The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper
Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol Series Book 1
by Sally Carpenter
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Beatlemania is back and better than even in this revised second edition.
Former teen idol Sandy Fairfax finds that making a comeback can be murder! It’s been fourteen years since the pop star broke little girls’ hearts on the 1970s hit TV show Buddy Brave, Boy Sleuth. But after years of obscurity, the 38-year-old nowhere man can’t land a gig anywhere except at a slightly disorganized Beatles fan convention in Evansville, Indiana. What looks like an easy job turns deadly when a member of the Mercy Marvels tribute band is shot and the local police finger Sandy as the prime suspect. The schoolboy shamus is back in action to find the culprit. All he’s got to do is get back past the fawning fans, shady vendors and a John Lennon wannabe who just won’t let it be. Help! It’s all too much for our bad boy hero who tackles the case with a little help from his friends.
The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper was a finalist for the 2012 Eureka! Award for best first mystery novel.
The Sinister Sitcom Caper
Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol Series Book 2
Sandy Fairfax, former teen idol and star of the ‘70s hit TV show “Buddy Brave, Boy Sleuth,” is now a middle-aged recovering alcoholic who realizes that making a comeback can be murder. He’s the guest star on “Off-Kelter,” a corny family situation comedy and the lowest rated TV show of the 1993 fall season. Before rehearsals barely begin one of the actors drops dead at Sandy’s feet. He investigates, enlisting the aid of two of his new cast mates: a dwarf and an animal actor. During his snooping, we meet Sandy’s ex, his parents and his teenage son, all with their own “situations” going on. During rehearsals Sandy also encounters a beautiful choreographer—could this be love? Will Sandy solve the murder before the Friday night taping of “Off-Kelter” or will the elusive killer cancel our hero before the final credits? This book was inspired by the author’s experience working as a tour guide/page at Paramount Pictures in Hollywood.
The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper
Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol Series Book 3
38-year-old Sandy Fairfax is a former '70s teen idol and star of the TV show "Buddy Brave, Boy Sleuth." Now he's rebuilding his career with a series of concerts aboard the SS Zodiac bound for the Bahamas. He makes amends with his estranged sister, Celeste, who is blind and also a musician, so she will join his performances. But their cruise hits turbulent waters when Sandy finds a dead body in his onboard dressing room. He investigates the colorful cast of suspects while avoiding an old flame and trying to ignite something with his beautiful choreographer. When Sandy gets too nosy, the bad guys throw him overboard. Will he sleep with the fishes or escape and unmask the killer at the ship's Halloween costume gala?
The Quirky Quiz Show Caper
Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol Series Book 4
Former teen idol Sandy Fairfax is a guest panelist on a TV game show—and the first category is murder! When his kid brother, Warren, is framed for killing a college student, Sandy makes it his duty to track down the thug before the police move in. After all, Sandy did play a detective once on a hit TV show. Sandy will get right on the case—right after he visits his kids; fights with his ex; woos his hoped-to-be girlfriend, Cinnamon; and convinces his parents he should be the special entertainment at a black tie gala designed to raise funds for his father’s faltering orchestra. All this while he and his biggest fan attempt to “Raise The Stakes” on a rigged quiz show where––wonder of wonders––the murder victim had recently been a contestant. Sandy’s ready to pull out some of his long blond hair as the game points and the suspects pile up.
The Notorious Noel Caper
Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol Series Book 5
It’s Christmastime in Tinsel Town, and there’s plenty of ho-ho-homicide at the soon-to-open Santa’s Magic theme park, where bodies are dropping like snowflakes. Former pop star Sandy Fairfax has a killer job—he’s the emcee for the televised Miss North Pole beauty contest--er, scholarship pageant. But will the beautiful contestants make his girlfriend jealous? Or will she join him in his sleuthing? The deadly Christmas season begins at a celebrity bowling tournament when a pinsetter plops down a body instead of the pins. Throw in surfing Santas, a seductive executive's wife, a sleazy tabloid editor, an egotistical movie rival and a gift-wrapped death trap, and it’s the most wonderful time of the year.
Sally Carpenter is native Hoosier living in Moorpark, Calif.
She has a master’s degree in theater from Indiana State University. While in school, her plays “Star Collector” and “Common Ground” were finalists in the American College Theater Festival One-Act Playwrighting Competition. “Common Ground” also earned a college creative writing award. “Star Collector” was produced in New York City and served as the inspiration for her first mystery series.
Carpenter also has a Master of Divinity and a black belt in tae kwon do.
She’s worked as an actress, college writing instructor, jail chaplain and tour guide/page for Paramount Pictures.
The books in her Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol cozy mystery series are: The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper (2012 Eureka! Award finalist for best first mystery novel), The Sinister Sitcom Caper, The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper, The Quirky Quiz Show Caper and The Notorious Noel Caper.
The Psychedelic Spy cozy series is comprised of Flower Power Fatality and Hippie Haven Homicide.
She has short stories in three anthologies: “Dark Nights at the Deluxe Drive-in” in Last Exit to Murder; “Faster Than a Speeding Bullet” in Plan B: Omnibus and a Sandy Fairfax adventure, “The Puzzling Puppet Show Caper,” in Cozy Cat Shorts.
She penned chapter three of the CCP group mystery Chasing the Codex.
Her website is http://sandyfairfaxauthor.com. Reach her at facebook.com.sally.carpenter.54.
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