Praise for Murder by Mascot

A memorable cast of characters, a tightly written story, and witty dialogue make the latest offering in this breakout mystery series great reading. Fresh from solving a caper involving her hometown and a corporate mega-store, amateur sleuth Mara Gilgannon must untangle a mystery surrounding the murder of accused rapist Dave DeVoster, a member of the university men's basketball team, and the cloud of suspicion hanging over a person close to her. The preferential treatment of star athletes, the lingering ties between lesbians and their ex's, and homophobia in college sports are just some of the topics covered in this thought-provoking page-turner by the author of Death by Discount. This is a terrific, fun mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Cynthia Tyler, author of Descanso and Shadow Work

Mary Vermillion has a wonderful talent for wrapping socially relevant topics in a page-turning story full of believable characters and vivid settings. Main character Mara is an appealing and convincing blend of determination, pluck, self-doubt, and wry humor....Vermillion has nailed the university basketball atmosphere perfectly. This is a well-written, well-plotted mystery that's hard to put down.

Lisa Harkrader, author of Airball: My Life in Briefs

...At their heart, both Death by Discount and Murder by Mascot are about the nature of relationships—gay and straight, platonic and intimate, friends and family—and the powerful emotions that drive those relationships.

Rob Cline, Iowa Source

Praise for Death by Discount

Death by Discount is a traditional mystery that has social issues woven throughout—corporations vs. small business, the death of small communities in the Midwest and hate crimes. Vermillion presents all sides very well and refrains from becoming preachy.

Terri Bischoff, Killerbooks

This may be a first: a mystery with Wal-Mart as the apparent motive for murder.

Richard Labonte, Bottom Line

Death by Discount is a small-town Midwestern whodunit…strongly plotted and full of humor, atmosphere and psychological complexity. Dyke DJ Mara Gilgannon investigates the murder of one of her lesbian aunts, helped out by best friend Vince, an irrepressible drag queen. Her aunts, Zee and Glad, ran the only radio station in their small Iowa town before Glad was killed, and they were deeply involved in a campaign to keep Wal-Mart out of their hometown. Vermillion uses the opportunity to educate about the giant corporation's impact, but she does so seamlessly and painlessly.

Nan Cinnater, Books to Watch Out For

The proof is in: even when they're fictional heroines, lesbians love to take on Wal-Mart. In this Mara Gilgannon mystery, the amateur sleuth is drawn back to her own hometown by the only thing that would convince her to return to Aldoburg, Iowa: murder most befoul. Mara must help her Aunt Zee keep her struggling radio station alive while solving the murder of Zee's partner Glad. Where does Sprawl-Mart fit in? Dive in to this summer page-turner and see.

Diane Anderson-Minshall, Curve

Death by Discount , Mary Vermillion's first novel, entertains and succeeds on different levels as an atypical small-town murder mystery. Characters are well-developed, dialogue moves along smartly, and plotting is well-managed without being conspicuously contrived. Most noteworthy, though, the important themes of intolerance, secrecy, and economic paranoia help to valorize Vermillion's alternative press offering.

Tim Davis, Newpages

I love this book, a murder mystery that twists and turns against the backdrop of a small town in Iowa. Big trouble develops when the town's residents can't agree on whether to welcome the building of a Wal-Mart or fight it—to the death? The first book in a new mystery series, Death by Discount introduces Mara Gilgannon, an engaging Iowa-grown detective-heroine who is funny, smart, and full of surprises. She'll have you looking forward to the next book by author Mary Vermillion.

Mary Helen Stefaniak, author of The Turk and My Mother

Home page