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Picked Off (A Brie Hooker Mystery)
by Linda Lovely
About the Book
Picked Off (A Brie Hooker Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – South Carolina
Henery Press (June 5, 2018)
Hardcover – 270 Pages
ISBN: 9781635113457
Trade Paperback
ISBN: 9781635113426
Digital ASIN: B07B9K3FJ9
It’s been seven months since Brie Hooker, a vegan, moved to Udderly Kidding Dairy to live with her feisty Aunt Eva, a confirmed carnivore.
But tonight there’ll be no family feud over dinner entrees.
Udderly’s hosting a campaign fundraiser for Eva’s best friend, who hopes to be South Carolina’s next governor. The candidate’s son, a pro quarterback, is flying home for the wingding. And Brie’s eager to get a close-up view of the cute tush she’s admired on TV, even though she’s reluctantly sworn off even more tempting local beefcake.
The campaign fundraiser promises to be a huge success until a pitchfork attack turns the goat farm into a crime scene—again.
To protect her friends, Brie puts her sleuthing skills to work. Will she live long enough to find out who’s behind a vicious assault, a kidnapping, blackmail, and murder?
Guest Post About Character
Paint’s Magic Moonshine
By Linda Lovely
My Brie Hooker Mystery series is set in a region that’s been called South Carolina’s Dark Corner. During the Civil War, Confederate deserters fled to its hollows and hills to hide out. Once that conflict ended, the moonshine era began as tough mountain men, many of Scotch-Irish descent, hid their rural stills from revenuers and supported their families by making and selling illegal corn mash whisky by the light of the moon—hence, the term moonshine.
Given this history, it seemed fitting for one of my characters to be descended from a famous moonshiner and continue the family tradition of making ‘shine. My character is David “Paint” Paynter, who owns Magic Moonshine, a legal manufacturer and purveyor of clear, high-proof spirits. Since 2009, a change in South Carolina law allows micro-distilleries to operate within the state.
Paint has an MBA and brings modern quality control and marketing skills to his legal manufacture of small batches of clear, unaged, high-proof spirits. In addition to “white lightning,” Paint’s company sells ‘shine in a variety of flavors, including blackberry, peach, strawberry, and apple pie.
Before I created Paint and his company, I visited some of Upstate South Carolina’s legal—and thriving—moonshine businesses. They’re part of the booming nationwide growth in craft distilleries.
Since moonshine got its name from its illegal brewing, is it really still moonshine even though its brewer pays taxes? Paint would answer yes, given that he follows secret family recipes and processes that make his ‘shine a tribute to the region’s stubborn independence, history and culture.
What do you need to do to brew moonshine legally? First, you need a permit to distill alcohol—either for spirits or fuel. In fact, you need a permit even if you’re distilling alcohol for your own consumption. Second, you have to hand Uncle Sam his tax on your ‘shine. The government charges a much higher excise tax on liquor than on beer or wine.
Moonshine (unregulated) got a bad reputation because it could contain methyl alcohol (methanol) which can, as mommas always cautioned their sons, cause blindness and death.
Naturally, part of my research required tasting various flavors of ‘shine. I also was advised on how to drink moonshine, e.g. close your mouth as soon as you take a sip and don’t open your mouth till you’ve swallowed. Oxygen combined with the alcohol intensifies the burn.
By the way, my favorite flavor is blackberry.
About the Author
Linda Lovely finds writing pure fiction isn’t a huge stretch given the years she’s spent penning PR and ad copy. Linda writes a blend of mystery and humor, chuckling as she plots to “disappear” the types of characters who most annoy her. Quite satisfying, plus there’s no need to pester relatives for bail. Her newest series offers goodnatured salutes to both her vegan family doctor and her cheese-addicted kin. She’s an enthusiastic Sisters in Crime member and helps organize the popular Writers’ Police Academy. When not writing or reading, Linda takes long walks with her husband, swims, gardens, and plays tennis.
Author Links
Website: www.lindalovely.com
Blog: http://lindalovelyauthor.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaLovelyAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LovelyAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4884053.Linda_Lovely
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorlovely/
Purchase Links
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Kay Garrett
Thank you for being part of the book tour for “Picked Off” by Linda Lovely. I really enjoyed reading and learning more about David “Paint” Paynter and his Magic Moonshine. I’d love the opportunity to read this book!