Marriage, menace… and murder! The day Maddie Flynn’s mother shows up unannounced in Maple Falls, a body is discovered in the town park. Maddie doesn’t believe in coincidences—and when a mysterious stranger is seen lurking around, her suspicions only deepen. As if a murder investigation weren’t enough, Gran’s 70th birthday party is fast approaching. Planning a celebration, keeping the peace between three fiery generations of Flynn women, and trying to unmask a killer is more than any baker should have on her plate. With family secrets bubbling to the surface and a dangerous outsider casting shadows over the town, Maddie will need all her sleuthing skills—and a little help from Gran, her loyal friends, and her mischievous Maine Coon, Big Red—to keep the party from ending in tragedy. The Maple Lane Mysteries dish up small-town sleuthing, cat-loving charm, and page-turning twists—served warm with humor, heart, and just the right dash of danger. 5* Eclairs and Extortion is another delicious installment in the Maple Lane Mysteries." The Maple Lane Cozy Mysteries Sugar and Sliced - Maple Lane Prequel Apple Pie and Arsenic Bagels and Blackmail Cookies and Chaos Doughnuts and Disaster Eclairs and Extortion Fudge and Frenemies Gingerbread and Gunshots Honey Cake and Homicide - out now! "Keep me interested from beginning to end. The many twists and turns kept me guessing as to who the killer was. Surprise ending. Delightful reading." "Definitely a delight. It leaves you wanting more and asking yourself will Maddie and Ethan get married? How about Angel, will she find love? How about Laura? Come on, let us know." C. A. Phipps is a USA Today best-selling author from beautiful New Zealand. Cheryl lives in a quiet suburb with her wonderful husband, whom she married the moment she left school (yes, they were high school sweethearts). With three married children and seven grandchildren to keep her busy when she's not writing, there is just enough space for a crazy mixed breed dog who stole her heart! She enjoys family times, baking, rambling walks, and her quest for the perfect latte. 5* "I really enjoyed this mystery. I love all usual characters. The mystery was very good. I really enjoyed the family drama which ensued." by Mary Nickell 5* "This is a fun and interesting mystery with fabulous characters. I love Maddie and I love all of the books in this series. This book is well-written with plenty of twists to keep me guessing to the end. I am looking forward to the next book in this series." by Dr Patricia Eroh Eclairs and Extortion was a book I'd been needing to write to explain the absence of a mom who Maddie has tried so hard to forget. There's always been this doubt that a daughter of Gran's could leave Maple Lane forever. It would have to be something bad to make that happen, right?Unfortunately, Ava isn't quite what any of us hoped for, but that's just the way she is. ;-)I hope you enjoy this tale of love, tragedy, and yet hope for redemption.Cheryl x A small-town series about families and friends.Of ex-boyfriends and strangers.There's always a murder or two to round off every mystery! Cheryl is a USA Today bestselling author from beautiful Auckland, New Zealand with two alter egos: C.A. Phipps who writes cozy mysteries and sweet romance, and Cheryl Phipps who writes contemporary romance.  She loves stories filled with feisty heroines, suave heroes, and wonderful small towns, and crafting her own heart-warming tales of strong family ties, mixed in with a little romance, humor, and delicious baking!    With a wonderful husband who she married the moment she left school (yes, they were high school sweethearts) by her side, she is devoted to her children and grandchildren and loves animals of all kinds, especially bossy cats!  Her favorite things are family times, baking, and travel, in that order :)  Cheryl's first cozy mystery series is set in the whimsical small town of Maple Falls, Portland, Oregon, and features Madeline Flynn, a quirky, cat-loving bakery owner who discovers she's a talented amateur sleuth.