With a Minor in Murder Read online

  With a Minor in Murder

  Synopsis

  Officer Clare Sawyer, newly arrived at the University of Washington’s campus police department, hopes her investigation of a murdered professor will give her a chance to show her worth and prove to herself she made the right choice leaving the big city behind. Life on campus brings back uncomfortable memories, but she is determined to do her job and remain on the outskirts of the academic world. Until Professor Hart walks into her interrogation room…

  Architectural historian Libby Hart found her true home when she entered college, and she hasn’t left academia since. She loves her friends, her job, and the gorgeous buildings surrounding her. When the harsh reality of murder brings chaos into her world, she tries to help Clare restore order on campus.

  Clare and Libby are from different worlds, but the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to ignore their growing feelings for one another—until the murderer targets Clare and danger threatens to destroy their happiness.

  What Reviewers Say About Karis Walsh’s Work

  Sit. Stay. Love.

  “I definitely enjoyed this sweet, funny romance. …Loved that the couple were upfront in their communication and expectations! With all of that out of the way, I could enjoy their relationship and love the doggies.”—C-Spot Reviews

  “All the characters are well developed, even the minor ones. There is a lot of snarky and sarcastic dialog (always hooks me immediately!) and just enough drama to keep things interesting. It’s an engaging love story between two women who truly complement each other. …I’m going to pile up on the couch in a warm robe, thick socks, and a cup of hot chocolate and read it again this winter.”—Bookish Sort

  “This book is just a delightful little feel-good summer read.”—Istoria Lit

  Love on Lavender Lane

  “The writing was engaging and I enjoyed the slow burn attraction between the two leads.”—Melina Bickard, Librarian, Waterloo Library (UK)

  “One thing I love about Karis Walsh’s novels is the way the setting is as important an aspect of the story as the characters.”—The Good, the Bad and the Unread

  Seascape

  “When I think of Karis Walsh novels, the two aspects that distinguish them from those of many authors are the interactions of the characters with their environment, both the scenery and the plants and animals that live in it. This book has all of that in abundance…”—The Good, the Bad and the Unread

  Set the Stage

  “Settings are an artwork for [Karis Walsh] as she creates these places that feel so real and vivid you wish you could hop in a car or plane to go walk where her characters are to experience what they get to on the pages of her book. …Her character work is as good as the places she’s created so they feel like realistic people making the whole picture enjoyable.”—Artistic Bent

  “…a fun romance. It made me want to go to this festival, which I’d never had any interest in before. Set the Stage is worth a read for fans of romance or theater.”—The Lesbrary

  You Make Me Tremble

  “Another quality read from Karis Walsh. She is definitely a go-to for a heartwarming read.”—Romantic Reader Blog

  Amounting to Nothing

  “Karis Walsh is known for quality books. Her characters are likable and well developed, her stories have interesting/realistic dialogue. She is one of my go-to authors for an easy, enjoyable read.”—Romantic Reader Blog

  Tales From the Sea Glass Inn

  “Karis Walsh has an appealing and easy writing style that always makes her stories a pleasant read and a keen eye for human frailties that captures the interest. Here she pulls out the quirks of each woman and shows us who they are and what they struggle with in swift brush strokes.”—Lesbian Reading Room

  Love on Tap

  “Love on Tap by Karis Walsh is a contemporary romance between an archaeologist and an artisanal brewer. That might sound like an odd match, but thanks to the author’s deft hand, it works very well and makes for a satisfying read.”—Lesbian Review

  “I liked this book, I really did. There was something about it that pulled me in and held my attention. Karis Walsh is an expert in creating interesting characters that often have to face some type of adversity. I love that she gives them strength to persevere in spite of this.”—Romantic Reader Blog

  Sweet Hearts: Romantic Novellas

  “Sweet Hearts: Romantic Novellas is just what it says it is: SWEET. Insert “awe” here, and feel free to really draw it out like us South­erners do, AAAWWWWEEE. This is a quick read, distinctively broken up into three well written, compelling novellas. All three authors are quite frankly amazing writers, and it shows time and time again in the works that they produce.”—Romantic Reader Blog

  Risk Factor—Novella in Sweet Hearts

  “Another satisfying and exciting short novel. This one was set in an unusual setting, and covered an emotive and at times emotional subject. The characters although strong were very different women, and both had individual weaknesses. The author used these differences to create an interesting and touching story line.”—Inked Rainbow Reads

  Mounting Evidence

  “[A] well paced and thrilling mystery revolving around two enigmatic women.”—Rainbow Book Reviews

  “…great characters and development, a wonderful story line, lots of suspense and mystery and a truly sweet romance.”—Prism Book Alliance

  Mounting Danger

  “Karis Walsh easily masters the most difficult pitfall of a traditional romance. Karis’ love for horses and for the Pacific Northwest is palpable throughout and adds a wonderful flavor to the story: The beauty of the oceanside at Tacoma, the smell of horses, the dogs, the excitement of Polo, the horses themselves (I am secretly in love with Bandit), the sounds of the forest. A most enjoyable read for cold winter days and nights.”—Curve

  Blindsided

  “Their slow-burn romance is a nuanced exploration of trust, desire, and negotiating boundaries, without a hint of schmaltz or pity. The sex scenes are sizzling hot, but it’s the slow burn that really allows Walsh to shine. …the deft dialogue and well-written characters make this a winner.”—Publishers Weekly

  “Karis Walsh always comes up with charming Traditional Romances with interesting characters who have slightly unusual quirks.”—Curve

  Wingspan

  “As with all Karis Walsh’s wonderful books the characters are the story. Multifaceted, layered and beautifully drawn, Ken and Bailey hold our attention from the start. Their clashes, their attraction and the personal and shared development are what draw us in and hold us. The surrounding scenery, the wild rugged landscape and the birds at the center of the story are exquisitely drawn.”—Lesbian Reading Room

  The Sea Glass Inn

  “Karis Walsh’s third book, excellently written and paced as always, takes us on a gentle but determined journey through two women’s awakening. …Loved it, another great read that will stay on my re-visit shelf.”—Lesbian Reading Room

  Worth the Risk

  “The setting of this novel is exquisite, based on Karis Walsh’s own background in horsemanship and knowledge of showjumping. It provides a wonderful plot to the story, a great backdrop to the characters and an interesting insight for those of us who don’t know that world. …Another great book by Karis Walsh. Well written, well paced, amusing and warming. Definitely a hit for me.”—Lesbian Reading Room

  Improvisation

  “Walsh tells this story in achingly beautiful words, phrases and paragraphs, building a tension that is bittersweet. As the two main characters sway through life to the music of their souls, the reader may thin
k she hears the strains of Tina’s violin. As the two women interact, there is always an undercurrent of sensuality buzzing around the edges of the pages, even while they exchange sometimes snappy, sometimes comic dialogue. Improvisation is a true romantic tale, Walsh’s fourth book, and she’s evolving into a master romantic storyteller.”—Lambda Literary

  Harmony

  “This was Karis Walsh’s first novel and what a great addition to the LesFic fold. It is very well written and flows effortlessly as it weaves together the story of Brooke and Andi’s worlds and their intriguing journey together. Ms Walsh has given space to more than just the heroines and we come to know the quartet and their partners, all of whom are likeable and interesting.”—Lesbian Reading Room

  With a Minor in Murder

  Brought to you by

  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.

  By the Author

  Harmony

  Worth the Risk

  Sea Glass Inn

  Improvisation

  Wingspan

  Blindsided

  Love on Tap

  Tales from Sea Glass Inn

  You Make Me Tremble

  Set the Stage

  Seascape

  Love on Lavender Lane

  Sit. Stay. Love

  Liberty Bay

  With a Minor in Murder

  Mounted Police Romantic Intrigues:

  Mounting Danger

  Mounting Evidence

  Amounting to Nothing

  With a Minor in Murder

  © 2022 By Karis Walsh. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-63679-187-6

  This Electronic Original Is Published By

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, NY 12185

  First Edition: May 2022

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editor: Ruth Sternglantz

  Production Design: Susan Ramundo

  Cover Design by Tammy Seidick

  eBook Design by Toni Whitaker

  Chapter One

  Clare Sawyer hurried up the hill toward the University of Washington’s Campus Police Headquarters, her reluctance to arrive late beating out her desire to show up looking relatively fresh and unsweaty. She had spent the past weeks leading up to her first day on the job worrying about making a good first impression, hoping to prove she was able to quickly adapt to her new work environment and the routines in place at this new department. Even through all her fretful moments when she imagined herself making mistakes or standing out in a bad way, she hadn’t spared a single stressful thought on the possibility of arriving late. She had naturally assumed that she would be on time. She was always on time.

  She tried to ignore the worry and regret that had been gaining momentum since the day she had quit her old job. Maybe she was late because subconsciously—and increasingly, uncomfortably consciously—she didn’t want to be here. She had marched out of her former department with confidence, sure she was heading on a path toward the moral high ground, and her steps had been gradually faltering every day since. Now, she was about to face her first day of actual duty on campus, and she felt as if she had somehow landed herself in a pit of doubt rather than on the lofty hill she had been aiming for. She increased her pace, outwardly defying her bleak thoughts. She had to make this work, had no choice but to make this work.

  She plucked at the front of her black uniform, trying to get a little cooling airflow on her overheated skin. September seemed determined to continue the summer’s trend of bright sun and high temperatures, reluctant to yield to the more expected rainy Northwest autumn. Not the ideal weather conditions for a near-sprint along the steeply sloping sidewalks that made up the University District. Her black wool uniform and heavy-soled black boots weren’t helping, either.

  Clare veered to the right, opting to cut across the southwest edge of campus because it offered more shade and gave her a chance to avoid waiting for lights at crosswalks. On her constantly updating hierarchy of potential disasters on her first day, being caught jaywalking by her new colleagues ranked higher than bursting into the morning meeting after it had already started. Arriving sweaty and out of breath was moving farther down the list, toward the rank of inevitable disasters on her first day.

  Clare ran her hand through her short hair as she walked quickly along the meandering path, her eyes focused on the pavement in front of her and determinedly away from the beautiful trees and austere buildings surrounding her. She had escaped from college with her degree nearly fifteen years ago, and her mind had happily and with much relief shed the need to follow an academic calendar—or, in fact, to care about anything even remotely academic. Her interviews and early training sessions had taken place at odd hours and on weekends over the summer, and she hadn’t had any trouble finding places to park in the lots near the police station. She berated herself for not anticipating how much different it would be on a September morning, at the beginning of the fall quarter. She had circled through several lots and garages before finding a spot near Portage Bay, on the outskirts of the U District. She should have realized she’d be competing for parking real estate with thousands of students and staff, not to mention all the people who worked at the local shops and restaurants catering to the university crowd. She’d have to adjust to this new world, since she had to treat this move from her former city police job as a long-term one. She had come here for the career opportunities that were missing from her old department, so she had to do her best to find them. She couldn’t go back, and she was getting too far into her life as a police officer to develop a habit of flitting from job to job. She had wiped out a worldful of viable options with one decision, and she no longer had the luxury of exploring options. She had one career route ahead of her now, and she sure as hell was going to make the best of it, regrets be damned.

  Of course, she had to actually get to the station before she could embark on her meteoric rise through the ranks. She gave a brief laugh—which sounded more like a gasp for air than she liked—at the way her carefully scripted career plans had been boiled down to the essential first step of merely getting to the damned department building.

  “Officer? Officer! Excuse me, Officer.”

  Clare’s eyes flickered shut in annoyance for a brief moment before she assumed what she hoped was a pleasant, professional expression and turned around to see a man jogging toward her and waving, his face red from exertion as if he had been following her for a while. She estimated his age in his midseventies, and he was wearing a brown tweed jacket and gray pants—two neutral items of clothing that somehow managed to clash rather horribly. If he wasn’t a professor, she’d eat her duty belt.

  “Can I help you?” she asked politely, even though she realized she had limited ways to be of assistance. She still had more training sessions to complete, and today she was meant to shadow another officer on her first day on campus in uniform. The chasm between her present position as a not-yet-fully-qualified rookie and her past as an experienced Seattle police officer and detective suddenly loomed in front of her. She was fairly sure she could direct him to the police station—at least she hoped so, since she was currently aiming for it—but she was sanctioned to do little else.

  He came to a stop in front of her and rested his hands on his k
nees, pausing to catch his breath. “It’s too damned hot out here.”

  “I’m afraid weather is out of my jurisdiction,” Clare said. “Above my pay grade. I’d be happy to call the paramedics for you, though, if you need them.”

  The man stood up and put his hands on his hips. “You’re a cheeky one,” he said, but he looked like he was trying not to smile. “I’m perfectly fine, just not used to chasing down speeding police officers in the heat. Now, come with me. A burglar broke into my office and stole some of my books.”

  He turned and walked away, obviously expecting her to follow, but Clare didn’t budge. “Sir, wait,” she called, fishing her phone out of her pocket and opening a note-taking app. He came back, all traces of his smile gone. She tried to come up with a reason why she couldn’t help him right away that didn’t include the phrases I’m new here and I don’t think I’m allowed to solve crimes on my own yet. “I really want to help, but I’m not…I don’t have the correct paperwork with me for filing a police report. If you’ll tell me what building and office you’re in, I’ll come back and…I mean, I’ll get someone to come to the scene right away.”

  He frowned. “Who needs paperwork? I just need you to come help me find my books.”

  Clare bit her lip, torn between her professional instinct to solve problems for other people and her very personal need to get to the station for her first morning meeting. She hadn’t been this lost while in uniform since her rookie year on the Seattle force, and she hated the feeling. She looked over the shoulder of the increasingly impatient civilian in front of her and saw two campus police officers walking toward her. She felt as relieved to see them as if she had backup coming while on a dangerous call.