Kindle Edition Amazon Karen Writes Murder Category:  Action/Thriller Publisher: Karen Vaughan Publications Type: Fiction Pages: 219 Copyright: April 20, 2016 Price: $2.99 (eBook) Laura, Gerry and Elaine try to keep cousin Peter from getting clobbered by a greedy loanshark. Stella, Laura's neighbour goes postal on her ex and stabs him. We meet Stella's son Joey Things are really starting to heat up in the Fitz family. Gerry’s cousin and best buddy is left for dead after a beating. When the thugs responsible find out he didn’t die, the game is on to keep Pete safe until he has to testify. After finding a body on a mountain trail in cottage country Laura helps a local police officer solve the crime while waiting for the birth of her first baby. Excerpt Soon after the OPP detective arrived to question us and the witness. “We never really saw anything officer er I mean, detective. You'll want to talk to Sherry about that.” I was being honest and forthright with him. To this day, even though I work with law-enforcement agents all the time, some of them still scare the bejesus out of me. This guy was no exception. He was tall and built like a brick outhouse. He had strong features and looked like he could chase the devil out of hell with one scathing look. "Ma'am?" He said to me. "Yes." I answered. "Aren't you a little far along to be roaming around up here?" My hormonal pregozilla wanted to tell him that I was practising for the test matter for expectant mothers when Elaine shot me a look that said "behave", so I toned it down to. “I was just getting my required amount of exercise.” "Can't you do then a safer place than this?" “Probably but what does that have to do with the crime scene?" “How do you know it's a crime scene? That guy could've been drunk and just fallen off the cliff in a stupor” “I'm a CSI myself down in Toronto. If we are called in, we assume it's a crime scene. I'm sorry if I jumped the gun in my assumption, it is just a figure speech and you could be right.” I handed him my card with my credentials on it and gave him my cell phone number in case he had questions. My interrogator didn't say much. He just stood there taking more notes. I figure he had the social skills of a mortician suffering burnout. To him, I'm just another set of scribbles in a notebook and he just seemed to be passing the time of day until the CSIs brought the body out after they examined John Doe at the scene. The meat wagon arrived just trying to do the transfer. I sat there and wondered what exactly happened to the guy. Was it as simple as an unfortunate accident or did somebody help him over the edge? Elaine looked at me and smiled. “Oops! You did again Laura!” “Did what?” I asked innocently. “Well you know you’re a corpse magnet.” The detective turned around. "She's a what?” Elaine replied. "She's a corpse magnet. Laura here has the dumb luck of finding a dead body wherever she goes. She can't help it. She doesn't find them, dead people find her." The detective and the officers around him looked at both of us like were quite insane. I was sure I was turning red out of embarrassment and I promised myself I would have a talk with Elaine about revealing too much information when it wasn't needed. I hated my uncanny ability to sniff out the dead ones, and I really wished it would go away. Gerry and I would have more peace if it did. I gave Elaine a little kick to remind her to shut up, but it was too late. The good detective wanted to know about my penchant for finding dead people. "Are you psychic?" He asked me. My only reply was. “Some people go geocaching. I find dead people!"

Delightful Murder Mystery
Left for Dead by Karen Vaughan, is witty and intelligently told mystery story. It’s the 6th in the Laura and Gerry mysteries series and a delightfully penned book.

It seems even pregnancy will not stop Laura Fitz from being a corpse magnet, as she stumbles yet again onto another dead body. While Laura is talking to the police, she receives a phone call from hubby. Apparently, Laura’s gift or curse for discovering the dead and becoming embroiled in the nasty affairs of the murder has rubbed off on to Gerry, for he has found his cousin near death.

The Fitz’s have once again become entangled in murder, mayhem, the lives of others along with the danger it entails. But, through it, all Laura remains her witty self. Gerry doesn’t fair as well as his love for Laura and their coming baby, upset his judgement at times. After all, it is difficult to be objective when the life of one's wife is on the line.

Ms. Vaughan has another terrific read in Left for Dead. I enjoyed this book enormously and highly recommend it to everyone.

I love Karen Vaughan's witty style
Another Laura and Gerry mystery novel that gave me real belly laughs. A thoroughly enjoyable excursion into mystery mixed with mayhem and the absurd. Each time I read one of Karen Vaughan's books I come away feeling I've been entertained by a very accomplished and witty writer. Kudos, and I'm looking forward to many more exploits.