#bookdescription – Page 56 – Avonna Loves Genres

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: The Maze by Nelson Demille

Book Description

#1 New York Times bestselling author Nelson DeMille returns with a blistering thriller featuring his most popular series character, former NYPD homicide detective John Corey, called out of retirement to investigate a string of grisly murders much too close to home.

In his dazzling #1 bestseller, Plum Island, Nelson DeMille introduced readers to NYPD Homicide Detective John Corey, who we first meet sitting on the back porch of his uncle’s waterfront estate on Long Island, convalescing from wounds incurred in the line of duty. A visit from the local Chief of Police results in the legendary Detective Corey becoming involved in the investigation of the murders of a married couple who were scientists at the top-secret biological research facility on Plum Island.

Fast forward through six more bestselling John Corey novels and The Maze opens with Corey on the same porch, but now in forced retirement from his last job as a Federal Agent with the Diplomatic Surveillance Group. Corey is restless and looking for action, so when his former lover, Detective Beth Penrose, appears with a job offer, Corey has to once again make some decisions about his career—and about reuniting with Beth Penrose.

Inspired by, and based on the actual and still unsolved Gilgo Beach murders, The Maze takes the reader on a dangerous hunt for an apparent serial killer who has murdered nine—and maybe more—prostitutes and hidden their bodies in the thick undergrowth on a lonely stretch of beach.

As Corey digs deeper into this case, which has made national news, he comes to suspect that the failure of the local police to solve this sensational case may not be a result of their inexperience and incompetence—it may be something else. Something more sinister.

The Maze features John Corey’s politically incorrect humor, matched by his brilliant and unorthodox investigative skills along with the surprising and shocking plot twists that are the trademark of the #1 New York Times bestselling author, Nelson DeMille.

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Elise’s Thoughts

The Maze by Nelson DeMille brings back the wonderful hero John Corey. It’s been too long between DeMille books. But the good news is that this story is typical John Corey with plenty of action and non-political correctness. It also has John hooking up with Detective Beth Penrose both figuratively and literally as a partner. It was a pleasure interviewing Nelson DeMille.

Now once again, Corey is in Long Island, since his forced retirement from his last job as a Federal Agent with the Diplomatic Surveillance Group. Corey is restless and looking for action, so when his former girlfriend, Detective Beth Penrose, appears with a job offer, Corey decides to become a confidential informant for her, by investigating a private investigation firm, Security Solutions. They are suspicious that corruptness at the highest levels has been covering up the murders of nine prostitutes, a reporter, and a former police detective. With Beth’s help John goes undercover to unravel the maze of crimes from corruptness to bribery to murder.

As with all Nelson DeMille books readers get a fantastic murder plot filled with action. But they also get the bonus of great banter between the characters that is not politically correct. When not laughing at John’s jokes readers will be spell-bound with all the twists and turns.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: Did you get any push back on writing John’s humor and statements?

Nelson DeMille: The Maze is my last John Corey book because of the politically correct crowd at the publishing house. There was some pushback on the John Corey character. They wanted me to make changes, which I would not make except for a few. Even though I moved publishers and had another editor who seems to be better with the John Corey character, there was still push back. I am not going to go through this again, a lot of nonsense. In fact, a book club of sixteen ladies, read the book and had no problem with John Corey. They are not easily offended. This is my audience and what they wanted to read.

EC: You always play on words?

ND: You are referring to these examples, Is Amy Lang a “receptionist in distress? Or a deceptionist out to entrap me?” And the other, “E and E meant escape and evasion, not encounter and engage.” The latter is from my Army days. Some guys in training tried to take down the guys who were after them. The former quote is having Amy as a wild card.

EC: Has Beth changed over the years since the first book, Plum Island, came out in 1997?

ND: Yes, Beth has changed. In the first book she was a goody-two-shoes, doing everything by the book. Now she is more like John, breaking and bending some rules. She, like John, wants to get at the truth and wants justice. Beth is pushing the envelope to get that, something she would not have done in Plum Island. She is more ruthless, goes rogue, and has lost faith in the system because the higher-ups are corrupt and somehow involved.

EC: Has John changed since Plum Island?

ND: Ninety percent of what I wrote about him is there. He is still a bullshit artist, a smart aleck, who likes to buck the system and authority. He does really follow rules and regulations. He has good instincts and is a danger junkie. He is not ready to go out to pasture. He seeks to become relevant again. If I ever wrote another John Corey, he would end up working for a private security firm to keep an American diplomat or businessperson in another country safe.

EC: What about the relationship between Beth and John?

ND: Emotionally they are lovers who are realizing they were made for each other. In many of my books, I enjoy superimposing a romance with the action. Maybe in my next life I will be a romance writer. Beth is more comfortable in her own skin in this book, more willing to stand up to John. I had her in a more powerful position than John, a Detective Sergeant, second in command at the Suffolk Homicide Police. The roles have reversed since the first book.

EC: The plot is based on the real Gilgo Beach murders?

ND: About ten bodies were dumped on the beach in Long Island., not far from the Hamptons. This happened eleven years ago. The grisly murders, all sex workers, believed to be the work of a serial killer or killers. It has captivated the public, stumped local police, and frustrated victims’ family members still waiting for an arrest. The Suffolk County Police have not even come up with a person of interest. They are stymied. It is a very active case with the Police Chief refusing to cooperate with the FBI. There have been a couple of documentaries about it. I fictionalized it and made it the Fire Island murders with a lot of the elements of the Gilgo Beach murders. I wanted to show how throughout America there is corruption at the highest level, and illuminate the society that it originated in. What I tried to do in the book is highlight how there is something wrong with the culture and society through the investigation of the murder.

EC: The real-life police chief is somehow involved?

ND: Then-Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke was busted for the 2012 assault of a handcuffed suspect who swiped a bag of sex toys and porn from Burke’s trunk. The sordid incident was covered up by then District Attorney, but the chief eventually went to jail. The murders have not been resolved, and there are questions if the DA and Burke are involved personally.

EC: What about your bad guy, Steve Landowski?

ND: He is a control freak, a liar, cunning, and arrogant. He volunteered to be working for the Vice-Squad while working as a cop. Steve is a rough guy who lives by his wit. He enjoys the power to corrupt the people around him. He sexually harassed women, which shows how he does not think much of women.

EC: The role of the Maze?

ND: It was a figurative way to explain the case with multilayers of interlocking crimes and suspects. I put in this book quote, “a maze of twists and turns…crimes that ranged from simple prostitution to the corruption of public officials and law enforcement people to murder.” I also physically had a maze of hedges for the final scene of a shoot-out. All Corey books have one. It reminded me of the scene in the movie “The Shining.” The maze can be a creepy place. I know because I have been in one.

EC: What about your next books?

ND: The next book, Blood Lines, I am writing with my son. It will be out October of next year. It has the same main characters as the first book, The Deserter. Two members of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) will be back: Scott Brodie, a former infantry soldier in Iraq, now a top CID investigator is teamed with Maggie Taylor a former Civil Affairs E-5 in Afghanistan, who is working for CID. While Brodie is wise-cracking, arrogant, and someone who has trouble following orders, Taylor is a by the books person who tries to rein in Brodie. The plot has the murder of a CID in Berlin. My third book in this contract might be my last book, October 2024, titled The Explorer’s Club. It is a combination of “Indiana Jones,” “James Bond,” and “Around the World In Eighty Days” where the hero is trying to find an American woman possibly kidnapped.

THANK YOU!!

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BIO: Elise Cooper has written book reviews and interviewed best-selling authors since 2009. Her reviews have covered several different genres, including thrillers, mysteries, women’s fiction, romance and cozy mysteries. An avid reader, she engages authors to discuss their works, and to focus on the descriptions of their characters and the plot. While not writing reviews, Elise loves to watch baseball and visit the ocean in Southern California, with her dog and husband.

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: A Cowboy in Amish Country and The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma by Patricia Johns

Book Descriptions and Elise’s Thoughts

A Cowboy in Amish Country is a heartfelt story that explores the Amish and English values. Unlike most Amish books, this story had an Amish woman, Sue Schmidt, deciding to leave the Amish fold. She feels stifled by the culture and even though she is pregnant, to be a single mom, she does not want to give up the life she loves of herding and working on a ranch. Unfortunately for the English rancher, Wilder Westhouse, that has hired her, Sue’s family lives next door. This story is a great read where readers will take the journey with Sue.

The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma has a progressive Amish woman, Naomi Peachy wanting to share her culture with the English. But she needs the help of the bishop to agree and seeks the help of her childhood friend, Mose Klassen, who is now an Amish scholar. He is initially against any connection with the English, afraid that the Amish culture will be influenced. In addition, Naomi has become his speaking tutor to try to help him find a wife and overcome his stutter. Sparks fly between the two and they soon recognize each other’s worth.

Patricia Johns’ knows how to tug at reader’s hearts with her great characters and plotline. Both stories are uplifting, inspirational, and after reading them people will look forward to the next books.

Author Interview

Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for the stories?

Patricia Johns: I’m often asked where I get my ideas from, and honestly, I don’t really know! I walk around with story ideas rattling around in my head all the time. I normally start with a certain kind of story I’d like to write, and it builds from there. Sometimes it starts with a character I want to write about, and other times it’s as simple as wanting to write a marriage or convenience, or a Beauty and Beast sort of story. Whatever tickles my fancy at the time.

But with that said, for both books, the inspiration began with the characters.

For A Cowboy in Amish Country, I wanted to write the story of Sue Schmidt, Wollie Schmit’s scandalous little sister who no one forgot after she ran away. What happened to her? And what about her happily ever after? And that is how the story grew.

For The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma, Naomi Peachy is a character from the last book of another series (Redemption’s Amish Legacies, Love Inspired books), and I pitched the story to my editor who suggested that we use her story to start a new spinoff miniseries. This new miniseries is called Amish Country Matches, and it follows six Amish women who the community matchmaker is determined to find matches for.

EC: Why did you have one of the characters stutter?

PJ: I knew Naomi would need a man who’d match her strength. I decided upon Mose’s stutter because my son has a stutter, although not as debilitating as Mose’s. I see how hard my son works to overcome it, and the different strategies he comes up with for school presentations. So that got me to thinking about how much goes on inside of a man that he never says out loud, and how we women long to hear all of it. A story was born.

EC: How much is true about the Amish-including Ordnung?

PJ: I do a lot of research for my Amish stories. The Ordnung is a real collection of rules for a community. Each community has their own Ordnung, and it changes very slowly. Each Amish community is a little bit different. They might have slightly different clothing requirements, or different expectations when it comes to technology. Some communities have no issues with cell phones. Some don’t even have running water! Each community is unique, which is very useful for an author. I create fictional Amish communities that would be much like many real communities, but are still fictional, so I have some flexibility.

EC: Is it a rare case where someone does not return to the Amish-why did you do it?

PJ: In A Cowboy in Amish Country, my heroine ends up staying outside the Amish way of life and marrying her Englisher cowboy. I hope that doesn’t ruin anything for future readers! But if you know romance novels, then you know that Sue and Wilder would end up together. I decided to have Sue marry Wilder and live a life “on the fence,” so to speak, between two cultures, because I think that is something many of us do! I married a man born in Africa, and our relationship and our life is a unique blend of both cultures. As a lot of us grow up, we find our own paths, and the church, or the way of life our parents raised us doesn’t always fit in our adult years. I wanted to show that struggle for Sue. She was raised Amish and she loves the heritage her family gave her, but it doesn’t fit anymore. She loves riding herd and working with cattle. Her skills just don’t fit into the Amish expectations. But how does she make peace with that? How do you keep a family close when you’ve dashed their hopes for you? That was the complicated knot I wanted to work through in this novel.

EC: How would you describe Sue?

PJ: Sue is true to herself. I think that is the core of her. She knows what she wants, and what she’s good at, and she isn’t willing to lie to anyone, including herself. She was born and raised Amish, that will always be an integral part of her, but she doesn’t fit into the Amish life. Being an Amish wife would crush her spirit. She thinks she might be willing to live in those confines for the sake of her baby, but even then, she can’t pretend she’s anything but the complicated woman she is. I loved her honesty. She’s just so determined to live her life authentically that pretending to be anything she isn’t impossible. She’s pregnant, and she won’t apologize for that! She’s willing to accept her life as it comes and do the best she can.

EC: Could you identify with Sue?

PJ: Personally, I really identified with Sue, since I grew up in a conservative church that no longer fits me in my adult years, either. And yet, I love everything my parents gave me in my upbringing. I hope other readers connect with her, too, and see themselves in her.

EC: Do you think she was caught between two worlds: Amish and English-going home or having her freedoms?

PJ: Yes. Her Amish background offered her an “easy” solution. If she just cooperated and went home, she could be a stay-at-home mom for her little one. No worries about paying rent or figuring out a childcare solution. But that came with all the strings attached, and she doesn’t believe that the Amish way of life is the only way to live anymore. The big issue is that her Amish family won’t accept halfway. Sue has found a way to use her own skills as a ranch hand. It’s in no way shocking for Englishers. But for her Amish family; Pure scandal! If she goes home, she must be Amish, 100%. They believe women should stay in the home, cooking, cleaning, preserving food, sewing, and doing hand crafts, which she refuses. She’ll never be part of the family in the same way, either. Either way, she’s losing something very important to her.

EC: What about her “English life”?

PJ: Her “English” life is what fits her most comfortably. She loves working with cattle and riding herd. She loves using her skills and that feeling of freedom on horseback. She can’t have that in the Amish world—that’s men’s work. But with Englisher freedom comes a lot more complications. She’s going to be a single mother—and there is nothing easy about that! What’s best for her? What’s best for her baby? What’s even possible? She’s stuck.

EC: Why the comparison with Annie Oakley?

PJ: Annie Oakley was an adventurous woman who became a sharpshooter in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West shows in the 1800’s. She didn’t stick with women’s roles of her day, either. She used her skills and created this fabulous life for herself that defied all of society’s expectations. Sue is a lot like her.

EC: What is the theme?

PJ: For me, the theme was balancing your upbringing with your present self. Who did you used to be? Who were you raised to be? And who are you authentically now?

EC: Describe Wilder:

PJ: Wilder inherited the ranch along with his brother Conrad a few years earlier. For Wilder, this is a fresh start. He stopped drinking, and he’s proving to himself and everyone around him that he can be better than he was. But the land they inherited is smack in the middle of Amish country. Wilder is an outsider, but he sees something in the Amish life that really appeals to him. They’re stable, reliable, and steady people. That’s very attractive to a recovering alcoholic. He’s worked hard to be accepted by his neighbors, but if he follows his heart with Sue, they’ll block him out. He’ll have betrayed his Amish neighbors in a personal way, and what can a new rancher do without the help of neighbors? Wilder uses his work as therapy, so when he hires Sue to help him on the ranch, she’s being welcomed into the most personal part of his life. The ranch is everything to Wilder!

EC: Describe the relationship?

PJ: Wilder and Sue have an immediate connection. They’re both lost souls—they’re both trying to figure out who they are. For Wilder, he’s heard stories of Sue for years, and she’s like the stuff of local legend. When he meets her in the flesh, he’s a little bit in love with her already. For Sue, Wilder is strong, handsome, capable, and calm. He’s everything she needs right now, but she knows that she’s a liability for him. They can’t help how they feel about each other, but if they give in to their feelings and stay together, they both lose a lot!

EC: Role of Wollie, Sue’s brother?

PJ: Wollie is complicated character, because he represents everything most conservative in the Amish culture, but he’s also Sue’s brother. She feels no obligation to act in the “feminine” way her brother expects. They grew up together. They looked out for each other. But when Sue left, she left Wollie behind and he felt personally betrayed. And yet, they’re still siblings. They fight, argue, and truly love each other. He will always be passionately Amish. And Sue will always be his little sister, even if she won’t toe the line, he wants her to. Her brother is very protective of her, and in the end, Wollie is the one who helps Wilder to embrace some of the Amish culture and become more a part of their family.

EC: In The Amish Matchmaking Dilemma describe Mose:

PJ: Mose is a cautious man. He grew up with a debilitating stutter, and he found his outlet through writing. But talking? That’s the hard part. It’s held him back romantically. Women couldn’t see what was going on inside of him, and he couldn’t tell them very well, either. But Mose longs for love and marriage, and he decides to get the help of a matchmaker from another community. He thinks that careful planning can make up for lost time.

EC: Describe Naomi:

PJ: Naomi is energetic, free-spirited, happy, impulsive, a chatterbox. She’s fun-loving, and she truly enjoys connecting with people. That’s why she’s passionate about building bridges between the Amish and the Englishers. How can we help others if we keep them at arm’s length, she argues?

EC: Describe the relationship:

PJ: Naomi and Mose were friends as children. Naomi was the fun one, and Mose just cooperated. It was all Noami needed, really, and she dragged Mose along with her on her adventures. Mose was smitten from childhood onward. But he knows that she’s far too progressive for him, and she can talk right over him with no effort at all. He doesn’t think a relationship with Naomi would work, even if he could convince her that he was worth her heart.

EC: Amish versus English?

PJ: In this book, Naomi is eager to welcome Englishers into their midst so that the Amish can share the beauty of their culture and their faith. How can you be a witness to people when you won’t have a real, honest, personal relationship with them? But the Amish only stay unique and different if they keep outside influences away, and that’s the problem. If they keep to themselves, there is safety and uniformity. If they open their doors and tear down the fences, how can they maintain their unique lifestyle? How can they protect their children from outside influences? But we Englishers wish we could get an inside view of their world. We long to belong with them, don’t we? It’s why we read books with Amish characters and delve into the Amish world through fiction.

EC: Next book?

PJ: My next book that’s coming out in March 2023 is called Her Amish Country Valentine. This is the first book in a brand-new miniseries called The Butternut Amish B&B. This miniseries is about an Amish bed-and-breakfast owner and Amish matchmaker named Belinda Wickey who connects with her Englisher guests as they stay with her and get a view into her Amish world. Belinda is unique in that she pulls her guests right into the middle of her life and gives them a truly inside view into her Amish community. The first book has a workaholic marketing whiz who is staying with her Amish great-aunt Belinda for her sister’s Valentine’s Day wedding. When she lies to her sister and says that she has a date to the wedding, the carpenter working on her aunt’s kitchen cabinets volunteers to be her date as long as it isn’t a lie! He needs them to spend some time together before the big day.

THANK YOU!!

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Blog Tour/ Feature Post and Audiobook Review: Trouble on Main Street by Kirsten Fullmer

Hi, everyone!

Today I am sharing my Feature Post and Audiobook Review for TROUBLE ON MAIN STREET (Sugar Mountain Book #1) by Kirsten Fullmer on this Audio Book Empire Audiobook Tour.

Below you will find a book description, my audiobook review, the author’s bio and social media links and the narrator’s bio. Enjoy!

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Book Description

A cozy mountain town, a sweet romance, and a secret society of sneaky women…

The sleepy hamlet of Sugar Mountain harbors a secret society of women. Don’t misunderstand—the society itself is not secret—it’s the true nature of the group that is hush-hush.

Sugar Mountain is the kind of charming village that tourists adore. If you like small-town charm, quirky shops, and local art, this is the place for you. But when a blood smeared package shows up at the post office and it appears to be linked to a scheme that threatens Heidi Collinsworth’s historic home, the town takes on a sinister vibe. Heidi would lay odds that slimy Mayor Winslow is involved, but even with the enquiring skills of The Sugar Mountain Ladies Historical Society at work, proof is scarce.

The new guy in town, Adam Williams, is determined not to get involved in Sugar Mountain’s business. His last job in a big city planning office ruined his life, but Heidi needs his help. No matter how hard he tries to stay detached, Adam finds himself eyeball deep in Heidi’s problems, as well as the needs of her teenage son and a homeless dog.

With conflicting theories abound and tensions running high, it’s up to the ladies of the society to don disguises and go undercover. If they’re not careful, the town may fall to a wrecking ball, Heidi may fall for Adam, and the secret society will be exposed.

Meet the cast of colorful characters in this charming and zany introduction to a whole new series of romantic, cozy mysteries!

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My Audiobook Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

TROUBLE ON MAIN STREET (Sugar Mountain Book #1) by Kirsten Fullmer is an entertaining small town cozy mystery with romance elements. This first book in the series introduces the ladies of the Sugar Mountain Historical Society and features their president, Heidi Collinsworth. This Historical Society is not quite what it seems. I listened to the audiobook.

Heidi Collinsworth is the town’s postmaster, a widow, a single mom, and the current grand master of the Sugar Mountain Historical Society which is also her home. A package with a bloody handprint shows up at the post office and at the same time Heidi learns that the Historical Society is due to be demolished. All the ladies of the society come together to investigate and discover a plan that could not only make Heidi homeless, but also destroy Sugar Mountain’s unique downtown shopping district.

Adam Williams has moved to Sugar Mountain for a complete change in his life. He is intrigued by the postmaster and when she asks for his help, he reluctantly agrees since his old job is just what Heidi needs. For someone who wants to stay to himself, he is completely drawn into Heidi’s problem, spending time with Heidi’s son and adopting a sad homeless dog.

Heidi is hiding a secret that she cannot reveal to Adam even as she begins to fall for him. The entire town may be destroyed, and the society exposed if they are not careful.

I really enjoyed listening to this cozy mystery and its fun cast of ladies in the Historical Society. The idea of the Historical Society and their terrible reenactments being the cover for a group of women who come together to better the town and its inhabitants without interference, since no one really knows what they are doing, is an idea that can lead to many more plots. The characters kept me listening, but the plot that started out interesting and well paced, ended up rushed and was not as satisfying as I believe it could have been. I do enjoy scenic small town locations and Sugar Mountain, NC is set in the high country of the Blue Ridge Mountains and I know that is beautiful country. The narrator was an excellent choice for this story, and I enjoyed listening to her bring life to the characters.

I look forward to listening to more Sugar Mountain series audiobooks.

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About the Author

Kirsten is a writer with a love of art and design. She worked in the engineering field, taught college, and consulted free lance. Due to health problems, she retired in 2012 to travel with her husband. They live and work full time in a 40′ travel trailer with their little dog Bingo. Besides writing romance novels, she enjoys selling art on Etsy and spoiling their four grandchildren.

As a writer, Kirsten’s goal is to create strong female characters who face challenging, painful, and sometimes comical situations. She believes that the best way to deal with struggle is through friendship and women helping women. She knows good stories are based on interesting and relatable characters.

Social Media Links

Website: https://kirstenfullmer.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorKFullmer

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7922460.Kirsten_Fullmer

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About the Narrator – Barbara Henslee

Barbara’s journey into voice acting began by volunteering with Learning Ally, a non-profit organization. After her experience helping to transform the lives of struggling readers, she knew that narrating audiobooks was the perfect path toward her life’s second act after working in the corporate world for many years.

Her mid-tone voice is friendly, warm, smooth, lyrical, clear, and professional. She can also hold her own in suspenseful tones for the scariest of stories. Her natural accent is Texan, and she can adapt to General American, Appalachian or any American southern accent. Her acting coaches are award winning Carol Monda, Joel Froomkin, Johnny Heller and Elise Arsenault.

Genres she enjoys narrating are suspense, horror, mysteries, cozy mysteries, literary fiction, non-fiction, and memoirs. And anything magical ranging from fun and fantastical all the way to dark sorcery.

Website: https://barbarahenslee.com/

Book Tour/Feature Post and Book Review: Hot Ash by Russ Colchamiro

Hi, everyone!

Today I am sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for HOT ASH (The Angela Hardwicke Mysteries Book #3) by Russ Colchamiro on this Black Phoenix Book Tour.

Below you will find a book description, my book review, an about the author section and the author’s social media links. Enjoy!

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Book Description

Intergalactic private Angela Hardwicke is Eternity’s most daring spy for hire…

Following the mysterious and ill-timed death of her elderly husband, Camille Engquist was set to inherit the family’s real estate development company. But her stepkids stole it from her first. Or so she claims.

As Hardwicke and her protégé Eric Whistler dive into the world of affordable housing, synthetic concrete, and corporate succession planning, their investigation put them face-to-face with the haves and have-nots, a new form of cocaine, a boundary-pushing neurobiologist, a majestic domed city and a violent conspiracy that stretches farther and deeper than they ever could have imaged. But the most insidious betrayals are sometimes closer to home.

In Hot Ash, Russ Colchamiro’s most action-packed Sci-Fi mystery yet, Angela Hardwicke must grapple with the worst pain of all—that the people we love are the ones we should fear most.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61416783-hot-ash—an-angela-hardwicke-scifi-mystery?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=qOXnqU9xXW&rank=4

Angela Hardwicke Mysteries Series

Book 1 – Crackle and Fire

Book 2 – Fractured Lives

Book 3 – Hot Ash

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My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

HOT ASH (The Angela Hardwicke Mysteries Book #3) by Russ Colchamiro is a fast-paced mash-up of science fiction/urban fantasy and gritty hard-boiled fiction P.I. mystery with unique worldbuilding and a kick-butt female P.I. protagonist. This is the third book in the series, and it can easily be read as a standalone P.I. mystery, but there is some character change and growth from book one, so I enjoyed reading them in order.

P.I. Angela Hardwicke and her trainee turned protégé, Eric Whistler meet with Camille Engquist regarding her request for their service. They listen to her rage about her treacherous stepchildren and her belief they killed her husband and falsified his recently signed last will and testament kicking her out of their real estate development company without her knowledge. Angela accepts the case because the timing of the husband’s death and the signing of new will seems suspicious.

As Angela and Eric investigate, they are thrown into the darker side of real estate development, building scams, synthetic concrete, inheritance, and drugs. They end up having to go off-world and discover a dangerous and dark conspiracy. Will Angela be able to solve and survive this case?

Angela and this series keep getting better and better. Angela’s character growth has made me like her more and more. At first, she was more of a noir caricature who was like a man in female clothes, but she is becoming a hardcore action P.I. female character who I can cheer for. All the characters are fully fleshed and realistic to this world. The mystery murder and conspiracy plots are intriguing and believable no matter the universe with plenty of exciting twists. The science fiction world in which Angela exists is unique and an interesting worldview twist.

I enjoy Angela Hardwicke and this unique universe, and I am looking forward to reading many more books in this series.

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About the Author

Russ Colchamiro is the author of the sci-fi mystery novels Crackle and Fire and Fractured Lives, featuring his hardboiled intergalactic private eye Angela Hardwicke. He is also the author of the rollicking time travel/space adventure, Crossline, the SFF backpacking comedy series Finders Keepers, Genius de Milo, and Astropalooza, editor of the sci-fi mystery anthology Love, Murder & Mayhem, and co-author of the noir anthology Murder in Montague Falls.

A member of the Mystery Writers Association, Russ is currently publishing the third book in his Angela Hardwicke series, and has written more than a dozen short stories for various anthologies. He is also host of the long-running podcast Russ’s Rockin’ Rollercoaster, interviewing a who’s who of science fiction, crime, and mystery authors. Russ lives in New Jersey with his wife, two ninjas, and his black lab Jinx.

Social Media Links

Website: https://www.russcolchamiro/com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=author%20russ%20colchamiro

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/authorduderuss

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorduderuss

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: Suspect by Scott Turow

Book Description

For as long as Lucia Gomez has been the police chief in the city of Highland Isle, near Kindle County, she has known that any woman in law enforcement must walk a precarious line between authority and camaraderie to gain respect. She has maintained a spotless reputation—until now. Three male police officers have accused her of soliciting sex in exchange for promotions to higher ranks. With few people left who she can trust, Chief Gomez turns to an old friend, Rik Dudek, to act as her attorney in the federal grand jury investigation, insisting to Rik that the accusations against her are part of an ugly smear campaign designed to destroy her career and empower her enemies—both outside the police force and within..

Clarice “Pinky” Granum spent most of her youth experimenting with an impressive array of drugs and failing out of various professions, including the police academy. Pinky knows that in the eyes of most people, she’s nothing but a screwup—but she doesn’t trust most people’s opinions anyway. Moreover, she finally has a respectable-enough job as a licensed P.I. working for Rik on his roster of mostly minor cases, like workman’s comp, DUIs and bar fights. Rik’s shabby office and even shabbier cases are a far cry from the kinds of high-profile criminal matters Pinky became familiar with in the law office of her grandfather, Sandy Stern. But Rik and Pinky feel that Chief Gomez’s case, which has attracted national attention, is their chance to break into the legal big leagues.

Guided by her gut instinct and razor-sharp investigative skills, Pinky dives headfirst into a twisted scandal that will draw her into the deepest recesses of the city’s criminal networks, as well as the human mind. But she will need every scrap of tenacity and courage to unravel the dark secrets those closest to her are determined to keep hidden.

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Elise’s Thoughts

Suspect by best-selling author Scott Turow turns the victim-harasser relationship on its head. This legal thriller exposes the vulnerability of the legal system where someone with an agenda can use it to their advantage.

The story has Lucy Gomez, the police chief of Highland Isle being accused by three male officers of soliciting sex in exchange for promotions. Unfortunately, it seems that any woman in law enforcement must gain respect by walking a fine line between camaraderie and respect. Now accused, she hires Rik Dudek as her defense attorney in the federal grand jury investigation. She insists that the accusations against her are part of an ugly smear campaign to destroy her career and reputation. Working alongside Rik is Clarice “Pinky” Granum, a licensed PI. Both she and Rik must sort through all the lies, secrets, and claims to find what is true and what is not.

This legal thriller has intense courtroom scenes and shows the process of how an investigation is conducted. Although more of a plot driven story than a character driven story readers will turn the pages to find the outcome.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for the story?

Scott Turow: Pinky was a character in the last novel and jumped off the page there. Years ago, when I was a prosecutor, I conducted two police investigations of a police beating. After I left the US Attorney’s office I was hired as a Special Prosecutor to investigate a suburban police department of Chicago where officers were stealing recovered evidence. I have seen how the disciplinary hearings work and used my experience to write scenes.

EC: Why did you make the police chief accused of sexual harassment a female?

ST: I can remember a whippet little thrill when I thought of it. It seemed to me it would turn a lot of things on their head. I thought it was provocative and interesting. The law does not look different when the gender roles are reversed. Pinky says that she does not understand how a female chief can force guys six inches taller than her. The defense attorney and Pinky’s boss replies there would be no question if the sides were reversed. There is still an imbalance of power.

EC: To me, it does not matter the size of someone but their position of power in a company?

ST: She was the Chief who made overtures. It was not right. At no point does anyone tell her it was a good idea. The Chief does not think it was especially wrong. I do not think people would be as quick to accept that if she was a he. There is hypocrisy because she was supposed to think about it. She should not walk away from it. It was wrong. People will see what they are inclined to see. There is no universe on what she did is not a crime.

EC: How would you describe “The Ritz?”

ST: I have never written anyone like him before who is bad to the bone. He is Nietzshe-like. He is such an inscrutable human being. His gratification comes from proving he is the smartest guy in the room. He has feelings for his ex-wife but has no moral compass and enjoys the power over everybody. This is another demonstration of how smart he is. Lucy found a way to exert power over him, which really angers him.

EC: How would you describe the Chief, Lucy?

ST: She thought of herself as one of the guys, on an equal footing. As a female officer she had to put up with all the jokes and had to be thin-skinned. She is smart, defiant, kind, and a liar. I admire her but she is a mixed character. A reformer of a corrupt department who at times plays the system. People in the city of Chicago come into office and then get worn down by the corruption. This is Lucy. Her instincts after twelve years are less defined than they once were.

EC: How would you describe Pinky and will you write a series?

ST: I have no commitment to write another Pinky novel. She is brass, instinctive, never follows the rules, has her own internal sense of right and wrong. She believes that the ends justify the means. Pinky is coming to terms with the fact that she is different than anyone else, including not looking for a partner. The pandemic was a great time for her because she does not like to deal with people. She is successful at her job.

EC: What was the relationship between the Chief and Pinky?

ST: Pinky hero-worshipped her and wanted her approval. She wanted the Chief to be of a certain ideal and she was not. Pinky is shocked that the Chief cares what Pinky thinks of her, but she is very honest with her.

EC: How about Rik?

ST: He is the most uncompromised character of the book. He is a good lawyer and dedicated to his client. He does not sell himself out. He is a good boss. As a younger person he fell on hard times. He is a good guy. He knows that clients have done wrong, do not tell the truth, and are trying to hide it. They undermine their lawyers with their process.

EC: Chapter titles as sentences of first paragraph?

ST: This is the first book in which I did it. If you go through my books readers will not find it. It felt right here, to move the reader from where they were in the last chapter to where they are going in this chapter.

EC: Any movies/TV shows on the horizon?

ST: David Kelley who has optioned the book before this, for TV, sees it as a series. Suspect was also optioned by him. Apple TV Plus is remaking Presumed Innocent, in which David Kelley is involved with J.J. Abrams. This is green lighted and is in production now. They were very faithful to who my characters were. Even though I was the architect of that universe, Kelley had the characters doing things I never expected. The writer is always the last to know. There will be changes. It will be eight episodes and the shooting starts in January. I would guess that it will go on the air in 2023.

EC: How about your next book?

ST: I am working on it. It will be out probably two years from now. I want to get further down the road before I talk about it. This is my own little playground and I do not want to allow anyone else in until it is more fixed.

THANK YOU!!

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Blog Tour/Feature Post and Book Review: Sweetwater & the Witch by Jayne Castle

Hi, everyone!

Today I am sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for SWEETWATER & THE WITCH (A Ghost Hunter/Harmony Novel Book #16) by Jayne Castle on this Berkley blog tour.

Below you will find a book description, my book review, an excerpt from the book, an about the author section and the author’s social media links. Enjoy!

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Book Description

If there’s something Ravenna Chastain knows, it’s when to end things. And after she almost winds up the victim of a cult that believes she’s a witch, it’s easy to walk away from her dead-end career, ready for a new start. But where to find a job that would allow her to use her very specialized skill set? The answer is clear: she becomes a matchmaker.

But even a successful matchmaker can’t find someone for everyone, and Ravenna considers Ethan Sweetwater her first professional failure. After nine failed dates, Ravenna knows it’s time to cut Ethan loose. But Ethan refuses to be fired as a client—he needs one final date to a business function. Since Ravenna needs a date herself to a family event, they agree to a deal: she will be his (business) date if he will be her (fake) date to her grandparents’ anniversary celebration.

What Ethan fails to mention is that attending the business function is a cover for some industrial espionage that he’s doing as a favor to the new Illusion Town Guild boss. Ravenna is happy to help, but their relationship gets even more complicated when things heat up—the chemistry between them is explosive, as explosive as the danger that’s stalking Ravenna. Lucky for her, Ethan isn’t just an engineer—he’s also a Sweetwater, and Sweetwaters are known for hunting down monsters…

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59920521-sweetwater-the-witch?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=RB5pQvWf27&rank=1

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My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

SWEETWATER & THE WITCH (A Ghost Hunters/Harmony Novel Book #16) by Jayne Castle is another fun and exciting trip back to Harmony. This paranormal/romantic suspense matches the infamous Sweetwater with a matchmaking fire witch just trying to make a living in Illusion and the dust bunny who adopts her. This book is easily read as a standalone, but characters from previous books do appear and with the overall family and character arcs, I just prefer to read them in order.

Ravenna Chastain is a criminal profiler who volunteers to be the bait for a trap to take down a cult, but she almost ends up in a waking coma when her backup is late to arrive, but a dust bunny appears instead to help. Ravenna is ready for a change and uses her skills to work for the premiere matchmaking company in Illusion. She is excited to be given the chance to match a Sweetwater even though his past may make it difficult.

Ethan Sweetwater has gone on nine terrible dates, and he is demanding Ravenna be his final contracted date. Ravenna takes him up on his demand and then adds her own request for him to accompany her as a “fake” date to a family function. Ethan has gotten what he wants and more than he is willing to admit, but their dates never seem to go smoothly. Ravenna has dates from her past trying to kill her and Ethan’s investigations have assassins coming after them both.

I always enjoy returning to Jayne Castle’s world. The worldbuilding has been interesting from the start with the variety of para talents, the alien Underworld, the generations of families and the dust bunnies. The romance and suspense are equally represented. The banter between Ravenna and Ethan is entertaining as each attempt to keep their heart safe as they increasingly care for each other, even though it is clear Ethan purposefully picked Ravenna. The sex scene was steamy, but it was not gratuitous.

I always love the chance to return to Harmony for a romantic suspense that always satisfies. And the dust bunnies.

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Excerpt

“You can’t dump me,” Ethan Sweetwater said. “I’ve got a contract with this matchmaking agency. You owe me one more date.”

“To be clear,” Ravenna said, “I am not dumping you. I am trying to explain that I cannot help you.”

“I don’t believe it. When my nephew Jeff recommended you, he said you have the eye.”

“Your nephew met me one time, and that was several months ago, when I was doing criminal profiling, not matchmaking. This work is quite different.”

Actually, it was not all that different, she reflected. It turned out that criminal profiling had a lot in common with matchmaking. The emotional drivers were key.

“Maybe you’re not trying hard enough,” Ethan suggested. That was nothing less than an insult.

“I am a professional, Mr. Sweetwater,” She said coldly. “ I assure you I have given your case my closest attention. In fact, all four of us here at Ottoway, including Ms. Ottoway herself, have gone through the files several times trying to find good matches for you.”

She did not add that there were only two reason Ethan Sweetwater—aka the client from green hell—was still on the books. The primary one was the contract. It stipulated that he was to receive a minimum of ten matches. The second reason, of course, was that Bernice Ottoway, the proprietor of Ottoway Matchmakers, was desperate not to lose such a high-profile client. The Sweetwater name carried a lot of weight, not just in Illusion Town but throughout the four city-states. A successful match for a member of the notoriously private clan that controlled a huge chunk of the amber market would give Ottoway a major promotional hit. It also would do a lot for her career, Ravenna thought. Sadly, a successful outcome did not appear to be in the cards.

“We will be happy to refund your money and refer you to another agency,” Ravenna said. Mentally she crossed her fingers. Bernice Ottoway never returned a client’s money if she could help it, but surely she would understand that Ethan Sweetwater was a hopeless case.

“I don’t want to waste my time starting from scratch at another agency,” Ethan said. “I was assured that here at Ottoway the process would be efficient and professional.”

“It would have helped if you had been more forthcoming on the Ottoway questionnaire,” Ravenna said.

“Don’t try to blame this on me, Ms. Chastain.” I’m the client, remember? The customer is always right.”

He was standing in front of her desk. He reached down somewhat absently to scratch Harriet behind her ears. The dust bunny was in the process of rearranging the pens in the tray. She paused to chortle appreciatively. Ravenna stifled a groan. She and the entire staff at Ottoway might have a problem with Ethan, but Harriet’s relationship with him was just fine. Uncomplicated, she thought. Unlike me.

“I must tell you that, according to the after-action reports I received from the nine dates I arranged for you, your dating technique leaves something to be desired,” she said.

“There you go, blaming the client again. If I’ve got a technique problem, you should help me fix it.”

“Ethan adjusted his black-framed glasses, turned away from the desk, and crossed the office. He took a stance at the window overlooking the quiet residential street.

She liked watching him move, Ravenna thought. He reminded her of a specter-cat, all prowling grace and elegant strength. He had the eyes to match. They were a dark amber gold and infused with the cold heat of controlled power—the eyes of an apex predator. The amber stone in his gold signet ring was the same color.

Eyes like Ethan’s probably made some people nervous, she thought. Maybe that was the reason he chose to wear glasses. Or maybe he thought they went with the rest of his persona.

Excerpted from Sweetwater and the Witch by Jayne Castle Copyright © 2022 by Jayne Castle. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

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About the Author

Jayne Castle, the author of Guild Boss, Illusion Town, Siren’s Call, The Hot Zone, Deception Cove, The Lost Night, Canyons of Night, Midnight Crystal, Obsidian Prey, Dark Light, Silver Master, Ghost Hunter, After Glow, and After Dark, is a pseudonym for Jayne Ann Krentz, the author of more than fifty New York Times bestsellers. She writes contemporary romantic suspense novels under the Krentz name, as well as historical novels under the pseudonym Amanda Quick.

Social Media Links

Website: https://www.jayneannkrentz.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JayneAnnKrentz

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JayneAnnKrentz