Murder Plays Second Fiddle
Published on 13. January 2026
Book
Hardback
256 pages
979-8-88798-116-1 (ISBN)
Description
The Pearly Girls return to solve a high school reunion murder in this sequel to Murder Strikes a Chord.
Event planner Cassidy Jamison and her not-so-helpful sexagenarian staff of Roxie, Kate, Aileen, and Ruthanne are up to their elbows with a high school reunion committee's constantly changing requirements for an event that must be the most elaborate and memorable at all costs.
When well-known reporter, Darcy Branch, and former cheerleader, Brittany Mahoney, are found dead on her property, Cassidy and the gang have to find the killer before the party's over. And the more Cassidy and her Chihuahua mix, Elvis, dig for clues, the more deadly secrets they uncover-including one that changes everything she knows about her family's history.
The Pearly Girls need to solve the case before the Class of 2009 goes down in Ivy Springs history as the deadliest reunion.
Event planner Cassidy Jamison and her not-so-helpful sexagenarian staff of Roxie, Kate, Aileen, and Ruthanne are up to their elbows with a high school reunion committee's constantly changing requirements for an event that must be the most elaborate and memorable at all costs.
When well-known reporter, Darcy Branch, and former cheerleader, Brittany Mahoney, are found dead on her property, Cassidy and the gang have to find the killer before the party's over. And the more Cassidy and her Chihuahua mix, Elvis, dig for clues, the more deadly secrets they uncover-including one that changes everything she knows about her family's history.
The Pearly Girls need to solve the case before the Class of 2009 goes down in Ivy Springs history as the deadliest reunion.
Reviews / Votes
"A fun cozy mystery that combines event planning, a high school reunion (complete with mean girls!), and murder. Join Cassidy and the Pearly Girls as they work through the complications of a reunion gone wrong. A delightful and entertaining cozy mystery." -Rose Kerr, author of the Mia Reid, Archaeologist Mysteries"The Pearly Girls are back and even better! ...A deliciously fun ride with a cast you'll love and root for, featuring a tightly-plotted mystery and just a little romance, this is a true treat for cozy readers. Bring on more Pearly Girls!" -Nikki Knight, author of the Grace the Hit Mom Mysteries
"The future seems bright for Cassidy Jamison, owner of Celebrations at Ivy Springs-an event venue in Virginia's picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains. She has finally overcome the bad publicity from a murder at the facility a year before. Cassidy, her colorful staff-including the often-cantankerous Pearly Girls-and her Chihuahua-mix, Elvis, have worked hard to prepare for the summer's signature event: the Ivy Springs High School Class of 2009 reunion. All is well until one of the class members turns up dead. Cassidy must steel herself to face the fallout of another dead body on her property. But that's just the beginning, as it soon becomes clear that someone-or something-won't hesitate to kill again and... No spoilers here. Come along as Heather Weidner demonstrates her mastery of the cozy mystery genre. You won't be disappointed." -Michael Rigg, author of Voices of the Elysian Fields, a Jonathan Gray, M. D. Mystery
"With a smart and inquisitive heroine, an adorable chihuahua named Elvis, and a group of feisty older sidekicks, Murder Plays Second Fiddle is a fantastic encore in the Pearly Girls Mysteries. The class reunion Cassidy is hosting at her charming venue is filled with mean girl energy, back-biting drama, and skillful stunts. Just the right hint of a possible romance with the hunky detective will keep you coming back for more. The engaging mystery will keep readers cheering Cassidy on as she waltzes through the clues. Cozy mystery and music fans will be delighted!" -Paula Charles, author of the Hometown Hardware mysteries
"For Cassidy Jamison, party planning is serious business until murder crashes the guest list. When a high school reunion at their event venue turns from festive to fatal, Cassidy finds herself juggling floral arrangements, frantic committees, and her well-meaning but delightfully chaotic crew of Pearly Girls. As the champagne fizzes and secrets bubble to the surface, Cassidy and her lovable team must mix investigation with decoration to keep the celebration (and themselves) from going off the rails. With small-town charm, laugh-out-loud banter, and a sisterhood that always steals the spotlight, Heather Weidner's Murder Plays Second Fiddle is a cozy mystery worth celebrating." -Sarah E. Burr, author of the Trending Topic Mysteries Praise for Heather Weidner's Murder Strikes a Chord
"Determined to save her catering business and prove her sexagenarian friend is innocent of committing murder, Cassidy Jamison gets her groove on and takes charge of investigating Johnny Storm's murder. Murder Strikes a Chord hits all the right notes in this new cozy mystery by Heather Weidner." -Jackie Layton, Author of the Texas Flower Farmer Cozy Mysteries and the Low Country Dog Walker Mysteries
"Ivy Springs is a fabulous setting for a cozy, full of quaint little shops and unique characters. Former social media manager Cassidy is the perfect modern-day Miss Marple, using her computer skills to hunt down the rock star's killer. Between Cassidy's smarts and the Pearly Girls fun, Murder Strikes a Chord is a winner all around." -Sue Minix, Author of the Bookstore Mystery Series
"Cassidy Jamison's Groovin' Through the Decades concert series is heading for success when the popular if aging rock band, the Weathermen, give their first performance. That is, until the lead singer ends up face down in the koi pond. With the help of the four sixty-something Pearly Girls and her spunky chihuahua Elvis, Cassidy sets out to find the murderer and put things right. A fun, fast-paced, and heartwarming start to Heather Weidner's latest series." -Marilyn Levinson a.k.a. Allison Brook, author of the Haunted Library Series
"Heather Weidner's newest release, Murder Strikes a Chord, is a fun read with curves and twists. Add to that the hilarious antics of the Pearly Girls and you've got a great book you won't want to put down!" -Ruth J. Hartman, Bestselling Author of The Kitty Beret Cafe Mysteries
"The Pearly Girls rock! With an appealing amateur sleuth surrounded by a quartet of feisty sixtysomething friends, a unique setting, and a zippy plot, Murder Strikes a Chord hits all the high notes for a fun cozy mystery read. The Girls' rock-and-roll dreams come true when a classic band comes to the event space they run with young Cassidy Jamison, the granddaughter of their late friend. It's all fun until Cassidy finds the frontman dead in the koi pond...just hours after he was making time with Pearly Girl Roxie. Now they'll have to clear Roxie's name, fend off a media onslaught, keep the concert series going-and hopefully not fall prey to the real killer. Oh, and maybe fix Cassidy up with that cute sheriff's deputy... A great first installment in this delightful series. More Pearly Girls, please!" -Nikki Knight, author of the Grace "the Hit Mom" and Vermont Radio Mysteries
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Paducah, KY
United States
Product notice
With dust jacket
Illustrations
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
435 gr
ISBN-13
979-8-88798-116-1 (9798887981161)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Heather Weidner has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She's the author of the Pearly Girls Mysteries, the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries, The Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries, and The Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries, and her short stories have appeared in various publications. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.