To Love, Honor, and Perish (Squeaky Clean Mysteries)

How could God let this happen? Just when crime scene cleaner Gabby St. Claire's life is on the right track, the unthinkable happens. Gabby's fiancé, Riley Thomas, is shot and remains in life-threatening condition only a week before their wedding. Gabby is determined to figure out who pulled the trigger, even if investigating puts her own life at risk. But as she digs deeper into the facts surrounding the case, she discovers secrets better left alone. Doubts arise in her mind and the one man with answers is on death's doorstep. An old foe from the past returns and tests everything Gabby is made of - physically, mentally, and spiritually. Will her soul survive the challenges ahead? Or will everything she's worked for be destroyed? Fiction/Christian/Mystery Foreword -- Otto Penzler Introduction -- Lisa Scottoline Smothered and covered -- Tom Barlow A fine mist of blood -- Michael Connelly Misprision of felony -- O'Neil de Noux The sailor in the picture -- Eileen Dreyer The devil to pay -- David Edgerley Gates The street ends at the cemetery -- Clark Howard Crossing -- Andre Kocsis Remora, IL -- Kevin Leahy Thy shiny car in the night -- Nick Mamatas Drifter -- Emily St. John Mandel -- The ring of Kerry / -- Dennis McFadden Quarry -- Micah Nathan So near any time always -- Joyce Carol Oates Light bulb -- Nancy Pickard Gunpowder Alley -- Bill Pronzini The Indian -- Randall Silvis When they are done with us -- Patricia Smith The don's cinnamon -- Ben Stroud Bullet number two -- Hannah Tinti Bound -- Maurine Dallas Watkins Contributor's notes -- Other distinguished mystery stories of 2012. "Just when crime scene cleaner Gabby St. Claire's life is on the right track, the unthinkable happens. Gabby's fiancé, Riley Thomas, is shot and remains in life-threatening condition only a week before their wedding. Gabby is determined to figure out who pulled the trigger, even if investigating puts her own life at risk. But as she digs deeper into the facts surrounding the case, she discovers secrets better left alone. Doubts arise in her mind and the one man with answers is on death's doorstep. An old foe from the past returns and tests everything Gabby is made of-physically, mentally, and spiritually. Will her soul survive the challenges ahead? Or will everything she's worked for be destroyed? "--P. [4] of cover A best-selling novelist and Edgar Award winner, Lisa Scottoline brings her mastery of the thriller genre as well as her wit and heart to this collection of the must-reads in mysteries. Lisa Scottoline selects a variety of works of American mystery writing as the best of the genre from the year 2013.