P.D. Workman's Blog, page 101

Excerpt from Memory Man

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.

Memory Man is the first book in a new series by David Baldacci, featuring new private detective Amos Decker. A devastating injury and near-death experience on the football field during his debut NHL game rewires his brain, giving him autistic-like thought patterns, including hyperthymesia, synesthesia, issues with social behaviors, etc. Amos Decker is not the only nontypical character. The perp in this story also has neurodiversity and a physical condition which I won’t spoil, but which I’m not sure Baldacci really understood and did his research on. I enjoyed the peek into Amos Decker’s brain, and I do think his hyperthymesia and synesthesia were described and handled well.

He should have pulled his phone and hit 911 at that very moment. He knew better. He knew not to stampede around a crime scene, for that was what his home had become by virtue of the dead man, killed by violent means

David Baldacci, Memory Man

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Amos Decker’s life changed forever—twice.

The first time was on the gridiron. A big, towering athlete, he was the only person from his hometown of Burlington ever to go pro. But his career ended before it had a chance to begin. On his very first play, a violent helmet-to-helmet collision knocked him off the field for good, and left him with an improbable side effect–he can never forget anything.

The second time was at home nearly two decades later. Now a police detective, Decker returned from a stakeout one evening and entered a nightmare–his wife, young daughter, and brother-in-law had been murdered.

His family destroyed, their killer’s identity as mysterious as the motive behind the crime, and unable to forget a single detail from that horrible night, Decker finds his world collapsing around him. He leaves the police force, loses his home, and winds up on the street, taking piecemeal jobs as a private investigator when he can.

But over a year later, a man turns himself in to the police and confesses to the murders. At the same time a horrific event nearly brings Burlington to its knees, and Decker is called back in to help with this investigation. Decker also seizes his chance to learn what really happened to his family that night. To uncover the stunning truth, he must use his remarkable gifts and confront the burdens that go along with them. He must endure the memories he would much rather forget. And he may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Deviation on Sale on Kindle

It’s been a long time since I put Deviation on sale. This is book one of the first series that I published. It is the story of Henry, a teen struggling to stay on the right track, and the lives that he touches.

About Deviation

[image error] “You’re a good kid, Henry.”

Everyone knew that he was a good guy; geeky, responsible, hard-working.  Henry has had a lot to deal with in the past.  Now, as he should be focusing on his schooling and preparing himself for the future, he is hindered by abuse, the challenge of raising his baby brother while dealing with his mother’s deep depressions, and the return of a ghost from the past Henry has tried his best to forget.

But it seems that Henry can’t avoid the nastiness of life.  As hard as he tries, it’s one more disaster after another as his life spirals out of control.

Can Henry escape the darkness, or is he doomed to be consumed by it?

Deviation, Book 1 of the Breaking the Pattern series is on sale for $0.99 at the Kindle store for a limited time.

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Excerpt from The Whistler

Now is a great time to check out Gluten-Free Murder, the first book in the Auntie Clem’s Bakery series. It is on for $0.99 in the Kindle store for a limited time!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.

My teaser today is from the master of legal thrillers, John Grisham, The Whistler. Actually, I just finished another Grisham as well, The Rooster Bar, a Christmas gift from my hubby. The Rooster Bar is more of a comedic piece, but The Whistler is nice and deep.

“Just relax, okay?” Mix said as he chugged some beer. “This is a long story that will take some time to unfold. It involves a ton of money, corruption that is astonishing, and some really nasty guys who would think twice about putting a bullet or two between my eyes, yours, my client’s, anyone who asks too many questions.”

John Grisham, The Whistler

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We expect our judges to be honest and wise. Their integrity is the bedrock of the entire judicial system. We trust them to ensure fair trials, to protect the rights of all litigants, to punish those who do wrong, and to oversee the flow of justice. But what happens when a judge bends the law or takes a bribe?

Lacy Stoltz is an investigator for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct. It is her job to respond to complaints dealing with judicial misconduct. After nine years with the Board, she knows that most problems are caused by incompetence, not corruption.

But a corruption case eventually crosses her desk. A previously disbarred lawyer is back in business, and he claims to know of a Florida judge who has stolen more money than all other crooked judges combined. And not just crooked judges in Florida. All judges, from all states, and throughout United States history. And now he wants to put a stop to it. His only client is a person who knows the truth and wants to blow the whistle and collect millions under Florida law. When the case is assigned to Lacy, she immediately suspects that this one could be dangerous. Dangerous is one thing. Deadly is something else.

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Gluten-Free Murder

[image error]Gluten-Free Murder is on sale for $0.99 in the Kindle Store for a limited time! Read the first book in the Auntie Clem’s Bakery series and see what all of the buzz is about!

Erin Price moves to Eagle Falls, a place where everyone knows everyone as well as everyone else’s business, taking over the store left to her by her aunt to start up a gluten-free bakery. The grand opening is marred by just one thing, the death of her business rival, Angela Plaint. It appears that Angela was poisoned by one of Erin’s cupcakes, making her a prime suspect.

Equipped with cupcakes, her desire for the truth, and new bakery assistant Vicky’s help, Erin goes head-to-head against Detective Terry Piper to solve the murder. Rumors of treasure hunting, drug dealing, and a missing boy swirl around Eagle Falls as Erin tries to sort the clues from the red herrings and find the killer before the killer can take care of her.

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Excerpt from The Pharaoh’s Secret

Don’t forget, Ronnie is on sale for just a couple more days!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.

I seem to be on a thrillers kick lately. At the moment, I am reading Clive Cussler’s The Pharaoh’s Secret, from the NUMA Files. If you enjoy Egyptian mythology, Napoleonic history, and things blowing up, you’ll definitely enjoy this one.

“Great Lord of the Dead, we come to you in suffering,” he whispered. “Our families have fallen to the affliction. Our houses have been cursed, our lands have turned to worthless chaff. We ask that you take our dead and bless them in the afterlife.”

Clive Cussler, The Pharaoh’s Secret (NUMA Files)

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Head of NUMA special assignments, Kurt Austin and his most trusted friend, Joe Zavala tangle with a ruthless powerbroker scheming to build a new Egyptian empire as glorious as those of the Pharaohs. Part of their adversary’s plan rests on the manipulation of a newly discovered aquifer beneath the Sahara, but an even more devastating weapon at his disposal may threaten the entire world: a plant extract known as the black mist, discovered in the City of the Dead and rumored to have the power to take life from the living and restore it to the dead.

With the balance of power in Africa and Europe on the verge of tipping, Kurt, Joe, and the rest of the NUMA team will have to fight to discover the truth behind the legends—but to do that, they have to confront in person the greatest legend of them all: Osiris, the ruler of the Egyptian underworld.

Sale on Ronnie, Between the Cracks #5

New Release Ronnie, Between the Cracks #5 is on sale for a limited time in the Kindle store for $0.99.

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Ronnie was the one child in the Simpson family to escape from the abuse and grow up in a normal home without being bounced from place to place or ending up on the street.

That was what the others all thought.

That was what Ronnie told herself.

When Ronnie could remember.

 

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Excerpt from the Heist

Ronnie, Between the Cracks #5 is out! If you want to find out what happened to Ruby’s last sister, you can get it now!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.

I just finished Daniel Silva’s The Heist. This is the second of the Gabriel Allon books (The English Spy series) that I have read, the other I read was later in the series. If you’re up for an epic spy thriller, jump into this one.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that, Oliver.”

“Like what?”

“Like you’re trying to think of something kind to say before the doctor pulls the plug.”

Daniel Silva, The Heist

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Master novelist Daniel Silva has thrilled readers with sixteen thoughtful and gripping spy novels featuring a diverse cast of compelling characters and ingenious plots that have taken them around the globe and back—from the United States to Europe, Russia to the Middle East. His brilliant creation, Gabriel Allon—art restorer, assassin, spy—has joined the pantheon of great fictional secret agents, including George Smiley, Jack Ryan, Jason Bourne, and Simon Templar.

Randy’s Review of Gluten-Free Murder

Randy has written a (not unbiased) review of Gluten-Free Murder! Reblogged from Flamestr’s Thoughts:

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Erin is looking to clean the slate and starts over. When she comes to Bald Eagle Falls to open a specialised bakery in her Aunt Clementine’s old shop, is she in over her head?

Erin has to come to grips with a suspicious death in her bakery. The most ornery woman in town is the victim. There is no shortage of suspects, including herself. In fact, some would say she is the most significant prospect. Erin will learn what everyone already knows — that there are many secrets in this small Amercian town.

Full-time baker and part-time detective, Erin often butts heads with Officer Terry Piper. Erin’s top priorities are to clear her name and find out the truth, and she is willing to do almost anything to get it done. She soon hires new assistant Vicky, and together they make Officer Piper’s life more interesting! Not only does Terry have to find the killer, but he spends almost as much time telling Erin and Vicky to stay out of the investigation. Then there is the fact that just maybe the killer might be a little testy about getting caught. You will not be able to put this book down, with all the twists and turns this murder mystery takes.

Trying to open a business is hard enough without trying to figure out who she can trust, including her assistant Vicky. Life in this small town is more than Erin bargained for; what has she gotten herself into?

A terrific cozy whodunnit you won’t be able to put down.

See the whole series here.

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Are you a Kobo reader? Check out these sales!

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Excerpt from Alert by James Patterson

Ronnie, Between the Cracks #5 is out! If you want to find out what happened to Ruby’s last sister, you can find out now!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.

Time for another James Patterson. The James Patterson syndicate continues to turn out great thrillers. Alert is book 8 of the Michael Bennett series and deals with terrorism in New York City. Detective Michael Bennett is on the case, but it isn’t going to be easy.

A dark swirl of panic ripped immediately through my jet lag. Because of the egregious cell-phone charges, I’d left explicit instructions for my family to call only if there was a true emergency. Something was up.

James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge, Alert

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New Yorkers aren’t easily intimidated, but someone is doing their best to scare them, badly: why? After two inexplicable high-tech attacks, the city that never sleeps is on edge. Detective Michael Bennett, along with his old pal, the FBI’s Emily Parker, have to catch the shadowy criminals who claim responsibility–but they’re as good at concealing their identities as they are at wreaking havoc.

In the wake of a shocking assassination, Bennett begins to suspect that these mysterious events are just the prelude to the biggest threat of all. Soon he’s racing against the clock, and against the most destructive enemy he’s faced yet, to save his beloved city–before everyone’s worst nightmare becomes a reality.

Ronnie, Between the Cracks #5 and more new releases

You’ve been waiting for it, and here it is! Find out what happened to Ruby’s last sister.

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About Ronnie

Ronnie was the one child in the Simpson family to escape from the abuse and grow up in a normal home without being bounced from place to place or ending up on the street.

That was what the others all thought.

That was what Ronnie told herself.

When Ronnie could remember.

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Get it now!

$4.99



Other New Releases

What else is hot and new, especially in the young adult market these days?

I Know Lucy, by Melissa Pearl

Lucy Tate is on the run. After witnessing the murder of her parents, she’s spent five years in hiding — taking on different personas and faking her way through life. The authorities can’t be trusted, so she remains in the shadows, always one beat ahead of the man who is forever hunting her. That is, until she meets Zach Schultz, a senior at Monte Vista High and the one guy she can’t bear to leave. Suddenly her natural instincts to lie, cheat, and run are overshadowed by something else…the desire to stay and perhaps, love. It’s her one shot at a normal life.

Curious by nature, Zach is immediately drawn to the new girl at school. How can a person look both confident and vulnerable all in the same moment? Determined to figure Lucy out, he sets out to unravel the mystery that is her and soon finds himself caught up in a cat and mouse game. For the first time in his life he is faced with the reality that the truth can no longer set him free…if anything, it’s going to get him killed.

A Mistake for Grace, by D.H. Watson

The day Elliot graduates high school, she’s not at a party or celebrating with friends. She’s at home, avoiding her mother.

Elliot’s plans for this summer are simple; find a college to go to, get a scholarship, and grow up. But her last summer before college smears to a halt when her younger sister, Rachel, starts getting into trouble with an underage prostitution ring. Without Grace, Elliot’s best friend whose life is falling apart as her alcoholic father spirals out of control, Elliot must learn to stand up for herself and those she loves, or risk losing her sister and best friend because of not only her own mistakes, but the mistakes of those she loves.

Lullaby, by L.R.W. Lee

Alissandra thrills to help her human charges make sense of thoughts that need refinement, problems that need solutions, worries that beg for action, and things they should or shouldn’t have said, as she weaves their dreams. She’s been doing it her entire immortal existence. But when the most powerful king in Dream realm sets his sights on her current charge, Prince Kovis Altairn, to exploit him in his quest to conquer Wake realm, Ali has no choice but to flee and pray the sovereign doesn’t hunt her down.

Prince Kovis Altairn, crown prince and the most powerful sorcerer in the Altairn Empire, knows nothing about Dream realm, let alone his sand maiden. So when Ali is discovered naked in his bedroom, how will she convince him of her intentions, as well as the danger?

The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily, by Laura Creedle

When Lily Michaels-Ryan ditches her ADHD meds and lands in detention with Abelard, she’s intrigued—he seems thirty seconds behind, while she feels thirty seconds ahead. It doesn’t hurt that he’s brilliant and beautiful.

When Abelard posts a quote from The Letters of Abelard and Heloise online, their mutual affinity for ancient love letters connects them. The two fall for each other. Hard. But is it enough to bridge their differences in person?

This hilarious, heartbreaking story of human connection between two neurodivergent teens creates characters that will stay with you long after you finish reading.

Harmony of Colors, by Rocky Barilla

It is September of 1961 and Ángel Prieto is attending his first day of school in a California Central Valley junior high school. As he sets foot into Mr. Padilla’s mariachi music class, Ángel is met with stares and stunned looks. After a few moments he starts to hear the loud whispers coming from the students. What are they saying about him?

Epoch Earth, by Toasha Jiordano

Synta was your average teenager — computer drone, annoyed big sister, Child of The Resistance — set to inherit the family’s data integrity business. Then The Glitch tore all that away from her and she became something… else.

When Synta watched her father glitch out and die right before her eyes, she had no idea the entire world died with him. And she didn’t care. All she wanted was for things to go back to normal. When another wave of Glitches threatened the remaining population, all she could do was run. Howie is her best friend and a freak of nature. While Synta and the entire human population looked alike, brown skin, hair… everything; Howie’s caramel curls and emerald eyes made him a target. But he was still her only chance.

Before I Let Go, by Marieke Nijkamp

Best friends Corey and Kyra were inseparable in their snow-covered town of Lost Creek, Alaska. When Corey moves away, she makes Kyra promise to stay strong during the long, dark winter, and wait for her return.

Just days before Corey is to return home to visit, Kyra dies. Corey is devastated—and confused. The entire Lost community speaks in hushed tones about the town’s lost daughter, saying her death was meant to be. And they push Corey away like she’s a stranger.

Corey knows something is wrong. With every hour, her suspicion grows. Lost is keeping secrets—chilling secrets. But piecing together the truth about what happened to her best friend may prove as difficult as lighting the sky in an Alaskan winter…

No Regrets, by Julie Moffett

When I agreed to stand by my best friend, Basia, on her big day, I had no idea what I was in for. Bouquets and unflattering evening wear I can handle. But between disgruntled dates, a beach venue and suspicious packages, what else can go wrong? Oh, right–my parents don’t know I’ve moved in with Slash. Oops?

Thankfully, I’ve got everything semi under control, at least as far as Basia and Xavier know. They can leave for their honeymoon happy, knowing Elvis, Slash and I will keep things safe at home.

Meanwhile, Elvis and Xavier’s boss at ComQuest has asked X-Corp–well, me–to take a quick trip to retrieve a sensitive company package from the British Virgin Islands. No hacking involved. Just show up, accept the package and bring it home safely. A cushy assignment, and a safe one. Right?

The Famous Online Bucket List, by Scarlett Haven

I’m Juliet Summers.

At 19 years old, I had just started to live.

And then the doctor gave me an expiration date.

So, my brother’s best friend decides to help me achieve all of my bucket list items, including getting married in Vegas.

What could possibly go wrong?

Conflicted Home, by A. American

The only possible thing that could make Morgan’s world even more difficult happened. The Japanese fleet off the coast of California was wiped out. An even that Morgan and friends and family only knew about because of the radio broadcasts from the Radio Free Redoubt. So far removed from them it barely warranted notice. That is until the Chinese retaliated by launching a nuclear counter-strike against Mac Dill Air Force base. This, did warrant their attention and had the potential to profoundly impact their lives.

As bad as the fear of nuclear fallout was, it wasn’t the only threat still haunting northern Lake county. With proof the Russians had pathfinder units on the ground, at a minimum, in the state and discovery of Cuban forces cooperating with them, something had to be done. After encountering armored units and realizing they were ill equipped to deal with the threat, the old man called for help. The call was answered, but would require a near impossible trip by truck to Eglin Air Force base. America was certainly on the ropes, but she wasn’t down yet.

White Knights, by Julie Moffett

My name is Angel Sinclair. I’m the youngest senior at Excalibur Academy for the Technologically Gifted and Talented in Washington, DC. I was pushed ahead a year because of my high IQ and considerable prowess behind the keyboard, making me an outcast even among my own peers. I’ve been looking for my dad all my life. A brilliant mathematician and cryptographer, he disappeared under mysterious circumstances when I was eighteen months old. Although my mom tells me I must put him in my past, it only makes me more determined to find out what happened to him. When weird accidents start happening at my school and the vice principal is involved in a deadly incident, I don’t see it as a coincidence. After launching my own investigation, with the aid of an unexpected set of allies calling themselves the White Knights, I discover a threat far greater than I ever could have imagined. I could take my discoveries to the authorities, but my own investigative methods would be at risk. Can anyone say hacking? No, it’s up to me to set things right. My objectives are straightforward: clear the name of the vice principal, learn the truth about my father, and stay alive. In other words, save the day and try not to look too much like a dork while doing it.

Wicked Rules, by l.a. cotton

Lo Stone should be used to change by now. It’s been her life for the last year, but how much can a girl take before the cracks begin to show? She knew being with Maverick wouldn’t be easy, but she didn’t anticipate her life in Wicked Bay becoming a game of deceit and lies.

Maverick Prince risked everything for Lo, but it was worth it to see her smile. Only now he’s painted a target on her back and he refuses to let that happen. The only way to protect her is to do what Prince’s do best—play the game and stick to the rules.

A Girl Called Monster, by Paige Lavoie

Where she came from there were no windows. The sounds of buzzing equipment and the doctor’s shouting rang through her ears daily. It was too uncomfortable to call home and too familiar not to be. Like it or not, she was an experiment.

Filled with childlike wonder and innocence, she took pleasure in stories, imagining what it would be like to live in those pages. A longing growing deep inside her.

She knew she’d never have that life… Not in the lab. Not with them studying her every move. So she decided to do something terrifying.

The Shadow Girl, by Misty Mount

Shy, thirteen-Ronnie, Between the Cracks #5 and more new releasesRonnie, Between the Cracks #5 and more new releasesyear-old Zylia has always known she was different. Most teenagers feel unnoticed and unseen, but for Zylia, it’s something much worse. She’s disappearing from this world and doesn’t know how to stop it. At times, she’s not sure she wants to. Until she stumbles across a family mystery surrounding the disappearance of her great-aunt Angelica years earlier. During her quest to unravel the mystery, Zylia discovers she’s able to cross the boundary and enter the “in between” world. Now, it’s up to Zylia to save herself before she’s trapped “in between” forever.

If I’d Known, by Rebecca Donovan

Lana Peri isn’t afraid of telling anyone exactly what she thinks, even if it gets her into trouble—which it usually does. But the thing is, she can’t lie. Her unfiltered honesty doesn’t exactly make her many friends, although it does get her kicked out of class regularly. Lana knows the truth will eventually be her undoing. If only she’d known it would begin today.

It’s meant to be a night Lana and her best friends will never forget. And it is… for all the wrong reasons. Lana witnesses not just one, but two violent crimes committed by the same person. Except she can’t say a word. Not if she wants to protect her friends.

Dauntless, by Tarah Benner

Lark is on the run again, pursued by the same agents who betrayed her. She broke the rules. She has blood on her hands. And she has something they want desperately.

When the gang’s helicopter crash-lands in the Rio Grande, all their troubles come to a head. Soren is haunted by his discovery at Cheyenne Mountain. His grief is making him bitter and distant, and Lark fears the chasm growing between them. Homeland Security is closing in, and they will stop at nothing to bring Lark into custody.

She and her friends hold the key to ending the famine — a secret GreenSeed kept hidden from the world. But as their situation grows more precarious, Lark realizes she must choose: Turn her back on an unkind world, or expose herself to her enemies and risk a lifetime behind bars.