Elena Hartwell's Blog, page 31

The Last Line: Debut Noir Thriller

The Last Line, a debut noir thriller by Stephen Ronson

Author Interview + Book and Author Info!Don’t miss any debut author interviews! Click the link here.The Last Line by Stephen Ronson

THE LAST LINE

England, 1940: Sometimes the Greatest Threat Lies Closest To Home.

In Britain’s darkest hour a veteran left behind from the fighting discovers evacuee children haven’t been arriving at their destinations.

May 1940. With Nazi forces sweeping across France, the English Channel has never felt so narrow. But even as the foreign threat looms, it’s rumours of a missing child that are troubling John Cook. A 12-year-old girl was evacuated from London and never seen again, and she’s just the tip of the iceberg – countless evacuees haven’t made it to their host families.

As Cook investigates, he uncovers a dark conspiracy that reaches to the highest ranks of society. He will do whatever it takes to make the culprits pay.

There are some lines you just don’t cross.

To purchase The Last Line, click the following link: Amazon UK — Available soon in the US.Author of The Last Line, Stephen RonsonThe Last Line is set in 1940. What drew you to that era for your debut thriller?

I’m fascinated by the second world war, especially the early days of it when Hitler was sweeping unopposed across Europe.

When I grew up in the 70s, it was in living memory for so many of the adults, yet in many ways it was a completely different era. Horses were still used just as much as cars. Most people didn’t have electricity, or phones, or fridges. It was really the war that accelerated so much of what we came to know of as ‘modern’.

The war is also one of those few times we can look back to and know that there was an unambiguous sense of ‘right and wrong’.

The Last Line is a noir thriller, what does that genre mean to you?

Noir for me is a book or film where the rules of civilization are seen to be only paper thin.

The hero will likely have to inhabit the underworld, break some laws, break even their own sense of morality, in order to get the job done. I’m a big fan of modern noir. S.A. Cosby is probably the master of the genre, and I love reading the worlds he creates and the character that inhabit those world. I’ve tried to do the same with my book, in that you’ve got a man who disregards the law, who kills people who need killing, and risks his own soul in the process, but ultimately works to his own, very real, sense of morality.

John Cook, my hero, is a man with a strong sense of right and wrong.

 

The Last Line is set in Sussex, tell us about that environment in 1940. How has it changed in the intervening years?

Sussex was, and still is, a rural county. Stand on top of the South Downs and look north towards London and all you can see is green – fields and trees. Turn around and look the other way, and the English Channel is a very thin ribbon of water separating England from mainland Europe. During the early days of the war, you could hear artillery booming in the distance.

In 1940, when Hitler reached the French coast, and Britain’s army was evacuated from Dunkirk, the south east of England was expected to be the invasion zone. Everyone who lived there expected German Panzers to be rolling up their street in a matter of days.

Even though that’s a long time ago, the history is still there. Walk in the fields and you’ll still find pill boxes – concrete gun emplacements built to defend against the invasion. There’s still graffiti from US troops, who massed in the county as they waited for D-Day.

 

You live part time in Vermont and part time Sussex – what do you love most about both places? How did you end up crossing the pond?

Both places are the best of both worlds, rural but with easy access to great cities. And they’re easy to get between – a quick drive to Boston and a quick flight and I can be in Sussex.

I came to New England to study at Dartmouth College and loved it. Later on, I had the chance to come back and work there, and jumped at the chance. For somebody who grew up in ‘Old England’, ‘New England’s similar but there’s more open space, more wilderness. I’ve turned into a weekend woodsman, and can be found messing around with a chainsaw or splitting logs. It’s not something you can do so easily in England.

But I still make sure I get back to England regularly, every two or three months, to see friends, family, and get inspired for the next books in the John Cook series.

What’s your routine for writing?

For the longest time, I wanted to write a novel but didn’t get stuck into it. I felt like I needed a large chunk of time, like the author in Misery, hiding away in a log cabin for weeks or months.

A couple of years ago I realized that time would never come, so I made myself a promise – I’ll sit down to write every day, for 20 minutes. No exceptions. No excuses. Well, I managed to stick to it, and really found a great sense of achievement, watching the words pile up. Six months later I had a first draft.

Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers

Get it done. The things that separates authors from wannabe authors is the authors got it done.

Once it’s done, you can edit it, you can workshop it, you can see if agents or publishers want it, and you can throw it away if you want to and write the next one. You can’t do any of that until you’ve put yourself in the chair and typed the words, one after the other, all the way to ‘The End.’

When I first got to those words, I cried. I’d wanted it so badly for my whole life and yet I’d waited until I was 49 years old to actually do it. If I had a magic wand, I’d go back and start earlier.

Author of The Last Line Stephen Ronson

Stephen Ronson grew up in Sussex and worked in TV for many years on series for Discovery and UK broadcasters.He has recently moved to Vermont and works at Dartmouth College.To learn more about Stephen and his debut, click on any of the following links: Website, X, Instagram.

 

Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell

Header Image by Thomas Rüdesheim from Pixabay

The post The Last Line: Debut Noir Thriller appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

EBook Sale for Eddie Shoes!

EBook Sale for Eddie Shoes! I’m thrilled to announce that books 1 & 3 of the Eddie Shoes Mysteries are on sale for $1.99.

One Dead, Two to Go & Three Strikes, You’re Dead EBook SaleOne Dead, Two to Go —EBook Sale!

This mystery featuring a crime-fighting mother-daughter duo is “smart, page-turning fun, with the most feisty and likable P.I. since Kinsey Millhone” (Deb Caletti, National Book Award finalist).

When private investigator Edwina “Eddie Shoes” isn’t fending off surprise visits from her troublemaking mother, she’s spying on cheating husbands, hoping to land hefty divorce settlements for their heartbroken wives. But when the latest mistress Eddie captures on film dies—and Eddie realizes she’s the last person who saw the woman alive—things begin to take a twisted turn. It doesn’t help that the detective on the case is her ex, Chance Parker, who’s none too happy with the way Eddie left things between them. So when Eddie’s mom, Chava, unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep, Eddie’s actually glad to see her for a change. Because there’s no one better acquainted with the criminal mind than her card-shark of a mother. And now that Eddie’s in deep with the dangerous crowd, she’s going to need all the help she can get . . .

“Private eye Eddie Shoes and her cardsharp mother plunge the reader into a tale of fractured relationships, mayhem, and thrills.” —Deborah Turrell Atkinson, author of the Storm Kayama Mysteries

“The writing is cinematic and vivid, the characters well-drawn, but the dynamic between Eddie and Chava, which reminded me fondly of Cagney and Lacey, is what makes the story. Fans of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich should definitely check out One Dead, Two to Go.” —Max Everhart, author of the Eli Sharpe series

Praise for One Dead, Two to Go

“Smart, page-turning fun, with the most feisty and likable P.I. since Kinsey Millhone.” —Deb Caletti, National Book Award finalist and author of He’s Gone

“Plunge[s] the reader into a tale of fractured relationships, mayhem, and thrills.” —Deborah Turrell Atkinson, author of the Storm Kayama Mysteries

“The writing is cinematic and vivid, the characters well-drawn. [For] fans of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich.” —Max Everhart, author of the Eli Sharpe series

“A fast, memorable and entertaining read.” —Scott Driscoll, author of Better You Go Home

To purchase One Dead, Two to Go, click either of the following links: Amazon & Barnes and NobleTwo Heads are Deader Than One

A private investigator trying to help an old friend escape jail time becomes a murder suspect, in this cozy mystery. 

When her best friend from high school turns up out of nowhere begging for help, private investigator Eddie Shoes is right to be wary. She hasn’t seen Dakota in years. Maybe it’s nostalgia that has her bailing the woman out of jail. Eddie even reluctantly agrees to help Dakota find the person whose been stalking her. Of course, the moment Dakota is freed, she disappears, leaving Eddie on the hook with the local police, headed up by Eddie’s ex-boyfriend, Det. Chance Parker.

Now Eddie is hot on Dakota’s trail, wondering if she was kidnapped or if she just jumped bail. Either way, things are not looking good for Eddie, especially when her business card is found on the bodies of not one, but two murder victims. Even worse, all evidence suggests that the answers to this mystery are tied to Dakota and Eddie’s shared history. Which means that in order to solve this case, Eddie’s going to have to face down her own demons. . . .

To purchase Two Heads are Deader Than One (Not on sale) click either of the following links: Amazon & Barnes and NobleThree Strikes, You’re Dead —EBook Sale!

This cozy mystery about a mother-daughter duo whose holiday weekend turns to crime-solving offers an “appealing portrait of rural Washington” (Publishers Weekly).

It was supposed to be a mother-daughter getaway but nothing is ever ordinary for private investigator Eddie Shoes and her unconventional mom, Chava. Especially when Eddie stumbles upon a stranger who is gravely wounded. As a wildfire sweeps through the forest, Eddie struggles to save the man, who begs her to help him find his missing daughter before succumbing to his injuries.

Now on assignment for a dead man, Eddie is short on clues. Of course, that doesn’t stop her mom from wanting to help out. After all, Chava’s own illegal behavior makes her a criminal expert of sorts. And when Eddie’s mob-connected dad joins the search, Eddie starts to wonder if she and her family are the good guys or the bad guys. Either way, Eddie’s determined to get to the bottom of this mystery—even if it kills her.

To purchase Three Strikes, You’re Dead, click either of the following links: Amazon & Barnes and NobleDon’t miss out on this great EBook sale!To learn more about (me!) Elena Hartwell/Elena Taylor, click on any of the following links: Website for Elena Hartwell, Website for Elena Taylor, Blog, Facebook, Instagram & Twitter/X

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Kathleen Fine: Girl on Trial

Kathleen Fine launches her debut YA mystery/thriller, Girl on Trial

Interview with Kathleen Fine + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!Love finding debut authors? Click the link here for more ITW Debut Author posts.Kathleen Fine — Girl on Trial

Does doing one bad thing make you a bad person?

Sixteen-year-old Emily Keller, known by the media as Keller the Killer, is accused of causing the deaths of four family members, including young children. Emily is one of the youngest females to be accused of a crime so heinous, making this the nation’s biggest trial of the year. But what really happened that fateful night―and who’s responsible―is anything but straightforward.

Living in a trailer park in Baltimore with her twin brother and alcoholic mother, Emily’s life hasn’t been easy. She’s had to grow up fast, and like any teen, has made questionable decisions in a desperate attempt to fit in with her peers. Will her mistakes amount to a guilty verdict and a life in prison? It’s up to the jury to decide.

For readers who enjoy Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll, 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher, and One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus.

Purchase Girl on Trial by clicking any of the following links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ComCat Books. Kathleen Fine, author of Girl on Trial Girl on Trial centers on sixteen-year-old Emily Keller, accused of killing a family of four. What drew you to writing a YA with such a terrible crime at the center and tell us how your past informed your writing?

I am an avid crime and thriller reader, so I definitely wanted to incorporate my love of those things into my novel.

I’ve had the premise of this novel in my head for the past fifteen years or so. I started to experiment with alcohol at an early age and so understand firsthand the effects that peer pressure can have on a teenage girl. When I think back to those years, I sometimes wonder: what if?

What if I had made this choice or that decision? There were so many terrible outcomes that could have occurred in my life. I wanted to write this novel to show my readers a “what if.”  Also as social media is a huge aspect of teenager’s self-esteem and decision making today, this novel will help demonstrate the harm in following the crowd.

 

What kind of research did you have to do for Girl on Trial ? 

I had to research a lot of Maryland laws and so spoke to a prosecutor in the Homicide division of the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office.

I also had to research the procedures of manslaughter trials, specifically for a young adult being tried as an adult. 

 

As your debut novel, Girl on Trial , is being prepared for publication, what aspect of the process has been your favorite or most surprising? What are you looking forward to?

I would say my favorite two parts are being involved in choosing the book cover design and being involved in choosing the narrator for the audio book since I am an avid audio book listener!

Those two things made me pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming! I am also looking forward to holding a hard copy of my novel in my hands!

 

You enjoy traveling to the Outer Banks, an area that fascinates me. How did that become a favorite destination?

I have been traveling to the Outer Banks since I was three years old and it is one of my favorite places in the world. I love the peace and quiet of the beaches and the ability to spend quality time with my family. I especially love to go there off season!

What are you working on now?

I just finished completing my third round of edits for my second novel, The Chesapeake House which is a Crime/Thriller. Here is a little blurb about it:

A kidnapping, an affair, and a murder….

The Chesapeake House, A Home for People with Abilities, is in disarray when their house manager goes missing. So, when Dolores goes on a hunt to find her, what she discovers is more than she anticipated for…

The Chesapeake House is a brilliant take on finding family in the most unexpected places and reveals that even people with disabilities can do amazing things… 

Think Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies and The Husband’s Secret meets The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by: Mark Haddon. 

 

Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:

Don’t give up and persistence is key! Remember you have to love and be passionate about the story you write because you will be reading and editing it at least a hundred times!

Great Advice!Author Pet Corner!Mabel!

 

 

 

We welcomed Mabel Whoville Fine into our family in September of 2020 after our beloved cocker spaniel, Henry Whoville Fine, passed away in July.

Mabel is an adorable Sussex Spaniel and is just like one of our children!

 

Kathleen Fine

Kathleen Fine received her Master’s in Reading Education from Towson University and Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from University of Maryland, College Park.

She is a member of the Maryland Writers Association, International Thriller Writers, and Author’s Guild.

When she’s not writing and selling real estate, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to the Outer Banks, and of course, reading anything she can get her hands on.

She currently lives in Baltimore, Maryland with her husband, three children, and Sussex Spaniel.

Her short stories have been published in Litro Magazine, Pen in Hand, The Maryland Writer’s Association Anthology, and in The Indignor Playhouse Anthology. Girl on Trial is her debut novel.   

To learn more about Kathleen, click on any of the following links: Website,  Facebook, BookBub, Instagram, Goodreads, TikTok, X.Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell

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Killing Johnny Miracle: A Crime Thriller

Killing Johnny Miracle, a crime thriller by J.K. Franco

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

Killing Johnny Miracle

Johnny Miracle thinks he’s got it all … and he’s in love, just not with his wife, Mary.

He wants a divorce and he’s got leverage.

Johnny knows her deepest, darkest secret. He’s going to use that to take everything: her vineyard, her money, and her priceless family heirloom. He’ll do whatever it takes to get it all. But, as Grandma Nellie used to say, “No man, no matter how smart or strong, can compete with a motivated woman.”

Mary is a motivated woman, she’s got her own agenda, and it doesn’t include losing. She’s going to kill Johnny. To get away with it, she needs a plan and an alibi. And she thinks she has both.

Genre: Crime Thriller

Published by: Rum House Publishing

Publication Date: May 2023

Number of Pages: 350

To purchase Killing Johnny Miracle, click either of the following links: Amazon | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

A Sense For Murder

Mary Miracle would always recall with clarity the moment she decided to kill her husband. It wasn’t a decision she’d come to suddenly. She had loved him at one point, with all her heart. But over the course of their marriage, there’d been an accumulation of things he’d done that—little by little, like a blowtorch burning paint off steel—scorched away chunks of her love.

Usually, once love is gone, only indifference remains. In which case, the logical thing for Mary to do would have been to get a divorce, not kill him. But in Mary’s case, there was one final thing Johnny did to her that obliterated not just the love, but even indifference. And from the charred remains of everything she had once felt for him grew a revulsion so deep that she refused to live in a world where he existed.

After Mary decided that Johnny had to die, she spent the rest of the week working out the best way to do it, the ‘best’ way meaning how to kill him in the manner that was least likely to end with her in prison or—as they lived in Texas—on death row.

As his wife, I’ll be the prime suspect. The fact that we’re in the middle of a divorce makes that even worse. Lord knows, I’ve got plenty of motives.

It needs to look like an accident. Poison? A hit and run? Maybe a burglary gone wrong?

And I’m gonna need an iron-clad alibi.

It took Mary a few days to figure out the accident part. The more difficult piece was the alibi. She came up with lots of ideas. But in the end, she concluded that to pull off a foolproof alibi she needed help: an accomplice. There was only one person in the world she could trust with something like this. Abby Winehouse. They’d grown up together, shared secrets. They knew each other like sisters. 

Abby also had the skills to help Mary put the finishing touches on her plan. The only downside was that she’d probably try to talk her out of killing him; Mary was almost sure of that.

She arranged to meet Abby at her place that Friday for some wine and cheese. The house was just west of downtown Austin and had been in Abby’s family since the late 1800s. The two friends sat, as usual, on the wooden back deck in lawn chairs overlooking the small yard. Its perimeter was marked by a hurricane fence. The lawn was thick Saint Augustine grass. There was a small rock garden in one corner, in the center of which sat a broken bird bath; the bath part was dry and dusty. A couple of beat-up cornhole boards leaned against the fence by the gate to the alley. It was just past seven. A cool fall evening. 

Abby was sharing some of the highlights of her week. She was on a bit of a rant. “And so, I told him, ‘Don’t be mansplainin’ to me about what a rollin’ stop is. You may have a badge, but I was runnin’ stop signs while you were still on training wheels!’”

 Mary nodded and smiled as her friend spoke, but she wasn’t listening. She was rhythmically clinking her fingertip against the stem of her wineglass to disguise the slight tremor in her hands. Nerves. She had rehearsed what she wanted to say. And how to say it. Still, her neck felt tight. Could Abby tell that she was distracted? Abby was never one to pry. She had always been the type to chat, entertain, all while waiting for Mary to open up.

“So fiiiiinally,” Abby dragged out the word, “he agreed to let me off with a warnin’.” She shook her head. “But I had’ta get all pissed off and tell him I’m a lawyer to get ‘im to back down.” She scoffed. “Imagine how they treat regular folk . . . ” She stopped to pour herself some more rosé.

Mary decided to capitalize on the lull. The sound of cars rushing down Mopac highway nearby provided white noise that she felt protected their conversation from prying ears. But she reached out and turned the music on the Bluetooth speaker up a bit, just to be safe. A song by The Dixie Chicks was playing, the one about Earl. It was a song she knew well, but she was so focused on what she wanted to say that the irony was lost on her.

“I need to tell you something, Abby,” she said. “Ask a favor, really . . .” 

Abby finished refilling her glass. She turned to look at her friend, and her face fell. “Oh, shit! What’s wrong? No. Don’t you cry, girl,” she reacted instinctively, then backtracked. “Or go on and let it all out if ya need to . . .”

Mary hadn’t realized her eyes were watering. Tears were not on her agenda. She inhaled, seeking to extract confidence from the air around her. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

“What is it, Mare?”

“I’m gonna need your help with something,” Mary said. The tension in her neck eased slightly as she spoke.

Abby cocked an eyebrow, and Mary watched her eyes dart back and forth as if scanning through a spectrum of possibilities. Despite all her rehearsing, Mary couldn’t help beating around the bush just a little. “It’s a big one,” she added, her eyes turning hard and her chin tilting up slightly. 

The air around the two women suddenly felt almost electric. Mary saw that her friend felt it too; the hair on Abby’s arms stood on end.

She leaned towards Mary, placing a hand on her knee. “You know you can count on me, hon.” She unconsciously lowered her voice to a whisper. “What can I do?”

“I . . .  It’s about . . . him.”

Abby inhaled deeply and sat up straighter. Her lips pursed, then she took a swallow from her wineglass. “Well, what’s he gone and done now?” Abby’s head tilted; her mouth set in a hard line. “It’s high time you divorced that sumbitch. I know it’s been a mess. But of course, you can count on me—”

“Oh, no. It’s not about the divorce.” She sat back, more confident now that she had gotten the topic on the table. “I mean, thank God, I found out because of the divorce. But . . .”

Mary had read somewhere that when the police deliver news of a family member’s death, they use simple, direct language to avoid confusion. In the shock of the moment, brutal clarity works best. Mary had decided to follow that approach. That’s what she had rehearsed. 

She took a sip of wine, her gaze locked on Abby’s. She breathed in, then exhaled slowly and, for the first time, said out loud what she’d been thinking, planning, what she knew she had to do.

“I’m going to kill Johnny.”

Her tone made it clear that this was not a figure of speech.

Abby sat for a good while studying her friend. She was searching, hoping for some indication that she was misreading the moment—that Mary wasn’t actually declaring her intent to commit murder.

When it became clear that Mary had nothing further to add, Abby started to speak several times. Mary watched as her mouth would form the tip of a word, before aborting the effort as new scenarios percolated out of her keen mind. Finally, Mary saw that look in her friend’s eyes; her best friend was still there, but the lawyer in her was sharing control. Abby clasped her hands together, resting them softly on her knee, then spoke the best open-ended reply of them all.

“Why?”

*** Excerpt from Killing Johnny Miracle by J.K. Franco. Copyright 2023 by J.K. Franco. Reproduced with permission from J.K. Franco. All rights reserved.

 

Killing Johnny Miracle Author — J.K. Franco

J.K. Franko was born in Texas and spent his childhood in Corpus Christi where he attended St. Patrick’s Elementary and Incarnate Word Academy. He was educated by Irish nuns who thought his conduct poor and academic effort lacking. Franko admittedly spent too much time at the video arcade, playing hacky sack, and later hanging out with friends drinking beer and listening to eighties music (this was in the eighties) at Swantner Park.

He would not change any of that (if he could).

Franko got his act together in college, during what he calls his Tour of Texas: Del Mar College, Baylor University, University of Dallas, University of the Incarnate Word (BA Philosophy, cum laude), St. Mary’s Law School (Juris Doctor, summa cum laude), and UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business (MBA, Kozmetsky Scholar).

He worked for ten years as a trial lawyer in Texas, then went on to work as an executive in the Fortune 100 in Europe and Asia.

Franko has written a number of non-fiction books and articles. But storytelling has always been his passion.

Publication of Franko’s first three novels—the Eye for Eye trilogy—was complete in 2020, with international publication in translation beginning in 2021.

He will be publishing two books in 2023: Killing Johnny Miracle and The Black Book.

To learn more about JK Franko, click on any of the following links: Website, Goodreads, BookBub, Instagram, X, Facebook 

 

Visit all the Stops on the Tour!

10/17 Showcase @ Books, Ramblings, and Tea
10/18 Review @ Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!
10/19 Review @ Book Corner News & Reviews
10/20 Review @ Catreader18
10/21 Review @ tea. and. titles
10/23 Review @ Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense
10/24 Review @ Lynchburg Reads
10/25 Guest post @ The Book Divas Reads
10/27 Review @ nanasbookreviews
11/01 Review @ fundinmental
11/02 Review @ Novels Alive
11/02 Review @ Wendy B
11/03 Showcase @ Celticladys Reviews
11/04 Review @ Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
11/06 Review @ Books with Bircky
11/06 Review @ Jersey Girl Book Reviews
11/07 Review @ Nesies Place
11/08 Review @ elaine_sapp65
11/10 Podcast reading of the excerpt @ Books to the Ceiling
11/10 Review @ Melissa As Blog

Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell

All We Buried, available now in print, e-book, and audio.

Silver Falchion Award Finalist, Best Investigator

Foreword INDIE Award Finalist, Best Mystery

The post Killing Johnny Miracle: A Crime Thriller appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

Medical Thriller: The Algorithm Will See You Now

Medical Thriller! The Algorithm Will See You Now, a thriller by JL Lycette

Excerpt + Book & Author Info + Giveaway!
Don’t miss any blog tour posts! Click the link here.

Medical Thriller: The Algorithm Will See You Now

Medical treatment determined by artificial intelligence could do more than make Hope Kestrel’s career. It could revolutionize healthcare.

What the Seattle surgeon doesn’t know is the AI has a hidden fatal flaw, and the people covering it up will stop at nothing to dominate the world’s healthcare-and its profits. Soon, Hope is made the scapegoat for a patient’s death, and only Jacie Stone, a gifted intern with a knack for computer science, is willing to help search for the truth.

But her patient’s death is only the tip of the conspiracy’s iceberg. The Director, Marah Maddox, is plotting a use for the AI far outside the ethical bounds of her physician’s oath. A staggering plan capable of reducing human lives to their DNA code, redefining the concepts of sickness and health, and delivering the power of life and death decisions into the hands of those behind the AI.

Even if the algorithm accidentally discards some who are treatable in order to make that happen…

Genre: Thriller

Published by: Black Rose Writing

Publication Date: March 2, 2023

Number of Pages: 272

ISBN: 9781685131494 (ISBN10: 1685131492)

 

To purchase  The Algorithm Will See You Now  click any of the following links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Black Rose Writing

 

 

Read an excerpt of this medical thriller:

MONDAY 08 OCTOBER 2035

 

7:15 AM

 

PRIMA, Prognostic Intelligent Medical Algorithms

 

Main Campus, Seattle

Dr. Hope Kestrel was the only person who knew the patient in Room 132 wasn’t responding to the algorithm-selected treatment. 

 

She shuffled forward in the hospital security line, wanting to get her day started already yet dreading how she’d tell her patient the unexpected and devastating news. The straps from her work bag dug into her right shoulder as she shifted the trays of coffee and scones in her arms, her usual Monday morning offering to the staff. From PRIMA’s lofty location at the top of “Pill Hill,” the floor-to-ceiling windows framed downtown Seattle’s skyline, lit up by the early morning sun—its first appearance in over a week. In the distance, a ribbon of pink sky silhouetted the Space Needle, the tip poking out of the murky blue of the cloud bank. She frowned down at her pale hands, unable to recall the last time her skin had seen the sun. Even her freckles were fading.

 

Her heart lifted when she spotted Bear, the Security Force service dog, rounding the corner. The German shepherd dashed for her, pulling Kyle, his Security Force guard, with him. The people next to her in line stepped back.

 

Bear nosed at her lab coat, and she lifted the pastry box in one hand higher while shielding the cardboard carrier of coffee in the other. Hot liquid sloshed onto her wrist, the sting on her skin not far off from the burn in her chest that had been present all morning, triggered by the impending meeting in Room 132. One where she’d need to engage on an interpersonal level without the usual buffering layer of technology.

 

Her gaze shifted from Bear to the familiar logo on the wall behind Kyle’s head—Prognostic Intelligent Medical Algorithms—and she shut out the searing pain in her chest. They were so close to the breakthrough to enhance the artificial intelligence even further. To render tumors like her mom’s curable. Because to rely on only hopefulness promised everything and got you nothing. No matter her damn name.

 

She had to focus on the big picture. All she needed was to maintain her top ranking for a few more months. Then the coveted post-residency position at PRIMA would be hers—complete with her own research lab. Soon, she’d work side-by-side with her mentor Cecilia, no longer an underling.

 

Bear gave a muffled woof and sat down obediently at her feet. Although Kyle would probably deny it if asked, she strongly suspected the guard went out of his way each morning to find her, knowing how much she loved Bear. It had been their unofficial routine for five years now.

 

Hope gestured with her elbow. “Kyle, could you take this for a sec?”

 

The burly, middle-aged man accepted the breakfast offerings with a flash of white teeth gleaming in contrast to his warm brown skin. “You got it, High Resident Kestrel.”

 

“For the millionth time, you can call me Hope.”

 

His eyes twinkled. “Whatever you say, oh most High One.”

 

Heat flamed Hope’s cheeks, and she tried to cover it with an eye roll. Three months into her final year, she still wasn’t used to her lofty title. She’d be called the Chief Resident—not the High Resident—at any other program, but PRIMA had its own language.

 

The loyal dog emitted another stifled woof from his barely contained seated position.

 

Hope fished in the front pocket of her white scrubs for one of the dog biscuits she always carried and tossed the treat to Bear, who snapped it up.

 

Kyle returned the pastries, then spoke in the deep, rumbling voice that Hope had come to learn only masked his kindly nature. “He sure loves you, Dr. K. He’d follow you anywhere. Have you reconsidered about one of the puppies?”

 

She shifted her grip and gave a wistful shake of her head. “It wouldn’t be fair. I’m never home.”

 

“So? You’d figure it out. Hire a dog walking service—and doggie daycare, too. You don’t have to do it on your own.”

 

“I’d be nothing more than a familiar stranger who provides shelter and food.”

 

Kyle bent down to rub Bear behind his ears, only to glance up and hastily straighten into a military posture, shoulders back. He tugged Bear to heel, his gaze fixed over Hope’s head.

 

The dog sensed his handler’s shift in mood, the fur on his neck bristling upward.

 

Hope swiveled, following the direction of Kyle’s eyes. More coffee dribbled on her hand, but she barely felt it this time. A man and woman in matching black suits and pressed white shirts were staring in their direction. Hope couldn’t help but stare back. The man was tall and broad-shouldered, mid-thirties, with angular cheekbones and deep-set eyes, his striking features set off by his onyx black hair. The woman appeared to be of similar age and height, equally imposing, with skin paler than Hope’s, commanding eyebrows, and white-blonde hair in an identical short haircut to her partner. 

 

Hope’s eyes darted to Kyle, who flashed another smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

 

“Are those two—?”

 

“Not regular Security Forces. They’ll notice me deviating from my route.” Kyle grimaced. “And letting Bear interact with civilians.”

 

“But—”

 

Kyle dropped his voice. “Last week, another disgruntled non-responder tried to get in.”

 

A non-responder. A patient the algorithm had identified as refractory—resistant to all known therapeutics—and therefore wouldn’t be offered treatment at PRIMA. Or shouldn’t, at least. 

 

Hope went cold all over. All patient volunteers agreed to abide by the algorithm’s determinations in exchange for free healthcare. What would the guards do if they discovered another non-responder already here, admitted by mistake? On Hope’s service, no less.

 

But that wasn’t her fault—

 

“You’re a busy doctor, and we shouldn’t be holding you up.” Kyle tugged Bear away before she could ask him anything more. “We’ll see you again soon, Dr. K.”

 

Before the dog was out of reach, Hope hurried to transfer the pastry box to the crook of her elbow, bracing it against her side enough to allow her to extend a hand to trail her fingers in Bear’s soft fur. The brief comfort the touch provided would have to last until tomorrow. She re-joined the line to watch the man and woman cut through the security checkpoint.

 

Her muscles tightened, and she forced them to relax. She needed to focus. At least medical training had made her a champion at putting extraneous thoughts out of her mind. Compartmentalization for the win.

 

A few moments later, she passed through the checkpoint and stepped onto OASIS—the Oncologic and Surgical Intervention Success Unit—and its familiar buzz of activity. 

 

Patients strolled the oval hallway in the sunshine-yellow robes and plush slippers allocated upon admission. If not for the slim IV poles, they might be in a luxury hotel. The hidden panels in the walls and ceiling secured all medical equipment out of sight. 

 

Abbie Fuentes, the charge nurse on OASIS for as long as Hope or anyone else could remember, spotted her arrival and trailed her into the break room. Hope wordlessly handed her one of the coffees, and she took a noisy sip while scanning Hope up and down, her impeccably bobbed hair not moving an inch. “What’s going on with you today? You’re late.”

 

Hope shrugged. The nurses hadn’t yet seen her patient’s latest test results, and the part of Hope that feared being perceived a failure planned to wait until the last possible moment to tell them. “Line at security. You know, it’s getting slower every day.”

***

Excerpt from The Algorithm Will See You Now by Jennifer / JL Lycette. Copyright 2023 by Jennifer / JL Lycette. Reproduced with permission from Jennifer / JL Lycette. All rights reserved.

 

Jennifer / JL Lycette, Author, Medical Thriller, The Algorithm Will See You Now

Jennifer / JL Lycette is a novelist, award-winning essayist, rural physician, wife, and mom.

Mid-career, she discovered narrative medicine on her path back from physician burnout and has been writing ever since.

She is an alumna of the 2019 Pitch Wars Novel Mentoring program. Her first novel, The Algorithm Will See You Now, was a 2023 SCREENCRAFT CINEMATIC BOOK COMPETITION FINALIST, 2023 READER’S FAVORITE BRONZE MEDAL WINNER in the Medical Thriller category, 2023 MAXY AWARD’S FINALIST – Thriller category, and 2023 PAGE TURNER AWARD’S FINALIST – Best Debut Novel category. 

The Committee Will Kill You Now is her second novel.

To learn more about Jennifer / JL Lycette, you can find her at the following sites:
JenniferLycette.com, Goodreads, BookBub – @JL_Lycette, Instagram – @jl_lycette & Facebook – @Author.JL.Lycette

 

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The post Medical Thriller: The Algorithm Will See You Now appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

Second Term: Debut Political Thriller

Second Term, the debut political thriller by J. M. Adams

Author Interview + Book and Author Info + Pet Corner!Don’t miss any debut author interviews! Click the link here.Second Term

A lame duck president’s desperate power grab threatens democracy in the United States—can former intelligence operative and single mother Cora Walker prevent catastrophe?

September 2012. Cora Walker, a DIA defense operative, learns of a terrorist plot in Benghazi and rushes to a secret installation to stop it. When her superiors ignore her dire warnings, she’s forced to mount an unsanctioned attempt to thwart the attack. Her team barely repels the large force of invaders determined to kill Americans.

Sixteen years after her heroic actions in Benghazi, Cora is the press secretary for the Speaker of the House. As a single mom, she’s struggling to balance her demanding job and her home life. Soon, things get more complicated at work as the lame duck president suspends habeas corpus and begins arresting members of Congress in a desperate attempt to retain power.

Cora springs into action to save the Speaker and prevent catastrophe. She’ll have to work strategically to keep everyone safe—alliances turn sour, and her trust in others begins to falter. It’s an uphill battle for Cora until an explosive finale exposes what can really happen to democracy when political extremism reaches new heights.

To purchase Second Term click any of the following links: Amazon, B&N, Apple Books, Hudson Book Sellers, Kobo.Interview with J.M. Adams, author of Second Term

 

Second Term features Cora Walker, a single mother, an ex-DIA defense operative, and now the press secretary for the Speaker of the House. What else should readers know about her? 

Cora Walker is a loving and gentle mother with a wry sense of humor who does not suffer fools or liars.

Those who fight alongside of her describe Cora Walker as a warrior with liquid silver in her veins. When chaos unfolds around her, an eerie sense of calm washers over her entire being. Any situation that requires life-saving action is nothing more than a mathematical equation that needs to be solved instantly and efficiently. Time slows down as her mind instantly processes every surrounding element and what action must be taken to ensure a favorable outcome.

 

Second Term focuses on the power grab of a lame duck president. How much have you based the novel on possible events or events you believe could be heading our way?

I believe that what happened on January 6th, 2021 was a practice run, just a warm up to evaluate how the government and society would respond to thousands of people attacking the seat of American government. From that point of view, the attack was a smashing success. Weeks after the uprising, those who helped orchestrate it called the attack nothing more than a “NORMAL TOURIST VISIT.” 

This was a slow-moving hurricane that crawled toward Washington D.C. All the politicians and every government agency including the justice department knew what was coming, but they decided to let it unfold rather than take any definitive action to stop it.

If you can spin the fact that thousands of terrorists beat police, smashed the windows of the Capitol and threatened to hang the Vice President as a “tourist visit’ and a large segment of the population believes it, then you have the blueprint for another attack on the sanctity of our democracy. 

 

Second Term comes in part from your fifteen years of experience as a journalist. How much did your career in on-air television journalism impact the book? 

I would like to think that all of my experience as a journalist had a direct impact on Second Term. Being in the middle of riots, protests and marches is a fascinating snapshot into how human beings morph into something very different when they become part of a mob.

I was fortunate enough to spend a great deal of time with the military here in the United States and also in the Middle East. My respect and admiration for them knows no bounds and I was lucky to work with them.

 

What’s it like behind the scenes on-air? Is it all chaos or calm? Or a mix of both?

It really depends on the story.

When you’re reporting from a natural disaster or a violent crime scene, it’s all chaos right up until the time you’re live on air. For other more informational stories and especially court cases, there’s a great deal of waiting time that builds up to those two to three minute hits during each newscast. 

 

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

My writing time is mostly 4am until it’s time to wake up the kids for school.

I coach a high school tennis team and still play when I can, but most of my awake time is spent with the girls and their various sporting events around Northern New Jersey. 

 

What are you working on now?

I’ve been researching and organizing for Cora’s next adventure. I took a week-long research trip to several Texas-Mexico border towns venturing into Mexico about 12 times to spend time and meet with migrant families, churches, Border Control Officers, ICE agents and members of the Mexican Federal Police Force. 

 

Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:

I’ve always been a researcher at heart. As an investigative reporter years ago and now as author, I lose myself in my research before I ever begin writing. You can never know too much about any topic no matter how obscure it may seem at the time because it will come back to help you when you begin the writing process. It’s always better to have too much information to draw on rather than too little.

 

Author Pet Corner!Buddy and Bella!

Buddy and Bella are three years old and came from the same Cavachon litter. The plan was to only bring home Bella, but when I met Buddy for the first time, the family had a new choice to make. I explained that we could still get Bella, but Buddy WOULD NOT BE LEFT BEHIND.

So instead of two children, we have four: Two young ladies and two furry terrorists.

Bella and Buddy!

The pups are love sponges packed full of personality and mischief and they could not be more different. Bella’s perfect day is full of long naps on the couch with her humans while Buddy is the anxious one, always looking over his shoulder and ready for action.

 

Adorable!!!

 

J.M. Adams, Author of Second Term

J. M. Adams is an Emmy nominated journalist with more than 15 years of on-air television journalism experience, reporting for CBS, ABC and NBC news affiliates across the United States and abroad.

Besides being nominated for an Emmy for his news reporting, highlights from his career include going on sea patrols with the Navy after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and reporting on location from Kuwait and Iraq while the Air Force enforced No-Fly Zones over Iraq. He also reported on location from a number of hurricane and wildfire disaster zones across the Southern United States and covered multiple high-profile federal court cases around the country.

Second Term is his debut novel.

Adams is an avid history buff who also teaches tennis and coaches a women’s high school tennis team. He lives in Northern New Jersey, with his wife, two daughters, and a pair of Cavachons who appear to have taken over the house.

To learn more about J.M., click on any of the following links: Website, X, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Bookbub, Goodreads. Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell Taylor

Header Image: 12019 from Pixabay

The post Second Term: Debut Political Thriller appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

The Water Tower: A New Mystery

The Water Tower, a new mystery by Amy Young

Excerpt + Book & Author Info + A Giveaway!
Don’t miss my interview with Amy! Click the link here.

The Water Tower

Josie Ashbury was a successful Hollywood actress with a booming career-until an on-set breakdown sends her back to her small Ohio hometown to recover. Taking a job teaching at her old high school, Josie is beginning to put the pieces of her life back together when one of her students dies under suspicious circumstances. The police close the case quickly, without any real answers. Josie is determined to find the truth behind the girl’s death.

At the same time, Josie is battling demons of her own. As she faces debilitating insomnia that leaves her with gaps in her memory, she dives into the tangled secrets surrounding the investigation. When she finally unravels the web, she discovers that the truth lies much closer to home than she could have ever imagined.

 

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery

Published by: Level Best Books

Publication Date: June 20, 2023

Number of Pages: 290

ISBN: 9781685122775

Series: The Lakeview Mysteries, Book 1

To purchase The Water Tower, click on the following links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads

 

Read an excerpt:

The Water Tower

She stood on the water tower, looking at the skyline she had only observed from the ground. You really could see the whole town from up here. Funny how your whole life can fit into one 360-degree glance. Peering down at the ground, she was no longer able to see individual blades of grass, all of them blurring into a sea of perfect emerald green. To her right was the roof of Lakeview High School, looking small from this vantage point. She felt as though if she leaned over far enough, she could almost touch it. But that was ridiculous; the school had to be several hundred feet away. Her vision came in and out of focus as she swayed, thinking about her life, her past, her future. 

In her three years at the school, she had never been up on the tower. No one she knew had been up here, either. Most students wouldn’t dare to scale it. Too scared of getting caught, too scared of breaking the rules, too scared of living. When she looked down at the ground, she thought she could see movement, like little grass men dancing and hopping around through a crowd of their peers. Kind of like high school. More like, exactly like high school. Everyone looks the same; maybe some are a bit taller, a bit shorter, a bit wider, but everyone dressed in essentially the same uniform, hopping over one another, trying to make their mark. 

How many feet above the ground was she—50, 60 feet? Was that high enough to kill you, or maybe just break a few bones? It would probably depend on how you hit the ground. Here she was, high above the town, pondering the angle at which you might hit the ground and live through the fall, the velocity at which an object might fall from here. 

Her body felt warm all over, despite the crisp air of late fall, and she took off her jacket and threw it aside. She leaned against the rail and spread her arms, allowing the breeze to blow through her, inhabiting every cell for just a moment, before moving off in another direction to go dance with someone else. Her 17 years had all been spent here, in this one place, in this small, boring town where, it seemed, nothing was all that was destined to happen. 

The clock tower chimed; it was 11:00. She felt she had eternity in front of her, the rest of this night, the rest of her life, stuck here in this town. Would she ever get out? Did it even matter if she did? She thought about the college catalogs arriving at home, the hundreds of pages of sales pitches clamoring for her family’s money. The sprawling campuses, the smiling students, the serious, but friendly, professors—what was the point? She would just end up back here, raising the same family as her friends, living the same life that her kids would eventually live. 

Reaching out her slender arm, she twirled her wrist. She could hardly wait for graduation when, everyone said, “real life” would begin. “I can’t wait to get out of here,” her friends exclaimed, dreaming of big cities and even bigger lives in far off places: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, anywhere but here. But she knew they would return, just like their parents, raising 2.5 kids with a Labradoodle and a balding husband in one of the best-little-suburbs in the country. Was it really so bad? She watched all these super-educated women who had given up their careers to stay home and clean up after the kids and drive to soccer practice, instead of changing the world as they’d so hopefully planned when plotting their escape years earlier. Was that her fate? Was that what awaited her now? Dozens of similar thoughts swirled and crashed like waves in front of her, mixing in a fantastic spray of colors, lights, and sounds.

She was dead before she hit the ground.

*** Excerpt from The Water Tower by Amy Young. Copyright 2023 by Amy Young. Reproduced with permission from Amy Young. All rights reserved.

 

Amy Young, Author of The Water Tower

Amy Young is an author, comedian, and actor based in Cleveland.

After spending a decade in Los Angeles working in the entertainment industry and writing her debut novel, The Water Tower, she returned to Ohio to be closer to family.

Amy is working on her second book, a thriller, and in her free time she enjoys going to the theatre, bingeing reality TV, and spending time with her husband and many, many cats.

She has a B.A. in English from Kenyon College.

To learn more about Amy, click any of the following links: Website, Goodreads, BookBub, Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok. 

 

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The post The Water Tower: A New Mystery appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

Blood Relations: A Belfast Murder Novel

Blood Relations, A Belfast Murder Novel by J. Woollcott

Spotlight + Excerpt + Book & Author InfoBlood Relations by J. Woollcott

Belfast, Northern Ireland: early spring 2017. Retired Chief Inspector Patrick Mullan is found brutally murdered in his bed. Detective Sergeant Ryan McBride and his partner Detective Sergeant Billy Lamont are called to his desolate country home to investigate. In their inquiry, they discover a man whose career with the Police Service of Northern Ireland was overshadowed by violence and corruption. Is the killer someone from Mullan’s past, or his present?

And who hated the man enough to kill him twice?

Is it one of Patrick Mullan’s own family, all of them hiding a history of abuse and lies? Or a vengeful crime boss and his psychopathic new employee? Or could it be a recently released prisoner desperate to protect his family and flee the country?
Ryan and Billy once again face a complex investigation with wit and intelligence, all set in Belfast and the richly atmospheric countryside around it.

Genre: Police Procedural
Published by: Level Best Books
Publication Date: August 2023
Number of Pages: 327
Series: The Belfast Murder Series, 2

To purchase Blood Relations, click on any of the following links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | GoodreadRead an Excerpt

1

Monday, APRIL 24, 2017

Ryan

 

Detective Sergeant Ryan McBride stared into Mullan’s bedroom, the metallic smell of old blood stronger here. Prisha Hill, the supervising crime scene investigator, laid her hand on his arm.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Prisha said. “Have you?”

“No,” Ryan said. “No, I haven’t.”

 

Fifteen minutes earlier, arriving at the scene, Ryan roared past several patrol cars cluttering up the grass verge in front of Hungry Hall, a decaying country house outside Antrim. A few constables stood talking by their vehicles. He jammed on the breaks, pulled into the driveway then backed up. Saw them glance over; a bit edgy now. A stocky woman officer, with short dark hair curling under her cap, leaned against a car beside two male constables, both tall and pale. Ryan lowered his window, getting a whiff of country air, manure, cut grass, and peat.

“Word to the wise.” He flashed his warrant card. “I’m Detective Sergeant McBride, Senior Investigating Officer.” He nodded towards the house. “That’s a crime scene. You’re supposed to be protecting it, not standing around chatting like a bunch of schoolgirls. Next time anyone tries to enter this driveway ask for ID, unless you fully know who it is.”

Their faces closed up with anger and embarrassment.

Ryan held up his hand. “That’s one of ours lying dead up there, a retired senior officer. If you let Chief Inspector Girvan drive past you like I did, it won’t just be a bollocking you get, it’ll be school-safety visits. Understand me?”

The woman broke from the group and walked over.

“Sorry, we just assumed, you know, by the way you hammered in. But you’re right, we should have stopped you.” She nodded over to one of the constables, shuffling his feet by the car door. “Frank there knows the son, Andrew Mullan, went to primary school with him. He’s right and upset. We didn’t see the victim but one of the other fellas up there did and was sick.”

 

At the house, Ryan’s partner, DS Billy Lamont, was talking to a crime-scene tech while struggling into a white Tyvek suit and trying to tuck his messy brown curls under a hood. Billy stood a little shorter than Ryan at just under six feet. He had light grey eyes in a pale, freckled face. He lifted his hand in greeting.

One of the crime-scene guys threw Ryan a suit and booties. He had his own gloves and he hopped along, trying to tug on the booties as they headed for the front of the house.

“Grim sort of a place, eh?” Billy said as they approached the door.

Hungry Hall stood four-square and solid enough on an acre of land, Ryan noticed the stonework, originally painted white, now had a grey, mossy tinge. A feeling of disuse, almost abandonment, lingered. The day didn’t help, either, overcast and sullen with low clouds.

“Who found him?”

“The cleaning lady. She’s waiting in the kitchen.”

They stopped at the door and looked in. The main hall was large, gloomy, and cold. Crime-scene officers bustled about. Even so, the place felt desolate. Ryan couldn’t put his finger on it. He shivered.

“Jesus, it’s freezing in here.”

“That’s a desperate smell.” Billy unzipped his suit a bit and pulled his hanky out, holding it to his nose.

Ryan picked up the scent of blood, along with rubbish, rotting food, and dust in the air.

“How often did this cleaning lady come?” he asked Billy. Billy, his partner of over three years, was quick to pick up all kinds of information at scenes.

“Not blooming often enough, you ask me.”

“Hello.” A slim woman in her fifties approached them. A CSI in a blue suit, she carried a metal case and had shoved a pair of plastic glasses on top of her hood. She had dark, almost black eyes, and sallow skin. In need of a bit of sun, Ryan thought. Like me.

“I’m Prisha Hill,” she said, nodding behind her as she spoke. “I oversee this bunch. I was just on the phone to my boss and he said you two were a couple of comedians. Well, I’ll tell you this for nothing, you won’t be laughing when you get upstairs.” She hesitated. “DS Calvert, the local detective sergeant here, has been called away, but he got things started before he left.”

Ryan and Billy had been pulled into this investigation by their boss, Chief Inspector Girvan. They usually worked closer to Belfast. “Okay then, Prisha, lead the way. Is Alice the pathologist?”

“No.” She shook her head and smiled as they moved on, acknowledging their Senior Pathologist, Dr. Wallace McAllister’s nickname. “He’s on holiday in Wales, so we have his deputy coming. Dr. Mervyn Wheeler. Good man, I’ve worked with him before.”

“Oh, yes,” Ryan said with a quick smile. They had almost reached the first-floor landing. “I know Mervyn.”

 

The scene in the bedroom was shocking. Blood everywhere, even on the ceiling. Prisha followed Ryan’s gaze.

“Arterial spray.”

“Jesus, that’s a lot of rage….”

Prisha nodded. “I know, right? And the victim being one of ours––a retired Chief Inspector for God’s sake, Dr. Wheeler understands this will be a priority. He should be here any minute.” She hesitated for a moment. “Don’t take too long, detectives, he prefers a quiet room to work in.” She turned to leave.

“Thanks,” Ryan called after her. They stood for a moment, just looking. “Mervyn’s getting as bad as Alice with all his little fussy habits,” Ryan said.

“Who has fussy habits?”

Ryan turned and nodded to the white-clad figure standing in the hall. Dr Mervyn Wheeler. Jolly, rotund, and ginger-haired, his easy-going exterior hid a sharp mind.

“Oh, hello, Mervyn, about bloody time.”

Ryan had shared a flat for a while with Mervyn when they were both at Queen’s, Ryan studying law and Mervyn medicine. They had co-existed fairly amiably, considering their differences. Or perhaps, Ryan thought, because of them.

Mervyn hesitated at the bedroom door, like the others before him.

“My God, it looks like the Red Wedding in here. Hi-ya Ryan.”

“Bit of respect, Mervyn, wouldn’t go unnoticed.”

“Fuck off, Ryan. Bit of respect my arse.”

“So,” Ryan said. “I know you like a bit of peace and quiet to work so we’re going to have a quick recce around, leave you to it…”

They left the bedroom and walked along the hall, entering a box room with a few cupboards pushed to the far wall, and a single bed with a bare mattress.

“It’s almost as if no one lived here. What a bleak house,” Billy said, shuddering a little.

“Nice to see your English ‘A’ Levels coming in handy there, Billy.”

“What?”

“Bleak House, Dickens.”

“Oh that.” Billy crossed to the window and looked out. “I never read the whole thing, too long.”

“Yet you finished Lord of the Rings.”

“Different thing, altogether.”

It was, and Ryan left it. He opened a couple of closet doors and peered in. Empty except for wire hangers jangling on a rod. The scent of mothballs wafted out.

“It looks like Mullan hardly used these rooms.” Billy said, as they continued up the hall.

Ryan stopped for a moment. “That was awful, that bedroom. Wasn’t it?”

“Yes, it was. Really bad.”

They both stood for a moment. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget it,” Ryan said.

“No, me neither.”

A white-clad technician peered out of Mullan’s bedroom, saw them there, and shouted over. “Come on back, Detectives, Dr. Wheeler wants to share.”

“Ah, there you are. Couple of things.” Mervyn stood in the blood-drenched room and beckoned them in.

Ryan looked at the body again. Mullan was dressed in boxers. He was a mess of blood. The sheets were soaked in it, all semi-dry now. Mullan’s heart had pumped arterial blood onto the nearby wall and around the room. An overturned lamp base had fallen at the side of the bed and a whiskey bottle lay in the middle of a brown stain on the carpet. The room smelled ripe, a mixture of blood and drink and other things Ryan didn’t want to think about.

“He thrashed about a lot,” Ryan said.

“Yes, indeed,” Mervyn replied. “He must have had a powerful will to live,”

He paused.

“Because he was killed twice.”

J Woollcott, Author of Blood Relations

J. Woollcott is a Canadian author born in Belfast, N. Ireland. She is a graduate of the Humber School for Writers and BCAD, University of Ulster.

Her first book, A Nice Place to Die won the Daphne du Maurier Award, was short-listed in the Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence in 2021 and was a Silver Falchion Award finalist at Killer Nashville 2023.

To learn more about J Woollcott, click on any of the following links:
JWoollcott.com
Goodreads
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Face of Greed: Book Review

Face of Greed, the latest mystery by James L’Etoile, coming November 7! Pre-sales available now.

Book Review + Book and Author Info + #NotMyCatFace of Greed by James L’Etoile

When a prominent Sacramento businessman is killed and his wife injured in a brutal home invasion, Detective Emily Hunter and her partner, Javier Medina, are called to investigate. At first glance, it seems like a crime of opportunity gone horribly wrong, but Emily soon finds there might be more to both the crime and the dead man.

The high-stakes investigation also comes at a time when Emily is caring for her mother, who has early-onset Alzheimer’s, and Emily struggles to balance her job with her personal life. The city’s political elite seem to want the case solved quickly, but darker forces want it buried.

Could there have been a motive behind the attack, making it more than a random home invasion? Emily uncovers clues that cause her to reconsider her understanding of the crime. A deadly game of greed and deception pulls Emily deeper into the shadowy world of gang violence and retribution. She has to walk the razor’s edge to identify the killer—without becoming the next victim.

To purchase Face of Greed, click any of the following links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Bookshop.org / Books a Million / Kobo / Face in a Book / Book Passage / TargetMy Thoughts on Face of Greed

Always a terrific writer, James L’Etoile reaches even greater heights with his latest release.

Emily Hunter is exactly the kind of protagonist readers can get behind. Not only a great detective, she’s also a complex person with flaws and challenges in her personal life, making her relatable and easy to root for.

The novel takes place in Sacramento, a town we don’t see a lot in crime fiction. Despite being the capitol city of California, it often lands in the shadows of its famous siblings, Los Angeles and the Bay Area.  It’s fun to get to know this location while we chase clues with Emily and her partner Javier Medina.

The relationship between Emily and Javier is another plus in this knockout mystery. Though only partnered for the last six months, their easy camaraderie is a break from the seriousness of the crime scenes and the larger investigation. Both characters have family lives, which intersect with their jobs and each other. Emily faces caring for a mother with Alzheimer’s, a heartbreaking situation to watch as she struggles to do what’s best for herself and her mom.

Along with the high profile case, the deceased is a local businessman with friends in positions of power, the duo has to deal with office politics and a mayor who is a little too interested in the outcome of their investigation. With her actions under a microscope, Emily and her partner are also blocked from above by the machinations of the local elite.

Fast moving, intricately plotted, and engaging to the final line, fans of strong female sleuths and compelling police procedurals will be lining up for the next Detective Emily Hunter mystery.

#NotMyCat

… and as an added bonus … everyone in love with #NotMyCat is in for a treat!

Read my cat Coal Train’s interview with #NotMyCat, click the link here.James L’Etoile, Author of Face of Greed

Author James L’Etoile uses his twenty-nine years behind bars as an influence in his award-winning novels, short stories, and screenplays. He is a former associate warden in a maximum-security prison, a hostage negotiator, facility captain, and director of California’s state parole system. He is a nationally recognized expert witness and consultant on prison and jail operations.

L’Etoile’s crime fiction work has garnered the Silver Falchion award and Dead Drop was a 2022 Lefty and Anthony Award nominee in the Best Mystery Novel of the Year category. Look for The Devil Within and Face of Greed, both releasing in 2023.

Major social themes weave through his work, including the world of human trafficking, black market organ transplants, homelessness, domestic terrorism, immigration policy, political corruption, and the pharmaceutical industry.

James is represented by the Kimberley Cameron & Associates Literary Agency.

To learn more about James, click any of the following links: Website, Facebook, TwitterX & Instagram

Header Image by 12019 from Pixabay

The post Face of Greed: Book Review appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

Where is My Husband?: New Thriller

Where is My Husband, a Jake and Mallory Thriller by Ivanka Fear

Guest Post +Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!Don’t miss any author interviews. Click the link here.Where is My Husband?

Too many secrets, too many lies—and now a missing husband.

Since the death of her parents, Mallory has suffered from increased anxiety and depression. When she falls in love with Jake, he revives her will to live.

One day Jake is a no-show at work, even though Mallory dropped him off there. She can’t find him anywhere. When Mallory hears noises at night and senses someone watching her inside their home, she suspects the reason for Jake’s disappearance stems from something sinister. And if her husband’s life is in danger, then so is hers and their baby’s.

As memories of her happy life with Jake morph into haunting flashbacks, Mallory realizes there’s a dark side to their relationship and that their marriage is far from perfect. She wonders if she knew her husband at all.

Now she must decide whether it’s worth having him home or if she should forget he ever existed. Mallory has so much to lose—the perfect little family that she’s always imagined.

 

To purchase Where is My Husband? click any of the following links: Barnes & Noble, Amazon.Guest Post by Ivanka FearWhat’s up With Unreliable Narrators? 

 

Unreliable narrators. You either love them or hate them. There doesn’t seem to be much in between. Personally, I love the way they keep me guessing, always on my toes, trying to decipher fact from fiction. Never a dull moment. Especially when it comes to a domestic thriller. What better way to immerse the reader in the characters’ interpersonal relationships than to have them question the veracity of every word on the page? How better to create suspense than to have characters keep secrets from the reader?

Telling the story from their point of view, a first-person narrator can hide certain things from the reader, making them question what exactly is going on. An unreliable narrator may be intentionally dishonest in recounting their version of events to make themselves appear innocent of wrong-doing, or they may be confused and unable to give an accurate account. Perhaps they’re just being silly, exaggerating, overreacting; could be they’re not aware of all the facts due to memory loss or some other impairment; maybe they’re mentally unstable, suffering from a personality disorder. Who knows? All we do know is they are unreliable witnesses to the story unfolding. Just like most people in real life. We all see things from a different perspective.

So, what’s up with Mallory? A nervous young woman, suffering from extreme anxiety and prolonged grief, riddled with guilt, always second-guessing herself, wanting nothing more than a family of her own—the perfect family. 

And what about Jake? A bit of a jokester, somewhat of a jerk, not a care in the world, flying through life by the seat of his pants, tossing off-hand comments like confetti, never considering the consequences of his actions, seeking the perfect woman—one to keep all to himself.

Opposites attract, but sometimes they collide. Then the sparks fly. Jake and Mallory come from different backgrounds, have disparate personalities, and pursue contrasting objectives in life. Two complete opposites. Two different viewpoints on life. And two variations on a story that falls apart when their versions clash.

Can either Jake or Mallory be trusted to tell it like it is? Is either a reliable witness to the events in their marriage? Both have tunnel vision. Imagining things that aren’t really happening. Making up their own reality. Both keep secrets. Sometimes, the truth is too difficult to confront.

So, who should you trust? Jake or Mallory? What’s really going on behind closed doors? As the author, creator of these characters, I have my own opinions about their goals and motivations. As the reader, it’s up to you to take what you will from their words and actions. But, I’ll let in on a couple of secrets.

Mallory may not be the meek, mild, timid little mouse she presents herself to be. Jake may not be the controlling, obsessive, prone-to-abuse husband he is portrayed as. There might be more to them. Or perhaps they are exactly that, each wishing themselves to be different. I could say more, but I’m just their creator, a literary mouthpiece for Jake and Mallory. Can you really believe anything I say?

Using an unreliable narrator as a literary device puts the onus on the reader to dig deeper and come to their own conclusions. As bits and pieces of the truth are uncovered through unexpected plot twists and new revelations about each character, the reader must take responsibility for constructing the puzzle, exposing the true picture. They can’t expect the characters or the author to lay things out for them.

In Where is My Husband?, the clues appear from the beginning, as Mallory reflects on her marriage while waiting to pick up Jake from his workplace. Does she see her husband through rose-colored glasses? Are there parts of him she would just as soon pretend didn’t exist? You bet. When Jake thinks of his wife, does he put her on a pedestal? Does he try to ignore her issues? Of course. Like most couples, Jake and Mallory present their best face to the world. The uglier side is kept hidden from family, friends, and neighbors, and yes, even to each other and themselves. They make mistakes, do stupid things, have regrets, try to cover up what they’re ashamed of, pretend it never happened. They are the perfect couple. Perfect for each other, at least. And so they lie and keep secrets from the reader. They’re only human.

 As the past is interwoven with the present, the narrative sheds light on their relationship from day one to their current predicament. Jake is missing. Or is he? Has he left intentionally? Does Mallory know where he is? Which one of them is to blame for the events leading to his sudden exit from a seemingly perfect marriage? However you feel about unreliable narrators, you’re not likely to be indifferent. Following Mallory and Jake on their roller-coaster of a relationship as the layers are peeled back, questioning their actions and motives, I hope readers will love or hate them as they see fit. As long as they are memorable.

Author Pet Corner!TC and Scruffy!

 

T.C. and Scruffy are my faithful buddies, keeping me company as I read, write, edit, and post on social media.

 

 

 

Ivanka Fear, author of Where is My Husband?

Ivanka Fear is Canadian writer, born in Slovenia. She earned her B.A. and B.Ed. in English and French at Western University. Prior to pursuing writing full time, she enjoyed a long career in education.

Where is My Husband, A Jake and Mallory Thriller, is her second book. Ivanka is also the author of The Dead Lie, the first book in the Blue Water Mysteries series.

She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, and Crime Writers of Canada. Ivanka resides in Ontario, Canada, with her family and the stray cats that wandered in.

When not reading and writing, Ivanka enjoys watching mystery series and romance movies, gardening, going for walks, and watching the waves roll in at the lake.

To learn more about Ivanka, follow her at the following sites: Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, website.Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell

Header Image by Joe from Pixabay

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