Cozy Mysteries

The Showcase Must Go On

The Showcase Must Go On

Book One of the Sammy Shepherd Series

Behind the Scenes
Inside the Book
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Sammy Shepherd practically grew up at the Magic Box in Silver Dollar City, so it was almost inevitable that she would land her dream career at The Branson Showcase. Well, sorta. 

As the manager of the largest magic theater in the biggest tourist town of America’s Heartland, Sammy might not be a full-time magician but at least she’d built her career around magic. She was probably the only theater manager who also performs a weekly show. Every Thursday at 10 a.m., Sammy Shepherd: Professional Magician got to live her best life, for two hours at a time. 

Sammy’s oldest friend and Showcase magician headliner, Victor, inherited a surprise windfall that would allow him to buy the kind of theater he’s been dreaming of all his life. Sammy would be happier for him if The Showcase itself wasn’t having so many financial troubles of its own; she’s afraid Victor has no idea what he’s getting himself into. 

Ally Kazam, the daytime children’s magician, is afraid The Showcase might have to close its doors if things don’t turn around soon. Damon Sterling, the egoed former magic star of the ‘80’s and ‘90’s, bitterly knows that if The Showcase shuts down, he’ll have nowhere to go.

Showcase owner and Sammy’s boss, Redd, knows only too well that this new theater would only end up as business-crushing competition. Redd also knows that his top performer, Marco the Magnificent, isn’t above jumping ship and joining Victor as soon as Victor chooses a location. Somehow the Showcase must go on.

Victor is having nightmares. His dream theater is being snatched away from him, night after night. The Grand Opulent belonged to Victor in his heart and he would have it in reality. Unable to wait any longer, Victor throws all he has in order to rush the sale of his dream theater. 

Victor invites Sammy to go on a final walkthrough. If only they knew how final it would be.

Sammy teams up with Detective Dunnitt, a fellow Elk’s Lodge member, to set out to discover the murderer before someone else gets killed. Meanwhile a local scandal is shaking the community. Time is running out. Can Sammy pull a rabbit out of her hat?

Inside the Book

Every chapter ends with a unique little gift. Where the Hannah Swensen stories provide a delicious recipe served up with each chapter, the Cozy Ozarks Mysteries also serve up it’s own surprises for each chapter, on theme for each book.

The Showcase Must Go On provides fun slight-of-hand magic tricks that you can try at home. Master the same captivating illusions performed by the cherished magicians of Branson’s renowned Showcase Theater. And, as tradition, each book mentions some lovely recipes, and we hope to share those with you here on the blog.

Behind the Scenes and Recipes from the Book

This book is in its final draft. We need Beta Readers!