MURDER ON THE SET: An Amanda Pennyworth Mystery BOOK DESCRIPTION: When Hollywood glamour collides with murder in paradise, only one woman can untangle the deadly web of secrets The sun-drenched shores of Puerto Vallarta become a glittering stage when a renowned film production company descends on the Mexican resort city. Amanda Pennyworth, the sharp-witted American Consul, is tasked with smoothing relations between the celebrity crew and local authorities, a role that promises excitement and prestige. But the dream quickly becomes a nightmare. Within days, an American expat working as a film extra is found brutally murdered. Before Amanda can process the horror, the victim's wife is bludgeoned to death. With the local police intimidated by Hollywood glamour and baffled by the maze of egos and alibis, Amanda is thrust into a high-stakes investigation where every smile hides potential malice. As bodies pile up and tensions mount, Amanda faces her own crucible: her idyllic assignment is ending, and her next diplomatic post may send her into one of the world's most dangerous conflict zones. With her professional future hanging in the balance and a ruthless killer still at large, she must navigate treacherous waters both personal and professional. The clock is ticking. The killer is watching. And Amanda's next move could be her last. Perfect for fans of Louise Penny, Donna Leon, and classic diplomatic mysteries with exotic settings, ABOUT THE AUTHOR: James Burkhart Gilbert is a Distinguished University Professor Emeritus whose remarkable transition from acclaimed historian to masterful mystery novelist proves that the best storytellers never retire, they simply change genres. Gilbert's distinguished academic career at the University of Maryland produced eleven celebrated history texts, including Perfect Cities, named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year in 1986. His scholarly expertise in American intellectual and cultural history, combined with extensive international teaching appointments across Europe and Australia, provided him with the rich cultural perspective and narrative craft that now define his fiction. Since embracing his lifelong passion for literature, Gilbert has published eight novels, including four mysteries in the acclaimed Amanda Pennyworth series, two short story collections, a gripping legal thriller set in Chicago, and a powerful family drama. His work seamlessly blends his historian's eye for authentic detail with a novelist's gift for psychological complexity and page-turning suspense. A Chicago native educated at Carleton College and the University of Wisconsin, Gilbert brings a lifetime of observation, travel, and intellectual curiosity to every page. When not crafting his next mystery, he indulges his love of music as an amateur cellist. His unique background as both scholar and storyteller creates mysteries that are as intellectually satisfying as they are impossible to put down.