"Much charm and deprecating humor." —Kirkus Reviews
"A nifty little puzzle solved by a most intriguing female detective." —Rex E. Klett, Library Journal
"Don't overlook the work of this excellent and entertaining author." —Denise Pickles, Mary Martin Bookshop
"What more could a reader ask for?" —Cheri Fuller and Nikki Little, Curve Magazine
"The quality of writing and the entertainment value are high." —W Spice
"Packs a twelve-week writing course into 280 pages." —Julie Compton,
author of Keep No Secrets
"Intricate and surprising, this is a gripping read." —Kristine Huntley, Booklist
"The two leads, Rita and George, are engaging and believable." —Hallie Ephron, Boston Globe
"Sims orchestrates the action—and occasional comic relief—for maximum impact." —Publishers Weekly
Awarded the Silver Medal in general fiction. —Florida Book Awards, April 11, 2018
"A rollicking good mystery." —Lori L. Lake, Midwest Book Review
"Your evening read will keep you up 'til dawn." —Whitney Scott, Booklist
"Colorful episodes involving trailer parks and luxury cars." —Kirkus Reviews
"Sims has created one of those heroines who you wouldn't like to be but you'd like as a friend." —Sharon Wheeler, Reviewing the Evidence
"You'll be surprised over and over." —Caroline McCullagh, Mensa Bulletin
"Each of these four stories is a tiny gem." —Neil S. Plakcy, author
"The approach is always positive and well worth the price of admission." —Ellen Hart, award-winning author
"A page-turner from stem to stern." —Kirkus Reviews
"Goes down easy, like a perfect cup of coffee." —Crimespree Magazine
"A fast-paced, atmospheric mystery. Sims shines." —Melinda Bargreen, The Seattle Times
"Spot on dialog and well drawn female characters." —Ryan G. Van Cleave, Scene Magazine
"Byrd is a very likable amateur sleuth and Sims is a really entertaining storyteller." —Andrea L.T. Peterson, Woman's Monthly
"Appealing characters, and a rabbit mascot." —Library Journal
"A nerve-tingling thriller, rich with characterization and humour." —Vancouver BC Public Library
"Hilarious. Lillian is a true original." —Kirkus Reviews
"Unforgettable characters, lovely moments and brilliant dialogue." —The Lesbian Review
"Elizabeth Sims proves herself a true writer's friend." —Jamie Morris, Director, Voice Heart Vision
"Sims' wry commentary on life in Hollywood is dead-on." —Publishers Weekly
"An intelligent thriller." —Jay Strafford, Richmond Times-Dispatch
"You just have to love Rita." —Kirkus Reviews
"Sims is a master of word choice, sentence structure, and plot development." —Mensa Bulletin
"I flat out loved this book." —Sheryl LeSage, Liberty Press
"ANYONE assessing America’s best short story writers needs to include Elizabeth Sims." —New Pop Lit

The Rita Farmer Mysteries

by Elizabeth Sims

The Rita Farmer Mystery Series Novels 1-3

Rita Farmer books 1-3

Published 2019 by Spruce Park Press

"Sims’s wry commentary on life in Hollywood is dead-on." —Publishers Weekly

These are the collected Rita Farmer Mysteries by Elizabeth Sims: THE ACTRESS, THE EXTRA, and ON LOCATION. They’re full and complete! This is a meaty volume and a great value.

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The Actress

Rita Farmer book 1

Published 2008 by St. Martin's Minotaur

"Intricate and surprising, this is a gripping read and a promising start to a new mystery series." —Booklist

Aspiring actress and single mom Rita Farmer has gone from struggling to find work to downright desperate. If she doesn’t land a paying job soon—horror movie, soap commercial, anything—she’s afraid her ex-husband will use her dire financial straits to take away Petey, her cherished four-year-old son.

While she's charming the crowd at storytime at the L.A. library, a celebrity defense attorney approaches her with an unusual job offer: So long as she’s discreet, Rita can rake in $1,000 a day preparing his client for her appearance in court. Easy money? Hardly. His client, Eileen Tenaway, is not only a wealthy heiress and a queen of the tabloids but she’s been charged with the murder of her own child. The attorney needs Rita to coach Eileen secretly to help her seem more sympathetic, more human. He needs the jury to believe not only her words, but the subtle cues of body language, facial expressions, even vocal style. Rita knows she can do it, but what she doesn’t know is how determined she’ll become to find out what really happened to Eileen’s child that night. Her life, and Petey's, will depend on it.

Now also available on Audible. Narrated by Johanna Parker

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The Extra

Rita Farmer book 2

Published 2009 by St. Martin's Minotaur

"Entertaining second Rita Farmer misadventure." —Publisher's Weekly

Studying to be a lawyer, Rita takes dreggy acting jobs to pay the bills. Dressed in police uniform as an extra on a movie shoot, she wanders into a rough part of town only to be pulled into a vicious assault. Rita chases off the men but the boy they attacked isn’t out of danger yet. Rita’s heart goes out to him and his grandmother Amaryllis B. Cubitt, the director of an urban mission that Rita had turned to for help years ago. But the mission has changed from its unassuming past, and is now flush with private donations and gruff guards posted at the doors. Rita can’t help but wonder if now Amaryllis is too proud to ask for the help she needs.

Now also available on Audible. Narrated by Johanna Parker

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On Location

Rita Farmer book 3

Published 2010 by St. Martin's Minotaur

"Sims’ plotting and dialogue are brisk and sharp, and the characters of Rita and George—both interestingly introspective—raise this well above the genre norm. Crime fiction as smart as it is compelling." —Booklist

Rita Farmer knows exactly how hard it is to break into the movie business. Acting was the big dream that brought her out to L.A. in the first place. And while she never made the red carpet, that big dream did turn into a modest profession that kept her and her son afloat. So from time to time she'll lend her talents as a favor.

Kenner and Lance de Sauvenard, heirs to a timber fortune, don't really need a favor to make their art film, but since Lance is dating Rita's sister, Gina, there's no way for Rita to worm her way out of a read-through. Gina is all for the project--or at least her new boyfriend--and she goes with Lance to scout locations on his family's land holdings in the Northwest. When they don't return as planned and flood waters start to rise, Rita can't help dashing into the wilds to bring her sister home, and when foul play becomes more and more likely, her sometime lover, George Rowe, is right on her heels.

Smart, spirited, and way too devoted to her sister for her own safety, Rita Farmer shines.

Now also available on Audible. Narrated by Johanna Parker

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