Diane Rapp's Blog: She's a Mystery and Science Fiction Writer!, page 15

Great New British Military Thriller

Cordon of Lies by Wendy Cartmell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Can a clever killer stop Crane from investigating?

Two murders of army wives are ten years apart, but the details are too similar to ignore. At least Crane isn't willing to ignore them, regardless of the pressure to stop investigating. This killer is clever, ruthless, and willing to target family members to put a stop to the investigation. Crane must invent new strategies to skirt the "cordon of lies" protecting the devious psychopath, but this investigation gets him in trouble with his own wife and superiors. What is more important? Catching a killer or protecting...Can't give you more information. You'll need to read this book to discover the truth.

Cartmell knows how British military works and how secrets can get buried. She tells a compelling story, making the reader care about her characters. This is the fourth in the series, but it stands alone, giving enough information that a new reader doesn't feel cheated. You can always go back and read the others, but get this one today.




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THREAD STRANDS REVIEW

Thread Strands by Leeland Artra

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Epic adventure that will make you want MORE!

If you've read Thread Slivers, then you've already been waiting (impatiently) for the next book in the series. Well, it's FINALLY here, and you won't be disappointed. There's more action, adventure, intrigue, AND more secrets revealed. (No, I won't reveal them in this review!)

If you thought this series was another wimpy fantasy with fairies and elves flitting around, forget that notion. The clever author mixes Science Fiction with Fantasy in this adventure and gives hints of more to come. Duke is gathering forces for an epic battle with the Nhia-Samri, and Ticca is...well, she's a classic example of a feisty female with lots of secrets mixed with deadly skills. You might ask how magic and science can blend? No! I won't reveal more.

Of course the story does not end in this episode, so be prepared to wait for the next edition. I was honored to participate in the early reading of this book and know you'll enjoy this piece of the adventure. If you haven't read the first episode, there are facts revealed early in this book to get you caught up, but go ahead and buy them both. I warn you! Start reading the Golden Threads Trilogy, and you'll be eager to know everything.

The characters are complex and entertaining, but the secrets revealed about the history of their world should intrigue the most ardent science/fantasy fans. Take the plunge and start reading today. Then you can join the rest of us, tapping your toes while waiting for the next one. It is a trilogy so there's only one left for the author to finish. (Unless he's very sneaky.)




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Reb MacRath is Blasting Book Prices!

Three days of FREE for 5 books and Anniversary Edition THE SUITING only 99 cents

Here's what Reb told us today:

For three days I'm putting my work up for grabs:

1) The five existing ebooks will be free from Monday, August 27 through Wednesday, August 29. There's something here for everyone: from hardboiled mayhem to romantic suspense, from magic to hot, sexy angels. If you've enjoyed my Tweets or blogs, have a free look at what I can do in a longer form.

2) The Suiting is the Stoker Award-winning novel I wrote as Kelley Wilde. I've rewritten it extensively for this 25th Anny Edition. If you enjoy horror, then I want you to have this at an Open House special low price: The Suiting will be priced at $.99 for the same three days.

That's five for not one penny....and one for less than a buck. That's how an Open House is run at what I call MacRathWorld.

You'll find the first five books all listed here, along with the newest: The Suiting.

http://tiny.cc/yj171w

Nighthawk Talks to Cynthia Young from Murder for Glacier Blue

"A bleached blonde struts into the studio, dressed in a slinky red dress, six-inch Manolo Blahnik heels, and a full-length sable fur."

No, this isn't the start of a blond joke. This is tonight's guest Cynthia Young, making her entrance. Ms Young appears in Diane Rapp's new book, Murder for Glacier Blue.

The book title refers to a painting which is taking an Alaskan cruise as part of a charity auction. Steven Young and his fiance Kayla are working security for the cruise line. As if art theft and murder aren't enough, the couple have to contend with Young's ex-wife, who is now coming through the door.
______________________________________________________________________

Anyone here? Hey, out there! Is anyone coming to chat me up? Bloody Hell! You’d think a proper gent would show up on time. Where is this Nighthawk chap?

Ms Young. Over here. Please sit down.

Who’s really talking through this here bird? I was married to a bloke who did a magic act, so you can’t fool me.

So, you were married to a magician. You were also married to Steven Young, right?

Yes, he’s my ex-husband. Stevie worked undercover for Interpol, but I weren’t allowed to tell nobody and got ever so bored. Now he’s all over the press as a bloody hero, saved a ship from sinking in the Mediterranean and arrested a ring of smugglers. Workin’ for the cruise line, I bet he makes lots more money. I might just give him another tumble.

What about his fiancé?

Kayla? I don’t know what Stevie sees in her. She’s got no sense of style, loves to wear trainers and pulls her ponytail through the back of a sport’s cap. You know, I can steal Stevie away from Kayla any time I wants.

Mind if I take off me fur? It’s gettin’ a bit warm in here.

Sure but don't put it...

*****<silence> ****

Don't worry, Ms Young. My producer will put your coat somewhere safe. Away from our equipment. Let's get back to the interview. What prompted you to take a cruise at the same time as your ex and his fiancé?

I came along with Phillip, one of Stevie’s mates from school. Me and Phillip are engaged. At least we were engaged before Jeffrey got murdered…

The artist you were having an affair with, right?

I can’t talk about those events without me lawyer present. Are you recording this? Who can hear me? Honest! I never knew the details of Jeff’s scheme to steal that painting, and them coppers can’t hold me responsible for…

“I know! This is one of Steven’s tricks!

Ms Young, will you please sit down.

That copper thinks he’s ever so clever, using a talking bird to get me to spill me guts. I won’t cop a plea without a deal in writing! You tell Mr. Law-and-order that he made a big mistake! He can’t trick me into tellin’ all I know before I gets into witness protection. That murderer is still out there waiting for me. I don’t care if Steven thinks he’s getting married! I’m in danger, and I’ll make him help me! We took our vows long before he met that tart, Kayla.

And Cynthia Young has left the studio. I wonder if she'll remember her coat. 

“Villains you love to hate” by Rosemary McCracken

Diane Rapp has launched Murder for Glacier Blue, the third book in her cruise ship mystery series that offers thrills, chills AND vicarious travel. The first two novels were page-turners, and I’m looking forward to the new romp with plucky heroine Kyla Sanders that’s set on a cruise to Alaska. I’ve just downloaded it onto my Kindle!
Diane joins me on Moving Target today from her home in Trinity, Texas, to tell us about Cynthia, one of the villains in the new book. Like all good fiction writers, Diane knows that an antagonist needs to be a memorable character – second only in importance to the hero or heroine. Think of Lord Voldemort, Harry Potter’s nemesis in the Harry Potter books. And Hans Gruber, the really bad guy played by Alan Rickman in the movie Die Hard.
Over to you, Diane.
Authors spend most of their time crafting delightful heroes and heroines that readers come to regard as friends. But what good are protagonists without a vile antagonist to fight?  Authors sometimes find themselves rooting for their favorite villain. It might be difficult to cheer on a serial killer, but a writer really enjoys creating a self-centered egotist who blames other people for his or her own unscrupulous actions.
Meet Cynthia. She’s Steven’s ex-wife and shows up at Kayla and Steven’s wedding on the arm of his old chum, Phillip. Cynthia looks like she stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine, sporting styled platinum hair, a perfect figure, an expensive tailored jacket and a tight skirt. She struts up the gangway in five-inch designer heels. She’s not what Kayla envisioned as Steven’s ex. Bright green eyes riveted on Steven, she looks like a predator. Flashing a large diamond ring, she thrusts a manicured hand towards Steven like a queen expecting her subject to bow. 
If entertaining wedding guests while guarding six “million-dollar” paintings wasn’t enough stress, Steven and Kayla must dodge this slinky bombshell. Steven wonders what devious plan Cynthia has in mind, but Kayla is convinced she wants to ensnare Steven. 
As the ship makes its way through icy waters, truth lies hidden from plain view, much like the treacherous underwater portion of a dangerous iceberg. Greed, jealousy and envy are all potent motives for murder. Will Cynthia be a villain you love to hate?
Diane provides us with a snapshot of Murder for Glacier Blue:
Painted in 1907, Glacier Blue is an oil painting that has recently been appraised at £2 million. Reginald C. Pierpont, the artist who created the stunning masterpiece, studied with the Impressionists in Europe and the bold visionaries who were painting in the Americas. The sole heir to a family fortune, Reggie used his vast holdings and leisure time to experiment with new techniques and daring artistic ideas. Although Glacier Blue failed to turn heads during his lifetime, Reggie’s special painting technique triggers larcenous schemes among modern crooks.
Genuine Fakes, an auction company that sells “authorized copies” of famous paintings, has scheduled six charity auctions of fakes on a cruise to Alaska. Million-dollar originals will be displayed next to the Genuine Fakes at each auction—six opportunities for international thieves to steal a valuable piece of art. Emily Schultz, president of Constellation Cruise Line, needs her crack security team in place to guard the paintings. 
After an early auction, one of the reproductions is stolen from the buyer’s cabin, prompting a discreet search for the missing canvas. The stakes rise when a crew member finds a body next to the missing reproduction, and the investigation suddenly takes a deadly turn. As they learn more about the Glacier Blue original, the investigators realize this is no ordinary work of art. The painting’s secret has already triggered one murder, and it becomes easier to kill again.   
Emily has given Kayla and Steven a free cruise to Alaska as a wedding present, but she begs them to work for a few days on this voyage. They’d hoped for a relaxing cruise up the Inside Passage of Alaska, filled with glaciers, wildlife, stunning scenery, and a dream wedding on Glacier Bay, but art heists and murder might alter their plans. When Steven’s ex-wife, Cynthia, shows up on the arm of Steven’s school chum, Kayla experiences hate at first sight. The young couple must entertain their future in-laws while trying to outsmart murderous outlaws. What will Kayla and Steven’s special day be like on Glacier Bay?
Thank you, Diane!
You can purchase the Murder for Glacier Blue e-book on Amazon. Amazon Prime members can borrow it for free. Print copies will be offered by many online retailers, and Diane is planning a contest on Goodreads to award free print copies. Visit Diane’s QuickSilver Novels website to learn more about other novels and send her an e-mail to sign up for notices about new books.

Visit Diane on her Facebook fan page.
And on her Goodreads page.
Follow Diane on Twitter @DianeRapp
Moving Target
http://rosemarymccracken.wordpress.com/2013/08/14/villains-you-love-to-hate/

New Release: Murder for Glacier Blue

How does an author plan a cruise ship mystery novel? If I knew the ports already, I could sit down and begin writing, but in this case I developed an idea about where the ship might sail and booked a two-week cruise! My husband loved the idea. In August of 2012 we boarded a ship to enjoy a two-week cruise to Alaska. I’d already formulated the basic outline for an Alaskan murder mystery, but I needed to freshen my memory of the landscape and ports. It’s amazing how fast the memory dims.
Our last cruise to Alaska had been over ten years ago, and our camera died during the trip. My daughter, who worked as the shore excursion officer on our first cruise, gathered a few prints of her pictures and created an album, but I really missed our own photos. My memory of that first voyage was spotty at best, so this trip had to count.
As part of my plot, an art heist leads to murder. We poured over the ship’s schedule and squeezed in time to attend art auctions in between tours of each port. I try to include interesting animals in each of my novels, so we felt determined to see bears, eagles, and whales on this trip. The ship stopped at a few ports we remembered, but we also planned to visit new places. We took two digital still cameras and a video camera to record the trip in detail. Some of those photos are included in the book. I even used our own photos of glaciers and icebergs to design the cover.
As we met people onboard the ship, I explained the purpose of our cruise and handed out business cards. I couldn’t believe how many people volunteered to be the model for the victim. One man offered to be a philanderer, who hit on all the beautiful ladies, but he didn’t want me to use his real name.
It was a wonderful way to plan a new novel, but I faced a lot of work before it was finished. One year later I’m ready to launch the completed novel, and I hope my readers enjoy the results of our research and my imagination. The tourist sites described in the book are real and the animals they see are genuine, as you can see from my photos.
Since I was an Art History major in college, I enjoyed doing research to include descriptions of genuine paintings and the artists’ lives in this book. The painting that causes all the trouble, Glacier Blue, comes strictly from my imagination, but the other five paintings in the auctions are real pieces that sold for over a million dollars at auction. There is not Genuine Fakes auction company, but I thought it might be a fun idea.

Book Description

Painted in 1907, Glacier Blue is an oil painting recently appraised at 2 million pounds. As a young man Reginald C. Pierpont, the artist who created the stunning masterpiece, studied with the Impressionists in Europe and bold visionaries painting in the Americas. The sole heir to a family fortune, Reggie used his vast holdings and leisure time to experiment with new techniques and daring ideas to create his art. Although the masterpiece failed to turn heads during his own time period, Reggie’s secret method triggers larcenous schemes among modern crooks.
Genuine Fakes, an auction company that sells “authorized copies” of famous paintings, arranges to hold six charity auctions of fakes during a voyage to Alaska. Million-dollar originals will be displayed next to the Genuine Fakes during each auction—six opportunities for international thieves to steal a valuable piece of art. The president of Constellation Cruise Line, Emily Schultz suddenly needs her new crack security team to guard the paintings.
After an early auction, one of the fakes is stolen from the buyer’s cabin, prompting a discrete search for the missing canvas. The stakes rise when a crew member finds a body next to the missing fake, and the investigation suddenly takes a deadly turn. As they learn more about the “Glacier Blue” original, the investigators realize this is no ordinary work of art. The painting’s special secret already provoked one murder, and it only gets easier to kill again.
Although Emily promised Kayla and Steven a free wedding cruise to Alaska, she begs them to work for a few days on this voyage. They expected a stress-free cruise up the Inside Passage of Alaska, filled with glaciers, wildlife, stunning scenery, and a dream wedding on Glacier Bay, but the art heist and murder might interrupt their plans. When Steven’s ex-wife, Cynthia shows up on the arm of Steven’s school chum, Kayla feels hate-at-first-sight. The young couple must entertain future in-laws while trying to outsmart murderous outlaws.
As the ship navigates through icy waters, truth lies hidden from plain view, much like the treacherous underwater portion of a dangerous iceberg. Greed, jealousy, and envy generate potent motives for murder.


Readers can find the e-book exclusively sold on Amazon. Prime members can even borrow the book for free, and I still get paid. The print editions will be offered by many online retailers and I plan to offer a contest on Goodreads to win free print copies. Visit my website to learn more about my other novels and send me an e-mail to sign up for notices about new books.
Book’s Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EDRB0AA
QuickSilver Novels website: www.quicksilvernovels.com
Facebook Fan page: https://www.facebook.com/quicksilvernovels
Twitter: @DianeRapp

Alternate Currents

Alternate Currents by Arleen Alleman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Universal themes that strike a chord.

Arleen Alleman once again demonstrates her writing talent in a gripping novel filled with suspense and pathos. When spiteful and malicious motives spur a kidnapping, events rapidly spiral out of control. Darcy learns that her friend, Charlie, is kidnapped. Her natural instinct is to go help Charlie's domestic partner, Don, and their adopted 7-year old daughter, Penelope.

The idea doesn't sit well with Darcy's fiancé, Mick. Based on past experience, he knows Darcy's habit of "helping" often places her in mortal danger. He's worried and rightly so. To complicate matters, Darcy and Nick are supposed to be planning a wedding of their own, but the stress of this situation could derail the nuptials.

Don Freeburg, a freelance cartoonist, and Charlie Scott, a commercial realtor, live in an upscale Seattle neighborhood. Unfortunately their domestic partnership recently came under the scrutiny of a religious zealot with fanatical followers, a group of people who are eager to remove Penelope from their home. To complicate matters, Penelope's birth mother threatens to legally reverse the adoption. She claims she has a legal right to take custody of her daughter. Although Penelope never met her birth mother, could a judge rip the family apart due to a legal technicality?

Ignoring her own personal problems, Darcy travels to Seattle to help and support her friends. As the police investigation into the kidnapping flounders, bodies start turning up. Darcy can't keep her promise to Mick and starts investigating on her own. It becomes clear that Penelope might have been the original target of the kidnapping, and Darcy fears for the girl's safety.

Darcy gallantly risks her own life to protect her friends and solve the crime. There are so many twists and turns in the complicated plot that readers are taken on a wild ride. Greed, desire, guilt, and fanaticism embolden several treacherous villains, who lurk in the shadows waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Each culprit has a motive to kill but which one has gone on a killing spree? Can Darcy survive against the menacing culprits who stalk her friends? Will her own relationship with Mick crumble under the strain of a tempestuous separation? Will the wedding that Mick and Darcy planned ever take place? As Darcy learns more about her own character, she considers a new occupation, one that might place her in constant jeopardy. Will Mick support Darcy’s new career choice?

Fans of the Darcy Farthing novels are sure to enjoy this new chapter in her saga. Darcy has become a friend that we enjoy welcoming into our home. We worry about her almost as much as Mick, but we eagerly wait for each new story to be revealed.




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Black Water Review

Black Water by Rosemary McCracken

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Danger threatens and dark water awaits

The second book in the Pat Tierney Mystery series is a real nail biter. When Pat's daughter Tracy first introduced her new "partner," Pat freaked out. Now she faces a new problem. Her daughter's lover, Jaimie Collins, is missing and the police think she murdered a man. Tracy begs her to find Jamie, but Pat must unravel the murder to accomplish the task. Can she restore her relationship with Tracy?

Pat uses the opening of a branch of her investment firm in the small Canadian community of Braeloch as an excuse to snoop around the village. She moves her kids and her dog into a remote house owned by her company and meets the investment counselors she will be helping. With a town filled with suspects and an investment firm to launch, Pat might have bitten off too much. Danger lurks in the shadows, a biker gang, shotgun wielding drug growers, and someone tampering with her car. The excitement ramps up as Pat races through the woods and over thin ice on a snowmobile. She jeopardizes her job and her family but she must solve the crime. It might mean life or death.

Although this book is the second in the series, it is also a stand alone novel with enough information about recurring characters to satisfy a new reader. I recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys mysteries and adventure.




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Debut of “Black Water,” by Rosemary McCracken

Today I’m proud to help launch a new book by one of my friends, Rosemary McCracken. We met online through a writer’s group, and I was proud to be one of the first readers to review her debut novel “Safe Harbor” in 2012. I felt the book deserved five stars. This weekend Rosemary launches the sequel in her series. I agreed to “interview” one of the characters in the new book and help launch the new book. Hope you enjoy the following interview and check out the book for yourselves.

Character Interview with Sister Celia de Franco

Diane: “I’m here in Braeloch, Canadian cottage country, to interview Sister Celia de Franco, a friend of Pat Tierney, the main character in the new novel Black Water. Hello, Sister Celia.” (I hold out my hand to shake hers.)

Celia: (The petite brunette's dark eyes sparkled with merriment as she accepted my handshake.) “Hello, I’m so pleased to meet you, Diane. Call me Celia. I’ve wanted to meet you for the past year. You gave Safe Harbor, the first book I was in, its very first Amazon review. And a five-star one at that!”

Diane: “Celia, I understand you first met Pat Tierney when you ran Safe Harbor, the home for refugees in Toronto. That home was the center of controversy two months ago. Can you tell me something about that?”

Celia: (She sighed.) “It was a terrible situation. Refugees were disappearing from Safe Harbor. It turned out that my assistant, Oskar Jacovic, was part of a human body parts racket. Those poor people…” (She held a hand over her face.) “I had no idea what was happening.”

Diane: “It doesn’t seem fair that you were blamed for it.”

Celia: “When Oskar was killed, someone had to take the fall. I didn’t mind moving on. Sister Roslyn, a friend of mine, now has my old job so Safe Harbor is in capable hands. My superior thinks I'll do more good outside the Toronto archdiocese. The boys at the top will have it in for me for some time to come.”

Diane: “After you were dismissed from Safe Harbor, I understand you moved to Braeloch. What do you do here?”

Celia: “I’m just here for a few months. I run the Catholic parish while the pastor recovers from heart surgery.” (She grinned and ran a hand through her head of dark curls.) “Would you believe that the parish is called Jesus of the Highlands?”

Diane: “Does that name hold a special significance to this community?”

Celia: “Braeloch is a town in Glencoe Highlands Township—hence Jesus of the Highlands. But the name is ridiculous… too cute for words. The diocese probably thought it would appeal to the wealthy cottagers who’ve built swanky vacation homes in the area when it changed its name from Holy Rosary a few years ago.”

Diane: “You must have known Lyle Critchley, the man who was murdered last week. What did he do at the parish?

Celia: “Lyle was the sacristan, the person charged with care of the sacristy in the church. But he actually looked after the entire church. Made sure the floors were washed, the walks shoveled, the lawns mowed, and he served morning Mass for Father Brisebois every day. And he wasn’t at all happy when I turned up here. He complained one day when I put a vase of flowers on the altar. ‘Father Brisebois don't like flowers,’ he said. "I told him that Father Brisebois wasn't there now. ‘I can see that,’ he said. ‘Father would never let you wear blue jeans in here.’ ” (She ran a hand over her eyes.) “Here I'm going on about Lyle’s shortcomings and the poor man is dead.”

Diane: “Did you know that Lyle Critchley killed Veronica Collins’s youngest daughter in an impaired driving accident a few years back?”
Celia: “Yes, I heard all about it. Lyle had a bad drinking problem back then. He was driving under the influence when he crashed into Carly Collins’ car. She was on her way home from her weekend job at the garden centre. They say she died instantly.” (Celia shook her head sadly.) “She was just seventeen.”
Diane: “The police didn’t charge Lyle with drunk driving?”
Celia: “I was told that he was hurt in the crash. Cracked ribs, a concussion. In his condition, he couldn’t take a Breathalyzer and they never gave him a blood test. Only a fraction of impaired drivers are ever charged, never mind convicted.”
Diane: “Carly’s sister, Jamie, is a good friend of Pat Tierney’s daughter, Tracy. Jamie recently received a letter from Lyle asking for her help. Did he mention any legal or personal problems to you?”
Celia: “Lyle never said anything to me, but he seemed distracted that last week before he died. And I overheard him talking on the phone one day. Something about wanting to get to the bottom of the problems with Pearl’s investment account. I heard later that he had a sister named Pearl.”
Diane: “The police believe Jamie may be responsible for Lyle’s death. Did you see her yesterday or know where she might be staying in town? Her hair is a distinctive color of red, almost burgundy.”
Celia: “I haven’t seen Jamie—or Jennifer, as the police are calling her. She seems to have disappeared. Poor Veronica! One daughter killed in an impaired-driving accident, and now another daughter is wanted by the police.”
Diane: “I know that Pat Tierney and Tracy are anxious to contact Jamie. They don’t believe she had anything to do with Lyle’s death. You know, Jamie is a successful Toronto lawyer who grew up here in Braeloch. I wonder why she didn’t set up a law practice here.”
Celia: “There are two established lawyers here in Braeloch, so she probably figured there wasn’t room for another one in this small community. The unfortunate reality for many rural communities is that the bright young people go the large cities for their education, and they find jobs there. Jamie’s been enormously successful in her career. Two years ago, she led the legal team that secured a landmark judgment on behalf of an elderly widow. The court ordered a financial advisor at a prominent investment firm to pay the woman $1 million for shrinking her savings by putting them into high-risk investments.”
Diane: “Is there anything else you can tell my readers about the investigation? We don’t want to reveal spoilers but tell us anything that might intrigue new readers.”
Celia: “Well, I’m worried about Pat. She’s arranged to be up here for a few weeks overseeing the opening of a new branch that her firm has set up in Braeloch. As you know, Pat’s a big softie when it comes to family so she’s combing the area looking for Jamie because Tracy is so worried about her. There’s a murderer on the loose out there. And now Pat has come up against a biker gang, who seem convinced that she’s involved in a local marijuana grow-op. Honestly, I’m afraid that she’s way out of her depth.”
Diane: “Thanks for speaking with me today. I’m anxious to read Black Water and hear the rest of the story. Good luck, Celia. I hope you find a permanent position soon.”
Celia: “Thank you, Diane. It was great talking to you, and don’t worry about me. I’ll always have work to do. As a Catholic sister, I live by a code of poverty, chastity and obedience to my religious order. Which means I go wherever my superior tells me to go. It’s the life I chose, and it holds big rewards for me. I get great satisfaction from helping people.”


BLACK WATER: synopsis

When Pat Tierney's daughter, Tracy, asks her to help find Tracy's partner, Jamie Collins, their mother-daughter relationship is stretched to the limits. Pat heads out to cottage country where an elderly man, who killed Jamie’s sister in an impaired-driving accident years ago, has perished in a suspicious fire. Unfortunately, Jamie is the prime suspect.
Pat takes charge at the new branch her investment firm has opened in the seemingly idyllic community where Jamie grew up, and her search for Tracy's missing sweetheart takes her through a maze of fraud, drugs, bikers and murder.
Once again, Pat proves that her family can always count on her.


Rosemary McCracken

Born and raised in Montreal, Rosemary McCracken has worked on newspapers across Canada as a reporter, arts reviewer, editorial writer and editor. She is now a Toronto-based fiction writer and freelance journalist specializing in personal finance and the financial services industry. Rosemary’s short fiction has been published by Room of One’s Own, Kaleidoscope Press and Sisters of Crime Canada. Rosemary’s first mystery novel, Safe Harbor, was shortlisted for Britain’s Crime Writers’ Association’s Debut Dagger in 2010, and was published by Imajin Books in 2012. Its sequel, Black Water, has just been released.




Visit Rosemary’s website at http://www.rosemarymccracken.com/
Follow Rosemary on http://rosemarymccracken.wordpress.com/
Twitter at https://twitter.com/RCMcCracken
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rosemarymccracken?ref=tn_tnmn

Excerpt from MURDER ON A GHOST SHIP

Kayla experiences a vision from the Lady:

Taking the stairs two at a time, Kayla nearly tripped. The world tilted on its axis, her vision blurred, and her stomach lurched. She grabbed the handrail. Icy coldness stung her fingers and she jerked free. A miasma enveloped her senses. The smell of lavender and kelp drifted like a heavy mist through the open glass doors from the moonlit deck outside. Light fixtures shaped like seashells flickered, illuminating gold carpet and avocado green walls. She clutched a folded note between gloved fingers…

I’m not wearing gloves! Kayla thought and shuddered. A loud “ding” announced the arrival of the elevator. Expecting to see the Lady standing inside, Kayla tried to run but stood frozen in place. The doors slid open and her mouth felt too dry to swallow. Her vision blurred—and cheerful passengers walked lazily from the elevator to the sunny deck outside. A balmy breeze filled the corridor and a shaft of golden sunshine gleamed across salmon-colored carpet and coral walls.

Kayla’s knees buckled. She gripped the solid wood handrail to steady wobbly legs and gulped deep breaths. What happened to me? Glancing at her shaking bare hands, Kayla wished she’d read the note before it disappeared.



Be sure to visit the following links to read excerpts from other authors in Books-a-Fire and visit our website to find bargains www.booksafire.com

Calinda B http://blog.calindab.com/?p=1421

J. Heather Leigh http://jheatherleigh.blogspot.com/p/b...

Charles Dougherty http://www.clrdougherty.com/p/excerpt...

Tami Kidd http://www.tamikidd.com/?page_id=5

Jennifer Donohoe http://wp.me/p2zxAX-4Q

Reb MacRath www.rebmacrath.blogspot.com