Handcuffs & High Heels by J.M. Edwards
A Ruby Wisdom Mystery
1st in Series
Cozy Mystery
Self Published
Print Length: 201 pagesMeet Ruby Wisdom. Smart and sensible. Humorous and heroic. Tough and tender. As the only private investigator in tiny Wormwood, New York, Ruby handles a wide range of cases—everything from jewel heists and cheating husbands to stolen wedding gowns, kidnapped artwork and fraudulent heirs.
In HANDCUFFS & HIGH HEELS, Ruby is hired by the wife of a millionaire when the woman suspects her husband is having an affair. And he is—several of them. But when Ruby begins connecting the duplicitous dots, the deceitful spouse ends up in a much more difficult dilemma than being caught with his hands in Cookie’s jar. And that’s when the real investigation begins.
HANDCUFFS & HIGH HEELS is a cozy mystery loaded with humor, romance, memorable characters and a sleuth who knows her way around baked goods and sweet treats as well as crime scenes and tricky investigations.
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I love meeting new people—at parties, on planes, in stores and restaurants, sitting in cafés or walking down the street. For the most part, they’re real human beings made from flesh and blood. But, every now and then, I meet someone who exists only in the little grey cells of my mind. These imaginary individuals are the characters that populate my humorous mysteries—beginning with Ruby Wisdom, the namesake of my first series and the only private investigator in tiny Wormwood, New York.
The day that I met Ruby, I was editing another manuscript that had nothing to do with duplicitous husbands, crafty detectives or small, quirky towns populated by a cast of intriguing characters. I was in my home office, concentrating on the project, when Ruby suddenly popped into my head, flashed a wide grin, and said: “The moon was high, the lights were low and I was right in the middle of giving my favorite UPS guy a hot oil massage when the phone rang.”
“Who are you?” I asked.
“I’m Ruby Wisdom,” she said. “I’m the main character in a new series of humorous mysteries you’re going to write.”
The news was unexpected, but I believe in staying calm and carrying on. After Ruby declined my offer for a cup of coffee or a cheese Danish, I asked if she could tell me more.
“About what?” she asked.
“Well, let’s start with you,” I said. “Then we can discuss the books.”
And so we did. She talked. I listened. As the hours passed, Ruby filled me in on her background—one brother, divorced parents, college degree in finance, short-lived career on Wall Street. Then she told me that being a PI was a childhood dream that she never believed would come true. Until it did. She started her investigative career working as an associate for a top-notch sleuth in Albany. The job helped her meet the New York State requirements for a PI license. After that, she returned to her hometown, rented a small office above the local pharmacy and started taking cases both large and small. Today, she helps unravel mysteries for local residents as well as visitors to the area. Every now and then, she travels to distant cities to handle cases for new clients referred by friends and colleagues.
“It’s been a wild and rewarding experience,” Ruby said. “My long ago childhood dream is now flourishing as a very real, very rewarding enterprise.”
Since the moment we met, Ruby and I have been spending part of every day together. She joins me quite often for long walks when I’m devising plot twists and turns. “What’s the deal with the insurance guy?” she asked me recently. “I didn’t peg him for a lowlife crook.” She often taps me on the shoulder with ideas about characters, bits of dialogue or red herrings for our latest collaboration. “That guy would never use the word ‘magic,’” she once said. “He’s a fussy, snooty intellectual. He’d use the word ‘prestidigitation.’” And she whispers in my ear when I’m flipping through magazines or The New York Times’ Fashion & Style section. “I’d look great in that trench coat!” she’ll say. “Write a scene where I’m chasing the bad guy through the rain, okay?”
I feel more than a little fortunate to have met Ruby. She keeps me on my toes. She makes me laugh. And she makes me think. She also makes me wish I was a fictional private investigator with a hot boyfriend, a bunch of quirky neighbors and the ability to solve mysteries while maintaining my sense of humor. Luckily, we fit together like two peas in a pod, and I’m looking forward a long and lasting friendship with my imaginary friend.
My Thoughts
Handcuffs & High Heels by J.M Edwards is the first book in a fun new cozy mystery series. I liked that the story was really funny and entertaining right from the beginning. As soon as I read the first couple pages in the Kindle preview, I knew I would enjoy this book. It was a light-hearted, fast paced read. I will be reading more in the Ruby Wisdom series!
About the Author
J.M. Edwards loves crime. But only when it’s fictional. A lifelong fan of mystery novels, police procedurals and thrillers, J.M. has worked as a copywriter, bartender, dog walker and newspaper reporter. When it comes to reading, she has a few favorites (Robert B. Parker, Sue Grafton, Dashiell Hammett, Robert B. Parker, Lee Child), but always enjoys learning about new authors to add to the TBR pile. In addition to writing the new Ruby Wisdom cozy mystery series, J.M. spends time gardening, traveling, spoiling a small herd of cats and dogs, doing volunteer work and taking the occasional nap.
I love mysteries, so I would love to read it 🙂
I enjoy humor with my murders so I’d like to read this book.
I am always looking for new authors to read. You write the kinds of books I enjoy reading.