About
Like her mystery series, Emmeline Duncan is based in Portland, Oregon. Her work include the Ground Rules and Halloween Bookshop Mystery Series, which includes 2026’s Hysteria at the Historical Society. When not writing, she spends her time seeking out new coffee shops and hiking trails to explore, frequently accompanied by her Great Pyrenees. You can track her online at emmelineduncan.com.
Featured Work
Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop
When Bailey Briggs takes over her grandfather’s bookshop, Lazy Bones Books, she accidentally discovers her beloved Oregon Halloween-themed town’s secret dark side…
Normally, spooky season is Bailey Briggs’ favorite time of year, and her Halloween-themed small town’s time to shine. But between managing Lazy Bones Books, working on her graphic novel-in-progress, and running the Spooky Season Literary Festival, Bailey hardly has a moment to enjoy Elyan Hollow’s spot-on seasonal vibes. Not to mention, at every turn she seems to be tripping over the contentious crew of Gone Ghouls, a ghost-hunting reality TV show currently filming around town. Bailey tries to stay focused on the Lit Festival, which is supposed to kick off Elyan Hollow’s annual Halloween Fair; instead, this year’s festival begins with a murder . . .
It’s bad enough Bailey discovered the victim, but now, as a lead suspect with some (admittedly) damning evidence pointing her way, she’s got to clear her name! With the help of her librarian friend, Colby, and Jack Skeleton, her world-class bookshop dog (and the absolute bestest boy ever), Bailey sets out to solve a murder . . .
As her investigation weaves through family secrets, professional rivalries, and town feuds, the list of suspects is growing fast . . . and unfortunately, so is the list of victims. It’s up to Bailey to keep Elyan Hollow’s haunted reputation from getting too real in this charming Halloween cozy mystery, perfect for curling up with this spooky season.
Other Works
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Mayhem at a Halloween Wedding
2026
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Hysteria at the Historical Society
2026
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Fatal Brouhaha
2025
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Death Unfiltered
2024
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Flat White Fatality
2023
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Double Shot Death
2022
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Fresh Brewed Murder
2021
Press and Media Mentions
- “An exciting mystery whose answers lie deep in the past of the complex characters.” –Kirkus Reviews
- “Lively characters help propel the intricate plot. Cozy fans will hope to see a lot more of Sage and friends.” – Publishers Weekly
- “Fans looking for a lighthearted cozy to get them in the Halloween spirit won’t be disappointed with Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop.”
- “Details of running a bookstore and literary festival and the whimsical, small-town, Halloween-themed setting frame this satisfying series starter, narrated by Bailey and peopled by a well-delineated cast including Bailey’s Great Pyrenees dog, Jack Skeleton.” -Booklist
- “Portland’s beloved food carts provide a tantalizing backdrop for a new cozy mystery…Using a food cart pod as the setting for the story is a creative way to address both the quirkiness and the more dismaying aspects of life in contemporary Portland.” – The Sunday Oregonian
