Where They Lie…and lie

Where They Lie by Joe Hart

When a private plane carrying the family of Kaylee Volk, vlogger* and social media influencer, plummets into the ocean, Nora McTavish is the one trying to figure out how it all happened. The only survivor of the crash has a story to tell, but Nora isn’t so sure she’s getting the whole truth.

*vlogger: one who blogs via video

Nora is a case worker with the state child protective services agency and she’s familiar with the Volk family: Kaylee and her husband Justin, along with their three foster children. Nora has even had occasion to investigate the family—someone at school has reported that one of the siblings has bruising around the neck, and that child has confirmed that another sibling is responsible.

Nora is devasted by the loss of the three foster children in the plane crash. Her compulsion to continue investigating the case after the children’s deaths has as much to do with her feeling of unease about the whole situation as it does with her personal history of familial abuse and the foster care system. She is a survivor, and it’s her mission to help other kids survive, too.

What I liked most about this book was Nora’s tenacity. She continues to look for answers on behalf of the three kids despite being suspended from her job, a violent personal assault, and a horrifying attack on her home.

The book is told from Nora’s point of view, though occasionally chapters are interspersed with snippets of Kaylee’s vlog, both on-screen and off. There have been reviewers who believe the snippets are extraneous, but I think they serve an important purpose—they show Kaylee’s family as the rest of the world sees them, but they also show a bit of behind-the-scenes tension between family members as Kaylee shoots her videos.

This book is a thriller, no doubt about it. It moves at a rapid pace, unfurling twist after twist as Nora rushes to find answers in the face of increasing risks and soaring stakes.

Where They Lie isn’t just a thriller—it also offers a commentary on the foster care system and the positives and significant negatives of child protective service laws and related state agencies. There’s also a dark, albeit fictional, look at the culture of social media influencers and how society interacts with them.

One thing that’s important to note: if you’re triggered by child abuse, this might not be the book for you. It deals with some pretty heavy topics. But it’s a good read, and one that I recommend if you’re looking for a thriller to keep you up at night.

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A Traitor Among Us: A Mystery of Revolutionary America, is on sale for 99¢/99p this week only! The sale ends at midnight EST on Friday, 2/16/24, so if you haven’t read it, grab your copy now! Click HERE to go to my website, where you can be redirected to your favorite online bookseller.

See you next time!

Amy

Author Spotlight: Cassidy Salem

Today I welcome Cassidy Salem to Reade and Write. Cassidy is the author of the Adina Donati Accidental Sleuth Mystery Series. She’s here today to talk about her latest release, Fit for Murder, the fourth book in the series. Welcome, Cassidy!

Congratulations on your latest release! Tell us a little about the book, Fit for Murder.

In the latest addition to the Adina Donati, Accidental Sleuth Mystery Series, Adina is unable to restrain herself when it looks like someone has done in her Pilates instructor. So what if it was ruled an accidental death? She’s not convinced and sets out to discover the truth – with or without help from her favorite detective.

Tell readers about the first three books in the Adina Donati series.

The Adina Donati, Accidental Sleuth mystery series features a young college graduate and her experiences living alone in Washington, D.C. Adina works at a think tank that focuses on public policy, where current issues (environmental protection, immigration, cybercrime, healthcare, and more) are a natural part of the agenda.

The first book in the series, Think Murder, introduces the reader to Adina and her world as she addresses the challenges of making it on her own in the city. Then, when a friend and colleague is murdered and she finds the body, Adina is drawn into the middle of a murder investigation.

At the start of Dying for Data, her romantic evening with a hot guy goes downhill fast when their dinner is interrupted by the scream of sirens and the arrival of Adina’s favorite detective. Although this is still a cozy mystery, the plot in this one touches on issues related to illegal immigration and crime in the city and the plot is a tad edgier than in other books in the series.

Killer Reputation takes the reader back to the cozier side of Adina’s life. When a colleague meets a violent death, Adina’s not convinced any of the obvious suspects disliked him enough to want him dead.

Tell us more about the main character of the series, Adina Donati: What is her job like at the think tank? What does she do in her spare time? Anything else we should know about her?

Adina is college graduate in her mid-20s who is determined to make it on her own. She works at the Drake Institute for Public Policy Research as an admin assistant. Not her dream job, but it does pay the bills.  And she has a great boss.

Adina is smart and talented, and kind. She has an independent spirit, but she is willing to accept help from others.  In her spare time, she volunteers at an animal shelter, and a different dog from the shelter is featured in each story.

What was the hardest thing about writing Fit for Murder?

Figuring out who the killer was.  I confess, I don’t outline – I just sit down and write with only a vague idea of where a story will go. I knew who I was killing but I only decided who the actual culprit was after I had written more than half of the book.

Did you stick to real places in Washington, DC, to set the story, or did you make things up? What did you keep? What did you make up? Do you prefer one setting to another?

Of course, the well-known locations in city are based on real places and landmarks.  Nonetheless, the smaller parks, pubs, restaurants and such are entirely fictional.  That said, Adina’s basement apartment is loosely based on the apartment I lived in when I moved to D.C. after graduating from college. Like Adina, it was all I could afford when I was unable to land my dream job.

What’s next for Adina Donati?

I have yet to decide exactly what will happen, however  I think it’s time to take Adina and Jonathan out of the city for a weekend in the next book. Who shall I kill off this time? Suggestions anyone?

Are you working on any other writing projects right now?

Yes. Together with Christa Nardi, I am currently working on The Midway Mystery, the fifth book in the Hannah and Tamar YA Mystery series.  The series features two teenaged sisters with a knack for solving mysteries.

What’s your favorite way to promote your books?

I enjoy connecting with readers and other authors on Facebook and other social media.

What is your favorite part of the writing process? Least favorite?

I enjoy letting the characters tell me where they want to go and that “ah-ha” feeling when I have solved my own plot puzzle.

Where can readers find your books?

On Amazon, in paperback and digital editions. They are also available with Kindle Unlimited.

Where can readers connect with you?

• Cassidy’s Bookshelves: https://cassidysalem.wordpress.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdinaDonati/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CSalem11
• My author website: https://cassidysalem.wixsite.com/mysite
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cassidysalem/
• Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cassidy-salem 

Now for some fun rapid-fire questions.

Coffee, tea, or some other beverage?  Diet Coke.

Early bird, night owl, or something in between?  Night owl.

Snacks: sweet or salty? Sweet. Chocolate if possible.

Favorite season? Fall

Favorite color?  Blue

 

Author Bio – Cassidy Salem

Cassidy Salem has always been an avid reader. She is especially fond of mysteries (both cozy and traditional) and police procedurals. Over the years, her favorite mystery authors have included Agatha Christie, Kathy Reichs, Mary Higgins Clark, and John Grisham. When she’s not reading, she enjoys music and spending time with family and friends, and travels with her husband and son whenever possible. Her travels have taken her to destinations throughout the United States, Europe, and Scandinavia.

A member of Sisters-in-Crime, Cassidy is the author of the Adina Donati Mystery Series, which includes Think Murder, Dying for Data, and Killer Reputation. Cassidy co-authors, together with Christa Nardi, a YA mystery series, which includes The Mysterious Package, Mrs. Tedesco’s Missing Cookbook, The Misplaced Dog, and Malicious Mischief.

Until next time,

Amy

Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival: The Recap

On August 10, 2019, Suffolk (Virginia) Tourism and the Suffolk Center for the Cultural Arts hosted the sixth annual Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival. As many of you know, this is my favorite bookish event of the year.

Visiting Suffolk

The Nansemond River, from my hotel room

Suffolk is the largest city in Virginia in terms of land area (430 square miles), but visiting the city is more like visiting a small town where everyone is friendly, welcoming, and eager to show visitors everything their corner of Virginia has to offer.

The history of Suffolk is fascinating and full, and much of it has been preserved for future generations. From its settlement in 1608 to its involvement in both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars to its international recognition as the home of Planters Nuts, Suffolk has played an important role in the cultural history of the United States.

Visitors can tour Riddick’s Folly (which served as a headquarters for the Union Army during the Civil War), Cedar Hill Cemetery (home to one of Virginia’s Civil War trail sites), Planters Peanut Center, and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, among many other attractions.

The authors who have participated in the Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival in past years have had the opportunity to visit Riddick’s Folly and the Cedar Hill Cemetery, as well as participate in Ghost Walks and storytelling walks.

The Festival

Suffolk Center for the Cultural Arts

The festival itself is always held on a Saturday afternoon at the Suffolk Center for the Cultural Arts, a beautifully-restored building that operated as a high school until 1990. Since its reopening in 2006, it has become widely known as a popular venue for musical and theater productions, lectures, art exhibits, and visual and performing arts classes. It is a breathtaking backdrop for the authors to participate in panel discussions, hold workshops, and most importantly, meet and mingle with readers.

This year, the festival highlighted forty mystery authors of all subgenres, from traditional to paranormal to horror and romantic suspense. The featured author was Julie Hyzy, the New York Times bestselling author of 22 mystery novels and lots of short stories. Her interview, conducted by the talented and hilarious mystery writer E.A. Aymar, was a delightful way to learn about her journey as a writer from her beginnings to her crowning achievements.

Panels and Workshops

I was on a panel called “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and the authors on the panel talked about the importance of setting and story ideas. The writers had interesting views on setting and it was great to hear about all the different ways they use setting and atmosphere in their books to heighten suspense.

Other panels included “Strong Women in Fiction and Why We Love Them” and “License to Thrill: Shivery Suspense to Keep You Turning the Pages.” Workshops included “From Novice to Novelist: How to Write a Novel,” “You Wrote Your Novel, Now What?: Publishing World Options,” and “Short Stories vs. Novels: Pathways to Publication.”

The Best Part

Me with my table-mate, the incomparable Nancy Herriman

 

With two awesome readers, Tammy and Greg Porter

 

With a perennial favorite, author Julie Moffett

 

With Festival coordinator and all-around fabulous person, Katie Kelley

 

With good friend and fantastic author Maggie King

 

My table

The art gallery spaces of the Suffolk Center for the Cultural Arts are used to showcase the authors and their books, which are available for purchase and signing all afternoon. It’s a great place for readers to meet authors, talk with them, and take photos. These rooms are where the most enjoyable parts of the day take place.

Every year hundreds of readers come to see the writers, to reconnect with them, to chat, and to talk books. For the writers, it’s a wonderful time to see readers that we can only see once a year and to meet new readers.

For a full list of attending authors, visit https://www.suffolkmysteryauthorsfestival.com/.

As always, Suffolk Tourism and the Suffolk Center for the Cultural Arts are due a huge debt of thanks and gratitude for hosting what many readers and writers consider to be the friendliest and most welcoming book festival of the year.

The Paparazzi

If you’re interested in reading what the Suffolk News Herald wrote about the festival, you can check out the article here.

I hope to see you there next year!

Until next time,

Amy