Non- Cozy Mystery - Never Never by James Patterson

Happy Wednesday! If you are a fan of the Women's Murder Club by James Patterson then you will be hooked on this brand new thriller. Never Never was released on January 16th. It will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; First Edition edition (January 16, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316433179




The Instant #1 New York Times and USA Today Bestseller
Never...
assume you know someone. Harry Blue is the top Sex Crimes investigator in her department. She's a seasoned pro who's seen it all. But even she didn't see this coming: her own brother arrested for the grisly murders of three beautiful young women.

Never...
accept a reassignment to the middle of nowhere "for your own good." Harry's been sent to a makeshift town in a desolate landscape-a world full of easy money, plenty of illegal ways to spend it, and a ragtag collection of transient characters who thrive on the fringes of society. A place where little grows, but evil flourishes.

Never...
trust anyone. Looking into a seemingly simple missing persons case, Harry's been assigned to a new "partner." But is he actually meant to be a watchdog? Still reeling from the accusations against her brother, Harry can't even trust her own instincts, which she's never doubted...until now.

Never...
go anywhere without leaving a trace. Far from the world she knows and desperate to clear her brother's name, Harry has to mine the dark secrets of her strange new home for answers to a deepening mystery-before she vanishes in a place where no one would ever think to look for her.

Never Never is an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride with enough intrigue and suspense to keep you guessing until the final page. You'll never be able to put it down.




About the author:

James Patterson received the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community at the 2015 National Book Awards. His other awards include two Emmys, the Edgar Award, and the Children's Choice Award for Author of the Year. He is a tireless champion of the power of books and reading, exemplified by his new children's book imprint, JIMMY Patterson, whose mission is simple: "We want every kid who finishes a JIMMY Book to say: 'PLEASE GIVE ME ANOTHER BOOK.'" He has donated more than one million books to students and soldiers and has over four hundred Teacher Education Scholarships at 24 colleges and universities. He has also donated millions to independent bookstores and school libraries. Patterson will be investing proceeds from the sales of JIMMY Patterson Books in pro-reading initiatives. 

http://www.jamespatterson.com/

Non-Cozy Mystery- The Second Life of Nick Mason by Steve Hamilton

This week's Non-Cozy Mystery is The Second Life of Nick Mason by Steve Hamilton was released on May 16th 2016.

Series: A Nick Mason Novel (Book 1)
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons; 1St Edition edition (May 17, 2016)
Language: English




“Steve Hamilton amazes me. Every time I think he's going to zig he zags.”—Michael Connelly

“A gamechanger. Nick Mason is one of the best main characters I've read in years.”—Harlan Coben

From New York Times-bestselling, two-time Edgar-award-winning author Steve Hamilton comes an unforgettable new hero, a man who will walk out of prison and into a harrowing double life that is anything but free.

Nick Mason has already spent five years inside a maximum security prison when an offer comes that will grant his release twenty years early. He accepts -- but the deal comes with a terrible price.

Now, back on the streets, Nick Mason has a new house, a new car, money to burn, and a beautiful roommate. He’s returned to society, but he's still a prisoner. Whenever his cell phone rings, day or night, Nick must answer it and follow whatever order he is given. It’s the deal he made with Darius Cole, a criminal mastermind serving a double-life term who runs an empire from his prison cell.

Forced to commit increasingly more dangerous crimes, hunted by the relentless detective who put him behind bars, and desperate to go straight and rebuild his life with his daughter and ex-wife, Nick will ultimately have to risk everything—his family, his sanity, and even his life—to finally break free.

Steve Hamilton is one of the most acclaimed mystery writers in the world, and one of only two authors (along with Ross Thomas) to win Edgars for both Best First Novel and Best Novel. His Alex McKnight series includes two New York Times notable books, and he’s put two recent titles on the New York Times bestseller list. He’s either won or received multiple nominations for virtually every other crime fiction award in the business, from the Private Eye Writers of America Shamus Award to the Anthony to the Barry to the Gumshoe. But it was his standalone The Lock Artist that made publishing history, his first book to win an Edgar for Best Novel, a CWA Steel Dagger for Best Thriller in the UK, and an Alex Award – which is given out by the American Library Association to those books that successfully cross over from the adult market and appeal to young adult readers. The Lock Artist has been translated into seventeen different languages, and was an especially strong seller in Japan, where it was voted the number one translated crime novel of 2012 by both the annual Kono Mystery Ga Sugoi guide and by Weekly Bunshun magazine.

Hamilton’s very first book, A Cold Day in Paradise, won the Private Eye Writers of America/St. Martin’s Press Award for Best First Mystery by an Unpublished Writer. After it was published, the novel went on to win the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for Best First Novel and the Private Eye Writers of America Shamus Award for Best First Novel, the only first novel to win both awards. That book introduced Alex McKnight, an ex-cop now making a living renting cabins in the small town of Paradise in Michigan’s isolated Upper Peninsula, who becomes a reluctant private detective.

Hamilton’s second Alex McKnight novel, Winter of the Wolf Moon, was named one of the year’s Notable Books by The New York Times Book Review and received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, as did his next three novels, The Hunting Wind, North of Nowhere and Blood is the Sky (which won the 2004 Gumshoe Award). As of 2015 there are ten books in the Alex McKnight series.

Night Work is a departure from the Alex McKnight series, featuring instead a probation officer in upstate New York. Night Work was nominated for the Crime Writers’ Association top award, The Duncan Lawrie Dagger.

In 2006, Hamilton won the Michigan Author Award for his body of work.

Hamilton lives in upstate New York with his wife Julia and their two children Nicholas G. and Antonia.



Find out more about Steve Hamilton's books by visiting his website: 

http://authorstevehamilton.com/

Non Cozy Mystery- Close Call by Laura DiSilverio

Happy Saturday! Today's Non-Cozy Mystery is Close Call by Laura DiSilverio. Released on September 8th, this mystery will keep you reading until the end.

Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Midnight Ink (September 8, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0738749206




Mistaking a killer’s phone for her own, Sydney Ellison is drawn back to a past she thought she’d left behind for good

After living through the media shaming of a political sex scandal when she was in college, Sydney Ellison fears notoriety above all. So when she stumbles onto a plot to assassinate a senator, she resists contacting the police. Before she can make herself do the right thing, the assassin tracks her down and kills her fiancé. Now a murder suspect and a killer’s target, Sydney reluctantly enlists the aid of her estranged sister, who betrayed her fifteen years earlier. Sydney must overcome her distrust and put all she has worked for on the line to stop the killer and his employer before more people die.

Praise:

Starred Review"DiSilverio's excellent plotting in her stand-alone thriller will keep readers on the edge of their seats . . . A treat for Megan Abbott fans."―Library Journal (starred review)

"This stand-alone has a fast-moving plot that's so engrossing."―Kirkus Reviews

"Twisty, intriguing, and terrific! An engaging heroine with a heart-breakingly complicated secret, a bitter family feud, conspiracy in the nation's capital, and non-stop suspense. Fans of David Baldacci . . . will cheer this emotional and exciting thriller. Loved it!"―Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony and Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning author of Say No More

My life began, from a writing perspective, when I went to college. That’s not to say I didn’t write stories before then. I did. I’ve always written and, in my elementary years, illustrated stories. My tales always featured horses and princesses I could render with flowing manes of hair. Anyway, when I say my writing life didn’t begin until college, that’s because my home life was so overwhelmingly normal and angst-free: no family divorces, no abuse, no felons, no deaths, no drugs or alcohol, no shop-lifting or sex parties to win peer approval. (Have you heard what 12-year-olds are up to today? I shudder.) My father was an Air Force pilot and we moved a lot, living in Georgia, Texas, Washington, the Philippines, and Oklahoma before I was out of high-school, but I liked the peripatetic lifestyle.

I wrote my first novel for a creative writing class at Trinity University. Professor Bob Flynn inspired me and heroically refrained from gagging when reading the contemporary romance I titled “Jeweled Torment.” That manuscript is buried in a box in the garage, along with the Regency romance I wrote shortly after joining the Air Force. I concentrated on becoming a good intelligence officer for many years before doing any more significant writing. I served with an F-16 wing in Korea, helped resolve reports of live-sightings of Vietnam prisoners of war while working out of the embassy in Bangkok, pushed paper at the Defense Intelligence Agency, earned my Master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania, taught English for three years at the Air Force Academy, learned cool things about satellites (none of which I can ever write about) at the National Reconnaissance Office, attended various professional schools, did my time in the Pentagon, commanded a squadron in England, and ended up in Colorado. Along the way, I married my wonderful husband and produced two beautiful children who re-defined what is important in life. A moment of Holy Spirit-guided epiphany in Elliot’s Bay bookstore in Seattle convinced me it was time to embark on writing and mothering full time. I retired from the Air Force in late 2004.

My motto? Never, never, never, give up. I’m also fond of the saying that sits on my desk beneath a photo of a sailboat on the sea: “You cannot discover new worlds unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”

One of those new worlds included the privilege of serving on the Sisters in Crime Board, for which I am now their immediate Past President.

I discover more new worlds all the time in my writing and I give thanks every day for being able to pursue my passion.



Find out more about Laura and her books at her website 

http://lauradisilverio.com/

Book Spotlight- Book Shots

Today I am spotlighting something new to me and maybe to you as well. Book Shots!! Have you read any of them? Are you a fan of James Patterson's book? Now you can read some of them in book shot form. Welcome to BookShots by James Patterson. Life moves fast—books should too. Pulse-pounding thrillers under $5 and 150 pages or less. Impossible to put down.

BOOKSHOTS are all-new, original stories that feature a complete, cinematic storytelling experience in 150 pages. Characters include favorites like Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, and the Women’s Murder Club. For readers with busy schedules, BOOKSHOTS is the answer. Available for pre-order now.



BookShots features a website and mobile apps available on iOS and Android, that let readers discover, purchase, and read BookShots ebooks and audiobooks across all devices.BookShots.com is operated by Hachette Book Group, Inc., The Random House Group Ltd and Penguin Books Ltd and powered by REAAAD, Inc., through the Glose Platform (https://glose.com/))


You can find Bookshots at Libraries, on electronic devices and at book stores as well.


Check out James Patterson's website for more about these books.

http://www.jamespatterson.com/bookshots.php#.V5k5p0YrLnA

Non- Cozy Mystery- The Games by James Patterson

Happy Friday! Today's Non-Cozy Mystery is The Games by James Patterson. Released on June 27th, this fast-paced story will keep you reading through the night.

Series: Private (Book 6)
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (June 27, 2016)
Language: English



Rio has spent years preparing to host the world during the Olympic games--but they didn't prepare for this...

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil--home to beautiful white-sand beaches, gorgeous women, stunning natural beauty, and the world's largest Carnival celebration--knows how to throw a party. So it's a natural choice to host the biggest spectacles in sports--the World Cup and the Olympics. To ensure that the games go off without a hitch, the organizers turn to Jack Morgan, the unflappable head of the renowned international security and consulting firm Private. But when events are this exclusive, someone's bound to get left off the guest list.

Two years after the action nearly spilled from the field to the stands during soccer's championship match, Jack is back in Rio for the Olympics. But before the cauldron is even lit, the only thing more intense than the competition is the security risks. When prominent clients he's supposed to be protecting disappear, and bodies mysteriously start to litter the streets, Jack is drawn deep into the heart of a ruthless underworld populated by disaffected residents trying to crash the world's biggest party. As the opening ceremonies near, with the world watching in horror, Jack must sprint to the finish line to defuse a threat that could decimate Rio and turn the games from a joyous celebration into a deadly spectacle.



About the Author


James Patterson received the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community at the 2015 National Book Awards. He holds the Guinness World Record for the most #1 New York Times bestsellers, and his books have sold more than 325 million copies worldwide. A tireless champion of books and reading, Patterson has created a new children's book imprint, JIMMY Patterson, whose mission is simple: 'We want every kid who finishes a JIMMY Book to say: "PLEASE GIVE ME ANOTHER BOOK.'" He has donated more than one million books to students and soldiers and has over four hundred Teacher Eduction Scholarships at twenty-four colleges and universities. He has also donated millions to independent bookstores and school libraries. Patterson will be investing proceeds from the sales of JIMMY Patterson Books in pro-reading initiatives.

Visit James Patterson at:

http://www.jamespatterson.com/

Book Spotlight- Little Girl Gone by Gerry Schmitt/ Laura Childs

Happy Thursday! Today's Book Spotlight is Little Girl Gone by Gerry Schmitt (a.k.a. Laura Childs). It's her non-cozy mystery debut that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Print Length: 329 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0425281760
Publisher: Berkley (July 5, 2016)
Publication Date: July 5, 2016
Sold by: Penguin Group (USA) LLC



In the first Afton Tangler thriller, the unforgiving cold of a Minnesota winter hides the truth behind an even more chilling crime...

On a frozen night in an affluent neighborhood of Minneapolis, a baby is abducted from her home after her teenage babysitter is violently assaulted. The parents are frantic, the police are baffled, and, with the perpetrator already in the wind, the trail is getting colder by the second.

As family liaison officer with the Minneapolis P.D., it’s Afton Tangler’s job to deal with the emotional aftermath of terrible crimes—but she’s never faced a case quite as brutal as this. Each development is more heartbreaking than the last and the only lead is a collection of seemingly unrelated clues.

But, most disturbing of all, Afton begins to suspect that this case is not isolated. Whoever did this has taken babies before—and if Afton doesn’t solve this crime soon, more children are sure to go missing . . .



About the Author

Gerry Schmitt is the author of the Afton Tangler Thrillers, and, writing under the pseudonym Laura Childs, the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty-five novels, the Tea Shop, Scrapbooking, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. She is the former CEO of her own marketing firm, has won TV and radio awards, and produced two reality TV shows. She and her professor husband enjoy collecting art, travel, and their two Shar-Pei dogs. 

http://www.laurachilds.com/

Non- Cozy Mystery- Silent City by Alex Segura

Happy Saturday! Today's Mystery is Silent City (Pete Fernandez Mystery) by Alex Segura. Released on March 15,2016.

Series: Pete Fernandez
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Polis Books (March 15, 2016)
Language: English



"The new George Pelecanos is here." — Son of Spade

Pete Fernandez is a mess. He's on the brink of being fired from his middle-management newspaper job. His fiancée has up and left him. Now, after the sudden death of his father, he's back in his hometown of Miami, slowly drinking himself into oblivion. But when a co-worker he barely knows asks Pete to locate a missing daughter, Pete finds himself dragged into a tale of murder, drugs, double-crosses and memories bursting from the black heart of the Miami underworld - and, shockingly, his father's past.

Making it up as he goes and stumbling as often as he succeeds, Pete's surreptitious quest becomes the wake-up call he's never wanted but has always needed - but one with deadly consequences. Welcome to Silent City, a story of redemption, broken friendships, lost loves and one man's efforts to make peace with a long-buried past to save the lives of the few friends he has left. SILENT CITY is a gritty, heartfelt debut novel that harkens back to classic P.I. tales, but infused with the Miami that only Alex Segura knows.

Alex Segura is a novelist and comic book writer. He is the author of the Miami crime novels featuring Pete Fernandez, SILENT CITY and DOWN THE DARKEST STREET (Polis Books).

He has also written a number of comic books, including the best-selling and critically acclaimed ARCHIE MEETS KISS storyline, the “Occupy Riverdale” story, and the upcoming ARCHIE MEETS RAMONES.
He lives in New York with his wife and son. He is a Miami native. 

http://www.alexsegura.com/

Non- Cozy Mystery - Resolve by J.J. Hensley

Today's featured book is a Non- Cozy- Resolve bu J.J. Hensley.

Paperback: 250 pages
Publisher: Permanent Press (NY) (March 31, 2013)
Language: English


"Finalist - 2014 International Thriller Writers Awards - Best First Novel Named one of the BEST BOOKS of 2013 by Suspense Magazine! Top Ten Books of the Year - Authors on the Air In the Pittsburgh Marathon, 18,000 people from all over the world will participate. Over 9,500 will run the half marathon, 4,000 will run in relays while others plan to run brief stretches. 4,500 people will attempt to cover the full 26.2 miles. Over 200 of the participants will quit, realizing it just wasn't their day.

More than 100 will get injured and require medical treatment and one man is going to be murdered. When Dr. Cyprus Keller lines up to start the race, he knows who is going to die for one simple reason. He's going to kill them. As a professor of Criminology at Three Rivers University, and a former police officer, Dr. Cyprus Keller is an expert in criminal behavior and victimology. However, when one of his female students is murdered and his graduate assistant attempts to kill him, Keller finds himself frantically swinging back and forth between being a suspect and a victim. When the police assign a motive to the crimes that Keller knows cannot be true, he begins to ask questions that somebody out there does not want answered."

J.J. HENSLEY is a former police officer and former Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service who draws upon his experiences in law enforcement to write stories full of suspense and insight. Hensley, who is originally from Huntington, WV, graduated from Penn State University with a B.S. in Administration of Justice and has a M.S. in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University. The author lives with his family near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Hensley’s novel RESOLVE was named one of the BEST BOOKS OF 2013 by Suspense Magazine and was named a finalist for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers organization.

He is a member of the International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime.

http://www.hensley-books.com/

Weekly Wrap Up #23

It was a wonderful week here. Here is what happened!

May 30th- First in Series- The Break-up doctor by Pheobe Fox
May 31st- Author Spotlight- Pheobe Fox
June 1st -Murder Most Fowl by Edith Maxwell 
June 2nd- Book Spotlight- Trial Of Echoes by Rachel Howzell Hall 
June 3rd- Blog Tour- Eclair and Present Danger by Laura Bradford
June 3rd- What's New? Dressed to Kilt by Hannah Reed
June 4th- Non- cozy mystery Spotlight - Silent City by Carrie Smith



Coming this week:


June 6th- First in Series- Murder She Barked by Krista Davis
June 7th- Cozy Book Release day/ Author Spotlight-Krista Davis
June 8th- Guess the Mystery by Edith Maxwell
June 9th- Blog Tour - A Golden Cage by Shelly Freydont
June 10th- What's New? Toasting Up Trouble by Linda Wiken
June 11th- Blog Tour- Teacup and Carnage by Lynn Cahoon


Have a great week!!

Non- Cozy Spotlight- Silent City by Carrie Smith

Today I am featuring a Non-Cozy mystery. Silent City(A Claire Cordella Mystery) by Carrie Smith. Released on October 15th 2015. This is the first book in the series and it kicked it off with a gripping and captivating start. With a strong cast of characters and an intense story you will want this to be on your list as you get ready for the December 13th release of Forgotten City (book 2).

Series: A Claire Codella Mystery (Book 1)
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (October 13, 2015)
Language: English



NYPD Detective Claire Codella has just won a tough battle with cancer. Now she has to regain her rightful place on the force. she hasn't even been back a day when Hector Sanchez, a maverick public school principal, is found murdered. The school is on high alert. The media is howling for answers. And Codella catches the high-profile case at the worst possible time.

As she races to track down the killer, she uncovers dirty politics, questionable contracts, and dark secrets. Each discovery she makes brings her closer to the truth, but the truth may cost Codella her life.

Silent City, Carrie Smith's explosive debut, will introduce readers to a brilliant new voice in crime fiction that will grab them and not let go until the very last page and a fearless heroine who they will enjoy for years to come.


About the author:

Carrie Smith grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan and attended the Residential College at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where she majored in Creative Writing and Literature. Carrie is the recipient of three Hopwood Awards for Fiction as well as a fellowship at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown. She has been a finalist in Nimrod Magazine’s Katherine Anne Porter prize for fiction, and she is the author of a literary first novel, Forget Harry published by Simon & Schuster.

Carrie moved to New York City in 1981. By day, she is the Senior Vice President, Publisher of Benchmark Education Company. She lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with her partner and eighteen year old twins. Forgotten City is her second Detective Claire Codella mystery.

http://www.carriesmith.nyc/

Book Spotlight- Trial Of Echoes by Rachel Howzell Hall

Trial of Echoes by Rachel Howzell Hall is the third book in the A Detective Elouise Norton Novel series. Released on May 31st.

Series: Detective Elouise Norton (Book 3)
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Forge Books (May 31, 2016)
Language: English



Trail of Echoes: the latest Elouise Norton mystery novel from critically acclaimed writer Rachel Howzell Hall.

On a rainy spring day in Los Angeles, homicide detective Elouise "Lou" Norton is called away from a rare lunch date to Bonner Park, where the body of thirteen-year-old Chanita Lords has been discovered. When Lou and her partner, Colin Taggert, take on the sad task of informing Chanita's mother, Lou is surprised to find herself in the apartment building she grew up in.

Chanita was interested in photography and, much like Lou, a black girl destined to leave the housing projects behind. Her death fits a chilling pattern of exceptional African-American girls--dancers, artists, honors scholars-gone recently missing in the same school district, the one Lou attended not so long ago.

Lou is valiantly trying to make a go of life after her divorce and doing everything she can to avoid her long estranged father. She races to catch a serial killer, but he remains frustratingly out of her reach, sending cryptic cyphers and taunting clues that arrive too late to prevent the next death. This one is personal, and it's only a matter of time before he comes after Lou herself.

"Gives voice to a rare figure in crime fiction: a highly complex, fully imagined black female detective." - Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review



About the author:

Who am I?

Rachel was born in Los Angeles, California fifteen days after Paul McCartney announced the split of the Beatles. As a child, she kept a pen in her hand, writing everywhere—in notebooks, on loose-leaf paper, in her big brother’s prep-school yearbook and on the back of church bulletins. But never on walls, buildings or freeway overpasses. That is graffiti.

For four years, she lived in the forest at UC Santa Cruz. There, she received a degree in English and American Literature, and helped to charter the Pi Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Incorporated.

She left Santa Cruz in 1992 and returned to Los Angeles. Since then, she has worked a variety of jobs, including for incredible organizations like PEN Center USA West, American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, City of Hope and Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

In 2002, her debut novel, A QUIET STORM, was published by Scribner to great notice, including reviews from O Magazine and Publishers Weekly, with a starred review from Library Journal and also chosen as a “Rory’s Book Club” selection, the must-read book list for fictional television character Rory Gilmore of The Gilmore Girls. She also published two e-novels: THE VIEW FROM HERE and NO ONE KNOWS YOU’RE HERE. In 2014, the first novel in the Detective Elouise Norton series was published, the critically acclaimed LAND OF SHADOWS, which received a starred review in Publishers Weekly and included on LA Times’ ‘143 Books to Read This Summer’ and the UK Telegraph’s ‘Top Ten Crime Books for Summer.’ In 2015, she followed up with the second in the series, SKIES OF ASH. New York Times called Lou Norton “someone you want on your side.” Rachel was also a featured writer on NPR Crime in the City. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Mystery Writers of America, and has participated as a mentor in the Association of Writers & Writing Programs’ Writer-to-Writer program.

The next novel in the Detective Elouise Norton series, TRAIL OF ECHOES, will be published in May 2016. She lives with her husband and daughter in Los Angeles, the land of exceptional drought – despite the recent El Nino effect.

Shelley's Review- Girl on the Run by Daryl Wood Gerber

My review for this week is Girl on the Run by Daryl Wood Gerber.

Paperback: 296 pages
Publisher: Chucklin, Inc. (April 7, 2016)
Language: English



“Readers will be shocked by this exciting, fast-paced thriller’s twists and turns." Kirkus Reviews From nationally bestselling author Daryl Wood Gerber comes a gripping new suspense!

When a fairytale fantasy night becomes a nightmare, Chessa Paxton must run for her life...but will the truth set her free?

Chessa Paxton, an event planner in Lake Tahoe, celebrates a successful night at the Happily Ever After Ball, but her dream quickly becomes a nightmare when she wakes up beside the body of her dead husband. Nauseous and confused, feeling as if she's been drugged, she can't explain to the sheriff why her princess costume is bloodied. With her father already a convicted murderer, she feels invisible shackles ratcheting onto her wrists and ankles. She runs! But she can't escape vivid flashes of memory: a massacre in a meadow; men and women in fairy tale costumes; Snow White’s dead body shielding her from bullets.

Though Chessa is a former costumer and a master of disguise, she quickly learns that hiding while trying to prove herself innocent is the most difficult task imaginable. Especially when the sheriff wants to throw her in jail and the real killer wants to silence her forever.

Girl on the Run is a gripping and intense suspense mystery that will have you on the edge of your seat. Fast-paced and action packed you will be pulled in from the start. Daryl Wood Gerber has dipped her hand into the suspense mystery genre and has a hit on her hands with her debut book. Get it today for a thrilling ride.

Agatha Award-winning and nationally bestselling author DARYL WOOD GERBER ventures into the world of suspense with her gripping debut novel, GIRL ON THE RUN.

Daryl also writes the bestselling Cookbook Nook Mysteries.

As Avery Aames, she pens the bestselling Cheese Shop Mysteries.

Fun tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in "Murder, She Wrote". In addition, she has jumped out of a perfectly good airplane and hitchhiked around Ireland by herself. She absolutely adores Lake Tahoe, where GIRL ON THE RUN is set, and she has a frisky Goldendoodle named Sparky.

Visit Daryl at www.darylwoodgerber.com.

Last Light by Cj Lyons

Welcome to another exciting tour with Novel Publicity. Today we're pleased to share an interview with our featured author, CJ Lyons!

In a world of constantly changing markets, readership and trends, we’d like to talk to you a bit more today on how you cope with constant change as an author. Social media can be hard to manage for some people, do you have any useful tips for how to use social media as an author?

CJ: If it energizes you and makes you more creative, helps you get more words on the page, then have a blast! If you see it as a burden that sucks the creativity from your day (that’s me, lol!) then don’t worry about it. It’s just one more tool and there are many ways to reach readers.

How much time to you devote to social media for your books each day (or week)?

CJ: I’m lucky if I remember to post something during any given week, so almost nothing. If I am there spending time on social media it’s not because it’s scheduled but rather because my readers are engaging me. Conversations are much easier for me than remembering to come up with a clever meme and posting it.

Many authors use platforms such as Facebook to escape when they suffer writer's’ block. Do you ever do this, and have you found any creative ways to use social media to inspire your writing?

CJ: Nope…I never go to FB except to post or answer reader’s comments/messages. I’m a hermit by nature and I’ve learned to embrace the fact that I’m simply not “social” in the social media sense. Plus, any time/words spent on social media are less times/words spent on getting the story told—which is what my readers keep telling me is what they want, more books.

Your www.cjlyons.net offers lots of extras including your books, research links and tips for writers. Can you tell us a bit about building your site? Who helped you, and how much work is it to keep up to date?

CJ: I built it myself—after several disastrous encounters with web designers who’d flake out on me right when I needed them most. But remember, former ER doc here, so I’m a total control freak. I’ve had the site since 2004 so it’s grown over time. Now it’s so large that my biggest challenge is pruning the clutter, something I’m slowly tackling. I don’t blog, so it really doesn’t take a lot of time to keep up other than listing new titles.

Now that we’ve talked about your website, we’d like to know if you read blogs, or have other favorite websites, and if you do, what’s your favorite right now?

CJ: I run my life from my email inbox so I only follow blogs/newsfeeds that have an email subscription option (you wouldn’t believe how many don’t!) I follow my friend, Joanna Penn’s writing blog, TheCreativePenn.com because she’s brilliant and so energetic—I recommend her site to any aspiring author. Other than that the main blogs I follow are sites like the FBI, Officer.com, The Browser, the New York Times and Washington Post, Big Think, the Crime Report, and LifeHacker—places where quirky stories come my way and inspire my writing.

You have links to facebook and twitter social media links on your website. Is there a specific channel you’re more likely to be active on, and if so why?

CJ: My twitter followers are mainly fellow writers and I’ve pretty much given up on it—it’s overwhelming for someone who doesn’t go online very much. I have a FB page (https://www.facebook.com/cj.lyons) and enjoy interacting with readers there, but I don’t post much except fun quotes I stumble across (I collect quotes), the occasional news on my books, and deals on good books that come across my inbox. Sometimes I’ll do events there with fellow thriller authors like Toni McGee Causey or Debra Webb—authors I know my readers will enjoy hearing from. But it’s all very low key.

Newsletters are one of many ways authors like to keep in touch with their readership. Can you tell us what subscribers can expect when they sign up for your newsletter, and how often they might hear from you?

CJ: I try to do at least one Thrillers with Heart newsletter a month (it always amazes me when readers write and ask for more!) and I keep it short and sweet—usually a featured deal on a book, or an exclusive read for my fans, occasionally a special guest feature with a fellow thriller author my fans know and love. When you sign up for my Thrillers with Heart mailing list, you’ll receive a free copy of Snake Skin, the first Lucy Guardino FBI Thriller with your welcome email. I also send other free reads when inspiration hits me and I can get organized enough to upload the files.

Where do you go for social media and marketing advice? Know any great books or tips other authors might find useful?

CJ: As I mentioned above, Joanna Penn is the shining star here. Also the guys at the Self Publishing Podcast are awesome. There’s so much advice out there, it’s really hard not to find the answer to any questions you have. Years ago that wasn’t the case, so I began my own writing blog, NoRulesJustWrite.com in order to give something back. It’s still there with all the resources available but I’ve stopped adding new material as my mission of showing people their publishing options was accomplished.

One last chance...If you were doing it all over again, would you change anything about how you published, got cover art made, or got the word out about your books?

CJ: When I first self-published back in 2009 no one really knew what it was all about. I started because my NYC publisher insisted on releasing only one book a year and my readers were deluging me with emails asking for more. I even offered to give my publisher free short stories to release between books to keep the readers happy but they refused. So when I heard about Kindle and self-publishing I realized I had the answer—I could publish manuscripts that for a variety of reasons had been accepted by NYC publishers, professionally copyedited, etc, but never made it to actual publication. That way my readers would be happy and remember my name in between my print books. There were few freelance graphic designers doing cover art in those days and that’s my one regret. I found one within six months of publishing once I realized that my e-books were really taking off, but I wish I’d had one from the beginning. Also, even though my earlier books had been through NYC publisher’s copy-editors, I realized early on that copy-editing wasn’t the same as proofreading and I quickly hired freelance proofreaders and revised those manuscripts. Now, I often have the cover art before I even start a book (my designer does them in batches to keep the series branded) and I hire the same developmental editors, copyeditors, and proofreaders that my NYC publishers use! I love it when readers can’t tell the difference between my self-published titles and my NYC published ones.

Thanks for joining us today Cj!

About the Books

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author CJ Lyons. For fans of Lisa Gardner, Tami Hoag, and Jeffery Deaver: "Everything a great thriller should be--action packed, authentic, and intense." ~#1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child After leaving the FBI, life should be easy, right? Wrong--not if you're Lucy Guardino. Lucy has always seen herself as a normal Pittsburgh soccer mom who happened to have a job chasing the worst of the worst. But after a violent predator targets her family and she's injured, Lucy sacrifices her career with the FBI in order to keep her family safe. What is she now that she's no longer a FBI Special Agent? she wonders as she begins her new job with the Beacon Group, a private consulting firm that specializes in cold cases and bringing justice to forgotten victims.Lucy fears she's traded being a kick-ass law enforcement officer for being a civilian mother hen shepherding a team of amateurs. What is she now that she's no longer a FBI Special Agent?

she wonders as she begins her new job with the Beacon Group, a private consulting firm that specializes in cold cases and bringing justice to forgotten victims.Lucy fears she's traded being a kick-ass law enforcement officer for being a civilian mother hen shepherding a team of amateurs. Her fears appear justified when she's partnered with TK O'Connor, a former Marine MP struggling with her transition to life back home, and sent to rural Texas to investigate a case that's more than cold, it's already been closed with the killers behind bars for the past twenty-nine years. But...who really killed Lily Martin, her infant daughter, and husband?

Why was an entire family targeted for anihilation? What price will Lucy pay when she fights to expose a truth people will kill to keep buried? LAST LIGHT is the seventh Lucy Guardino novel, but they can be read out of order. If you enjoy captivating suspense, intelligent storytelling,strong and vulnerable characters, and a freight-train pace, then you'll love this adrenaline rush of a heart-pounding thriller. Join the millions of readers who've fallen for CJ's Thrillers with Heart and grab your copy of LAST LIGHT today!

My Review;

This fast-paced action filled drama will keep you mesmerized by the story. The cast of Characters are strong and intense. A gripping non- stop read you won't want to put down. Cj Lyons is a Brilliant story teller and this book shows that. I loved the ride with each page and look forward to reading the next one.

 



Pediatric ER doctor turned New York Times bestselling thriller writer CJ Lyons has been a storyteller all her life—something that landed her in many time-outs as a kid. She writes her Thrillers with Heart for the same reason that she became a doctor: because she believes we all have the power to change our world. In the ER she witnessed many acts of courage by her patients and their families, learning that heroes truly are born every day. When not writing, she can be found walking the beaches near her Lowcountry home, listening to the voices in her head and plotting new and devious ways to create mayhem for her characters. To learn more about her Thrillers with Heart go to www.CJLyons.net Connect with CJ on her website, Facebook, or Twitter.

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Book Trivia hosted by J.J. Hensley

It's time for trivia and this weeks host is...J.J. Hensley! I am thrilled to have J.J. with us today. You can find J.J. on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hensleybooks  Good Luck everyone!

Hi! I’m J.J. Hensley, the author of Resolve, Measure Twice, Chalk’s Outline as well as some shorter works. Thanks to Shelley for hosting a little spring time trivia and letting me take part. I thought I’d throw in a few questions about my books and maybe a random one just for fun. If you haven’t read my books, then feel free to hazard some wild guesses. It will be fun for me to use those answers to fill in the storylines. You know… like a crime fiction version of Mad Libs. I’ll even toss in a random trivia question related to my former profession – law enforcement. The winner receives a sign copy of my thriller, Measure Twice (or an ebook version if preferred).


1. In Resolve, Cyprus Keller works at a fictitious university in Pittsburgh. What is the name of the university?

2. In Measure Twice, homicide detective Jackson Channing gets a new partner. What is her name?

3. In Chalk’s Outline, Cyprus Keller and Jackson Channing meet and get off to a bit of a rough start. What is it that Channing does to Keller’s home that creates some tension?

4. Resolve is set against the backdrop of the Pittsburgh Marathon. When Cyprus Keller runs, what does he tend to snack on to maintain his strength?


RANDOM QUESTION: Where does the term “cop” come from? (two possible answers)


J.J. HENSLEY is a former police officer and former Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service. He is the author of the novels Resolve, Measure Twice, and Chalk’s Outline. J.J. graduated from Penn State University with a B.S. in Administration of Justice and has a M.S. degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University. He lives near Pittsburgh, PA. Mr. Hensley’s first novel RESOLVE was named one of the BEST BOOKS OF 2013 by Suspense Magazine and was named a finalist for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers organization.


He is a member of the International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime.


Note: A portion of sales for Measure Twice go toward breast cancer research through the non-profit group Par for The Cure.

Author Spotlight- Barbara Fradkin

This week's Author Spotlight goes out to the lovely Barbara Fradkin. I was so thrilled to have met her last year. She is a delight to know. If you haven't read her books yet, what are you waiting for? They are so amazing!

Barbara Fradkin (nee Currie) was born in Montreal and obtained her B.A. at McGill University and M.A. at the University of Toronto, before moving to Ottawa to work and raise a family. A few years later she returned to the University of Ottawa for her PhD in clinical psychology, and after more than twenty-five years as a child psychologist, she retired in order to devote more time to her first passion, writing.


Although she first appeared in print in 1995, Barbara has been writing since she was six and has always had an affinity for the dark side. Her work as a child psychologist provides ample insight and inspiration for stories. She is an active member of Canada's writing community as well as part of the notorious Ladies' Killing Circle, which edited anthologies of mystery short stories by Canadian women. She has three children and two dogs, and in whatever spare time she can find, she loves outdoor activities like travelling, skiing and kayaking, as well as reading, of course.


Barbara's dark, compelling short stories have appeared in mystery magazines and anthologies such as the New Canadian Noir series and The Ladies Killing Circle series. She is a two-time winner in Storyteller Magazine's annual Great Canadian Short Story Contest, as well as a four-time nominee for the Crime Writers' of Canada Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story, including "Voices from the Deep" in 2007. Her latest short story, "The Lighthouse", has just been published in a new anthology of chilling short stories inspired by Edgar Allan Poe and entitled nEvermore! Tales of Murder, Mystery, and the Macabre.

To date, she is best known for her award-winning police procedural series featuring the exasperating, quixotic Ottawa Police Inspector Michael Green, published by Dundurn Press. There are ten books in the series, the latest, None So Blind, having been released in the fall of 2014. The series has garnered an impressive four Best Novel nominations from the Crime Writers of Canada, and both Fifth Son (2004) and Honour Among Men (2006) won the Best Novel Award in their respective years. The Whisper of Legends (2013) was also shortlisted for the Ottawa Book Award. The themes for the Inspector Green novels are often drawn from her own experiences as well as from issues that trouble her. She has explored topics ranging from war crimes to child sexual abuse to love gone awry.


Barbara has always been concerned about social equality and literacy, and so was thrilled to become involved in the new Rapid Reads initiative by Orca Books, creating the Cedric O'Toole series of short, easy-read, fast-paced books for reluctant and emergent readers. The series is set in poor, hard-scrabble, Eastern Ontario farm country, loosely based on the Sharbot Lake area where she has a cottage. Cedric O'Toole is an unlikely and reluctant hero; a country handyman who barely scraped through high school and struggles with language but has an inventive mind and magic hands.


Behind that Door, was shortlisted for the inaugural Arthur Ellis Best Novella award in 2013. Stay tuned for the next!

First in a Series- Do or Die by Barbara Fradkin

Happy Monday! This weeks First in a Series is Do or Die (An Inspector Green Mystery) by Barbara Fradkin . Leave a comment and e-mail for a chance to win. You will have until Thursday and then the winner will be announced.

Series: An Inspector Green Mystery (Book 1)
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Napoleon and Co; 1st edition (October 1, 2000)
Language: English


Ottawa Homicide Inspector Michael Green is absolutely obsessed with his job, a condition which has almost ruined his marriage several times. When the biggest case of his career comes up, his position, his relationships and several lives are put into grave danger. A young graduate student and scion of a rich family is found expertly stabbed in the stacks of a university library, but no one seems to have the slightest idea why. But as Green probes into the circumstances of the young man’s life, a tangled web of jealousy and intrigue is revealed. Green finds himself in the middle of a rivalry in the delicate arena of university politics, where gigantic egos regularly collide. Was it the diligent but socially inept researcher, or the macho ladies-man golden boy of the laboratory? Or was it a crime of passion involving the over-protective family of his beautiful new girlfriend? When the murderer strikes again, Green realizes that he must waste no time in solving the case, no matter what the consequences may be.




About the Author:

Barbara Fradkin (nee Currie) was born in Montreal and obtained her B.A. at McGill University and M.A. at the University of Toronto, before moving to Ottawa to work and raise a family. A few years later she returned to the University of Ottawa for her PhD in clinical psychology, and after more than twenty-five years as a child psychologist, she retired in order to devote more time to her first passion, writing.

Blog Tour- Secrets in the Stone by Tessa Harris

On tour this week- Secrets in the Stone(A Doctor Silkstone Mystery) by Tessa Harris. Released on February 23rd.

Series: Dr. Thomas Silkstone Mystery
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Kensington (February 23, 2016)
Language: English



Within the mysteries of the body, especially those who have been murdered, 18th-century anatomist Dr. Thomas Silkstone specializes in uncovering the tell-tale clues that lead towards justice…

Newly released from the notorious asylum known as Bedlam, Lady Lydia Farrell finds herself in an equally terrifying position--as a murder suspect--when she stumbles upon the mutilated body of Sir Montagu Malthus in his study at Boughton Hall.

Meanwhile Dr. Thomas Silkstone has been injured in a duel with a man who may or may not have committed the grisly deed of which Lydia is accused. Despite his injury, Thomas hopes to clear his beloved's good name by conducting a postmortem on the victim. With a bit of detective work, he learns that Montagu's throat was slit by no ordinary blade, but a ceremonial Sikh dagger from India--a clue that may be connected to the fabled lost mines of Golconda.

From the mysterious disappearance of a cursed diamond buried with Lydia's dead husband, to the undying legend of a hidden treasure map, Thomas must follow a trail of foreign dignitaries, royal agents--and even more victims--to unveil the sinister and shocking secrets in the stones…

This fast-paced drama filled with action and suspense will have you reading through the night. The characters and storyline are so inviting and captivated from the start. If you like Historical read then this is a book you won't want to miss out on. This is the first one I have read by this author and I enjoyed it and plan to go back to read more.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Since leaving Oxford University with a History degree, Tessa Harris has been a journalist and editor, contributing to many national publications such as The Times and The Telegraph. She has also acted as a literary publicist for several well-known authors. Readers can visit her website at tessaharrisauthor.com.



Giveaway: Leave a comment and email for a chance to win a copy of Secrets in the Stone by Tessa Harris. You will have until March 19th @12 AM EST.