Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: Murder at the Breakers by Alyssa Maxwell

Book Description

As the nineteenth century comes to a close, the illustrious Vanderbilt family dominates Newport, Rhode Island, high society. But when murder darkens a glittering affair at their summer home, reporter Emma Cross learns that sometimes the cream of the crop can curdle one’s blood . . .

Newport, Rhode Island, August 1895: She may be a less well-heeled relation, but as second cousin to millionaire patriarch Cornelius Vanderbilt, twenty-one-year-old Emma Cross is on the guest list for a grand ball at the Breakers, the Vanderbilts’ summer home. She also has a job to do—report on the event for the society page of the Newport Observer.
 
But Emma observes much more than glitz and gaiety when she witnesses a murder. The victim is Cornelius Vanderbilt’s financial secretary, who plunges off a balcony faster than falling stock prices. Emma’s black sheep brother Brady is found in Cornelius’s bedroom passed out next to a bottle of bourbon and stolen plans for a new railroad line. Brady has barely come to before the police have arrested him for the murder. But Emma is sure someone is trying to railroad her brother and resolves to find the real killer at any cost . .

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Elise’s Thoughts

Murder at the Breakers by Alyssa Maxwell is now a Hallmark movie on the Hallmark Mystery Channel. It has just been released last week.  As with most books that have been made into movies there were changes made but the overall arc of the plot was still intact.

In 1895 a society page writer, Emma Vanderbilt Cross, witnesses a murder while attending a ball at a Vanderbilt mansion in Newport Rhode Island. She soon gets drawn into the investigation after her brother is arrested.

Whether watching the movie or reading the book readers will be enthralled with the characters and the riveting plot.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: This was made into a Hallmark movie.  Can you comment.

Alyssa Maxwell: One of the executive producers, James Walsh, toured the Breakers.  He thought of making a historical mystery set in Newport. As he walked through the bookshop, he saw my book.  After reading it he contacted my agent.  It met a need he had been looking for.

EC: Do you agree there were differences between the movie and the book?

AM:  Yes.  Emma’s romantic interest was different. Katie the maid was not in it.  Jack Parsons, a person of interest was not in it. Once the filming rights were sold, typical for most deals like this, the writer is no longer a part of the project. My creative input was writing the book, while the production company can interpret it however, they may see fit. It is a big project of the book to be condensed to a 1.5-hour movie.

I think Nanny was a combination of Nanny and Katie, the maid.  Nanny is not Irish in the book but was in the movie.  In the book she married someone named O’Neal, but she was not Irish herself.

Obviously, Emma was not romantically involved with the Detective Jesse. Maybe they felt bringing the romance in earlier it would be more appealing. They also made Jesse younger.

EC:  Were you happy with the way the characters were portrayed in the movie?

AM:  Yes, if more movies are made the characters will settle into their roles.  I thought that Emma’s personality was captured as being determined, strong-willed.  Derrick captured the teasing quality, and Jesse the steady, concerned detective who respects her insight into the crime. Brady was portrayed as the rash brother.

EC: Are they going to make future movies?

AM:  I do not think that decision has been made yet.

EC:  The idea for the book story?

AM: I am married to someone born and raised in Newport.  I fell in love with this place because it is so atmospheric and historical.  I knew in my mind I would set it here.  Then I decided on the period of the Gilded Age because it is so visible in Newport, especially the mansions. The Breakers Mansion is the biggest and most ornate, owned by the Vanderbilts. I chose that date because the first Breakers burnt down, and this was the night honoring it being re-built.  I put in the murder from my research with the rivalries in the railroad industry.

EC: Why did you choose to write about the Vanderbilts and not someone else?

AM: The Breakers is one of the very biggest mansions.  It is like the crown jewel in the preservation society of Newport’s County treasure chest of houses.  Plus, there is the familiarity that so many people have with the Vanderbilt family, with their connection to the railroad industry.  This was their vacation home that they went to every summer.

EC: How would you describe Emma?

AM: Protective, independent, stubborn, determined, and spirited.  She is focused, grounded, loyal, and head strong. She does belong to different worlds and sometimes that feels like she is being pulled in two different directions. On one side she is an ordinary Newporter and on the other side a distant cousin of the Vanderbilt family.  She leans to the ordinary Newport side which she sees as the ‘real people.’  She is a champion of the ordinary people of Newport.

EC: Do you think her parents deserted her?

AM:  In a way yes. Being in the art world they are oblivious. They went to Paris to pursue their dream. The did know they left Emma with her nanny who is more like a grandmother to her. She also has her stepbrother, Brady.

EC:  How would you describe Brady?

AM:  He is irresponsible, rash, reckless, and loyal.  He means well but is not disciplined.

EC:  How would you describe Derrick?

AM:  Charming, curious, and confident.

EC:  What about the relationship between Derrick and Emma?

AM:  He enjoys teasing her, which flusters her.  She finds him impertinent at times. At times he toys with her emotions because he is attracted to her.  He sees that independent side and does not want to push it down.

EC:  The younger generation in the book appears to do whatever they want.

AM:  The young aristocratic men are cavalier, arrogant, self-absorbed, and do not deal with life’s challenges. Being the sons of millionaires, they are spoiled and feel invincible as well as entitled.

EC:  Next book?

AM:  It will be out in August and is titled Murder in Vinland. There will be a member of the Vanderbilt family, Florence Vanderbilt Twombly involved.  Emma will be the sleuth and will still have the cast of characters surrounding her.

THANK YOU!!

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