SUMMARY

Mama's fixin' to get hitched to Husband #5. But first, she coerces her daughter, Mace, to saddle up for some country-gal bonding on the Florida Cracker Trail. The trek takes a deadly turn when Lawton Bramble—wealthy rancher and one-time beau of Mama's—keels over in his Cow Hunter Chili.

Lawton had a horde of enemies and a famously bad ticker. Could a grudge-wielding rival have "spiced" the cattleman's chow? With (or maybe despite) the help of her sisters and her sexy ex-beau, Detective Martinez, Mace sets out to corral a low-down varmint who's determined to kill again.

TV APPEARANCES

◊ NBC's Today Show from November 4, 2008

◊ "Mayor's Book Talk" from January 14, 2009

◊ NBC6 "South Florida Today." from July 17, 2009

◊ NBC's Today Show from August 4, 2009

◊ WJXT-TV from November 17, 2009

Acclaim for Mama Does Time, the first
Mace Bauer Mystery:

"A humorous, touching reflection on familial love and politics."
—Mystery Scene

"Native Floridian Deborah Sharp's acute comic timing and detailed perceptions of old Florida sparkle in her lively debut . . . highly entertaining."—Oline H. Cogdill, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

"Who knew that a who-dun-it would not only keep you guessing—but have you laughing! Deborah Sharp is the new Edna Buchanan."
—Hoda Kotb, NBC Today Show co-anchor

 

 

 

AVAILABLE EXCERPTS

• Chapter One

REVIEWS

“An amusingly wild ride through parts of Florida tourists rarely visit.”
–Kirkus

“Sharp writes a funny mystery without resorting to stereotypical one-note characters. Furthermore, her descriptions of a part of Florida most of us know little about add to the appeal of this entertaining mystery.”
—Booklist

"A fun, easy read that captures the ambience of a long-distance trail ride.  It's a southern-fried whodunit, sort of Agatha Christie meets My Name is Earl on horseback."
—Trail Rider Magazine

“Sharp delivers a wide swath of humor and a keen sense of Florida's history and present. Mama Rides Shotgun entertains as it showcases a part of Florida that quickly is disappearing.”
—Oline H. Cogdill, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

"The characterization is outstanding and the family relationships are a hoot! Can't wait for the next installment!"
—Fresh Fiction

"Although she resolves the mystery with skill, it is the uproarious fun of the nonstop yet affectionate bickering between Mace and Mama that allows Mama Rides Shotgun to win the reader's heart."
—Naples Florida Weekly

"Mama Rides Shotgun is a delightful ride and a good read."
—Prudy Taylor Board, Boca Raton News

"Deborah Sharp hasn’t lost her touch with developing interesting characters and her writing is as funny and “sharp” as ever."
—Mystery News & Cozy Library

"With the humor put into the story, it keeps it from becoming too dark. It makes the book a relaxing and funny read. I enjoyed taking a trip on the Cracker Trail."
—Once Upon A Romance