Elena Hartwell's Blog, page 15

I Know She Was There: Domestic Suspense

I Know She Was There, new domestic suspense by Jennifer Sadera

Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!Don’t miss any author interviews! Click the link here for more.I Know She Was There

Be careful what you see when you shouldn’t be looking.

Residents of the posh Upstate New York neighborhood of Deer Crossing enjoy all the amenities wealth provides. From drive-up dog-grooming to monthly botox parties, these lucky suburbanites have everything they could ever want. And one thing they don’t. Stalker Caroline Case, who wheels her infant along their streets each night with just one goal…to spy on anyone too careless or too foolish to close their window blinds.

Convinced the owners of the impressive homes are living a dream existence, the troubled new mom hopes to escape her working-class life by prying secrets from the unsuspecting. But the fairy tale twists into a nightmare when she sees something she shouldn’t. Something that shatters her illusions about the people in the privileged community she’s obsessed with, even as she begins to doubt what she saw.

As Caroline investigates the event, shocking secrets are laid bare, and nothing is as it seems. She knows she must prove something sinister occurred in Deer Crossing or risk letting someone get away with murder.

For fans of The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn, The Breakdown by B. A. Paris, and The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides.

To purchase I Know She Was There, click any of the following links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | CamCat BooksI Know She Was There — Author InterviewI Know She Was There takes place in Deer Crossing. Tell us about that community and what makes it the perfect place to set a domestic thriller:

Deer Crossing represents the American Dream on steroids.

It takes the “house with a picket fence” theme over the top. Our country is steadily polarizing into the “haves” and the “have nots” and I find that fascinating (and disturbing). By sidewalk spying, Caroline is literally on the outside looking in—but as the tagline warns, she should be careful what she sees when she shouldn’t be looking.

Up close, this is a story of a troubled, immature young person who yearns for a bigger life without the skills and knowledge to achieve this goal. The “successful” residents of Deer Crossing become her unwitting teachers. But the lessons are hard-won as the wide-ranging themes kick in. Greed, infidelity, and violence also exist behind the pristine front doors—because people live in those houses. People are messy.

Money, power, and influence only exacerbate the problem.

 

I Know She Was There centers on Caroline Case. What would you like reader to know about the main character?

In many ways Caroline is an average twenty-something. She loves her child and struggles in her marriage like many people her age do.

Responsibilities are overwhelming at this age. I remember how hard it was to balance expectation with disappointment. Marriage and parenthood requires a maturity and commitment that new adults often don’t have. Failure and worry can lead to disillusionment. Toss in a troubled childhood and the stage is set for conflict.

Caroline, bless her, is not immune to the challenges, especially since I frontloaded her with difficulties from the age of 6. I pretty much tortured this poor soul, but she still clung to dreams of a bigger life for herself and her family. She made some horrible decisions but not because she was malicious or conniving.

There is a world of difference between being evil and being broken.

 

Tell us about your road to publication with I Know She Was There:

As with most writers, it was a very long road.

I’ve wanted to be an author since the age of 8. My debut suspense novel was decades in the making because that’s how long it took to know myself and understand what I really wanted to tell the world. I had a plethora of writing achievements to my credit but not the one thing I desired: a completed novel that I could be proud of.

Thirteen years ago, when my kids began high school, I decided to devote myself to writing full-time. Six novels and twelve years later, I presented I Know She Was There to editors and agents at PitchFest during International Thriller Writers’ annual conference, ThrillerFest. I had an immediate connection with CamCat Publishing’s acquisition’s editor, Elana Gibson, who passed the manuscript to CamCat’s editor-in-chief, Helga Schier.

Helga loved it and scooped it right up. I will be forever grateful for the experience of working with such a consummate professional and compassionate person, especially since Helga is no longer with us. I will carry her words and wisdom in my broken heart always. The book world is a little less magical without Helga.

I was so sorry to hear of her passing. My condolences to all of her writers for losing someone who meant so much.

You have a long history as a blogger, freelance writer, and editor. How did your past experiences inform writing your debut novel?

My varied experiences formed a solid foundation for novel-writing but when I sat down to pen my version of  “The Great American Novel” I was besieged by doubt.

I’d started many novels and never completed them. Could I finish one? And if I did, would anyone want to read it? What if reviewers panned it as self-indulgent drivel? Imposter Syndrome is very normal and very destructive. It gnaws on your confidence and devours your dreams. Don’t let it.

Remember, every writer has doubts at one time or another.

 

What can we find you doing when you aren’t penning novels of suspense?

I lead a magnificently quiet life, just the way I like it. I putter in my garden, play with the pups, enjoy family time—including my brand-new granddaughter—and travel as much as I possibly can. Every Thursday night I go on a “date” with my husband, something we’ve done for 30 years. It never gets old.

 

What are you working on now?

I am putting the finishing touches on a psychological suspense about a brother and sister whose parents have recently died in a car accident.

Heartbroken, the siblings take a genealogy test to feel closer to their folks—and discover they don’t share DNA. The discovery is like a match to parchment, threatening to destroy everything they love and forcing them to question whether the stories of their family were nothing but lies.

 

Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:

Even if you don’t have any publishing credentials, think, act, and speak like a seasoned writer. Once you’ve convinced yourself you’re worthy of publication, it’s much easier to make others believe it, too.

Fabulous advice! Thank you for being here and congratulations again on your debut!Author Pet Corner!Moonie!Sunny!

Moonie is a 10-year-old Shih Tzu who greets people and new days with happy howls. She loves to share food (yours) and hates to share her toys. She is not a dog lover but adores her fellow humans.

Sunny is a 4-year-old mixed breed rescue who is convinced he can catch any squirrel or deer that crosses his path—no matter how many times he’s failed. His unbridled optimism is transferred to his people, other dogs, and his food dish.

As the photos reveal, both Sunny and Moo are staunch supporters of the author and enjoy books.

Jennifer Sadera — Author of I Know She Was There

Jennifer Sadera began her writing career just out of college as a junior copywriter at book publisher NAL before transitioning to the editorial departments of national women’s magazines Woman’s World, Redbook, and Beauty Digest.

She’d already established herself as a freelance writer and blogger when she decided to follow her true passion: creating novels.

She is an active member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime; her writing has earned her multiple awards at Atlanta Writers Conferences and a fellowship at the Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing.

I Know She Was There is Jennifer’s debut psychological suspense novel. When not writing, Jennifer can be found gardening, traveling throughout her beloved New York State and beyond, or reading anything she can get her hands on. She is blessed with CJ, her husband of many years, two adult children, Amanda and Ryan, a granddaughter she lovingly calls Golden Girl, and two rescue pups.

To learn more about Jennifer, click any of the following links: Website, Instagram, X/Twitter, Facebook & LinkedInElena Hartwell | Elena Taylor

Header image from Pixabay

The post I Know She Was There: Domestic Suspense appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

Devil’s Defense: Compelling Courtroom Drama

Devil’s Defense, a compelling courtroom drama by Lori B. Duff

Author Interview + My Thoughts + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!Don’t miss any Author Interviews. Click the link here for more.Devil’s Defense

Jessica knew that in the town of Ashton, Georgia, the order of worship was first Jesus, second America, and third the high school football coach, with the second two interchangeable if it were a winning season. It was often a winning season.  

Jessica Fischer wants nothing more than to break into the male-dominated legal scene and build her law practice in small-town Georgia. And she’s well on her way when the local town hero and football coach, Frank “Tripp” Wishingham III, hires her to represent him in a paternity suit.

The coach is everything Fischer despises: arrogant, sexist and entitled. But it’s her job to make him look good in public, which is made doubly difficult when her burgeoning relationship with a local reporter gets in the way of telling the truth.  Are things as black and white as Jessica thinks? And can she find a way to succeed without compromising her own personal values or her personal life? 

Fans of “Miracle Creek” by Angie Kim and “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens will be intrigued by “Devil’s Defense.” And the book will appeal greatly to Southern readers hungry  for authentic stories set in the South, as well as professional women desperate for a relatable protagonist — it’s only the beginning for Jessica Fischer.

To purchase Devil’s Defense , click any of the following links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble & IndieBoundMy Thoughts on Devil’s DefenseLori B. Duff knows her stuff. Her extensive courtroom experience shines in the characters and events in Devil’s Defense .

Jessica Fischer is a complex and dynamic character who readers will root for. Navigating sexism and hero-worship for the football legend in her small, Southern town, the newly minted attorney is faced with ethical decisions as she tries to get a foothold in her private practice.

Everyone deserves representation—it’s one of the central tenants of our legal system—but what’s a girl to do when the only client on her horizon has more charm than morals? Do her job, and do it well.

With as much legal practice as courtroom drama, Duff carefully explores the dynamics of the system through a host of engaging characters. Between attorney Jessica, her paralegal Diane, and the obnoxious high school football coach, the twists and turns the story takes are at times funny, clever, and poignant.

With a vibrant, witty voice and a solid story, Lori B. Duff has created a page turner for lovers of thoughtful character studies with a mystery holding then all together.

Devil’s Defense — Author InterviewDevil’s Defense is set in small-town Georgia. Tell us about Ashton:

Ashton, Georgia, is a town that is experiencing growing pains. It’s far enough away from Atlanta that it’s not quite suburban, but not so far that it’s rural. It’s dragging its way into the twenty-first century.

Ashton is a very traditional place. All the movers and shakers are men, and they all grew up together and go to church together. There isn’t a lot of diversity of thought, so when ‘city girl’ Jessica moves into town, she stands out.

That said, Ashton has a lot of character and a lot of people in it who want to do right. You shouldn’t underestimate them. They’re very loyal and wise, if not worldly.

 

Devil’s Defense centers on Jessica Fischer, who recently hung out her shingle with the hopes of building a private law practice. What should readers know about Jessica?

Jessica is smart, but doesn’t have a whole lot of life experience outside of her own world. So she can be naïve, since she has trouble seeing outside of her own head. That’s why she needs a friend like Diane Myers who can point out when she’s being obtuse.

She’s very idealistic and hasn’t yet been beaten down by the world: she truly believes she can change things. Once she gets her teeth sunk into something, she is going to see it through, and she will do anything to bully the world into what she sees as ‘right’.

 

Devil’s Defense brings true-to-life details of the courtroom, and the South, onto the page based on your years as an attorney and judge. Did you find you had to make allowances for how things work in the real world to serve the story? Or were you able to stay true to your own experiences?

I stayed true to my own experiences as best I could, but honestly a lot of legal work is boring.  There’s a lot of waiting.

Sometimes I feel like I spend half my day just trying to get other grownups to do the bare minimum of their jobs. Part of the reason why I was inspired to write Devil’s Defense is that I get very frustrated reading and watching media about lawyers and how unrealistic it is. We all have dozens of cases going on at a time. Our clients are wrong about half the time, but we have to go into court and say why they’re right anyway. Not everyone (or even anyone, some days) listens to our advice, then they blame us for things going south.

Problems that have taken years to create are expected to be solved in a week. I tried to work in some of that frustration without being bogged down with the tedious details.

 

There is a lot of humor woven into Devil’s Defense. How do you balance humor with the seriousness of life and death events?

Frankly, I don’t know how anyone deals with the seriousness of life and death events without humor. For me, humor is a survival tool.

When I first started writing in earnest (around 2012—long story why I can date it) I started out simply writing humor. It felt like an anecdote to what I was doing all day. Lawyers wage war for a living. It’s a very confrontational job. You fight with your friends, voices get raised, and emotions are high. For a while, as a joke, we had a sign in the copy room in our office that said, “Days where no one broke down into tears” like those signs you see in factories about on-the-job injuries. Ours stayed at zero. Every day someone was crying.

Compassion fatigue is a real thing: if you don’t develop a dark sense of humor about the tragedy you see all day, you’ll be miserable.

 

What do you love about living and working in a small town?

I think the things I like and dislike about it are the same things. I like that my ‘commute’ to and from the office is only five miles with minimal traffic. I dislike that it is hard to get away from work: I rarely go to the grocery store without seeing someone work-related.

I like that it’s easy to make your mark. Sometimes in a bigger place, it can feel like you’re just one more identical herring in a giant school of fish.  But in a small town there aren’t enough fish to be anonymous.

I love how safe I feel around here. There is virtually no violent crime here that isn’t domestic. I don’t worry about porch pirates or someone breaking into my house. I like that because of the size of the place, even the necessary bureaucracy isn’t nameless, faceless drones: I know the names of the people who work in the clerks’ offices and they know me, so I can just call and ask questions, and if things go wrong you talk to a person and not a phone tree.

 

What are you working on now?

I am in the end stages of the editing process for the sequel to Devil’s Defense, which will be called Devil’s Hand and is slated to be released in October 2025.

As soon as I finish that one, I will work on the third in the series, which is now called Devil’s Name, but that may change. I’ve got a barely readable draft of it written so far.

 

Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:

The first draft is supposed to be bad. You can call it the vomit draft, or the shitty first draft, or whatever, but don’t expect to write a great novel in the first draft. The best you can hope for is good bones for a story. Just get it done.

You can edit and shape something bad, but you can’t do anything with a blank page. I rarely let anyone read what I’ve written until the third draft, and it’s usually the tenth or more that sees the public.

Great Advice!Author Pet Corner!Lincoln!

 

Lincoln is a pound puppy that we got from the local animal shelter booth at a craft fair while we were out of town for a family wedding.

We had to sneak him into our fancy-schmancy no pet hotel. It was a whole thing, and his origin story is a good one, though it takes a good thousand words to tell.

We named him Lincoln because at the hotel, we couldn’t walk him because he couldn’t be seen in the lobby. So he left us Lincoln Logs all over the hotel room.  We were told he was a beagle mix by the good folks at the shelter, but I don’t know.

He has a lot of Jack Russell in him, and I think he’s part whippet. He has loooooong legs and runs like the wind. His tail never stops wagging, even in his sleep, and he’s never met a stranger. As far as he’s concerned, all humans (except the Amazon driver who is an agent of Satan) are just one more person to love him.

 

Author of Devil’s Defense — Lori B Duff

Lori B. Duff is a two-time winner of the Georgia Bar Journal’s fiction competition and a popular humor blogger.

Her humorous essays have earned multiple awards, including the Foreword Indies Gold Medal for Humor, as well as first place in the National Society for Newspaper Columnists annual contest in the humor category.  In addition to her writing, Duff is a graduate of Duke University and the Emory University School of Law.

She serves as the Managing Partner of Jones & Duff, LLC, and is also a municipal court judge.

Duff has been president of the Georgia Council of Municipal Court Judges and the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and has served in various leadership roles in those and other legal and writing organizations. Learn more at her website loriduffwrites.com.

To learn more about Lori, click any of the following links: Facebook: @loribduffauthor | Threads: @loriduffwrites  | Instagram: @loriduffwrites | Twitter: @loribduff

The post Devil’s Defense: Compelling Courtroom Drama appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

Burn This Night: A Private Detective Mystery

Burn This Night, the Kate Myles Detective Series by Alex Kenna      

Book & Author Info + an Excerpt and a Giveaway!

 

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Burn This Night


The Kate Myles Detective Series
Told in alternating timelines, this gripping mystery about a PI and her quest for answers is full of twists and turns, perfect for fans of Allison Brennan and Gytha Lodge.

Struggling private investigator Kate Myles is shattered to learn her late father isn’t her biological dad. She’s still reeling when she discovers that an unknown distant relative is the prime suspect in a decades-old murder investigation. Trying to convince her to take on the case for free, an old colleague recommends her as an investigator for a recent arson murder in the same small town.

After giving up on a failed acting career, Abby Coburn is starting over as a promising social work student. With her life on the right track, she’s determined to help her brother, Jacob, whose meth addiction triggered a psychotic break and descent into crime. But when Abby dies in a fire that kills two other people and destroys part of the town, the police immediately suspect Jacob.

As the Coburn family grapples with the tragedy, Kate begins unraveling the cold case but finds herself caught in the middle of an emotional minefield. Pretty soon, she discovers that this town is full of dark secrets, and as she comes closer and closer to figuring out the truth, Kate must solve both murders before she becomes the next victim.

Praise for Burn This Night:

“The twists keep coming in this devilish PI mystery . . . Lisa Unger fans will devour this.” ~ Publishers Weekly

“Solid, heartfelt spadework into an alarming range of graves.” ~ Kirkus Reviews

“A true page turner . . . Full of twists, turns, and suspects.” ~ Book Review Crew

“Burn This Night is a fast-paced thriller that masterfully utilizes alternating perspectives to tell an absorbing, character-driven mystery. This is an electrifying read that had me engaged and on the edge of my seat until the very end!” ~ Elle Grawl, Amazon Charts bestselling author of One of Those Faces and What Still Burns

“An absorbing read told from multiple layered perspectives, Kenna ranges from finely observed domestic scenes to adept portrayals of grimy addicts living on the ragged edge. Burn This Night is smart and satisfying.” ~ Adam Plantinga, author of The Ascent

“Burn This Night is an utterly-absorbing mystery. Alex Kenna skillfully weaves a tale of two women who both face emotional and physical danger as they fight for truth and family love. Kenna masterfully draws the reader into the dark exploration of the secrets hidden in small towns and the depths some will go to hide the truth. With fiendishly smart dialogue, a captivating setting and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat, Burn This Night is absolutely fantastic!” ~ Elise Hart Kipness, author of Lights Out

“A dark, lyrical crime novel, Burn This Night weaves a complex and twisty spell about addiction, family ties, and how sins of the past can’t stay buried. Kate Myles is a great addition to LA’s canon of troubled PIs—real, flawed, smart, and very human—and I can’t wait to see what’s next for her.” ~ Halley Sutton, USA Today bestselling author of The Hurricane Blonde

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery/Thriller – Private Detective
Published by: Crooked Lane
Publication Date: November 12, 2024
Number of Pages: 256
ISBN: 9781639109371 (ISBN10: 1639109374)
Series: Kate Myles private detective series, 2

To purchase Burn This Night, click any of the following links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Penguin Random House Books

Read an excerpt of Burn This Night:

PROLOGUE

Eight Months Ago—Grace

 

My eyes shot open when I heard the yelping. Barney was going to wake the baby. I dove toward the old dog, grabbed his snout, and held it closed with both hands. “Shh,” I pleaded.

I lowered one hand and rubbed Barney’s back, trying to calm him. He let out a whine, and like clockwork, Liam started to cry. I closed my eyes, sucked in a deep breath, and braced myself for another late-night nursing session. My body felt heavy with milk and stress and exhaustion.

Carefully, I scooped up the howling baby, carried him over to the rocking chair, and lifted my T-shirt to feed him. Liam quieted down and nestled against me. I sniffed his hair and stroked his cheek as we rocked back and forth. Part of me wanted to stay like this all night. But a bigger part of me longed to be under the covers, passed out in a warm oblivion.

I heard the shower turn on down the hall. Ted must be back from serving his warrant. A few months ago, he’d gotten smart with a lieutenant, who then started feeding him late-night assignments. These frequent absences were brutal now that I was back from maternity leave and needed sleep to function at work.

Barney whined again and clawed at the bedroom door. Clutching Liam, I rose to let the dog out of the room.

I looked down at the baby, who was asleep and making little catlike snores. With slow, deliberate steps, I made my way toward the crib and lowered him until his back rested against the fabric. But the change in angle caused his eyes to open and his lungs to inflate. Then came the cry—and Barney ran back to the bedroom, joining Liam in a horrible wailing duet. I reached out toward the dog and felt wet fur. Damn it—Barney must have peed in the house. Hot tears ran down my cheeks. What I wouldn’t give for one night’s sleep.

The door opened and Ted walked in with a towel around his waist. “I need help,” I snapped.

“What?” asked Ted, surprised by my tone.

My eyes were closed, and I was crying. But Ted couldn’t see that in the dark. He just sensed the anger in my voice. I knew it wasn’t his fault that the baby wouldn’t sleep, that the dog couldn’t hold it, and that his boss was a jerk. But I’d reached my limit, and Ted was the only living being in earshot who understood human language.

“Barney peed in the house. Take Liam so I can let the dog out before he does it again. Just try to get him back to sleep.” I placed the screaming, wriggling infant in Ted’s arms before either of them could protest.

Flipping on the hall light, I made my way to the kitchen. Barney scampered ahead of me, spinning in circles. I threw on Ted’s faded hoodie. It reeked of old sweat, but I was too tired to care. I hooked Barney’s leash to his collar, and bracing myself for the cold, I unlocked the back door and stepped outside.

The Santa Anas blew hard, and I shivered as cold air soaked through the hoodie’s weave. I could hear the Jeffrey pines rustle in the wind. Thrusting my hands into the central pocket, I rubbed them together for warmth.

A smoky odor hung in the air—maybe the residue of a neighbor’s barbecue dinner. But the wind should have blown away the scent by now.

Barney tugged at his leash. I let him drag me toward the street. Now that we were outside, he wouldn’t be satisfied without a walk, and it might clear my head as well.

The sky was lighter than I’d expected. Idlewood doesn’t have streetlights. It’s a conscious decision to preserve the log-cabins-in-the-woods feel of the place. Darkness adds to the storybook charm, and it can be hard to find your way on moonless nights. But the sky had an orange-gray glow that reminded me of LA smog. Maybe it was later than I thought, almost morning.

Barney tugged on his leash, half-dragging me up the road toward the intersection. He seemed agitated, and I wondered what had gotten into him. As we passed the Hernandez’s place, our footsteps activated the motion sensor, and the automatic light above their garage snapped on with an electric hum.

I noticed something floating in the air. Tiny particles, like gray snow or dryer lint. The flecks danced in the air, and Barney snapped at one as it fluttered toward his jaws. The smell of smoke was growing stronger.

Oh my god.

Clutching Barney’s leash, I ran the rest of the way to the cross street, which cut straight to the mountain. High in the pines, I saw an orange glow—luminous against the dark sky. My vision tunneled, and all I could see was the fire on the hillside. The light was near Abby’s cabin. But I couldn’t tell how near.

I grabbed my phone and scanned my recent calls, but it had been weeks since I’d spoken to my sister, and her name didn’t pop up. I pulled up my contact list and clicked on her name. After four rings, a cheerful recording prompted me to leave a message. Maybe she’s already fled. No, Abby would’ve called if she were awake. She might hate me, but she’d warn me about a wildfire.

I called back, praying that her cell wasn’t on silent. Come on Abby, answer the phone. When I heard the prerecorded message again, I started to panic. I left a voicemail: “Abby, it’s Grace. There’s a fire by your cabin—you need to leave now!”

The orange glow was getting bigger as the Santa Anas blew the flames toward Idlewood. It was how I’d always imagined an erupting volcano would look, with lava flowing down its sides. I called Abby a third time, cursing under my breath. Across the street, a door opened, and an old man stepped outside, holding a little white dog. “There’s a fire!” he shouted.

I looked at him and then back at the mountain, ringing phone pressed against my ear. Dammit, Abby, pick up! “My son works at the fire station,” said the man. “They’re about to put out an alert. We have to evacuate. The whole town could burn.”

“My sister’s cabin is on the hillside, and she’s not answering,” I shouted. “Can you call your son and tell him someone’s up there?”

I heard a chime and looked down at my phone. It was a text from the fire department, ordering us to leave Idlewood. But my feet stayed planted. My sister was on that mountain, with nothing but a narrow dirt road leading down to safety. If the fire overtook the path, she’d be trapped.

“Jeffrey, it’s Pop,” I heard the old man say. “There’s a lady here whose sister has a cabin near the fire.”

Hearing those words unleashed a fresh wave of panic. Abby’s cheerful answering machine message sounded for a fifth time in my ear. “Abby, get out of there!” I screamed into the phone.

“We have to go,” said the neighbor. “This thing could spread faster than they can contain it.”

My phone chimed and I looked down at the screen, hoping to see Abby’s name, but it was a voicemail from Ted. Before I could call him back, a text flashed across my screen: FIRE—COME HOME NOW

I looked back and forth from my screen to the mountain. My sister was up there. But my husband and son were at the house. I couldn’t wait any longer. I tugged at Barney’s leash and ran home.

*** Excerpt from Burn This Night by Alex Kenna. Copyright 2024 by Alex Kenna. Reproduced with permission from Alex Kenna. All rights reserved.


Author of Burn This Night — Alex Kenna
 

Alex Kenna is a mystery writer, prosecutor, and amateur painter.

She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, and giant schnauzer.

Alex’s first novel, WHAT MEETS THE EYE, was a 2023 Shamus Award Finalist for best first P.I. novel.

Her second novel, BURN THIS NIGHT, is coming November 12, 2024.

 
To learn more about Alex, click on any of the following links: www.AlexKenna.com | Goodreads | BookBub – @akenna | Instagram – @alexkennabooks | Twitter/X – @AlexKenna9 | Facebook

 

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11/04 Interview @ Literary Gold
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11/06 Guest post @ Because I said so
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11/16 Review @ FullyBookedInKentucky
11/17 Review @ Catreader18
11/18 Review @ Adventures in Literature
11/20 Review @ Wall-to-wall Books
11/21 Review @ Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
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12/06 Review @ Melissa As Blog

Elena Hartwell/Elena Taylor

 

 

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Autumn Embers: A Batavia-on-Hudson Mystery

Autumn Embers a Batavia-on-Hudson mystery by Tina deBellegarde [image error]

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  Autumn Embers
 A Batavia-on-Hudson Mystery

Bianca St. Denis travels to Kyoto to return a priceless artifact recovered in Batavia-on-Hudson during last summer’s flood. It’s late October and the city of 2,000 shrines is in full autumn splendor. While she’s in Japan’s ancient capital, Bianca visits with her son, a student at Kyoto University. Ian shows her the sights and introduces her to his circle of friends—his chosen family.

On the night of her welcome party, Bianca thinks she witnesses a struggle in the garden, perhaps even a murder. When the police investigate and find no body, she is stumped yet alarm bells won’t stop ringing. She knows she’s witnessed something.

When a dead body surfaces and suspicion falls on her son, Bianca’s maternal instincts spring to action to protect Ian and clear his name. Meanwhile, things in Batavia-on-Hudson are tense. Sheriff Mike Riley is losing his re-election while tackling devastating news about his dead partner, and wavering about his troubled marriage.

Autumn Embers explores the malleable nature of our identities and reminds us that chosen families can be stronger than we think, and that true friendship can bridge any distance.
Praise for Autumn Embers

“A beautiful novel that seamlessly embraces past and present, east and west, mystery and resolution, all the contradictions that make us human. This is the rare book that leaves its reader feeling balanced and whole.”
~ Carol Goodman, two-time winner of the Mary Higgins Clark prize and author of Return to Wyldecliff Heights

“Tina deBellegarde expertly captures the details of two very disparate worlds, reminding us that at the heart of these experiences is our shared humanity. I’ve become a new fan!”
~ Naomi Hirahara, Edgar Award-winning author of the Mas Arai mystery series and the Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning Clark and Division

“Get ready for another thrilling ride with Tina deBellegarde’s mystery series, this time in our own Kyoto backyard.”
~ Amy Chavez, Author of The Widow, the Priest and the Octopus Hunter

“Fans of Louise Penny and Crazy Rich Asians will adore Autumn Embers…Heartful and human, an intriguing mystery, and filled to the brim with rich descriptions, this love letter to Japan is Tina de Bellegarde at her finest.”
~ Jen Collin Moore, Author of the captivating Roman Holiday Mysteries

‘This is a scrumptious book…Autumn Embers will have you reaching for your passport and booking a ticket to “the land of the rising sun.”‘
~ Carol Pouliot, Author of the Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mysteries

“Like a richly woven tapestry, this immersive tale has it all…With vivid descriptions and an unhurried writing style, Autumn Embers is thoroughly engrossing!”
~ Lida Sideris, Author of the Southern California Mysteries

Book Details:

Genre: Female Amateur Sleuth
Published by: Level Best Books
Publication Date: September 17, 2024
Number of Pages: 321
Series: A Batavia-on-Hudson Mystery, 3

To purchase your copy of Autumn Embers, click any of the following links:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop | Goodreads

Guest Post from Autumn Embers Author Tina deBellegarde

Café Hopping to Capture the Essence of a City 

There is a feeling I get when I am in Kyoto, Japan. It is unique and it was this precise feeling I wanted to convey when I wrote Autumn Embers, the third book in my Batavia-on-Hudson mystery series. My books generally take place in a small village in the Catskill Mountains, but book 3 has Bianca traveling to Japan. She is returning a priceless artifact recovered in Batavia-on-Hudson during the previous summer storm, and visiting her son studying at Kyoto University. Needless to say, Bianca and her son Ian get embroiled in a murder mystery while she is there, but today I want to talk about the city, rather than the mystery.

Matsuo Bashō, the 17th century poet wrote this about Kyoto:

      Even in Kyoto—

hearing the cuckoo’s cry—

       I long for Kyoto.

If I had never spent time in that city, I don’t think I could understand this verse, but in my personal experience, when I am in Kyoto, it wraps me up in a peaceful nostalgia. This is so interesting to me since I do not have the right to be nostalgic: I have no childhood memories or lost love in Kyoto. But from the first time I set foot there, I felt nostalgic and connected to its serenity. 

The essence of Kyoto was more important for me to impart than the sights. Every reader has access to photos, to the internet, to YouTube. Yes, I wanted my readers to visualize it easily, be awed by the beauty, the simple lines, the colors, and textures. But I also wanted to share the careful presentation of everything, the intentionality, the Zen. Japan is so foreign from our culture and, Kyoto in particular, is unique. It is the cultural capital of the country for a reason. 

When I first traveled to the city, I thought it was necessary to visit all the important attractions—the famous Kyoto gardens, the castles, the shrines and temples, in order to understand the city. But what I learned is that what I feel in Kyoto is something deep-rooted and can be experienced anywhere throughout the city. Every home or business has a garden of some type out front—even the most modest places with no room at all will put at least one potted plant outside. The streets are quiet—cars don’t honk and residents don’t raise their voices. Buses are hushed places to relax after a long day. The tone of the city is serenity and respect for others. Kyoto is a perfect place to think, to read and to write. 

But writing at any length requires a few extra comforts like a place to lean your notebook or laptop. So, I discovered cafés. Tea was, and in many ways still remains, the beverage of choice in Japan, but the coffee culture has a longer history there than I realized. As a coffee fanatic, I started café hopping. My favorites were the coffee houses that had been operating since the Showa Era—basically mid-20th century. The atmosphere and décor were like stepping back in time. 

Cafés in Kyoto are quiet places with gentle jazz music playing. They are often packed with students whispering over their books. Older women out with their friends, men reading newspapers. What struck me about these cafés is that they are a microcosm of the greater city. The pastries are presented on beautiful plates with seasonal accents. The coffee is freshly brewed by the cup and served in porcelain not paper. The music is relaxing, there is usually a view or an internal garden. Best of all, no one ever asks you to leave. I can find a seat, get to work and enjoy the atmosphere for hours. 

My love of café hopping started in Kyoto. In fact, my favorite Kyoto cafés made their way into my book. The Bench & Mug Café, and Jazz Spot Yamatoya are real places that I transplanted into Autumn Embers. What they taught me is that I could sustain the serenity of the city at one of these tables with no one yelling on speaker phone or employees banging plates behind the counter. These cafes are an extension of all that is beautiful about Kyoto, all that is nostalgic. 

Being able to work in these spaces allowed me to remain in the Kyoto headspace while I wrote this book. The cafés allowed me to channel the peacefulness, the Zen, onto the page and hopefully give the reader a tour of Kyoto that goes beyond the usual. 

Cafés at home continue to offer me a sanctuary to write because they separate me from my other responsibilities and allow me to focus on my work. In many ways, cafés are more productive for me than even my writing cottage, because my cottage is close enough for me to throw a load of laundry in or check on a simmering dinner. But bustling American cafés don’t compare to the exquisite peace I can find in a Kyoto café, where I am embraced by a nostalgia that I hope makes its way to the page. 

Read an excerpt of Autumn Embers:

CHAPTER SEVEN

Bianca removed her shoes and found a pair of slippers approximately her size. She tucked her shoes in a cubby and followed Ian up the stairs of the ramen house. They settled into a spot at the counter in the far corner. She looked at the menu out of habit, but knew she couldn’t read it, nor did she need to. This was her favorite ramen place, and she knew exactly what she wanted. In fact, tired or not, this place had been on her mind all day. If she couldn’t sleep, she could at least have her black sesame ramen.

Across the counter, the server brought them each a small beer and took their orders. Bianca looked around and realized that nothing had changed at all. It was as if she had never left. She wondered what it must be like to live in a world where the movement of change could be at once imperceptible and monumental. Kyoto was remarkable in its ability to modernize dramatically while remaining steadfastly traditional.

Bianca’s mouth watered as a steaming bowl was placed before her. The handmade noodles beckoned, submerged in a rich dark broth of spicy black sesame.

“Itadakimasu,” they said before they started their meal.

She took a slurp of broth first, the spice clearing her sinuses immediately, then with her chopsticks she gathered up some long strands of ramen and did her best not to make a mess.

They barely spoke as they ate. The food was too delicious and demanding of their attention, and they had talked for hours already. They were content in the sounds of their eating and the sounds of the fellow diners having a fun night out.

When Ian excused himself to find the men’s room, Bianca continued spooning the last of her broth then was surprised by a nudge. She opened her eyes and slowly realized that she had nodded off to sleep at the counter with her spoon still resting in her hands. The last strands of noodles had never made it to her mouth.

“Time to go, Mom.”

Bianca used all her energy to stand up with some dignity and followed him back to the shoe cubby and then out the door, but not before they called out to the ramen chefs to thank them for the meal.

“Gochisousamadeshita!”

Once outside, they lingered briefly at the window watching as the chefs rolled and cut the fresh noodles. Bianca was mesmerized by their actions. They worked so effortlessly as if they had no need to think about these motions.

Bianca leaned on Ian as they made their way through the alley known as Ponto-chō, the traditional bar district. Too small for cars, the cobble- stone walkways were lined with tiny restaurants and clubs, their entrances illuminated by glowing paper lanterns. A different aroma escaped each establishment. Some scents Bianca could identify—ginger, garlic, grilling meats. Other delectable fragrances she couldn’t. Despite having eaten enough, her appetite was reawakened.

They walked slowly, enjoying the cool autumn night. Just as they were leaving the quiet street, they saw a geisha walking beside a businessman. The rich fabric of her amber kimono shimmered in the light of the lanterns and her hair was perfectly coiffed with a burgundy hairpin. As the lovely girl passed them, Bianca turned to catch a better look. She admired the elaborate knot of the brocade obi belt and the delicate end points of the white makeup on the young woman’s neck.

Bianca considered it a good omen to spot a geisha on her first day in Kyoto. They were a rare sight. Some tourists could spend their entire vacation in Kyoto and never see one.

Arriving at the apartment close to 9:30, Ian unlocked the gate and led her to the front door of the guest house. As he opened the door to the darkened room he whispered, “Tadaima.” I’m home.

He showed Bianca to her room where Jiro had already deposited her bags. She hugged Ian, turned to her futon, and crawled into it without changing into pajamas. Ian turned to close the door.

“Ian, wait.”

He turned back.

“You’re happy here.”

He nodded.

“You feel at home, don’t you?”

He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them. He nodded again.

She closed her eyes and fell asleep.

***

Excerpt from Autumn Embers by Tina deBellegarde. Copyright 2024 by Tina deBellegarde. Reproduced with permission from Tina deBellegarde. All rights reserved.

Author of Autumn Embers Tina deBellegarde

Tina deBellegarde’s debut novel, Winter Witness, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Dead Man’s Leap, her second book in the Batavia-on-Hudson Mystery series, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel. Reviewers have called Tina “the Louise Penny of the Catskills.” Tina also writes short stories and flash fiction.

Her story “Tokyo Stranger,” nominated for a Derringer Award, appears in the Mystery Writers of America anthology When a Stranger Comes to Town edited by Michael Koryta. Tina co-chairs the Murderous March Conference and is a founding member of Sleuths and Sidekicks, where she blogs, tours virtually, and teaches writing workshops.

She is a member of Writers in Kyoto and reviews books for BooksOnAsia.net. She lives in Catskill, New York with her husband Denis and their cat Shelby. She travels frequently to Japan to visit her son and daughter-in-law and to do research. Tina is currently working on a collection of interconnected short stories based in Japan.

To learn more about Tina, click any of the following links: www.TinadeBellegarde.com, www.SleuthsAndSidekicks.com, Goodreads, BookBub – @tinadebellegarde, Instagram – @tdb_writes, Threads – @tdb_writes, Twitter/X – @tdbwrites
& Facebook – @tinadebellegardeauthor

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11/07 Guest post @ The Mystery of Writing

Elena Hartwell/Elena Taylor

The post Autumn Embers: A Batavia-on-Hudson Mystery appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

Color Me Dead: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery

Color Me Dead by Teresa Trent [image error]

 
Guest Post + An Excerpt + Book & Author Info!
 
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Color Me Dead

Artist Gabby Wolfe has the ability to see not only the beauty of the living but the despair of the dead. When she returns to her childhood home in Henry Park Colorado, she is forced to bring along her younger brother Mitch. He is on a “break” from college where he was majoring in wine, women, and song. If that isn’t enough they also have Mitch’s rambunctious beagle Luigi along who prefers to spend his days wallowing in junk food.

When Gabby draws the death of a young woman before it happens, she knows she must tell someone and risk a new job and her professional credibility. Will she reveal her secret in time to save the woman in the water or will it be too late?    

Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Published by: Harbor Lane Books
Publication Date: September 24, 2024
Number of Pages: 260
To purchase Color Me Dead click either link: Amazon | Goodreads

Color Me Dead Guest Post
The Process of Writing By Teresa Trent

 

A friend and I teach writing classes at our local library and people usually ask me about my process. Do I outline? Am I filled with inspiration and put everything down on paper and then write a multilevel, character arcing mystery? I wish.

Writing for me is a job. A job I enjoy, but there are still many moving parts. I am an outliner, and sometimes it feels like I spend too much time trying to get my events/scenes into a logical order. My husband jokes I write each book a different way, and I suppose I do. I wrote my first mystery, A Dash of Murder, in 2011. That was like a first pancake. A little lumpy and burnt one side, but entirely eatable if you don’t mind a few things. With each book after that, I learned little things along the way. 

I think I’ve read most books on plotting, organizing, and mystery writing, (which I consider my own little college courses) so with each manuscript I make changes. 

So, what does a typical first draft come into being for me look like?

I might use a beat sheet, or just use the list of events that are necessary in a mystery that is in my head. You must have a crime scene, a victim’s lair, a killer’s lair/clue reveal, red herrings taking you on their evil little routes, and of course the killer confrontation scene. 

Once I have those figured out, I work on developing characters, motives, and figure out how I will kill a character. Sick, I know.

From there I start with my list of probable scenes and write from the beginning to the end. I know how it’s going to end, but because there are so many variables that can change before that final confrontation scene, I need to wait to write it. I can’t really jump around my plot; I have to go in order. 

All that goes in a physical notebook and a word document. Like I said, writing is a job, but one I love. 

If you are writer, or dream of becoming one, then I hope you will have:

Time to write your dream.

A lightbulb over your head moment,

A character that makes you laugh,

And a character that makes you cry.

Happy scribbling,

Teresa

Read an excerpt of Color Me Dead:

Chapter 1

We pulled into the driveway of a home nestled into the banks of Lake Henry. The overhanging roof, a dark silver color, provided ample shade on the front porch. As if guarding the home against the outside world, stone pillars stood on either side of the door. I parked my car on the circular drive that made its way through the deep, green lawn. Clarence Bradford’s home was well-kept, and the square corners and functional design reflected a sense of order. The light played between the two pillars, creating stripes on the slats of the porch. Built up on the mountainside, the house almost looked like a natural part of the landscape.

Standing on the porch was a man I recognized from his book covers: Clarence Bradford. He was still quite handsome for his age, and his outfit—a forest-green button-down shirt, blue jeans, and hiking boots—told me every day was casual Friday. His silvery hair augmented his healthy tan.

“You made it.” He took in my cotton flowered tunic, my favorite pair of jeans, and the high tops I was wearing and said, “You are young.”

Maybe the high tops were a little much, but they were my favorite shoes. Even in my late twenties, I still hadn’t shed this style of footwear left over from my teens. Maybe it was the artist in me not conforming to uncomfortable heels that made my knees wobble. Clarence stood next to a tray set with a pitcher of tea and glasses. “You made good time. I was just on a break and decided you might be near and need some iced tea.”

Luigi leaped out of the car first and ran like a maniac around the yard.

“Will he run off?” I asked.

Mitch scowled. “I told you. Luigi is the product of discipline and training. He’ll let off a little steam and then be back to his guard-dog status.” From the wild look in Luigi’s eyes as he tried to bounce off a pine tree, I doubted his strict training included that.

Trying to put Luigi out of my thoughts, I gave an awkward little wave to my new employer. “Hi. I’m Gabby and this is my brother, Mitch.”

My brother walked over and plopped into a chair, grabbed an icy glass, and kicked off his flip-flops. “Excellent, Mr. Bradford.”

“Please, call me Clarence.”

“Clarence then,” he said, downing the tea in almost one gulp. Nothing like a hangover to make you thirsty.

I took a seat in the third chair. The smell of pine trees was so intense around me that it gave me the giddy feeling of Christmas. “You have a beautiful home, Clarence.”

“Yes, it’s where I get all of my inspiration. But, of course, growing up around here you already knew how beautiful it was. If I had to write the Adventure Kid books in the city, I don’t think they’d be any good. Can’t exactly have my little adventurers taking the subway to get to their next escapade.” He refilled Mitch’s glass.

“Working here,” I paused to look around at the towering trees and listen to the birdsong emanating from them, “sounds like paradise. I work in coffee shops a lot myself.”

“Ugh, what a terrible thing. I don’t know how people concentrate in those places,” he said in disgust.

“Earbuds,” I answered.

“Excuse me?” Obviously, Clarence Bradford had no need to block out sound and pump in music.

I pulled my earbuds out of my pocket. “These things.”

“Oh, yes. I see young people wearing them all the time. It’s like they have to have an extension cord wherever they go. Seems kind of ridiculous-looking to me.”

“You’re so right, Clarence,” Mitch said. “What I hate is hearing people’s phone conversations in the store. Do they even know how stupid they look having a heart-to-heart in the middle of the hemorrhoid creams?”

Clarence’s laugh boomed from his chest as he slapped his knee. “I can see you’re going to make this summer interesting, Mitch.”

“Mitch makes every summer interesting,” I added. “We’re renting a house on the other side of the lake, so it will be easy for me to come to work over here.”

“That’s good. Would you like to see where we’ll be working?”

I followed Clarence Bradford to what I thought would be a book-lined study, complete with the smell of cherry tobacco and a roaring fire. Instead, he took me to a room at the back of the house almost entirely encased in windows. There were blinds built into the double panes of glass. Clarence Bradford’s study wasn’t an office at all. It was an air-conditioned room on the lake.

“This is beautiful,” I said, spinning around. “I don’t know how you get any work done here.”

“Oh, but that’s the secret to writing outdoor adventure books for kids. I write them practically outdoors, with the modern conveniences of air conditioning and Internet. It’s my oasis.”

“What a fantastic idea.” The wall facing the windows was lined floor to ceiling with books. As an artist, I appreciated just how much there was to see from Clarence Bradford’s view of Lake Henry.

“Do the people going by in their boats watch you? I mean, do you feel like you don’t have any privacy here?”

“Tinted windows. I can see them, but they can’t see me. Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The view was stunning, and I also made a mental note that whenever I needed a cigarette, I shouldn’t smoke it within view of this office if I wanted to keep it a secret. As I looked across the lake, the wavy line of the shore caught my eye. It looked like something I had seen before. I stepped closer to the glass.

“Are you a bird-watcher?” Clarence asked.

“Uh, no. I just thought I saw something familiar.”

“Is your house visible from here?”

“No. We’re too far away, and our house is on the other side of the road.”

I glanced back at the shoreline. My shoulders began to feel cold, and I held onto my arms. The vision was trying to come in again. I must be close to whatever it was that was causing the woman with the cold hand to invade my senses.

“I must have the air conditioning up too high in here. You’re shivering,” he said, his eyes never leaving mine.

“No, I’m fine. Really.”

“Of course …” he said but then asked once more, “You’re sure you’re alright, now.”

“Yes.” I turned my back to the window. “This is my first children’s book, so I’m sure I have a lot to learn,” I confessed, changing the subject.

***

Excerpt from Color Me Dead by Teresa Trent. Copyright 2024 by Teresa Trent. Reproduced with permission from Teresa Trent. All rights reserved.

Author of Color Me Dead Teresa Trent

Teresa Trent started out teaching English, but life and children intervened and she began writing mysteries starting with her Pecan Bayou Cozy Mystery Series.

After that, she wrote the Piney Woods and the Swinging Sixties Mystery Series.

Color Me Dead is the first book in her new Henry Park Series and while all her other books take place in Texas, this series is set in Colorado, where Teresa grew up.

Teresa is also the author of several short stories and is teaching writing at her local library encouraging new writers. Teresa lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and son.  

To learn more about Teresa, click any of the following links: TeresaTrent.com, Books to the Ceiling, Goodreads, BookBub – @TeresaTrent, Instagram – @teresatrent_cozymys, Threads – @teresatrent_cozymys, Twitter/X – @ttrent_cozymys & Facebook – @teresatrentmysterywriter

 

 

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The post Color Me Dead: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

New Domestic Suspense: I Know She Was There

New Domestic Suspense: I Know She Was There by Jennifer Sadera [image error]

Excerpt + Guest Post + Book & Author Info + A Giveaway!

 

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New Domestic Suspense: I Know She Was There


Be careful what you see when you shouldn’t be looking.

Residents of the posh Upstate New York neighborhood of Deer Crossing enjoy all the amenities wealth provides. From drive-up dog-grooming to monthly botox parties, these lucky suburbanites have everything they could ever want. And one thing they don’t. Stalker Caroline Case, who wheels her infant along their streets each night with just one goal…to spy on anyone too careless or too foolish to close their window blinds.

Convinced the owners of the impressive homes are living a dream existence, the troubled new mom hopes to escape her working-class life by prying secrets from the unsuspecting. But the fairy tale twists into a nightmare when she sees something she shouldn’t. Something that shatters her illusions about the people in the privileged community she’s obsessed with, even as she begins to doubt what she saw.

As Caroline investigates the event, shocking secrets are laid bare, and nothing is as it seems. She knows she must prove something sinister occurred in Deer Crossing or risk letting someone get away with murder.

Praise for I Know She Was There:

“‘Twisty’ doesn’t begin to describe this compelling and complicated story. Don’t even try to guess how this turns out—just put yourself in Sadera’s capable hands and enjoy the ride!”
~ Karen Dionne, author of the #1 international bestseller The Marsh King’s Daughter and The Wicked Sister

“In the world of thrillers, few conceits are more alluring than a ‘mostly harmless’ habit gone terribly awry. Such is the premise in Jennifer Sadera’s addictive I Know She Was There, where protagonist Caroline Case’s proclivity for sidewalk-spying on her wealthy neighbors turns into her own living nightmare. Sadera’s deeply psychological novel, echoing nicely to Rear Window, has Caroline guessing not only what she saw, but whether she saw it at all, and her struggle becomes ours through effective first-person narration. An impressive and thrilling debut . . . Sadera is an author to watch.”
~ Carter Wilson, USA Today bestselling author of The Father She Went to Find

“Jennifer Sadera’s intense debut about a troubled young mother on a passionate mission to discover the truth kept me awake all night! It’s a gut-wrenching and addictively readable thriller.”
~ Bonnar Spring, author of Toward the Light (2020), Independent Publishers’ bronze medal winner for Best First Novel, New Hampshire Literary Awards—People’s Choice winner for fiction, and Disappeared (2022) ‘Best of 2022’ from Bookreporter and Crime Fiction Lover short fiction: 2023 Al Blanchard Award, 2024 Derringer

“Twisty and compelling, I Know She Was There deftly explores how well we can truly know each other—or ourselves.”
~ Tracy Sierra, author of Nightwatching

“A knockout debut—sharp domestic suspense that combines taut prose with a complex, artfully crafted unreliable narrator, and plenty of twists and turns that readers won’t see coming. I Know She Was There proves Jennifer Sadera is a voice to watch.”
~ Elena Hartwell Taylor, bestselling author of the Eddie Shoes and Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery series, including the recently released, A Cold, Cold World

Book Details:

Genre: Psychological Suspense, Domestic Suspense
Published by: CamCat Books
Publication Date: November 12, 2024
Number of Pages: 352
ISBN: 9780744310955 (ISBN10: 0744310954)

To purchase I Know She Was There, click any of the following links : Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | CamCat Books

Read an excerpt of the domestic suspense: I Know She Was There:

Jane Brockton was going to get caught.

My heart raced when Jane emerged from the side door of her home; what she and I were both doing was risky, but it was too late for regrets. I wondered if she thought so too. Probably. Her behavior was becoming alarmingly brazen. I pulled Emmy’s stroller closer and pushed aside boxwood branches, widening the portal I peered through. Although Jane’s across-the-street neighbors’ hedge was directly in front of her farmhouse-style McMansion, it was too dark this late at night for me to be seen.

Go back inside if you know what’s good for you. I pressed my fingers to my lips as the man emerged from the house next to hers. Even if I’d yelled a warning, Jane Brockton wouldn’t heed it. Who the hell was I? Certainly not someone her neighbors on Woodmint Lane knew. If Jane observed my late-night excursions through the streets of her stylish suburban New York neighborhood, her first instinct wouldn’t be to worry about her behavior.

I was prepared. If confronted by any resident of the exclusive enclave, I’d explain I walked the streets late at night to lull my colicky baby to sleep. I couldn’t admit my ulterior motive—worming my way back onto Primrose Way and into my former best friend’s good graces. And there was no need to share how, lately, the lives of this neighborhood’s inhabitants had been luring me like a potent drug—or how Jane Brockton was fast becoming the kingpin of my needy addiction. Jane stood out, even in this community of excess: gourmet dinner deliveries, drive-up dog grooming, same-day laundry service, and monthly Botox parties.

Her meetings with the mystery man were far from innocent. The first tryst I’d witnessed was late the previous Friday night—exactly a week earlier. I’d strolled around the corner of Woodmint Lane just as the pair had emerged from their side-by-side houses and taken to the dark street like prowlers casing the block. I followed their skulking forms up Woodmint, being careful to stay a few dozen yards behind, until all I could discern was their silhouettes, too close to each other for friendly companionship. They’d eventually crossed Primrose Way and veered into the woods where the bike trails and picnic areas offered secluded spaces. When they didn’t emerge from the wooded area, I backed Emmy’s stroller up silently and reversed my route, heading away, my pulse still throbbing in my temples.

It was impossible to deny what was going on, as I watched similar scenes unfold three nights that week: Jane slipping soundlessly from her mudroom door like a specter, the flash of the screen door in the faint moonlight an apparent signal.

This night, as they hooked hands in the driveway between the houses, I slicked my tongue over my dry lips. She risked losing everything. I knew how that felt. Tim had left me before I’d even changed out his worn bachelor-pad sofa for the sectional I’d been eying at Ethan Allen. I watched them cross through the shadows, barely able to see them step inside the shed at the far end of Jane’s yard. And all under the nose of her poor devoted husband, Rod. He couldn’t be as gullible as he appeared, could he?

A voice called out, shattering the stillness of the night. I flinched, convinced I’d been discovered. I scanned the immediate shadows, placing a hand over my chest to still my galloping heart.

“Jane?” It was Rod’s voice. I recognized the timbre by now. Settle down, Caroline.

My eyes darted to the custom home’s open front door. Rod had noticed his wife’s abandonment earlier than usual. Warm interior light spilled across the porch floorboards and outlined Rod’s robed form in the door frame.

“Are you out here? Jane?”

The worry in his voice made me hate Jane Brockton. I flirted with the idea of stepping away from the hedge and announcing I’d witnessed her heading to the shed with the neighbor. Of course, that would be ridiculous. I was a stranger. My name, Caroline Case, would mean nothing to him.

Rod closed the door and my gaze traveled to the glowing upstairs window on the far left of his house. The light had blinked off half an hour earlier, like a giant eyelid closing over the dormered master bedroom casement. I knew exactly where their bedroom was because I’d studied the Deer Crossing home models on the builder’s website. I knew the layout of all three house styles so well I could escort potential buyers through them. I’d briefly considered it. Becoming a real-estate agent would give me access inside, where I could discover what life behind the movie-set facades was really like. Pristine marble floors, granite countertops, and crystal vases on every conceivable surface? Or gravy-laden dishes in sinks and mud-caked shoes arrayed haphazardly just inside the eye-catching front doors?

I suspected the latter was true for almost every house except for my former best friend Muzzy Owen’s place on Primrose Way. Muzzy could put Martha Stewart to shame.

I wedged myself and Emmy’s stroller further into the hedge. Becoming a real-estate agent wouldn’t connect me as intimately to Jane and Rod Brockton (information gleaned by rifling through the contents of their mailbox) as I was at this moment. Trepidation—and yes, anticipation—laced my bloodstream and turned my breathing shallow as I waited for Rod to come outside and start his nightly search for his wife. Some may consider my interest, my excitement, twisted, but I didn’t plan to use my stealthily gathered information against anyone. It was enough to reassure myself that nobody’s life was perfect, no matter how it appeared to an outsider.

A faint click echoed through the still night. I squinted through the hedge leaves, my eyes laser pointers on the side door Jane had emerged from only moments before. Rod appeared.

As he stepped into the dusky side yard, I thought about the people unknown to me until a week earlier: the latest neighborhood couple to pique my interest. Even though they were technically still strangers, I’d had an entire week to learn about the Brocktons. A few passes in my car last Saturday morning revealed a tracksuit-clad Gen Xer, her wavy hair the reddish-brown color of autumn oak leaves, and a gray-haired, bespectacled boomer in crisp dark jeans and golf shirt standing on the sage-and-cream farmhouse’s front porch. Steaming mugs in hand, their calls drifted through my open car window, cautioning their little golden designer dog when it strayed too close to the street, their voices overly indulgent, as if correcting a beloved but errant child. The very picture of domestic bliss.

I studied the Colonial to the Brocktons’ right. On the front porch steps, two tremendous Boston ferns in oversized urns stretched outward like dozens of welcoming arms. The only testament to human activity. Someone obviously cared for the vigorous plants, but a midnight peek inside that house’s mailbox revealed only empty space. It made me uncomfortable not knowing who Jane’s mystery man was.

And did Rod usually wake when his wife slipped between the silk sheets (they had to be silk) after her extracurriculars? He obviously questioned her increasingly regular late-night abandonment. He wouldn’t be roaming the dark in his nightwear if he hadn’t noticed.

Perhaps Jane said she couldn’t sleep. She needed to move—walk the neighborhood—to tire herself. Hearing that, he’d frown, warning her not to wander around in the middle of the night. Rod was the type—I was sure just by the way he coddled his dog—to worry about his lovely wife walking the dark streets, even the magical byways of Deer Crossing. Hence, the need for new places to rendezvous each night. But the shed on their very own property! Even though this night’s tryst was later than usual, it was dangerously daring to stay on-site. Maybe Jane wanted to get caught.

A scratching sound echoed through the quiet night. I looked at the side door Rod had just emerged from, saw his silhouette turn back and open it. The little dog circled him, barking sharply. The urgent yipping cut clearly through the still air, skittering my pulse. I quickly glanced at Emmy soundly sleeping in her stroller. If the dog didn’t stop barking, I’d have to get away—fast. Emmy could wake and start her colicky wailing, which would rouse the Brocktons’ neighbors whose hedge I’d appropriated. One flick of their front porch light would reveal me in all my lurking glory.

As if to answer my concerns, the dog ceased barking and scampered toward the shed. I rubbed at the sudden chill sliding across my upper arms. That little canine nose was sniffing out Jane’s trail.

Rod stepped tentatively forward. It was too dark to see what he was wearing beneath the robe, but I pictured him in L. L. Bean slippers with those heavy rubberized soles and cotton print pajamas, like Daddy used to wear. Daddy’s had line drawings of old-fashioned cars dotted across the white cotton background. Model Ts and roadsters. I felt angry with Jane all over again. How dare she . . .

“Sorry, darling,” Jane called, striding from the shadows, stopping a few feet in front of him. “I was potting those plants earlier and thought I left my cell phone in the shed.” Her voice was soft, relaxed. She was a pro.

“I saw it on the bookshelf in the study earlier this evening,” Rod said, bending to calm the little dog, who was bouncing between them like a child with ADHD.

“Oh geez, I’m losing it,” she said, laughing.

Not yet, you’re not, I thought. Not yet.

***

Excerpt from I Know She Was There by Jennifer Sadera. Copyright 2024 by Jennifer Sadera. Reproduced with permission from Jennifer Sadera. All rights reserved.

 

Domestic Suspense Author  — Jennifer Sadera

Jennifer Sadera began her writing career just out of college as a junior copywriter at book publisher NAL before transitioning to the editorial departments of national women’s magazines Woman’s World, Redbook, and Beauty Digest. She’d already established herself as a freelance writer and blogger when she decided to follow her true passion: creating novels.

She is an active member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime; her writing has earned her multiple awards at Atlanta Writers Conferences and a fellowship at the Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing. I Know She Was There is Jennifer’s debut psychological suspense novel. When not writing, Jennifer can be found gardening, traveling, or reading anything she can get her hands on.

She is blessed with CJ, her husband of many years, two adult children, Amanda and Ryan, and two adorable rescue grand dogs named Sunny and Moonie.

To learn more about Jennifer, click any of the following links: JenniferSadera.com | Goodreads | LinkedIn | Instagram – @jensadera | Twitter/X – @jennifersadera | Facebook – @jennifersadera

 

Visit All the Stops on the I Know She Was There Tour!

02/21/2025 Mysteries to Die For: Toe Tags Podcast
10/28 Showcase @ Silvers Reviews
10/29 Review @ Wall-to-wall Books
10/30 Review @ dianas_books_cars_coffee
10/30 Review @ Novels Alive
10/30 Showcase @ Books, Ramblings, and Tea
10/31 Interview @ Literary Gold
10/31 Review @ Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
11/01 Guest post @ Dogs, Mysteries, & More
11/02 Review @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
11/03 Review @ leannebookstagram
11/04 Review @ fundinmental
11/05 Review @ Country Mamas With Kids
11/06 Review @ Catreader18
11/07 Book Talk with Fran Lewis Radio Interview
11/07 Review @ FullyBookedInKentucky
11/07 Review @ Just Reviews
11/07 Review @ tea. and. titles
11/08 Showcase @ Binge Reading Books
11/09 Review @ bookwormbecky1969
11/09 Review @ fullof_lit
11/13 Review @ Cozy Home Delight Book Reviews
11/13 Review @ fuonlyknew
11/14 Guest post @ Cozy Home Delight Book Reviews
11/14 Review @ Words by Webb
11/15 Review @ Why Not? Because I Said So Book Reviews
11/16 Review @ aratecla_the_bookrat
11/17 Showcase @ Cassidys Bookshelves
11/19 Interview @ Words by Webb
11/20 Review @ juliereadzintherockies
11/20 Showcase @ 411 ON BOOKS, AUTHORS, AND PUBLISHING NEWS
11/22 Review @ Melissa As Blog

Elena Hartwell/Elena Taylor

The post New Domestic Suspense: I Know She Was There appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

A Deadly Match: A Rocky Nelson Boxing Mystery

A Deadly Match by Karen A. Phillips

Author Interview + Book & Author Information + Author Pet Corner!Don’t miss any author interviews! Click the link here to read more.A Deadly Match

In Book 2, Raquel (AKA Rocky) investigates family secrets and murder.

Twin sisters Rocky and Bridget soon find themselves facing another shocking mystery when Hollywood visits the Sierra Foothills.

Their aunt and uncle, both famous movie stars they haven’t seen since their mother’s funeral, are in town to film a movie. Forced into family togetherness, Rocky takes them on a tour of her boxing gym, which wasn’t supposed to include a dead body.

When her beloved coach, Cutter, is arrested for the murder, Rocky refuses to believe he’s guilty. Driven to clear his name, she embarks on a dangerous investigation that leads her into a web of secrets, lies, and unexpected betrayals. As the stakes get higher and the killer’s motives become more twisted, Rocky realizes she may be fighting for more than just the truth—she may be fighting for her own life.

“A Deadly Match packs an Oscar-worthy punch!” —Holly West, author of the Mistress of Fortune series and Anthony Award-winning editor of Killin’ Time in San Diego

To purchase, A Deadly Match, click any of the following links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and all other retailers.Interview with Karen A. Phillips — Author of A Deadly MatchA Deadly Match brings back twin sisters Rocky and Bridget, whom readers met in the first of the series, A Deadly Combo. What would you like readers to know about the sisters? 

In Book One, A Deadly Combo, Rocky and Bridget are somewhat estranged because Bridget is married to a man who keeps her isolated.

Their seventy-eight-year-old father becomes Rocky’s sidekick in solving the murder and is the source of much humor.

In A Deadly Match, their father is reluctant to get involved and Rocky turns to Bridget for help. The sisters are getting to know each other again after the trauma they experienced in Book One. It’s a love/hate relationship that is typical of siblings. Their bond strengthens as they work together to stay one step ahead of the killer.

 

A Deadly Match is set in the Sierra Foothills. Tell us about that environment and why you chose to set your mystery there:

I have lived in the Sierra Foothills for most of my adult life. I find the setting to be rich in its environment and culture.

There’s an attitude between local residents who have lived for generations in the foothills and those they call “flatlanders” from the city, which is very real and provides great tension. I love the history and the mashup of old and new.

 

A Deadly Match pits an amateur sleuth against the investigation by local law enforcement. How do you navigate the work of the professionals with the work of your amateur sleuth?

As far as the characters, I have Detective Thompson and Rocky always at odds with one another. But occasionally I insert a moment of camaraderie. And a hint of sexual tension.

As far as my research into how a detective operates, I consult with a detective in the county where the story takes place. He’s the nicest guy—never gets tired of answering my questions.

 

Tell us about your writing process for A Deadly Match:

I am what’s known as a “plantser”—a combination of plotter and pantser. I create a loose outline with the beginning, middle, and end. But, as I write, as I learn more about the characters, I let the story take me in new directions.

Once draft one is done, I do my best to fine-tune, then I send to beta readers. Next is developmental editing and proofreading. Lastly is one final beta read by a reader who has not yet read the ms.

She catches everything everyone else missed.

 

You have taken boxing lessons but aren’t as competitive as your character. What do you enjoy about the sport? What made you want to write about a character so fully engaged in that activity?

I enjoy boxing because it’s very challenging on every level. My coach makes sure my lessons are never the same. He keeps me, literally, on my toes. And as I age, I realize how important it is for me to push myself, to stay focused, and to keep up with what he’s asking of me.

The reason I chose to have Rocky be a boxer was because I hadn’t yet read a mystery novel with an amateur sleuth who boxes. I thought it would make her a unique heroine.

Also, my debut mystery A Deadly Combo published in 2023. It took me five years to learn how to write a novel. I had decided to make it as easy as possible and so I chose to write about a character that was somewhat like me, yet be braver than me.

What are you working on now?

I have an idea for Book 3 floating around in my head, which I still need to outline. But for the next couple of months I’ll be focused on promoting A Deadly Match.

 

Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:

Number One: Join a writing group. Number Two: Get your derrière in the chair and write!

 

Author Pet Corner!Marble and Blaze!

 

I have always had pets—hamsters, cats, dogs, and horses.

Currently, I have two adopted cats from animal shelters.

Blaze is a six-year-old male. Marble is a three-year-old female.

 

 

Author of A Deadly Match — Karen A. Phillips

 

Author Karen A. Phillips lives in northern California and has several short stories published in various anthologies.

Her characters are engaging and fearless. She writes the Rocky Nelson Boxing Mystery series . . . and yes, she does take boxing lessons. 

To learn more about Karen, click on any of the following links:  Website, Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter

 

 

Elena Hartwell/Elena Taylor

The post A Deadly Match: A Rocky Nelson Boxing Mystery appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

A Hush at Midnight: New Mystery

A Hush at Midnight by Marlene M. Bell

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Guest Post + an Excerpt + Book & Author Info + a Giveaway!
 
Don’t miss any blog tour post! Click the link here.


A Hush at Midnight



From the award-winning author of the ANNALISSE MYSTERY SERIES.

THE VISIT THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.

Celebrity chef Laura Harris dwells on the horror of finding her mentor’s body in the groundskeeper’s disheveled bed—pillow and bedding half covering her open eyes—purple bruising around her mouth. A grisly snapshot in time revealing the Texas woman’s last moments during her attack. The elderly matriarch from the small town of Stenburg has left the physical world, and Laura is shattered.

She is catapulted headlong into the pursuit of a casual executioner, one bold enough to come and go from the crime scene with ease, dropping bizarre crumb trails designed to mock the deceased. But Laura herself doesn’t go unnoticed. As she digs deeper, she is followed and bombarded by warnings to leave the state.

When the victim’s attorney informs Laura that she’s to inherit the entire Stenburg fortune, the last act of kindness has made Laura the main person of interest in the investigation.

Message by message, Laura is methodically taunted by someone so deranged and driven they’ll do whatever it takes to dislodge Laura from Texas – permanently.

Book Details:

Genre: Amateur Sleuth/Mystery/Cozy Mystery
Published by: Ewephoric Publishing
Publication Date: October 1, 2024
Number of Pages: 368
ISBN: 979-8-9863409-6-8

To purchase, A Hush at Midnight, click either link: Amazon | Goodreads

Guest Post — A Hush at Midnight
How to Write: Outline or Fly by the Seat of Your Pants?

As I worked though my first attempt at publishing a romance novel, I had zero organizational skills—the book’s chapters fell together in a roundabout, rickety way. Far from pretty. My frustration level was high, and several times I nearly gave up on the project. What I understood about being a wordsmith back in 2009 came from watching movies. Many were screenplays based on novels but none portrayed the images and characterization a descriptive novel requires as a backbone. Backdrops and dialog are as important as the characters themselves. Details on the screen were snippets in time, as if taking a brisk walk through each scene and onto the next.

To make matters worse, I continued to watch movies and tossed out the idea of reading romances altogether. What a mistake to make! It was a lengthy and difficult way to suffer through the first four drafts that ended up as nine in total before publishing book one, Stolen Obsession. Being a natural visual artist as a young girl hadn’t helped as much as I’d hoped it would. I had to dig deeper to allow my mind to create the visuals painted in my head and match them with prose.

I flew by the seat of my pants because I didn’t know another way. I hadn’t bothered with how-to books on writing. There were and still are many great tutorials for beginning writers that frankly, I ignored. The fear of plagiarizing another author’s published work weighed so heavily on my mind, I stopped myself from picking up novels to read how bestselling authors put their sentences together. It wasn’t like I’d planned to cut and paste their words verbatim; I wanted to stay away from inadvertently picking up their language and style. In practice, if a writer isn’t reading both before and during the writing process, his/her body of work will suffer.

A superb developmental editor who also writes screenplays saw my difficulties immediately and showed me the easiest way to draft, complete the book with ease, and control wandering subplots from confusing the main theme. The day I began to outline using 3×5 cards changed everything. I’m a structured person by nature and this process came easily. Keeping track of each scene on a separate card can direct the story straight ahead to completion.

By the time I had the fifth draft done on my first book, the story had taken on a new life and had become a crossover of two genres. The five or six different subplots I’d managed to acquire during the early years were set aside for next novel series installments. (I’m still using them.) I totally recommend outlining a novel first. Start a new journal with each book and keep the 3x5s with general information with it. For extra details, add those to the journal as well as any new ideas that come to mind. Journal pages can include character names, who they are in the book, and their personality traits. Jot down a list of loglines or taglines for the new title, too. Short summaries come in handy later on—one or two lines that intrigue and explain what the book is about. The outline approach directs the plot away from minor character’s antics who should stay along the sidelines until needed.

Read an excerpt of A Hush at Midnight:

 

Author of A Hush at Midnight — Marlene M. Bell

Marlene M. Bell has never met a sheep she didn’t like. As a personal touch for her readers, they often find these wooly creatures visiting her international romantic mysteries and children’s books as characters or subject matter. Marlene is an accomplished artist and photographer who takes pride in entertaining fans on multiple levels of her creativity.

Marlene’s award-winning Annalisse series boasts Best Mystery honors for all installments including these: IP Best Regional Australia/New Zealand, Global Award Best Mystery, and Chanticleer’s International Mystery and Mayhem shortlist for Copper Waters, the fourth mystery in the series.

She offers her children’s picture book, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! written primarily for younger kids based on true events from the Bell’s East Texas sheep ranch. The simple text and illustrations are a touching tribute of belonging and unconditional love between a little girl and her lamb.

To learn more about Marlene, click any of the following links: www.MarleneMBell.com, Goodreads – @dorsetghal, BookBub – @dorsetgalwrites, Instagram – @marlenemysteries, Twitter/X – @ewephoric, Facebook, Facebook – @marlenembell, Amazon Author Page

Visit all the stops on the tour!

10/07 Interview @ Literary Gold
10/07 Showcase @ Silvers Reviews
10/08 Review @ Cassidys Bookshelves
10/09 Showcase @ Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense
10/10 Review @ Its All About the Book
10/11 Review @ Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
10/12 Review @ Dogs, Mysteries, & More
10/13 Review @ From the TBR Pile
10/14 Guest post @ Because I said so
10/15 Review @ Because I said so
10/17 Review @ Novels Alive
10/18 Review @ Melissa As Blog
10/21 Review @ fuonlyknew
10/22 Review @ The AR Critique
10/23 Review @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
10/23 Showcase @ Books, Ramblings, and Tea
10/24 Review @ Books R Us
10/28 Review @ fundinmental
10/28 Showcase @ Celticladys Reviews
10/29 Review @ Country Mamas With Kids
10/30 Guest post @ The Mystery of Writing
10/31 Review @ bookwormbecky1969
11/01 Review @ The Page Ladies

 

Elena Hartwell | Elena Taylor

 

The post A Hush at Midnight: New Mystery appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

Overture to Murder: A Julia Kogan Opera Mystery

Overture to Murder by Erica Miner

Author Interview + Book and Author Info!Don’t miss any author interviews! Click the link here.Overture to Murder

The curtain comes down on murder in OVERTURE TO MURDER, the third novel of the Julia Kogan Opera Mystery series.

Julia heads to the San Francisco Opera, this time with her significant other, former NYPD detective Larry Somers, and their five-year-old daughter Rebecca. Julia is under inordinate amounts of pressure as she replaces the ailing concertmaster, Ben, who has suffered serious injuries in a suspicious hit-and-run accident, which Julia suspects might not have been accidental. Then, one prominent company member becomes the victim of a grisly murder, and Julia cannot resist becoming involved in the investigation.

As in her previous sleuthing at the Metropolitan Opera and Santa Fe Opera, Julia once again discovers that fiery artistic temperaments and danger lurking in the dark hallways and back stairways of an opera house provide a chilling backdrop for murder.

This time, however, it’s not only her own life that is in peril.

 

To purchase your copy of Overture to Murder, click the following link:  Amazon.Interview with Overture to Murder author Erica Miner

 

 

Overture to Murder is the third in the Julia Kogan Opera Mystery series. What would you like readers to know about Julia?

Julia has evolved over the series. In the first book, Aria for Murder, Julia is much like I was when I first started out as a violinist for the Metropolitan Opera: a naïve, a starry-eyed neophyte who knows nothing about the relentless political machinations behind the scenes. She’s just thrilled to be making her debut in the orchestra of the most prestigious opera company in the world. Little does she know something terrible is about to happen. That’s how she gets entangled in a murder investigation and starts her sleuthing, becomes the target of a ruthless killer, and trusts her instincts to save her own life. 

This readies her for more operatic chaos in Book 2, Prelude to Murder, where she performs at the Santa Fe Opera and again finds herself in jeopardy when she gets involved in another murder investigation. Ghosts abound in Santa Fe, and between those and a vengeful murderer who wants Julia out of the way, she discovers new strengths she never knew she had to survive. But she also makes an unexpected discovery about herself that propels her life in a whole new direction. Enter Book 3!

Stage lights at the San Francisco Opera House

Overture to Murder takes place at the San Francisco Opera. The first two were set at the Metropolitan and Santa Fe Operas. What are some of the differences between those three venues? How do they impact the stories they appear in?

The Met is the most renowned opera company in the world, in a city like no other: New York. This venerable institution is the epitome of glamour and sophistication, where people have been flocking for the last 141 years. Audiences go to performances for the operatic superstars, the glitzy atmosphere, and a musical-dramatic experience that can’t be matched. People have no idea what goes on behind the scenes in this high-profile atmosphere; there are secrets hidden in its dark hallways and back stairways, and countless clashing egos among the 4,000 people working there who, more often than not, are in conflict with each other. Julia struggles to perform her art while dealing with these difficult personalities. Her resolve to find the murderer of an important person in her life pits her against them, and her probing the dark side of the opera house leads to her perilous situation.

Inside the San Francisco Opera House

The Santa Fe Opera could not be more different: founded in 1957, it is a much younger company than the Met. It performs in an outdoor theatre located in the middle of the New Mexico desert between two mysterious mountain ranges, one of which is called Sangre de Cristo, or “Blood of Christ.” (Yikes.)

Julia is a fish out of water here: a city girl in a milieu wildly different from what she is accustomed to, in a place reputed to have more ghosts than other city in the US. And Julia does not like ghosts. The stakes at Santa Fe Opera are not as high as the Met, so the people who work and perform there may not seem as pressured. But artistic temperaments do flare, and murderous intent is rampant. Plus, according to legend, the ghost of John Crosby, the company’s founder, is often seen darting among the chaparral surrounding the opera house. Being sensitive to apparitions, Julia connects this and other spirit sightings to the grisly murders that take place. There’s also swordplay involved. Fun!

San Francisco Opera House

San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House has the most fascinating history of the three venues. The opera company played their opening performance in 1932 and, among other things, President Harry Truman signed the United Nations Charter in the Veterans Building just across from the opera house.

President Harry Truman

San Francisco Opera House in 1932

The atmosphere there is both elegant and mysterious. The red-carpeted Patrons’ salon with its plush, velvet-upholstered chairs, floor-to-ceiling gilded mirrors, and Beaux Arts period feel, create a huge contrast to the dark basement with its ancient, creaky equipment, the scary 100-foot catwalk above the stage, and other throwbacks to the early- to mid-20th century period of its initial construction.

This was the opera house where the film Foul Play was filmed; its mystery and murder precede the operatic turmoil that occurs in Overture to Murder. The founding of San Francisco Opera was the eventual result of the miners’ need for entertainment during the Gold Rush, evolving into a great necessity for a more edifying diversion for the city’s French and Italian immigrants when they descended upon the city. From the get-go, Julia finds this venue the most conducive to suspense and mayhem. I myself found it to be the classiest opera house I’ve ever seen; also the creepiest, but in the best sense as a background for murderous action. What better place than this to perform some of the bloodiest operas ever written onstage, while chaos occurs both offstage and on?

 

Overture to Murder came about, in part, because you are a former Met Opera violinist. While you didn’t solve murders during your time in the pit, you did get to work with some amazing performers. How much of your real experiences make it onto the page? Tell us about something that might surprise readers to learn was true?

It was impossible for me not to write about the performers, the people who worked behind the scenes, and my orchestra colleagues at the Met who, despite their foibles, make for intriguing character studies.

All of this inspired the atmosphere and plot points of my mystery novels.

Many if not most of the quirky personalities that populate my books are based on people I met and worked with there. Witnessing the greatest—and I’m not exaggerating—opera stars of the late 20th century was an experience I would not exchange for anything. I did have some exciting encounters with big opera stars, both at the house and on tour: Plàcido Domingo, Jose Carreras and others.

Readers might be surprised to learn that Luciano Pavarotti, and any number of detestable divas I will not name, had temper tantrums onstage. But it was when one prominent company member started receiving death threats that my wicked imagination kicked in. I could not resist combining my operatic observations of real-world musical artists with fanciful plot fabrications that reveal the dark side of the fascinating world of opera, to guide readers through a dramatized version of the opera world.

As to what else is true and what is not, only the author knows for sure!

 

In addition to novels, you are a screenwriter, poet, and journalist, and do a lot of journaling. How do your writing processes differ across those categories?

I find screenwriting the most difficult of all. It’s so restrictive, so many rules: little or no description, minimal dialogue, show action without too many words or sentences.

Novel writing allows you all of that, plus getting inside of a character’s head, which is why I enjoy it the most. Poetry flows most easily for me. Like many writers, I started out as a poet and have amassed huge quantity of poetry. I rarely write poetry anymore, but on occasion I submit a poem to an anthology. One of them is being published in the upcoming the Bards West Poetry Anthology (Local Gems Press: https://www.localgemspoetrypress.com), which is exciting. 

I’m a big fan of journaling. My first two novels, Travels with my Lovers and FourEver Friends, were based on my journals.

I’ve given numerous lectures and workshops on journaling, even on cruise ships. I believe in journaling as a jumping off point for writers of all levels and especially recommend it for those who are having trouble getting started with writing. As for my music journalism, that is intuitive for me. As a performer, I’ve been reading reviews of musical performances since I can remember. So it comes naturally for me to observe and listen and write my impressions, both of the history involved in the piece involved and of the performers interpreting it.

The same goes when I review theatre. It’s a great exercise for me. I try to be kind, to express my appreciation, rather than be critical. I know too well the tremendous amount of work that goes into creating a performance, whether musical or dramatic.

 

What can we find you doing when you aren’t reading and writing mysteries?

In the morning before I start writing, I spend as much time as possible doing exercise. As a writer, I sit too much, so I need to get that done early, before my creative juices take over.

On weekends I often attend the concerts or opera performances I’m reviewing. The writing comes before and after—I try to be well prepared with my research and text— so that I can enjoy the music as an observer rather than a performer or critic.

In the good weather, which is limited here in the Pacific Northwest, I try to treat myself to some lounging on the back deck and read. I also like to create in the kitchen. I’m a recipe collector, the woman who owns more recipes than she ever will have time to cook in her lifetime. Lately, I’ve found baking to be a good way to work off stress—as long as I can work off the calories!

 

You are celebrating the launch of your latest novel at a bookstore near Seattle. Tell us the time, place, and what readers can expect at that event. 

Our local independent bookstore, Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park north of Seattle, has held all my book launches since I’ve been living here. One of the most cherished bookstores in our area, they love and appreciate authors and are especially good to us.

The official launch for Overture to Murder takes place there on November 18 at 7 pm: 17171 Bothell Way NE, #A101, Lake Forest Park WA 98155.

I’m hoping to have a good crowd for my presentation, in which I will tell of San Francisco’s history and that of the opera company, and describe mysteries of the City by the Bay and my personal history with the company, all of which inspired the story of Overture to Murder. I will then sign copies of all the books in my Opera Mystery series.

 

Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:

I’ve adopted Dory’s famous line from Finding Nemo as my chief advice for those who wish to write: Just Keep Writing.

Every word you write makes you a better writer. Try to put down at least a few lines or paragraphs every day. If you need motivation, try journaling—whatever comes into your head: emotions, experiences, anything goes. Don’t edit, just let it flow. Getting your thoughts out of your head and onto the page gives insight into what makes you tick.

But also keep in mind that your life experiences are a gold mine, a wealth of material for any kind of writing that you want to do, no matter the genre or format. Once you start, you’ll be amazed at the result. So, go forth—and write!

Erica Miner — Author of Overture to Murder

Award-winning Seattle-based author, lecturer, screenwriter and arts journalist Erica Miner believes opera theatres are perfect places for creating fictional mischief! Drawing on her 21 years as a violinist 

at the famed Metropolitan Opera, Erica balances her reviews and interviews of real-world musical artists with fanciful plot fabrications that reveal the dark side of the fascinating world of opera, guiding readers through a dramatized version of the opera world in her Julia Kogan Opera Mystery series.

Erica’s young violinist sleuth, Julia Kogan, investigates high-profile murder and mayhem behind the Met’s “Golden Curtain” in Book 1, Aria for Murder (2022), finalist in the 2023 Eric Hoffer Book Awards and Chanticleer Independent Book Awards. In Book 2, Prelude to Murder (2023) (‘A skillfully written whodunit of operatic proportions’—Kirkus Reviews https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/erica-miner/prelude-to-murder/, Distinguished Favorite, 2024 NYC Big Book Awards, further operatic chaos and ghostly apparitions plague Julia at the Santa Fe Opera. In Overture to Murder, releasing in Oct. 2024, Julia finds herself in jeopardy once again at the San Francisco Opera. 

Erica’s debut novel, Travels with My Lovers, won the Fiction Prize in the Direct from the Author Book Awards. Her screenplays have won awards in the Writer’s Digest, Santa Fe, and WinFemme competitions. When she isn’t plumbing the depths of opera houses for murderous mayhem, Erica frequently contributes reviews and interviews for the well-known arts websites www.BroadwayWorld.com, www.bachtrack.com, and www.LAOpus.com.

To learn more about Erica, click on any of the following links: Website, Facebook, X/Twitter & Instagram.        Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell

 

The post Overture to Murder: A Julia Kogan Opera Mystery appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

Overture to Murder: A Julia Kogen Opera Mystery

Overture to Murder by Erica Miner

Author Interview + Book and Author Info!Don’t miss any author interviews! Click the link here.Overture to Murder

The curtain comes down on murder in OVERTURE TO MURDER, the third novel of the Julia Kogan Opera Mystery series.

Julia heads to the San Francisco Opera, this time with her significant other, former NYPD detective Larry Somers, and their five-year-old daughter Rebecca. Julia is under inordinate amounts of pressure as she replaces the ailing concertmaster, Ben, who has suffered serious injuries in a suspicious hit-and-run accident, which Julia suspects might not have been accidental. Then, one prominent company member becomes the victim of a grisly murder, and Julia cannot resist becoming involved in the investigation.

As in her previous sleuthing at the Metropolitan Opera and Santa Fe Opera, Julia once again discovers that fiery artistic temperaments and danger lurking in the dark hallways and back stairways of an opera house provide a chilling backdrop for murder.

This time, however, it’s not only her own life that is in peril.

 

To purchase your copy of Overture to Murder, click the following link:  Amazon.Interview with Overture to Murder author Erica Miner

 

 

Overture to Murder is the third in the Julia Kogan Opera Mystery series. What would you like readers to know about Julia?

Julia has evolved over the series. In the first book, Aria for Murder, Julia is much like I was when I first started out as a violinist for the Metropolitan Opera: a naïve, a starry-eyed neophyte who knows nothing about the relentless political machinations behind the scenes. She’s just thrilled to be making her debut in the orchestra of the most prestigious opera company in the world. Little does she know something terrible is about to happen. That’s how she gets entangled in a murder investigation and starts her sleuthing, becomes the target of a ruthless killer, and trusts her instincts to save her own life. 

This readies her for more operatic chaos in Book 2, Prelude to Murder, where she performs at the Santa Fe Opera and again finds herself in jeopardy when she gets involved in another murder investigation. Ghosts abound in Santa Fe, and between those and a vengeful murderer who wants Julia out of the way, she discovers new strengths she never knew she had to survive. But she also makes an unexpected discovery about herself that propels her life in a whole new direction. Enter Book 3!

Stage lights at the San Francisco Opera HouseOverture to Murder takes place at the San Francisco Opera. The first two were set at the Metropolitan and Santa Fe Operas. What are some of the differences between those three venues? How do they impact the stories they appear in?

The Met is the most renowned opera company in the world, in a city like no other: New York. This venerable institution is the epitome of glamour and sophistication, where people have been flocking for the last 141 years. Audiences go to performances for the operatic superstars, the glitzy atmosphere, and a musical-dramatic experience that can’t be matched. People have no idea what goes on behind the scenes in this high-profile atmosphere; there are secrets hidden in its dark hallways and back stairways, and countless clashing egos among the 4,000 people working there who, more often than not, are in conflict with each other. Julia struggles to perform her art while dealing with these difficult personalities. Her resolve to find the murderer of an important person in her life pits her against them, and her probing the dark side of the opera house leads to her perilous situation.

Inside the San Francisco Opera House

The Santa Fe Opera could not be more different: founded in 1957, it is a much younger company than the Met. It performs in an outdoor theatre located in the middle of the New Mexico desert between two mysterious mountain ranges, one of which is called Sangre de Cristo, or “Blood of Christ.” (Yikes.)

Julia is a fish out of water here: a city girl in a milieu wildly different from what she is accustomed to, in a place reputed to have more ghosts than other city in the US. And Julia does not like ghosts. The stakes at Santa Fe Opera are not as high as the Met, so the people who work and perform there may not seem as pressured. But artistic temperaments do flare, and murderous intent is rampant. Plus, according to legend, the ghost of John Crosby, the company’s founder, is often seen darting among the chaparral surrounding the opera house. Being sensitive to apparitions, Julia connects this and other spirit sightings to the grisly murders that take place. There’s also swordplay involved. Fun!

San Francisco Opera House

San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House has the most fascinating history of the three venues. The opera company played their opening performance in 1932 and, among other things, President Harry Truman signed the United Nations Charter in the Veterans Building just across from the opera house.

President Harry TrumanSan Francisco Opera House in 1932

The atmosphere there is both elegant and mysterious. The red-carpeted Patrons’ salon with its plush, velvet-upholstered chairs, floor-to-ceiling gilded mirrors, and Beaux Arts period feel, create a huge contrast to the dark basement with its ancient, creaky equipment, the scary 100-foot catwalk above the stage, and other throwbacks to the early- to mid-20th century period of its initial construction.

This was the opera house where the film Foul Play was filmed; its mystery and murder precede the operatic turmoil that occurs in Overture to Murder. The founding of San Francisco Opera was the eventual result of the miners’ need for entertainment during the Gold Rush, evolving into a great necessity for a more edifying diversion for the city’s French and Italian immigrants when they descended upon the city. From the get-go, Julia finds this venue the most conducive to suspense and mayhem. I myself found it to be the classiest opera house I’ve ever seen; also the creepiest, but in the best sense as a background for murderous action. What better place than this to perform some of the bloodiest operas ever written onstage, while chaos occurs both offstage and on?

 

Overture to Murder came about, in part, because you are a former Met Opera violinist. While you didn’t solve murders during your time in the pit, you did get to work with some amazing performers. How much of your real experiences make it onto the page? Tell us about something that might surprise readers to learn was true?

It was impossible for me not to write about the performers, the people who worked behind the scenes, and my orchestra colleagues at the Met who, despite their foibles, make for intriguing character studies.

All of this inspired the atmosphere and plot points of my mystery novels.

Many if not most of the quirky personalities that populate my books are based on people I met and worked with there. Witnessing the greatest—and I’m not exaggerating—opera stars of the late 20th century was an experience I would not exchange for anything. I did have some exciting encounters with big opera stars, both at the house and on tour: Plàcido Domingo, Jose Carreras and others.

Readers might be surprised to learn that Luciano Pavarotti, and any number of detestable divas I will not name, had temper tantrums onstage. But it was when one prominent company member started receiving death threats that my wicked imagination kicked in. I could not resist combining my operatic observations of real-world musical artists with fanciful plot fabrications that reveal the dark side of the fascinating world of opera, to guide readers through a dramatized version of the opera world.

As to what else is true and what is not, only the author knows for sure!

 

In addition to novels, you are a screenwriter, poet, and journalist, and do a lot of journaling. How do your writing processes differ across those categories?

I find screenwriting the most difficult of all. It’s so restrictive, so many rules: little or no description, minimal dialogue, show action without too many words or sentences.

Novel writing allows you all of that, plus getting inside of a character’s head, which is why I enjoy it the most. Poetry flows most easily for me. Like many writers, I started out as a poet and have amassed huge quantity of poetry. I rarely write poetry anymore, but on occasion I submit a poem to an anthology. One of them is being published in the upcoming the Bards West Poetry Anthology (Local Gems Press: https://www.localgemspoetrypress.com), which is exciting. 

I’m a big fan of journaling. My first two novels, Travels with my Lovers and FourEver Friends, were based on my journals.

I’ve given numerous lectures and workshops on journaling, even on cruise ships. I believe in journaling as a jumping off point for writers of all levels and especially recommend it for those who are having trouble getting started with writing. As for my music journalism, that is intuitive for me. As a performer, I’ve been reading reviews of musical performances since I can remember. So it comes naturally for me to observe and listen and write my impressions, both of the history involved in the piece involved and of the performers interpreting it.

The same goes when I review theatre. It’s a great exercise for me. I try to be kind, to express my appreciation, rather than be critical. I know too well the tremendous amount of work that goes into creating a performance, whether musical or dramatic.

 

What can we find you doing when you aren’t reading and writing mysteries?

In the morning before I start writing, I spend as much time as possible doing exercise. As a writer, I sit too much, so I need to get that done early, before my creative juices take over.

On weekends I often attend the concerts or opera performances I’m reviewing. The writing comes before and after—I try to be well prepared with my research and text— so that I can enjoy the music as an observer rather than a performer or critic.

In the good weather, which is limited here in the Pacific Northwest, I try to treat myself to some lounging on the back deck and read. I also like to create in the kitchen. I’m a recipe collector, the woman who owns more recipes than she ever will have time to cook in her lifetime. Lately, I’ve found baking to be a good way to work off stress—as long as I can work off the calories!

 

You are celebrating the launch of your latest novel at a bookstore near Seattle. Tell us the time, place, and what readers can expect at that event. 

Our local independent bookstore, Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park north of Seattle, has held all my book launches since I’ve been living here. One of the most cherished bookstores in our area, they love and appreciate authors and are especially good to us.

The official launch for Overture to Murder takes place there on November 18 at 7 pm: 17171 Bothell Way NE, #A101, Lake Forest Park WA 98155.

I’m hoping to have a good crowd for my presentation, in which I will tell of San Francisco’s history and that of the opera company, and describe mysteries of the City by the Bay and my personal history with the company, all of which inspired the story of Overture to Murder. I will then sign copies of all the books in my Opera Mystery series.

 

Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:

I’ve adopted Dory’s famous line from Finding Nemo as my chief advice for those who wish to write: Just Keep Writing.

Every word you write makes you a better writer. Try to put down at least a few lines or paragraphs every day. If you need motivation, try journaling—whatever comes into your head: emotions, experiences, anything goes. Don’t edit, just let it flow. Getting your thoughts out of your head and onto the page gives insight into what makes you tick.

But also keep in mind that your life experiences are a gold mine, a wealth of material for any kind of writing that you want to do, no matter the genre or format. Once you start, you’ll be amazed at the result. So, go forth—and write!

Erica Miner — Author of Overture to Murder

Award-winning Seattle-based author, lecturer, screenwriter and arts journalist Erica Miner believes opera theatres are perfect places for creating fictional mischief! Drawing on her 21 years as a violinist 

at the famed Metropolitan Opera, Erica balances her reviews and interviews of real-world musical artists with fanciful plot fabrications that reveal the dark side of the fascinating world of opera, guiding readers through a dramatized version of the opera world in her Julia Kogan Opera Mystery series.

Erica’s young violinist sleuth, Julia Kogan, investigates high-profile murder and mayhem behind the Met’s “Golden Curtain” in Book 1, Aria for Murder (2022), finalist in the 2023 Eric Hoffer Book Awards and Chanticleer Independent Book Awards. In Book 2, Prelude to Murder (2023) (‘A skillfully written whodunit of operatic proportions’—Kirkus Reviews https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/erica-miner/prelude-to-murder/, Distinguished Favorite, 2024 NYC Big Book Awards, further operatic chaos and ghostly apparitions plague Julia at the Santa Fe Opera. In Overture to Murder, releasing in Oct. 2024, Julia finds herself in jeopardy once again at the San Francisco Opera. 

Erica’s debut novel, Travels with My Lovers, won the Fiction Prize in the Direct from the Author Book Awards. Her screenplays have won awards in the Writer’s Digest, Santa Fe, and WinFemme competitions. When she isn’t plumbing the depths of opera houses for murderous mayhem, Erica frequently contributes reviews and interviews for the well-known arts websites www.BroadwayWorld.com, www.bachtrack.com, and www.LAOpus.com.

To learn more about Erica, click on any of the following links: Website, Facebook, X/Twitter & Instagram.        Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell

 

The post Overture to Murder: A Julia Kogen Opera Mystery appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.