Title: Panic In the Panhandle
Author: J.C. Kenney
Genre: cozy mystery
Book Blurb:
This is no ordinary wild animal removal call…
In the sleepy panhandle of Florida, Benjamin “Elmo” Simpson has carved out a comfortable niche as the go-to wild animal removal specialist. Life is sweet until a peculiar service request takes him to a local condo and an unexpected scene. Retired lawyer Fran Cohen is missing and in his apartment is a well-fed alligator that appears to have enjoyed a nice breakfast with…or rather, of…Fran.
All evidence points toward murder, and local alligator farmer, Waldo “Rambo” Quigley has the motive and the means. When Rambo pleads for help to clear his name, old debts and a history of friendship leave Elmo no choice but to investigate. With his girlfriend, Nicola, by his side, and Rambo’s freedom on the line, Elmo’s on the hunt for the real killer, but don’t panic…Elmo’s got a plan…sort of. Maybe.
Reptilian clues lead to unexpected allies, and the call of danger is addictive. Can Elmo uncover the identity of Fran’s killer before becoming the next victim, removed from the scene like an unwanted pest?
Excerpt:
The second I saw the arm protruding from the mouth of the alligator, I knew it was going to be one of those days.
“We need to get out of here. Now!” I used my arm to shield Minerva from the gruesome sight. Despite her protests about being manhandled, we made a hurried retreat from the condominium.
Once we were outside and safe from the fearsome alpha predator, I dug out my phone.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Minerva Longet, who wasn’t accustomed to being told what to do unless it was coming from a director, put her fists on her hips and fixed me with a death stare. “Elmo Simpson, I demand to know—”
I put my index finger to my lips, shushing the woman. When the 911 operator asked me what the emergency was, I bit back a panicky laugh. Sometimes, life in Paradise Springs, Florida, was stranger than fiction.
“I need to report an accident, or a murder, or something, at the Sea Breeze Resort.”
“Can you be more specific, sir?” The operator’s tone was a combination of cross and bored. Paradise Springs was a community filled with oddballs and a head-scratching history, so I was going to have to be 100 percent honest. Honesty, among some folks, a rare commodity in these parts.
“Um, yeah.” I stole a glance at Minerva, who was patting her hair to make sure every silver strand was in place, and swallowed. There was no way she was prepared for what I was about to say. “I think Fran Cohen’s been eaten by an alligator.”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/panic-in-the-panhandle-jc-kenney/1144389632?ean=2940186082743
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/panic-in-the-panhandle/id6472631994?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=books_box_link
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/J_C_Kenney_Panic_in_the_Panhandle?id=-hPxEAAAQBAJ&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1
Tule Bookstore: https://tulepublishingshop.com/products/panic-in-the-panhandle
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/panic-in-the-panhandle-j-c-kenney/21817904?ean=9781965640104&next=t&next=t
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/panic-in-the-panhandle-elmo-simpson-mysteries-book-1-by-j-c-kenney
What makes your featured book a must-read?
Panic in the Panhandle was named one of The Top Ten Cozy Mysteries of 2024 by CozyMystery.com. Here’s the proof! https://cozymystery.com/the-top-ten-cozies-of-2024/ It also has an average rating of 4.58 coming from over 50 reviews.
Giveaway –
Enter to win a $20 Amazon gift card:
Open Internationally.
Runs February 19 – February 25, 2025.
Winner will be drawn on February 26, 2025.
Author Biography:
J.C. Kenney is the Agatha Award Nominated and bestselling author of mysteries full of oddball characters in unusual settings. "Panic In the Panhandle," book 1 of his Elmo Simpson Mysteries series, was named one of the Ten Best Cozy Mysteries of 2024. He's also the co-host of The Bookish Hour and A Bookish Moment webcasts. When he’s not writing, you can find him following IndyCar racing or listening to music. He has two grown children and lives in Indianapolis with his wife and a cat.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://www.jckenney.com/