie Dana Bennett, suspect the worst. And their suspicions are confirmed when they encounter the complicated web of conspiracies and cover-ups that surround the cast, including burglary, arson, and yet another murder. Now Mac and Dana need to find the killer before he can destroy more evidence--or take anyone else''s life.

Mac also needs answers to a personal life that is just as complicated. He still has feelings for Dana, but after a pleasant dinner with the eccentric medical examiner, he''s more confused than ever. Though as his former partner and mentor reminds him, God has the answer that Mac doesn''t--for this case, for Mac''s doubts . . . and for the longings of his heart.

A headline murder. A rookie investigator. A race against the clock—and against the past. 

With his newly minted detective badge, “Mac” McAllister reports for his first assignment with the Oregon State Police: a particularly gruesome homicide. It’s a headline case, as the victim—Megan Tyson—was brutally murdered mere weeks before her wedding.

The investigation turns up far too many suspects and too little hard evidence. Why would the beautiful Megan, engaged to a wealthy businessman, be involved with the likes of long line-up of questionable characters that seem connected to her in more ways than one? With more questions than answers, Mac tries to uncover the secrets Megan took to her grave.

While the autopsy answers how Megan was killed, it doesn’t reveal a killer or a motive. Can Mac and his partner sort through the lies and alibis before Megan’s murderer strikes again?

Not sure that he can trust his instincts, Mac depends heavily on the advice of his partner—a seasoned detective with a strong faith in God. A faith Mac has no use for until he must come to terms with his own past and the secrets that haunt him. 

In many ways, Jennie McGrady is just your average high schooler—but she has a peculiar knack for stumbling upon trouble. As a result, her detective skills are first-rate.

In her latest adventure, Jennie manages to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. After witnessing a bank robbery, she is abducted by the thieves and left for dead. She wants more than anything to identify her captors for police, but she can''t remember them. What''s worse, remembering could prove deadly.

Jennie McGrady loves to read mysteries, drive her mom''s Mustang, and think about Ryan Johnson. Her summer seems perfect—until her grandmother Helen disappears with a million dollars in stolen diamonds.

Helen McGrady''s job as a freelance writer for travel magazines takes her all over the world, but it''s her secret connections with the FBI that interest Jennie.

Ryan Johnson is the good-looking boy next door—unfortunately it''s next door to Gram, 150 miles away. When Jennie enlists Ryan''s help in finding her, a dangerous search looms ahead.

Thrilling intrigue and perilous adventure await in Too Many Secrets.

Danger lurks just below the surface …

Jennie McGrady thinks her vacation is doomed when a bomb threat delays her flight to a dolphin research lab in Florida. But then she meets Sarah, a girl who desperately needs her help to solve a two-year-old murder, and Jennie''s detective instincts tell her something is very wrong.

Sarah Stanford has lived in silence since her father''s death. Now she''s beginning to remember what happened the night of his murder—but what if the wrong person finds out she''s a witness?

Scott Chambers is a young, hot-headed environmentalist who teams up with Jennie in the Florida Keys. Unfortunately, Jennie soon finds out he has more than just a passing interest in the case.

The third installment in the popular Jennie McGrady mystery series

Allison Beaumont is beautiful, popular, wealthy, and she''s just been crowned the Rose Festival Princess. But when dead roses begin arriving on her doorstep and threatening phone calls follow, Allison realizes she''s paying a high price for her throne.

Jennie McGrady has only one goal in life: to find her father. But Allison''s plea for help tears Jennie away from her search and involves both of them in a dangerous race to hunt down the Portland stalker.

Rocky is the Beaumonts'' handsome gardener, but with no dirt on his hands and a lot on his character, Jennie''s wondering if Rocky''s interested in something other than flowers.

Something sinister is going on.

The fourth installment in the popular Jennie McGrady mystery series

Jennie McGrady''s search for her missing father lands her in a lot of hot water, and now she''s got to get out of Portland—fast. To Jennie''s relief, her grandmother''s response is a Caribbean cruise, where tropical breezes and endless beaches await. But danger is still on her heels.

Lisa Calhoun has only one thing in common with her cousin Jennie: their age. A petite beauty with sparkling auburn hair and an eye for the perfect date, Lisa''s idea of an adventure is trying on new nail polish. But she''s entangled in another of Jennie''s schemes, and the consequences could be deadly.

Dominic Ramirez has both the wealth and the charm to sweep Jennie off her feet. But Jennie''s still standing, and glimmers of his dark side have her worried.

Suddenly the dream turns into a nightmare.

A random act or a deadly plot?

Jennie McGrady''s whirlwind life revolves around one guy: her adorable five-year-old brother, Nick. But when he and a playmate disappear one evening, Jennie''s world crashes at her feet. Panic-stricken and racing against time, Jennie begins a frantic journey down a dangerous and shadowy path.

Doug Reed has spent his life trying to dodge his own reputation. With a recent move and a new job, he just may leave his past in the dust—except Jennie McGrady has dug up his criminal record, and it''s not pretty.

Anne Stuart seems to have it all together: a perfect home, a loving husband, and a beautiful little girl. When her daughter disappears and Jennie finds Anne bruised and beaten, the ugly truth begins to seep out, scene by scene.

Jennie McGrady is quickly gaining a reputation as an amateur sleuth, and it isn''t going unnoticed by the local media. But the glamour of publicity is getting old, and Jennie would love to disappear into the crowd—especially when a plea from Courtney Evans leaves her out in the cold.

Courtney is the typical wild sixteen-year-old: weird hair, strange friends, and an attitude to boot. But underneath the hype Jennie finds a compassionate, hurting friend who is running scared. When Courtney disappears, the police suggest she ran away, but Jennie''s instincts tell her this mystery has the sickly smell of drugs and money surrounding it.

Gavin Winslow is determined to break into the world of journalism, and he thinks Jennie is his ticket in. A lead story on Portland''s very own Nancy Drew would get him the career attention he needs, but is his interest in Jennie more than professional?

Jennie McGrady is anxious to fly to Montana after her uncle, a full-blooded Indian and the owner of Dancing Waters Ranch, is injured by a bomb explosion meant to kill. Jennie is determined to solve the crime, but her instincts tell her she''s not in friendly territory.

Her cousin, Heather White Cloud, is a beautiful Indian princess with a less-than-noble attitude. Jennie had hoped to befriend her cousin, but Heather is as cold as ice and determined to escape the home she calls a prison.

Chad Elliot, on the other hand, came to Montana to reclaim the land his grandfather once owned—Dancing Waters Ranch. He''s lost his case in court, but has he decided to take the law into his own hands?

Jennie McGrady plans to spend the last weeks of summer relaxing and hanging out with her boyfriend in her grandmother''s coastal hometown. But she barely arrives before learning that the mayor''s teenage daughter has been murdered. Jennie is reluctant to get involved in the emotional case—until the suspect turns out to be someone she knows.

Todd Kopelund is under arrest for murdering the mayor''s daughter—his girlfriend, Jessica Ames. He claims he''s innocent, and Jennie can''t imagine Todd hurting anyone. But the mayor is determined to prove Todd guilty, and the evidence is pretty convincing.

Ryan Johnson, Jennie''s boyfriend and Todd''s best friend, says he cares a lot for Jennie, yet when she expresses doubts about Todd''s innocence he pulls away, leaving Jennie to look for answers on her own.

Jessica''s death is only the beginning.

Jennie McGrady''s enthusiasm for the new school year is extinguished when the culturally diverse Trinity Center, home to her church and school, is destroyed by fire. Rumors abound that a racist organization is behind the tragedy, but Jennie is more concerned about the one person who was critically injured: family friend Michael Rhodes.

Jared Reinhardt has been in counseling with Michael, trying to break free of a neo-Nazi group—or so he claims. Jennie would like to believe him, but then she spots Jared slipping away from the scene of the fire.

Carlos Hernandez was present when the fire broke out and hasn''t spoken a word since. His father, the church janitor, is a prime suspect, and Jennie is convinced the boy''s silence stems from fear. Is he protecting his father, or has someone threatened to hurt him if he tells the truth? Jennie smells foul play among the remains.

A controversial move sets off a dangerous feud.

Jennie McGrady''s Labor Day weekend promises relaxation and fun when she visits a fur farm run by family acquaintances. Jennie''s anticipation of the trip grows when she learns Scott Chambers, an old friend, has taken a job at the farm. But on her first night there, the mink are released from a neighboring farm, and Jennie fears the sometimes-volatile Scott may be behind it.

Scott''s participation in extreme animal rights activities is in the past—or so he claims. Jennie wants to believe him, but his arrival just before the mink release seems more than coincidence. And when Bob Sutherland, the affected farmer, goes missing, suspicion falls on Scott.

Aleshia Sutherland makes no secret of her involvement with the radical Animal Rights Movement and has been kicked out of her parents'' home because of it. Does she despise her father''s line of work so much that she would hurt him? Can Jennie look beyond her personal feelings to find the truth?

A long-hidden secret comes to light …

Sixteen-year-old Jennie McGrady is a mischievous, impulsive, determined detective who sees a case in every situation. Faced with true-to-life family struggles and school concerns in addition to her perilous adventures, she will win you over with this and her numerous other adventures.

In Abandoned, a dangerous mystery shows up in the most unlikely of places: the front page of the school newspaper. When a mysterious article claims that a baby was found in a dumpster sixteen years ago, Gavin Winslow, a reporter for the school, enlists Jennie to solve the mystery. The story immediately takes a strange turn when they find out the baby found so long ago is a classmate, Annie Phillips. As Jennie begins to uncover facts, the unanswered questions about the past grow more and more confusing. Jennie can''t trust anyone, and she fears that whoever is orchestrating these events might go to any lengths to keep a secret safe.

Uncovering the family tree spells trouble for Jennie McGrady.

Jennie McGrady is on the vacation of a lifetime—an extended trip to Ireland with Gram. And when the opportunity to stay in a castle arises, Jennie is ecstatic. For some reason, though, Gram doesn’t share Jennie’s enthusiasm. Then, just before their plane lands, Jennie discovers a threatening note: If you value your life, stay out of Ireland.

Helen Bradley is returning to Ireland to settle the estate of her mother—a task she’s still not ready for. An old friend offers a welcome distraction, asking Helen to look into the suspicious death of his father fifty-five years ago. But Jennie can’t help wondering if Gram’s investigation will only stir up trouble.

Mary O’Donnell, Jennie’s great-grandmother, left a houseful of history and memories when she died three years ago. As Jennie begins to explore the family records, she uncovers some facts that don’t match up with what she’s been told. What eventually comes to the surface could change their lives forever.

Has Jennie stumbled into something she’ll never escape?

Jennie McGrady is thrilled to be taking another flying lesson from Gram. But when menacing clouds roll in, Gram must take over the controls for a crash landing—and loses consciousness upon impact. Ignoring her survival instincts, Jennie leaves the plane in search of help. She ends up at a commune that appears wholesome and serene, but Jennie soon suspects something sinister.

Eric, a member of the Desert Colony, knows the ins and outs of the compound and helps Jennie search for Gram. When they return to the site of the crash, the plane—along with Gram—is missing! But when Jennie suspects someone at the colony, Eric insists there’s nothing going on. Is he really so trusting, or is he hiding something?

Donovan is the Desert Colony’s leader and claims that he’s doing everything he can to contact her family. As the days pass, however, Jennie doubts Donovan’s motives and begins to think the colony is a front for something illegal. Could he be involved in Gram’s disappearance?