“Likable characters, fast pacing, and an intriguing subplot about Sharyn’s attempts to learn the truth behind her father’s death make for an enjoyable read.”

— Sue O’Brien, Booklist, August 1, 2005

This time the mystery for Sheriff Sharyn Howard and her Diamond Springs deputies hits a little bit closer to home. After a speeding boat flies up over the pier and onto the street, the sheriff’s department investigates. They become personally involved when the pocketbook of Sharyn’s assistant, Trudy Robinson, is found on the boat—along with a lot of blood. Trudy has been missing for days, and things don’t look promising.

While combing the crime scene at the boat a dead body washes up beside the pier. Upon discovering that the dead man was the head mechanic for a local racecar driver, Sharyn’s investigation turns to the speedway. Could legendary driver Duke Beatty be the one behind it all? Sharyn has her suspicions.

Trudy is found unharmed at the speedway at the same time that Duke is shot and killed, and it appears that she may be the murderer. Trudy’s husband, Ed, one of Sharyn’s deputies who also happened to be on the scene at the time, tries to protect his wife by claiming that he is guilty of shooting Duke.

Now Sharyn must prove that Ed is innocent while also trying to find the real culprit.

Joyce and Jim Lavene are a married writing team. They are active in local and national writers’ groups where they lecture and give workshops on the craft of writing. They live in North Carolina with their family.

Before the Last Lap is the eleventh book in the Sharyn Howard Mystery series and their sixteenth book for AVALON, including romances written under the pseudonym Joye Ames.

They welcome readers to their websites at:
www.joyceandjimlavene.com and www.sharynhowardmysteries.com.

 

Avalon Mysteries by Joyce and Jim Lavene:
The Sharyn Howard Mystery Series
THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST
BEFORE THE LAST LAP
LAST ONE DOWN
LAST RITES
GLORY'S LAST VICTIM
LAST FIRES BURNING
DREAMS DON'T LAST
FOR THE LAST TIME
UNTIL OUR LAST EMBRACE
THE LAST TO REMEMBER
ONE LAST GOOD-BYE
LAST DANCE

Avalon Romances by Joye Ames (pseudonym):
MADISON'S MIRACLES
THE DOWAGER DUCHESS
SAVE YOUR HEART FOR ME
IF NOT FOR YOU
A TIME FOR LOVE
ONLY YOU