Five core values.
Five gruesome murders.
One artist determined to paint the truth.
I’m thrilled to announce that my newest Cassandra Fairweather Art Mystery, Murder by Numbers, is officially here!
SCROLL TO THE END TO ENJOY FOR A FREE COZY MYSTERY CHAPTER
Set in the sweeping beauty of Montana, this installment finds artist and retreat owner Cassandra Fairweather reluctantly hosting a luxury “wellness retreat” for the top brass of one of the country’s most powerful banks — the kind of institution that once destroyed her family.
The bank proudly promotes its core values: Caring, Integrity, Passion, Courage, United. But when the executives begin dying one by one, each death eerily reflects one of those very values, Cassandra realizes this is no corporate bonding weekend — it’s a deadly game.
As the sheriff’s suspicions close in, Cassandra must navigate:
If you’ve enjoyed Richard Osman, Louise Penny, or Ellery Adams, you’ll love diving into this cozy mystery with an edge — where art meets intrigue, and every brushstroke could be your last.
✨ Why you’ll love Murder by Numbers
📚 Grab Your Copy Now
Find out which value draws first blood — and whether Cassandra can uncover the truth before she becomes the next target.
AMAZON:
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FM228V8H
CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0FM228V8H
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FM228V8H
AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FM228V8H
iBOOKS, BARNES & NOBLE AND OTHER GREAT BOOKSTORES: https://books2read.com/u/mdMoAW
And if you’ve read it, I’d love to know: which of the bank’s values do you think hides the most secrets? Drop me a message — I might just share the results in a future post!
Chapter One Murder By Numbers
Cassandra Fairweather eyed the blinking line on her studio phone as though it were a snake coiled in the grass. It was never good news when the bank called—not on a Friday afternoon, not when the shadows were long and the scent of linseed oil still hung fresh in the air.
“Cassandra speaking.”
“Ah, Ms. Fairweather,” came the syruped tone of Neil Tuckerman, the local bank manager who wore pastel ties and the smug smile of someone who had never known a hard day. “You’ll be pleased to hear we’ve had a very exciting request come across our desks.”
She said nothing, letting the silence stretch—just long enough for him to squirm.
“Willow Hollow has been highly recommended,” he pressed on. “One of our national corporate partners—well, a rather prestigious financial institution, actually—is looking for a luxury location for an executive wellness retreat. Artists’ havens are trending, and your… ah, reputation for healing experiences and ‘emotional exploration through color’ came up in a regional strategy meeting.”
He said it like it tasted off.
Cassandra felt her jaw tighten. She knew that tone. Polite. Calculated. Framed as a favor but loaded with expectation. “You mean your bank is recommending my retreat to their bank?”
Neil chuckled nervously. “Let’s just say there’s enthusiasm from both ends.”
She turned her back to the canvas she’d been working on—a soft wash of indigo and burnt sienna—and stared out the studio window toward the distant mountains. Her gut, which rarely failed her, twisted like a knife in old wounds. She hadn’t forgotten how this very bank had stripped her mother of her home, or how the paperwork they claimed was ‘lost in the system’ had led to her father’s final, desperate act.
“And what if I say no?” she asked.
There was a pause. A too-careful one.
“Well,” Neil cleared his throat, “I did notice your mortgage review is coming up. Just a standard reassessment, of course. But it never hurts to show goodwill, Cassandra. These things… they go on record.”
Bile rose in her throat. So that was it. Not a recommendation. A coercion, disguised in calligraphy.
“I see,” she said coldly. “When do they arrive?”
“Monday,” he said cheerfully, as if she’d just accepted an invitation to a garden party. “They’ll stay the week. I’ll send the details through shortly. You’re doing something very important for the community, Cassandra. Banking is changing. We’re all about progress now—financial, social, environmental.”
She hung up before he finished the sentence.
In the silence that followed, she stared down at her open hands, streaked with alizarin crimson and payne’s grey. “Funny,” she murmured, “they always come painted as saviors.”
Outside, the wind stirred the lupines.
Inside, Cassandra whispered to no one, “This place is sacred. They’d better tread lightly.”
She had no idea that by week’s end, several of them wouldn’t be treading at all.
***END OF EXCERPT***
MURDER BY NUMBERS is the 6th book in the Cassandra Fairweather MONTANA COZY ART MYSTERIES series, where each mystery is painted in layers—light, shadow, and revelation.
While it can easily be read as a standalone story, you’ll likely enjoy reading the other books, too.