Take two British expats, transplant them to upstate New York where the local HOA is worshipped and neighbors spy on each other for fun, and you have the makings of murder gone amok. Caro Layton-Browning, an accomplished writer of mysteries, never imagined she would unwittingly stumble into a series of real-life murders good enough to be in her own books. But when the Cat Lady next door, who Caro is convinced is out to make life miserable for her, is found dead among her feline collection, Caro finds herself in trouble far more dangerous than her neighborhood HOA has ever dished out before. Suddenly she and her professor hubby, Gregory, find themselves on the trail of a murderer far more sinister than Caro's imagination could conjure up. As the bodies begin to pile up in picturesque Seneca Meadows, Caro sees the possibility of a plot for her newest book, and the killer sees someone who needs to be moved out of the way…permanently.

Mystery writer Caro Layton-Browning has a bad case of writer's block and boredom—a very dangerous combination. Looking for something to distract her, she pays a visit to her newest neighbor, Meredith Holmes, the proprietor of a kitschy bookstore called Murder by the Book. When Meredith confides in Caro concerning an on-going battle with the president of the Seneca Meadows Chamber of Commerce, Caro jumps at the chance to liven things up a bit. Vowing to give "the dragon lady," Lucia Scarantelli, a piece of her mind, Caro takes Meredith downtown to confront the issue head-on. Apparently someone else had the same idea. When Caro literally stumbles over the body of a very dead Lucia, she becomes determined to find out who did it—before hubby, Gregory, returns from a business trip to England. Teaming up with Meredith, Caro starts an investigation that uncovers a stolen goods ring which stretches from New York City to Seneca Meadows. With just enough information to make her a threat to the bad guys, Caro begins to worry that this could be her last case...and possibly the end of her life. Proverbial Crime Mysteries: A Bird in the Hand – book #1 The Pen is Mightier – short story in the "Killer Beach Reads" collection When the Cat's Away – book #2 What people are saying about Dane McCaslin's books: "A BIRD IN THE HAND has delightful characters, a cozy setting, and a clever plot...what more could you want from a mystery?" ~ Gemma Halliday, New York Times bestselling mystery author "For those of you who enjoy cozy mysteries, this one is a winner." "This is a great mystery with unexpected twists, turns and surprises." "So good I absolutely couldn't put it down." "This is a delightful book to snuggle up with on a weekend! The characters come to life with plot twists, humor, and suspense. It totally captured me and left me wanting more!"

From USA Today bestselling author Dane McCaslin comes the most exciting Proverbial Crime Mystery yet! Mystery writer Caro Layton-Browning is thrilled when her small town of Seneca Meadows decides to throw a fall festival. Who doesn't love the changing leaves, bobbing for apples, fresh air...and murder? When the Chamber of Commerce sponsors what has been billed as a "murder mystery hunt" at the festival, no one—least of all Caro—is expecting to find a real deal body at the end of the night. And the plot thickens when there isn't just one body—there's two! Caro suddenly finds herself up caught up in corpses, criminals, and counterfeit handbags that someone has been passing off as the real deal. Caro and her faithful sidekick, Merry Holmes, set out to find out who is behind the faux designer duds and who's been killing off the good citizens of Seneca Meadows. Is it the best selling author with an ax to grind, her zany personal assistant, or someone who is out to discredit Merry's leadership in her community? Caro is pressed to follow the clues and ferret out the truth... before the killer adds a third body to his count! Proverbial Crime Mysteries: A Bird in the Hand – book #1 The Pen is Mightier – short story in the "Killer Beach Reads" collection When the Cat's Away – book #2 You Can Lead a Horse to Water – book#3 "Vibrant, crisp and perfectly-paced writing make this a masterful story. But throw in smart sleuths, a couple puzzling murders and a touch of humor, and readers get just the right mix for the perfect cozy mystery!" ~ Susan Furlong, author of the Georgia Peach Mysteries and contributor to the New York Times bestselling Novel Idea Mysteries.