A wedding, a missing fianc\u00e9e, and a murder \u2013 Melody Harper is about to discover just how dangerous \u201cI do\u201d can be\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Fledgling private detective Melody Harper is down on her luck and nursing a black eye when she\u2019s approached by a new client who believes her daughter is in danger.<\/em><\/p>\n There\u2019s a wedding next weekend, and the client\u2019s daughter is the bride. Except Melody\u2019s client hasn\u2019t told her the whole truth \u2013 the groom\u2019s last fianc\u00e9e seems to have disappeared, and nobody has any answers.<\/em><\/p>\n #MurderInTheLakes<\/em>\u00a0X(Twitter)<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0#RachelAmphlett\u00a0 @ZooloosBT<\/a><\/em>\u00a0#ZooloosBookTours<\/em>\u00a0#booktwitter<\/em> Now tasked with going undercover to protect the bride-to-be, Melody finds herself out of her comfort zone and on an outdoor adventure weekend in the Lake District with the hen party.<\/em><\/p>\n After narrowly escaping death in a climbing accident, Melody\u2019s detective skills are tested to the limit when one of the bridesmaids is murdered \u2013 and time is running out.<\/em><\/p>\n This is her biggest investigation to date, but will Melody even survive long enough to unmask the killer and protect the bride?Murder in the Lakes is a page-turning murder mystery from USA Today bestselling author Rachel Amphlett and perfect for readers who love amateur sleuths and deadly crimes.<\/em><\/p>\n Here is an exclusive extract of the book. See below for links to buy:<\/em><\/p>\n Chapter One<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s never a good start to the day when the daughter of one of your clients leans across your desk and slaps you in the face.<\/p>\n She had a mean left hook on her too, helped somewhat by the platinum engagement ring that she\u2019d only thought to remove after she\u2019d hit me, before throwing it onto the carpet on her way out.<\/p>\n It helped \u2013 a little \u2013 that my client managed to hold back her smug look of satisfaction until after her daughter had stormed out of the office, slamming the door in her wake.<\/p>\n \u2018I knew he was trouble, Melody,\u2019 she said. \u2018I told you.\u2019<\/p>\n I stumbled around my desk, bent down to pick up the ring and handed it to Heather McAdams. \u2018Perhaps hang on to this,\u2019 I suggested. \u2018I\u2019m presuming he\u2019ll want it back. Or you can sell it.\u2019<\/p>\n I moved to the mini refrigerator under the window, cracked open the door and pulled out an ice pack.\u00a0<\/p>\n I guess it shows how often this happens to me that I have one prepared.\u00a0<\/p>\n I held the door to stop it swinging open. I didn\u2019t need my client to see the case of beer that Charlie had left in there on his last visit.\u00a0<\/p>\n I held the ice pack to my cheek as I made my way back to my chair and somehow managed to sit down and look my client in the eye without losing my composure. My eyes stung, and I was going to have a bruise, that much was for sure.<\/p>\n Mrs McAdams only realised now how hard her daughter had slugged me, and that maybe I wasn\u2019t happy about it.<\/p>\n \u2018Are you all right?\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n I glared at her. I had a sneaking suspicion her question was brought on by a sudden thought that her daughter might get sued for assault, rather than any concern for my welfare, and whether she should make a speedy phone call to the family solicitor.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m fine,\u2019 I replied. \u2018I\u2019ll print out my invoice for you. I accept payment by card only.\u2019<\/p>\n She looked taken aback for a moment, seemed to debate whether to ask if she could pay on account, and then thought better of it.<\/p>\n I ignored her and turned my attention to the computer screen instead. The system allowed me to automatically check off each service provided. I spitefully added an extra thirty pounds miscellaneous line item for the ice pack, hit the \u201cprint\u201d button and then slid the still-warm invoice across the desk to Mrs McAdams.<\/p>\n \u2018Oh, my,\u2019 she said, as she ran her manicured fingernail down the page. \u2018This is rather more than I expected.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018A copy of my expenses is on the second page,\u2019 I said, jutting out my chin. \u2018I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll find everything is in order. You\u2019ll appreciate that I do provide a rather exclusive service.\u2019<\/p>\n She looked flustered. \u2018I wasn\u2019t implying\u2014\u2019<\/p>\n I raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n She lowered her gaze in response and flicked over the page instead.\u00a0<\/p>\n I drummed my fingers on the desk while she read through the numbers. Such a sign of impatience always annoyed the hell out of me when people did that anywhere within a mile radius of me, so I was banking on it getting on her nerves and that she\u2019d hurry up and pay, then leave me in peace.<\/p>\n Sure enough, she flicked the page over with an exasperated sigh, then handed over her credit card.<\/p>\n It was from one of the larger banks, the word \u201cplatinum\u201d embossed across the front of it with a sparkly finish that glinted in the sunlight streaming through the window.<\/p>\n A car horn honked somewhere beyond the double-glazed panes, followed in quick succession by a higher pitched beep <\/em>and a stream of colourful swearing.<\/p>\n I swiped Heather McAdams\u2019s credit card across the handheld reader and handed it back to her, then used a large rubber stamp to punch the word \u201cPaid\u201d across the top of the invoice.\u00a0<\/p>\n And yes, I pretended I was stamping her daughter\u2019s face with it before I released the spring mechanism.<\/p>\n \u2018Thank you,\u2019 I said, and stood to show her the way out, dumping the ice pack on the desk. \u2018If you know of anyone else that would be in need of my services, please give them this.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n I handed over a business card.<\/p>\n Heather McAdams took it between her forefinger and thumb as if it was infected with weaponised smallpox and wrinkled her nose. \u2018I\u2019d best go and find out where Charlotte is,\u2019 she sniffed.<\/p>\n Many thanks to\u00a0@ZooloosBT\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0for inviting me to be part of this promo tour.<\/p>\n Buy Links<\/strong> Available on Amazon on publication day 9th June Goodreads<\/strong> About the Author<\/strong><\/p>\n Before turning to writing, USA Today bestselling crime author Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio, and worked in publishing as an editorial assistant. She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction with over 30 crime novels and short stories featuring spies, detectives, vigilantes, and assassins. A keen traveller and accidental private investigator, Rachel has both Australian and British citizenship.<\/p>\n You can find out more about Rachel and her books at www.rachelamphlett.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Rachel\u2019s Social Media<\/strong>
Instagram<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0@rachelamphlett<\/a>\u00a0@zooloosbooktours<\/a><\/em>\u00a0#bookstagram<\/em> #promotour<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cookiebiscuit.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/murder-in-the-lakes-promo-poster.png?w=1024\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cookiebiscuit.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/murder-in-the-lakes-book-cover.jpg?w=683\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
If you buy direct from Rachel\u2019s website shop you\u2019ll receive your eBook two days earlier than the retail publication date. That means you\u2019ll get it on 7 June \u2013 the retail \/ real publication date will be 9 June.<\/em>
Click to buy www.rachelamphlett.com<\/a><\/p>\n
www.amazon.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n
www.goodreads.com<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cookiebiscuit.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/rachel-amphlett-author-photo.jpg?w=791\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Facebook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/rachelamphlett.author<\/a>
Instagram: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/rachelamphlett\/<\/a>
Bluesky: https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/rachelamphlett.bsky.social<\/a>
Website: https:\/\/www.rachelamphlett.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cookiebiscuit.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/zooloos-book-tours-1.png?w=674\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n