WASHED UP

There is a sudden rumble of rushing water – a flash flood charging by as you enjoy your 4th of July lunch with your best friend. You notice a mysterious log washed up, which seems to be hush-hushed by all the cops. To make matters worse, there is a shootout in the nearby desert in the midst of it all. Scary? Sounds like an adventure to RJ and Claire. Join the duo as they leap up at the name of adventure and head out to see it all for themselves. They also end up making a new friend—Sam—on the way, dragging her with them to investigate the series of mysteries. Adding to the puzzle is the discovery of the long-hidden journals of a mother, holding the secrets of ranch life, the story of a deadly feud over water rights, and the story of a missing son. Is the mysterious log linked to the never-found missing son? Who would have thought they would stumble across a long-forgotten murder in their quest for thrill and excitement? How did all of these strange happenings occur at the same time? Coincidence? Maybe it isn't. WASHED UP by Patricia Dustman is filled with epic adventures and intrigue set in the southwestern desert. She and her co-author, MaryEllen Tinsley, have crafted a delightful cozy in which three best friends are determined to solve the questionable mysteries and somehow find the solution to an unsolved murder. The book carries an interesting message of how age is not a factor when it comes to having fun. With our characters making new friends and solving murder mysteries – this book is a must-have for all the sleuths and keen investigator's out there.

There is a sudden rumble of rushing water – a flash flood charging by as you enjoy your 4th of July lunch with your best friend. You notice a mysterious log washed up, which seems to be hush-hushed by all the cops. To make matters worse, there is a shootout in the nearby desert in the midst of it all. Scary? Sounds like an adventure to RJ and Claire. Join the duo as they leap up at the name of adventure and head out to see it all for themselves. They also end up making a new friend—Sam—on the way, dragging her with them to investigate the series of mysteries. Adding to the puzzle is the discovery of the long-hidden journals of a mother, holding the secrets of ranch life, the story of a deadly feud over water rights, and the story of a missing son. Is the mysterious log linked to the never-found missing son? Who would have thought they would stumble across a long-forgotten murder in their quest for thrill and excitement? How did all of these strange happenings occur at the same time? Coincidence? Maybe it isn't. WASHED UP by Patricia Dustman is filled with epic adventures and intrigue set in the southwestern desert. She and her co-author, MaryEllen Tinsley, have crafted a delightful cozy in which three best friends are determined to solve the questionable mysteries and somehow find the solution to an unsolved murder. The book carries an interesting message of how age is not a factor when it comes to having fun. With our characters making new friends and solving murder mysteries – this book is a must-have for all the sleuths and keen investigator's out there.

This cozy mystery resulted from the collaborative efforts of Patricia Jo (PJ) Dustman and MaryEllen Zeman-Tinsley (ME Tinsley). Professional colleagues for nearly two decades, during that relationship, the two discovered a shared love of language and storytelling. Following their formal retirement and the publication of a volume of narrative poetry, the two began to collaborate to create this Southwest Desert Mystery. Patricia, whose professional background focused primarily on PreK through Grade 12 public education, spent her more than three decades teaching and administering public schools in both Ohio and Arizona. Following her years in public education, she joined a prevention research team at Arizona State University specializing in developing interventions for substance abuse prevention for youth and families.