Celestial Echo Press (Ann Stolinsky and Ruth Littner) are super excited to announce we're releasing Joanne McLaughlin's next novel, Murder in Act One, September 1, 2026. 

Poetry professor Mimi Jones stands as best woman when her ex-husband remarries, an honor that comes with the dubious delight of seeing her former in-laws. Mimi expects snide comments about her and her plus one, Philly detective Mike Quinn, from Daniel’s parents and famous playwright sister. But a wedding reception that serves up plagiarism claims, accusations of infidelity, and flying bullets, followed days later by murder? That’s a hangover nobody wants.

This is the second Mimi Jones mystery. The first, A Poetic Puzzle, a Mystery in 32 Pieces, was published by Celestial Echo Press last year.