"Now You See It"

Jane Tesh is a retired media specialist and pianist for the Andy Griffith Playhouse in Mt. Airy, NC. She is the author of the Madeline Maclin Mysteries, A Case of Imagination, A Hard Bargain, and A Little Learning, featuring an ex-beauty queen turned detective and her con man husband, and the Grace Street Mysteries, Stolen Hearts, Mixed Signals, and the newest, Now You See It, featuring PI David Randall and the many Southern characters who live at 302 Grace Street.

Tesh applied the Page 69 Test to Now You See It and reported the following:

On page 69, a very short page and the last page of chapter seven of Now You See It, private investigator David Randall has insisted his friend Camden go to a doctor to check on Cam’s fading voice. Randall actually uses this as an excuse to ask the doctor about some pills he found while investigating the death of magician, Taft Finch. Taft’s brother Lucas had hired Randall to find a special box that may have once belonged to Houdini, but the case took a dark turn when Taft was found dead in a locked trunk at the local Magic Club in what at first looked like a botched attempt at an escape trick, but what Randall now suspects is murder.

“Something else I want you to see.” I took the pills out of my pocket.

Nick looked them over. “This is Unisom.”

“Sleeping pills, right?”

“Yes, doxylamine succinate, to be exact, one of the most potent you can get without a prescription.”

“Powerful enough to kill someone?”

“Depends. How many pills, how they’re delivered, if they’re mixed with other things. But, yes. Hope you’re not planning a murder.”

“Something to do with a case. Now, I know you’re not supposed to mix your drugs with alcohol or operate heavy machinery. What’s the deal with this pill?”

“Definitely not something you want to mix with alcohol. No sleep medication should be used with alcohol, and this one shouldn’t be taken with Zyrtec or Benadryl. Both those drugs will enhance the side effects, which include blackouts and seizures.”

Blackouts. That’s all the murderer needed in order to make certain Taft was securely locked away.

“Thanks,” I said. “Thanks for fitting us in today.”

“No problem. Let me know how things go, Cam.”

Camden thanked him. When we got in the car, he said, “Do we know exactly when and how Taft died?”

“That’s what I’m going to ask Jordan.”

Now Randall knows for certain that Taft was murdered. Armed with this new information, Randall will check with Jordan Finley, his contact at the police department, and continue to question the colorful and theatrical members of the Magic Club. Each one has a motive, whether it’s revenge, jealousy, or unrequited love. Randall will have to perform some tricks of his own to solve this case.

Learn more about the book and author at Jane Tesh's website, blog, Facebook page, and Twitter perch.

The Page 69 Test: Mixed Signals.

Read--Coffee with a Canine: Jane Tesh and Winkie.

--Marshal Zeringue