Dreema and you disagree. She cottons to Richmond, but you can’t be weaned off Pelham. So I offer you a fair middle ground: relocate to northern Virginia. She transfers to the state morgue on Braddock Road, and you get to stay near your old beat.

The busy snoops like us can leave no stone unturned,” Alma said.

His agility surprised Phoebe Ash. She saw the plaster cast on his right leg. Funny messages in ink – “Go break the left one, tiger!” – had been written on the off-white plaster.

From Chapter 1:"You’re not a local.” I paused, unsure. “Or are you?”“Sort of. Randall Van Dotson is my dad. I’m Rennie.” After tossing her head that coy, sweet way girls do, she gave me a candid appraisal.

Have they ever. Isabel never misses a trick. Anytime I step into their foyer, she’s dropping hints all over the place. Don’t get me wrong because I love both women dearly, and I enjoy playing a game or two of Scrabble, just not on every visit. Why can’t we play Monopoly for a change of pace? I love squeezing the play money in my fist and snapping up the swanky properties like Park Place and Boardwalk.

Quote taken from Chapter 1: "Is Petey Samson a bloodhound for real?” Blue asked. “I could’ve sworn he’s a mixed breed, what my folks used to call a pound mutt.”“Oh, brother,” Alma said. “I wished you hadn’t said that.”“I’ll have you know Petey Samson is no pound mutt,” Isabel said, shaking her finger at Blue. “His best breeding lies in his bloodhound line,” she said. “I didn’t know that,” Blue said. “Pay no mind to Isabel,” Alma said. “She’s just being overprotective of her fur baby.

Quote is taken from Chapter 1:Since Etta could log in her rare Baltimore oriole sighting, she decided she’d had enough birding for one day. It was just a fun hobby, not an obsession.

Within the same hour as the murder took place, Isabel Trumbo sat in her armchair dozing, the Alaskan Outdoor magazine on her lap. Her kid sister Alma fidgeted in the other armchair, from time to time picking up her newspaper folded over to the day’s crossword puzzle.

Quote taken from Chapter 1:The June afternoon had clear, blue skies—ideal weather for birdwatching.

Quote taken from Chapter 1:A grave matter has just arisen.” Etta hadn’t intended to make the pun. She went on. “It’s a problem right up your alley.