SUSPENSE SISTERS: MAY GIVEAWAY

Suspense Sisters: May Giveaway

WHAT IS YOUR CHARACTER IS WRONG

One of the hardest things to do as a suspense writer isn’t creating a clever twist or a chilling villain. It’s allowing your main character to fail.

Not just stumble. Not just hesitate. Fail

As writers, we spend so much time building competent, capable protagonists – especially in suspense. Detectives, profilers, investigators – these are people who are supposed to notice what others miss. Readers trust them. We trust them. So, when they make a mistake, when they follow the wrong lead, trust the wrong person, or come to the wrong conclusion, it can feel uncomfortable. Even risky.

But here’s the truth: those mistakes are often where the story comes alive. A character who gets everything right may be impressive, but a character who gets something wrong becomes human. And more than that, it raises the stakes.

In suspense, being wrong isn’t just embarrassing. It can be dangerous. It can cost time. It can cost trust. And sometimes, it can cost lives. That kind of weight changes everything in the story. It deepens the emotional impact of the novel. It forces your characters to question themselves. And it gives readers something powerful to connect with, because we all know what it feels like to realize we were wrong about something that mattered.

In the second book of my new series, “The Holmes and Watson Files,” my protagonist comes face-to-face with that reality. What he believed was settled isn’t settled at all. A man who spent years in prison – because of a case Detective Nate Holmes helped build – may be innocent. As Nate begins to see the truth, the pressure of his possible mistake presses in from every side. He learns that sometimes the past doesn’t stay buried – and sometimes it turns out we buried the wrong truth.

For an author, the key, of course, is balance. The mistake has to make sense. It has to come from who the character is, their past experiences, their biases, their fears. When that happens, it doesn’t weaken the story. It strengthens it. It also opens the door for one of the most satisfying elements in suspense: redemption.

When a character recognizes their mistake and chooses to face it – to correct it, learn from it, and keep going despite the cost – that’s when readers become engaged with your story. That’s when it stops being just about solving a mystery and becomes about something deeper.

So, the next time you’re tempted to let your character be the smartest person in the room, consider this:

What if they’re not?

What if they’re wrong?

You might just find that’s where your story truly begins.

Leave a comment, along with your contact information, and you could win a copy of either SHATTERED SANCTUARY or DARK DESIGN.

SUSPENSE SISTERS: APRIL GIVEAWAY

Suspense Sisters: April Giveaway

BOOK REVIEW from a Recent Suspense Sister Book

Marji Laine here. 

This month, I chose a Love Inspired Suspense from suspense sister Sharon Dunn! And this one has all the things that I love: cute kids, intense suspense, romantic chemistry... and dogs (and I LOVE beagles)!

Best friends all their lives, Raina McCord has stands beside Kenyon through the devastation of his wife's sudden death and becomes a mother to his twin sons when Kenyon is presumed dead after an attack. But facing the disappearance of one those precious three-year-olds awakens not only mommy instincts, but stirs up feelings for Kenyon that she'd never known she had. 

K-9 officer Kenyon Graves is undone with the threat of losing one of his boys. His attention divides between the needs of a treacherous case that puts his life at stake more than once and the needs of the makeshift family that he and his best friend has somehow created. But learning that the would-be kidnapper becomes a would-be murderer with Raina in the sites is a game changer. 

When I say this book had it all, I wasn't kidding! The suspense is as non-stop as the romantic tension. And, as a mom of twins, I can tell you that the engagement that Sharon Dunn created within the four of them is realistic and downright delightful. 

Here's a little more about this book: 

When a toddler goes missing, a K-9 team must move fast.

A family trip to the Wind Caves National Park quickly turns into a nightmare when K-9 officer Kenyon Graves discovers one of his twin boys has been abducted. Now Kenyon needs the help of his team and his longtime friend Raina McCord to save his toddler son. But the kidnappers are elusive—and intent on killing anyone who stands in the way of their sinister scheme. With threats closing in, time is of the essence to catch these criminals…before Kenyon and Raina pay the ultimate price.

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

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There's just something special about K-9 suspense. The dogs bring something warm to the stories. Have you ever gotten to read one? Tell me about it in the comments and you just might win an e-copy of this book. 

Here's the link to buy your own copy of Double Protection Duty. 

And I highly recommend this book, and I'm looking forward to her next one. Tracking the Taken Child releases on April 28th! 

WHAT'S HOT in Inspirational Suspense and Mystery

Marji Laine here. 

I'm so excited to share the latest release from Suspense Sister Sharon Dunn. TRACKING THE TAKEN CHILD sounds like another winner from this amazing author! 

This is what she has to say about it: "I would say that book shows how powerful the bond between mother and daughter can be."

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A little girl has vanished…

Can a K-9 team find her?

Preschool teacher Lydia Caldwell’s peaceful day in the Rockies becomes her most harrowing nightmare when she’s pushed over a mountain ledge and her three-year-old daughter is abducted. Lydia must now entrust her life and her child’s fate to K-9 Officer River Jameson and his yellow Lab partner, Frankie. As the danger escalates and the trail grows colder by the second, River and Frankie work tirelessly to track down the kidnapper. Is the culprit Lydia’s ex…or is someone from her past seeking revenge? Will River’s skill and Frankie’s instincts save an innocent child—and protect Lydia from the elusive criminal targeting her?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

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Get your copy HERE! 

THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS

We have exciting things planned for you this week on the Suspense Sisters!

On Tuesday, Suspense Sister Marji Laine will tell us what’s hot in inspirational suspense and mystery.

Wednesday, we’ll hear from Marji again. She’ll be reviewing Sharon Dunn’s book, DOUBLE PROTECTION DUTY.

When a toddler goes missing, a K-9 team must move fast.

A family trip to the Wind Caves National Park quickly turns into a nightmare when K-9 officer Kenyon Graves discovers one of his twin boys has been abducted. Now Kenyon needs the help of his team and his longtime friend Raina McCord to save his toddler son. But the kidnappers are elusive—and intent on killing anyone who stands in the way of their sinister scheme. With threats closing in, time is of the essence to catch these criminals…before Kenyon and Raina pay the ultimate price.

BUY IT HERE 

Friday, author Nancy Mehl talks about “What If Your Character Is Wrong?” Leave Nancy a comment, along with your contact information, and you could win a copy of either SHATTERED SANCTUARY or DARK DESIGN. (Paperback copies in U.S. only.

SHATTERED SANCTUARY

Was this the last thing she'd ever see? Would she be able to make things right before it was too late?

"God . . ." was all she got out before he lunged toward her.

Grappling with the aftermath of a tragic incident that altered her life, ex-police officer and bestselling mystery author Erin Delaney finds solace in the tranquility of a cabin nestled deep in the Smoky Mountains. But her restful stay is shattered when cries pierce the night, hinting at a lurking presence haunting the woods. When local police chief Adrian Nightengale seeks her help with a carefully arranged murder scene, she is thrust back into the world of crime solving. As they delve into the investigation, Erin's intuition reveals chilling truths about the killer's motives and strategically perfected methods.

Joined by the enigmatic Kaely Quinn-Hunter, a former FBI behavioral analyst, Erin not only embarks on a quest to stop the merciless serial killer, but also confronts the revived ghosts of her past. In a race against time, Erin must defeat her own demons while outmaneuvering a cunning killer or risk becoming the next victim in this deadly game of cat and mouse.

BUY IT HERE 

Don’t forget to enter our monthly contest!

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