“Made it.”

Those words open Show Me the Murder. The protagonist, a former CIA covert operative, expresses her relief at reaching the sanctuary of her hometown in northern Missouri after surviving a shooting in the Istanbul spice bazaar.

Those words also express my relief that the book, my first published mystery novel, finally is coming to library and store shelves. People will read it for entertainment rather than evaluation.

I invite anyone interested to come celebrate with me at my book launch party at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 17, Columbia Books, 1907 Gordon Street, Columbia, Missouri (off Old 63 North just behind the Westlake’s).

Here’s a little reminder of what some reviewers have said.

Kirkus: “amusing and touching”

Library Journal: “a tightly woven tale”

Gumshoe Review: “appealing characters” and “compelling story”

Myshelf.com: “One of the best books I have read in a long time.”

—Carolyn Mulford