Greetings, mystery lovers! I’m Ellen Riggs, author of humorous, clean cozy mysteries. My new “Bought-the-Farm” series brings together my passion for animals and storytelling.
The series stars Ivy Galloway, a former play-it-safe human resources executive, and Keats, the brilliant border collie. Ivy’s thrilling and dangerous rescue of Keats gives her a new leash on life, prompting her to escape the big city and move back home to quaint Clover Grove.
The good news: someone offers to sell her a hobby farm and inn for a mere song. The bad news: people keep turning up dead around her! But with Keats on the case, and her best friend Jilly at her side, Ivy breaks all her old rules and throws herself into each investigation—much to the dismay of her former high school sweetheart, police chief Kellan Harper. Come and meet the lovable and quirky cast of rescue animals and people at Runaway Farm & Inn. Expect fowl play, howls of laugher and a fast-paced series you can’t put down.
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Brides and Bandits
Ivy Galloway is finally getting married. Unless murder stops her first.
When a shocking clue links someone in the bridal party to a homicide, that person vanishes without a trace. Kidnapped? Fleeing? Framed? Suddenly the biggest event of Ivy’s life is spiraling into suspicion and smoke. The arson that follows makes it clear someone wants this celebration ruined.
And then there’s the masked bandit. A bold raccoon and his posse keep turning up at all the wrong moments, scattering clues like trash. Is he just hill country chaos, or has this ring-tailed rogue seen more than he’s letting on?
Ivy searches barns, bunkers, and back roads to find answers, refusing to believe her friend is guilty, or gone for good. The stakes aren’t just about justice… they’re personal. This time, she’s searching for her happily-ever-after.
Can Ivy, Keats and Percy unmask a killer and rescue their missing friend in time to walk down the aisle? Or will death crash the wedding before the vows are spoken?
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Beg Burrow or Steal
Old bones are supposed to stay buried… but in Clover Grove, they rarely do.
As Ivy gears up for her long-awaited wedding to Chief Kellan Harper, the last thing she needs is another murder investigation. But when bones start cropping up in unexpected places, Runaway Farm suddenly feels like ground zero for a crime wave stretching back generations.
The mystery takes a darker turn when a grave in Clover Grove Cemetery is disturbed, stirring up old scandals and fresh outrage in the community. Ivy is determined to untangle the past before it overshadows her future. Unfortunately, she doesn’t get far before her bachelorette party takes a deadly twist.
Between juggling quirky family drama, pre-wedding jitters, and suspects who multiply faster than runaway rabbits, Ivy has her hands full. With Keats and Percy on the case, she’ll need every ounce of her sleuthing savvy to keep her big day from becoming a funeral.
Can Ivy solve the mystery, protect her loved ones, and still make it down the aisle? Or will death crash the wedding before the vows are even spoken?
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One Horse Open Slay
Murder doesn't take a holiday… and neither does this amateur sleuth.
Ivy's border collie loathes his winter parka, but he loves a good crime scene. When Keats sniffs out a body behind the museum, the town's cozy preparations for the Clover Grove Christmas tree lighting grind to a halt. The victim is the town’s prickliest docent, and a priceless antique sleigh is missing. Worse, a stray Shetland pony is the only witness.
Now, feline sidekick Percy is finding clues in the taxidermy exhibit, and Keats is herding suspects through the snow. But the police have their eyes on the wrong person: Ivy's sister, Iris. To save Iris from spending Christmas in a cell, Ivy must decode the pony’s secrets and outsmart a killer who’s threatening to turn her winter wonderland into a graveyard. Can Ivy and her menagerie leash the culprit before the town’s festivities go up in flames?
Join the investigation in One Horse Open Slay, a humorous cozy mystery featuring animal sidekicks and an amateur sleuth.
Hit the Road, Quack
No one likes a mouthy duck… unless he’s quacking up clues.
When a mysterious duck splashes down in Ivy Galloway’s new pond, the inn at Runaway Farm is buzzing with guests, including a romance guru and her devoted fans.
But when the so-called expert in love meets an untimely end, suspicion spreads like feathers in a windstorm, catching Ivy’s sister Violet in the middle.
As Ivy and brilliant border collie Keats hunt for answers, they discover a world where online love gets nasty and secrets run as deep as the local swamps. Can they solve the crime while ducking a devious killer?
Hit the Road, Quack is the next witty whodunit in the Bought-the-Farm Mystery series, perfect for fans of clever animals and amateur sleuths.
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Till Death Zoo Us Part
Escaped animals, a wedding gone awry, and a groom who took his final vows too soon.
Ivy Galloway thought planning her wedding to police chief Kellan Harper would be her biggest challenge. But when a resident breaks free from a local zoo, her knack for animal rescue is called into action. As if wrangling kangaroos and livestock weren’t enough, Ivy’s dream wedding venue turns into a crime scene when they discover a groom has met a most untimely end.
With wedding bells on hold, Ivy and Kellan dive into the investigation. The zoo, famous for its exotic animal exhibits and picturesque wedding receptions, hides secrets as wild as its inhabitants. As suspects multiply faster than rabbits, Ivy’s sleuthing smarts and Keats' keen nose for trouble lead them on a trail of clues.
Can Ivy untangle the web of lies and bring the killer to justice before her own wedding plans crash and burn? Join Ivy, Keats and the quirky Clover Grove community in a heartwarming, hilarious mystery where love, laughter, and a little bit of larceny collide.
Roo the Day
Ivy’s wish for a wallaby takes a shocking turn.
With crime getting the jump on Clover Grove, it’s no surprise when a self-defense class launches. Ivy looks forward to learning new moves to stay alive and kicking.
As the sessions begin, she also confronts her most complicated animal rescue yet. A long-held dream of owning a wallaby has manifested in a far bigger package.
A kangaroo on the lam is a daunting challenge, but Ivy and friends hop right to it. When a local citizen dies under mysterious circumstances, however, the feisty marsupial is on the hook for murder. The runaway roo is lucky that Ivy has a few tricks in her pocket and never rests until justice is served.
Mystic Mutt Mysteries
A rookie psychic and her chatty canine sidekick set out to solve a hometown crime.
Janelle Brighton is a reluctant psychic still trying to find her true calling. So far, her main claim to fame is bringing a spectral dachshund back to life. It’s a unique gift that probably won’t take her far in her hometown of Wyldwood Springs, where magical crime abounds.
After years on the run, however, she’s determined to put the past behind her and start over. An old family feud is still going strong and her enemies consider her a threat. In Janelle’s humble opinion, her magical skills are highly overrated.
Mr. Bixby begs to differ. The chatty, cocky dachshund believed in Janelle enough to cross from the dead to the living and join her on a special quest. First, she’ll need to find her estranged and missing mother and cure their family ghost of amnesia. On top of all that, there’s a dead body behind her quaint but haunted jewelry store… and guess who’s getting framed?
Surviving this homecoming is going to take persistence, ingenuity and a great sense of humor.
Love your books with hounds, humor and homicide? Join psychic Janelle Brighton in the Mystic Mutts Mysteries series, a lighthearted paranormal cozy mystery featuring a saucy dachshund, several ghosts and murders to solve. Great for fans of funny, fast-paced cozy mysteries with animals.
You Can't Always Get What You Haunt
A rookie psychic and her chatty canine sidekick set out to solve a hometown crime.
Janelle Brighton is a reluctant psychic still trying to find her true calling. So far, her main claim to fame is bringing a spectral dachshund back to life. It’s a unique gift that probably won’t take her far in her hometown of Wyldwood Springs, where magical crime abounds.
After years on the run, however, she’s determined to put the past behind her and start over. An old family feud is still going strong and her enemies consider her a threat. In Janelle’s humble opinion, her magical skills are highly overrated.
Mr. Bixby begs to differ. The chatty, cocky dachshund believed in Janelle enough to cross from the dead to the living and join her on a special quest. First, she’ll need to find her estranged and missing mother and cure their family ghost of amnesia. On top of all that, there’s a dead body behind her quaint but haunted jewelry store… and guess who’s getting framed?
Surviving this homecoming is going to take persistence, ingenuity and a great sense of humor.
Mystery, Mayhem and Mischievous Mutts
Dorset Hills, better known as Dog Town, is famous for being the most dog-friendly place in the world. Naturally, when so many dogs and dog-lovers unite in one quaint town, mischief and mayhem ensue. In the Dog Town Cozy Romance Mystery Series, you can expect all the humor, quirky, lovable characters and edge-of-your-seat suspense that are part of any cozy mystery, but there’s a little more romance and a lot less murder. In fact, no one ever dies! If you can do without the death, you’ve got a lighthearted, hilarious and COMPLETE series ahead. There are hair-raising adventures, heartwarming holidays and happily-ever-afters for both humans and pets. It’s the ultimate escapist reading for pet-lovers. Enjoy!