Thanks for visiting the official website for New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author and Winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, Joanna Campbell Slan.
From the author of stories in five of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Bestsellers comes the Complete Six book series in the continuing the saga of Cara Mia Delgatto, a single mom trying to grab a SECOND CHANCE at life!
TEAR DOWN AND DIE: Book #1 — After her parents die within six months of each other and her son goes off to college, Cara Mia Delgatto realizes she’s ripe for a second chance at life. A road trip takes her to Stuart, Florida, where she impulsively buys an empty building…only to discover it’s occupied with a fresh corpse. Now Cara’s suspect #1 and she might wind up behind bars! Are her dreams of opening The Treasure Chest, a store specializing in upcycled, recycled, and repurposed goods gone with the wind?
KICKED TO THE CURB: Book #2 — The Treasure Chest hosts a public relations event that ends badly when hot-tempered Cara gets into a quarrel with a pushy reporter. And then that reporter is found dead in the trunk of her car parked behind Cara’s store. But Cara’s no quitter. She’s going to figure out what the reporter was REALLY after–and why it is connected to the infamous Dozier Boys’ School crimes that plagued Florida for more than a century.
ALL WASHED UP: Book #3 — Cara is enjoying a sunrise walk on the beach when she spots a mermaid made out of sand–and then the mermaid groans. This isn’t a fairy tale–no, it’s more like a nightmare as Cara learns she’s stumbled into a plot to smuggle desperate undocumented immigrants into the country. And then…things take a turn for the worse. Now Cara is forced to stand aside and while her son risks his life. Has Cara trusted the wrong people to keep her child safe?
CAST AWAY: Book #4 — A priceless coral and gold artifact intended for a queen disappears from a locked hotel room. The item was on loan as part of a charity event–and Cara Mia Delgatto was one of the first people who entered the empty ballroom. Who else could have stolen it but her? The situation seems impossible! The philanthropic community of South Florida is blaming Cara for the loss–and the charity event is promptly canceled.
RUFF JUSTICE: Book #5 — When a young caregiver is falsely accused of stealing from her elderly client, Cara Mia Delgatto refuses to stand by with her mouth shut. That famous Italian temper of Cara’s is hotter than a bottle rocket. Instead of ignoring the girl’s plight, Cara launches her own investigation, even though she has plenty to keep her busy at her store, The Treasure Chest, a shop specializing in upcycling, recycling, and repurposing with a coastal theme. If that wasn’t enough, Cara’s new beau has disappeared—vanished!
SAND TRAPPED: Book #6 — Someone murdered Jocelyn Johnson. As Cara Mia Delgatto was looking for a lost ball she found Jocelyn “JJ” Johnson face down in a sand trap. Gave a whole new meaning to “take a drop.” It wasn’t a surprise. The neighbors hated JJ for the reckless way she drove her golf cart. Sure, she lived on the grounds of a swanky golf club, and yes, she had tons of money, but JJ terrorized grandkids, and made a nuisance of herself. Lying there in the dirt at Hole #6, someone bashed in JJ’s head. Meanwhile, back at The Treasure Chest, Cara’s friends are busy creating fabulous and fun Mother’s Day gifts. There are two brides-to-be working for Cara, and their two mothers-in-law-to-be have decided not to play nice. Can you say, “Mama’s boy” ten times really fast?
Cara Mia has a gift for friendship — and solving mysteries. You’ll love these well-crafted stories about kind, resourceful Cara Mia. —Elaine Viets, Author of the Dead-End Job and Angela Richman, Death Investigator mysteries