36. Mina

"Idon't know what you were worried about, dear." Mum handed me a glass of bubbles. "This book launch is a complete success. You couldn't fit any more people in the shop if you tried."

She wasn't wrong. The Events room was so packed that I was half afraid the fire department would shut us down, if they weren't all crowded around the makeshift bar Edward had set up on Heathcliff's desk, downing themed cocktails called ‘The Raven' and ‘Heathcliff's Revenge,' and ‘The Reichenbach Tall.'

Everywhere, phones flashed as Majorie's disability influencer friends snapped their pics. Every few seconds I was pulled into another photo. And all around me, people had my book tucked under their arms or holding them out for me to sign.

My face hurt from smiling, but I didn't think I could stop if I tried.

This was an even better turnout than Danny Sledge's ill-fated book launch, and the best thing was, no one had been murdered.

Or maybe the best thing was that my book was out in the world. I'd come this far. Whatever happened now was up to fate and magic, and I had a lot of that on my side.

"Thanks, Mum." I hugged her. "I can't believe how many people came on such short notice."

"This is amazing! You're going to be a star! You're going to sell more than that Ellie James Child person?—"

EL James? Lee Child?

Sometimes it was better not to ask.

"—and I can finally move out of our flat and into the manor home with the kidney-shaped pool that I've always dreamed of."

"I don't know about that," I beamed. "But it is pretty wonderful to know that readers want books with characters like me."

"Maybe for your next book, you could add more about the Mum character," Mum said. "Maybe she could secretly inherit a fortune! I have so many ideas?—"

"Mina, there you are!"

I turned towards Maisie's voice, grateful for the distraction from Mum's brilliant plot ideas. "Thank you so much for coming! How's James Pond doing?"

"A lot better now that I've got him a couple of female friends to keep him company." Maisie toasted my glass with hers. "Two lovely ladies I've named Hot Wings and Lady Featherston. Stanley helped me modify James' pen to suit them all. He's actually really lovely. Did you know he transformed his entire living room into an aviary for nursing injured birds back to health?"

I grinned. "Why no, I had no idea."

"It's true. I feel bad about accusing him of duck-napping James. And I feel awful that James Pond ruined your wedding. I can't believe that one horny duck could do so much damage."

"Me neither. But don't worry about it. James didn't ruin anything. With the exception of poor Iwan's death, I truly believe that everything worked out exactly as it should have in the end."

I smiled as I listened to Heathcliff trying to get Edward to make him a triple-strength cocktail, and Morrie dragging Quoth around the room, telling everyone who'd listen that he drew the cover art.

"I'm relieved to hear it," Maisie said. "Listen, I have a favor to ask. I promise that it's not another case for you to solve."

"Good, because I think after James Pond, I'm ready to hang up my hat for good." I patted the stack of books beside me. "I want to write about murders, not experience them. What's the favor?"

"I brought along a couple of my friends tonight, and they all got copies of your book. We've been talking about how we don't have the time or motivation to read anymore, but having a book that we can read together has made us excited about reading again. We're thinking of starting a monthly book club where we get together and talk about our favorite smutty books and murder mysteries. Would you be willing to be a guest speaker next month? And maybe also let us host the club in Nevermore Bookshop?"

Her words came out in a nervous rush.

"I'd love that, but on one condition. That you let me be a member. I want to read smutty books and murder mysteries with you every month." I grinned. "And I already have some suggestions for titles."

"Yes, please. We'd love to have you! I can't wait for you to meet my friends. Although I must warn you, they're a little…odd."

I nodded in the vague direction of where I could hear Morrie. "You've seen who I'm married to. Odd will fit right in around here."

"Yes, that's good. They're a little obsessed with the supernatural. And true crime podcasts. One of them is convinced that Argleton is home to more than a couple of vampires."

"The only vampires around here are between the covers of books." Since I got rid of Dracula, and we repaired the leaky pipes at Nevermore. And the time-travelling room isn't available for the public.

I hope.

"Our working title is the ‘The Nevermore Murder Club, Magic Circle, and Smutty Book Society.' We couldn't agree on smutty books or true crime, you see, so we decided to name it after both."

"I think that we're going to have a lot of fun."

"Are we now, gorgeous?" An arm flung over my shoulder, and Morrie's deep voice whispered against my ear. "What are we doing that's fun? Something devious, I hope. And can your friend join us?"