Murder on the Candlelight Tour

ISBN # 09755404-0-8

It’s a dream come true for historic preservationist Ashley Wilkes; her restored Victorian house is on the Olde Wilmington by Candlelight tour. But her dream quickly turns nightmarish when a docent is murdered in the library, and her friend, history professor Binkie Higgins is the likely suspect. As the bodies drop faster than dead needles off a dry Christmas tree, Ashley’s as busy as Santa’s elves: proving Binkie’s innocence, rescuing sister Melanie and a historic property from a ruthless developer. And, la-di-da, solving the Atlantic Coast Line’s 40 year old payroll robbery.

 

Murder at the Azalea Festival
ISBN # 09755404-1-6

In Wilmington, the azaleas are blooming, the dogwoods are flowering, and the bodies are dropping faster than cherry blossoms on a windy day.  But it’s spring, and Ashley Wilkes, historic preservationist, is much too distracted by love to give a thought to recent homicides, until one occurs at a garden party where she’s a guest.  When her client is arrested for murder, Ashley tries her darnedest not to get involved.  But she knows the actress is innocent.  And just who are her most promising suspects?  Why, the entire cast of a hot, new locally-produced television series. 

 

 

Murder on the Ghost Walk
ISBN # 09755404-2-4

In Wilmington, almost every old house has a ghost. The mansion that Ashley Wilkes, historic preservationist, is restoring, with its crescendo-thumping spectral organist, is no exception. When Ashley makes a grisly discovery, the residents of quiet, quaint Orange Street are horrified. Halloween weekend finds Ashley and Melanie dressed to kill at the Cape Fear Crime Festival’s Halloween party, where an evil trickster treats them to murder.

 

 

 

Murder at Wrightsville Beach
ISBN # 09755404-4-0

With temperatures in the nineties, Ashley Wilkes, historic preservationist, heads for Wrightsville Beach where sister Melanie has rented an oceanfront sleeps-14 "cottage." But murder never takes a vacation and as the body count escalates, Ashley realizes there is more to beach life than sun block and fried fish platters. With houseguests and neighbors all behaving suspiciously, Ashley’s tempted to retreat back to town where she’s restoring a 1920s Georgian Revival house, yet even the restoration site is fraught with danger. And nothing prepares Ashley for a moonlight stroll out on the pier with a crazed killer.

 

Murder on the ICW
ISBN # 09755404-4-0

During the Prohibition Era, moonshine operations flourished along the creeks that fed the Intracoastal Waterway. So Ashley Wilkes, historic preservationist, is not surprised to learn that the hunting lodge she is restoring once housed an operational still. But what she discovers under a small mountain of moonshine bottles is both surprising and shocking. Meanwhile, Melanie’s boyfriends are turning up dead. Is she loving them to death? The police think so. Thanksgiving weekend finds Ashley and Melanie sailing in the annual Holiday Flotilla. But are those popping noises they hear fireworks or gunfire?

About the author:

About the author:

Ellen Elizabeth Hunter is the author of five mystery novels set in the Greater Wilmington area. The series is lighthearted and contemporary in nature with plots that are based on the Port City’s historical events. While the series and the characters are humorous, Ellen’s research is deadly serious. She hates making mistakes.

Ellen has restored two homes, a 1906 Dutch Colonial farm house and a 1920 Georgian Revival. She participated in renovations to a grand 1899 Beaux Arts townhouse in New York City that was built by the granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt. Out of those experiences, Ellen created amateur sleuth Ashley Wilkes, historic preservationist and old house restorer who lives in a fictional, restored Victorian house on Nun Street. Architectural features from Ellen’s homes appear in her books and are often crucial to the plot.

Ellen lives in Cary NC but is awaiting the day when she can move to Wilmington. Her heart belongs to Wilmington. She grew up in Connecticut and New York City but fell in love with Wilmington the first time she visited and had dinner on a balcony at Riverboat Landing restaurant and watched the sun set over the Cape Fear.

The titles of her books are: Murder on the Candlelight Tour, Murder at the Azalea Festival, Murder on the Ghost Walk, Murder at Wrightsville Beach, and Murder on the ICW. Her sixth book, Murder on the Cape Fear, is in progress. She is busy researching the blockade of Wilmington. Her books have been favorably reviewed by Our State Magazine, Lumina News, the Raleigh News and Observer, and the Southern Pines Pilot. For more information go to www.ellenhunter.com.

Ellen’s books are available at Topsail Island Trading and Barnes & Noble Online.

Ellen Elizabeth Hunter - Magnolia Mysteries

Murder on the Candlelight Tour 09755404-0-8

Murder at the Azalea Festival 09755404-1-6

Murder on the Ghost Walk 09755404-2-4

Murder at Wrightsville Beach 09755404-3-2

Murder on the ICW 09755404-4-0

Coming 2007, Murder on the Cape Fear