A Day in the Life of Allie McMurphy by Nancy Coco

Hi, my name is Allie McMurphy. I’m the owner operator of the Historic McMurphy Inn and Fudge Shop on Mackinac Island Michigan. The McMurphy has been in my family for over one hundred years and I’m the next generation to run it. I love my job as fudge maker and inn keeper, but recently I’ve sort of branched out into amateur sleuthing. It all started with finding Joe Jessop toes up in the McMurphy’s second floor utility room. With his murder under my roof, I discovered I’m pretty good at following clues and figuring out who is behind the crimes.

Of course I have help from my trusty bichon-poodle mix, Marshmallow—Mal for short. My puppy gets me into and out of all kinds of trouble. Today is no different. We were out for a walk when Mal ran off. I chased after her only to discover a shed was on fire. I got Mal out of harm’s way and called 9-1-1 just before the shed exploded. It seems that the owners were storing lawnmowers and edge clippers and cans of gasoline to fuel them. I managed to turn and tuck Mal under me to shield her with my body from the flying debris. We are safe for the moment.

This explosion is just one in a string of arsons that have been occurring on the island this year. Mal and I have managed to be at the scene of the last few and that means the police are looking at us and the arsonist/killer has to know we are steps behind him. It’s not looking good for our safety.

Arsons aren’t the only troubles on my plate. It’s July on Mackinac and I’m on the Star Spangled Fourth committee. More specifically I’m in charge of the fireworks, which were lost in the most dramatic of the arsonists events. For the first time in over one hundred and fifty years Mackinac Island’s Star Spangled Fourth fireworks celebration might not happen. It seems it will take all my wits, Mal’s ability to find clues and my friends and family’s help to catch the killer and see that the Fourth of July celebration goes off without a hitch.

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You can read more about Allie in Oh Say Can You Fudge, the third book in the “Candy-Coated” mystery series, published by Kensington. The first two books in the series are All Fudged Up and To Fudge or Not to Fudge.

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About the author
OH SAY CAN YOU FUDGE is the third book in Kensington’s Candy Coated Mystery series by Nancy Coco also known as Nancy J Parra. Inspired by the gentile Victorian feel of Mackinac Island, Nancy asked the people at The Island Bookstore if anyone had ever written a mystery series set on Mackinac Island. The answer was no. Nancy went to work with a poll of Island visitors and locals. If an amateur sleuth lived on Mackinac Island, what would she do for a living? The overwhelming answer was run a Fudge Shop, of course. Mackinac Island is known for its world famous fudge. The rest is history. Nancy’s alter ego, Nancy J Parra has an MA in Popular Fiction and a day doesn’t go by when she isn’t working on a new story or walking her own bichonpoo known affectionately on line as Little Dog. Visit Nancy at www.nancyjparra.com.