Goose in the Pond by Earlene Fowler

The source provides extensive excerpts from a work of fiction titled "Goose in the Pond" by Earlene Fowler, which is identified as part of The Benni Harper Mysteries series published by The Berkley Publishing Group, an imprint of the Penguin Group. The narrative focuses on Benni Harper, who is married to Police Chief Gabe Ortiz, as she becomes entangled in the murder investigation of Nora Cooper, a library storyteller and sister to Benni’s friend, Nick Cooper. The text details the murder investigation led by Gabe, Benni’s personal and professional life involving a storytelling festival, and complex relationships with her husband's estranged son, Sam, and her cousin, Rita, culminating in Benni solving the murder with the help of an accomplice. Throughout the excerpts, Benni uncovers secrets about the victim, including her being a gossip columnist known as "The Tattler," and ultimately identifies a conspiracy among several local figures responsible for the crime.