Dying Declaration: A Legal Thriller
3rd in Series
Setting – Florida
Stony Hill Publishers (November 30, 2019)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 248 pages

Synopsis

Dr. Catherine “Cat” Powers is FBI Forensic pathologist and special agent with an uncanny sixth sense for bringing murders to justice.

During a vacation in Belize with her young son, Joey, Cat gets a phone call from her boss. Young prostitutes are being picked up, murdered and left for dead in the Florida Everglades. The first victim does not fit the killer’s modus operandi. She was a legal secretary working for the Fort Lauderdale based international law firm, Black and Knight.

As Cat investigates this and other deaths, they lead back to the firm’s henchmen and to its partners. With the help of another firm employee, Cat discovers a secret web of murder, illicit drugs, prostitution, sex trafficking, corruption and more. The firm’s partners intend to kill anyone who can lead the law back to them, including Cat.

As the body count grows, powerful people will make decisions that will change lives. Decisions that will destroy families. As Cat uncovers the conspiracy, only one partner, the mastermind, will become Cat’s ally. She will walk away, after seeing that the others are brought to justice.

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Guest Post

Good afternoon. My name is Thomas Pierce. I am an attorney and partner of the international Law Firm, Black and Knight. Our main offices are located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but we have office throughout the world, in locations are far-fetched as Paris, Singapore and Moscow.

So how am I involved in the cases in the novel, Dying Declaration, by Solange Ritchie, you ask? Well, the first victim of the killer, whoever he is, was a legal secretary who worked with my firm for a few months before her untimely death. She was a very lovely young lady, average work product, she enjoyed showing off her assets, if you know what I mean, especially to the young male associates that the firm employs. She was quite frankly a bit of a flirt. Anyway, her body turned up floating in South Florida waterways. The funny thing is, according to FBI special agent, Dr. Catherine (Cat) Powers, who recently interviewed me, she does not fit the m.o. of the other victims. None of them held a proper job. They were all prostitutes and streetwalkers. So according to Dr. Powers, she does not fit the profile of the other victims. Odd, if you ask me.

So, a little about me. Well, I am very good at what I do. Gone for me are the days of the billable hour. I am much more valuable to the firm as a rainmaker. In Fort Lauderdale and Miami, it is all about your connections – who you know and who they know. Let’s say I am well connected to a host of Ft. Lauderdale and Miami celebrities from sports stars to people in the world of entertainment. Many of my client live on Star Island in Miami were folks such as Gloria Estefan and Julio Iglesias have multi-million-dollar homes. I am good friends with The Rock, Dwayne Johnson. Have been for many years now.

I, and my beautiful mistress, Isabella, live in the exclusive Seven Isle community of Fort Lauderdale, on a street called Pelican Isle. Only 1,200 residents call Seven Isle home. The most expensive properties go for over $25 million. I and Isabella live in a modest $20 million dollar estate done in the Italian Rococo style. Lots of imported Italian marble and vaulted ceilings. The kind of house that lets the outside in at the mere opening of floor to ceiling French doors to the back yard. Behind the house, I house an 80-foot luxury yacht called “My Sweet Sublime.” Our home is a short distance from fine dining, sunbathing and entertainment. Ideal for when Isabella is not in the mood to cook, which is quite often. Our closest beaches are Las Olas Beach and Sebastian Street Beach, both ideal for being seen and people watching. We like spending Sundays out for lunch and then walking on the beach before retiring for a little fun and games in the bedroom. Isabella loves those afternoon trysts.

I and Isabella lead a glamourous life, as we have no children of our own and my kids from my first marriage are all grown adults now. This gives us the freedom to spend weekends out on the yacht, hosting lavish parties or just living the good life. Isabella, who is quite a few years younger than I am, knows how to keep things purring in the bedroom. She is quite an enchanting creature, and one of the smartest women I have even met. She was born in Russia and immigrated to the US. She speaks multiple languages and is able to mingle in almost every situation. And it doesn’t hurt that she is stunningly beautiful, with perfect ivory skin, a thick mane of thick red hair and eyes the color of emeralds. I am very lucky to have her in my life.

I grew up in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area. My father, who is also a partner with the firm, was an international diplomate, who is now retired from that work. His connections in Russia is how I came to meet and fall in love with Isabella. Isabella and I travel quite often oversees to the Caribbean, Europe, Russia, and other countries for business. Many of the companies we represent handle exclusive rights to shipping lines, import/export and the like. It is extremely important that we maintain close and constant contact with our international clients and handle any issue that they might have.

As for this investigation into the legal secretary that was murdered, I have no idea where that will lead. I can tell you that I have no idea why the woman was abducted and murdered. Despite Dr. Powers persistent interview skills, her disappearance and death had absolutely nothing to do with this firm. As far as I know, she didn’t know anyone who would harm her. She never raised any alarms or red flags with me or anyone else who worked here regarding her safety or feeling like she was being watched or being followed. So ultimately, I have no idea where Dr. Power’s investigation will lead. I only know it won’t lead back to me or this firm.

Well, I hope that wets your whistle, so to speak, to read Dying Declaration and learn more about the story.  Have a fantastic rest of your day.

About the Author

BORN ON THE BEAUTIFUL TROPICAL ISLAND of Jamaica to a Jamaican father and a French mother, Solange Ritchie (then Solange Levy) immigrated to the United States at age eleven. Since then, she has become a dynamic force for change. Fed up with thrillers that start with a fizzle and longing to see more powerful women as lead characters, Solange decided to create her own characters. Despite the demands of a busy legal career, she accomplished her ambitious goal by rising each morning to write before work, dedicating her weekends to writing, and even spending her vacation time writing. Solange is fortunate to have traveled to over 19 countries in her lifetime.

Words have always been Solange’s passion – now so more than ever.

Solange achieved a successful writing career while doing “last minute trial,” mostly in Southern California. Dubbed “the Case Saver,” Solange handled intense legal motions that either make or break a case, especially in the areas of business, labor, and employment law. In 2014, she received the State Bar of California’s Solo and Small Firm’s Section’s highest award, the Myer J. Sankary Attorney of the Year Award. It is given to only one attorney each year in California.

When Solange was just thirty-seven years old, her first husband, John, died due to gross medical negligence at a leading Southern California hospital. This life-altering experience helped shape her into the person she is today. She began writing creatively to deal with the stress of his hospitalization and his death.

Solange’s first psychological thriller, The Burning Man, featuring FBI forensic pathologist Dr. Catherine “Cat” Powers was published in 2015. Her second novel in the series, Firestorm, was released to critical acclaim, on May 15, 2018. Dying Declaration is the third novel in the Dr. Catherine “Cat” Powers series. Bomb Blast is Solange’s fourth novel in the series. Solange plans at least two more books in the Dr. Catherine Powers series. A fan of things that go bump in the night, Solange has also penned a Southern Gothic novel called Fiona’s Box, which will be released shortly.

Solange lives in Southern Florida. She enjoys traveling, writing, gardening, time with her family, as well as good food and conversation. Solange is available for speaking engagements. She especially enjoys talking with book clubs.

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