Neely Kate Mystery Series by Denise Grover Swank

Companion novella to the Rose Gardner Investigation series. Neely Kate Coulson’s life is a carefully built house of cards—and now her newly discovered half-sister is threatening to collapse it. While everyone thinks Kate Simmons was neutralized when she was incarcerated in a psych ward, Neely Kate knows better... moreCompanion novella to the Rose Gardner Investigation series. Neely Kate Coulson’s life is a carefully built house of cards—and now her newly discovered half-sister is threatening to collapse it. While everyone thinks Kate Simmons was neutralized when she was incarcerated in a psych ward, Neely Kate knows better. Her sister has been sending her letters threatening to expose her past, only Neely Kate has stuffed so many secrets into every available crack and cranny, she has no idea which ones could be dragged into the light. Growing up with an abusive, drug addicted mother taught Neely Kate to play the game—to be whoever she needs to be in whatever situation she finds herself in. But thanks to her best friend, Rose, she’s discovered she mostly prefers being herself. For the first time in her life, she has a lot to lose—a job, a plan for the future, and an adoring half-brother who happens to be the Chief Deputy Sheriff of Fenton County. But topple one card down, and all of them will fall. Everything she’s built could be lost in an instant. Neely Kate knows she needs help, but when she reluctantly turns to Rose’s bodyguard, Jed Carlisle, she faces a far more dangerous threat—only this time her heart is on the line. Reading order: Family Jewels (Rose Gardner Investigations #1) Trailer Trash (Rose Gardner Exposed Novella #1) For the Birds (Rose Gardner Investigations #2) less

The second book in the USA Today bestselling Neely Kate Mystery series, a spinoff of the New York Times bestselling Rose Gardner series. Neely Kate’s life is finally coming together. She’s living and working with her best friend, Rose. Her newly discovered brother, Joe, has decided he’s done hiding that she’s his sister, and her new boyfriend, Jed, is everything she could have dreamed of and more. Only things aren’t going as well as she’d hoped... moreThe second book in the USA Today bestselling Neely Kate Mystery series, a spinoff of the New York Times bestselling Rose Gardner series. Neely Kate’s life is finally coming together. She’s living and working with her best friend, Rose. Her newly discovered brother, Joe, has decided he’s done hiding that she’s his sister, and her new boyfriend, Jed, is everything she could have dreamed of and more. Only things aren’t going as well as she’d hoped. Neely Kate is still keeping secrets from Rose. Joe wants to introduce her as his sister at a high society dinner even though she doesn’t know the difference between a soup and a dessert spoon. And Jed is spending more and more time away from her and won’t tell he what he’s up to. She’s worried he’s changed his mind about them, not that she’s surprised—can you build a relationship on digging up a body together? Now someone’s calling Neely Kate about her Ardmore secrets, and her sister Kate might be locked up on a psych ward, but she has a few surprises of her own. Neely Kate can’t help wondering if it’s time to come clean about her past with the people she loves. The dead body that turns up in her basement might be the kick in the pants she needs. Because the truth will set you free, or if you’re Neely Kate, land you in hot water. less

Violet Gardner Beauregard is barely cold in her grave, but she’s still stirring up trouble. When Neely Kate Coulson accompanies her best friend Rose to Violet’s attorney for the reading of the will, they get the shock of their lives, one that leaves them both reeling. If that weren’t enough, Special Prosecutor Mason Devereaux is still calling witnesses for his grand jury, digging into the corruption in Fenton County... moreViolet Gardner Beauregard is barely cold in her grave, but she’s still stirring up trouble. When Neely Kate Coulson accompanies her best friend Rose to Violet’s attorney for the reading of the will, they get the shock of their lives, one that leaves them both reeling. If that weren’t enough, Special Prosecutor Mason Devereaux is still calling witnesses for his grand jury, digging into the corruption in Fenton County. Neely Kate is approached by an unexpected source who reveals shocking news from the grand jury testimony—information about her wayward husband, Ronnie Coulson. And just as all the dust starts flying, Kate Simmons sashays back into town. Kate presents an opportunity Neely Kate finds hard to resist—the chance to find out why a Dallas crime syndicate wants the bag of money Neely Kate took from a man she’d killed in self-defense years ago. With Kate involved, there’s a catch. Kate will only tell her what she wants to know if Neely Kate leaves town with her. Immediately. Can Neely Kate afford to take the risk? Can she afford not to? less