Chesapeake Crime Club is the perfect beach read for fans of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club Series. Minxy Banks’s dawn run by the Chesapeake Bay is upended when she finds her meddlesome neighbor stabbed to death and draped across a mermaid statue, wearing a designer suit and pantihose. Minxy's first clue: no one dresses like that in casual West Beach, MD. The murder activates the Chesapeake Crime Club which includes Minxy, a former CIA case officer; Celia, a senior CIA analyst; and Astrid, the techy wife of the Danish Ambassador to the US. They have been solving penny ante crimes like stolen garden gnomes. Now they must dig deeper, and drink more martinis, to find a killer. Minxy's unique talent—she’s a Dark Empath capable of talking anyone into anything and daring enough to undertake the craziest of missions—propels the team along the twisted path of the killer and into his deadly endgame. "Chesapeake Crime Club is the first book in the Minxy Banks Mystery Series by CeCe Lamont. The amateur sleuth is Minxy Banks, a former CIA case officer who just happens to be a Dark Empath capable of talking anyone into anything. "The story is set in West Beach, a small Maryland town on the Chesapeake Bay. When Minxy finds a meddlesome neighbor stabbed to death, she decides to do some sleuthing and talks a few other neighbors into helping her investigate. "Chesapeake Crime Club is a thrilling, fun, fast paced mystery with a unique sleuth and interesting characters. I enjoyed the well-crafted mystery and the interactions between the members of the crime club. The ending surprised me in the best way possible! I can't wait to read more adventures with Minxy and the gang!" Anna Champagne, Cozy Crime Reads "Minxy is the next-door neighbor I wish I had. Her methods may be unconventional, but her results aren't. I wish I could join the Chesapeake Crime Club for real!" Jeff Ayers, co-author of Leave No Trace, Cold Burn, and Picking Up the Pieces "This novel is a clever mix of thriller and humor, with Minxy working with her equally savvy and sharp-tongued drinking companions to solve the case. It is so much more than a madcap and compelling murder mystery, though. Battling past traumas, this book is also about second chances. Bravo, Minxy?" Bonnie Suchman, author of Broken Promises, Stumbling Stones, and What Remains Is Hope "A perfect beach read to discuss over happy hour this summer. Minxy Banks, an ex-government operative with a Dark Empath's edge, is as sharp as she is seductive. This psychological twist on the classic whodunit will leave you craving martinis on the Chesapeake Bay, hoping for an invite to join Minxy." Michael Kelley, author of The Lost Theory, The Devils' Calling, Juno's Song, and Dead or Alive "Wow! What a fun mix of Small Town Charm and DC Chic. Minxy is a fun and lovable character, despite (or because of...) her Dark Empath tendencies. Mysteries are not my usual preferred genre, but this one pulled me right in. The last half of the book was particularly devourable - I couldn't put it down until I had all the answers. Dare I say this is the perfect summer beach read? My only complaint is this book gave me an incessant craving for a Vesper Martini with every page I turned!" Meg, Amazon Verified Purchaser "This book is an engaging read that is exciting from beginning to end. The author gives insight to the reader on what the main character is seeing, feeling and thinking. You get to appreciate how she works and some of her humor. There's also a connection to current world events even though this takes place in a small town where you think everyone knows everyone else intimately or through local gossip. Fantastic, fun book. I can't wait for Cece's next book!" JRee, Amazon Verified Purchaser CeCe Lamont is a pen name for Laura Manning to distinguish the cozier Chesapeake Crime Club Mysteries from the darker Hyperion Network thrillers.I've been writing fiction since my twenties. I took a fiction writing class from a Hollywood screen writer when I lived in California. After that, a friend and I wrote a thriller together while our babies napped. Diapers, murder, and mayhem. Our kids seem undamaged by the experience.I love a good adventure. As a Sea Grant Liaison Officer I tended nets on trawlers and visited oil platforms. As a CIA Weapons of Mass Destruction Analyst, I unmasked bad countries building horrible weapons. As an all threats and hazards planner, I developed plans to respond to and recover from disasters. Now I teach Georgetown University students a science and technology policy class.I live with my family in Maryland where we play a lot of golf and hang out on the Chesapeake Bay as often as possible.