Elena Hartwell's Blog, page 9
March 27, 2025
Treasure Coast: Debut Thriller
Treasure Coast by James Foley
Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!Don’t miss any ITW Debut Author interviews! Click the link here.Treasure Coast
“An engrossing, character-driven crime thriller that thoughtfully explores grief, atonement and post-loss romance alongside gritty police work. Recommended for Karin Slaughter fans.” –BestThrillers
A stunning island with turquoise waters, billowing palm trees, and nesting sea turtles is the stuff of dreams. But the dark nights on the beaches of Florida’s Treasure Coast hide dangerous secrets that can turn those dreams into nightmares.
Miami homicide detective, Lisa Owens, doesn’t trust other cops. After the murder of her fiancé was left unsolved, she vowed to make a difference by becoming one herself. Obsessed with getting killers off the streets and bringing justice to grieving families, she buries herself in her work while staying stuck in the past.
When lightning strikes twice and her lifelong friend is brutally murdered on Stypman Island, Lisa launches an investigation of her own. Out of her jurisdiction and determined to find answers, she lands in the crosshairs of the most dangerous criminal she’s ever encountered and among people who will forever change her.
To purchase Treasure Coast click on any of the following links: Amazon and Barnes & Noble.Interview with Treasure Coast Debut Author James FoleyTreasure Coast centers on homicide detective Lisa Owens. What would you like readers to know about her?Lisa is no stranger to tragedy but I chose not to write her as a dark, morose and damaged character, the way detectives with troubled pasts are usually portrayed.
She’s sad but she still has a brightness to her despite unimaginable loss. Although the detective in her is hell bent on finding answers, what’s really driving her isn’t her loss but love for her dead fiancé and her lifelong friend. And love; real love, can’t help but be bright.
Treasure Coast takes place around the beaches of Florida. What makes that a great place to set a novel of suspense?
When I was living in Florida, I walked the beach very late at night scouting for nesting sea turtles for a local environmental organization. I did this without a flashlight so as not to disturb any turtles making their way to and from the ocean. The beach is spectacular when its pitch dark and you’re out there alone. The stars shine so much brighter in the absence of ambient light, and there are billions of them. The surface of the ocean gleams in the moonlight and on the horizon, the cruise ships heading to the Caribbean sparkle like tiny diamonds.
I’m sure you get the idea, it’s breathtaking. But it’s also scary as hell because alone in the darkness, you just don’t know what you’ll run into and given South Florida’s location, the waters off its coastline are a haven for a plethora of criminal activity. A perfect setting for a crime thriller? I think so.
Treasure Coast was inspired by illegal activity on a barrier island, which you were living on at the time. Tell us about that incident and how it helped you write your first thriller.
One day packages of cocaine floated up on a local beach. I’d seen square groupers (bales of marijuana) wash up before but the cocaine was something new.
Since I was working with sea turtles at the time, I had an idea about putting the two together. A weird combination I know, but it works. Sadly, Florida’s not short on greed, corruption, shady politics and environmental mismanagement. Combining all of that together makes for a great story.
Tell us about your road to publication with Treasure Coast:
I made my share of mistakes and my experience isn’t all that different from other new writers. I queried much too early when my book wasn’t yet there, I had a bad experience with a disreputable editor and ended up needing to hire a second one and because I really didn’t know what I was doing, I didn’t find any success with agents.
Having made my career in business, I was used to solving difficult problems so just I kept at it. At a writer’s conference, I heard about Black Rose Writing and decided to submit my manuscript to them. They accepted it on the condition that I make some changes which I did.
They were right by the way; the changes made the book better.
When you aren’t writing and reading mystery/thrillers, you like to travel. What has been one of your favorite destinations and why?
It’s hard to pick just one. I’m an ocean guy and feel my best in the Caribbean, so St. John and St. Bart’s immediately come to mind.
But then, there are the Greek Islands. You can sign me up for that combination platter of ancient history and turquoise water any time.
An African safari is next though, it’s been on my bucket list for years.
You now live in my hometown of San Diego. What’s your favorite thing about living in Southern California?
There are so many things that make Southern California an amazing place to live but for me, it’s being near my sons, Chris and JJ.
My wife and I followed them out here after enduring a lonely “Covid Christmas” without them. The creative community in SoCal is also a big plus, I’ve met so many talented, inspiring people here. And the weather… well it’s San Diego, no need to say more.
Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:
Don’t give up and stay curious because there’s a lot to learn.
Great advice!Author Pet Corner!
Maple!
Marley is a min-goldendoodle and she’s in my book.
I’d planned to take her with me to book signings and events thinking readers would enjoy meeting her. But life threw me a curveball and she unexpectedly passed away from a brain tumor in September.
We didn’t plan on another dog, at least not right away, then we heard about Maple. She’s a rescue from Baja, Mexico who’d been abandoned in a garbage dump because she was pregnant.
She needed a better life and our plans changed. She’s been with us for a few months and is living the life she deserves.
I’m so sorry for your loss, but how wonderful to have found Maple.Treasure Coast Author James Foley
James Foley is the author of the debut crime thriller, Treasure Coast, set for release on February 13, 2025. After leaving a successful career in business, James found inspiration for his novel while living on a barrier island, where packages of illegal narcotics washed up on a local beach. This event sparked the creation of Treasure Coast, a gripping story filled with suspense, secrets, and unexpected twists.
James currently resides in San Diego with his wife, Suzanne, and their rescue dog, Maple. When he’s not writing, James enjoys tequila, live music, and exploring new destinations—Africa is next on his travel list. He is a member of International Thriller Writers, the national organization Sisters in Crime, its San Diego chapter, Partners in Crime, and is actively involved in the local writing community.
To learn more about James, check out his Website.Elena Hartwell/Elena Taylor
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March 25, 2025
Vengeful CONspiracies: A Cozy Mystery
Vengeful CONspiracies by Nicole Leiren
Sadie Sabatini is settling into her new life in Wilson, Texas. She’s making friends and her business, Tesoro, is starting to thrive. But the past is
never far behind. When two of her former team members come for a visit, they bring trouble in the form of a mutual enemy set on revenge threatening to disrupt Sadie’s fresh start.
She can’t turn her back on her team, though. They’ve been through too much together. The more Sadie tries to help, the more she suspects she might be the target of the con this time. With forces conspiring against her, the outcome of her decisions, both past and present, weigh heavily and make her question the choices she made leading to this point.
When their mutual enemy is found dead, alliances are tested, and wits are matched as the race to the truth reveals who can be trusted and who is
running their final con.
The Sadie Sabatini Mystery Series
VENGEFUL CONSPIRACIES is book 2 in the Sadie Sabatini Mystery series by USA
Today Bestselling author, Nicole Leiren!
Described by those who know her best as perky, quirky and effervescent, USA Today Best-Selling author Nicole Leiren likes to have fun — in life, with her characters and, of course, her readers. She admits to being sassy (just ask her mother!) and inspiration for her characters are drawn from the real-world heroes and heroines she meets while traversing the country.
Nicole enjoys sharing the love, laughter, mystery, and occasionally a touch of the mayhem she forces her characters to endure—all for the reader’s pleasure! Her real-world heroes and heroines will keep you turning the pages until you reach the whodunit or happily ever after (usually both!)
Follow Nicole on her author journeyFacebookInstagramX@RABTBookTours #RABTBookTours #VengefulCONspiracies #NicoleLeiren #CozyMystery
Elena Hartwell/Elena Taylor
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March 24, 2025
Bazaar: Debut Techno-Thriller
Bazaar by Miles Joyner
Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!Don’t miss any ITW Debut Author interviews! Click the link here.Bazaar by Miles Joyner
A high-profile homicide of a former ambassador’s son in the nightlife district of the nation’s capital gets connected to an assassination market on the dark web, turning the DC area into a battlefield over a new generation of class warfare.
When the ex-diplomat, Chiedu Attah, hires an elite executive protection team headed by siblings Yemi and Karen Uzunma to guarantee his safety, the security firm realizes they are going up against a young, inventive contract killer who is determined to finish off the political VIP by any means necessary.
To purchase Bazaar, click the link here.
Interview with Bazaar Author Miles Joyner
Bazaar is set in Washington DC. Tell us about that city as it appears in the novel:
Outside of the first chapter and a few other scenes, the vast majority of Bazaar takes place in the surrounding suburbs of D.C. Especially Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and northern Virginia.
Policy is handled in D.C. yet the headquarters for most of the contractors are found in Maryland or the Commonwealth. The DMV is host to some of the wealthiest areas in the nation including the Dulles Technology Corridor which is nicknamed Data Center Alley where more than half of all internet traffic comes travels.
At the same time, some of these suburbs (especially in Maryland) have seen their crime rates rise as an effect from displacement from the inner city’s rapid gentrification among other factors. Bazaar was my way of using a fictionalized conflict to explore my fascination with these social dynamics
Bazaar is a techno-thriller. What does that genre mean to you? And what do you love about reading and writing in that specific style:
A viewing of RoboCop right before my freshman of high school made me want to pursue storytelling as a serious profession and it’s pretty much a technothriller that’s also a sci-fi classic. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six was probably my first time hearing the genre’s name and exposure to it in the book format. Technology’s relationship to urban warfare also played a role in The Spook Who Sat By the Door, a thriller which had a huge effect on how I approached Bazaar.
You get a little bit of the futurism and wonder you see in sci-fi, but grounded in the reality of our modern world. Obviously there’s overlap, but the ability to tell a story about places I’ve experienced with just a slight addition of a dark net assassination market in the mix brings a joy I can’t express in words other than what comes out as the novel.
Before penning Bazaar, you worked for nearly a decade editing television. How does that kind of storytelling compare to prose?
While there are some similarities, they’re different enough that switching gears from one to the other is always refreshing.
If I’ve been spending all day at work cutting a 60 second highlight reel, I love getting to create a whole new world from scratch when I get home to knock out my daily word count. On the flip side, when I’m a bit exhausted from constant rewriting, cutting visuals allows my creative spirit to get some satisfaction from a medium I’ll see more immediate results.
Tell us about Yemi and Karen Uzunma, two important characters in Bazaar:
Yemi was born in Nigeria while Karen was born in the diverse city of Rockville, MD where the two mostly grew up after their parents migrated.
After getting into some trouble in high school, Yemi was sent to boarding school back in Lagos where he eventually joins the country’s State Security Service after completing his studies. He gets recruited to a security consultant firm back in the USA, but grows restless in an office and soon is enlisted by Karen to run the executive protection team for her new security startup, Raptor.
Yemi hates inefficiency, ego, and bureaucracy. Karen dislikes those things to an extant, but the two lock horns about the future of Raptor when it comes to selecting clientele and who they should collaborate with.
Yemi argues their advantage is staying nimble and lean while Karen shows signs she has ambitions for Raptor to join the ranks of firms like DynCorp or Tripoly. Another thing is that Yemi hates the social scene surrounding the Black professional class in DC while Karen not only embraces it, but uses her position as a woman minority business owner to push Raptor further up the ladder.
This may seem conflicting, but the two realize at certain points that they need the other’s antics to keep their business afloat.
What can we find you doing when you aren’t reading and writing thrillers?
Filmmaking, watching documentaries, reading nonfiction or other genres, playing tactical video games, and getting my a** kicked in the boxing gym every chance I get.
What are you working on now?I’m currently getting the audiobook produced while I’m putting final edits on the second book in the Bazaar series, Shifta. I’m also working on another technothriller series called Compound. Most of the film has been shot and I’m about halfway through the first draft of the novelization.
Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:
Find your voice, bleed on the page, and finish the damn thing. You can always seek ways to explore your prose, but you can’t improve what’s not written. Also, I’m not in the business of telling people how to be artists, (I’m still trying to figure that out myself) but please don’t use chatGPT or similar AI tools for creative fiction.
Great advice!Author Pet Corner!
The spider on my window sill is by far the best roommate I ever had.
A fly was annoying me during a writing session and after coming back from the kitchen, I found the winged bastard caught in the homie’s web.
Charlotte got nothing on him!
Bazaar Author Miles Joyner
Elena Hartwell/Elena Taylor
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March 22, 2025
Shake-Speared in the Park: A Bay Browning Mystery
Shake-Speared in the Park by Joy Ann Ribar [image error]
Giveaway + an Excerpt + Book & Author Info!
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Shake-Speared in the Park
A BAY BROWNING MYSTERY
When Bay Browning helps direct the Flourish College summer theater production, “Shakespeare’s Couch,” she doesn’t plan for murder at the first practice.
Someone wants revenge against the elite cast members, as more terror unfolds on stage and backstage with each rehearsal. What should be a lighthearted parody on The Bard and his characters is cursed from the start, even without someone shouting “Macbeth” in the theater. Detective Downing takes charge of the crime, but Bay and her puzzle-solving cohort, Jen Yoo, follow their own script behind the scenes. Cassandra, Bay’s extraordinary sister, makes her own dramatic entrance on the case. After all, Cass is now the personal assistant to one of the elites living the high life on the bluff above Prairie Ridge. How many tragic scenes will be scripted before the villain faces the final curtain?
Praise for Shake-speared in the Park:
“A clever cozy that reads like an elusive buried treasure, that, once uncovered, shines with a burnished gold. Shakespearean scholars can revel throughout, as a college summer play, Shakespeare’s Couch, features a myriad of familiar characters, representing their plays. A costume party with more Shakespearean identities milling about provides sheer fun and frolic. The best part, however, is the thorough depiction of humanity, characteristic of Ribar’s writing. Even secondary characters come alive with strengths and foibles that delight and endear.”
~ Saralyn Richard, author of the Detective Parrott mystery series, Bad Blood Sisters, and Mrs. Oliver’s Twist
“Ribar serves up wicked, clever fun in ‘Shake-speared in the Park,’ the second installment in her Bay Browning mystery series. A young man with much promise falls from a stage-prop balcony. He’s dead when he lands, but that’s not what killed him. Was his brother, the wayward son, involved? His best friend? Or one of the wealthy equestrian crowd? Then, another death, this time in a greenhouse. It’s like ‘Knives Out’ meets Agatha Christie. Suspects abound. Two sisters—one a killer magnet, the other an ex-con—are determined to find out. The escalating tempo keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the end!”
~ Laurie Buchanan, author of the Sean McPherson crime thriller novels
“In this fast-paced mystery and nod to Shakespeare, the murderous shenanigans would please the Bard himself! Professor Bay Browning’s play rehearsals go awry with deadly weapons, poisons, and just about anything else a playwright might use to scare or ‘off’ someone in dramatic fashion. As in ‘Romeo & Juliet,’ differences of class and money between families put a small Wisconsin college and Bay in the crosshairs. Replete with a twisty costume party, this novel opens the curtain on an entertaining theater production with actors poised to take their final bow, pun intended. Ribar balances scenes effectively between amateur detectives Bay and her sister Cass, the latter a plant aficionado and former prison inmate. To borrow from the Bard, ‘To read or not to read?’ The answer is easy: This is fun.”
~ Christine DeSmet, author, Fudge Shop Mystery Series and Mischief in Moonstone Series
Book Details:Genre: Blended Mystery: Traditional Mystery with Paranormal Twists
Published by: Wine Glass Press
Publication Date: February 2025
Number of Pages: 359
ISBN: 9781959078272 (ISBN10: 1959078275)
Series: Bay Browning Mysteries: Book Two
To purchase Shake-Speared in the Park, click any of the following links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads
Read an excerpt of Shake-Speared in the Park:
Carillon Tower Park was buzzing with activity when Bay arrived for rehearsal. Desmond Carver, the director, was only steps ahead of her, so she dashed to catch up. Bay smiled at his signature bobbing walk on those extra-long legs that might belong to a pro basketball player instead of a theater professor.
“Desmond, hey. Looks like the students are psyched about the show.” Bay nodded toward the outdoor theater area where a portable tech booth had been set up. People inside were testing spotlights and sound effects.
The stage was midway through set construction showing false stone walls and two framed second story balconies. Someone was sweeping the stage free of pine needles, while a couple of others were taping the floor where furniture would go. Bay waved at Jen Yoo, her art professor friend, who was painting a flat with some students.
“It’s a positive sign when they show up early. Believe me, once we’re in the trenches, some will find reasons not to show up at all.” Desmond set a stack of scripts on one of the seats near the middle of the theater. “Actors,” he said using air quotes around the word.
Bay’s optimism didn’t dwindle. She was pleased with the turnout for auditions, considering it was a summer production, meaning many students were gone or working. The fact she and Desmond had backups for the main roles revealed enthusiasm for the show.
Desmond handed her a theater badge and key for the rooms beyond the stage. “By the way, in case I forget later, thanks so much for volunteering to help with the play. It can be a thankless job.”
Bay grinned but wondered why Desmond was being so pessimistic. He wasn’t close to retirement, maybe ten years older than Bay, and she’d pegged him as carefree and upbeat. Then again, in the two years she’d been a Flourish professor, she’d had a handful of short conversations with him.
At seven p.m. on the dot, the clock tower bell rang out the hour and Desmond spoke through a megaphone he’d brought to rehearsal. “Let’s get going. We start on time. We end on time. That’s my number one rule.”
To Bay’s surprise, every student hushed without delay. She’d heard Desmond was respected, and he knew these students from past plays. Many were seniors doing a final postgraduation show before entering the real world.
“For the first few rehearsals, we’re going to need to work around the set builders and the tech crew setting up lights and testing sounds. This isn’t a typical show. Summer theater is a shortened schedule, so we’re putting an entire production together in short order.” Desmond handed printed schedules to Bay, who passed them out to the actors and crew.
It wasn’t quite June, thankfully, because performances were marked for the last week of that month, just past the celebration of Midsummer on June twenty-fourth.
“You’ll notice on the schedule that all lines must be memorized by June tenth. That’s two weeks, my friends. Let’s make it happen.” Desmond used his teacher voice. Even Bay snapped to attention.
“Places everyone. We’ll start with the prologue and go straight through from act one as far as we can until eight-thirty. The script notes some introductory music, but we won’t add that for a couple of weeks. Proceed, Kitt.”
Bay and Desmond watched from the back third of the theater, taking notes as lines were delivered, stopping when necessary to help with enunciation or cadence. At the end of the second act, Desmond announced a seven-minute break, then headed to the tech booth to talk about lighting.
Bay noticed he seemed nervous about the tech crew being run by an intern. His normal production partner, Leo, another theater professor, was spending summer break in New York City at a Broadway intensive master class. Leo recommended a theater grad student from Madison to take his place.
As lights flashed on and off in different positions, Bay watched the techies at the booth. Desmond pointed at the script as intern Evan made notes, then flashed the light Desmond asked for. Bay noticed Evan’s body posture: alert, attentive, like a golden retriever eager to please. In contrast, Desmond alternated running a hand through the twists on top of his head, placing his hands on his hips, then rubbing the back of his neck before repeating the moves again.
“That looks intense.” Jen Yoo was sitting by Bay, a clean paint brush in one hand.
“Hey, Jen. Yes, I’ve never seen this side of Desmond. How about you?”
Jen shrugged. “I haven’t worked on a summer production in some time. The younger Desmond was laid-back. But some of us lose our patience as we age. Thankfully, I don’t have that problem.” She snickered.
Bay turned her full attention to Jen. “Why are you working on this production, anyway?”
“Two reasons. One: It fulfills my volunteer hours for the whole year. Two: It’s a show you wrote. I’m proud of you and want to see how it turns out.” Jen leaned her head over to meet Bay’s.
With break wrapping up, chatter from the stage echoed around the quiet outdoors. When a commotion ensued, Bay chalked it up to high energy from a new show, the honeymoon period. But then a loud thud sounded, someone began shrieking, and a cacophony of shouts and running feet ensued.
Bay, Jen, and Desmond ran to the stage, with the tech crew close behind. The adults vaulted onto the stage where the lead actor, Talon Hunt, lay crumpled in a twisted heap.
“Everybody back up,” Desmond shouted.
“He fell off the balcony,” one of the students called out.
“I didn’t mean to. We were goofing around, practicing a duel.” Jackson Lange knelt over Talon, his chest heaving, his face distraught.
Desmond, Jen, and Bay knelt beside Talon too, and Jackson stood up and looked away. Desmond checked Talon’s pulse, shook his head, listened for a heartbeat, and shook his head again. Bay called 911.
“Let’s straighten him a bit so I can do CPR.” Desmond motioned for Jen and Bay to get on either side of his legs and they gingerly turned him.
Desmond was still administering chest compressions and breaths when the emergency team arrived to take over. Thirty minutes later, the EMTs pronounced Talon dead.
***
Excerpt from Shake-speared in the Park by Joy Ann Ribar. Copyright 2025 by Joy Ann Ribar. Reproduced with permission from Joy Ann Ribar. All rights reserved.
Shake-Speared in the Park Author Joy Ann Ribar
Joy Ann Ribar is an RV author, writing on the road wherever her husband and their Winnebago View wanders. Joy’s cocktail of careers includes news reporter, paralegal, English educator, and aquaponics greenhouse technician, all of which prove useful in penning mysteries.
Her cozy Deep Lakes Mysteries, feature baker/vintner Frankie Champagne, who moonlights as an investigative reporter. Joy’s Bay Browning Mysteries blend edgy, traditional, and paranormal elements twisted around classical literary themes.
Joy loves to bake, read, research wines, and explore nature. Her writing has received awards and recognition from WWA, PenCraft Book Awards, Book Fest, Reader’s Favorite, and Chanticleer Cozy and Not-So-Cozy awards.
To learn more about Joy, click any of the following links: JoyRibar.com, Joy’s Substack, Amazon Author Profile, Goodreads, BookBub – @ribarjoy, Instagram – @authorjoyribar & Facebook – @JoyRibarAuthor
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March 20, 2025
Murder in the Appalachians: Romantic Suspense
Murder in the Appalachians by Susan Furlong
Don’t miss any blog tour posts! Click the link here.Murder in the Appalachians
with a killer on their trail.
After unearthing secrets from her late brother’s police notebook, journalist Emma Hayes discovers his death was no accident—he was murdered. Only someone doesn’t want Emma to find out the connection to the cold case her brother was investigating…and they’ll kill to keep it that way.
Now Emma must rely on local ER doctor Logan Greer to help her stay alive and follow a trail of elusive evidence. But as they unravel a conspiracy, they realize that the killer could be anyone hiding in the mountains…
Book Details:Genre: Love Inspired Suspense – Romantic Suspense
Published by: Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense
Publication Date: April 1, 2025
Number of Pages: 206
ISBN: 9781335980533 (ISBN10: 1335980539)
Rejection happens to every author. It’s not a reflection of talent but simply part of the journey. Even famous writers have faced it—Stephen King’s Carrie was rejected thirty times before it saw the light of day, Gone With the Wind received thirty-eight rejections, and Lord of the Flies was turned down by twenty-one different publishers.
But for new authors, rejection can be devastating. I know this firsthand. When my first book was rejected, the editor’s response was particularly harsh. Her note said, “Your main character annoyed me.”
What? How could the editor not like my character? I’d poured my heart and soul into bringing that character to life. I was devastated. First, I cried, and then I swore off writing forever. But after a few days of sulking and eating too much ice cream, I revisited her rejection. The editor’s words still stung, but this time, I was able to view the feedback with a more objective perspective.
And with more humility.
My rejection wasn’t personal; I’d never met the editor. It was just one person’s opinion. But was there a tiny, tiny bit of truth in her comment? I decided to take a step back and reevaluate my character. I reread the manuscript with fresh eyes and realized that yes, my character was a little over-the-top.
I began revising.
The next couple of months were spent reshaping the main character. And once I finished, the story was undeniably stronger for it. I began resubmitting the novel, and this time, it was accepted by a small press. That book became the first of many, and each subsequent one taught me something new about writing, rejection, and perseverance.
Rejection is something we all encounter in many areas of our lives, but it doesn’t define us. Instead, it’s an opportunity to grow. The key is persistence, because sometimes all it takes is one “yes” to turn everything around. So, if you’re feeling defeated, remember that perseverance is what turns dreams into reality. Keep going.
Author of Murder in the Appalachians Susan Furlong
Susan Furlong grew up in North Dakota where she spent long winters at her local library scouring the shelves for mysteries to read.
Now, she lives in Illinois with her husband and children and writes mysteries of all types. She has over a dozen published novels and her work has earned a spot in the New York Times list of top crime fiction books of the year.
When not writing, she volunteers at her church and spends time hiking and fishing.
To learn more abut Susan click on any of the following links: www.SusanFurlong.com, Amazon Author Profile, Goodreads, BookBub – @SusanFurlongAuthor, Instagram – @susanfurlong, Threads – @susanfurlong, X – @Furlong_Suem, Facebook – @SusanFurlongAuthor & Pinterest – @S_FurlongAuthorVisit All the Stops on the Tour!
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March 19, 2025
At the Island’s Edge: A Novel
At the Island’s Edge by C.I. Jerez
Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!Don’t miss any Author Interviews! Click the link here.At The Island’s Edge
An Iraq War veteran returns to Puerto Rico to reconnect with―and confront―the past in a heart-wrenching novel about duty, motherhood, and the healing power of home.
As a combat medic, Lina LaSalle went to Iraq to save the lives of fellow soldiers. But when her convoy is attacked, she must set aside her identity as a healer and take a life herself.
Although she is honored as a hero when she returns to the US, Lina cannot find her footing. She is stricken with PTSD and unsure of how to support her young son, Teó, a little boy with Tourette’s. As her attempts to self-medicate become harder to hide, Lina realizes she must do the toughest thing yet: ask for help.
She retreats to her parents’ house in Puerto Rico, where Teó thrives under her family’s care. Lina finds kinship, too―with a cousin whose dreams were also shattered by the war and with a handsome and caring veteran who sought refuge on the island and runs a neighborhood bar.
But amid the magic of the island are secrets and years of misunderstandings that could erode the very stability she’s fighting for. Hope lies on the horizon, but can she keep her gaze steady?
To purchase, At the Island’s Edge, click the following link: Amazon, Barnes and Noble & IndieBoundAt the Island’s Edge Author InterviewAt the Island’s Edge centers on combat medic Lina LaSalle. You were in the US Army for three years, before transitioning to the army reserves. How did your own experiences in the military impact writing this book?They were definitely helpful in making sure I captured the acronyms and “lingo” correctly!
I signed up to serve in the Army in 2005, so as a nation we were heavily engaged in both the Iraq (OIF) and Afghanistan (OEF) efforts. I think the tone of the times is consistent in the novel because I had a firsthand view of what it was like to be in uniform during that time.
While on active duty, I served as both a platoon leader and an executive officer (2nd in command) for a communication company that was attached to an air defense artillery brigade, which allowed me direct access and exposure to many different demographic categories of soldiers and the differing mental health struggles many of them faced. I combined these inputs with my own experiences while serving on the army installation in Puerto Rico to feed some of the military specifics in the story.
I also served at a time when I had two and then three young daughters at home, so many of Lina’s internal struggles with balancing her commitment to her country and her dreams with her commitment to her child were very personal experiences that I understood intimately.
At the Island’s Edge includes a young boy with Tourette’s. What drew you to incorporate this complicated and often stigmatized neurological condition?
I wholeheartedly believe that sometimes part of the magic of storytelling occurs when the characters tell you things about themselves you didn’t know beforehand.
That may sound a bit “New-Agey,” but Teó and his medical condition are a perfect example. I did not have an intimate understanding of this condition, and I didn’t initially plan on it being a part of Teó’s character. Yet, there was a moment at my desk when I was imagining him in the first scene with his mother that the tics presented themselves within my imagination. I had a vague understanding that children with Tourette’s Syndrome presented with different types of tics. So, I knew that to commit to what the character was revealing to me about himself, I would need to do extensive research about the condition and watch videos of children managing their diagnosis to get it right.
Deep inside, I felt there was an underlying purpose to elevating awareness for a condition that is so often misunderstood, and once I made the decision, I stuck with my instincts and began to thoroughly research the topic to honor the children managing this condition and highlight their strength.
Tell us about your road to publication for At the Island’s Edge:
The first draft of the manuscript poured out of me in about nine months. It’s symbolic, I think, that my debut took almost the exact amount of time as a human pregnancy.
I then was very fortunate to win a raffle for a free manuscript critique Lee Ann Ward, former editor of Champagne Books and the founder of an organization named the Writing Away Refuge (WAR). This raffle was two months before I was scheduled to participate in the WAR’s virtual pitch retreat, where I’d registered to pitch my story to three agents.
The feedback from Lee Ann was so encouraging, and her recommendations were minor. She put in a good word for me with the agents, and two months after the pitch retreat in March 2023, I signed with my top choice—Katie Reed at Andrea Hurst & Associates. Katie had some heavier editing suggestions, and I worked on them for the next couple of months. We knew we didn’t want to go on submission over the summer. So we waited until September of 2023, and once she sent out the pitch, there was strong initial interest from multiple publishers.
Lake Union, the Book Club Fiction House under the Amazon Publishing umbrella made an offer rather quickly, and everything about it felt right. I met with my acquisition’s editor, Melissa Valentine, within ten days of going on submission. We signed an agreement shortly thereafter. I knew when we signed the contract in early October 2023 that my book would be released in Spring of 2025. It’s been an amazing journey ever since.
At the Island’s Edge is set in Puerto Rico. Tell us about that location, what it means to you personally, and why you set your debut there:
I’d heard a lot about Puerto Rico growing up, even though most of my childhood was spent in El Paso, Texas, a border town. My mother is originally from The Bronx, New York, and my grandmother was first generation U.S.-born from two Puerto Rican parents. So I grew up eating Puerto Rican dishes and in a home that was always filled with Spanish music and dancing.
I didn’t visit the island until I was twenty-nine, but once I did, I was immediately enchanted. The kindness of the citizens, the colorful and historic architecture, the amazing meals. I loved every moment of the few hours we spent in Old San Juan as part of our cruise itinerary. I kept telling my husband, “I could live here.”
Serendipitously, nearly nine months later, I moved there to accept my first job as a manufacturing manager in a medical device facility after completing three years on active duty. I also signed up to serve in the army reserves at Fort Buchanan. This was the first of three different times that I’ve returned to the island for work. Every time I think it’s my last, but something in my heart also knows I’m deeply tied to the island and will somehow find my way back.
My experiences in Puerto Rico had a profound impact on my life. I was genuinely taken aback by how comfortable I felt there and how moved I was by the culture, the lifestyle, the care and compassion people show one another. Living in Puerto Rico, I felt inspired by so many things, and yet for most of my life I had such misconceptions about the island. I had wrongly assumed it was like a third world country, lacking education and centered only on tourism and a severely separated class structure.
Realizing how wrong I’d been, I thought incorporating this beautiful place and the uniquely distinct cultural elements in my book would provide me with a great opportunity. First, I knew the passion would flow on the page naturally. As a lifelong reader, I know the power of a book written from an author’s passion. The words come alive. But I also new it would educate and intrigue readers that, like me, had incorrect preconceived notions about the island and what life there was like.
My website boasts the tagline: Storytelling that Makes an Impact.
Writing about Puerto Rico and her magic aligned with my goals as a writer, a descendant of Puerto Ricans, and a proud member of the Latina community.
Part of your goal as a writer is to promote positive depictions of Latino(a) characters and the representation of people of color or with disabilities. What is your take on it?
Up until recently, I don’t think there were many Latino characters leading the story in mainstream commercial fiction. At least not that I’m aware of, and I grew up reading a lot. I am proud to see how much this has changed in the last ten years and continues to evolve still. You have wide growing audiences for book bloggers like @TomesandTextiles or @Lupita Reads that are doing their part to provide exposure and challenging readers to read and support a different kind of book.
This has a trickle down effect. Now more Latino authors are incorporating the rich authenticity of their culture into story in a way that enhances the setting with unique places or creates characters with viewpoints readers may not have been as familiar with as before.
Within the Latino community, the cultural variations from one Latin American country to another are immense and full of storytelling opportunities, so as Latino authors—we need to keep writing the true, authentic stories. Then my advice to readers is, don’t be afraid to take a risk and delve into the lives and stories of a culture you may not be familiar with.
Diana Gabaldon—a brilliant author of Mexican descent—brought the culture and history of the Scottish Highlands into millions of American homes with the Outlander Series, and we are all better for it. We can do the same. There are so many opportunities to see the beauty and intricacy of Latin American cultures, but it means we, as readers, have a responsibility to insist on the books being available. Publishers are in the business of books. They will continue to support the kinds of books that demonstrate market demand. So, we need to demand more.
What are you working on now?
After writing At The Island’s Edge, I feel like I’ve uncapped a freshly shaken two-liter bottle of soda. I’m flooded with so many ideas! I am in the final edits of an FBI Tech Thriller with a strong Latina Protagonist, and I’m diving into the next book club novel that will follow my debut about the familial struggles between a mother and daughter having recently emigrated from Cuba.
Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:
Writing is a craft and a discipline, just like any other. It’s meant to be studied and learned. It also takes years of practice. When I first embarked on this journey, I assumed my love for reading and my multiple college degrees automatically qualified me to write fiction.
Spoiler alert—it didn’t.
I had to study the craft and I had to put in the practice hours. Like a pilot logging flight hours or a surgeon tallying the number of procedures, you become a stronger writer with continued practice.
Great advice!Author Pet Corner!
This is Snoopy (The bigger, terrified on the right in the first pic, on the left in the 2nd pic.) He was born in Ohio in June of 2017, and he’s been my faithful friend since we brought him home in February of 2018. He is calm, loyal and loves to lay at your feet.
Minnie (the obvious Alpha) is full of spunk. She runs around like a puppy and is obsessed with belly rubs, despite nearing her 12th birthday this year. She was born in Florida in 2013, although I don’t know exactly when. My younger brother owned her first and she was his dog until 2022 when his wife began struggling with some health issues and we brought her home to live with us. No one can believe she’s almost 12, she zips around the house with unstoppable energy.
At the Island’s Edge Author C.I. Jerez
Cherisa I. Jerez is a proud Latina originally from Miami, Florida. Her mother, a native New Yorker, blessed her with both Irish & Puerto Rican roots, while her father—a Cuban immigrant, inspired her to embrace the culture of the Caribbean. These multi-cultural influences, including growing up on the West Texas border in El Paso, have shaped her desire to bring Latino & Latina characters to life in her stories.
She commissioned as a 2LT in the US Army Signal Corps in 2005 and after completing three years on active duty she transitioned to the US Army Reserves earning the rank of Major in 2017.
She holds an BS in Accounting from University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), an MBA from Webster University, and a Doctorate in International Business from Liberty University.
When not writing, she currently serves as Co-founder and Vice President for Ashire Technologies & Services, Inc. She lives in St. Cloud, FL with her husband, youngest daughter and beloved Shih Tzus.
To find out more about C.I. click any of the following links: Website, Threads, Instagram, Facebook.Elena Hartwell/Elena Taylor
The post At the Island’s Edge: A Novel appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.
March 18, 2025
Liz Milliron Returns with Shattered Sight
Shattered Sight: A Jackson Davis Mystery by Liz Milliron
Spotlight on Liz Milliron!
NIAGARA FALLS POLICE DETECTIVE JACKSON DAVIS IS LIVING A LIE.
He has the perfect life: married, two children, a home, a promising career.
Underneath, however, he battles self-doubt and guilt over the explosion during the pursuit of a suspect that cost his partner her sight and her
career. He denies having PTSD or any trauma related to the event, but those around him know better.
When Jackson returns to active duty and is tapped to lead the investigation into the death of a prominent local business woman, all of this comes to the forefront. He must learn to work with a new partner and deal with his personal demons if he is to catch the killer-or he risks losing it
all.
Shattered Sight by Liz Milliron is perfect for fans of Hid From Our Eyes by Julia Spencer-Fleming, Don’t Look Down by Hilary Davidson, and The Walt Longmire books by Craig Johnson.
About the Author Liz MillironLiz Milliron has been making up stories, and creating her own endings for other people’s stories, for as long as she can remember. She’s worked for twenty years in the corporate world, but finds making things up is far more satisfying than writing software manuals. A lifelong mystery fan, she is the author of The Laurel Highlands Mysteries and The Home Front Mysteries, both from Level Best Books. Her short fiction has appeared at Uppagus and Mysterical-e. and been in Lucky Charms: 12 Crime Tales, the Anthony award-winning Blood on the Bayou (the 2016 Bouchercon anthology), Fish Out of Water, Malice Domestic 12 – Mystery Most Historical and The Killer Wore Cranberry: A Fifth Course of Chaos.
Liz lives near Pittsburgh with her son and a very spoiled retired-racer greyhound named Koda. She is a past-president of the Pittsburgh chapter of Sisters in Crime, and the current vice-president, and she is the National Sisters in Crime Education Liaison. Liz is also a member of Pennwriters, International Thriller Writers, and the Historical Novel Society.
Contact Links
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Elena Hartwell/Elena TaylorThe post Liz Milliron Returns with Shattered Sight appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.
March 17, 2025
The Third Estate: Secrets of the Manor
The Third Estate by D.R. Berlin
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The Third Estate: Secrets of the Manor
In a busy outdoor market, in broad daylight, an apparently ordinary woman is gunned down by a professional assassin. Twelve years later, the killer is back with a new target – and a mysteriously sinister employer…
What secrets could a father leave behind?
A gripping, high-stakes thriller that seamlessly blends espionage, mystery, and intense suspense, The Third Estate: Secrets of the Manor will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
Sophie Allard, a promising jet pilot cadet at a prestigious military academy, finds her world shattered when she’s summoned to the Commander’s office with devastating news—her estranged father has died in a mysterious lab explosion at their family estate.
What begins as a routine investigation soon spirals into something far more dangerous.
As Sophie delves deeper into the secrets surrounding her father’s death, she uncovers hidden truths that threaten not only her career but her life. Unraveling a web of deception and betrayal, Sophie discovers that her father’s involvement with a powerful and shadowy organization—the Third Estate—could hold the key to both her survival and her downfall.
With an assassin hunting her every step and the enigmatic Grey Lady pulling the strings behind the scenes, Sophie must navigate a perilous landscape of secrets, lies, and danger.
This fast-paced thriller is perfect for fans of complex conspiracies, strong female protagonists, and unpredictable twists. If you love novels that combine action, suspense, and mystery, The Third Estate is your next must-read.
Will Sophie uncover the truth—before it’s too late?
To purchase The Third Estate: Secrets of the Manor, click the following link: AmazonSuspense Thriller
Date Published: December 26, 2024
Follow the author on social media!Twitter: https://x.com/DRBerlinAuthor
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/d.r.berlinauthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572459732260
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Serial Killer Support Group: Debut Thriller
Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer
Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!Don’t miss any ITW Debut Author interviews! Click the link here.Serial Killer Support Group
Serial Killer Support Group centers on Cyra Griffin. What would you like readers to know about her?
Cyra was a fascinating character to write because she’s pretty emotionally closed off and guarded, and from the beginning, I had absolutely no control over her. Getting into her head, understanding who she was and what she wanted, was exciting.
Cyra and I are very different, but we do share several commonalities; we are both the eldest sibling, we are both sober, and we both suffer from panic attacks. It was important for me to portray those three things as realistically as possible because I think it’s important for readers to see versions of themselves represented in genre fiction. I think people will have strong feelings about Cyra as she acts a little bit like a litmus test for the reader about where they stand on topics like justice and revenge.
Serial Killer Support Group is about more than one serial killer. What kind of research did you do to create those characters?
I wanted to create characters—and killers—who felt realistic and also varied. I didn’t want the men in the support group to feel like the same character cut and pasted six different times. A specific type of serial killer tends to get the most attention in the media, and I wanted to show alternate versions while at the same time, creating characters who still felt human.
Because that’s the thing—it would be easy to frame these men as cartoonishly evil, but in real life, they rarely appear like that, especially if they aren’t caught. I did a lot of research on the different types of serial killers (visionary, mission-oriented, hedonistic, power/control), and I also did a lot of research on female serial killers, since Cyra pretends to be one in order to integrate herself into the group.
Seeing the difference between male serial killers and female serial killers—and how the media treats them—was very fascinating and made it into the book.
Serial Killer Support Group investigates the theme of revenge. How do you feel about revenge? Are you someone who wants to even the score?
The idea of revenge and vigilantism is the impetus of this whole book: What happens when we take matters into our own hands? What happens when our idea of justice doesn’t line up with the kind of justice outlined by the law?
I don’t think there’s a clear-cut solution, and that’s the point. Some may say violence is never the answer; there is always another path. And others might say that’s not true. I think there are lots of arguments to be made for whether or not things like vigilantism are useful or problematic. There’s something to be said for it being situational as well. It’s hard to put a blanket statement on something that has the potential for complexity and evolution based on personal experiences or societal impact.
Tell us about your road to publication for Serial Killer Support Group:
Serial Killer Support Group is nowhere near close to the first novel I’ve written, but it’s the one that got me traditionally published.
I wrote it during a tumultuous time in my life; I was back in the querying trenches, I was planning a cross-state move, and I was healing from some traumatic personal stuff. This story became an outlet. It led to me signing with my now-agent, and it’s been amazing to see how my life has changed in the year since I’ve been able to announce its upcoming publication.
In addition to writing twisty thriller novels, you also write poetry. Tell us about that aspect of your writing:
I started writing poetry as a child because my public elementary school had a yearly poetry “magazine” the whole school would participate in. I am dyslexic, so I always struggled with words and spelling. Poetry taught me how to embrace writing and love reading, which translated to a love of books and stories.
I had a few poems published when I was a teenager, and then returned to poetry after I got sober in 2019, self-publishing a chapbook about recovery called Beautiful After Breaking. I don’t write much poetry these days as I’m focused on bigger ideas and novels, but it’s a big part of my writing history, and I’m grateful for my mother and our family friend Connie, who is no longer with us, for instilling in me a love of poems.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently in what I call the “pre-production phase” of a new thriller that I’m really excited to write, but in the meantime, I’ve got several secrets I hope to reveal soon! I’ve migrated into the horror genre, a natural progression due to my love for all things twisted and dark. I have one horror novel in particular about motherhood and social media that I think people are going to want to sink their teeth into.
Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:
There are so many things I could say to aspiring writers and so many tips that have helped me along the way, but I think the most important thing is to find a writing path that works for you.
Just like in sobriety, there is never one exact journey you must follow to achieve success. There are options available to you: indie, trad, self-publishing, etc. Figure out your values, goals, and techniques. Read a ton. Try different things. Don’t get too attached; if something doesn’t work, start over. Give yourself permission to make mistakes and move forward. Find a community or a friend you trust to read your work. Make sure to leave time for rest and mental health maintenance.
But most of all, write what you want, when you want. You don’t need to write every day or write to market if that’s not what works for you. It’s your path—do what makes sense for your life.
Great advice!Author Pet Corner!
Cricket, female calico cat (11) – loves cheese and making herself extremely comfortable
Sloopy, female mixed breed dog (5) – neurotic shelter rescue who thinks she’s a lap dog despite weighing 40 lbs.
Serial Killer Support Group Author Saratoga Schaefer
Saratoga Schaefer has a background in marketing, content creation, film, and art and has been writing stories about murder for as long as they can remember.
In addition to telling stories and acting as an alcohol-free ambassador, Saratoga climbs rocks, teaches yoga, and hikes mountains.
Originally from Brooklyn, Saratoga now lives in upstate NY with an anxious dog and a very possessive cat.
Follow Saratoga on her debut journey: Website, X, Instagram, and TikTok.Elena Hartwell/Elena Taylor
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March 16, 2025
Shattered Sight: A New Police Procedural Series
Shattered Sight, The Jackson Davis Mysteries by Liz Milliron[image error]
Giveaway + an Excerpt + Book & Author Info!
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Shattered Sight
The Jackson Davis Mysteries
Niagara Falls Police Detective Jackson Davis is living a lie.
He has the perfect life: married, two children, a home, a promising career.
Underneath, however, he battles self-doubt and guilt over the incident that cost his partner her sight and her career in an explosion during the pursuit of a suspect. He denies having PTSD or any trauma related to the event, but those around him know better.
When Jackson returns to active duty and is tapped to lead the investigation into the death of a prominent local business woman, all of this comes to the forefront. He must learn to work with a new partner and deal with his personal demons if he is to catch the killer — or he risks losing it all.Book Details:
Genre: Police Procedural
Published by: Harbor Lane Books
Publication Date: March 2025
Number of Pages: 402
ISBN: 978-1-963705-05-8
Series: The Jackson Davis Mysteries, book #1
To purchase Shattered Sight click any of the following links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Read an excerpt of Shattered Sight:
Chapter 1
I stood in front of my open closet and shuffled through my tie selection. “Amy, have you seen my red tie?” I called to my wife.
No answer.
“Amy!”
She came into the bedroom, dark brown hair in a messy knot, stray strands stuck to her face. She held our six-month-old son, Christopher, over her shoulder as she rubbed his back. “What are you yelling for?” She glanced at the jacket on the bed. “I thought you only wore that suit to court.”
“I need to look sharp today, which means I need my lucky red tie.” I went over the ones on the rack for the third time. “The one with the dark gray pinstripes. It should be here.”
“For crying out loud. Let me.” She held Christopher out, forcing me to take him.
Before I could turn him around, he burped, a wad of spit landing on my chest. “Grab me a clean shirt, too.” I didn’t have time for this. “I need to make a positive impression today.”
“Jackson, you’re coming off desk duty. Not starting a new job.”
“All the more reason to look good. I need to remind the guys I’m an investigator, not a glorified secretary.”
Whatever Amy said was lost in the rattle of hangers. “Here.” She held out the tie. “It was with your other court suit, still in the bag.” She tossed it, along with a clean shirt, on the bed.
I handed back our son. “You’re an angel.” I leaned over and kissed her. Even wearing an old T-shirt and jeans, she put any supermodel to shame. At least in my mind. If I hadn’t been determined to be early, I would have demonstrated my gratitude with a little more emphasis.
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t you forget it.” She disengaged Christopher’s hand from her hair.
I slipped into the shirt, buttoned it, and swiftly knotted the tie. Then I shrugged into my jacket. I held out my arms. “Well, how do I look?”
She smoothed my lapel. “Like one of Niagara Falls Police Department’s finest homicide detectives, which you are.” Her voice was light, but I caught the worried glint in her beautiful deep blue eyes.
“It’s going to be okay, Amy. I’m ready to get back to work.”
“I know.” She kissed me. “Go get ’em, tiger.”
I arrived at HQ and waved to the desk sergeant.
“Detective Davis, you going to testify today?” he asked.
“Nope. I’m back in the rotation, Herb.”
He smiled. “It’s about time.”
I took the elevator up to the floor where the Criminal Investigation Division was located and went to my desk. As always, I avoided looking at the empty one facing mine. I briefly wondered how long that would last.
Hopefully for a while.
From across the room, a voice said, “Davis. You’re here.”
I looked up to see Captain Yannick striding toward me. Trailing him was an unfamiliar Black man. He was in his mid-thirties, close-cut hair, nice suit. Really nice suit. He held the largest-sized cup of coffee Starbucks sold in one hand and a cardboard box under the opposite arm.
I focused on the captain. “Morning, sir. You get the paperwork?”
“I did.” The captain shook my hand. “I’m glad to have one of my ace investigators back in the rotation. I want you to meet Rodney Kirke. He’s a new detective for homicide. This is his first day.”
I nodded. “Welcome to the looney bin. I’d shake your hand, but looks like they’re full.”
He put the box and Starbucks on Max’s empty desk. “Captain Yannick told me all about you.”
“Only the good stuff, I hope.” I refrained from saying anything about his stuff on that desk. “Who’d you get partnered up with?”
Yannick pointed. “You. Meet your new partner.”
What the actual? I forced myself to remain calm. “Oh. You didn’t mention anything on Friday before we left.”
“And I apologize. I meant to and the day got away from me.”
I glanced at Rodney. “Captain, can I talk to you?”
“What about?”
“Nothing major. A few details and then I can get to work.” Like how he’d forgotten to say he’d assigned me a new partner.
“Unpack your things.” Yannick pointed to the new guy. He nodded toward me. “My office.”
Once inside, I closed the door. “Sir, what the hell? A new partner on day one?”
“I understand you feel blindsided. I should have called over the weekend. Mea culpa.” His expression told me he’d expected this response. “You had to know this was coming, though.”
I did. But the speed unsettled me. “I guess I expected more notice. Not to walk in on Monday and be introduced to the new guy without even a hint of noticed. And I didn’t realize Max was so easily replaced. I thought you’d take more time.”
Yannick’s gaze and voice held sympathy, but firmness at the same time. “Her position has been open for six months. Kirke’s recently passed the detective exam. You’ll work well together. You can show him the ropes.” He leaned back. “I spoke to Kirke’s commander from patrol, who said he’s top-notch. I think you’ll get on well together.”
Seeing the empty desk every day had been hard. Having a stranger occupy Max’s chair was worse.
Yannick seemed to read my mind. “Look, I can’t replace Max. Oh, sure. I can hire a new body. It won’t be the same. I know. But give him a chance. You learned a lot from Max and she’d expect you to step up and pass it on. Next call is yours.”
What a cheat. Problem was, he was right. She would expect it. “Yes, sir. I’ll do my best.”
***
I returned to the desks and assessed the man who Yannick thought could fill Max’s shoes. He’d unpacked the box and was arranging everything to his satisfaction. Strike one, he drank Starbucks. I couldn’t stand the import from Seattle, much preferring Tim Horton’s, the Western New York alternative. Max had not much cared about where the coffee came from, as long as it was hot and black.
Strike two. He’d put a fancy brass nameplate in front of him, with a leather blotter, and matching pen and pencil cup next to it. I hoped the attention to office supplies didn’t mean anything except excitement for the new shield. Max had never bothered to have more than a jumbo calendar and her ever-present book of Sudoku puzzles on her desk. “Looks like you’re all settled in.”
His hand jerked and the cup of pens toppled over. “Just about.” He straightened everything and looked around. Very few of the battered desks held anything as fancy as his desk set. “Guess I overdid it a little with the office supplies, huh?”
“How long have you had your shield?”
“Two weeks.”
That explained a lot. “I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s natural to be a little nervous, especially starting a new job like this.” I sat down. “Where’d you come from?”
“Downtown. Spent a lot of time chasing pickpockets away from tourists.” He unbuttoned his suit jacket and took his seat. “It’s not very often you meet a white guy named Jackson. No offense.”
It was what people said when they knew they’d been offensive. I could tell his clothes were new. The jacket and slacks were tailored and the tie shone like silk. “My mother was a horror fan and The Lottery was her all-time favorite short story. She loved it so much, she swore to name her first child after the author. I’m lucky I wasn’t a girl or I’d be called Shirley.”
He laughed, but stopped short. “I can’t tell if you’re joking or not.”
I held up my hand. “True story. My father tried to get the nickname Jack to stick, but it never did. I’ve gotten used to it.”
He shifted in his seat. “I, uh, heard about what happened to your old partner. Hope I can measure up. She sounds like she was quite the investigator.”
The words were a knife in my chest. “She was.” I had no intention of discussing Max with the new guy. “Why’d you become a detective?”
“It was time for a challenge. I also thought it would help in other areas.”
I waited, but he didn’t continue. “Such as?”
“What’s the scoop? Did Yannick give you an assignment when you talked to him or something?”
He has things he doesn’t want to discuss. We’re equal there. “Not yet.”
Yannick emerged from his office. “Davis, Kirke. Attempted bank robbery downtown. Get down there and take witness statements.”
I stood. “On it, sir.”
***
Excerpt from SHATTERED SIGHT by Liz Milliron. Copyright 2025 by Liz Milliron. Reproduced with permission from Liz Milliron. All rights reserved.
Shattered Sight Author Liz Milliron
Liz Milliron is the Shamus-nominated author of the Homefront Mysteries, set in Buffalo, NY during the early years of WWII, the Laurel Highlands Mysteries set in the scenic Laurel Highlands of southwest Pennsylvania, and the Jackson Davis Mysteries set in Niagara Falls, NY.
Her short fiction has been published in multiple anthologies including Murder Most International, Blood on the Bayou, and Murder Most Historical.
Liz is a past president of the Pittsburgh Chapter of Sisters in Crime and the current Secretary, as well as the Education Liaison for the National Board of Sisters in Crime. She is also a member of International Thriller Writers, Pennwriters and the Historical Novel Society. Liz lives in the Laurel Highlands with her husband and a very spoiled retired-racer greyhound.
To learn more about Liz, click any of the following links: LizMilliron.com, Amazon Author Profile, Goodreads, BookBub – @mary1414, Instagram – @LizMilliron, Threads – @LizMilliron & Facebook – @LizMilliron
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