P.D. Workman's Blog, page 61
September 18, 2020
Zachary Goldman Private Investigator Cases 5-7
Bundle/Collection, Coming Soon!
Series: Zachary Goldman Mysteries
Genres: Mystery
Author Direct Goodreads
eBook Price: $9.99 The Author Direct option, if shown above, allows you to purchase directly from the author using PayPal
Download format options are Kindle or ePub (iBooks, Nook, etc.) format
Coming soon!
+ About Zachary Goldman Private Investigator Cases 5-7
Zachary Goldman, Private Investigator, is flawed with a capital F.
Shattered by the tragedies of his own life, he will somehow still manage to pick himself up and dig just a little bit deeper than anyone else to find the vital clues.
Maybe being broken makes it easier for others who have faced tragedy to trust him. Walk with Zachary as he solves four cases that will stretch his abilities to the limit.
Even with his own life in shambles, Zachary Goldman is still the one you want on the case.
A case is only unsolvable as long as it remains unsolved.
This set includes:
5 They Thought He Was Safe – When Pat asked him to look into the disappearance of an illegal, Zachary agreed to take it, but didn’t expect to find anything more than a man who had returned to his family or fled immigration officials. But it quickly becomes apparent that the disappearance was just the tip of the iceberg.
6 He Was Not There – Zachary Goldman just wants to put everything that happened to him that night at the hands of a monster behind him forever. But when Heather, his estranged sister, asks for his help in bringing her own rapist to justice, there is no way he can turn her down.
7 Her Work was Everything – There’s something going on at Drake Chase Gould. The death of intern Lauren Barclay is just the tip of the iceberg. When Lauren’s roommate hires Zachary to look into what was, on its surface, a tragic accidental death, Zachary gets more than he bargained for.
Goodreads reviews for She Wore Mourning
Reviews from Goodreads.com
+ Praise for the Series
—I want to give more than five stars!! It’s like she pulled this out of a newspaper and personalized it!! Another nail biter to the end!!
—I read it almost straight through, but did have to sleep in there somewhere. I’ve been reading it this morning also for 3 hours straight. It is really an amazing book … As a clinical psychologist, this book was more interesting to me than many things that I read. I certainly will be looking for more books by this outstanding author.
—I purchased this book for vacation, but it didn’t get that far. I started reading and I seriously couldn’t put it down and finished it before we left.
—Wow, this story is stunning in more ways than one. The research alone had to take such a long time to make this story so real and compelling. My heart was breaking some of the time and then I was crying because of good things. I loved the story and really think this lady is one of the best authors I’ve ever had the privilege of reading!
—Zachary is not your normal, everyday detective, but because of his mental health issues he seems to have an extra sense in sorting out the reasons behind the crimes he is investigating … Ms Workman has again created characters with depth, feeling and realism… I am really looking forward to the next installment as Ms Workman has yet to disappoint me.
+ Book Club Resources
Pinterest Board: Mental Illness
Disease and Disorder Pinterest Board
+ Praise for P.D. Workman
“Every single one of [P.D. Workman’s] books has spoken to me in ways no one or almost anything else has. And I have found strength in the books I’ve read.”
“The way that P.D. Workman writes just flows amazingly and allows the reader to get really invested in a book.”
“This is one author I certainly will be looking out for, I can’t recommend her enough.”
“I’ll read anything by P. D. Workman that I can get my hands on.”
“Every book by PD Workman that I’ve read has been a gripping one, however different the genres are, going from lighter mysteries to really dark ones… this is one of my favourite, most dependable authors.”
“P.D. Workman is an incredibly versatile writer. No matter which of her books I read I am drawn into a great story and honestly, I don’t think I’ve followed another author that could go from cozy mystery to YA to a PI series dealing with mental health issues. Really enjoy her books!”
+ Zachary Goldman on my Blog
Zachary Goldman Private Investigator Cases 5-7
Celebrate Cozy Mystery Day with me!
$0.99 Sale They Thought He Was Safe
It’s Christmas in July!
Sale on She Wore Mourning
Excerpt from The Chain
Happy Birthday to You Too!
She Was at Risk
He Never Forgot
She Told a Lie
Get started on the Zachary Goldman series
Excerpt from Carve the Mark
Books for Mental Health Awareness Month
Hoppy Easter Reading
Fiction about Anxiety
The year ahead
Fiction about Human Trafficking
Unlawful Harvest and other freebies this weekend
Excerpt from Before the Fall
An early Christmas Present – Unlawful Harvest and other new releases
The Mysteries of Christmas
Thanks for great book deals
Excerpt from Badlands
Her Work Was Everything and more new releases!
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September 17, 2020
It’s new release day! Web of Nightmares and more
Web of Nightmares
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Book 8 of the Reg Rawlins, Psychic Investigator series is out! Check out Web of Nightmares today:
Psychic Reg Rawlins is hoping to get her life back to normal, or some semblance of it. With the gems she was given by the fairies for saving Calliopia’s life, she doesn’t need to worry about money. Maybe never again. She can just relax, get the sleep she needs, and not have to worry about hustling a living.
Life is better with money. Maybe she’ll even take up a hobby. Travel. Visit Erin.
But the rest of the world seems to have other ideas. Reg senses that all is not well in Black Sands. She is plagued by nightmares and visions, but her ability to consciously access her powers is limited.
AUTHOR DIRECT BUY NOW SAMPLE BOOKBUB GOODREADS
And more new releases
.ugb-a5b2e9e .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-a5b2e9e .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-a5b2e9e .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-a5b2e9e .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-a5b2e9e .ugb-img{width:217px;height:auto !important}}Deadly Diagnosis
When one of Dr Moreland’s terminally-ill patients says that they must tell her something of grave importance, she expects to hear of some long-past personal or family indiscretion. But the old lady speaks wildly of a deadly threat within the charity shop where she volunteers and even intimates that her concern links to the town’s now-derelict psychiatric hospital. Dr Moreland is soothingly sympathetic but privately dismissive. She already has enough on her plate with work, not to mention, attending a much-dreaded medical school reunion where she must face the snide remarks of her peers when they hear about her own, recent mental health issues.
But when the old lady is later found dead in circumstances that are not only suspicious but quite gruesome, the doctor begins to doubt her original judgement. If she is to discover the reason for the killing, she must regain her confidence swiftly and act without falter.
.ugb-9656ea7 .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-9656ea7 .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-9656ea7 .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-9656ea7 .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-9656ea7 .ugb-img{width:333px;height:auto !important}}Poisoned in Paradise
Public Health Officer Rynelle MacLeod loves keeping her Caribbean island pristine for visitors. But when a visiting billionaire is struck down with food poisoning, she has to cut her own vacation short to stop a nasty crisis. And she’s sure the skin-and-bones stalker who keeps hitting on her is actually a reporter sniffing out a dirty scoop.
NASA Astronaut Joe Johnson struggles to blend into the blue-water paradise. Secretly on an underwater mission, the ISS-stationed scientist is focused on avoiding people and pathogens and getting his gravity-laden body back into shape. But it’s the larger-than-life, germ-busting beauty he continually bumps into that’s making his heart work overtime.
In a race to prevent microbial mayhem, Rynelle slowly warms up to the scrawny man interfering with tracking down the toxin-inducing culprit. But when Joe thinks she’s about to expose his hidden research habitat, he’s forced to choose between career contamination and an out-of-this world romance.
.ugb-38afc50 .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-38afc50 .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-38afc50 .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-38afc50 .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-38afc50 .ugb-img{width:313px;height:auto !important}}Silent Knight
Centuries’ old secrets. A modern grail quest. A search for truth…
When archaeology student Hiram Kane meets a mysterious stranger who claims to be a descendent of the last British Templar Knight, what starts out as a quiet night in the pub with friends for Christmas drinks quickly turns into a modern grail quest and a lethal search for truth.
The problem is, they’re not the only ones searching, and their rivals are armed and deadly.
In a race against time that spans the length of Britain, and sees Hiram visiting legendary archaeological sites and battling nefarious secret societies, the young student develops a taste for adventure and learns of his innate gift for attracting danger.
With history on the line and truths to be uncovered, Kane must lead his friends to victory in what rapidly descends into a fight for their very lives.
.ugb-52b34fb .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-52b34fb .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-52b34fb .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-52b34fb .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-52b34fb .ugb-img{width:333px;height:auto !important}}The Watchman of Rothenburg Dies
Etta and Dora, both newly retired teachers, travel from their home in Southern Italy to a fairy-tale German town for their first home swap holiday, delighted by their neighbours’ warm welcome. But the welcome turns sour when the Night Watchman of Rothenburg is brutally murdered while his tour group takes photographs nearby, a halberd buried in his chest and a peculiar iron mask by his side.
When the murderer claims a second victim and the son of their hospitable neighbours becomes the number-one suspect, Etta’s analytical mind goes to work. Why was a shame mask left at the scene of each murder? Is there a clandestine trade going on behind the scenes of apparently upstanding local businesses? And why does every lead take her back to the sinister Devil’s Ale pub and the terrifying gang who lurk within?
Meanwhile, Dora has a puzzle of her own – how can she persuade Etta that a loveably disobedient Basset Hound called Napoleon is now a permanent part of their lives?
.ugb-f3a0cbc .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-f3a0cbc .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-f3a0cbc .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-f3a0cbc .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-f3a0cbc .ugb-img{width:350px;height:auto !important}}Twisted Treats
It’s murder when family come to visit.
Great Aunt Sophia’s in town to teach Lina all of her witchy ways.
No great surprise, her eccentric great aunt’s teaching methods are just as unorthodox as the lady herself. Certainly not approved by the International Criminal Witch Police.
Which is a problem, since Lina’s neck deep in another murder investigation.
Lina has to juggle her great aunt’s idea of witch training as she helps the ICWP solve a rather unusual murder…one that’s been linked to Lina’s magic.
Can she balance her witch training while trying to catch a killer? Oh, and also keep her great aunt out of the clink.
.ugb-9bd0af5 .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-9bd0af5 .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-9bd0af5 .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-9bd0af5 .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-9bd0af5 .ugb-img{width:313px;height:auto !important}}First in Series Sampler
Description for this block. Use this spDo you enjoy samples, say a box of chocolates, filled with assorted samples to pick from?
Here is a box set of cozy mysteries and cozy paranormal mysteries to try out. Each book is the first in the series to give you a taste of what the series will be like. I’ve set all the books in tropical South Florida, where the beautiful beaches hold more than sunny days of fun. There is plenty of murder and mystery, pets, and amateur sleuths following the clues.
Mist At The Beach House brings Morgan Seaver to her childhood home only to be blamed for the murder of her aunt, and a family legend of mermaids and revenge that must be sorted out. Along with a mysterious Kitten from the mist, Morgan begins to unravel the past.
Killer Focus finds Piper Avery having a bad day, an awful day. A pink slip, her 50th birthday, and being notified her mother and mother-in-law have bought the house across the street are only the start. Because the next thing she knows, she has discovered a body on the beach. Add in a new dog, a bit of a diva, and Piper’s life begins to change.
Whispered Voices are what Mac now hears after a dangerously close hit by a bolt of lightning. But these aren’t the friendly voices of friends or family. No, she can now hear the voices of killers as they plan the next murder. Mac must listen to the voices in her head to solve the mysteries before it’s too late. And she must accept that not all fairytales are make-believe.
Murder for Neptune’s Trident is about Megan Cassidy’s witnessing a brutal murder and her efforts to figure out why the young man was killed–before his killers find her. Along with the help of her clue sniffing beagle, Barney, Megan finds out that the past can really haunt you.
.ugb-0ed22fc .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-0ed22fc .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-0ed22fc .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-0ed22fc .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-0ed22fc .ugb-img{width:217px;height:auto !important}}News and Nachos
Is her best friend a murderer?
When the owner of the local Mexican restaurant is found dead face down in a plate of nachos, Tilly Bordeaux, the reporter for the Tri-Town Times, is on the job.
As she dives into the life of the deceased, she uncovers seedy behavior, lies and fraud. Even though the list of those who wanted the man dead is long, the sheriff, up for reelection, is focused exclusively on Tilly’s best friend, Carla, as the main suspect.
Tilly has no choice but to search for the true killer herself… before her friend is sent to prison for a crime she didn’t commit.
.ugb-9116bd9 .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-9116bd9 .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-9116bd9 .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-9116bd9 .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-9116bd9 .ugb-img{width:217px;height:auto !important}}Deception in Devon
On sale just $0.99
She’s a sassy senior, traveling solo, who’s ready to sleuth!
Before heading to her London, England pet sit, Viviane travels to Devon for a bit of sight-seeing.
Soon after Viviane arrives, a young woman staying at the inn is found unconscious.
Was it an accident or had she been attacked?
As Viviane becomes involved with the other guests staying there, she realizes that she’s staying in a house of secrets.
.ugb-1eb4f68 .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-1eb4f68 .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-1eb4f68 .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-1eb4f68 .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-1eb4f68 .ugb-img{width:333px;height:auto !important}}Death by Bagpipes
When a trip to Scotland ends in tragedy, travel guide Lana Hansen must sleuth out who murdered her guest before she ends up paying the piper.
Lana hasn’t seen her ex-husband, Ron, since their divorce was finalized eight months earlier. So when they bump into each on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, she is not exactly jumping for joy.
To make matters worse, Ron threatens a member of her tour group—a beloved and respected magician named Presto the Amazing. Ron is convinced Presto stole one of his magic tricks—the same act that propelled the famous magician into stardom—and swears he will get his revenge.
After Presto is scared to death by a group of well-meaning bagpipers, the police suspect he was first poisoned—and that Ron is the culprit!
.ugb-bb12008 .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-bb12008 .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-bb12008 .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-bb12008 .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-bb12008 .ugb-img{width:316px;height:auto !important}}Broom Mates
Paws and effect?
Sweetwater Falls has another murder, and this time Zoe Cross is just relieved she’s not the main suspect.
That doesn’t mean that she’s not getting involved, though.
Witch, please.
Sean Peabody, the handsome warlock detective that has his eyes and hands all over Zoe, is leading the investigation. And while he may be pretty, Zoe knows that he needs all the help he can get. It’s up to Zoe, her cat familiar, Paws, her psychic Aunt Zelda, and her mortal friend Lissie to figure out who it could be.
Whoever it is will go to any length to hide themselves. They’ll kill anyone in any way needed to keep their activities secret.
September 15, 2020
John Puller is back, and this time, it’s personal
Today is Cozy Mystery Day! Pick up some great mysteries to read today.
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.
David Baldacci is one of my favourite suspense/thriller writers. I picked up The Forgotten, thinking that I hadn’t read it before, but I have. But Baldacci’s books are detailed enough to read again without getting bored, so I decided to reread it.
In this, the second book in the John Puller series, Puller discovers that his aunt has, right after sending him a letter about suspicious things going on in the neighbourhood, dies under circumstances that could be accidental, but could point to murder.
There are strong similarities between Baldacci’s John Puller and Lee Child’s Jack Reacher. Even the names echo each other. Both characters’ history, body type, personality, etc. are nearly identical. So if you like Jack Reacher, you might give John Puller a try. Note that this one has a couple of more explicit scenes you might want to skip through.
She noticed a shadow of movement behind her, but had no chance to feel alarmed about it.
David Baldacci, The Forgotten
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Army Special Agent John Puller is the best there is. A combat veteran, Puller is the man the U.S. Army relies on to investigate the toughest crimes facing the nation. Now he has a new case-but this time, the crime is personal: His aunt has been found dead in Paradise, Florida.
A picture-perfect town on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Paradise thrives on the wealthy tourists and retirees drawn to its gorgeous weather and beaches. The local police have ruled his aunt’s death an unfortunate, tragic accident. But just before she died, she mailed a letter to Puller’s father, telling him that beneath its beautiful veneer, Paradise is not all it seems to be.
What Puller finds convinces him that his aunt’s death was no accident . . . and that the palm trees and sandy beaches of Paradise may hide a conspiracy so shocking that some will go to unthinkable lengths to make sure the truth is never revealed.
September 10, 2020
Celebrate Cozy Mystery Day with me!
First of all, when you reach the bottom of this post, please add a comment telling us about your favourite Agatha Christie book. If you haven’t read any Agatha Christie or don’t like her books (heresy!) then tell us about your favourite cozy mystery book, TV show, or movie. That’s lots of options. Please share!
September 15 is Cozy Mystery Day!
Why, you may ask? Because it is Dame Agatha Christie’s birthday, and she is widely regarded as the creator of the cozy mystery. A cozy mystery is generally regarded as a mystery with an amateur sleuth like Miss Marple or Murder She Wrote’s Jessica Fletcher, who uses her wits to solve a mystery before the proper authorities. The genre consists of clean reads (no sex on the page, no blood and gore, no f-bombs) that can be enjoyed by all ages.
My Books
I have two series that are cozy mysteries, and additional series and books which, like Christie’s Poirot or Tommy and Tuppence mysteries, would not necessarily be classed as cozy mysteries in today’s market, but as traditional mysteries or whodunnits.
.ugb-93c543d .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-93c543d .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-93c543d .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-93c543d .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:1025px){.ugb-93c543d .ugb-img{width:1000px;height:auto !important}}Auntie Clem’s Bakery
Kicking off with Gluten-Free Murder, Dairy-Free Death, and Allergen-Free Assignation, this series features specialty baker Erin Price’s mystery-solving adventures. Enjoy gluten-free muffins, rescue animals, and a handsome officer with a K9 companion as Erin explores mysterious murders and the secrets of her own past.
Bundled sets for books 1-3 (currently $0.99), 4-6, and 7-9 are available as well as the books individually. Books 10-12 have not yet been bundled and are available individually.
.ugb-56ad65d .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-56ad65d .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-56ad65d .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-56ad65d .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:1025px){.ugb-56ad65d .ugb-img{width:1024px;height:auto !important}}Reg Rawlins, Psychic Investigator
A paranormal split-off from the Auntie Clem’s Bakery series follows Erin’s foster sister Reg Rawlins to Florida, where she sets up shop as a psychic services provider, finding out more about the paranormal world than she ever expected to.
This series has proven even more popular than Auntie Clem’s Bakery and is a lot of fun both to read and to write. You can get books 1-3 (currently $2.99) and 4-6 bundled together. Book 7, Fairy Blade Unmade was just recently released, and the next two books are currently on preorder (Web of Nightmares and A Whisker’s Breadth).
.ugb-60ea582 .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-60ea582 .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-60ea582 .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-60ea582 .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:1025px){.ugb-60ea582 .ugb-img{width:1000px;height:auto !important}}Zachary Goldman Mysteries
A traditional mystery or brozy (broader cozy), the Zachary Goldman series follows major cases solved by private investigator Zachary Goldman, who struggles with his own relationship and mental health issues as he tries to help others.
You can get books 1-4 bundled (currently $2.99) and 5-7 individually. More coming soon!
And more!
More of my mysteries and other books available on the handy-dandy book selector page.
How can you celebrate Cozy Mystery Day?
Besides stocking up on more cozy mysteries, you can also:
share your favourite quote or line from a cozy mystery bookpost a photo of your ideal cozy reading spotcook up one of the recipes from the back of a culinary cozy mystery (this cozy mystery recipe book is free)knit or sew a pattern or make something from one of your favourite crafts, sewing, quilting, or crochet coziessend a card to your favourite cozy mystery author, or if you are an author, send a card to your readers or fansleave a review on a cozy mystery book on Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbub, Audible, iTunes, or elsewhere.write a blog post about your favourite cozy book, movie, or author and tell others what it is you love about those books or that author’s writing stylefollow your favourite cozy authors on their Amazon author pages, or on Twitter, Instagram, or other social media, maybe subscribe to their newsletter if you haven’t alreadygive a cozy mystery book to a friend or relative to borrow, or donate a book to your local library or school. set up a book signing and invite your favourite cozy mystery book author along to do a meet and greet, signing, talk, workshop, or writing retreatif you are an author or book blogger, why not use the #journorequest hashtag and see if they’ll interview you about your passion for the genre.dress up as one of your favourite characterswrite your own cozy mystery storyperform a cozy mystery story as a play at your local theatre (Agatha Christie has some screenplays/scripts if you need a place to start)take the day off and spend it reading and re-reading all the books on your to be read pilevisit a place or location from a cozy mystery bookhost a cozy mystery book evening, fancy dinner, share stories, maybe play a game of cluedo, or imagine yourself as a member of the original Detection Club. write a poem based on a cozy mystery or character, or create a work of art – an embroidered image of Poirot, or a painting of Jessica Fletcher.
Lifted from Sarah Weldon’s When is Cozy Mystery Day?
Don’t Forget!
Don’t forget to tell me about your favourite Agatha Christie book in the comments section!
September 8, 2020
Nicholas Sparks tries his hand at Romantic Suspense
Hopefully, you have had a chance to pick up some Back to School reads and Fairy Blade Unmade, book #7 in the Reg Rawlins, Psychic Investigator series.
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.
Nicholas Sparks is a popular romance author, a genre which I don’t often read. In See Me, however, Sparks tries his hands at romantic suspense, which is more in my wheelhouse. It has been an interesting story so well, with the promise of suspense and intrigue to come.
Sparks says this about See Me: “The past plays a very integral role in the decision-making process of the characters in See Me. Colin and Maria are both haunted by their pasts but they deal with it very differently. Colin uses his past as a daily reminder of how to better himself as an individual, while Maria has withdrawn into what feels like a safe, familiar environment, and does her best to repress all thoughts of what came before. Other characters are fueled by their personal histories to inflict pain on others.”
“Need a hand?” he called.
Surprising him, she didn’t say anything. Instead, staring at him with stricken eyes, she let go of the tire and began slowly backing away.
Nicholas Sparks, See Me
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Colin Hancock is giving his second chance his best shot. With a history of violence and bad decisions behind him and the threat of prison dogging his every step, he’s determined to walk a straight line. To Colin, that means applying himself single-mindedly toward his teaching degree and avoiding everything that proved destructive in his earlier life. Reminding himself daily of his hard-earned lessons, the last thing he is looking for is a serious relationship.
Maria Sanchez, the hardworking daughter of Mexican immigrants, is the picture of conventional success. With a degree from Duke Law School and a job at a prestigious firm in Wilmington, she is a dark-haired beauty with a seemingly flawless professional track record. And yet Maria has a traumatic history of her own, one that compelled her to return to her hometown and left her questioning so much of what she once believed.
A chance encounter on a rain-swept road will alter the course of both Colin and Maria’s lives, challenging deeply held assumptions about each other and ultimately, themselves. As love unexpectedly takes hold between them, they dare to envision what a future together could possibly look like . . . until menacing reminders of events in Maria’s past begin to surface.
September 3, 2020
Fairy Blade Unmade and other freebies
It’s my freebie round-up for Fairy Blade Unmade and a stack of other books you may be interested in.
Fairy Blade Unmade
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Fairy Blade Unmade is the 7th book in the Reg Rawlins, Psychic Investigator series. It can be read as a stand alone story or together with the rest of the series.
AUTHOR DIRECT BUY NOW SAMPLE BOOKBUB GOODREADS
Don’t take a pixie on a road trip.
Reg Rawlins is taking things one day at a time, which is the best way to approach life when your perception of reality has been shattered beyond recognition. Running her business, learning how to manage her new gifts, and trying to train a rambunctious kitten are about all she can manage.
She definitely doesn’t need to be dealing with a magically-injured fairy, an expedition to the Blue Ridge Mountains, or getting the cooperation of yet another magical species.
Direct store links:
AUTHOR DIRECT Amazon Kindle Apple Books B&N Nook Rakutan Kobo Google Play
And more freebies
Here are some more freebies you may be interested!
You can add all of the freebies available in the Kindle store with one click, or pick which books or which stores you want individually. As always, check prices before you check out, as prices may change without warning or not be free all days or in all markets.
.ugb-084c163 .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-084c163 .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-084c163 .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-084c163 .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:1025px){.ugb-084c163 .ugb-img{width:230px;height:auto !important}}The Reluctant Coroner
Blood is thicker than water—until murder is involved.
Get the book that hit #1 in the free stores on Kindle, Apple Books, and Kobo this summer!
“A five-star thriller that will leave you chuckling and gasping at the same time!” —John Ling, USA Today Bestselling Author
The Reluctant Coroner
Free on all platforms
.ugb-9fd3e48 .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-9fd3e48 .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-9fd3e48 .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-9fd3e48 .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:1025px){.ugb-9fd3e48 .ugb-img{width:329px;height:auto !important}}Murder in Cherry Hills
How do you solve a murder when the only eyewitness can’t talk?
Kat Harper has barely settled back into small-town life in Cherry Hills, Washington when she spies her neighbor’s cat Matty sitting on her doorstep. But Matty’s not making a social call. The newly orphaned feline has just witnessed her owner’s violent death.
But who would want to kill the elderly Mrs. Tinsdale? Was it one of her fellow animal rescue volunteers? A money-hungry daughter? A local veterinarian with something to hide? Or someone completely unexpected?
If Kat wants to put a murderer behind bars, the amateur sleuth is going to need Matty to lend a furry paw to her investigation. But how do you convince a cat eyewitness to reveal “whodunit”?
.ugb-09cd7f5 .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-09cd7f5 .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-09cd7f5 .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-09cd7f5 .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:1025px){.ugb-09cd7f5 .ugb-img{width:334px;height:auto !important}}Submerging
A drastic change of heart.
A determined choice to commit.
An unexpected betrayal at a critical moment.
There is nothing like a birthday to give Hamilton Dinger something to look forward to in his busy life. With his new job as a part-time intern at the Mayor’s office, being a full-time high school student and starlight warrior has its challenges. And although he has the full support of his girlfriend, Gwen, and his best friend, Mikey, and even a tentative partnership with Starry Knight, his ally against the Seven Deadly Sinisters, Hamilton has definite cause for concern.
The arrival of SWORD, the growing demonic activity in Apollo City, and the increasingly negative media attention has sparked ongoing unrest among the city and its inhabitants. To gain more power, Elysian and Hamilton set off for the Celestial Kingdom to deepen his commitment through learning, new landscapes, and cosmic surfing, evil forces continue in their quest for power and control.
Clean, YA fun, with a touch of romance and adventure!
.ugb-a092e57 .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-a092e57 .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-a092e57 .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-a092e57 .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:1025px){.ugb-a092e57 .ugb-img{width:328px;height:auto !important}}Wall of Secrets
What can stop the rise of a Fourth Reich on American soil? If one man has his way – Absolutely nothing.
1961 – Adolf Warner is a second-generation Nazi whose sole focus is to restore Hitler’s Reich to its proper glory.
Manfred Amsel is a college professor and Allied spy tucked in the Soviet sector of a conquered and divided Berlin who has unwittingly landed himself in Adolf’s crosshairs.
As the Berlin Wall’s path through the city nears completion, a fateful encounter sets each man on his own quest to escape.
Fifty years later, their paths cross again – this time in America.
Who survives the reunion?
.ugb-861f0c0 .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-861f0c0 .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-861f0c0 .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-861f0c0 .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:1025px){.ugb-861f0c0 .ugb-img{width:313px;height:auto !important}}The Case of the Love Spell
Description for this block. Use this Is magic real?
That’s what Penny has to ask herself, after a mysterious book reveals her destiny as a witch…
Welcome to Hillcrest, a small box-canyon town snuggled high in the mountains of Colorado. It’s been Penny’s home for her whole life, and she’s always thought of it as a peaceful — if boring — place to live.
All of that changes when the elderly Claudine Terra is killed, and a mysterious mountain pass behind her mansion opens up to through traffic. Could the new visitors to town, including a handsome vampire, have something to do with Claudine’s murder?
Penny is intent on finding out. She wants to save her failing PI business, get her love-life in order, and prove the police department wrong, all in one fell swoop. But as Penny learns about her own witchy powers, things turn out to be a bit more complicated than she expected.
For one thing, her ex boyfriend, Chris (a captain on the Hillcrest Police Department) is suddenly single. And then there’s the fact that her precious cat won’t stop throwing up. On top of that, Penny’s attempts at casting spells tend to go horribly wrong!
.ugb-3fd737b .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:19px !important}.ugb-3fd737b .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-3fd737b .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-3fd737b .ugb-button:before{border-radius:19px !important}@media screen and (min-width:1025px){.ugb-3fd737b .ugb-img{width:230px;height:auto !important}}Poisoned in Paradise
Free Saturday only
A mysterious outbreak. Tourism under threat. Can Rynelle solve the case before it becomes a tropical hot zone?
Public Health Officer Rynelle MacLeod loves keeping her Caribbean island pristine for visitors. But when a visiting billionaire is struck down with food poisoning, she has to cut her own vacation short to stop a nasty crisis. And she’s sure the skin-and-bones stalker who keeps hitting on her is actually a reporter sniffing out a dirty scoop.
NASA Astronaut Joe Johnson struggles to blend into the blue-water paradise. Secretly on an underwater mission, the ISS-stationed scientist is focused on avoiding people and pathogens and getting his gravity-laden body back into shape. But it’s the larger-than-life, germ-busting beauty he continually bumps into that’s making his heart work overtime.
In a race to prevent microbial mayhem, Rynelle slowly warms up to the scrawny man interfering with tracking down the toxin-inducing culprit. But when Joe thinks she’s about to expose his hidden research habitat, he’s forced to choose between career contamination and an out-of-this world romance.
.ugb-3fb1af6 .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:25px !important}.ugb-3fb1af6 .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-3fb1af6 .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-3fb1af6 .ugb-button:before{border-radius:25px !important}@media screen and (min-width:1025px){.ugb-3fb1af6 .ugb-img{width:318px;height:auto !important}}Who Killed the Ghost in the Library?
Cam Shaw is an out-of-work ghost writer who places an ad in the newspaper looking for a new client. When she gets a reply and meets the client, she gets more than she bargained for. She’s thrown into a 60-year-old mystery, but somebody doesn’t want the truth to come out, and they are willing to go to any lengths to keep that from happening…even if it means killing Cam.
See more[image error].ugb-70c4b80 .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-70c4b80 .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-70c4b80 .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-70c4b80 .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:1025px){.ugb-70c4b80 .ugb-img{width:333px;height:auto !important}}Ice Breakers
The last person private investigator Mika Chalmers expects to walk in her office is ex-boyfriend and NHL player, Eric Foresburg. He looks just like he did three years ago, tall, blond, and every inch a Viking.
This isn’t a social call.
Eric has gotten himself into some hot water. A woman is going to publicly accuse Eric of rape and he needs Mika to prove his innocence. With pressure from her father – who happens to be the head coach of Eric’s NHL team – and smarmy defense attorney, Ryan King, Mika has her work cut out for her. When feelings for Eric – feelings she buried a long time ago – start to resurface, her job of finding the truth no matter what gets increasingly difficult to do.
Despite the fact that Mika has connections with the police department – including the arrogant Detective Alex Beech – the answers aren’t black and white. Evidence reveals that Eric and the victim were together, but it turns into a heated he-said, she-said. It doesn’t help that Eric has been keeping things from Mika, things he should have disclosed before she agreed to take his case.
With the help of Beech, Mika must determine whether or not Eric is innocent before the court of public opinion finds him guilty and his entire life is ruined.
.ugb-dfaf7de .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-dfaf7de .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-dfaf7de .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-dfaf7de .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:1025px){.ugb-dfaf7de .ugb-img{width:357px;height:auto !important}}Pet Psychic Mysteries
A curse stole one witch’s powers, but gave her the ability to speak with animals. Now Jolene helps a hunky police officer and his sassy, lie-detecting canine solve paranormal mysteries.
The world of shifters and magic folk collide in the electric Darkmoon Night Market, where Jolene Hartgrave, a former lawyer turned pet psychic, lives and works. In books 1-4 of the Night Market series, follow Jolene, Peter and snarky lie sniffing dog Daisy, as they solve mysteries and bring justice to the magical island in these hilarious and enchanting paranormal cozy novels.
.ugb-b3bcb6a .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-b3bcb6a .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-b3bcb6a .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-b3bcb6a .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:1025px){.ugb-b3bcb6a .ugb-img{width:333px;height:auto !important}}Murder Drama with Your Llama
Liquor, lies and llamas in a town called Friendship… what could possibly go wrong?
Out-of-work actress Sophie LaFleur is ready for a scene change.
When she discovers she’s inherited both a house and pub in quaint Friendship Harbor, Maine, she’s thrilled.
This is exactly what she needs— fresh start, fresh air and fresh faces.
What she doesn’t need is a trouble causing llama named Jack Kerouac or a hunky, disinterested pub manager who just so happens to live in her guesthouse.
Just when you think it can’t possibly get worse, it does.
Two words. Dead. Guy.
.ugb-4cadd02 .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-4cadd02 .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-4cadd02 .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-4cadd02 .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:1025px){.ugb-4cadd02 .ugb-img{width:333px;height:auto !important}}Magic and Mystery
Welcome to Moon Grove, where magic and murder are in the air!
When broke, desperate reporter Zoe Clarke takes a job in a tiny town to reboot her life, she discovers her new home is overflowing with magic, supernatural beings — and paranormal mysteries!
This box set includes the first 3 full-length novels in Lily Webb’s spellbinding Magic & Mystery series of paranormal cozy mysteries:
Broomsticks and Burials
Spellbooks and Stakings
Alchemy and Arson
.ugb-8c02763 .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-8c02763 .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-8c02763 .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-8c02763 .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:1025px){.ugb-8c02763 .ugb-img{width:313px;height:auto !important}}Battle of the Hexes
It’s a battle of the hexes when a hunky witch hunter conscripts secret witch, Adeline, to help him solve a murder.
It’s certainly paws for concern.
Can there be a happy ending, or will Adeline’s snarky familiar turn this into a cat-astrophe? Only time will tail in this cat-chy novella from USA Today Bestselling author, Morgana Best.
Fur real!
.ugb-fe00734 .ugb-button{background-color:#BE1E2D;border-radius:24px !important}.ugb-fe00734 .ugb-button .ugb-button--inner,.ugb-fe00734 .ugb-button svg:not(.ugb-custom-icon){color:#ffffff !important}.ugb-fe00734 .ugb-button:before{border-radius:24px !important}@media screen and (min-width:1025px){.ugb-fe00734 .ugb-img{width:317px;height:auto !important}}Susannah Shines Through
An armed robbery, an invisible gun, and two new friends fight to solve the mystery.
In this exclusive prequel to the ChiroCozy Mystery Series, recent graduate, Dr. Susannah Shine, moves to Peach Grove, Georgia. With her best friend, Henry the betta fish, in tow, she soon discovers that Peach Grove is a small town with BIG secrets. Susannah meets gal pal Bitsy Long, and together they stumble upon a mysterious robbery.
Working together to solve the mystery, Susannah and Bitsy must face many obstacles. Will the duo uncover the truth before it’s too late?
September 1, 2020
James Patterson’s The 17th Suspect—The Women’s Murder Club does not disappoint
Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. Check out my blog post..
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.
I am currently reading James Patterson’s The 17th Suspect (book #17 in The Women’s Murder Club series). I have enjoyed a number of the other books in this series, though I couldn’t tell you exactly how many. They are always a good read. Clever, familiar characters with heart, a mystery or trial, several unexpected twists and turns. This one addresses two separate issues, between Lindsay’s investigation and Yuki’s trial. Lindsay’s investigation is into a serial killer of the homeless and the apparent indifference of the cops who have been investigating it.
Yuki’s trial is about the rape of a man by a woman he works for. It addresses a number of the issues/attitudes that I mention in my post on Sexual Abuse of Boys and Men.
I don’t need any money. Thank you, though. What I need is your help, Sergeant. I want to report a murder.
James Patterson & Maxine Paetro, The 17th Suspect
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When a series of shootings exposes San Francisco to a mysterious killer, a reluctant woman decides to put her trust in Sergeant Lindsay Boxer. The confidential informant’s tip leads Lindsay to a disturbing conclusion: something has gone horribly wrong inside the police department.
The hunt for the killer lures Lindsay out of her jurisdiction and impacts her in dangerous ways. She suffers unsettling medical symptoms, and her friends in the Women’s Murder Club warn her against taking the crimes to heart. But with lives at stake, the detective can’t help but follow the case into terrifying terrain.
A decorated officer, loving wife, devoted mother, and loyal friend, Lindsay has always acted with unwavering integrity. But now she is confronting a killer who is determined to undermine it all.
August 31, 2020
World Suicide Prevention Day
September 1 is World Suicide Prevention day.
If you’ve been hanging out here for a while, you know I write a lot about mental health, including depression and suicide. (Keep scrolling down for the contest.)
Reading list: Young Adult Fiction about Depression
Books for Mental Health Awareness Month
I appreciate this quote from Book Lovers Unite:
Two kinds of stigma continue to persist: public stigma and self-stigma. Public stigma occurs when other people view a person with a mental illness in a negative way. Public stigma feeds into self-stigma when people with mental illness internalize the negative talk they hear from others.
Well-meaning people say things like, “Suck it up,” “Choose to be happy,” “Turn that frown upside down,” or “Focus on your blessings,” as if mental illness were a mood, a frame of mind, or an attitude that can simply be overcome at will.
Often, people who suffer from mental illness blame themselves instead of seeking help. Just as a diabetic needs insulin, a person with mental illness may need treatment.
People who contemplate suicide don’t want to die; they just can’t fathom how to live because they are so miserable. They can’t see past their pain and misery, and they see no point in going on.
Resources
Here are videos on suicide and mental health that you may find helpful:
The Bridge Between Suicide and Life
You’re Still Here: Living After Suicide
This Is for All of You in a Dark Place
Suicide Is Preventable
Suicide in Canada
One of my most popular Pinterest pins is this one:
Contest: The Giveaway
From September 1-10, enter for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card and a Book Lovers Unite for World Suicide Prevention Day t-shirt. There are lots of ways to enter below–choose one or all. You can also tweet daily for extra entries. We’ll email the winner by September 11th.
The Tour
Book lovers from all over the world have joined together to share their stories and spread mental health awareness. Please follow this tour guide to find our posts and to enter our giveaway for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card and a Book Lovers Unite for World Suicide Prevention Day 2020 t-shirt:
Triple A Book Blog
Jessica Burkhart, Author
Here Is What I Read Blog
Crossroad Reviews
Jazzy Book Reviews
Book Corner News and Reviews
I Love Books and Stuff Blog
Luv Saving Money
Debbie Manber Kupfer, Author
Ash Ineski, Author
Allie Burton, Author
Book Butterfly in Dreamland
Sara Crawford, Author
Tawdra Kandle, Author
Quinn Loftis, Author
Kat’s Indie Book Blog
Day Leitao, Author
Steph Weston, Author
Lanie Bynum, Author
L.B. Carter, Author
Holly and Mistletoe
Eva Pohler, Author
Other Ways You Can Help
1. On September 10th at 8 p.m. your time, light a candle to remember all those we have lost to suicide and to represent the hope of preventing suicide. People all over the world will be participating. You can send an ecard in 63 different languages to invite others to participate. Find the ecards here.
2. Purchase a Book Lovers Unite for World Suicide Prevention Day 2020 for $20. For every shirt sold, five dollars is donated to the International Association for Suicide Prevention. Order yours here.
3. Spread the word about this giveaway, to encourage more people to read our posts and tweet about overcoming stigma. Use the share buttons at the bottom of this post, and
Click to tweet: #EntertoWin a $50 #giftcard and #Tshirt while fighting #stigma and spreading #mentalhealthawareness for #suicideprevention #WSPD.
August 27, 2020
Back to school – time to hit the books
It is about time to go back to school. Some of you may have started/your kids may have started already. Here, I don’t think any of the schools have opened back up yet, but they will be soon. School may be a very different experience this year. Some of you are suddenly homeschooling or online schooling. Some may be going back to classrooms with different setups to allow for social distancing. And some may be going back to “normal.”
I thought that I would share some of my YA books portraying different school experiences. Most of these books have won literary awards.
Parker
Endless Change
Parker’s school experience is pretty conventional. Public school with his friends, helping his mom out with the younger students.
But things do get derailed when he meets Dakota. There is something wrong with Dakota. It’s not just the hollowness in her eyes or her traumatic past. He can help falling for her. Dakota holds her secrets close, and Parker is worried that if he pushes too hard for answers, she’ll just run away.
AUTHOR DIRECT BUY NOW SAMPLE BOOKBUB GOODREADS
Ruby
Ruby, Between the Cracks
Ruby’s school experience is mostly not being there. She skips or goes there to meet with friends or hook up with boys. She spends a lot of time on the street or with a gang.
If you asked Ruby, she’d tell you she’s happy with her life. She’s tough and independent and doesn’t depend on anyone else. But things aren’t as rosy as she would have everyone believe, and the road ahead of her is filled with challenges.
AUTHOR DIRECT BUY NOW SAMPLE BOOKBUB GOODREADS
Kelli
Making Her Mark
Kelli starts in a school in the hood, and ends up in an exclusive private school where she does not feel like she belongs. It seems like there isn’t any place fo her.
Kelli’s life has never been easy. She’s always faced her problems head on. She’s strong and savvy and in charge of herself. All of that is about to change.
Her life is turned upside down when she discovers the secret that her mother has been hiding from her for years.
AUTHOR DIRECT BUY NOW SAMPLE BOOKBUB GOODREADS
Tamara
Tattooed Teardrops
Like Kelli, Tamara has to go through a big transition. After three years in juvenile detention, she is out on parole and back in public school.
Tamara had thought that when she got out of juvie, things would be easier. But before long, it seems like her life is spiraling into chaos.
AUTHOR DIRECT BUY NOW SAMPLE LISTEN TO SAMPLE BOOKBUB GOODREADS
Nadie
Questing for a Dream
Nadie is Cree and starts out in the school on the reservation in Manitoba. It is a very different experience than most of us have.
Life on a reservation isn’t easy. When tragedy strikes, tradition and ritual provide her little comfort. Grief-stricken, Nadie sets off on a quest to the white man’s land in search of something better.
AUTHOR DIRECT BUY NOW SAMPLE BOOKBUB GOODREADS
Final Note
If you are homeschooling based on classic literature, don’t forget to check out Workman Classic Editions, such as Flatland and the Dave Dashaway series!
August 25, 2020
Excerpt from The Guest List
Did you pick up a copy of Fairy Blade Unmade yet? My latest release is out now, and it is a lot of fun.
Reg Rawlins is back!
Fairy Blade Unmade is book #7 in the Reg Rawlins, Psychic Investigator series. It can be read as a standalone or enjoyed as part of the series. If you like your mystery with a side of magical adventure, be sure to pick it up.
AUTHOR DIRECT BUY NOW SAMPLE BOOKBUB GOODREADS
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.
I am currently reading The Guest List by Lucy Foley. First off, it is praised repeatedly as being reminiscent of Agatha Christie. It is like Agatha Christie insofar as it is a murder mystery with a closed cast of suspects. The characters all have shameful secrets and, I assume later in the book, will turn out to have more connections than the reader is initially told.
But the language and descriptions are much more graphic than Dame Agatha. I would not recommend it to someone who is looking for a Miss Marple or Inspector Poirot. There are a lot of grammatical constructs that are ambiguous, awkward, or confusing. It is told from multiple points of view and timelines, which you’ll never find in an Agatha Christie. I’m two thirds of the way through, and the murder has not yet taken place or been discovered/described.
You don’t get this. This isn’t your moment. You didn’t create it. I created it in spite of you.
― Lucy Foley, The Guest List
[image error]https://www.amazon.com/Guest-List-Novel-Lucy-Foley-ebook/dp/B07WG8L7WC/
The bride – The plus one – The best man – The wedding planner – The bridesmaid – The body
On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed.
But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast.
And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?
