Hot Off the Press (A Hailey Webb Mystery, Volume 1)

Why it's wearing hand-me-downs:

• It's a fun, lighthearted cozy mystery, but in a sea of cozy mysteries, the story doesn't exactly scream, "Look at me!"
• This was an early series for me, and I was still growing as a writer, especially when it came to character development.
• Did I mention English is my third language? :)
• I love the cover, but I've never tested any alternatives.
• Maybe it's not communicating what it should?

Why this book could still be your favorite child:

• Not every book needs to reinvent the wheel.
• Sometimes a lighthearted, easy-to-read murder mystery and a few hours away from real life are exactly what the doctor ordered.
• A California coastal town, a newspaper assistant with a knack for finding dead bodies, a loyal best friend, a meddling mother, and a little workplace romance. What's not to love?
• The main character, Hailey, may not be my greatest literary achievement, but I still love that girl! She's just trying to make it in this world and figure out who she is. Aren't we all?

Life story:

Starting over can be deadly . . .

Dumping a cheating fiancé and having to quit her well-paid job, 28-year-old Hailey Webb lands a new job as an assistant and errand runner for the local newspaper in her hometown of Palm Shores, California.

If she knew this meant stumbling onto dead bodies, then she . . . well, she probably still would have taken the job. A girl's gotta eat, right? How long can one last on a steady diet of ramen noodles?

When Hailey finds a dead treasure hunter on his boat on her first day at work, she realizes she got way more than she bargained for.

And if that’s not enough, her cheating ex-fiancé is somehow involved in the whole treasure hunting business. Did he have anything to do with the murder? Hailey needs answers and she needs them fast.

Thankfully, she has her best friend, Kat, to help her solve the murder, and Mike, the local crime reporter, who is just too darn good looking for what Hailey needs right now.

Join Hailey on her rip-roaring adventure in this thrilling and fun-packed mystery!