The Riddles of Hillgate
Zoey Kane is known around Riverside for making risky purchases. When her daughter Claire learns a most recent investment is eighty acres on the haunted side of town, she is simply flabbergasted. Amazement takes over the whole community, however, when an old mansion is discovered deep within trees. After the estate is turned into a popular hotel, no one could have expected just how risky this purchase would be.
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The Z&C Mysteries are a fresh, unique series, where the mother and daughter can kick butt in heels if they have to. The situations can get very scary, but nothing is ever too gory. The reading is clean, while also vibrant. It's just plain fast-paced fun.
About the Authors
Claire has a Masters in Journalism, was Editor for Eye Witness Magazine and can't make Irish Rum Cookies to save her life. Zoey
has dabbled in modeling, is a licensed real-estate agent, seeks for
treasures (great and small), and is often underestimated.
Together,
Zoey and Claire are a mother-daughter mystery solving duo. During their
downtime, they dream of island men whisking them away.
(Zoey
and *Claire are also fictional, and their authors are a real life
mother and daughter who use their names as pseudonyms. Don't tell them
that, though.)
*Award-winning author, Molly Snow, writes under Claire Kane.
.
Excerpt 1
The
1980’s Datsun bucked and sputtered as Zo slowed and then parked the car. “It’s
not the greatest, but neither was my van.”
Claire
gave a sympathetic smile. “That Max guy is so nice letting you borrow it today.
I just hope it doesn’t keel over while we’re using it.”
“True
that.”
In
the distance to their left, was an old and rusty industrial location. To their
right were acres of overgrown wilderness. There was a tall, black iron gate
sitting a few feet away, guarding the overgrowth. They walked to the gate along
a cracked and uneven sidewalk, watching their step along the way.
Claire
craned her neck to look up to the top of the rust-speckled barrier. Nothing
else was in sight but the monstrous gate and chaotic green growth. She was not
feeling optimistic, but decided to try to look like whatever her mom wanted to
show her was wonderful in some sort of way.
“Surprise!”
Zo smiled with great energy.
“You
bought Stephen King’s fence?”
“Well,
and a bit of land.”
“How
much land was that again?”
“Approximately
eighty acres. It is described as a hill.”
Claire
couldn’t hold back the look of feeling further disappointment, as her eyebrows
raised and her lips stayed zipped tightly.
“Oh,
now settle down. This is exciting. I haven’t even tromped through this land
yet. You and I together will be the very first time. That is why I told you to
wear long pants and sturdy shoes.”
“You
don’t even know what it all looks like? Mother? This is on the east side of the
river: the downtrodden, worse than ghetto, poor and unkempt area. Nobody ever
has reason to travel to this side of town. It’s a ‘no no.’ There are even
horrible urban ghost stories about this area.” So much for the “wonderful”
pretense. She immediately felt guilt wash over her, knowing that Penny and the
others already did a thorough job of making her mother feel miserable.
“Yes,
I admit, I have heard those stories, too. And I do believe in ghosts, but I
thought you didn’t, my dear.”
Claire
cocked her head. “You’re right. I don’t, but—” She stopped herself, not wanting
any more regrets.
Zo
unzipped a compartment to her faux-snakeskin purse to reveal an old, large key.
“This is it, Claire. Let’s have some fun.”
My Thoughts:
This was an adorable Mother and Daughter mystery! It was light and fluffy and fun. JUST what I needed! It's a short book, but a LOT of events are packed into it. I really liked Zoey and Claire and the story was great! The only real negative I can think of is the length. I wanted more, dangit! I'm really glad that this is the first in a planned series! It means I can look forward to more of this dynamic duo!
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