Shawn Reilly Simmons

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About Shawn Reilly Simmons

Shawn Reilly Simmons is the author of seven novels in the Red Carpet Catering Mystery series featuring Penelope Sutherland, chef-owner of a movie set catering company. She’s also written several short stories which have been published in various anthologies including “Burnt Orange” in Passport to Murder: the 2017 Bouchercon Anthology; “The Prodigy” in Mystery Tour, the Crime Writers’ Association Anthology; and “Now is the Hour” in Writers Crushing Covid-19.

Shawn's story “The Last Word”, appearing in Malice Domestic 14: Mystery Most Edible, won the Agatha Award for Best Short Story in 2020. Shawn also won the Anthony Award for Best Anthology or Collection for co-editing the same anthology.

Shawn was born in Indiana, grew up in Florida, and began her professional career in New York City as a sales executive for an international airline after graduating from the University of Maryland with a BA in English. She has worked as a line cook in busy kitchens, managed a large bookstore, sold fine wine, written radio commercials, organized an annual mystery convention, and cooked on catering crews, sometimes behind the scenes on movie sets, and sometimes for weddings or intimate dinner parties.

Shawn serves on the Board of Malice Domestic and is co-owner/publisher and editor at Level Best Books. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, the International Thriller Writers, and the Crime Writers’ Association in the U.K. She lives in historic downtown Frederick, Maryland, with her husband and son.

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Music of the Night: from the Crime Writers' Association Feb 22, 2022

by Martin Edwards

( 18 )

$1.50

The Annual Crime Writers' Association anthology is always a thrilling read, and eagerly anticipated by readers and authors of crime and mystery fiction worldwide.

Music of the Night is a new anthology of original short stories contributed by Crime Writers' Association (CWA) members and edited by Martin Edwards, with music as the connecting theme. The aim, as always, is to produce a book which is representative both of the genre and the membership of the world’s premier crime writing association.

The CWA has published anthologies of members’ stories in most years since 1956, with Martin Edwards as editor for over 25 years, during which time the anthologies have yielded many award-winning and nominated stories by writers such as Ian Rankin, Reginald Hill, Lawrence Block, and Edward D. Hoch. Stories by long-standing authors and stellar names sit alongside contributions from relative newcomers, authors from overseas, and members whose work haven’t appeared in a CWA anthology before.

Contents List:

Abi Silver – Be Prepared

Alison Joseph – A Sharp Thorn

Andrew Taylor – Wrong Notes

Antony M. Brown – The Melody of Murder

Art Taylor – Love Me or Leave Me

Brian Price – The Scent of an Ending

Cath Staincliffe – Mix Tape

C. Aird – The Last Green Bottle

Chris Simms – Taxi

Christine Poulson – Some Other Dracula

David Stuart Davies – Violin – CE

Dea Parkin – The Sound and the Fury

Jason Monaghan – A Vulture Sang in Berkeley Square

Kate Ellis – Not a Note

L.C. Tyler – His Greatest Hit

Leo McNeir – Requiem

Martin Edwards – The Crazy Cries of Love

Maxim Jakubowski – Waiting for Cornelia

Neil Daws – The Watch Room

Paul Charles – The Ghosts of Peace

Paul Gitsham – No More ‘I Love You’s’

Peter Lovesey – And the Band Played On

Ragnar Jónasson – 4x3

Shawn Reilly Simmons – A Death in Four Parts

Vaseem Khan – Bombay Blues

FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and

suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePress

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Malice Domestic: Mystery Most Diabolical May 9, 2022

by Michael Bracken, Barb Goffman, Adam Meyer, Susan Breen, Victoria Hamilton, Tim Maleeny, C.J. Verburg, Verena Rose, Rita Owen, Shawn Reilly Simmons

( 2 )

$5.99

The Malice Domestic anthology series returns with a new take on mysteries in the Agatha Christie tradition—original tales with a devilish bent! Included are:

Rita Owen · Introduction
Leah Bailey · A Killer in the Family
Paula Gail Benson · Reputation or Soul
M. A. Blum · Little White Lies
Michael Bracken · Locked Mesa
Susan Breen · The Demon Valentine
Marco Carocari · All in the Planning
Mary Dutta · Devil’s Advocate
Christine Eskilson · The Reunion
Nancy Gardner · Death’s Door
Barb Goffman · Go Big or Go Home
Alexia Gordon · Happy Birthday
B. J. Graf · Servant of the Place of Truth
Maurissa Guibord · Into the Devil’s Den
Victoria Hamilton · Reunion with the Devil
Kerry Hammond · Strangers at a Table
Peter W. J. Hayes · The Ice House
Smita Harish Jain · Keeping Up with the Jainses
Cynthia Kuhn · There Comes a Time
Margaret Lucke · The Devil’s-Work Ball
Sharon Lynn · The Professor’s Lesson
Tim Maleeny · A Cure For Madness
Lisa Q. Mathews · Fly Me to the Morgue
Adam Meyer · Crime Rate
Alan Orloff · There Once Was a Man Named Larue
Keenan Powell · Miss Millie Munz
Graham Powell · A Rough Idea
Lori Robbins · Accidents Happen
Cynthia Sabelhaus · Exegesis
Nancy Cole Silverman · The Case of the Sourdough Starter
Shawn Reilly Simmons · The Devil’s in the Details
C. J. Verburg · A Terrible Tragedy
Andrea Wells · Taking Umbrage

Murder in the Mountains: A Destination Murders Short Story Collection Feb 1, 2022

by Karen Cantwell, Gretchen Archer, Leslie Budewitz, Barb Goffman, Eleanor Cawood Jones, Tina Kashian, Shari Randall, Shawn Reilly Simmons, Cathy Wiley

( 47 )

$3.99

Whether you love spring, summer, fall, or winter in the mountains, you’ll be elevated by nine new stories from award-winning and bestselling cozy mystery authors Gretchen Archer, Leslie Budewitz, Karen Cantwell, Barb Goffman, Eleanor Cawood Jones, Tina Kashian, Shari Randall, Shawn Reilly Simmons, and Cathy Wiley.

With mountainous murders galore around the world, this anthology is full of peaks and valleys!

Climb every mountain, search low and high
For clues to a murder, and try not to die

Second in the DESTINATION MURDERS series, Murder in the Mountains follows the well-reviewed Murder at the Beach.

Four seasons of Murder:
Spring
DOUBLE BLUFF by Gretchen Archer. A new short story in the Davis Way series. Two trophy wives and one dead body equals a trip to Lookout Mountain, Tennessee for Davis Way and her co-worker.
FIVE DAYS TO FITNESS by Barb Goffman. A visit to a fitness camp in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains was supposed to be a new beginning for Bree Winterbourne. Instead, it’s a final ending for one of the attendees.
Summer
THE SOUND OF MUZAK by Karen Cantwell. Another short story in the Barbara Marr series. When Barb and friends take a trip to the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts, they are asked to help uncover the owner’s dark past—one that may involve murder.
THE PICTURE OF GUILT by Leslie Budewitz. A new short story in the Food Lovers’ Village series. Erin Murphy loves her town of Jewel Bay, Montana, which attracts artists, foodies, and other tourists. But one artist’s visit turns deadly.
Fall
THE LYIN’ WITCH IN THE WARDROBE by Eleanor Cawood Jones. Lorrie George and friends visit the Land of Oz theme park on Beech Mountain, North Carolina, filled with celebrities and jealousy and murder, oh my!
A KILLER POCONO HIKE by Tina Kashian. A short story in the Kebab Kitchen series. Lucy Berberian is desperate for a break from the stress of wedding planning, and the Poconos should have fit the bill. But finding a body in a sinkhole leaves Lucy with a sinking feeling.
Winter
A PERFECT CLIMB by Shawn Reilly Simmons. A skiing trip in the Australian Alps was supposed to be the perfect start for Caroline Cabot’s perfect marriage. Unfortunately, everything quickly goes downhill, as sore muscles, fighting couples, and a murder ruin the perfection.
THE EDELWEISS EXPRESS by Shari Randall. A new short story in the Lobster Shack series. Allie Larkin was looking forward to her trip to Austria: the snow, skiing, and a Sound of Music Tour. But she wasn’t expecting that the hills would be alive with the sound of…murder?
ONE FLEW OVER THE COCOA’S NEST by Cathy Wiley. A new short story in the Food Festival Fatalities series. Former celebrity chef Jackie Norwood was invited to judge a Hot Cocoa festival at a Utah ski resort. Instead, thanks to a blizzard and a murder, she ends up judging the guilt of her fellow guests.

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Murder on the Beach: A Destination Murders Short Story Collection May 28, 2021

by Karen Cantwell, Ritter Ames, Lucy Carol, Barb Goffman, Eleanor Cawood Jones, Shari Randall, Shawn Reilly Simmons, Cathy Wiley

( 76 )

$3.99

Searching for the perfect Beach Read? Then grab this fun, well-reviewed collection of eight beach-themed stories written by award winning and best-selling cozy mystery authors.

These light, often funny stories of mystery and intrigue, will transport you to a variety of shores, from the rocky coastlines of New England, to the white stretches of sand on the Atlantic, to the teal and emerald waters of the Gulf Coast, the surfing havens on the Pacific, and even beaches in between.

Praise for Murder on the Beach, A Destination Murders Book 1
"Each story features great characters and a story that kept me engaged the entire way through. All these stories can be read as stand-alones whether they are part of a series or not. That's a good thing since I was only familiar with the characters in one of the stories before I picked up this book. And the two authors I hadn't read before? I definitely need to check them out in the future.
This is the first in a series of Destination Mysteries short story collections. Based on this book, I'm already packing my bags for the next vacation."--Carstairs Considers

"All of these stories, no matter where they are set, dead body or no, provide two wonderful things: a great location, and an array of characters who would be great friends or who may remind you (and cause you to appreciate more) friends and family you already have. That's certainly the gift to readers on the part of the cozy mystery. Do yourself a favor and spend your lunch break at the beach."--Aunt Agatha's Mysteries

"I'm not a short story or anthology reader, but I did enjoy MURDER ON THE BEACH...This light and fresh, fast-paced cozy whodunit kept me entertained from the first story to the last. Bravo authors."--Dru's Book Musing

"Entertaining short stories about vacation mishaps, murder and mayhem. Perfect for a summer beach read. Very enjoyable collection of stories."--Christine Gentes, Book Reviewer and Mystery Critic

A TALE OF TWO SISTERS, Barb Goffman. When Robin's sister gets married at Lake Michigan, Robin will do whatever it takes to protect Emma's special day. Nominated for Agatha award, 2021, for Best Short Story.
FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND, Shari Randall, a new short story in the Lobster Shack series. A jewelry theft and attempted murder upset the tranquility of Allie's quaint New England town.
COAST BUSTERS, Karen Cantwell, another short story in the Barbara Marr series. Barb and her friends figure Florida and a quirky chic resort would be the perfect Mom vacation...until it's not.
BEACH PARTY BODY, Lucy Carol, a new story from the world of Madison Cruz Mysteries. A photo shoot on the beach should be fun, but when someone's wild behavior turns deadly, the party's over!
FROG DAYS OF SUMMER, Cathy Wiley. Former celebrity chef Jackie Norwood's attempt to revive her career goes badly when murder interrupts a food festival on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana.
FRUGAL LISSA NEEDS A BREAK, Ritter Ames, the newest short story in the Frugal Lissa series. Lissa and her friend, Abby, head to Galveston for a girls' weekend. All is perfect until Lissa's dog, Honey, digs up a dead body.
CABO SAN LOCO, Eleanor Cawood Jones. Lorrie George wants to enjoy a celebratory trip with her friends to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. But the all-expenses-paid, exclusive trip keeps getting ruined by attempts on her friends' lives.

Other Formats: Paperback

Charlaine Harris Presents Malice Domestic 12: Mystery Most Historical Apr 26, 2017

by Elaine Viets, Charlaine Harris

( 16 )

$5.39

The Malice Domestic cozy anthology series returns with a new take on mysteries in the Agatha Christie tradition -- 30 original tales with historical settings! Included are:

The Blackness Before Me, by Mindy Quigley

Honest John Finds a Way, by Michael Dell

Spirited Death, by Carole Nelson Douglas

Home Front Homicide, by Liz Milliron

The Unseen Opponent, by P. A. De Voe

The Black Hand, by Peter W. J. Hayes

The Trial of Madame Pelletier, by Susanna Calkins

Eating Crow, by Carla Coupe

Mr. Nakamura's Garden, by Valerie O. Patterson

A Butler is Born, by Catriona McPherson

Night and Fog, by Marcia Talley

The Seven, by Elaine Viets

The Lady's Maid Vanishes, by Susan Daly

You Always Hurt the One You Love, by Shawn Reilly Simmons

The Hand of an Angry God, by K. B. Inglee

The Cottage, by Charles Todd

The Measured Chest, by Mark Thielman

He Done Her Wrong, by Kathryn O'Sullivan

The Corpse Candle, by Martin Edwards

Death on the Dueling Grounds, by Verena Rose

The Barter, by Su Kopil

Mistress Threadneedle's Quest, by Kathy Lynn Emerson

A One-Pipe Problem, by John Gregory Betancourt

The Killing Game, by Victoria Thompson

The Tredegar Murders, by Vivian Lawry

Summons for a Dead Girl, by K. B. Owen

The Velvet Slippers, by Keenan Powell

The Tragic Death of Mrs. Edna Fogg, by Edith Maxwell

Crim Con, by Nancy Herriman

Strong Enough, by Georgia Ruth

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Murder on a Silver Platter (A Red Carpet Catering Mystery Book 1) Feb 23, 2016

by Shawn Reilly Simmons

( 55 )

$4.99

Penelope Sutherland and her Red Carpet Catering company just got their big break as the on-set caterer for an upcoming blockbuster.

But when she discovers a dead body outside her house, Penelope finds herself in hot water. Things start to boil over when serious accidents threaten the lives of the cast and crew.

And when the film’s star, who happens to be Penelope’s best friend, is poisoned, the entire production is nearly shut down.

Threats and accusations send Penelope out of the frying pan and into the fire as she struggles to keep her company afloat. Before Penelope can dish up dessert, she must find the killer or she’ll be the one served up on a silver platter.

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MURDER ON A SILVER PLATTER by Shawn Reilly Simmons A Henery Press Mystery. If you like one, you’ll probably like them all.

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Noir at the Salad Bar: Culinary Tales With A Bite Jul 16, 2017

by Dames of Detection, Barbara Ross, Sheila Connolly, Alan Orloff, E.A. Aymar, Michael Bracken, Martin Edwards, Shawn Reilly Simmons, Harriette Sackler, Verena Rose

( 6 )

$4.99

Noir at the Salad Bar, Culinary Tales with a Bite is a crime fiction anthology featuring gastronomic mysteries. Inside are dark and varied tales with a common theme of food and drink. The contributing writers represent a mix of bestselling authors, brand new voices, and seasoned professionals from the crime writing community. Bon Appétit! Stories by E.A. Aymar - Michael Bracken -Joyce Ann Brown - Mara Buck - Karen Cantwell - John R. Clark - Frank Collia - Sheila Connolly - Sharon Daynard - Jenny Drummey - Martin Edwards - Gerald Elias - John M. Floyd - Jason Half - Isobel Horsburgh - E L Johnson - Larry Lefkowitz -
Michael Allan Mallory - L D Masterson - Lorraine Sharma Nelson - Alan Orloff - A.B. Polomski - Rima Perlstein Riedel - Verena Rose - Barbara Ross - Harriette Sackler - Shawn Reilly Simmons - Louise Taylor - Elaine Togneri - Leslie Wheeler

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Murder on the Half Shell (A Red Carpet Catering Mystery Book 2) Feb 23, 2016

by Shawn Reilly Simmons

( 45 )

$4.99

dealing with the brutal heat, a difficult director and a leading lady with a serious aversion to seafood makes for a challenging task for Penelope Sutherland and her Red Carpet Catering crew.

After two girls go missing during a raucous beach party thrown by the movie's director, the cast and crew fall out of favor with the Andrea Island locals.

When a flashy celebrity chef is accused of the crime, Penelope Sutherland steps in to help her former culinary school instructor find the truth.

Surrounded by suspicious locals with a history all their own, Penelope uncovers clues from the past that reveal an undercurrent of evil amid the magnificent sandy beaches.

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MURDER ON THE HALF SHELL by Shawn Reilly Simmons A Henery Press Mystery. If you like one, you’ll probably like them all.

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Katherine Hall Page Presents Malice Domestic 11: Murder Most Conventional Apr 25, 2016

by Verena Rose, Katherine Hall Page

( 19 )

$5.99

The Malice Domestic cozy anthology series returns with a new take on cozy mysteries in the Agatha Christie tradition. Here are 22 original stories (and one modern classic reprint) set at conventions, conferences, and gatherings of all kinds! Included are:

Conventional Wisdom, by Marcia Talley

Djinn And Tonic, by Neil Plakcy

The Vanishing Wife, by Victoria Thompson

The Right to Bare Arms, by John Gregory Betancourt

Message in a Bottle, by Su Kopil

Anonymous, by Kate Flora

What Goes Around, by B.K. Stevens

The Hair of the Dog, by Charles Todd

The Best-Laid Plans, by Barb Goffman

A Dark and Stormy Light, by Gigi Pandian

The Clue in the Blue Booth, by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Wicked Writers, by Frances McNamara

Coverture, by KB Inglee

Dark Secrets, by Kathryn Leigh Scott

Tarnished Hope, by KM Rockwood

Not Forgotten, by L.C. Tyler

Boston Bouillabaisse, by Nancy Brewka-Clark

Killing Kippers, by Eleanor Cawood Jones

Elemental Chaos, by M Evonne Dobsonv
Outside the Box, by Ruth Moose

The Perfect Pitch, by Marie Hannan-Mandel

Two Birds with One Stone, by Rhys Bowen

A Gathering of Great Detectives, by Shawn Reilly Simmon

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Writers Crushing COVID-19: An Anthology for COVID-19 Relief Jul 1, 2020

by Lawrence Kelter, Lynn Chandler Willis, Barry Lancet, Jonas Saul, Vincent Zandri, Bruce Robert Coffin, Brendan DuBois, Cheryl Bradshaw, Diane Capri, Zoë Sharp, Charles Salzberg, Debra Goldstein, Beth Terrell W/A Jayden Terrell, Frank Zafiro, Cathy Cobb, Phillip Bowie, Warren Moore, Marvin Wolf, Tom Wood, Diane Kelly, Chris Knopf, Jill Fletcher, Karen McCullough, Jennifer Delozier, Jennifer . Delozier, Alexia Gordon, Gabriel Valjan, Ed Aymar, Richard Helms, J.D. Allen, Tim Cavines writing as Ross Cavins, Julie Bates, Jeff Hargett, Agnes Alexander, Micki Bare, Karen Fritz, Shawn Reilly Simmons

( 30 )

$4.61

Revenues from anthology sales will be donated to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation.

Film and recording artists the world over are broadcasting from home, doing their share to raise money for COVID-19 relief. And now the literati has picked up the gauntlet. Bestselling and award-winning authors have contributed their short stories and essays to inspire one and all during this challenging time, to enlighten the mind and raise the spirits.

The Benevolent Contributors:
Brendan DuBois
Jonas Saul
Barry Lancet
Bruce Robert Coffin
Zoë Sharp
Ed Aymar
Charles Salzberg
Cheryl Bradshaw
Vincent Zandri
Debra Goldstein
Beth Terrell W/A Jayden Terrell
Frank Zafiro
Shawn Reilly Simmons
Cathy Cobb
Phillip Bowie
Warren Moore
Marvin Wolf
Tom Wood
Lynn Chandler Willis
Diane Capri
Lawrence Kelter
Diane Kelly
Chris Knopf
Jill Fletcher
Karen McCullough
Jennifer Delozier
Alexia Gordon
Gabriel Valjan
Richard Helms
J.D. Allen
Tim Cavines W/A Ross Cavins
Julie Bates
Jeff Hargett
Agnes Alexander
Micki Bare
Karen Fritz

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Murder on the Rocks (A Red Carpet Catering Mystery Book 5) Feb 6, 2018

by Shawn Reilly Simmons

( 35 )

$4.99

Shawn Reilly Simmons has cooked up something rocky this time, and it’s going to be a delicious read.

After surviving a brazen attack at one of her favorite local cafes, Penelope Sutherland is ready to escape the big city and head to her next film set. She and her Red Carpet Catering crew set up their kitchen on location in the tranquil mountains of Vermont.

But peace and quiet aren’t on the menu.

It starts to get hot when a series of accidents befall the celebrity tennis pro consulting on the film. Then mix in an uptight director, an isolated location, and a quirky bunch of locals with secrets of their own and that’s a recipe for disaster.

Penelope soon suspects a connection between the cafe attack and the incidents on set, and you know what comes next. She must uncover the truth before her goose gets cooked.

This page-turner is serving up the coziest of entertainment, and you do not want to miss it.

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MURDER ON THE ROCKS by Shawn Reilly Simmons A Henery Press Mystery. If you like one, you’ll probably like them all.

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Murder on the Chopping Block (A Red Carpet Catering Mystery Book 7) Sep 17, 2019

by Shawn Reilly Simmons

( 15 )

$4.99

Penelope Sutherland and her Red Carpet Catering Crew have landed in sunny California for their latest gig, a blockbuster action movie starring Sebastian Beauregard, the hottest new actor out of Australia. Movie industry buzz and the studio boss, Calvin Pope, a seasoned producer who’s seen it all, say he’s about to be the next big breakout star.

When a stunt gone wrong endangers the lives of everyone on the set, Penelope wonders if it was really an accident, or if someone was trying to snuff out that bright star.

When Calvin’s wife goes missing in the middle of the night after a violent altercation with Calvin, Penelope sets out to uncover a killer, who might be hiding in plain sight.

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MURDER ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK by Shawn Reilly Simmons A Henery Press Mystery. If you like one, you’ll probably like them all.

Other Formats: Hardcover , Paperback

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