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  • Public Safety

    🚨 Not What It Looked Like: Deputies Step Into Social Worker Role in West Portsmouth 

    Portsmouth Fire Department PFD

    🚨 “I’m Dying!” Woman Storms Portsmouth Fire Station — First Responders Step Up in Mental Health Crisis 

    Eric A Froe

    🚨 Repeat Trespasser Back Behind Bars — But For How Long?

    🚨 McCall Road Meltdown: Stepfather Jailed After Violent Domestic Attack 

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    Missing Person Call Erupts Into Threats, Taser Standoff, and Dead Body! 

    🐶🍉 Watermelon Brawl? Portsmouth Police Called to “Fight” on Highland Avenue 

    💥🚬 Boom on the Block: Cigarette + Oxygen = Disaster in Portsmouth Home 

    😱 “I’ll Bring a Gun!” Patient’s Chilling Threat Shakes Local Medical Facility 

    dog animal neglect

    🐶 Left Behind: Dog Abandoned After Eviction Sparks Police Investigation 

    Nuisance Properties

    The Cash Register’s Ringing—But So Are the Sirens 

    Radioactive Shrimp

    🚨 Radioactive Shrimp Recall EXPANDS at Walmart and Beyond! 🚨 

    Portsmouth Scioto County

    49 Felony Counts! Portsmouth & Wheelersburg Suspects Busted in Multi-County Crime Sweep — Wanted Parolee Nabbed 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 08/22/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Elder Safety

    Elder Abuse or Just Stubbornness? 

    SCDN File Photo

    Hammer Horror in Otway! Man Barricades Himself After Alleged Attack on Stepfather 

    SCDN File Photo

    🚨 Child Knocks Van Into Gear — Woman Pinned Against Building on Scioto Trail 

    Trinida Castro

    🎂 Murder Suspect Turns 18—Now Facing Big-Time Charges in Adult Jail 

    Sticker Shock: $2,500 a Day Foster Case Highlights Broken System in Scioto County 

    Scioto County Grand Jury Indictments

    14 New Scioto County Grand Jury Indictments

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 08/21/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics
    Scottie Powell

    Powell Calls on Commissioner Davis to Resign 

    Scioto County Bryan Davis Scandal

    🗓 Timeline of a Scandal: How Scioto County’s Economic Development Crisis Unfolded 

    Bryan Davis

    Commissioner Bryan Davis and Wife Indicted in Scioto Scandal 

    Joey Sandlin

    Joey Sandlin Announces Inauguration Ceremony  

    Erie Canal Lock 50

    After Nearly a Decade of Talk, Scioto County Moves Closer to Restoring Historic Lock 50 

    Portsmouth City Council 2023

    Portsmouth City Council Considers More Cash for Lawsuit Defense 

    West Virginia SNAP

    🚨No More Free Pop? West Virginia Bans Soda from SNAP—Should Ohio Be Next?🚨 

    We Don’t Do Roads!: Scioto Commissioners Clarify Who’s Really in Charge of Road Repairs 

    “I’m Not Here to Replace Cathy”: New Commissioner Merit Smith Says He’ll Lead with Life Experience 

    Merit Smith

    Merit Smith Chosen to Fill Late Commissioner Cathy Coleman’s Seat 

    Scottie Powell

    “Run on Vision, Not Attacks”: Powell Offers Advice to Candidates Vying for Cathy Coleman’s Seat 

    🌿 Bamboo Gets Fast-Tracked at City Hall — But the Homeless Crisis? Still Stuck in Neutral 

    Who Will Carry Cathy’s Torch? GOP to Choose Coleman’s Replacement July 29 

    Cathy Coleman

    Commissioners Back Senior Housing Project Championed by Late Commissioner Cathy Coleman 

    “Bad and Quirky” Lucasville House Targeted for Demolition as County Cracks Down on Blighted Properties 

    ‘A Great Addition to Heaven’: Commissioners Honor Cathy Coleman, Reflect on Her Legacy and Who Might Carry It Forward 

    Cathy Coleman

    Scioto County Mourns Commissioner Cathy Coleman 

    🚨TRIAL TWIST! Horton Corruption Case on Ice—For Now 

    Cathy Coleman

    Remembering Scioto County Commissioner Cathy Coleman

    somc 2

    🏥 Scioto County Approves Hospital Tax to Keep Medicaid Dollars Local 

  • Feel Good
    A man sitting in a vehicle is handing over an ID card to a female police officer standing by his window.

    Tips for Staying Calm During Police Encounters

    Cyn Mackley

    Cyn Mackley Channels Haunted Appalachia

    A group of friends stand around a table, smiling, laughing, and drinking. There are plates of food on the table.

    Creative Ways To Host Outdoor Events This Summer

    A family of two parents and a young boy and girl are playing laser tag with vests and laser blasters in an arena.

    What Activities To Offer at a Family Fun Center

    Shawnee State University SSU

    Shawnee State University Joins New Athletic Conference, Adds Football to Lineup 

    BREAKING: Commissioners Make Shocking Decision—Halloween to Remain on Halloween 

    Escape to the Hills: A Summer Reading List Set in Appalachia 

    Scioto County Champs: Lady Trojans and Word Wizards Bring Home the Gold 

    “I Held Those Keys Tight” — One Man’s Harrowing Journey from Addiction to Hope 

    Three girls in quinceañera dresses stand beside one another. The one in middle has a gold dress while the other two wear pink.

    Tips for Selecting the Color of a Quinceañera Dress

    The Day the Streak Ended: Lakers’ 1987 Record Broken

    An angler standing at the edge of a lake just after sunset with three fishing rods resting on the ground next to him.

    Night Fishing: Who Is It for and How Do You Start?

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    Cops Rescue Lost Man 

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    Kid Misses Bus, Deputy to the Rescue 

    A group of people stands outside with their arms in the air. They hold their hands together, making a pyramid shape.

    Hidden Gems: Community Strategies for Mental Wellness

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    Man Says He’s Trapped in Armory 

    Good Samaritan 2

    Good Neighbor and Officer to the Rescue 

    Portsmouth Flood Wall Stars

    Meet the New Flood Wall Stars! 

    A bearded man is sitting on the floor and comforting his dog in a wheelchair. The dog has his ears pinned back.

    Training Tips To Help Your Dog Get Used to Their Wheelchair

    U.S. housing market

    Tips for Making Your New House Feel Like a Home

  • Obituaries

    Thaddeus Matthew Blizzard, 58, of Fort Worth

    Barbara Williams

    Connie Jane Viars Snyder, 76 of South Shore

    Garry E. Adkins

    Garry E. Adkins, 74 of South Webster

    Leeroy William Bush

    Leeroy William Bush “Bill”,81 of Casstown

    Jean Faye Lauro

    Jean Faye Lauro, 91, of Wheelersburg

    Donald Richard Aeh

    Donald Richard Aeh, 89, of Portsmouth

    Ethel Marlene Teeters

    Ethel Marlene Teeters, 64 of Portsmouth

    Norma Jean Cole

    Norma Jean Cole 88, of South Webster

    was a 1974 graduate of Minford High School. Albert worked as a mechanic most of his life, starting at Standard Oil/ Sohio in 1974 and moved to Meenach's Garage in 1991. He was saved May 23, 2021, and attended Cedar Street Church, Church of Christ in Christian Union. 

    Albert E. Potters, 69 of Wheelersburg,

    Evelyn Angela Galloway, 89 of New Boston

    William McGinnis

    Stephen Ray Lucas, 53 of Piketon

    Wanda Lou Payton

    Wanda Lou Payton, 80 of Minford

    Marjorie K. Bloomfield

    Marjorie K. Bloomfield, 96 of Portsmouth

    Daisy Janell Hall

    Daisy Janell Hall, 45 of Minford

    William McGinnis

    Vaughn Ray Chamberlin, 86 of Wheelersburg

    Barbara Williams

    Daisy Janell Hall, 45 of Minford

    David M. Bussa

    David M. Bussa, 74 of Sciotoville

    Rebecca Schumacher

    Rebecca Schumacher, 43 of Jackson

    Jackie M. Shaw

    Jackie M. Shaw age 80 of Portsmouth

    Elizabeth Broom

    Elizabeth Broom, 83 of Ironton

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5 Best Murder Mystery Book Series With Romance

Cyn Mackley by Cyn Mackley
5 years ago
in National
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What are the 5 best murder mystery book series that feature romance?  I’m glad you asked. I know the song says that “Love is all you need,” but truthfully for me, it’s not quite enough. I like my love stories littered with corpses. I’m all for love. I’ve been in love for 30 straight years, but there’s other stuff going on in my relationship. (Like video games and watching tons of British detective shows.)

I don’t have the patience for too many romantic complications. I prefer couples who team up to figure out who killed the mysterious blackmailer or just what the hell is making that noise in the pipes.  I’m also a lover of mystery series. Willie Wonka may think that one is enough for anyone, but I disagree.

If you’re like me, this is your lucky day. I’ve got what I consider to be the 5 best murder mystery book series that add a little romance to the mix.  Your mileage may vary but I will tell you that my librarian used to tell me that she used my checkout history to pick a new book series because I had such good taste.

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Let’s count them down.

Robert B. Parker’s Spenser Series

Robert B. Parker loved the hell out of his wife. The couple had a complicated relationship (they ended up living in a duplex so that they could be both together and have some space) anchored in love. The intense romantic love and respect they shared are reflected in the relationship between the tough and fiercely autonomous private investigator Spenser and his therapist girlfriend, Susan.
spenser
Even when she only plays a small part in the actual mystery, her importance to both the character of Spenser and his creator is hard to miss. There’s a line in one of the novels where Susan tells Spenser, “You look at the world with fewer illusions than anyone I’ve ever known. And yet you are as sentimental as you would be if the world were pretty–pretty.”
That’s a fantastic summary of Parker’s work. Hard-boiled and sentimental. There are 39 books in the series written by Parker. Another author picked it up after his passing, but I prefer to stop there.  Susan is not in the first book, so I give you permission to skip it.
His work inspired me both as a reader and a writer.

David Handler’s Berger & Mitry Mysteries

The story of a heartbroken widower meeting up with a tough-talking state-trooper is a favorite of mine. Both characters are fish out of water in a small Connecticut seaside town. He’s a New York film critic looking for a place to hide from sympathetic friends and she’s a black woman in a sea of old-money Yankees.
david-handler
Do these two opposites attract? You betcha! Does the small town have a higher murder rate than a Colombian slum? Of course, it does. I like these books because they explore the small New England village theme without getting too cutesy. I like the love story because it feels very adult (not in the bom chicka wow wow way).
There are 11 books in the series.

J.D. Robb’s In Death Series

This series has been out for well over 20 years. Even though I’m an avid reader, I missed it up until about three years ago. J.D. Robb is a name that Nora Roberts writes a the In Death series under. These books are sexy thrillers with a little bit of a Sci-Fi twist.

Again, I’m not sure how I managed to never read any of the 50 plus books the 20-year-old murder mystery series. I read the first book, Naked In Death.  I thought the sci-fi futuristic angle wasn’t handled that well. But I kept reading, mostly because I admire the way Nora/J.D. handles writing banter and fairly explicit sex. I think she walks a great line between romantic and too much information.  I initially said that the series was just okay. Then, like it was a jumbo bag of Cheetos, I just couldn’t stop.

jd robb

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A lot of the sci-fi element consists of saying stuff like, ‘I used my future phone to call a future cab.’ The main characters are a standard tortured tough-cop and a handsome billionaire who can basically make you roll on the floor in ecstasy by unbuttoning your top blouse button. But I absolutely could not stop reading them. It’s as if Fifty Shades of Gray had an actual plot. (Don’t worry, no spanking involved)
Fortunately for my pocketbook, they were all available at the library through the OverDrive app. 

Dorothy L. Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey Series

Sayers wrote a lot of Lord Peter Wimsey books, but I’m only including Strong Poison, Have His Carcase, Gaudy Night, and Busman’s Honeymoon in the love story category. Harriet Vane is a divisive character among fans of Sayers’ stories of an English lord with a bad case of nerves solving mysteries in the 1920s and 30s. Sayers created a character that she fell madly in love with, so she wrote herself into the books. Like Sayers, the character of Harriet Vane is an educated mystery writer with a scandalous past.  The love story begins when Lord Peter sees Harriet on the witness stand at her own murder trial. He falls instantly in love and is determined to save her.
sayers
Sayers has volumes to say about the position of women at the time, relationships between the sexes, independence, and the nature of love and honor. These books were written in the 1920s and 30s, so you’re getting the straight scoop on how it was at the time, not filtered through the lens of today. These books are not sentimental, but the mysteries are solid and the relationship between these two extremely logical people trying to make sense of love is endearing though sometimes frustrating. As I said, these were written in the 1930s. While, in some ways, Sayers was forward-thinking, in others she is constrained by notions of class and the roles of men and women of her time.
Decades after Sayers’ death, author Jill Paton Walsh picked up the series and finished some of Sayers’ unfinished works. I have to say, she did a good enough job for me to recommend these later books as well. Though they clearly see the time period through a modern eye.
Sayers acknowledged her critics in the introduction to Busman’s Honeymoon, saying that while the love story might seem like an intrusion on the mystery to some, to the character the mystery is an intrusion on the love story. No need to apologize, Dorothy, it was no intrusion at all.

Cyn Mackley’s Goode-Grace Series

This cozy series set in a small Ohio farming town features realistically draw characters than turn some common mystery tropes on their ear. Trinity Goode is a  Goth chick trying to come home to the small town that rejected her as a teenager because she was too weird. Deputy Bobby Grace is a handsome lawman who’s sick and tired of folks telling him he’s too straight-laced.

goode-grace

The two old friends reconnect while trying to solve the murder of Trinity’s grandfather. You’d expect Trinity to be a fish out of water, but it turns out she’s a church-going, quilt-making, cake-baking country gal who shows up hard with a casserole when the situation calls for it. Their romance doesn’t feature any of the standard wacky misunderstandings but there are still plenty of obstacles… and corpses blocking this deserving pair’s road to happiness including a body in a corn maze.  You always knew those things were deadly, right?

Tags: booksNewsletterOhio
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