James Moushon - Easter at Oakley Ranch, a Cozy Mystery, is showcased at HBS Author’s Spotlight

The Showcase is a special feature of the Author's Spotlight. It is designed to highlight Spotlight author's NEW releases and their soon to be released novels.

The HBS Author's Spotlight SHOWCASES James Moushon's New Cozy Mystery: Easter at Oakley Ranch.

James is the author of the Jonathon Stone Mysteries. He is an Author Advocate and book industry blogger.

Easter at Oakley Ranch

An Oakley Ranch Cozy Mystery Short Story

Author: James Moushon


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Welcome to Oakley Ranch: An Active Adult Community just outside of Phoenix, Arizona.

Easter is another fun time at Oakley Ranch. We reach out to the kids in the area and have an egg hunt at the dog park and various games. Just lots of fun.

As everyone started preparing for the weekend festivities and old panel truck stalls in the Sandtrap Bar’s parking lot. An apparent truck problem turns into something much more when drugs are found in the rear of the van.

At the egg hunt things turned rotten. A body of a prominent resident is found dead in the park. Murdered. Detective Ferguson and Officer Rizzo were already at the Ranch for the drug incident. Now they were off to the dog park.

Resident Sarah Sandberg and her neighbor, Mary, are on the scene with Sarah’s dog, Jethro checking things out. Again, Jethro uncovers the evidence that solves the murder.

Excerpt from Easter at Oakley Ranch

Easter weekend was always a great time at Oakley Ranch. The senior community celebrated the holiday by reaching out to charities and having a local grade school visit the park for an Easter egg hunt. A golf tournament and the golf cart parade were high on the list of activities.

Oakley Ranch was a large Gated 55+ retirement community just outside of Phoenix in the desert. It had a large golf course with lush green fairways that wound through the park. The course was open to the public unless the community had a special event going on.

Right in the middle of the Ranch was the Sandtrap Bar and Grille, next to the Golf Shop. This area was the centerpiece of the snowbird’s visit to the Valley.

Not a Good Friday at the Ranch

Sarah Sandberg, one of the residents, would start every morning, weather permitting, taking her dog Jethro for a ride around the park.

Next, she would meet Mary Thorn, her next-door neighbor, and her best friend, on her patio for coffee. This was the routine for both of them.

Sarah was a red-headed lady with a big smile. She was very active in the community. She was always involved in special events like Easter. Being a former teacher, she liked to control things and instruct people on what to do. Her husband had been in law enforcement for years until he passed away several years ago. Now her dog Jethro was all she had.

Mary had lived in the park since it had been built. Every morning the two met for coffee on Sarah’s patio. They both loved to get into Sarah’s cart and circle the Ranch. Everything seemed to change especially when the winter visitors were in town.

This morning was bright and sunny. It was a beautiful morning in the desert.

Sarah and Jethro had made their trip around the park and were circling back by the clubhouse on their way back home. She was a little early today. Easter weekend was big for golf at the Ranch. There was some activity on the greens but no real golf crowd yet.

They had a women’s tournament today, and the men played tomorrow if she remembered the schedule correctly. This was the last big event for the snowbirds. It was April and they were headed home soon. No outside golfers were allowed in the Ranch when the residents had an event like this.

Jethro was riding along with his ears twitting enjoying the weather. Jethro was a large German Shepherd who had been a part of the police K-9 unit in town. When Sarah’s husband passed, Jethro retired and moved in with Sarah. He was her constant companion. Sarah liked to tell people with a big laugh that Jethro’s specialty was drugs and bodies so you better watch what you do in the park.

As Sarah got closer to her home, they passed by the Sandtrap Bar and Grille parking lot. It was almost empty. Later on today, it would be full of golfers and customers of the bar.

Sarah slowed the cart down. Right in the middle of the lot were two police cars straddling an old panel truck. It said on the side of the truck in big, bold letters: White Lily Flowers.

The truck was parked awkwardly, blocking parking spaces. The golfers would be arriving soon. This was not good. Sarah pulled her cart into the Sandtrap lot. She was always the one who wanted to know what was going on.

Author: James Moushon

Author Genre: Mystery & Thrillers, Cozy Mysteries

Website: James Moushon - Mystery Writer / Author Advocate
Author's Blog: Indie Author’s Corner
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Twitter: @jimhbs
E-Mail: james.moushon@gmail.com
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Author Description:
James Moushon is a Mystery writer and an Author Advocate. All his novels and short stories feature CIA Agent Jonathon Stone.

James is currently wearing two Hats. He is a Mystery Writer and a Book Publishing Blogger. You can find his blogs at:

HBS Author’s Spotlight
The blog's purpose is to help authors get exposure in the book publishing industry. He has interviewed and showcased over 600 authors to date.

Reader's News Flash
The purpose of this blog is to help Readers find the latest information about an author’s books, giveaways, promotions, and general news.

Indie Author's Corner
The Corner is a collection of Author advice and studies including Marketing, Social Media and other major topics created to help writers in today's ever changing world of book publishing.

He has spent the majority of his adult life developing computer systems and thinking about writing mysteries.




Author's Book List

Christmas at Oakley Ranch - An Oakley Ranch Cozy Mystery Short Story
Welcome to Oakley Ranch: An Active Adult Community just outside of Phoenix, Arizona.

Christmas is a big deal at Oakley Ranch. A Parade. A Dinner and Party. Great Music. A present exchange. Just lots of fun.

That all went south when one of the residents is found died in her kitchen. The police say it’s murder. Poison cookies. Who did this is a mystery.

Detective Ferguson and Officer Rizzo are in the park looking for leads. Resident Sarah Sandberg and her neighbor, Mary, go in their own direction to help solve the murder.

Then Sarah’s dog, Jethro does it again. He uncovers the evidence that solves the crime.


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Halloween at Oakley Ranch - An Oakley Ranch Cozy Mystery Short Story
Welcome to Oakley Ranch: An Active Adult Community just outside of Phoenix, Arizona.

Halloween is a great time at Oakley Ranch. A Parade. A Dinner and Party. Great Music. The return of the winter visitors. And lots of hard work. This year was no different.

A good time was had by all.

Then, unexpectedly, a body was found in the pool the next morning. Blood and money become the keys to solving this murder.

Detective Ferguson and Officer Rizzo follow their standard investigation. Sarah Sandberg and her neighbor, Mary, go in their own direction.

Then Sarah’s dog, Jethro does it again. He uncovers the evidence that solves the crime.


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Shots Fired at Oakley Ranch - An Oakley Ranch Cozy Mystery Short Story
Welcome to Oakley Ranch: An Active Adult Community just outside of Phoenix, Arizona.

A quiet day is interrupted with gun shots fired at four golfers standing on a tee in the middle of the park.

Detective Herb Rush and his assistant Office Rizzo are assigned the incident. After interviewing the golfers, Rush finds two unknowing witnesses. Sarah Sandberg and her neighbor, Mary become key contributors to Rush.

Turn of Events: Two days later, one of the golfers is murdered right in the middle of the park and Detective Rush is back, now to investigate a murder.

Sarah, her dog Jethro and Mary go in a different direction to help the Detective.

It’s Friday Night Social time at Oakley Ranch. If you want to hear the latest, this is the place.

As Detective Rush zeros in on the prime suspect, Sarah and Jethro uncover a completely unexpected alternative. Sometimes the best protection is not enough.


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TIMEOUT! - A Jonathon Stone Mystery
The wind was blowing briskly off the ocean with a slight mist in the air.

Jonathon was dispatched to San Diego with Chuck Chun, another CIA special agent. The CIA had received an alert. A notorious arms dealer was arriving in San Diego with a large number of guns and explosives on a freighter from the Far East. This dealer had been very elusive for a long time.

At the same time, FBI Agent Jodi Shannon and Agent Brian Baker from LA join the San Diego FBI field office team in a joint investigation. Their assignment: Get to the bottom of a white-collar crime, sports fixing.”

At the center of things was Willy Payne, a veteran basketball player for the San Diego Bays. He quickly becomes the focus of both investigations.

Eventually, Payne runs out of time.


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Operation Bank Withdrawal - A Jonathon Stone Mystery Short Story
Several heists in downtown LA cause a National Security problem.

A bank robbery in downtown LA is one in a series of heists being investigated by the FBI. As FBI Agent Jodi Shannon tries to catch the robbers, a fingerprint in the wrong place gets Jonathon Stone involved. The history of old town Los Angeles provides the key to solving the crime and preventing a National Security disaster.


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Operation Arrow Drone - A Jonathon Stone Mystery Short Story
An FBI agent is murdered, and a group of terrorists are the primary suspects.

Jonathon Stone and FBI Agent Jodi Shannon team up to investigate the murder of an FBI agent who was auditing a classified project that had gone astray. The agent had gotten caught in the middle of a mass shooting at a Naval Air Station. The violence accelerates as Jonathon tries to catch a group of terrorists and avoid a disaster in Southern California.


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Operation Raging Bull - A Jonathon Stone Mystery Short Story
An American traitor seeks refuge in a sanctuary city.

The FBI believes there is US troop information being leaked to rebels in Syria. After a special meeting in San Francisco, Jonathon Stone and Dale Oak, who is already undercover in Detroit, are assigned the operation.

The FBI is asking for D.O.T.’s help because of their problems dealing with sanctuary city policies in the area. As Stone narrows it down to one suspect, the operation unexpectedly expands.


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Operation Key Witness - A Jonathon Stone Mystery Short Story
A witness against a terrorist is in danger and Stone is on alert.

Jonathon Stone and Chuck Chun are assigned to escort a witness from the Philippines to LA to testify against her terrorist husband. After an air marshal is killed in flight, Jonathon and Chuck go on high alert.

The CIA team finds out there is a professional hit contract on the witness, and it is non-exclusive. The twists and turns of the op lead the two into the Islamic World of terror.


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Operation Adrift - A Jonathon Stone Mystery Short Story
A ship with no passengers leads to a terrorist plot.

An empty cargo ship suddenly appears in the LA Harbor. Problem: there are no passengers or crew. Jonathon Stone finds out that the ship was abandoned at sea and the CIA had been tracking the vessel from the Far East. The op seems to be stalled until Jonathon gets information from an unexpected source which leads him to a terrorist plot on American soil.


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Operation Misdirection - A Jonathon Stone Mystery Short Story
A dead CIA agent leads Stone to investigate a Middle East connection.

A female CIA agent is found dead in a motel in Long Beach and her husband, a Long Beach detective, quickly becomes the prime suspect. Jonathon Stone is given the task of investigating the murder of one of his own. His findings reveal the dead agent’s unscheduled trips to the Middle East, a cover-up by the FBI, and espionage.


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Operation Hidden Truth - A Jonathon Stone Mystery Short Story
Espionage, terrorist, and government secrets are all in play.

A plea bargain turns deadly, and a known gun runner is the primary suspect. Jonathon Stone becomes involved with the FBI to try to catch the elusive terrorist. With espionage and government secrets in play, the DHS suddenly becomes a problem. Jonathon needs to be on top of his game for this op.


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Operation Deadline - A Jonathon Stone Mystery Short Story
Stone and the FBI investigate a murder with Middle Eastern ties.

A hit and run death of a man on the CIA’s watch list sends Jonathon Stone on another op. This time he teams with FBI Agent Jodi Shannon. They quickly find out it was a planned murder and the victim was part of an investigative reporter’s study of a Middle-Eastern student group. Then, a second murder with a similar MO occurs and Jonathon is sent in a different direction.


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Operation Red Dragon - A Jonathon Stone Mystery Short Story
An assassin on the job and Stone takes a gamble.

Jonathon Stone’s plans for a quiet gambling experience are interrupted by the sighting of a known gun for hire from Mexico. A casual weekend in the desert for Jonathon changes into an apparent assassination plot. With the FBI and the Secret Service involved, Jonathon tries to apprehend the elusive hitman before he can do damage.


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Operation Listen Close - A Jonathon Stone Mystery Short Story
Murder by a terrorist needs Stone’s bag of tricks to solve.

A man is found dead in the trunk of a cab in downtown LA and an FBI investigation reveals that Jonathon Stone is connected to the murder. The Victim: A Chinese Special Agent on assignment in the US. The Suspect: A Russian cabbie who is wanted for terrorism in Hong Kong. Stone and Chuck Chun go into the CIA bag of tricks to solve the murder.


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Operation Little Havana - A Jonathon Stone Mystery Short Story
Stone is in the middle of an international crisis because his suspects don’t want to play ball.

Jonathon Stone teams up with FBI Agent Maria Sanchez in Miami to try to solve the murder attempt of an exiled Cuban baseball player. As news stories continue to fuel the growing tension between the US and the Cuban people over a government change in policy, Jonathon is thrust into the middle of an international crisis.

After another murder attempt of a ballplayer, the op takes a sudden shift from the Little Havana area of Miami to the Everglades. While Stone and Sanchez struggle to find out who is at the bottom of this, their focus abruptly changes to a freelance reporter and a mystery man.


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Operation Asian Tiger - A Jonathon Stone Mystery Short Story
A Far East mission is not quite after all.

Chuck Chun joins Jonathon Stone in a mundane assignment in Singapore. The dull surveillance op quickly turns from boring to the search for terrorists and the solution of an international tragedy. The Royal Malaysian Police are going in the wrong direction as Jonathon uses the vast resources of the CIA to zero in on the truth.


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Operation Camp Navajo - A Jonathon Stone Mystery Short Story
Explosives are missing and Stone is on the case.

Camp Navajo Weapon Station near Flagstaff, Arizona is robbed and Jonathon Stone and fellow agent Dale Oak are dispatched to the area to insure that CIA weapons stored at the site are intact. Upon arrival, he finds the FBI has taken charge and has quickly caught the thieves.

Case closed. After a drive through the area and listening to the details of the crime from the FBI, things just didn’t add up. A complete search of the facilities finds explosives are missing and Jonathon is tasked with finding them before they are used.


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The Cajun Ghost - A Jonathon Stone Mystery
ARIZONA SENATOR AND U.S. SENATORIAL CANDIDATE, TAD CLOSEN SHOT DOWNTOWN PHOENIX DURING PARADE

CIA Agent Jonathon Stone’s purchase of an old rifle from a gun dealer leads him on a search for the owner of the gun. When he finds the owner, a Cajun gun for hire, he discovers that he was one of the shooters in downtown Phoenix the day Senator Ted Closen was assassinated. As the search accelerates, fellow agent Carol Haney joins Stone on a journey that goes from California to the French Quarter in New Orleans to Phoenix to the mountains in Northern Arizona.


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Game of Fire - A Jonathon Stone Mystery
An explosion and fire rocked a Southern California mall and it is quickly determined it is arson. The timing of the incident is special because it interrupts the Tet New Year’s Festival and Parade in Little Saigon, an area just east of Long Beach.

Enter veteran CIA Agent Jonathon Stone. Already in pursuit of the gun-running Minh family, he connects with a special FBI task force to assist in the investigation of the explosion and Minh quickly becomes their number one suspect.


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Black Mountain Secrets - A Jonathon Stone Mystery
CIA Agent Jonathon Stone goes undercover to help in an FBI investigation after a fellow agent is murdered on the Colorado River.

Stone continues the agent’s investigation of suspects who are stealing top-secret documents from a secret Army base in the middle of the Mohave Desert. The trail leads him from the rugged Black Mountains of Nevada to Laughlin, a gambling oasis on the Colorado.

As things heat up in this desert paradise, Stone dodges bullets and attempts on his life until he reaches the ultimate showdown. Jonathon Stone truly needs lady luck on his side to catch the spies and get through this ordeal alive.

Mystery Writer James Moushon brings to life Jonathon Stone, an undercover CIA agent assigned to the off the books CIA division – DOT.

He throws Stone right into the middle of action. As the mystery unfolds, Stone uses his wealth of knowledge and keen analytical mind to complete his dangerous assignments, while at the same time battling his love for gambling and drinking and the ladies.


Book Trailer: Black Mountain Secrets



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Joy, the Little Girl from Hope - A Summer At The North Pole
We join Santa and Ms. Claus relaxing on the porch after a hard day’s work. It is summertime at the ranch as everyone prepares for Christmas Eve. Many things have changed over the years but the goal of bringing joy to the world is still the same. Things are just more modern now.

One of the tasks Ms. Claus oversees is the many letters received from children. Just as things seem to be going smoothly, they receive a heartbreaking letter that changes the mode of the day. Santa must take care of this problem immediately.


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For a Complete List of James's Books, visit Amazon Author Profile and Book List.

The Author's Kindle Unlimited ebooks can be read for free by Subscribers.

The Showcase is a special feature of the Author's Spotlight. It is designed to highlight Spotlight author's NEW releases and their soon to be released novels.

Post Created by: James Moushon
Mystery Author, Industry blogger and Author Advocate
James is the author of the following blogs:
HBS Author’s Spotlight
Indie Author's Corner