From witty, suspenseful, sexy mysteries featuring the charming and complex amateur sleuth, Jenny Cain. In Bum Steer, a mysterious murder and a strange bequest send Jenny to the wild, wild West. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

When Cat Benet inexplicably bequeaths his Kansas ranch to a civic foundation on the condition that his family be barred from the land, Jenny Cain, the foundation's director turned sleuth, goes to meet Benet, only to find him murdered. ``Pickard writes fluidly on family ties . . . while her appealing detective displays warmth, intelligence and a social conscience as she perseveres in her search for the truth,'' commented PW. (Jan.) From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Another airy construction, this series addition whisks Jenny Cain, director of the Port Frederick Civic Foundation, to Kansas City, where she hopes to discover why a dying millionaire has willed a vast cattle ranch to her little-known foundation. Thwarted upon arrival by the man's murder, she visits the ranch, fraternizes with two transplanted cowboys, searches out three ex-wives, and takes on a troubled teenager--all in hopes of finding the murderer. The heroine skirts dangerously close to flightiness at times, which tends to dissipate tension, but on the whole, changes of venue and the odd ex-wife keep things in motion. Recommended. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Nancy Pickard is best known for her Jenny Cain mysteries. Her first novel was "Generous Death", and she began writing the culinary adventures of Mrs. Potter when the creator of the character, Virginia Rich, passed away in the mid 1980's. Rich's husband found a box of notes and newspaper clippings that were related to books that Virginia had hoped to write and they included a few first drafts of chapters. Pickard's relationship began with Rich when, as a fan, she wrote a letter to her after finishing "The Cooking School Murders." They were both mystery writers married to cattle ranchers. After her death, Rich's husband wanted to find another writer to continue Virginia's work, which eventually led to Pickard. The unfinished manuscript for "The 27-Ingredient Chili Con Carne Murders" was continued by Pickard and published in 1993. Before her death, Rich wrote "The Cooking School Murders" (1982), The Baked Bean Supper Murders" (1983), and The Nantucket Diet Murders" (1985).

The other Eugenia Potter novels written by Pickard were "The Blue Corn Murders," which turned the character Mrs. Potter into a more vigorous older woman, followed by "The Secret Ingredient Murders."

Pickard is the past president of Sisters in Crime and received the Anthony, Macavity and Agatha awards for five of the ten novels in her popular Jenny Cain series. She was also a two-time Edgar Award nominee and a winner of the American Mystery Award.

Her latest novel is entitled, The Scent of Rain and Lightning. (Bowker Author Biography) Virginia Rich and her heroine, Eugenia Potter, were beloved by mystery fans for years. Now Nancy Pickard, the Edgar-nominated author of the Jenny Cain series, has taken up the mantle. A great fan of Mrs. Rich, Nancy Pickard is the co-author of The 27-Ingredient Chili Con Carne Murders and the author of The Blue Corn Murders.

(Publisher Provided) Nancy Pickard lives in Kansas with her family. "Ring of Truth" is the second Marie Lightfoot novel.

(Publisher Provided) Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.