Posted in excerpt, Political thriller, suspense on April 8, 2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

Freelance correspondent, Mike Walker, has made it his mission to condemn ethnic cleansing in Palestine and the West’s complicity in senseless wars of attrition in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and elsewhere in the world.

Wars in which Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs) provide assistance – legitimized, packaged, and presented by PR consultancy companies as “risk management” and “security solutions” – to governments and corporate interests operating in high-risk, complex environments for the purpose of extracting national resources.

In short, he’s playing with fire and he knows it. But he won’t be intimidated.

He won’t stop reporting the true facts that these “security solutions” which cost billions of dollars every year result in gung-ho mercenaries committing heinous crimes and premeditated femicide. Or the corruption, cruelty, and crimes against humanity which happen everywhere on a daily basis.

When a British PMSC begins paying him close attention, however, and MI5 get involved, has he finally gone one report too far?

Will he and his girlfriend escape the intrusive surveillance?

Or will he be silenced forever?

Find out in this fast-paced, exciting, gripping page-turner of a political thriller.

 

 

 

Read for Free on Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Excerpt

 

1

 

Wednesday 30, August

 

Kutupalong Refugee Camp

Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

 

 

“The devastating cruelty to which these Rohingya children have been subjected is unbearable — what kind of hatred could make a man stab a baby crying out for his mother’s milk. And for the mother to witness this murder while she is being gang-raped by the very security forces who should be protecting her.”

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

 

The usual power and athletic vibrancy of the body had slumped into a despondent stoop; the dark brown hair was tousled and damp; the appealing features with prominent cheekbones and well-defined chin were obscured by days of unshaven stubble; and the usual empathetic honesty that glowed in the eyes had faded into a gloom blurred by another humanitarian crisis. Despite being easy-going by nature, Mike Walker had never managed to contain his feelings of incomprehensible outrage whenever confronted by humanity’s emotional detachment from the barbarity being perpetrated daily against millions of innocent people.

Emotional detachment from the plight of others — easily achieved by simply looking the other way — always favoured the perpetrators rather than the victims who were reduced to being inconsequential nonentities; were persecuted and denied legal and human rights; were starving, sick, and dying; were victims of Apartheid policies with racial segregations inclusive of political and economic discrimination; were harassed, internally displaced, or forcibly deported; were imprisoned, tortured, or simply “disappeared”; were enslaved, exploited, or trafficked; and were ultimately the victims of mindless massacres that defied the comprehension of anyone even remotely humane.

As a freelance war correspondent covering conflicts for over a decade, Walker was no stranger to humanity’s capacity for ethno-religious hatred and brutality as had once again become evident. The Katupalong camp — just another of the more the 140 camps around the world currently harbouring a record number of over 65,000,000 refugees stripped of their past and without any hope for the future — started out as a refuge in 1991 following the influx of thousands of Rohingya Muslims fleeing from neighbouring Myanmar (formerly Burma) where military forces had launched a campaign dubbed “Operation Clean up and Beautiful Nation.” That still ongoing task of “cleaning up and beautifying” Myanmar by ridding it of Rohingya “pests,” had intensified to the extent of becoming a full scale genocide that prompted Walker’s visit to the region.

According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), more than 723,000 Rohingya Muslim men, women, and children had so far fled to Bangladesh with estimates of at least 18,000 women and girls raped, 116,000 beaten, and 36,000 thrown into fires. Those who suffered most were the women and girls who bore the mental scars of shocking sexual violence, pregnancy as a result of rape, and the duress of a forced hazardous journey.

Equally appalling for Walker was the high number of unaccompanied children who had either lost their parents or were in some cases brought over by extended family or friends. Walker’s outrage was still simmering as he and his companion set off on the drive back to Myanmar. He had no illusions about the horrendous crimes yet to be encountered; the regular reminders — that irrespective of any optimistic declarations about mankind owing “the child the best it has to give” — mankind had so far failed miserably to do so; and that further unforeseen hazards ahead would have to be overcome.

There was also the ever-present threat from Myanmar’s intelligence services whose fanatical dedication to preserving the Union had combined with the military leadership’s intention to impose a ruthless stranglehold on the population. In pursuit of its main objectives for stability, unity and sovereignty, Myanmar’s government relied on mass surveillance, arbitrary detentions, and indiscriminate torture: three possibilities constantly faced by journalists.

 

 

Arabian Peninsula coastal fog desert

North of Al Hudaydah on Yemen’s Red Sea Coast

 

Despite the shortage of rainfall during the summer months from June to September when temperatures reached 40ºC, there was still sufficient moisture coming from the thick Red Sea fogs to sustain the native flora and fauna that had so far managed to survive the lack of wildlife conservation and environmental protection. Further inland, however, most of the Arabian Peninsula consisted of desert where this morning Arabian darkling beetles were busy burrowing into the sand for some respite from the heat of the blazing sun; overhead, sharp-eyed lappet-faced vultures soared effortlessly on rising columns of warm air in search of scarce sustenance; and the low-pitched squeaking sound of singing sand dunes was being marred by the lamentable whimpering of a dusky, unshaven, and perspiring Colombian mercenary in sweat soaked battle fatigues.

He had been taken by surprise, disarmed, and with a Glock 9mm automatic pointing at his head, forced to kneel in the sand by Stuart Maclean, a wiry, red-haired Scotsman. On realising that begging for his life would be to no avail, the Colombian desperately sought divine intervention with a shaking hand on heart and pleading squint towards the blinding blueness of the sunlit sky. The gods, however, were not in a forgiving mood. They granted the weatherbeaten wretch only enough time for a hurried prayer and one final loving thought of his wife and two children before presiding over his swift deliverance from this life to the next. The full metal jacket bullet fired from Maclean’s automatic shattered the desert’s tranquility and blew the back of  his head away.                                    “Bas no Beatha,” Maclean proclaimed with heartfelt jubilation in Scots Gaelic. He paused momentarily to contemplate the spattered blood and brain tissue that was already starting to sizzle and shrivel on the burning hot sand. He figured the corpse would not be around for long. Vigilant vultures would soon spot it and with ravenous haste clean it to the bone. Maclean’s nonchalant lack of compassion was the consequence of many years exposure to death and destruction. Apart from believing that his actions were always justified in the struggle between good and evil, Maclean in all his time as a soldier and mercenary had never paused to wonder why it was that those entrusted with protecting human life, were also the ones most responsible for ending it.

He wiped the beads of sweat that were rolling down his face with a shirt sleeve and holstered the automatic. Bending down to reach into the dead Latino’s rear pocket, he removed a wad of $100 bills which he pocketed before ambling back to the open top desert patrol vehicle. The hour plus journey back across the border to Jizan in the south-west corner of Saudi Arabia would be the first stage of his return to the UK where he was urgently needed to prevent any further revelatory and negative reports about Myanmar by an English war correspondent. The options for doing so included blackmail, intimidation, or if necessary, some more drastic course of action.

Maclean was already familiar with the persuasiveness of blackmail: a word derived from the Scots “mail” which in Scots English used to mean “tax” or “rent.” In ancient times, farmers living along Scotland’s border were in constant danger of being robbed by criminal gangs. As they lacked the means to defend themselves, the poor peasant farmers made payments in exchange for immunity from attack and plunder. Such extortion became known as “blackmail,” meaning “black tax” or “black rent.” While Maclean appreciated the potential of blackmail as an effective weapon for coercion, past experience and an unforgiving gut instinct had taught him that the only sure-fire way to get rid of troublesome people was to snuff them out completely.

 

Excerpt with Permission from William Hanna

 

About the Author

 

William Hanna is an accomplished writer based in London. He has published a wide range of articles and books on democracy and human rights. His first book, Hiramic Brotherhood: Ezekiel’s Temple Philosophy was published in August 2017 and has since been translated into multiple languages. Further articles, reviews and videos from the author are available on his website.

 

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Posted in excerpt, Historical, mystery, paranormal, suspense, Texas on April 4, 2020

 

 

Destiny’s Way

 

A Novel of the Big Bend

 

by

Ben H. English

 

Historical Fiction / Suspense

Publisher: Creative Texts Publishers

Date of Publication: January 18, 2020

Number of Pages: 363

 

 

 

 

Kate Blanchard woke up one morning in a dream home she could no longer afford, with a young son who needed a man’s influence, and not a friend among those who had claimed to be prior to her husband’s mysterious disappearance.

About all she had left was a ramshackle ranch along Terlingua Creek, sitting forlornly in the desolate reaches of the lower Big Bend. It was the only place left she could go. There she finds a home and a presence of something strange yet comforting that she can’t put her finger on or fully understand.

With that ethereal presence comes Solomon Zacatecas, a loner with his own past and a knowledge of her land near uncanny in nature. He helps her when no one else can and is honest when no one else will be, but she suspicions that he is not always completely so.

Yet her quiet, unassuming neighbor proves to be more than capable in whatever situation arises. That includes when standing alone against those who would take everything else that Kate had, including her life as well as her son’s.

 

Praise

 

“This is one of those rare books that you simply can’t put down. Ben English ‘s writing style is pure magic. He really brings this historical fiction book to life. Immediately, you are drawn to the main characters Kate and Solomon and feel as though you are right there next to them, experiencing what they are experiencing. Destiny’s Way is one that would do well on the Silver Screen.”  — Catherine Eaves, published author

“Ben does a superb job with this book! Excellent characters, true-to-life environment that is part and parcel of the story, twists and turns enough to make you wonder what is going on, and a slice of life down in Big Bend that rings true. That area has historically been full of ‘characters’ throughout its history, and Ben brings those characters into the book, raising the hair on the back of your neck. Highly recommended!”  — J. L. Curtis, author of the Grey Man series

“Ben, I love how your words and your memories reach out and connect the past with the present and touch so many people along the way. You are the connector! Bravo Zulu, my friend.”  — Matt Walter, Museum of the Big Bend Curator

 

 

┃ Amazon  ┃  Barnes & Noble  ┃

 

┃ Books-A-Million  ┃  IndieBound  ┃ Bookshop ┃

 

FOR AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY:

┃ Front Street Books ┃

 

 

 

 

Excerpt from Chapter 6 of Destiny’s Way

 

 

Gideon lived to a ripe old age, beating all odds of survival. Was he haunted by the demons of the dead for what he had done? No one knows, because no one dared ask. But in that time he went from being a man of some local repute to a living legend named after a ferocious predator. Some say his spirit still roams the Big Bend and when those of evil intent feel a sudden unexplained chill, it is the ghost of El Tigre warning them that he is still out there, some place.”

Zacatecas fell silent and Jamie stared at him with large, saucer-sized eyes, fixated on what had been said. Kate Blanchard might never have admitted it, but she herself had been swept up and away by this grim tale of vengeance. It was not only the story itself, but also how the saga was told by this quiet man sitting at her kitchen table. It was as if he himself had been there when it had all occurred.

“Time to get ready for bed, Jamie.” Kate nearly startled herself as she spoke, it had been so quiet in the interlude after Solomon finished.

“Yes, Mommy.” The small boy slid out of his chair and started from the room. But in the doorway he stopped and turned around, a question in his eyes.

“Solomon” he asked, “do you believe the ghost of El Tigre still wanders the Big Bend?”

“Yes, I do Jamie,” Zacatecas replied. “Sometimes when by myself, I get a strange feeling and look up, half expecting to see him horseback high on some ridge, watching.”

“Aren’t you ever scared?”

“No. I know in my heart that Gideon would never harm me. Nor would he ever do anything to you or your mother. Only bad people need to fear The Tiger.”

Jamie thought about Solomon’s last remark for a moment, then grinned and ran quickly up the stairs.

“That was quite a story, Mr. Zacatecas” Kate said, looking carefully at her dinner guest. “I have never heard of ‘El Tigre’ until now. But are you certain there was not just the tiniest bit of embellishment involved?”

“The story of Gideon Templar needs no embellishment, Mrs. Blanchard,” Solomon replied. “Everything I related was factual, and in truth only a small part of what happened in his life.”

“Even the part about his spirit still wandering the Big Bend?” she asked.

“The Mexicans across the river still sing their canciones de frontera norte about him, Mrs. Blanchard. They admonish their children to be good, or El Tigre will come and get them in the night. He was the last of the truly hard men, ma’am.”

Later, much later that evening, Kate was awakened from her sleep with a fitful start. Though the bedroom had been relatively cool, her nightclothes were dampened with her own sweat. Lying there, it took some time to come back to the here and now from where here unconscious mind had been. As cognizance and reality returned, Kate realized she had been dreaming; one of those disjointed, confusing dreams that nevertheless seems so real.

In it, she was at the original house doing some daily chores, as if preparing for company. There was nothing particularly disturbing or unusual about that in itself, she had done much the same when living there or just tidying the old place up.

But this time there was something different, something disturbing that became more evident as the dream continued on. In the artistry of her mind, the setting seemed to have shifted back to many years ago. The surrounding furnishings dated themselves as did the clothing she wore. Kate recalled glancing out the front window and having the sensation that something was missing from the scene. Then she realized what it was.

In her dream she rushed to the window, moving the curtains aside and looked out. The new house was not there, just a rock and cactus studded open flat. Off to the southeast, about a quarter of a mile away, sat a grouping of rock pens with walls some six feet high.

There was something else too; or rather, someone. It was a lone rider on a buckskin horse moving slowly toward her. He was dressed in the manner of a man from the early Twentieth Century, carrying a long-barreled lever action rifle in his right hand, muzzle high with the stock nestled between the saddle pommel and his leg. Kate could not see the rider’s face, his large brimmed felt hat was pulled down low, shadowing his features.

The man’s manner appeared alert and yet casual in nature, as if he was riding into a place he had come to many times before. He also seemed to know that she was watching him, in fact it was as if he was expecting her to be at that particular window.

And though Kate Blanchard had never seen the rider before, she knew exactly who he was…

 

 

 

Ben H. English is an eighth-generation Texan who grew up in the Big Bend. At seventeen he joined the Marines, ultimately becoming a chief scout-sniper as well as a platoon sergeant. Later he worked counterintelligence and traveled to over thirty countries.

At Angelo State University he graduated Magna Cum Laude along with other honors. Afterwards Ben had a career in the Texas Highway Patrol, holding several instructor billets involving firearms, driving, and defensive tactics.

His intimate knowledge of what he writes about lends credence and authenticity to his work. Ben knows how it feels to get hit and hit back, or being thirsty, cold, wet, hungry, alone, or exhausted beyond imagination. Finally, he knows of not only being the hunter but also the hunted.

Ben and his wife have two sons who both graduated from Annapolis. He still likes nothing better than grabbing a pack and some canteens and heading out to where few others venture.

 

Website ║ Facebook ║

 

 

Check out the other blogs on this tour

 

4/2/20 Guest Post Max Knight
4/2/20 BONUS Post Hall Ways Blog
4/3/20 Review The Clueless Gent
4/4/20 Excerpt StoreyBook Reviews
4/5/20 Top 15 List All the Ups and Downs
4/6/20 Review Reading by Moonlight
4/7/20 Playlist Rebecca R. Cahill, Author
4/8/20 Review Missus Gonzo
4/9/20 Author Interview That’s What She’s Reading
4/10/20 Review Book Fidelity
4/11/20 Review Forgotten Winds

 

 

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Posted in 4 paws, Giveaway, Review, suspense, Thriller on March 30, 2020

 

 

The Missing Sister
Thriller
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (April 1, 2020)
Paperback: 299 pages

Synopsis

 

In Paris, her twin sister has vanished, leaving behind three chilling words: Trust no one.

Shayna Darby is finally coming to terms with her parents’ deaths when she’s delivered another blow. The body of her estranged twin sister, Angela—the possible victim of a serial killer—has been pulled from the Seine. Putting what’s left of her life on hold, Shayna heads to Paris. But while cleaning out Angela’s apartment, Shayna makes a startling discovery: a coded message meant for her alone…

Alive. Trust no one.

Taking the warning to heart, Shayna maintains the lie. She makes a positive ID on the remains and works to find out where—and why—her missing sister is hiding. Shayna retraces her sister’s footsteps, and they lead her down into Paris’s underbelly.

As she gets closer to the truth—and to the killer—Shayna’s own life may now be in the balance…

 

 

Amazon – B&N – IndieBound

 

 

Review

This book is great for those that appreciate a good suspense/thriller novel.

Shayna receives a call that her twin is missing and might be dead, so she ventures to Paris to discover that maybe not all is as it seems.  Especially when she finds a note written to her in their childhood secret language.  It says to “trust no one” and that shakes Shayna to her core.

There are various characters in this book that seem suspicious, can she trust any of them?  Do these characters have ulterior motives that they believe Shayna can assist in finding answers?

This book is fast paced since it takes place over a week.  Shayna delays her trip home to try and find the answers to the serial killer roaming the streets of Paris and to find her sister.  Shayna has to be intelligent to get into med school, but some of her actions had me questioning that intelligence.   While she knows not to trust anyone, she doesn’t make wise decisions with her actions.  I also wonder about her sister, Angela, especially as the book is coming to the conclusion and we learn things about where she has been over the last few weeks.  I don’t want to give any spoilers but it seems like Angela could have done more to save herself.

I enjoyed learning some of the history of Paris and the catacombs and brothels that played a part in Angela’s studies and the search for her.  The fact that you can do a tour and there are bones in the catacombs is eery to me.  I may have been like Shayna and not really wanted to see that part of Paris.

At various places in the book, Shayna seems to be rambling.  Maybe she is tired and hasn’t had enough sleep, or perhaps it was filler for the story.  I do think that this time gives both sisters a chance to work out issues from when their parents died and perhaps grow closer again.

I really enjoyed Madame Chang’s character.  She is an intriguing woman and has done so much in her life and merits her own book.

The book does seem to leave questions unanswered and I wonder if there will be a followup book that answers those questions.  I don’t think there will be because I can’t imagine what the next story would include unless it picks up from Madame Chang’s perspective and her story.

Overall we enjoyed this book and give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Originally from Sacramento, Elle Marr explored the urban wilderness of Southern California before spending three wine-and-cheese-filled years in France. There she earned a master’s degree from the Sorbonne University in Paris. Now she lives and writes outside Portland, Oregon, with her husband and one very demanding feline. When she’s not busy writing her next novel, she’s most likely thinking about it.

 

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Giveaway

 

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Posted in Christian, Giveaway, Interview, suspense, Thriller on March 9, 2020

 

Chasing The White Lion

 

(Talia Inger, Book Two)

by

 

James R. Hannibal

 

 

Genre: Contemporary Christian / Thriller / Suspense

Publisher: Revell

Date of Publication: March 3, 2020

Number of Pages: 384

 

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

Young CIA officer Talia Inger has reconciled with the man who assassinated her father, but that doesn’t mean she wants him hovering over her every move and unearthing the painful past she’s trying to put behind her. Still, she’ll need him–and the help of his star grifter, Valkyrie–if she hopes to infiltrate the Jungle, the first ever crowdsourced crime syndicate, to rescue a group of kidnapped refugee children.

But as Talia and her elite team of thieves con their way into the heart of the Jungle, inching ever closer to syndicate boss the White Lion, she’ll run right up against the ragged edge of her family’s dark past. In this game of cat and mouse, it’s win . . . or die. And in times like that, it’s always good to have someone watching your back.

Former tactical deception officer and stealth pilot James Hannibal takes you deep undercover into the criminal underworld where everyone has an angle, and no one escapes unscathed.

 

 

WANT TO BE A REAL HERO?

Want to be a real hero? Compassion International, a real organization fighting child poverty, stars in Chasing the White Lion. By giving hope and a sense of identity to these kids, they’re helping families slam the door on human traffickers. A portion of every book sold will go to support Compassion’s work. You can join the fight simply by buying a copy of Chasing the White Lion.

 

 

Baker Book House ◆ Amazon ◆ Barnes & Noble

Christianbook.com ◆ Kobo ◆ Books-A-Million

Additional Retailers

 

 

 

Today we welcome author James R. Hannibal to StoreyBook Reviews and share some insights into the book and even the man himself.  So sit back and learn a few things.

 

Why did you choose to write in your particular sub-genre?

 

My background in covert operations and stealth technology left me little choice. Spinning tall tales in the spy world is a sort of catharsis for a guy who can’t even tell his wife about the juiciest parts of his military career. Constantly using my imagination helps me keep all the classified data buried deep in my conscious mind. And, according to the military, I’ve proven I can keep that data buried, so I no longer have to get their approval before publishing.

 

Are there under-represented groups or ideas featured in your book?

 

With Chasing the White Lion I hope to bring attention to the suffering of Burmese refugees in the camps on the Thai/Myanmar border. Many of these families are Christians, chased from their homes by government supported militias. The children in these camps have no official identity, since they are not recognized by Myanmar and Thailand won’t register them. Having no paper or digital identity makes them prime targets for human trafficking—thus the kidnapping that really sets the story in motion. I also want to highlight one group that is fighting for these kids, and fighting hard. Compassion International is battling child poverty around the world, and they are the stars of Chasing the White Lion. In the real refugee camps, Compassion International brings hope, whole-child care, and learning, and pushes back against human traffickers by giving kids a sense of self-worth and a legal identity. Readers can help in this fight by joining Compassion or simply buying a book. A portion of all my author proceeds goes to Compassion International.

 

What made you decide to write a sequel? Any unexpected hurdles in doing this?

 

This sequel came to me in a dream on a cold night in Bavaria while I was researching another project. From that moment on, I had to write it. But the deeper I dove into the characters and plot, the more I realized that this story had a special mission. I needed to partner with Compassion International to highlight the work they are doing to end child poverty and combat human trafficking. Giving a charitable organization like Compassion a starring role in a spy/thief thriller is no easy task. We took this effort down to the wire in getting final approval—cutting it so close that we were ready with a letter-for-letter replacement name on the Friday before the final typeset went to print. But the approval came through, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to use an action tale to spread the word about Compassion’s work.

 

How important are the names to you in your books? How do you choose the names?

 

In Chasing the White Lion, one name is super important to me. Most of the scenes with the kidnappers are shown through the eyes of one child, Thet Ye. His name means Brave Life, and I hope that by spending some time in Thet Ye’s shoes, readers will gain a better understanding of these refugee children, their inherent dignity, and their will to survive.

 

If you were an animal in a zoo, what would you be? In four words or less, tell us why.

 

Giraffe. My wife loves giraffes.

 

Do you have any strange writing habits or writing rituals you’d like to share with your readers?

 

I am ashamed to admit that I like to sit at my desk, write, and eat gummy worms. Red worms. Green worms. Red and yellow worms. Sadly, the order of things is often reversed, and instead of writing and eating gummy worms, I find myself eating gummy worms and writing. This eventually devolves into just eating gummy worms with no writing getting accomplished until all the gummy worms are gone.

 

 

 

 

Former stealth pilot James R. Hannibal is a two-time Silver Falchion Award winner for his Section 13 mysteries for kids and a Thriller Award nominee for his Nick Baron covert ops series for adults. James is a rare multi-sense synesthete, meaning all of his senses intersect. He sees and feels sounds and smells and hears flashes of light. He lives in Houston, Texas.

 

 

Website ⬥ Facebook

Twitter ⬥ Instagram ⬥ Bookbub

Goodreads ⬥ Amazon Author Page

 

 

 

————————————-

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

GRAND PRIZE: Copy of Both Books in the Talia Inger Series

+ Bookstore Candle + $10 Starbucks Gift Card; 

SECOND PRIZE: Copy of Both Books in the Talia Inger Series

+ $20 Barnes and Noble Gift Card;

THIRD PRIZE: Copy of Both Books in the Talia Inger Series  + $10 Starbucks Gift Card

March 3-13, 2020

(U.S. Only)

 

 

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Check out the other blogs on this tour

 

3/3/20 Top Five List Forgotten Winds
3/3/20 Review Chapter Break Book Blog
3/4/20 Author Video Kelly Well Read
3/5/20 Review Reading by Moonlight
3/6/20 Review The Clueless Gent
3/6/20 Excerpt Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
3/7/20 Character Interview Max Knight
3/8/20 Excerpt All the Ups and Downs
3/9/20 Review Missus Gonzo
3/9/20 Author Interview StoreyBook Reviews
3/10/20 Review Momma on the Rocks
3/11/20 Review Book Fidelity
3/11/20 Excerpt That’s What She’s Reading
3/12/20 Review Hall Ways Blog
3/12/20 Notable Quotable Sybrina’s Book Blog

 

 

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Posted in Book Release, suspense, Thriller on March 5, 2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

A couple’s fifteen-year marriage has finally gotten too interesting…

Our love story is simple. I met a gorgeous woman. We fell in love. We had kids. We moved to the suburbs. We told each other our biggest dreams, and our darkest secrets. And then we got bored.

We look like a normal couple. We’re your neighbors, the parents of your kid’s friend, the acquaintances you keep meaning to get dinner with.

We all have secrets to keeping a marriage alive.

Ours just happens to be getting away with murder.

 

 

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * BAM * IndieBound

 

Hudson Books * Apple * Google

 

About the Author

 

Samantha Downing is the author of the Edgar Award-nominated novel My Lovely Wife. Amazon Studios and Nicole Kidman’s Blossom Films have partnered to produce a feature film based on the novel.

Her next book is called He Started It and will be released in April 2020. She currently lives in New Orleans, where she is furiously typing away on her next thrilling novel.

 

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Posted in excerpt, Psychological, suspense, Thriller on February 29, 2020

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Born and raised on a remote farm in South Africa, Elisabeth Pieterse, a young, naive trainee nurse meets Dion Du Toit, a wickedly handsome salesman whose suave exterior hides a monster within that she discovers only after their wedding.

His addictions, adultery and insatiable desire to be in the limelight turn their lives into a roller coaster of erotic highs and death-defying lows leaving leading psychiatrists confused and Elizabeth shattered.

She knows instinctively that if she wants to stay alive it is safe to remain with him.

Finally, in a courageous but ill-advised attempt to quickly resolve her company’s financial problems, caused by Dion, Elizabeth then fails to answer the one telephone call that would have changed the course of the life forever.

 

 

Amazon US * Amazon UK

 

 

Excerpt

 

“Nothing has changed.” And the deep red colouring returned to his face again. I had never seen anything quite like this. I knew that any civil discussion wasn’t going to be possible, plus he’d had four brandies by then. I instinctively knew to keep my mouth shut.

He’d shown me, during the last few awkward months, that a woman so deeply in love is not the most brilliant judge of character! My fairy tale wasn’t panning out quite the way the books portrayed, and, in that moment, I would have been delighted had I turned into a pumpkin and stayed as one. I was not only acutely frustrated by trying to decipher the most peculiar behaviour emerging from my prince charming; I was frightened of him now too. Our fairy tale was morphing into a terrifying thriller, and I didn’t know how to handle it or whom to turn.

It was always the fourth drink that turned Oudemeester (A South African Brandy) into an ugly monster and I didn’t dare ask him, ‘Who are you?

The following day when he was sober, he was either defensive or apologetic. Somehow, I had to convince him that his love for alcohol was not only changing him and ruining our marriage but threatening to end it, which was not what I wanted.

I loved him; the real Dion, the one I had married. I was in a quandary for in our culture his behaviour was considered taboo and talking about it was even worse. It was the sort of conversation one only had in private with someone who could keep it confidential. Being an alcoholic or displaying any form of mental health issues were considered problems that only afflicted the poor or lower classes. I certainly didn’t want to tell my mother and least of all my brother, and though I trusted Amelia, I didn’t know how to begin describing what was happening. Besides, still spellbound by his sober charms I lived hoping it was a passing phase brought on by the stresses of his job, which he’d mentioned repeatedly over the past few months. When he wasn’t drinking, he’d sing to me as I prepared supper, then all resistance crumbled I’d forgive him. He knew just what buttons to press and would move in close behind me while I stirred whatever was in the pot on the stove, nuzzle my neck and sing; in seconds I’d have no idea what I was cooking, and supper would be abandoned until later, much later. Those days were blissful and not for a moment did I suspect that the beautiful serenading and confessions of undying love were becoming a cunning disguise. One evening another opportunity opened itself up for me to discuss the drinking issues and while we sat curled up together on the couch, I carefully lead the conversation to the issues.

“Please stop drinking, Liefie. I’m worried about you.” I pleaded with him. I knew I risked ruining the mood, but I had to express my concerns.

“Don’t you dare bitch about my fucking drinking, do you hear me,” he seethed, spittle flew from his mouth like an angry viper. Though I’d prepared myself for retaliation this venomous reaction shocked me; he’d never hissed at me with such poison in his voice before, and then I noticed his jaw was quivering and his hands balled into fists as he sat upright next to me.

“Dion, that’s not necessary”, I said, looking at his fists. “Only cowards hit their women and if you hit me consider our marriage well and truly over.” I was struggling to maintain composure. The word, ‘coward,’ seemed to trigger an angry, uncontrolled rage, and he growled at me. I was devastated and scared at the same time; I didn’t dare respond or move. I loathed this sort of confrontation and tears pricked at my eyes and reaching for the brandy bottle on the coffee table in front of us I smashed it on the floor shattering the atmosphere then stormed off to bed.

As the months progressed, Dion’s personality changes became even more dramatic. My sixth sense was ringing alarm bells in my head, cautioning me that Dion was dangerous, but I kept finding myself excusing his vile behaviour, and though I still loved the old Dion, this new monster was destroying everything we’d built together.

On occasions we’d have wonderful conversations, he was sensitive and apologetic. For a few days, sometimes even weeks, all was as it had been when we first were married. Often, he’d even admit to behaving like an animal after the fourth drink, but it didn’t stop him. Our social life together had dwindled too. Our friends had become bored, often annoyed listening to Dion carry on with ugly criticism of them and others at social braai’s, (barbecue’s) at home or friends’ homes. Consequently, invitations to social outings became rare, and I was living a continuous apology.

After an ugly, hostile confrontation between Amelia and Dion during our last braai together, she vowed she would never come to another, and she didn’t, which broke my heart; neither did anyone else. I felt so isolated and from that day on, Amelia and I met in town when we wanted to see each other. She never told me what prompted the outburst, but I guessed he must have been strongly suggestive, which was probably the case, or darn right rude and insulting, neither of which she would have tolerated. Amelia was volatile with admirably strict principles; whatever Dion may have done; she would have struck out at him like an angry cat. He, on the other hand, didn’t give a damn that our friends no longer visited, and we never went anywhere. The feelings of others was not his concern, providing he was happy, nothing else mattered much.”

 

About the Author

 

Diana is a country bumpkin at heart, born and raised on a farm in Rhodesia – now Zimbabwe, then Lived in South Africa for the better part of her adult life. Since then, Diana is now happily living in England, where all her family are originally from.

Diana’s qualifications are in the Equine world and the only writing she has ever undertaken is articles for various newspapers and magazines on her equestrian practices and even her own amazing horses. Furthermore, the topic of her next book plays into this very theme, a manual called the ‘Equus Soul Technique’. This technique developed over many years and grew organically when Diana ran workshops for CEO’s mimicking the herd leadership skills and putting them into practice in business to enhance productivity and unity within the work force. Her four-day equine-facilitated therapy workshops for traumatised women opened the door to evolving the technique into healing traumatised horses and grew from there.

“One could say I was just about born on the back of a horse.”

Diana’s father, a farmer, owned racehorses and played polo for many years until his accident on the polo field that put him into a wheelchair for life.

“My next inspiring novel is also based upon the true story of a truly powerful and inspirational man who lost the use of his legs in a polo accident and raised three very young children after losing his wife to cancer only months after his accident. ‘Muchingura’ an African name given to him, has a dual meaning- one who stays or one who sits. There will be a sequel to this novel.”

 

 

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Posted in 4 paws, excerpt, Review, Romantic Suspense, suspense, Thriller on February 28, 2020

 

 

Title: BURIED IN MY PAST

Author: Eva Mackenzie

Publisher: Craven Ink Press

Pages: 398

Genre: Domestic/Romantic Suspense

 

Synopsis

 

She’s desperate to stop the panic attacks. But the truth won’t set her free…

Jamie Kendal sees life through the bottom of a bottle. After surviving assault and betrayal, she is forced back to her hometown to care for her mother. Not long after her return, she’s plagued by terrifying slivers of memories from the night her twin brother disappeared forever…

Unearthing new evidence, she’s shocked to learn she’d been found wandering in the woods that same night—covered in blood. More than one person from her past hid the haunting truth that’s bubbling to the surface. The deeper she digs into the horrors from her past, the more she fears almost anyone could be a killer, including Jamie herself.

Can Jamie expose what happened that night, or will she join her missing brother?

 

 

 

Review

 

Lately, I have really started enjoying psychological thrillers.  There is something about getting into your mind and many times, I wonder how or why people do the things that they do that are “out of the norm” or what I would consider normal.

Jamie had a traumatic event in her youth and her mind blocked it out.  However, her mind must have decided that now was the time for things to be revealed as to what happened that summer at camp when her brother was killed.  The book is told from multiple POV, and while it was quite a few voices, I felt like the story flowed well and I didn’t have trouble keeping up.

As more details were revealed and characters introduced (after Jamie went back to her hometown), I kept wondering who was involved.  I incorrectly guessed one character, despite the slimy feeling I felt from this character.  I was very surprised when the truth was finally revealed and how it played out.  I never would have guessed who was involved and why.

This is an author to watch in m book.  She weaves a tale that kept me spellbound, wanting more.  We give this 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Taylor

 

“Hello, my name is Taylor, and I’m a sex addict.” He looked around the room at a few familiar faces. He’d never told his story to them, but he always liked to introduce himself to the group. Of course, Taylor wasn’t his real name. And perhaps his burden was not exactly sex addiction, but it was in that vein.

“Hello, Taylor.” The group welcomed him.

He quickly took his seat and cast his eyes to the ground.

There was a big group tonight at Sex Addicts Anonymous. The dusty space occupied the third floor of the public library, rented to them every Tuesday night.

Marcie, or so she claimed to be, stood up and moved to the front of the group.

She always liked to share all the gory details of her sex addiction. Taylor secretly wondered if she was getting off telling the group about her promiscuity. Too willing, if you asked him.

He glanced around at the men and women captivated by Marcie’s passionate relapse. He imagined some were fathers and mothers. Some were possibly divorced or in open relationships. Heterosexuals, homosexuals, and anything in between. All looked like average people.

Marcie was maybe a four on a scale of one to ten, so he barely raised his head as she continued.

This was his fifteenth meeting, and every time he walked through those doors, he wondered what he was doing here. Of course, he had a problem, but he wasn’t interested in fixing it. Maybe problem wasn’t the proper classification.

Was his issue a lack of moral character? If so, who was the judge? Society? That was a joke. No one on this earth was free from lust.

All of these people were suffering. Not him. He lived the dream. But on most Tuesday nights he found the time to drive two and half hours to this meeting. He didn’t ask himself why—he knew why—and the anticipation offered a giddy sensation that nudged his crotch. He was a bastard, for sure.

There was no one in this room he was interested in. Hell, who wanted cheap thrills. He was looking for a ten.

He wasn’t a handsome man, although he wasn’t ugly either. Some might say his nose was a bit too sharp or his hair too thin. His features weren’t coveted, and he wasn’t charming or even funny. But he only had sex with women who were nines, at minimum; it was sort of a rule he had.

The group around him broke into applause as Marcie took her seat. She didn’t give him a come-hither glance. Her eyes were glued to the other man she sat next to. As he stood up to introduce himself, Marcie rested a friendly hand on his arm—encouragement. Right. 

He would be Marcie’s next relapse.

It was too easy. Like shooting fish in a barrel.

Not him—he wanted a real lay.

He stood and removed a cigarette from his coat pocket and headed for the door, his movement swift. He had forgotten the time.

Once out on the street, he was greeted by a blast of hot air. The pavement had soaked up the sun and continued to heat the city at night. He lit his smoke and waited while keeping his eyes on the steady stream of people moving down the sidewalk. The working crowd hustled along in and out of Virginia’s metro station in Arlington.

A woman in her early thirties hustled past him. Her Clinique perfume teased his nose as he closed the space quietly. Her feet slid into two-inch heels revealing that sexy muscle on the sides of her calves. She wore a business suit fitting her well in all the right places. Her smooth, pale skin flashed in the intermittent streetlights. She was a ten.

He dropped his smoke, not missing a step as she chose her watering hole.

A pub for working adults and cliques. High-end place. He knew before she even went inside that she would take a seat at the bar.

She graciously held the door for him without a backward glance.

Inside he took a seat at a table with a full view of the restaurant; Virginia didn’t have bars—they had places that serve fried food to patrons consuming large amounts of alcohol. The place was packed, noise assaulting his senses. Just the way he liked it. Much of the same crowd was here last week. He watched Ten take her seat, order her drink, and immediately pull out her cell phone.

“What can I get you?” a waitress asked.

“Gin and tonic and a margarita for my girlfriend.” He patted the table beside him as he nodded to the bathroom. She scurried off without another word.

He watched as a large group of men entered the bar. One of them spotted Ten and boldly joined her.

“Fifteen seventy,” the waitress said as she placed the two drinks in front of him a few minutes later. Opening his wallet, he counted out eighteen dollars and handed the money to her. He imagined the police asking her a list of questions. “What did he look like? How tall was he? Did he have any tattoos?” She would remember none of these things, the tip not large enough or small enough to trigger any memories.

He sipped his drink and watched.

He knew his number ten would be stood up this evening. Her profile picture online, to his delight, was an accurate depiction. In the dim bar light, her skin was as creamy and flawless as he recalled. She scanned her phone once again, her mannerisms jerky. She was looking for a man that didn’t exist. At least he didn’t live in Arlington, Virginia.

Best to travel in groups. There are a lot of assholes out there, Julie.

He pulled a small bottle from his pocket. A clear liquid inside promised adventure as he poured it into his second drink. Number ten was still at the bar, an unhappy pout dressing her full lips. The bold admirer continued a conversation with her. Perfect.

He slunk to the bar and pulled up next to her, careful not to gain her attention yet as she faced away from him. Bodies pressed in all directions. Her margarita sat barely touched in front of her.

“Can I get another gin and tonic?” He held up his empty glass. He scanned faces quickly but discreetly.

Placing his margarita next to hers, he gently tapped her on the shoulder as the bartender turned for his refill.

“This is mine, right?” he asked, pointing to her drink. She looked dazed for a second as she glanced at the two glasses. She nodded absently as he took her drink and left his cocktail instead. After paying the bartender, he went back to his table.

He watched as she drank the whole glass. Shadows danced over his face as he looked at his watch; it had been twenty minutes. Almost time.

Her movements were becoming loose as she swayed gently on the stool. Her admirer smiled at her dolefully as she seemed to lose her inhibition. Her current company mouthed, “I’ll be right back,” and took off toward the restroom. Time to make his move.

“There you are!” he said as he approached her. She looked over at him, glassy warm brown eyes accompanying a silky smile. He didn’t have much time.

“I’m sorry I’m late. Traffic was a mess.” He put his arm around her and kissed her softly on the lips. She didn’t object.

“Let’s go, sweetheart.” He was already moving toward the door.

No, I don’t have a problem. He looked down at his new girl. None at all.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Eva Mackenzie is an author who enjoys twisty, emotionally engrossing tales. Her debut novel has been a work in progress for over a decade. Under the urging of a loved one, it’s finally finished.

She is a wife and mother living on the east coast. When she isn’t writing, she is spending time with her family, training for her next marathon or reading stacks of suspense novels. Some of her favorite authors are Minka Kent, Dean Koontz, Tami Hoag, and Lisa Jackson.

Website * Goodreads * Facebook

 

 

 

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Posted in Book Release, Christian, Giveaway, Guest Post, suspense on February 8, 2020

 

 

Collision of Lies

 

(Detective Amara Alvarez, Book One)

 

by

 

Tom Threadgill

 

Genre: Contemporary Christian Suspense

Publisher: Revell

Date of Publication: February 4, 2020

Number of Pages: 400

 

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

Three years ago, a collision between a fast-moving freight train and a school bus full of kids led to devastation and grief on an unimaginable scale. But a fresh clue leads San Antonio police detective Amara Alvarez to the unlikely conclusion that one of the children may still be alive. If she’s correct, everything law enforcement believes about the accident is a lie.

With time running out, Amara must convince others–and herself–that despite all evidence to the contrary, the boy lives. And she will do everything in her power to bring him home.

A fresh voice in suspense, Tom Threadgill will have you questioning everything as you fly through the pages of this enthralling story.

 

Praise

Threadgill plunges a detective from the San Antonio Property Crimes Division into a deep-laid plot involving murder, kidnapping, and myriad other crimes above her pay grade.” — Kirkus Review

 

“I have a new favorite author. Tom Threadgill kept me reading for hours. I didn’t want to put this book down . . . couldn’t put it down. I absolutely adore Amara Alvarez and her relationships with her coworkers, friends, and her iguana! Now I want one. She was a heroine who made me laugh and one I could really relate to. I can think of a few words to describe this book: amazing, incredible, intriguing, mesmerizing, unputdownable. . . I could go on, but I need to stop so I can go buy up the entire backlist of my new favorite author.”  — Lynette Eason, award-winning, bestselling author of the Blue Justice Series

 

 

Baker Book House  ⬫  Amazon  ⬫  B&N

ChristianBook.com  ⬫ iBooks  ⬫  Kobo

Other Retailers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of Reptiles and Women

 

By Tom Threadgill

 

Author of Collision of Lies

 

 

Collision of Lies, my latest novel, was my favorite to write so far. As I look back on the process, I think that’s because the characters were fresher to me. I’d just finished a series of three novels and was ready to move on to something different. Not to say I won’t go back to Jeremy Winter and his cohorts, but I left them in a good spot. They can manage without me for a while.

When I write, I have only the thinnest of ideas about the story. I’m very much a pantser—though I prefer the term “organic writer” since it doesn’t sound as, I don’t know, weird?—and do as little plotting as possible. I wanted Collision to have a female protagonist but needed more than the tired “divorced cop with a chip on her shoulder” routine. Amara Alvarez, the main character, had to be real. Someone readers can relate to even though they might not be a cop or divorced (or a woman).

When I first met Amara (yeah, I know how strange that sounds), she was in her early thirties, single for the last decade or so, and working as a detective in the San Antonio Property Crimes Division. Good job, one she enjoyed, but more of a stepping-stone into Homicide. She’s a wee bit on the short side, which doesn’t bother her too much, and likes to work out, especially doing kickboxing.

Oh, and she has a pet lizard.

Not just any lizard though. Larry is a three-foot-long iguana who lives in the second bedroom of her apartment. He’s got his own hangout, complete with heaters, branches, and everything else a lizard could want. He can also be a bit moody at times.

You need to understand that I knew nothing about lizards. I’m not a fan of reptiles. So why not give Amara a dog or cat or ferret or potbellied pig? Simple. I couldn’t. She already had the iguana when I met her.

That might not make a lot of sense if you’re not a writer, but characters must be free to make their own decisions. Live their own lives. When I first met Amara (and when you first meet her), she’d already made plenty of choices, some good, some bad. One of those choices was Larry. Why? Honestly, I don’t know. I haven’t asked her yet. Maybe in the sequel. Could I insist she have a different pet, or even none at all? Sure, but then she wouldn’t be Amara. Any author will tell you that if you don’t listen to your characters, your book isn’t going to be as good as it could be.

So I had to research iguanas. What they eat. How to take care of them. The pros and cons of having them as a pet. Did you know they can grow to be up to six feet long? That if you pet them and they close their eyes, it’s not a sign of enjoyment? They’re stressed and blocking you out. If they open one or both eyes while you pet them, they trust you, even though they still don’t particularly enjoy it. And did we talk about salmonella? No? Well, be sure and wash your hands after touching Larry.

I know more about lizards now than I ever wanted to. I’ll never have one for a pet. And Larry doesn’t even show up much in the book. He’s more of a behind-the-scenes guy, though he does make an appearance or two.

But if Larry is important to Amara, I need to know everything I can about him whether I use it in the novel or not. It keeps her real in my mind. Lets me peak inside her head just a little so I can understand what decisions she will make as I go through the writing process. Larry and a slew of other traits go into building her character. Each is important in its own way.

The result is that I’m able to tag along as she moves through my novel. I don’t have to tell her what to do. She does it on her own. And if I write a scene that’s not true to her nature, she doesn’t hesitate to let me know. Nothing worse than a character acting out of character. (Can I use the same word twice in a sentence?)

Anyway, I hope you’ll pick up Collision of Lies and let me know how you like it. Amara and I put a lot of work into it and, to be honest, I’m just grateful she didn’t choose a snake (shudder) instead of Larry. Not sure I could’ve left her in the story.

 

 

 

 

Tom Threadgill is a full-time author and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). He is currently on the suspense/thriller publishing board for LPC Books, a division of Iron Stream Media. He lives with his wife in rural Tennessee.

 

Website ⬥ Facebook ⬥ Twitter ⬥ BookBub

 

Goodreads ⬥ Amazon Author Page

 

 

 

 

————————————

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

GRAND PRIZE: Copy of Collision of Lies + $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card 

SECOND PRIZE: Copy of Collision of Lies + Composition Notebook Pouch

THIRD PRIZE: Copy of Collision of Lies

February 6-16, 2020

(U.S. Only)

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

Check out the other blogs on this tour

2/6/20 Notable Quotable Texas Book Lover
2/6/20 BONUS Post Hall Ways Blog
2/7/20 Review Max Knight
2/8/20 Guest Post StoreyBook Reviews
2/9/20 Author Interview All the Ups and Downs
2/10/20 Review The Clueless Gent
2/11/20 Excerpt Chapter Break Book Blog
2/12/20 Review That’s What She’s Reading
2/13/20 Excerpt Sybrina’s Book Blog
2/14/20 Review Tangled in Text
2/15/20 Review It’s Not All Gravy

 

 

 

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Posted in 4 paws, fiction, Review, suspense on February 4, 2020

 

Synopsis

Everyone wants new followers…until they follow you home.

Audrey Miller has an enviable new job at the Smithsonian, a body by reformer Pilates, an apartment door with a broken lock, and hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers to bear witness to it all. Having just moved to Washington, DC, Audrey busies herself impressing her new boss, interacting with her online fan base, and staving off a creepy upstairs neighbor with the help of the only two people she knows in town: an ex-boyfriend she can’t stay away from and a sorority sister with a high-powered job and a mysterious past.

But Audrey’s faulty door may be the least of her security concerns. Unbeknownst to her, her move has brought her within striking distance of someone who’s obsessively followed her social media presence for years—from her first WordPress blog to her most recent Instagram Story. No longer content to simply follow her carefully curated life from a distance, he consults the dark web for advice on how to make Audrey his and his alone. In his quest to win her heart, nothing is off-limits—and nothing is private.

With “compelling, suspenseful” (Liz Nugent) prose, Kathleen Barber’s electrifying new thriller will have you scrambling to cover your webcam and digital footprints.

 

 

 

The book releases 2/25/2020

 

Review

I am amazed at the things I learn reading books about technology and crazy people. I have never heard of Ratting and now I am going to be super cautious about what I open from anyone I know (or don’t know!).

There are many twists and turns in this book and when I thought I had figured out who “him” was, I find out at the end I was dead wrong. OMG, I did NOT expect that reveal.

Audrey is self-absorbed and I suppose that is common for influencers – they think the world revolves around them. Plus it goes to show that their life is NOT perfect and is just a stage to gain attention from the public. She claims she didn’t want to be a mean girl, but not caring about those around you is a way of being mean.

Cat lacks self-esteem and some of her past that is revealed throughout the book, especially at the end was surprising.

I do think some things were left unanswered about some of the characters in this book. I would have liked to have seen some resolution to these characters and some specific incidents.

This book will definitely keep you up at night wondering what might happen next.

We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

About the Author

Kathleen Barber’s first novel Truth Be Told (formerly published as Are You Sleeping) is the inspiration for the Apple TV+ series of the same name, produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and starring Octavia Spencer and Aaron Paul. Kathleen was raised in Galesburg, Illinois, and is a graduate of the University of Illinois and Northwestern University School of Law. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband and son. Follow Me is her second novel.

 

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Posted in Book Release, fiction, suspense on February 3, 2020

 

Synopsis

 

Twenty years ago Emily Mills’s father was murdered, and she found his body hanging in the backyard. Her younger sister, Madison, claims she was asleep in her room. Her older sister, Tara, claims she was out with friends. The tragedy drove their mother to suicide and Tara to leave town forever. The killer was caught. The case closed.

Ever since, Emily and Madison have tried to forget what happened that night—until an eerily similar murder brings it all back. It also brings FBI special agent Zander Wells to the Oregon logging town. As eager as he is to solve the brutal double slaying, he is just as intrigued with the mystery of Emily’s and her sisters’ past.

When more blood is shed, Zander suspects there’s a secret buried in this town no one wants unearthed. Is it something Emily and Madison don’t know? Or aren’t telling? And Tara? Maybe Emily can’t bear to find her. Because when Tara disappeared, she took a secret of her own with her.

 

 

 

 

Praise

 

“Elliot skillfully unravels layers of intersecting stories, each one integral to the overall story of the Mills family and their small-town secrets. Readers will want to see more from this author.” – Publisher’s Weekly

“Part budding romance, part compelling backstory, part prescient tale of racism: provocative on all fronts” – Kirkus Reviews

 

 

About the Author

Kendra Elliot has landed on the Wall Street Journal bestseller list multiple times and is the award-winning author of the Bone Secrets and Callahan & McLane series, as well as the Mercy Kilpatrick novels: A Merciful DeathA Merciful Truth, and A Merciful Secret. Kendra is a three-time winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award, an International Thriller Writers finalist, and an RT Award finalist. She has always been a voracious reader, cutting her teeth on classic female heroines such as Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and Laura Ingalls. She was born, raised, and still lives in the rainy Pacific Northwest with her husband and three daughters, but she looks forward to the day she can live in flip-flops.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

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