Миранда Джеймс: Fixing To Die

Praise for the Southern Ladies Mysteries

“[A] classic and classy whodunit, but also a romp filled with Southern charm, Southern eccentrics, and, of course, the antics of the engaging Diesel.”

— Richmond Times-Dispatch

“James is a master at character development, as well as weaving a complex and well-layered mystery.”

—Debbie’s Book Bag

“This series gets off to a brilliant start . . . Filled with humor [and] realistic dialogue, and oozes with charm . . . Excellent from beginning to end.”

—Socrates’ Book Reviews

“James’s characters are perfect . . . Bless Her Dead Little Heart kicks off a charming series with humor and heart.”

—Lesa’s Book Critiques

“Elderly characters in cozy mysteries . . . always seem to be so feisty and fun. A prime example is An’gel and Dickce Ducote . . . I loved this book. Loved, loved, loved it . . . One of the best new series of 2014!”

—Melissa’s Mochas, Mysteries & Meows

“What a clever spin-off . . . As charming as the day is long, this story with its many complex characters and threads kept me glued to my seat.”

—MyShelf.com

“An’gel and Dickce Ducote are delightful characters that remind me of Miss Marple if she were a Southern belle senior.”

—Open Book Society

Berkley Prime Crime titles by Miranda James

Cat in the Stacks Mysteries

MURDER PAST DUE

CLASSIFIED AS MURDER

FILE M FOR MURDER

OUT OF CIRCULATION

THE SILENCE OF THE LIBRARY

ARSENIC AND OLD BOOKS

NO CATS ALLOWED

TWELVE ANGRY LIBRARIANS

Southern Ladies Mysteries

BLESS HER DEAD LITTLE HEART

DEAD WITH THE WIND

DIGGING UP THE DIRT

FIXING TO DIE

BERKLEY PRIME CRIME

Published by Berkley

An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC

375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014

Copyright © 2017 by Dean James

Penguin Random House supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin Random House to continue to publish books for every reader.

BERKLEY is a registered trademark and BERKLEY PRIME CRIME and the B colophon are trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.

Ebook ISBN: 9780399584787

First Edition: October 2017

Cover art by Dan Craig

Cover design by Lesley Worrell

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Contents

Praise for the Southern Ladies Mysteries

Berkley Prime Crime titles by Miranda James

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Acknowledgments

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 25

CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 27

CHAPTER 28

CHAPTER 29

CHAPTER 30

CHAPTER 31

CHAPTER 32

CHAPTER 33

CHAPTER 34

CHAPTER 35

CHAPTER 36

About the Author

This book is lovingly dedicated to Megan Bladen-Blinkoff,

with thanks for many years of friendship and support.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The hard work and dedication of my agent, Nancy Yost, and her associates—Sarah E. Younger, Natanya Wheeler, and Amy Rosenbaum—make my life easier in so many ways. Thank you all for everything you do.

My wonderful editor, Michelle Vega, is truly a gift; it makes all the difference in the world to have an editor who “gets” you and your characters so thoroughly. Jen Monroe, ace assistant, and Roxanne Jones, PR diva, are unfailingly helpful, and I appreciate them more than they realize.

My crazy writing schedule over the past year hasn’t given my critique partners—Amy Sharp, Bob Miller, Julie Herman, Kay Finch, Kay Kendall, and Laura Elvebak—much of an opportunity to give direct feedback. They have helped me immeasurably over the years, and I like to think they are assisting my subconscious every time I sit down to write. The same goes for my two dear friends Pat Orr and Terry Farmer, who have always given me such staunch support.

Finally, my biggest thanks go to my many wonderful readers. You can’t know how much it means to me when you tell me that you have enjoyed a book, or that my characters have made you laugh, or that the books have provided welcome distraction from the pressures of daily living. I can ask no higher praise.

CHAPTER 1

“Do you mean to sit there and tell me you think Cliffwood really is haunted?” Miss An’gel Ducote regarded her sister with a frown.

Miss Dickce Ducote shrugged. “There’ve been stories about that house for decades, Sister. Anyway, you know Natchez is supposed to be one of the most haunted towns in the country.”

“Yes, I know,” An’gel replied with a sniff. “I just don’t ever recall hearing that Cliffwood was riddled with ghosts as you put it.” Her brow wrinkled as she paused to think. “At least I don’t remember hearing Jessamine or her husband, Marshall, ever talk about it.”

Dickce snorted. “That old goat. He was too busy running around after women to notice ghosts. How Jessy put up with him for all those years, I’ll never know.”

“Fifty years ago, women thought they had to put up with it for the sake of their sons,” An’gel said. “Not to mention that Jessy would have starved if Marshall had left her for another woman. She was one of the sweetest girls I ever knew, but she could get lost in her own closet. She’d never have kept a job.”

“That’s a terrible thing to say about an old sorority sister.” Dickce snorted with laughter. “Even if it’s true.” She laughed again.

“At least Marshall had the good sense to die before he threw away all his money; otherwise she’d have had to sell Cliffwood.”

“We’ve wandered away from the subject.” Dickce pointed to the letter An’gel held. “Mary Turner and Henry Howard Catlin are asking for our help. Even if we don’t quite believe in ghosts, Mary Turner evidently does.”

“I know.” An’gel laid the letter aside on her desk. “I suppose we could go spend a few days in Natchez and see what’s going on. I suspect there’s nothing supernatural about it. Someone’s playing tricks on them, I’d say.”

“You’re probably right,” Dickce replied. “I’m game to go ghost-hunting, and I’ll bet Benjy will get a hoot out of the whole thing.”

“No doubt,” An’gel said. Their young ward, Benjy Stephens, had a lively intelligence and a healthy curiosity, and he would enjoy seeing the antebellum treasures of Natchez, potential apparitions included. “We can’t take that for granted, however, and I wouldn’t want him to feel obliged to go if he’s uncomfortable with the idea.”

“I don’t think the idea of ghosts will faze him all that much. Besides, Peanut and Endora can help, too,” Dickce said. “Animals are supposed to be sensitive to ghosts. If there are any supernatural presences at Cliffwood, they’ll let us know.”