MuseTracks Guest – Kim Cresswell – The Difference Between Mystery and Suspense – Giveaway!
MuseTracks is pleased to host award-winning suspense author Kim Cresswell, and she’s brought us an excerpt of her new book REFLECTIONS. One commenter will be randomly chosen to receive an eBook copy of Kim’s latest book, REFLECTION. Take it away, Kim!
The Difference Between Mystery and Suspense
Although mystery is an element found in almost every genre…what if there weren’t any secrets to uncover or bad guys to catch? Why would you want to turn the pages and continue reading? Romance, romantic suspense, thrillers or many other genres all have some sort of element of mystery.
Mystery novels involve a puzzle–a game of whodunit. A crime usually happens and it’s up to the protagonist to uncover the truth.
In a suspense novel–a threat and imminent danger must be resolved not a puzzle being resolved.
Something is coming. Footsteps. Bad guys. Run! Run! Run!
It’s the ticking bomb concept.
A suspense novel builds then ebbs creating an emotional rollercoaster. The author ensures the ride crashes at the right moment with a big bang.
I love writing and reading romantic suspense, not only does the suspense provide instant tension in a story, I love the push-pull-tug-of-war of romance.
Will the hero and heroine get together? Will they overcome the conflict and live happily ever after?
In my book REFLECTION, my heroine, reporter, Whitney Steel is investigating an alleged human cloning project when she meets up with the hero, FBI Agent, Blake Neely, who is searching for his own answers. Everything from this point on focuses on Blake and Whitney discovering whether or not the villain has produced the world’s first cloned human. Whitney and Blake don’t set out to fall in love. The relationship between the hero and heroine evolves because of the suspense.
So what is the perfect blend of romance and suspense? In my opinion–a kick-ass heroine and a sexy FBI agent, sizzling romance, murder, and lots and lots of mayhem!
Blurb
Florida investigative reporter, Whitney Steel, has lived in the shadow of her legendary father long enough. To prove herself she needs to find the “Big” story.
She found it.
Now it may kill her.
After Whitney receives a lead pointing to the world’s first cloned human, now a small child, she vows to unravel the truth. However, sifting through the facts proves to have dangerous results, including death threats and murder.
When Whitney is nearly killed, but is saved by undercover FBI Special Agent, Blake Neely, he refuses to let her get in the way of his own objective—at least not right away.
Caught in a lethal game between a billionaire obsessed with genetic perfection, his hit man’s thirst for retribution, and a Colombian drug lord fresh out of prison determined to make Blake pay for his twin brother’s death over a decade ago…
Can they save an innocent child before it’s too late?
Faced with tough choices, with deadly consequences for many—Whitney soon realizes that sometimes a story becomes more than just a story.
Excerpt
Whitney rummaged through her leather bag, placed her digital voice recorder on the table and gave the record button a firm push. “For the record, Senator Bailey, did you kill Carmen Lacey?”
“No.” He leaned back in the chair and loosened his pinstriped tie. “It’s true. I was the last person to see her alive. But there’s more to this than you think.”
Brown eyes that once set her heart hammering now conveyed a chilling,hollow look. Was it guilt? Desperation?
No. Fear.
Uneasiness slid down her spine. She stopped the recorder. “Mason, you’re scaring me. What the hell is going on? It’s been over three years since we last spoke. Then, out of the blue, you beg me to meet with you today. I know the police don’t believe you killed that woman.”
“But do you, Whitney? Do you believe I killed her? I need to know. It’s important.”
Stunned by the urgency in his voice, she answered carefully. “Of course not. You’re many things, but you’re not a killer.”
“Thank you. That means a lot to me.” He reached for his empty glass and tapped his chunky gold ring against the side.
Whitney turned the recorder on again.
“Carmen was a scientist working for a biotech company in Nevada. ShawBioGen. Heard of it?”
“Who hasn’t? They were one of the first to clone animals in the eighties. Caused quite a stir. But I don’t understand. What does that have to do with Carmen’s death?”
He opened his mouth to answer.
The large window behind them dividing the patio from the main restaurant exploded…
Where to Buy
MuseItUp Publishing | Amazon | AmazonUK | Bookstrand | Smashwords | CoffeeTime Romance | Omnilit | ARe | ibookstore | Kobo | Barnes & Noble
Available in paperback at Amazon & Createaspace
About
Kim Cresswell resides in Ontario, Canada. Trained as a legal assistant, Kim has been a story-teller all her life but took many detours including; working for a private investigator, running a graphic design business, and teaching computer classes at a local business school. After becoming disabled with Fibromyalgia and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome, Kim returned to her first love, writing.
She has a few works in progress. Lethal Journey, a “short novel” thriller, will be released this summer. The sequel to her award-winning debut romantic suspense, Reflection, is slated for release later this year. Kim is also contributing two true crime stories for the upcoming True Crime Serial Killers Anthology available for purchase in December.
Web Site: www.kimcresswell.ca
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KimCresswellBooks
Twitter: @kimcresswell
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6898395.Kim_Cresswell
Kim would love to hear from you. Comment and you could win an eBook copy of REFLECTION.
