Murder on the Riviera (15 page)
Read Murder on the Riviera Online
Authors: Anisa Claire West
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MURDER IN THE OUTBACK
Packing Checklist for Rita’s Australian Adventure
- Sunscreen with SPF 15,000,000
- Wide-brimmed straw hat
- Insect repellant (lots of it)
- Grape flavored lip balm (with more SPF)
- Cute sundresses (for possible dates with Aussie hunks)
- Canteen for water
- Writing journal
- Sunglasses
- Camera & equipment
-
Binoculars -
Bill Bryson’s indispensable & hilarious guide,
In
a Sunburned
Country -
Enough courage to make the Great Barrier Reef look minuscule…
Prologue
Santa Monica, California
Packing for the Australian Outback…
Zipping up my duffel bag, I slung the pack over my shoulder and promptly collapsed face first onto the floor from its staggering weight. Maybe I should have packed more lightly? Reluctantly I unzipped the bag and removed a few paperback books and other non-essentials, but I couldn’t bear to leave my adorable, flirty, breezy sundresses behind. Never mind that I would be spending most of my four-week trip behind the zoom lens of my camera; who knows who I might run into? Famous for its rugged, laid back, sun-kissed men, Australia beckoned to me as much for the possibility of new romance as for the exotic photo ops in the bush. Travelogues had taught me that Australia is the deadliest country in the world with the threat of snakebites and other critter attacks constantly looming, but I was sure nothing could be as toxic as the two year relationship I had just ended with a man who thought my first name was You Stupid Idiot.
“Here boy!” I called to my loyal toy poodle named Pouf.
Standing on his hind legs, he ardently gobbled up the milk bone I offered him. “Good boy.” I patted his little head, elated that he would be joining me on my adventure. All my friends told me I was crazy for bringing Pouf with me, but then again they thought I was daft for taking this trip at all and quitting my cushy but lackluster job as photo editor for a food magazine. My closest friend, Amy, warned me about the abject misery of being stung by a box jellyfish and the poisonous perils that lurked in every savage corner of the Outback.
Brushing my rising fears aside, I grabbed Pouf’s kennel and whispered to my buddy, “Time to go, boy. We have a flight to catch.”
If only I had known when the 747 soared out of LAX that day into the smog-filled sky that the venomous snakes and omnipresent insects would be the least of my worries. As I settled in with a good book for the grueling 14 hour flight, I never would have guessed that it was the people, or rather one person in particular, whom I needed to fear…
Dear Reader:
Thank you for reading
Murder on the Riviera.
I hope you enjoyed reading about Chelsea and Charles’ crime solving! I welcome your feedback and make an effort to
personally respond
to every email I receive. Write to me at
[email protected]
.
Happy Reading!
Cordially,
Anisa Claire West
Titles Available by Anisa Claire West
COZY MYSTERY
& ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
A Fashion Felon in Rome
A Pastry Thief in Paris
Cake Battered
Cappuccino Twist
Champagne Deception
Cookie Dough Crook
Cupcake Shop Clues
Dark Chocolate Murder
Deep Dish Lies
Hotcake Homicide
Hot Fudge Fraud
Murder in the Mix
Murder in the Outback
Murder on the Riviera
Northern Moonlight
The French Maid Murder
The Scarlet Suit Murder
Vexed in Venice
Wild Autumn
FANTASY
Silver Goddess Series:
Island Tango
, Book 1
Orca Dance
, Book 2
Leopard Rhythm
, Book 3
Mermaid Gold,
Book 4
Incan Power,
Book 5
HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Eternal Melody
ANTHOLOGIES
Chocolate Covered Crimes
Crime Flies!
Deadly Bites
Exotic Daydream
Fashionable Crimes
Goons, Gondolas & Gelato
Passion’s Raindrops
Pick a Poison
Silver Goddess
Small Town Scary
Small Town Spooky
Sweet as Pie Crimes
Tasty Crimes
The ULTIMATE Cozy Mystery Collection
About the Author
Anisa Claire West graduated with honors from Yale University and also holds a Master of Arts degree in Literature and Teaching. Learning about cultures is Anisa’s passion, and she has studied more than half a dozen languages including French, Arabic, and Italian. A certified yoga instructor, Anisa embraces mind-body fitness, animal advocacy, and a compassionate lifestyle. She also enjoys California cuisine and has sampled more than a few of the recipes included in this book!