Jane K. Cleland
JANE K. CLELAND once owned a New Hampshire-based antiques and rare books business, and now runs her own business communications firm in New York City.
CONSIGNED TO DEATH
(St. Martin’s Minotaur, April 2006)
After a price-fixing scandal at her prestigious New York auction house, Josie Prescott moves to the New Hampshire coast to restore her reputation—and perhaps a few antiques along the way.
As an antiques dealer, Josie knows how to make an honest assessment, and she’s about to land her largest account. But when the owner of the collection is found stabbed to death, Josie’s fingerprints are all over his possessionsâ€|and the murder weapon. Suddenly Josie’s innocence appears as tarnished as an old relic. Everybody’s got their eyes on her, especially the local police chief who may or may not be in love with her. Now it’s just a matter of time before Josie can produce enough evidence to clear her name—or fall into the clutches of the real killer and find herself CONSIGNED TO DEATH.
DEADLY APPRAISAL
(St. Martin’s Minotaur, April, 2006)
Josie Prescotts new life in New Hampshire is proceeding more or less as planned, despite her involvement in a murder investigation last year. Her business is thriving, her friendship with the local police chief has become something much more intimate, and shes even collected a few candidates for close friends. Not bad after completely uprooting her life as a New York City auction house expert and starting fresh. With so much suddenly to lose, Josies heart falls when another suspicious death occurs very close to her new world. The benefit shes hosting is Josies way of giving back to her new community. But when Maisy Gaylor drops dead at the gala event, and all those who had access to the prep area, including Josie herself, are on the short list of suspects, its all she can do to keep up appearances and stop herself from pulling up roots again. Can Josie ferret out the truth, keep her business running smoothly, and still find time to develop the web of social connections that just might keep her grounded in her new life?
