A Hush at Midnight
When former celebrity chef Laura Harris is accused of murdering her mentor, she must uncover the real killer in a web of small-town secrets and danger.
A standalone cozy mystery by Marlene M. Bell
Once celebrated for her show-stopping pastries and irresistible desserts, former celebrity chef Laura Harris is now making headlines for a far darker reason.
Laura has been accused of murder.
How could this petite pastry chef have brutally smothered the beloved small-town matriarch, Hattie Stenburg? Hattie wasn't just a pillar of the community; she was Laura's confidant and mentor. The shocking twist? Hattie’s will was recently changed, leaving her entire fortune and historic estate to Laura, bypassing her own relatives.
As Laura scrambles to clear her name, she uncovers sinister secrets lurking beneath the town’s idyllic surface. The real murderer is always one step ahead, leaving taunting clues and threatening Laura to leave Texas—or face deadly consequences. With the clock ticking, Laura must untangle the web of deceit before it’s too late.
In "A Hush at Midnight," Marlene M. Bell, author of the gripping Annalisse Series, serves up a cozy culinary mystery where an amateur sleuth races against time to solve a small-town murder.
Praise for A Hush at Midnight
“A Hush at Midnight by Marlene M. Bell had me in its clutches from beginning to end, leaving me stunned on the final page. When Laura Harris decides to visit her mentor, Hattie, a woman she has viewed as more than a friend, she is unprepared for the following events. After visiting with Hattie, Laura decides to leave. However, before getting far, something compels her to return to Hattie’s house where she stumbles upon a murder scene, an event that will forever change her life. With this second loss in a year and a love affair gone wrong, Laura finds herself the sole heir of Hattie’s estate. This makes her a primary suspect and the target of an unknown enemy. Despite warnings from loved ones, Laura cannot rest until she finds the truth and brings the perpetrator to justice.
In A Hush at Midnight, Marlene M. Bell wasted no time leading the reader into the action. It felt like there was no room to pause; there was no taking a break from this story. Normally, when reading a crime and mystery thriller, the reader sometimes has a clue about the perpetrator. I can confidently say my guess on this was wrong. Bell has crafted a story with twists and turns, where characters are intricately developed, each revealing hidden depths and motivations. Each revelation of a character's personal story added to the tension, making it impossible to predict who to trust and what lay around the corner. Ultimately, I appreciated Bell’s masterful storytelling and the skill, dedication, and effort that went into crafting this masterpiece.”
- Readers’ Favorite 5-Star Review by Maalin Ogaja
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Reader’s House Magazine Editor's Choice Award
Reader’s House magazine, UK bestows their coveted award to Marlene in 2024!. She is a recipient of the EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARD OF LITERARY EXCELLENCE.
This award is given to a select number of esteemed authors who have made significant contributions to the literary community. Her interview with Reader’s House appears in the November 2024 issue of the magazine.
