Mallory Marlowe has reached a turning point in her life and is looking for a new direction. Recently widowed, with a college-aged daughter and son, she needs something to fill her days. When her friend tells her about a job opening with a travel magazine, Mallory decides to apply for it. At the interview, it turns out there's an opening for a travel writer. Despite some misgivings about her ability to do the job, Mallory decides to take a chance and take the job.

Her first assignment takes her to Florida, and even before touchdown in the sunshine state, she encounters a glitch. Her seat is occupied by an unpleasant passenger who wants her aisle seat, rather than the seat he's been given. Mallory is discouraged to discover later that the same man is part of the press junket she's on, and he's as offensive and obnoxious on the tour as he was on the plane, making rude and crude remarks to everyone and going out of his way to offend the young woman in charge of the tour. It's no surprise to anyone when the guy turns up dead, speared to death. What is a surprise is that Mallory becomes the number one on the suspect! She has to discover who the murderer is before she becomes a permanent resident of the Florida prison system.

MURDER PACKS A SUITCASE by Cynthia Baxter is a thoroughly entertaining foray into the world of travel writers, with a bit of murder and mayhem thrown in for excitement. Ms. Baxter's flowing descriptions are well- suited to the travel theme as she whisks readers away to the gorgeous state of Florida, taking us away from the well- known Orlando sites to the "old" Florida of years past that we all remember from our youth and still secretly yearn for. The mystery is well-plotted, the culprit a surprise and the tie-in to Mallory's old life will leave the reader wanting more. Fans of Ms. Baxter's Reigning Cats and Dogs Mysteries are sure to enjoy the adventures of travel writer and amateur sleuth Mallory Marlowe.

Book Summary

Mallory Marlowe is ready to turn a corner—one lined with palm trees, plastic pink flamingo lawn ornaments, and snack bars shaped like giant ice cream cones. Thanks to her new job as travel writer for the New York magazine The Good Life, recently widowed Mallory is zipping around Orlando, assigned to rediscover the glory days of “old Florida.” It’s the first of what she hopes will be many exciting adventures . . . but she’s about to discover that the Sunshine State has a dark side.

Settled in among the faux volcanoes and tiki torches of the Polynesian Princess Hotel, Mallory is on the lookout for quirky attractions like alligator farms and pirate-themed diners hidden amid the glitzy theme parks. But she’s not prepared to find a cranky journalist speared to death in the Bali Ballroom—or to find herself a suspect in his murder. With her trip coming to a close, Mallory has no choice but to figure out if one of her fellow travel writers is a killer. Because if she doesn’t get out of Florida soon, her career—and her life—are about to come to a dead end.

Includes Mallory’s article for The Good Life, with tips and reviews of real Florida attractions!