Synopsis

Crime writer Olivia Cruz is drawn into the dark secrets of a missing friend in a terrifying novel of suspense by #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh.

On the three-year anniversary of true crime writer Olivia Cruz’s horrific kidnapping, she’s scheduled to walk her podcaster friend Zoe March through the crime scene, but Zoe fails to show. Olivia knows Zoe would never stand her up―not today.

Zoe’s husband, who claims she never came home the night before, has reported her missing. But marital conflicts make the police suspect she has left him. Olivia thinks otherwise. The police aren’t looking for Zoe, so Olivia begins her own investigation. Retracing her friend’s last steps, she finds Zoe’s phone and a text with one chilling word: Run.

It soon becomes apparent that Zoe has been keeping secrets, and with her true crime podcast, there’s no telling what she has unearthed. To find her, Olivia must dig into her friend’s past. Did Zoe vanish to escape a killer, and is Olivia walking into a deadly trap?

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Review

This book grabbed me and didn’t let go!

I don’t believe I have read any of the series that spun off Olivia’s story. But that is okay, because I didn’t go in with any thoughts about how the story should go. Instead, I became immersed in this twisty tale about where is Zoe and who is out to get her. While the story focuses on Zoe, I learned a little more about Olivia, her niece Nicki, and Olivia’s boyfriend, Lincoln. There is even a side story that brings in Nicki and ties into the main story. But you’ll have to read the book to uncover that little mystery.

I appreciated Olivia’s determination in finding out what happened to Zoe. There are details she doesn’t know about Zoe’s past, but she is a good journalist and can uncover more with Nicki’s tech help. It is amazing how much of our lives is online for all to see.

Because these are all new characters to me, the background was helpful to understand her relationship with Lincoln and how he fit into the picture. There is even some resolution to their relationship near the end.

I did not want to put this book down, and can’t wait to see what Olivia will do in the next book.

We give this book 5 paws up.

Interview with Melinda Leigh

What inspired you to write YOU CAN TELL ME?

I created Olivia Cruz in the Morgan Dane series. I enjoyed writing her character so much, that I’d always planned to give her more books. She’s bold, funny, and wicked smart. Olivia is also a challenge to write because she is a resourceful character.

What is different about this new Olivia Cruz series?

Sheriff Bree Taggert is the protagonist of the other series I’m currently writing. I enjoy the framework of the police procedural, but at times it can feel restrictive. Basing a series on a true crime writer gives me more flexibility. There are times when Bree must act a certain way and perform specific tasks because of the legal requirements of her position as sheriff.  Olivia is not constrained in the same way, and I intend to have fun with that creative freedom.

What about the mystery genre appeals to you as a writer?

I enjoy laying out the clues and misdirecting the reader. It’s like creating a logic puzzle. Plotting a mystery adds an additional layer of challenge to the novel writing process that I find fascinating. Plus, I was always a math geek, which is why I was once a financial analyst. I view plotting a mystery as a series of linear equations that intersect at the same point.

This is the start of your seventh series. What do you like about writing series? Where do the ideas for your series come from? Do you plot out the whole series before you begin?

I love developing characters. As a reader, I pick up a familiar series to find out what happened to the people. The plot is secondary. My connection to the characters are what brings my back to book 7, 8, or 9. I’m invested in their lives.

For me, adding depth and complexity to my characters is a long process. My books generally take place over a short period of time, say four or five days. People don’t change that quickly. Writing a series enables me to challenge my protagonists over a much longer period of time. They have the opportunity to adapt and grow.

Many of my protagonists begin deeply flawed or traumatized. It takes time to overcome issues. For example, in Cross Her Heart, Bree Taggert is deeply afraid of dogs due to a childhood mauling. There’s no way she could realistically work through an issue that traumatizing in one book. In book ten, she’s made progress, but her fear still crops up from time to time.

My plot ideas usually come from news headlines and stories. This helps give the books a realistic and current feel. Readers can connect with characters that are facing current challenges.

I do not plot out a series before I begin. Usually, I don’t even know how many books the series will contain. I do, however, know how I want my characters to develop, and this is what I think about when I’m plotting the next book in the series. How can I challenge them to grow?

You worked in finance for many years before becoming a writer. What made you switch careers?

I despised banking and couldn’t wait to be free of it. After my kids were born, I stayed home for a few years. When I was ready to return to work, I knew I didn’t want to return to the financial industry. I’ve had my nose buried in books since grade school. I decided to try writing one. It turned out to be a great fit, and I was hooked on the process. I was nearly forty before I typed the first page of my first manuscript. It’s never too late to chase your dreams.

About the Author

Melinda Leigh is the #1 Amazon Charts and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Echo Road, the She Can series, the Midnight series, the Scarlet Falls series, the Morgan Dane series, the Bree Taggert series, the Olivia Cruz series, and numerous short stories, as well as the Rogue series novellas and the Widow’s Island series novellas. Melinda has garnered numerous writing awards, earned two RITA nominations, and been an International Thriller Award nominee for Best First Novel. She also holds a second-degree black belt in Kenpo karate and has taught women’s self-defense. Melinda lives in a messy house with her family and a small herd of rescue pets.

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