Clea Simon's Blog, page 2

“Shocking…”

 Weighing in on The Butterfly Trap, the Bookblog of the Bristol Public Library‘s Jeanne Powers wrote, “I found it most readable, and was reluctant to put it down.  When the story comes to a climax just a few pages from the end, it’s both expected and shocking at the same time.  …

Read more here (or below):

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Greg is an ambitious young doctor who should have it all.  He’s not like his friend Pete, who’s out for a good time and who changes girlfriends like he changes his shirts.  Greg wants a wife, the house, the kids, the whole domestic scene.  While acting as reluctant wingman for Peter, Greg meets Anya at a party and is instantly smitten.  When Anya cuts her foot on a broken bottle, Greg is able to come to her rescue and bandage her wound like the gallant knight he wants to be.  Soon they’re dating and Greg is determined to give Anya everything she could ever want, even if he has to change his life to make his butterfly happy.

Anya is an artist, working part time at a gallery while she paints.  She’s struggling, not only financially, but in seeking her own style and a breakthrough in the arts scene.  When she meets Greg, she likes that he seems sweet and more of a gentleman than some men she’s dated.  It’s obvious that he doesn’t understand her art (or really, any art) but he’s supportive in his own way.

Is this a romance for the ages—or a disaster waiting to happen?

The Butterfly Trap is one story, told from two different points of view.  The first half of the book is Greg’s story; the second half is Anya’s, and while they are describing the same events, their perceptions are quite different.  The reader may spot red flags that the characters are oblivious to, ratcheting up the tension as the story plays out. 

This is a bit of a departure for Simon, who has written a number of cozy mystery series as well as some grittier standalone novels such as Bad Boy Beat.  I found it most readable, and was reluctant to put it down.  When the story comes to a climax just a few pages from the end, it’s both expected and shocking at the same time.  

While this isn’t my usual cozy or classic mystery, I certainly enjoyed it and found it memorable.  The characters are well-developed, and the setting is vivid, especially the peek inside the serious art scene of galleries and exhibitions.  It’s not a finger-pointing type of book:  one character isn’t totally right and the other totally wrong, but two people who misread each other.  Greg especially tends to project his ideals onto Anya, but Anya fails to see how deeply invested Greg is in the relationship.  The pacing is very good; the story never dragged for me.

Recommended for anyone who likes relationship suspense with strong characters and a good sense of place.

Tonight! Mystery and Thriller Mavens

Wow! Tonight at 8 pm. Eastern (DST), I get to be interviewed by the amazing Sara DiVello for her Mystery and Thriller Mavens video/podcast. Sara’s a vet, having done author interviews for years, and she’s an author in her own right (write?). Check out her Broadway Butterfly: A Thriller. But even better, come join us tonight!

You can view our chat either on the Murder By The Book Facebook page or on the Mystery and Thriller Mavens Youtube. Both will be viewable after the event – and I’ll share here if I can. But why not join us this evening and maybe ask some questions of your own?

From a tumultuous childhood to a thriller…

The great CrimeReads gave me some space today to explore the less-than-idyllic backstory to my new The Butterfly Trap. Did you have a picture-perfect childhood? If not (and who did?), do you find yourself repeating patterns from the past? Come share your stories with me here…

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“Butterfly” takes the Page 69 Test

If browsers open your book to page 69, would they get a good (or an inaccurate) idea of the whole work? that was the question posed to me about my new psychological suspense, The Butterfly Trap.

This “test” grows out of an observation attributed to Marshall McLuhan, the guru of The Gutenberg Galaxy (1962), who recommended that book browsers turn to page 69 of any book and read it. If they like that page, buy and read the book.

Did my new book pass? Find out here!

“A masterfully woven psychological thriller…”

“Clea Simon’s The Butterfly Trap is a masterfully woven psychological thriller that challenges perception and keeps readers second-guessing at every turn. With an intricate dual-perspective narrative, Simon skillfully blurs the lines between truth and deception, leaving readers captivated and questioning what they believe to be real.

The novel’s greatest strength lies in its ability to evoke empathy for its characters, drawing readers into their struggles and shifting allegiances as new revelations come to light. Just when you think you have uncovered the truth, Simon delivers another twist, unraveling expectations in a way that is both shocking and satisfying.

Her writing is immersive and compelling, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. The psychological depth of the story ensures that it lingers in the reader’s mind long after the final page. The Butterfly Trap is an enthralling, mind-bending read that will leave fans of psychological thrillers thoroughly impressed.”

Oh, my! Thank you, LisaD on Goodreads!❤

A Day in the Life (of “Butterfly Trap”)

Ever wonder what it would be like to be a character in a book? The award-winning crime fiction blog Dru’s Book Musings invites authors to give us a day in the life that isn’t in the book – and so here I give you Anya, one half of my new “he said/she said” The Butterfly Trap. Join us?

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Talking “Butterfly” on Jungle Reds

Did your parents fight? Was it the same fight over and over? Do you see yourself having some of those same arguments with your partner? Today at the great writers blog Jungle Reds, I talk about how my family’s patterns and how I put those to use in The Butterfly Trap. There’s a lively discussion going on – won’t you join us?

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It’s BUTTERFLY TRAP day!

So excited to have this book out in the world! I’ll be celebrating tonight at the lovely Harvard Book Store with Nina MacLaughlin. If you can join us in person, I’d love to see you. If not, and you want a signed book, reach out to the bookstore (there’s a link on this page) – I’ll sign and they’ll ship!

Early reviews for THE BUTTERFLY TRAP

“On the surface this is a he-said, she-said crime tale, but there’s much more going on in this darker departure from Simon’s previous work. It’s a close examination of what happens when one partner is completely smitten—the reader will be waiting for the yearning to tip over into obsessive stalking—and the other not only believes themselves not right for this love, but unworthy overall.” – FirstClue Reviews

“The theme of fear and control in a relationship emerges in Simon’s tense, slow-burn latest (after Bad Boy Beat, 2024), along with the exploration of the many ways two people can deceive each other….” – Booklist

Talking Twisted Passages with Marie Sutro

Wow, fellow author and interviewer Marie Sutro is amazing! We spoke about The Butterfly Trap few weeks ago for her show Twisted Passages, but until her podcast/Youtube of our interview came online I didn’t realize how much she got me to open up! Join us as we talk about how our friends and family shape us and the myriad ways love can go bad….

(I’ve linked to her Spotify and Youtube pages above. The show is distributed through the Authors on the Air Global Radio Network and is available on iHeart Radio, Apple, Amazon, and all other podcast platforms.

“Toxic but excellent”

Ha! I adore this insightful review from the Psychological Thriller Readers group on Facebook:

“The Butterfly Trap by Clea Simon is a toxic domestic drama where everyone plays everyone and believes they are the ones who are the players!

I must say I loved the concept of this book! So the book is told from Anya’s and Greg’s perspective. So technically we are reading the same story just one is told by Greg and another by Anya. I loved that even though it’s the same story it didn’t feel repetitive! Parts that we already witnessed in Greg’s story were nicely wrapped up in Anya’s story concentrating on parts that we didn’t know! So respect! That was clever!

This one is slow-burn so will not be good for readers who need constant action but the dynamics between characters and situations were excellent! Toxic but excellent.

Anya is a struggling artist and art is what she wants to do.

Greg is on his way to being a successful surgeon and all he needs is a wife. When he meets Anya, he is positive they are meant to be together. He is focused on getting married and having kids… but is this what Anya’s plan is?”