Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only €10,99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Picked On: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #3
    Picked On: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #3
    Picked On: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #3
    Ebook84 pages1 hour

    Picked On: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #3

    By Maggie West

    4/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    What does a creepy doll, a small town thrift store, and a missing woman have in common? 

    When antique pickers Sherri Green and Carol O'Brien take a day trip to Broom Top to visit Maisy's Miracles, trouble brews. At Maisy's small thrift store jam packed with treasures they learn that Maisy Dupree, the shop owner, has been missing for two months. 

    Sherri and Carol get busy trying to piece together what happened to the sweet elderly lady.

    They come across shady characters at every turn who may have harmed Maisy. And the doll from Maisy's shop that Carol loves (and Sherri hates) causes problems that surprises them both. 

    Picked On is a cleanand wholesome short read. It’s perfect for lovers of cozy mysteries that feature an amateur sleuth.

    Be sure to check out book 1, Picked to Death; book 2, Cotton Picking Murder; and book 4, Pick a Letter, in the Antique Pickers in Paradise cozy mystery series for more small town fun and crime solving in the close-knit community of Paradise.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMaggie West
    Release dateDec 28, 2016
    ISBN9781386017301
    Picked On: Antique Pickers in Paradise Cozy Mystery Series, #3

    Read more from Maggie West

    Related to Picked On

    Titles in the series (10)

    View More
    View More

    Related ebooks

    Amateur Sleuths For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related categories

    Reviews for Picked On

    4/5

    1 rating0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Picked On - Maggie West

      Success as a picker comes from having a good eye, a solid knowledge of antiques, and an excellent reputation.

      ~Rick Shevchenko

      Chapter 1

      Sherri Green pulled her pickup truck to a stop in front of a small storefront on Main Street in the idyllic town of Broom Top. Even though the town was several hours away from Paradise where they lived, Sherri and Carol always felt tickled when they entered Maisy’s Miracles. The owner of the small resale store named the place after herself and what she called her miracles. Maisy Dupree believed that every item she sold was special, a little miracle because they brought such joy to her customers. Each item for sale was hand picked by Maisy, and the store’s inventory changed as rapidly as the elderly woman could manage, which wasn’t as fast as it had once been. Sherri hoped today that Maisy would have some real treasures for Carol and her to sift through.

      You think she’ll have any more of those baby doll dresses? Carol O’Brien flipped the sun visor on the passenger side of the car so she could check her hair in the mirror. For the past few months she’d been dating Leon Fletcher, a deputy with the Pope County Sheriff’s Department. She’d been letting her mostly gray hair grow out a bit and she’d stopped coloring it when Leon mentioned he liked a woman with nice gray hair. Like hers. Shiny and sparkly. So now Carol checked her roots obsessively.

      You and your baby doll dresses. Sherri shook her head and then glanced at Carol. Hey, you look great. Now come on! We’re burning daylight!

      Sherri opened her truck door, stepped out, then grabbed her picking tote from the back seat. The tote held a tape measure, her picking notebook and favorite pen, scissors, tape, safety pins, sanitary wipes, and other items that she always seemed to need when out scouring for stuff to buy.

      Carol looked over at her friend and picking partner and said, Isn’t it a beautiful day? I just love late summer. She didn’t give Sherri a chance to answer. But I need more of Maisy’s doll dresses for the doll show next month.

      The Pope County Doll Fanciers held an annual doll show and sale each October, and Carol always included her collection of baby dolls in the show. This year Leon had agreed to help her make a little clothesline with wooden poles and bakers twine string to display some of her best doll dresses. I need at least two or three really nice ones.

      Yeah, I guess, Sherri said absentmindedly as she sifted through her bag. She placed her truck keys in a pouch inside. The fact that Sherri didn’t find baby doll dresses the least bit intriguing was a sore spot with the two friends, but Sherri hadn’t spent her childhood playing with dolls. She’d been more of a reader and crafter. When she spotted Carol patting her hair again, she added, Oh come on! Leon’s not here to see you. It’s just me. And do you really care what I think? Sherri laughed and winked when Carol caught her eye.

      Carol fluffed her hair one last time then hopped out of the truck. Stop it with the Leon stuff.

      Why? You guys are a hot item. Seriously, you make such a cute couple. Sherri was secretly thrilled that Carol and Leon had found each other. Leon had never married since every woman he had ever dated seemed to be worse than the one before until he’d sort of given up on the whole dating thing the past few years. Carol’s marriage had ended in divorce years ago, and Sherri knew her friend had just about given up on finding someone, too. Until Leon had shown some interest.

      Carol blushed. She walked to the door and grabbed the handle of Maisy’s Miracles. Nothing happened. What the –.

      Oh no! Sherri pointed to a small cardboard sign taped to the inside of the door:  Closed Until Further Notice.

      Sherri didn’t recognize the handwriting. Maisy’s penmanship was still beautiful even though her hands were gnarled from age. The sloppy block printing on the sign certainly wasn’t Maisy’s. Sherri had seen enough fliers and signs in the store to know that Maisy had not written the sign herself.

      Closed? Oh crap. Carol released the handle and stepped to the side to peer into the large front windowpane.

      After cupping her hands and taking a look in the front window for herself, Sherri said, Looks like Maisy just went home for the night, doesn’t it?

      Carol nodded her head. Yeah, it does. I wonder if she’s sick or  –.

      I don’t know, but she sure didn’t write that sign. I don’t think she knows how to print.

      Sherri felt a tap on her shoulder and jumped a good six inches into the air. What the heck!

      A deep voice said, Sorry to startle you, ma’am.

      Sherri turned and stared into the face of a middle-aged man with a full head of sandy brown hair parted on the side. The tails of his denim shirt flapped over his jeans.

      A half smile spread across his face. The store’s closed. But I was just gonna open up and take a look-see. You know, at the inventory and all.

      Carol stepped in front of Sherri and said, Okay. So, what’s going on? Where’s Maisy?

      Sherri bumped into Carol as she moved forward. Carol gave her a gentle push to regain her ground.

      Sherri said, Is Maisy all right?

      The man watched the two women as he fiddled with a large set of keys. A smirk spread across his whiskered face. When he

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1