Hey, folks! We’ve made it! It’s finally here! The next installment of the Magical Romantic Comedy series (a short novel skirting novel territory, because I was bad and the book turned out longer than the novella planned for…) is here! Hooray! My contribution to the Dirty Deeds 2 anthology is entitled 101 Ways to Die, and it takes place shortly after the events of Plaidypus. Here is a snippet for your enjoyment!
Captain Hugh Frankson of the NYPD stormed to my desk and slapped a file down on the ever-growing stack of misdemeanors I needed to register in our database before I could leave. Any other day, I would have indulged in an anxiety attack over the man’s unexpected appearance.
Whenever the captain showed up at my desk, hell came chasing on the heels of high water, as he went out of his way in his idiotic attempt to prove women had no business being on the force.
Today, however, the hell and the high water had already come calling in the form of the Chief Quinns, who haunted the station somewhere, doing whatever it was chiefs did when checking in on precincts they were responsible for. In addition to dodging jabs over my gender, I’d likely escape from being ribbed over my mixed heritage thanks to their presence. Aware the captain would lose his shit if he believed I wasn’t taking him seriously, I set aside the case I’d been working on and picked up the folder.
Before I had a chance to flip it open and behold the terrors within, the captain announced, “You’re being transferred.” His declaration carried through the open room, loud enough everyone could hear—even the cops busy on the phone. A still quiet fell over the cubicle farm, except for the cops forced to continue their conversations. “I’ll take your cruiser keys now. You’ll have a ride to your new place of employment.”
Well, screw me sideways with a baton while lighting me on fire. With a little luck, the poor bastard saddled with my cruiser would survive the experience; it had needed to retire years ago, but I kept the damned thing running through investing a few hours every week at home convincing the engine to keep trucking along. I opened my drawer, grabbed my keys, unclipped the dying vehicle’s keys, and handed them over. “Effective immediately, sir?”
Captain Frankson snatched the keys out of my hand. “Yes.”
Before I could say another word, he blew through the cubicle farm in the direction of his office and turned the corner. A moment later, a door slammed.
“Damn, McMarin. What did you do?”
Dirty Deeds 2: An Urban Fantasy Collection with Stories by R.J. Blain, Diana Pharaoh Francis, Faith Hunter, Devon Monk, and Jennifer Estep.
When the going gets tough, the tough get their hands dirty.
Join NY Times bestselling authors Faith Hunter and Jennifer Estep along with USA Today bestselling authors R.J. Blain, Diana Pharaoh Francis, and Devon Monk on a brand-new romp through magical worlds where the damsels bring the distress, what can go wrong will go wrong, and nothing is as it seems.
Adventure with Eli Younger, Liz Everhart, and Brute in the thrilling world of Jane Yellowrock. Face off against old gods and lost souls at a magical crossroads on Route 66. Become entangled in Ashland’s dark, deadly web with side characters from the Elemental Assassin series. Return to the irreverent world of Beck Wyatt, where disaster waits around every corner and cheesecake makes it all worthwhile. And finally, meet up with the Quinns and friends in the zany world of the Magical Romantic Comedy (with a body count) series.
In this collection of all-new urban fantasy and paranormal stories, the gloves are off and simply surviving might just be the dirtiest, most difficult deed of all.
Dirty Deeds 2 is available now at the following retailers: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple Books
As a reminder, as this is an anthology/collection, it is not available to my patreons. Only singular novels penned by myself are available to either of my patreons.
Happy reading!!
okay, so ‘Dirty Deeds 2′ is available at multipleplaces –this is good! I’ve been searching for ”Dirty Deeds 1’ and havehad no luck. is it available, and if yes, what format? Thanks in advance!
Regards,
Rick Agresta
It is no longer available. Like Dirty Deeds 2, it’s a limited-time edition, and it was only available for six months. Doggone Mess was my contribution to the set, although it is being heavily extended before its release.
While I do (really!) understand the concept of a limited-time edition, is there any chance that DD1 will be made available again? I’d be willing to pay more than the previous asking price (short, that is, of 126USD which is a price I’ve seen for the paperback).
No, there’s no chance of it coming back. The authors all have their rights back and have published them.
Spectacular novella, RJ! I’m on my second time through, after reading until 4:30am. You also did a great job editing and all the stuff needed to put it in print! I think McMarin is going to be one of my favorite characters. I think that the safe space for coffee is one of the best ideas you’ve come up with yet (lol)!
Happiness is opening my tablet to find a new Blain book for my enjoyment! Just finished reading it. It’s wonderful! The Quinns were included though they didn’t take center stage. Good balance.
Ayuh, it’s out. And it’s great. I love seeing Satin again!
I’m in the middle of reading, after handcuffing and then breakfast, and I have a sneaking suspicion as to may be making an appearance. You evil, tricksy woman. Now I’m going to have to reread the series, especially Hoofin’ It, to try to catch everything I may have missed. Yes, I’ve been trying to pay attention to your previous posts. I hope I get some quilt ideas out of this. 😺 Also, are they mouse-gorgon-doohickeys or rat-gorgon-doohickeys (or rate go doing gas keys as autocorrect wanted to say)?
I just finished, and now I want more of those two. Sigh. Inquiring minds want to read about Bailey’s reaction when she finds out she’s been played. And about this case, and finding out about the fish she gets, and, and, and…and you got to be first, and you got listed as a USA Today lister!
Here’s a question: When you are writing do you add things like “mouse-gorgon-doohickeys” to your spellchecker dictionary?
Not usually. Sometimes I do, but usually not lol
Started reading last night and finished reading this morning. Another great read! Two more characters to love. Great story.
Really enjoyed several shorts in this one. Had lots of fun reading about McMarin and Alec.
I love it. I found Dirty Deeds impossible to put down. Thanks for the entertainment
SQUEEEEE!!! Loved it! Yes, Lucy must have ALLLL the otters.
Does the “limited edition” of the books mean you and the other authors can reprint your story in another collection? I think you mentioned an expansion of “Doggone Mess” as a future work.
It means that in six months you will not be able to buy Dirty Deeds 2 and rights revert back to the owners of the stories, to do with as they please.
I got the anthology and I loved everything about 101 ways to die. I can’t wait for the extended story. The suspense towards the end was perfect for the story.