Salsa and Secrets

By Joanne Pence

A fiery dish of desire, deceit, and death-in a town where every secret comes with a price.

Gourmet cook Angie Amalfi is ready for a break from wedding planning. When her fianc , San Francisco homicide detective Paavo Smith, suggests a trip to the Arizona desert town where he spent time as a boy, Angie jumps at the chance. Sun, serenity, and the potential for a Southwestern-themed wedding menu? Perfect.

But Paavo has another reason for the getaway: to help a childhood friend investigate the suspicious death of a wealthy local. The Ghost Hollow Guest Ranch, complete with ostriches and ghost stories, turns out to be anything but peaceful. Before long, Angie is caught up in a stew of small-town secrets, wild cook-offs, and one seriously amorous ostrich.

Then a second murder strikes.

Now Angie and Paavo must untangle the prickly truths hiding behind polite smiles and cowboy charm. Between a missing stagecoach, a hidden fortune, and a stew recipe involving horned toads, Angie's vacation might turn out to be her final meal.

Mouthwatering meals, quirky characters, and a whodunnit that will keep you guessing-Salsa and Secrets serves up mystery and romance with a Southwestern flair.

NOTE: This is a completely updated and reimagined version of the mystery, Red Hot Murder.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1949566668
• ISBN13: 9781949566666
• Release Date: September 2025
• Publisher: Quail Hill Publishing
• Length: 284 Pages
• Weight: 0.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"