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Volume 10 • Issue 3
Thursday, October 8, 2026
🍂 FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
Happy Thursday, everyone!
We've made it to our final edition of The Sunset Chronicles for the week, and today we're doing something a little different.
No murder on the front page.
I know. I'm concerned too.
Instead, I promised you a special prize for the winner of our Fall & Halloween Decorating Contest, and I've finally decided exactly what Detective Perry will be awarding at the end of October.
And I think you're going to like this one.
Because we're not just talking about a bookmark or a little Halloween surprise.
One of you is going to become one of the FIRST readers of an Elly Grey mystery that hasn't even been announced yet.
Yes. Really.
We'll get to all the details in just a minute. We also have more mysteries making headlines and fresh book promos to fill your Kindle before we close the newsroom for the weekend.
But first...
Detective Perry has authorized the release of the prize information.
Apparently I work for him now.
🐾 DETECTIVE PERRY’S CASE FILE
CONFIDENTIAL: JUDGING PROCEDURES
"I cannot disclose my criteria."
Why not?
"It could compromise the investigation."
Perry, you're judging pumpkins.
"And mums."
Fine. Pumpkins and mums.
"Also skeletons, wreaths, ghosts, lanterns, foliage, witches, porch displays—"
I understand.
"This is a highly complex investigation."
You're sitting in the window looking at people's houses.
"Surveillance."
And what happens if someone sends us an amazing fall display with no Halloween decorations?
"Fall decorations are admissible evidence."
Finally, something useful.
"I am always useful."
You knocked my coffee over this morning.
"That matter remains under investigation."
Of course it does.
🎃 SPECIAL EDITION
THE FALL & HALLOWEEN DECORATING CONTEST GRAND PRIZE HAS BEEN REVEALED
All month long, I'm asking you to send us pictures of your Fall or Halloween decorations.
They can be spooky. They can be cozy. They can be inside or outside. Pumpkins, mums, autumn leaves, ghosts, skeletons, witches, Halloween trees, decorated mantels, front porches—whatever fall looks like at your house, we want to see it.
At the end of October, Detective Perry will review the evidence and choose his favorite.
And now we can finally tell you what the winner gets.
🏆 THE GRAND PRIZE
The winner will receive a FREE digital copy of the brand-new Sunset Cove mystery coming AFTER Slim Chance With a Killer as soon as it's ready for readers.
That means you'll get to read a Sunset Cove case that hasn't even been officially introduced yet.
And we're not stopping there.
The winner will also receive an exclusive Perry Mason Halloween bookmark, and we'll feature the winning decorating photo right here in The Sunset Chronicles.
So your Grand Prize includes:
- 📖 A FREE digital copy of Elly Grey's next Sunset Cove mystery after Slim Chance With a Killer
- 🎃 An exclusive Perry Mason Halloween bookmark (PDF you can print)
- 🐾 Your winning photo featured in The Sunset Chronicles
- 🔎 And some very serious early-reader bragging rights
And here's my favorite part.
The title? Still a mystery. The winner? That could be you.
📸 HOW TO ENTER
Entering is easy.
Decorate your home for Fall OR Halloween and take a picture. It can be your front porch, yard, mantel, living room, entryway, Halloween tree—or whatever part of your home you've decorated for the season.
Then either reply directly to this email and attach your photo or send it to:
helloelly@mycozymurdermysteries.com
We'll accept entries throughout October, and Detective Perry will choose the winner after the contest closes.
You don't need the biggest display.
You don't need the most expensive decorations.
And you definitely don't have to make it scary.
We're looking for the display that makes us say, “I want to spend October there.”
Although I have been informed that the official judging criteria remain classified.
📰 MORE MYSTERIES MAKING HEADLINES
THE NEWS DESK IS STILL OPEN
We may have turned over most of today’s front page to Detective Perry and his big prize reveal, but I certainly wasn’t going to let you leave without a few new mysteries for that TBR.
I’ve got some wonderful books from fellow mystery authors waiting below. Take a look through today’s case files, investigate a cover or two, and see if one belongs on your reading list.
After all, October is the perfect month for suspicious little towns, amateur sleuths, buried secrets, and the occasional body that turns up where it absolutely shouldn’t.
📚 COMMUNITY BOOK EXCHANGE
FREE BOOKS HAVE ARRIVED
And because apparently revealing a grand prize and adding more mysteries to your TBR wasn't quite enough for one Thursday, I've also brought you another collection of free books to browse.
Head over to today's book promo and have a look around. It's a great chance to discover a new author, meet a new sleuth, or find something cozy to curl up with this weekend.
Grab the ones that catch your eye while they're available—and remember to check the individual book pages for current availability and details.
Your Kindle may complain.
We will not be taking statements from the Kindle at this time.
🗞️ NEWS FROM ELLY'S DESK
There's another reason I'm particularly excited about this contest prize.
Slim Chance With a Killer isn't even in your hands yet, and we're already giving one reader a chance to peek beyond it.
I can't tell you the title of the next mystery.
I can't show you the cover.
I can't tell you what case Rosalind will be investigating.
Actually...
I can't tell you much of anything yet.
But somewhere among the pictures that arrive in my inbox this month is the person who will eventually receive that mystery before everyone else.
And I think that's pretty darn fun.
🗞️ THE WEEKEND EDITION IS CLOSED…
And that officially closes Volume 10 of The Sunset Chronicles.
It's been quite a week. Sunset Cove has started transforming for fall, the ghosts and skeletons are creeping onto porches, Detective Perry has begun his neighborhood surveillance, and today we finally revealed what's waiting for our decorating contest winner.
🏆 A mystery that is still a mystery.
If you've already decorated, send me your picture!
If you haven't decorated yet, you've still got plenty of October left. Remember, we're accepting Fall AND Halloween displays, so you don't need a single ghost or skeleton to enter.
Reply directly to this email with your photo or send it to helloelly@mycozymurdermysteries.com.
Then we'll turn the evidence over to Detective Perry.
Which may be the most concerning sentence I've written all week.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone. We'll be back Tuesday with Volume 11 • Issue 1 and another week of mysteries, books, and October happenings around Sunset Cove.
Until then, stay cozy, keep reading, and get decorating.
The title? Still a mystery. The winner? That could be you.
Happy Reading!
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