Murdering the May Queen

When police clerk Isla Hoover agrees to play her bagpipes for a Wiccan Beltane celebration, she expects an interesting weekend observing her sister's rituals. But when her sister falls ill, Isla finds herself alone at the coven’s remote Arizona camp—a world away from her desk at the Tucson Police Department.

Struggling with the coven’s arcane "Craft names," Isla’s weekend takes a dark turn when a series of accidents target Bridey, this year's May Queen. A brutal storm then isolates the group, cutting off all escape. The situation turns from tense to terrifying when Bridey is found murdered, strangled with a ribbon from the very Maypole meant for a joyous dance.

As the only person with any connection to law enforcement, Isla must rely on her clerical experience to investigate. Trapped with a killer and a house full of suspects, can she unmask the murderer before the storm clears… or before they strike again?

novel cover of Murdering the May Queen, by Ashleen O'Gaea

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Pages: 179

Published: September 2025

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