M. S. Spencer ~ Tale Spinner

Railroad Ties at N. N. Light's Cozy Mystery Event

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0000

A one-hundred-year-old letter describes a murder, but who was the victim? What happened to the body and the carpetbag full of money?

N. N. Light’s Book Heaven is featuring my latest mystery Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders at her wonderful Cozy Mystery event. Find out why it’s a MUST READ. One lucky reader will win an Amazon gift card!!

https://substack.com/@nnlightsbookheaven/p-187539669

Hidden Gem at N. N. Light's Cozy Reads Event

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 05:30:00 +0000

Come by N. N. Light’s Book Heaven’s Cozy Reads Bookish Event today for a taste of my award-winning Hidden Gem: the Secret of St. Augustine.

Barnaby and Philo’s love story begins with chili and a dead body.

https://substack.com/@nnlightsbookheaven/p-187005337

https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/cozy-reads-bookish-event

Railroad Ties at J. Arlene Culiner's Food for Love--with free recipe!

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 15:50:00 +0000

Please drop by Food for Love: A Writer’s Words today. I’m talking about my latest mystery Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders. I offer a lovely romantic excerpt and a little lagniappe: my own recipe for curry powder. You’ll love it!

https://j-arleneculiner.over-blog.com/2026/01/murder-mystery-and-romance-with-author-m-s-spencer-the-marmion-grove-murders.html

Railroad Ties featured at Alicia Dean's Great Blog

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 15:44:00 +0000

Please drop by Alicia Dean's wonderful blog to read about my latest mystery Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders! I talk about my quirky little home town, which is the setting for the story. Find it here:

https://aliciadean.com/2026/01/22/author-m-s-spencer-and-railroad-ties-the-marmion-grove-murders/

Rocky: A Christmas Story (for one last fix)

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000

For those not ready to let go of that Christmasy feeling, here is a little story for you:

Rocky, or the Year of Santa’s Cold: A Christmas Story

by M. S. Spencer

Rocky was napping. He was usually napping, except, that is, when he was in his Snow Master F-130 racing sleigh with ultra high molecular weight polyethylene runners and top-of-the-line CD player. Which was way too often according to his dad. Of course, Santa was a bit Old School when it came to sleighs. Actually, he was a bit old school when it came to everything. Like the reindeer. “I mean, why can’t Chert be in the lead? He’s the fastest.”

“His time will come, son.”

Rocky mumbled in his sleep. The dream he’d been having—flying through Icebreaker Canyon sideways at a hundred miles per hour—had evolved into one where he was being bounced around, scratched and bruised by the rock walls. He woke up with a start. “Wha–?”

“Rocky, Dad wants to see you.”

“He does?”

“Don’t be so surprised.” Sapphire, Rocky’s sister, pulled at his sleeve. “He’s been coming down with a cold for the last two days. He needs your help.”

“So? Where’s Feldspar? He should be talking to him. He’s in charge.”

“Feldy’s down in Anchorage with Beryl. You know she’s been ordered on bed rest and they decided to be closer to the hospital.”

Rocky rubbed his eyes. “Okay. I’ll get my coat.”

They walked out into the snowy lane. Rocky’s house sat at the end of a cul-de-sac. Twinkling lights led them down the main road to the Claus mansion. On either side were shop fronts and taverns decorated as always with holly and pine boughs. As they passed a sign advertising ribbon candy and licorice, the light in the store suddenly went out. The ground rumbled beneath them. Rocky looked down the street and when he turned to Sapphire, a plume of smoke rose behind her. “What just happened?”

Elves poured out of the buildings on either side of what had been the candy store, now a hole in the ground. “Mica’s shop is gone.”

“Huh? Was anyone inside?”

“No. It was closed, thank Santa.”

The small crowd stood, gazing down. The ground rumbled again and farther down the street a long low building hit the dust too. “That’s the men’s dorm!” The elves galloped down the street. Sure enough, a number of scantily clad elves were shivering in the middle of an empty lot. Rocky grabbed his sister. “Dad will know what’s going on.”

They entered the great hall of the mansion. At one end a fire roared in a great stone fireplace. Before it, wrapped in a fur cloak, in an overstuffed chair, sat Santa. He held a handkerchief in one hand and a steaming mug in the other. “Dad.”

Santa held up a grizzled hand. “Hang on.” He sneezed.

Outside they heard yells and calls for help. “It’s the kitchen!”

Rocky knelt before the old man. “Dad? Is this your doing?”

“Yes, it’s me. Hasn’t happened in, oh, eighty years. If I snee—” He held up a hand again and sneezed. More cries came from outside. “Sneeze, buildings evaporate. Strangest thing.”

Sapphire sat on the chair’s arm. “But what’s happening to the buildings? Are they gone for good?”

Santa shook his head. “No, it’s only temporary. Lasts at most a day.”

“What about the elves?”

“They’re fine. It doesn’t affect them.” He wiped his nose. “But this cold seems to be getting worse.” He put a hand on Rocky’s arm. “Rocky, you know Feldspar is with Beryl. I may have to call on you for the Christmas run.” He peered at the young man. “Do you think you’re ready?”

Rocky bounced to his feet. “Are you kidding? I’ve been training for the last five years.”

Santa huffed. “If you call daredevil stunts in that power sleigh of yours training. I want you to go take some practice runs with the big sleigh this afternoon. Christmas Eve is tomorrow.”

Rocky bounded out of the house and headed toward the barn. His favorite reindeer, Chert, greeted him with a nuzzle. “Guess what? I’m taking the run tomorrow, and you’re going to head up the team!” He surveyed the other animals. “In fact, there’s going to be a new order. I’ve been watching you guys. You, Galena, you haven’t been pulling your weight. Or rather, you’ve been pulling too much weight. You can be ballast along with Gneiss. Then Schist and Shale, you’re next, and—”

The building shivered. He waited, expecting to be suddenly exposed, but the barn stayed put. He peeked outside. The greenhouse was gone, the seedlings in their pots shriveling as he watched. Elves ran to cover the plants with blankets. He called, “How long do the disappearances last?”

The elf named Agate replied, “Usually only a few minutes. Sometimes hours. Kitchen’s still gone. I sent Amber and Ruby over to the gnomes to get carry-out for lunch.” He coughed. “Damn creatures put way too much MSG in their food. Half the elves are sick and the other half are hungry an hour later. We’ll use up our whole month’s food budget at this rate.”

Rocky left the barn and spent the afternoon test-driving Santa’s sleigh. He wasn’t worried about managing the big sled. I can drive anything. His priorities were how to attach his CD player and if he would be able to tap the cocoa keg without looking up from the air lane.

The next day he checked in with his father. The old man was in bed. “How’s the village?”

“We lost the haberdasher and the shoe store, but the kitchen’s back.”

“That’s good. Are you ready, Rocky?”

The young man saluted.

“You haven’t changed the reindeer order, have you? Chert is not to take the lead.”

“But Dad!”

“Maybe next year. Godspeed.”

With Agate’s help, Rocky oiled and rubbed the harness and groomed the reindeer. He skipped his customary mid-day quaff of pine sap ale, wanting to keep a clear head for the task ahead. As he slipped the traces on each deer, Chert flashed a hopeful eye at him. “I don’t care what Dad says, you’re ready.” He put his friend in the lead, and filled in the other spaces.

At sunset he donned the Santa suit his father had given him on his twenty-first birthday. “Still fits!”

Agate laughed. “It should. It’s only been six months.”

He got in the sleigh and Agate pulled it out into the main square. Rocky thought he heard a collective gasp, quickly stifled. A trumpet blared and Agate announced, “Due to the indisposition of our dear Leader, Rockstone Pebble Claus will do the honors for us.”

No one said a word. For the first time Rocky wished he hadn’t been such a prankster in his childhood. Looking out over the sea of upturned noses and pixie ears, he despaired of finding one face he hadn’t hit with a pie, or dropped a bucket of water on. Would any of them help if I needed it? He took a deep breath and shook the reins. “On Chert, on Clay, on Schist and on Shale, on Onyx and Ebony, on Gneiss and Galena. To the top of the roof, and dash away to”—he checked his map—“Siberia!”

As the sleigh rolled past them, the elves managed a weak cheer. Ruby called, “Go get ‘em Rocky. Don’t forget to—” Her words were lost to the sound of slick runners sliding across the ice. He flew into the night.

After the first eleven hours Rocky felt pretty good. He’d hit Asia, Australia, and India, and finished Europe. He was on his way to South America when a snow squall hit, spinning him around. The compass stuck, but he pulled out the atlas that served as backup and they muddled north to Canada. Rocky checked his watch. “Only western Canada and Alaska to go, then home again, home again, lickety split.” He licked his lips, tasting the congratulatory ale that his father would surely award him with. “What do you say, boys. Shall we celebrate with a few triple loops?” Sure, he’d only done them with his little racer sleigh—equipped for speed and light as a feather. This old clunker would be a bear to flip. “If anyone can do it, Chert can. Let’s go for it!”

He headed the reindeer downwards until he found a convection current. As he had practiced a million times, he flicked his wrist and guided the team into the updraft. The sleigh was jerked up. He kept the reins tight and the sleigh slowly, ponderously, made a complete somersault. “Yay! We did it! Now once more, for the ribbon, guys.”

This time he had to descend even closer to the ground to catch a thermal wave. The sleigh was going a great clip and was uncomfortably close to the earth when Rocky pulled it up. The reindeer climbed, reached the upper atmosphere, and took off.

Without Rocky.

As he floated down to the ground the thought struck him like a blow to the head. That’s what Ruby was trying to tell me. Don’t forget to buckle up.

When he woke up, he was lying atop a pile of brush. It must have broken my fall. He tested his limbs. He couldn’t move his left arm. Must be broken. It was cold. He squinted up through the trees. The full moon was low to the horizon, but still shed some light. The only light. He couldn’t see any sign of habitation. He lay back.

He must have fallen asleep because he woke to something warm and woolly tickling his nose. He opened his eyes. A vision gazed down at him, concern on her face. Soft gray eyes shot with silver, above a delicate nose and a heart-shaped mouth. Long, filmy, white-blonde hair fell over her shoulders. She touched him again. “Are you all right?”

She spoke Elvish, but with an unfamiliar accent.

He sat up. “I think I broke my arm.”

“Oh, dear. Let me help you up.” Together they stumbled off the pile. She led him to a small sleigh, a lantern swinging from its post. Four huskies were harnessed to it. “I’m Pearl.”

“Rocky.”

“Can I take you home?”

“Depends. Where are we?”

“My forest.”

“Your?” He scratched his head. “But what country am I in?”

“Country?”

The line of questioning seemed unproductive, so Rocky merely said, “How about we go to your place.”

She gave him a funny look. “There’s no where else to go.” She cracked the reins and the dogs took off at a trot.

A pale sun shone through the bare trees. After a while they reached a clearing in which stood a square log house. Gray smoke puffed out of the chimney. Pearl unhooked the dogs, then helped Rocky out of the sleigh. She led him into the cabin. It was warm. She lit lanterns, revealing a cozy room. Several wooden chairs with goose down pillows sat in the middle. A ladder led to a loft. In the far corner an el projected out, creating a small kitchen, with a wood stove and an ice box. A fireplace filled one wall, the embers of a raked fire glowing. Pearl put a few more logs on and blew on the coals, reviving the fire. She turned to Rocky. “Let’s take a look at that arm.”

She sat him down and removed his coat. She held it up and regarded it with a puzzled air. “Scarlet, huh. Unusual color. What did you dye it with?”

“Dye it?”

“You know, willow bark, alder, cranberry? Cranberry makes a pinky-red—not this deep color.”

He shrugged. “No idea. Opal makes all our clothes. She probably uses whatever they used for Dad’s coat.”

Pearl stared at him for a minute, then picked up his arm. He winced. “It must be broken. Why were you up in the tree?”

“Tree? I wasn’t in a tree.”

“Then where did you fall from?”

Now, Rocky had never been out of the North Pole before, but he knew it was supposed to remain a secret. However, living in the land of the elves, he also had never had occasion to lie before. What do I say? “I…uh…fell down a bank. I walked from there until I collapsed where you found me.”

She seemed to accept that and bustled around the fire boiling water. They ate some dried meat and old apples and she made him a bed on the couch.

The next day she was gone, but returned that evening. She was gone all day the next day as well. This went on for a week. Meanwhile, Rocky’s arm was improving. One night he made her sit. “You haven’t told me who you are, and why you live out here all alone.”

She blinked. “I’ve always lived here.”

“But you must have come from somewhere.”

She gazed at him, her misty gray eyes filled with tears. “My father. My father brought me here when I was a baby.”

Rocky took her hand. It was delicately formed, but the palm was work-hardened. “He abandoned you?” He thought of his father. Despite all the trouble he’d given him, his father would never have left him alone in the wilderness.

“No, no. I grew up here. He built this cabin. He taught me how to survive in the forest. He…he died last year.”

“Aren’t there neighbors nearby? Relatives? Someone you can live with? Surely you don’t want to be out here without any company?” The elves of North Pole Village were extremely social; he couldn’t imagine being alone for more than a few hours.

She bristled. “I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. My father taught me how to build a fire, to hunt, to make my clothes from hides, and to plant a garden. I have plenty to eat and a warm place to sleep. What else do I need?”

“Companionship? Friends? Family?”

She turned her back on him. After a minute, she said, “If you need company, there is a village over the hill. I can take you part of the way, but they will not speak to me.”

“Why not?”

She whirled. “Look at me! I’m…I’m white. They think I’m a ghost! The natives are very dark—brown and short. They are frightened of me. They leave me alone in my forest and I leave them alone.” She sat down and put her head in her hands. “They hate me.”

Rocky stroked her glistening hair. “Sometimes fear manifests as hate. You’re just different. Humans—I’ve been told—aren’t comfortable with things that are different or out of the ordinary. They don’t hate you.”

“Then why do they throw rocks at me if I get too near? Why do they order me to stay away?”

“I don’t know.” Rocky felt his arm. Almost healed. “I will go there and check them out myself.”

The next day Pearl took him to the edge of the forest. In the distance he could see blue ice and black water. On a flat plain by the ocean lay a cluster of huts. He left her and trudged across the snow toward it. A group of children were playing by the last house. “Hey mister! You lost?”

He said “No. I’m…er…just visiting.”

“Come on, then.” They led him into the house.

A couple were in the kitchen. They looked very much alike. Shiny black hair, with chestnut brown skin covered in fine wrinkles, and sharp black eyes. They welcomed him. “Hello stranger. May we offer you some coffee?”

They took his coat and he sat down. One of them joked, “Look at that red parka. It’s just like Santa’s.”

Rocky froze. Would they suspect? “Santa?”

“You know. Santa Claus. Delivers toys to the girls and boys on Christmas Eve.” The woman held a finger to her lips. “Shh. The kids still believe.” She winked. “So, how did you get here? Did your truck break down?”

He decided the fewer details the better. He told them he was from far away, that he’d hurt his arm, and that Pearl had helped him recover.

“Pearl? Who’s that?”

“The young woman who lives in the forest.”

Both pushed back their chairs and jumped up. “The ghost? You saw the ghost?”

“She’s not a ghost, she’s a girl. And she’s lonely. Why won’t you talk to her?”

The man growled, “She lives by herself—survives the winter all alone. How could anyone human do that?”

“Her father taught her how.”

The woman crossed herself. “Her father—he wasn’t human either.”

“Not human? You mean, an animal?” Rocky had begun to perspire in the heat. He pulled his hat off.

The others gasped. “You too. You’re like him!” The woman pointed at Rocky’s ears.

“I am? How?”

“Your ears. They’re pointed. Like his.”

Pearl’s father was an elf? From the look on his host’s face, he gathered this wasn’t a good thing. What’s wrong with elves? Elves didn’t have any problem with humans; why would these people be afraid of them? Then he remembered. The Secret. They don’t know we exist. No wonder they’re frightened. He started to explain, then stopped. I’m not supposed to tell them. I’d better get out of here. He backed away and out the door. It opened again and his coat was tossed out in the snow. He trudged back to the edge of the forest.

To his surprise Pearl was waiting. “I told you.”

“But I don’t look like you.”

“It’s your ears. They’re like Daddy’s. Pointed.”

“That’s because I’m an elf. I’m guessing so was your dad. But why did he leave the North Pole?”

She didn’t know. They went back to the cabin.

A few months went by. Rocky had no idea how to contact the North Pole, but somehow he didn’t mind. Life was rather pleasant with Pearl. As spring broke through the ice, shoots and plants appeared that she made into delicious salads. She taught him how to trap small animals and stew them. They hiked through the forest during the day and played checkers before the fire at night. Rocky was happy. Now and then he thought of his old home, but then he remembered how bored he’d been. He wanted more responsibility, but Feldspar was the eldest. He would inherit the job of Santa. He’d always felt at loose ends. Here he felt useful.

Spring turned to summer and then into fall. The leaves turned glorious colors. The bears were fat and the fish plentiful. One day Rocky was snowshoeing through the woods when he came upon a reindeer. The animal raised its head. Rocky felt a surge of homesickness and began to approach. The buck stared at him, a glint of recognition in its brown eyes, but then it took off, crashing through the woods. Rocky trudged home.

He was thoughtful all evening. Pearl left him alone. She rarely asked him what he was thinking or how he felt. He sensed she was afraid he would get angry and leave. But I don’t want to leave. He wasn’t sure why he didn’t. I should be missing my family, my friends. Why am I so content?

He’d shrugged off the questions before. Now, after seeing the reindeer, images of North Pole Village kept flashing through his brain. The next day was no better. He came in with a load of wood and found Pearl weeping. “What’s the matter?”

“You’re not happy. You’re leaving,” she sniffed.

He dropped the wood and put his arms around her. He wanted to deny it, but for some reason he couldn’t. “Maybe it’s time.”

She shook him off and ran outside. He waited for her but she didn’t come back. Finally, as the sun set, he went in search of her. The woods were very quiet; a light snow fell. He trudged along, now and then calling softly. He climbed up a bank, hoping for a better view, and almost ran into a reindeer standing on the summit. He’s the same fellow I saw two days ago. “Hello.”

The reindeer didn’t move. It didn’t look at him either. Suddenly from above he heard snorts and whinnies. Hovering in the air was Santa’s sleigh. Feldspar leaned over the side. “There you are at last, little brother.”

“Feldspar!” Rocky was overjoyed. “You found me!”

“Well, Shale found you. He led us here.” Shale butted Rocky, who patted his nose. “Are you coming?”

Rocky stared up at the sleigh. “How?”

A ladder unfolded and landed next to him. He climbed up and into the sleigh. His brother threw a blanket over him, turned to the reindeer, and flicked the reins. “We’ll be home in a jiffy.”

It wasn’t until the lights of North Pole Village twinkled below that Rocky remembered Pearl. “Oh my God, she’ll think I’m lost!”

In the general excitement of his return Rocky didn’t have a chance to talk to his father. It wasn’t until the next day that the old man summoned him.

“I’ve been getting bits and pieces of your adventures from the elves, but not a full accounting. Tell me what happened.”

Rock felt ashamed. “Oh father, I was an idiot.”

Santa did not contradict him.

Rocky confessed about the showboating and falling out of the sleigh. He told him about Pearl and of the natives who were afraid of them.

Santa asked him to describe Pearl again. He rubbed his beard. “Alabaster skin, you say? Pearly gray eyes? Tall? What about her ears?”

“Round. Not elvish.”

“Did she talk about her mother?”

“She never knew her. Her father raised her.”

“How old would you say she was?”

“About my age.”

“Hmm. Come with me.” Santa took Rocky to the Hall of Records. In the section filled with registers of North Pole Village he pulled the volume from Rocky’s birth year. Flipping the pages, he stopped at one. “This is it.” He laid the book out for Rocky to see. “Jasper Gold. Banished from North Pole Village, April 24, 2000.”

“Who is that?”

“Pearl’s father. Jasper fell in love with a snow maiden—at that time a serious offense. He was given the option of leaving the village or giving her up. He chose her.”

“But why? What’s wrong with a snow maiden?”

“At that time the snow giants were threatening to expose us to the world. Their king was a bitter man who felt that his people weren’t properly respected. He claimed the elves were infringing on his territory. Negotiations for peace were at a very delicate stage and the snow giants insisted there be no contact between giants and elves. We risked the very existence of Santa Claus if we defied their embargo.”

“So Pearl’s father left. And you never heard from him again?”

“No,” said Santa sadly. “Once we’d signed an agreement with the giants we searched for him, but he had disappeared into the lower world.”

“Pearl told me her mother died in childbirth.”

“Ah.” The bell for dinner rang. “You go along.”

In the days that followed, Rocky tried to settle in, but he couldn’t stop thinking of Pearl. He was doodling her name on a roll of wrapping paper when his father’s heavy hand fell on his shoulder. “Son? Want to talk about it?”

Rocky didn’t know what to say. “I guess I miss my life down there.”

“And Pearl?”

“Well, she was part of it all. Learning how to make things from scratch. How to grow things. Make things. The peace.”

“How did you feel about her?”

“Her?” Rocky was puzzled. He scrunched up his nose, trying to explain. “Sometimes when she came near my chest would tighten up. I’d have trouble breathing. Sometimes she’d boss me around and I thought it would make me angry, but it didn’t. It’s like…like—” He appealed to his father. “Like she cared about me.”

The old man just smiled.

Rocky continued. “She was pretty too. When the moon shone on her hair she looked like an angel. And that time we were walking beside the creek and she slipped and fell in the mud. She was all covered in goo, so I found this deep pool and—” He hiccupped. The image of a slim, ivory body shimmering as it rose from the water, of long, straight blonde hair swirling around Pearl’s head, her warm, smoky eyes seeking him out, stopped him cold. He turned to his father. “She was my friend, but Dad? Something feels different.”

Santa laughed. “There’s a name for it, son. You’ll figure it out.”

But Rocky didn’t, and fell more and more into a funk. What was the matter with him? The Christmas season was upon them. North Pole Village was in the usual uproar. He sought out Chert, his favorite reindeer. “I feel just as restless as I did before I fell out of the sleigh. Something’s missing, Chert. I’m not even hungry.”

Chert blew in his ear.

It was a week before Christmas. Feldspar and Beryl had taken their boy Garnet to Anchorage to see the pediatrician. Rocky, out exercising Chert, saw their sleigh floating down by the barn. He loped toward it. Feldspar let Beryl and the baby out, then turned back to help someone else. Rocky stopped short. “Pearl!”

She looked both frightened and elated. All the activity around her made her seem small and young. Rocky ran to her. He stood before her, drinking her in. “You’ve come.”

She nodded at Feldspar. “He said I should.” She peeked at Rocky. “I…I wanted to see you. I missed you.”

“Oh, Pearl.” He wrapped her in a bear hug.

Santa came out of the barn. “Have you figured it out?”

Rocky released Pearl. “What out?”

“The feeling, silly boy.” Beryl giggled.

Rocky, bewildered, looked at Pearl. She pushed him gently. “Love, Rocky. It’s love.”

Trailer for Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 22:44:00 +0000

Have you seen this fantastic video for The Railroad Ties?

When Sophie Childress discovers a letter written in 1920 by a maid who thinks she witnessed a murder in the historic village of Marmion Grove, she enlists Noah Pennyman to investigate. Together they uncover a complex web of family ties and lies that persist through three generations. Did a murder occur? If so, who was the victim? What did the killer do with the body—and a carpetbag full of money? A hundred years later two more corpses are unearthed. How will Sophie and Noah sort out the truth from the myriad conflicting motives before whoever is trying to kill Noah succeeds?

Check it out!

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M. S. Spencer Tale Spinner

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:16:00 +0000

Railroad Ties is a Semi-Finalist at Chanticleer Awards 2026!

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 22:46:00 +0000

Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders, has made it to the Semi-Finals in the Chanticleer Mystery & Mayhem Book Awards!

https://www.chantireviews.com/2026/01/01/the-2025-mm-semi-finalists-for-cozy-and-not-so-cozy-mysteries/

Don't Forget to Check out NN Light's Holiday Gift Guide Mystery!

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 15:49:00 +0000

Come on over to N. N. Light’s Book Heaven Holiday Gift Guide! Running through December 31, you can find my books featured under Romantic Suspense/Thriller/Mystery. Artful Dodging: the Torpedo Factory Murders, is a great Christmas story. In the Crosshairs: the Body on Leffis Key will leaving wanting a beach vacation. And Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders, is a trip down the Victorian memory land. Be sure to check them and all the great books out. Remember: books make great gifts!

https://substack.com/@nnlightsbookheaven/p-178914564

Starts Today! Romantic Suspense/Mystery at NN Light's Holiday Gift Guide

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 22:31:00 +0000

https://substack.com/@nnlightsbookheaven/p-178914564

Come on over to N. N. Light’s Book Heaven Holiday Gift Guide! Starting today and running through December 31 you can find my books featured under Romantic Suspense/Thriller/Mystery. Be sure to check them out!

https://substack.com/@nnlightsbookheaven/p-178914564

Coming Soon! NN Light's Holiday Gift Guide Featuring My Mysteries

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 22:02:00 +0000

Three Spencer mysteries featured at NN Light's Holiday Gift Guide

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:52:00 +0000

I n the Crosshairs: the Body on Leffis Key will leaving wanting a beach vacation. And Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders, is a trip down the Victorian memory land. Be sure to check them and all the great books out. Remember: books make great gifts!

Holiday Gift Guide Featuring My Mysteries is Coming

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 22:10:00 +0000

The stupendous N. N. Light’s Book Heaven Holiday Gift Guide for 2025 is coming! There are 17 themes/genres to choose from. You’ll find mine in Romantic Suspense/Thriller/Mystery. Be sure to check them all out!

Amber Daulton presents Lost in His Spiderwebs--Pre Order Now!

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 04:30:00 +0000

Please welcome Amber Daulton to talk about her upcoming release Lost in His Spiderwebs, Book 2 of the Lozano Cartel series. It's available now for pre-order and will release October 14.

Lost in His Spiderwebs is the second book in the Lozano Cartel series and follows the gripping love story of Rubén Lozano and Drina Cabrera in an unexpected second-chance dark romance.

Rubén is not a man to cross. A ruthless, enigmatic cartel kingpin, he’ll stop at nothing to achieve his objectives. Drina, on the other hand, is a career-focused mother who’s raising her daughter alone. Their worlds never should’ve touched. But when Drina’s life shatters, she finds herself caught in the grip of a violent cartel. And Rubén is the only one who can help her.

Readers first meet Rubén and Drina as secondary characters in Dark Hearts Aflame, the first book in the series. Even then, I knew Rubén deserved his own story, though I wasn’t sure who his heroine would be. After considering and discarding a few ideas, inspiration struck. Drina! She was the perfect match for him. But I had some questions. What if they were lovers years ago? What if he was the father of her daughter, and he didn’t know it? I’m a huge fan of the “opposites attract” and “second chance” tropes, so the story fell together pretty easily.

Lost in His Spiderwebs is now available for preorder and will be released on October 14, 2025. The next book, Corrupting His Wife, is currently in draft form. To stay updated on new releases, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on social media. In the meantime, don’t forget to add Lost in His Spiderwebs to your reading list. You won’t regret it!

Title: Lost in His Spiderwebs

Series: Lozano Cartel (book 2)

Release Date: October 14, 2025

Publisher: Daulton Publishing

Cover Designer: Satin Rose Designs

Genre: Dark Romance

Length: 90k

Heat Rating: 5 Flames

Blurb

Kidnapped by the enemy. Bought by the jefe. Will his smoldering touch thaw her frozen heart?

Rubén Lozano, the new leader of the Lozano Cartel, craves peace amidst a legacy of bloodshed and death. He never expected to find his ex-lover, Drina Cabrera, in the clutches of his vicious rivals. Her haunted eyes compel him to rescue her, but freeing her is another matter.

After five months of captivity, Drina trades one captor for another. Though she succumbs to Rubén’s masterful touch, the bittersweet memory of her daughter and the life she was stolen from is a constant wedge between them.

When Rubén’s darkest secret comes out, he will have to wash his hands in crimson. Will Drina let her king face the danger alone, or stand at his side as his cartel queen?

– Book two in the dark romance series, the Lozano Cartel. All the books can be read as a standalone, but are part of an interconnected series.

– Scenes featuring drug distribution, violence, kidnapping, and attempted sexual assault may be uncomfortable for some readers.

Excerpt

“Smile,” Rubén told her. “It’s showtime.”

She nodded and lifted her chin, wincing a little in the flashing camera lights.

As three hand-picked paparazzi snapped pictures of him and Drina from all angles, Rubén counted to thirty before he steered Drina past them to the music room.

“Wow,” Drina murmured as they passed the piano for the ballroom.

A massive chandelier gleamed from the lofty ceiling, its decorative crystals reflecting the soft white light and dancing spots across the ivory walls and the chattering, laughing guests. The live band played instrumental music at the far end of the rectangular room, where Esme’s team had set up fancy tables and chairs for the speech and dinner portion of the evening.

“Why do you keep this room locked up? It’s magnificent.”

He shrugged. “It’s a bitch to clean.”

His blunt answer steepled Drina’s eyebrows. “My, what consideration. I’m sure the housekeeping staff appreciates it,” she teased and pulled him onto the dance floor alongside several other couples. “Let’s dance.”

As her arms slid around his shoulders, he rested his hands on her waist. Her body heat and strawberry aroma enveloped him. Groaning, he gripped the thick fabric of her dress so hard that it bunched and the band of his rings bit into his skin. She rested her head against his chest, and her hair teased his nose. They swayed, lost in each other as though they were the only people around. A foolish notion, one he shouldn’t revel in. If he did, he would ravage her on the floor.

“You have a good turnout,” she murmured while he twirled her about. She spun back into his embrace. “Are any of these people your friends?”

“Hardly.” This was his world. Glamour, power, prestige. The public mask he wore to hide his sinister nature. “You’re swimming in dangerous waters. The sooner you realize I can buy and discard all these sharks and guppies with a flick of my wrist, the better off you’ll be.”

“I’m well aware you’re king of the sharks.”

He snorted, holding her closer. “You’re a barracuda. Lithe grace and sharp teeth.”

“Ooh, I like that.” She nipped at his chin. “I’ll never be a guppy.”

Damn right. As the song ended, he guided her off the dance floor. Duty called.

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231721773-lost-in-his-spiderwebs

Check it out on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/lost-in-his-spiderwebs-lozano-cartel-book-2-a-dark-captivity-second-chance-romance-by-amber-daulton

Pre Order Now

Universal: https://books2read.com/LostInHisSpiderwebs

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4joCJUV

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lost-in-his-spiderwebs-amber-daulton/1147318586?ean=2940184374895

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/lost-in-his-spiderwebs

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=7lNYEQAAQBAJ

Apple/iBooks: https://apple.co/4jpLyht

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1648364

About the Author

Amber Daulton is the author of the Lozano Cartel, the Arresting Onyx, the Embracing You, and the Ramseys in Time series, as well as several standalone novellas. Her books are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.

She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats.

Social Media Links

Follow Me: https://linktr.ee/AmberDaulton

Check out my website (Daulton Publishing): https://amberdaulton.com

Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders on Long List at Chanticleer's M&M Awards!

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 21:13:00 +0000

Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders has been selected for the Long List of the 2025 M&M awards from Chanticleer!

The Mystery & Mayhem Book Awards (Part of the Chanticleer International Book Awards & Novel Competitions (CIBAs) recognize outstanding works in the genre of Light-Hearted and Cozy Mysteries.

Chanticleer Book Reviews looks for the best books featuring “mystery and mayhem,” amateur sleuthing, light suspense, travel mystery, classic mystery, British cozy, hobby sleuths, senior sleuths, or historical mystery, perhaps with a touch of romance or humor.

Here’s the full list:

https://www.chantireviews.com/2025/09/04/the-2025-mm-mystery-and-mayhem-long-list-for-cozy-and-not-so-cozy-mysteries/

M. S. Spencer – Railroad Ties the Marmion Grove Murders

Mrs. Spinney's Secret at NN Light's Book Heaven!

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 21:41:00 +0000

Come by N. N. Light’s for a wonderful peek into Mrs. Spinney’s Secret and a chance to win a prize! https://substack.com/@nnlightsbookheaven/p-172188155

Hidden Gem at NN Light's Backlist Bonanza!

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 13:36:00 +0000

Come on over to N. N. Light’s Book Heaven for a taste of my backlist. This time I’m showcasing the award-winning Hidden Gem: the Secret of St. Augustine. Read why this is a great book for late summer reading. And enter to win a great Amazon gift card!

https://substack.com/@nnlightsbookheaven/p-171579914

Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders: the video

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 20:34:00 +0000

Sasquatch found in Florida--like the Monster in my Orion's Foot

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 21:51:00 +0000

Exciting news! The claw of the extinct Giant Land Sloth was unearthed in Manatee County Florida, not far from my house. The sloth lived in South America eleven to fifteen thousand years ago and migrated to Florida. It reminded me of my novel Orion’s Foot: Myth, Mystery, & Romance in the Amazon.

A mystery/romance, it is set in the Peruvian Amazon. A group of scientists have come to a research station deep in the jungle—an ornithologist, an herpetologist, a paleontologist, a doctor of exotic diseases. A photographer is hired to help document their discoveries and he brings along his sister, a reference librarian and part-time anthropologist. They are searching for a monster called the Mapinguari believed until now to be mythical.

The Mapinguari is the South American version of Bigfoot, the Yeti, and Sasquatch. It is huge and hairy and has a hole in its stomach, into which it sucks unwary villagers. It’s nice to know we had one in our backyard.

If you’re interested in the book, click here

If you’re interested in the claw, click here

Five stars from NN Light for Railroad Ties

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 16:33:00 +0000

Five glorious golden stars for Railroad Ties: the MarmionGrove Murders from N. N. Light’s Book Heaven. Here’s a taste:

“The historical mystery investigation is detailed which allows the reader to be totally immersed in the story. The descriptive narration is lush, as I’ve come to expect from M.S. Spencer.”

Read the rest here:

https://substack.com/home/post/p-167916350

New Excerpt from Railroad Ties: Another Assassination Attempt?

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 04:30:00 +0000

How about another excerpt from my brand new mystery, Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders?

The hero of Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders, Noah Pennyman, is into extreme sports—scuba diving, cliff scaling, sky diving, mountain climbing among them. He thinks it stands him in good stead in defending against the several attempts on his life. Our heroine Sophie isn’t so sure.

Another Attempt

“Someone tried to kill you again?”

“You needn’t sound so skeptical. The perpetrator obviously hasn’t finished the job, so it makes sense he would take another stab at it.” Noah massaged his back. “I hope he’s not being paid for this. So far he’s proven to be pretty incompetent.”

“And you’d prefer he succeed?”

“Well, no, of course not. Still, his attempts have hardly shown the level of professionalism one would expect from an assassin.”

“Assassin! Who do you think you are, the petty despot of a banana republic?”

He perked up. “Cool. Do I get a throne? A personal army? Maybe a gem-encrusted crown?”

“How about a tinfoil cap?”

“Huh.” He looked at the refrigerator. “Could you get me a beer?”

“It’s four o’clock in the morning!”

He shifted on the hard seat. “Least you could do.”

“Tough.” Ignoring his grousing, Sophie said firmly, “Out with it.”

“I was in the street and suddenly this big black car tried to run me over.”

“Oh, really. Was that part of your army training too? Standing in the middle of the street daring motorists to ram you?” As her anxiety eased, the pique took over.

He shut his mouth.

“Well?”

“If you’re just going to make fun, I won’t tell you.”

She sat, her attentive expression as manifestly fake as she could make it.

“I heard noises outside.”

“Aha. That’s extraordinary right there. A wild beast? Aliens? Ghosts? Or perhaps—gasp—nosey neighbors?”

Noah soldiered on. “I looked out the window. There was a light moving down the driveway. It bobbled.”

“A UFO! Good show!”

“Someone was casing the joint.”

“Casing the joint? Sounds more like a burglar than a murderer. Or maybe a man looking for a lost dog.” Sophie was enjoying not helping him immensely.

He huffed. “With recent events in mind, I thought it best to follow up.”

She nodded wisely. “You went to investigate. Smart.”

“Yes. Well. By the time I got downstairs, the light had reached the end of the driveway. It proceeded into the street, but flicked out just as I reached the center of the lane. I stopped and looked around for it, but everything was pitch black. Then all of a sudden an engine started up, and before I could react, this car came out of nowhere.”

“Did it have its headlights on?”

“No.”

“So how did you know it was going to hit you?”

“When it hit me. Duh.”

“All right, then how did you end up in the bush instead of flattened like a pancake on the asphalt?” These “accidents” are getting more and more outlandish. Could he be doing them to himself? She regarded Noah. Could he be sleepwalking? “Noah, are you sure—”

“If you’ll let me finish. I know you disapprove of the exploits of my youth, but they stood me in good stead this time. I rolled over the hood and launched myself into the yard.”

That got her attention. “That is impressive. Did the car keep going? Did it circle back?”

“I’ve no idea. I decided to sit it out for a while, hoping he hadn’t seen where I landed. After five minutes of unrelenting discomfort, I felt reasonably sure he’d given up. I was trying to break free of the bush when you arrived.” He plucked a leaf from his sleeve. “Put pruning hedge on the To Do list, will you?”

Get it here:

Books2Read Amazon ITunes Barnes&Noble Kobo

Walmart Angus&Robertson AmazonUK AmazonCA

BooksaMillion Indigo Bookshop

Latest Upcoming Blogs for Railroad Ties

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 16:51:00 +0000

Drop by for inspiration and excerpts!

Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders is now on online bookshelves near you.

Here are the current buy links:

Books2Read Amazon ITunes Barnes&Noble Kobo

Walmart Angus&Robertson AmazonUK AmazonCA

BooksaMillion Indigo

And read excerpts and stories about the book in these upcoming blogs:

June 20 Brenda Whiteside Fearless Fridays: https://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/2025/06/fearless-adventures-by-m-s-spencer.html

June 24 Jana Richards at

https://www.janarichards.com/post/newrelease-from-m-s-spencer-railroad-ties-the-marmion-grove-murders

Upcoming Blogs for Railroad Ties

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 20:25:00 +0000

Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders is now on online bookshelves near you.

Here are the current buy links:

Books2Read Amazon ITunes Barnes&Noble Kobo

Walmart Angus&Robertson AmazonUK AmazonCA

BooksaMillion Indigo

And read excerpts and stories about the book in these upcoming blogs:

June 14 Alana Lorens: http://alana-lorens.com

June 16 Vicky Burkholder ) http://Vicky-burkholder.com

June 20 Brenda Whiteside Fearless Fridays: https://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/2025/06/fearless-adventures-by-m-s-spencer.html

June 24 Jana Richards at https://www.janarichards.com

Railroad Ties at Chelsea Ortega's Blog Today

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 16:34:00 +0000

For a brand new excerpt and introduction to my super new release Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders head to Chelsea Ortega’s beautiful blog. Find it here: https://chelseymortega.com/2025/06/11/new-release-railroad-ties-the-marmion-grove-murders-by-m-s-spencer/

Release Day for Railroad Ties!

noreply@blogger.com (M. S. Spencer) — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 04:30:00 +0000

RELEASE DAY!

Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders

When Sophie Childress discovers a letter written in 1920 by the witness to a murder, she enlists Noah Pennyman—owner of the house where it took place—to investigate. Who was the victim? What did the killer do with the body—not to mention a carpetbag full of money? Together they expose a complex web of family ties and lies that has persisted through four generations in the historic village of Marmion Grove. When two more corpses are unearthed, Noah and Sophie are faced with too many victims and not enough murderers.

Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders

Mystery, cozy

The Wild Rose Press, June 11, 2025

390 pp; 89,900 words

Theme(s): Small Town, Mystery, Humorous/Comedy, Cozy Mystery
Keywords: 1920s; amateur sleuth; cozy; small town; Victorian houses; Queen Anne houses; railroads; train robbery; railroad stations; family secrets.

Read excerpts and background at these wonderful blogs over the next few days:

NN Light’s Book Heaven: http://nnlightsbookheaven.com

Jan Sikes: https://jansikes.com

Chelsea M. Ortega, https://chelseymortega.com/

Amber Daulton: https://amberdaulton.com/2025/06/13/newrelease-railroad-ties-the-marmion-grove-murders-by-ms-spencer/

Alana Lorens: http://alana-lorens.com

Vicky Burkholder : Http://www.sparklingbookreviews.com AND
Http://Vicky-burkholder.com

Brenda Whiteside Fearless Fridays: https://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/

Jana Richards blog: https://www.janarichards.com
and Newsletter https://janarichards.com/contact.html#newsletter

Get it here:

Books2Read: https://books2read.com/railroadties/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Railroad-Ties-Marmion-Grove-Murders-ebook/dp/B0F38Q5HZR

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/railroad-ties-m-s-spencer/1147152800?ean=2940184496733

Apple/IBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/railroad-ties-the-marmion-grove-murders/id6744065960

Read about it here:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/230846616-railroad-ties

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/railroad-ties-the-marmion-grove-murders-by-m-s-spencer