SIT DOWN WITH JENNIFER DODRILL

 by Patricia Bradley

Good morning! I don't know where you are, but here in Northeast Mississippi, we are having a lovely spring! 

Today I want to introduce you to Jennifer Dodrill. I've known Jen for...a while now. She writes clean fiction, including cozy mysteries, women's fiction, and romantic suspense. Oh, and she's giving away a copy of No Egrets! Just leave a comment to be entered in the drawing. Without further ado, hereeeees Jen.

Jen Dodrill, retired Navy wife and homeschool mom, is living out her dreams on the pages of her books, bringing readers compelling stories of inspiration and hope for good times and bad.

Her family-focused novels depict her values of cooperation, connection, compassion, and community, demonstrating the importance of helping one another brave the waves of the world together. 

As a mother of five, family life and travels have left her with decades of stories to tell, and she cherishes the time she has now to tell them, in between her honored role as Grandma, her passion for reading, and her adoration of all things coffee.

Patricia: How did you get your start writing fiction and what genre do you predominantly write in?

Jen: I started writing years ago, but I never finished anything. This was way before the internet and computers. In 2021, I decided to be intentional and began attending conferences and writing and learning. My first books were cozy mysteries, but I also write romantic suspense, and women’s fiction.

Patricia: What has being published taught you?

Jen: Being published is this wild ride. It’s everything, and then there’s more to do. I love it! But it’s hard work.

Patricia: Absolutely!

What is your favorite part about writing. Least favorite.

I’d rather edit my work than actual write it. Least favorite – waiting on a yes (or no).

Patricia: Me, too!

Patricia: Panster or Plotter?

I’m definitely a panster. I’ve tried plotting, and even thought maybe I could be a plantser! But so far, it’s not working.

Patricia: Goodness! We are so much alike.What do you do when you’re not writing? Any interesting hobbies? 

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Jen: Sometimes a bit of both, but I’m always energized when I have cool ideas.

Patricia: What have you researched that makes you think the FBI might be interested in you?

Too funny! I love this question. Since I write mysteries, I’ve researched how to kill people. I’ve looked at how to use mountain laurel to poison/kill someone for my last romantic suspense.

Patricia: Remind me not to drink any of your teas...

Would you tell us about your last Cozy Mystery book release No Egrets?

Jen: No Egrets is book #3 in my Empty Nesters Cozy Mystery series. The whole series is set in Pensacola, and unlike many cozies, each book leads to the next. The basic murder in each is solved, but there’s an overarching issue too that concludes in No Egrets. 

Patricia: What would you like readers to know about your story/characters? 

I’m committed to writing clean fiction – clean enough that my grandkids could read it any time. My characters are 45+ years old. I love to show hope and encouragement in the 2nd half of life.

Patricia: I love that your heros and heroines are a little older!

Would you share with us what you are working on now?

Jen: My first women’s fiction, Finding Ginny, released April 7th. I’m so excited about that! Then, I will be working on a new cozy series called Sunnyside Sleuths. 

Patricia: I loved Finding Ginny! And I'm excited about your new cozy series, although I'll miss the Empty Nesters!

What is the most valuable piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors? 

Jen: Find other authors to talk to and learn from. Never stop learning. Find a good critique group. Okay, that’s 3 valuable pieces! 😉

Patricia: What’s next from you? 

Jen: After Finding Ginny releases, I’ll work on Sunnyside Scandals, book #1 in the Sunnyside Sleuths series. I also have another romantic suspense that releases in October, Bedlam in Bridal Falls. It’s the 2nd book in the Second Chances: Romance and Mysteries series.

Here's the cover and back cover copy for No Egrets:

Life in Stone Creek Cove is supposed to be peaceful—sunny Florida days, friendly neighbors, and a rookery of beloved egrets nesting near the creek. So when the birds vanish overnight, Peg Howard expects nothing more than a little small-town drama.

She doesn’t expect to find a body.

Volunteered to help search for the missing egrets, Peg teams up with her mother-in-law, Hazel, and quickly discovers that Stone Creek Cove has more secrets than birdwatchers. Rumors spread, tempers flare, and what started as a harmless mystery turns into a full-blown murder investigation.

Already juggling a doting grandmother role, a mischievous new puppy, and two very different men competing for her attention, Peg has no desire to become an amateur sleuth. But when cryptic clues and thinly veiled threats suggest someone wants the truth buried, Peg knows walking away isn’t an option.

As Peg and Hazel dig deeper, they uncover shady deals, long-held grudges, and motives hiding behind polite smiles. And in a town where everyone knows everyone, the killer could be closer than Peg ever imagined.

You can learn more about Jen Dodrill at her website, Jen Dodrill Writes, and check out her other books!

Don't forget to leave a comment and your contact information to be entered in a drawing for NO EGRETS! The winner will be announced next month!

The winner of one of Elizabeth Goddard's books from last month is...Heather!

SUSPENSE SISTERS: APRIL GIVEAWAY

Suspense Sisters: April Giveaway

Review- The Girl Upstairs by Jessica R. Patch

 I've been looking forward to reading The Girl Upstairs by Jessica Patch since I saw the cover on Facebook almost a year ago. Jessica is the Queen of Twists, and I am a lover of twists, so I knew this book would be right up my alley. 

I was blessed with an advanced reader copy, and couldn't put it down until I had the story finished. 

Here is the back cover copy:

Gwen McDaniel’s life is broken. But she knows the perfect place to fix it. Cold Harbor, Maine, an idyllic small town with views of Acadia National Park, is where she used to vacation with her parents as a child. Here, she and Steven can start over, renovating their cliff-side fixer-upper while patching up their marriage. Soon, everything will be better.

Except from the moment they arrive, Gwen sees and hears things, and it’s more than just the drafts and shadows that are part of any old house. Steven downplays her fears, warning her not to fixate on problems as she has in the past. But Gwen spent years as a homicide detective, and her instincts don’t lie. Something happened here. Proof comes when she rips up the attic’s carpet to discover a chilling message carved into the wood underneath.

As Gwen delves into the history of the house and the Cold Harbor community, she begins to piece the fragments together. And gradually, a terrifying picture emerges: A missing girl. A house of horrors. And a dark, decades-old nightmare that is more haunting than Gwen ever imagined…

From the first page, this story had me hooked. The characters had big struggles and the reasons behind those struggles were cloaked in secrets until the climax. 

Typically, I like to try and figure out twists before the reveal. However, when I get the villain right or uncover a hidden truth in the story before I'm supposed to, I'm left with mixed emotions. On one hand, I'm proud of myself for being clever and on the other, I'm a little disappointed, because I ruined the surprise. As I read The Girl Upstairs, I thought I had everything figured out--from the twists to the villain--and boy was a wrong. While I did get one of the twists figured out, the rest of the story took me by surprise in the best possible way!

One of the things I love about Jessica Patch's books is that the stories themselves tend to be pretty dark and spooky, but that darkness makes the light of hope shine so much brighter when the characters embrace truth. So many elements in The Girl Upstairs contributed to the creep factor from the setting on a cliffside surrounded by raging water to the time of year (Halloween). Halloween, especially, brought out the parallel to the masks we can have a tendency to wear. Masks showing who we want people to think we are and those we maybe wish represented us but don't exactly fit. The symbolism was striking and the message of hope in the midst of chaos was profound. 

This book releases on April 28th, and I can't recommend it enough. For a chance to win an ebook copy comment below with your favorite summer vacation destination. To pre-order a copy, click here!

WHAT'S HOT in Inspirational Suspense and Mystery!

Marji Laine here. 

Oh my goodness! This one has just been put at the top of my TBR list! 

---

Special Target: A Christian Suspense Thriller 

by Jerusha Agen (Author)

She’s trying to save the boy’s life. What if he’s supposed to save hers?

For tough-as-nails Chicago social worker Ashley Sorenson, it’s nothing new to risk her life for hurting children. Seeing innocent kids suffer every day may have made her a little cynical, but she’ll stop at nothing to rescue children from miserable circumstances.

But Ashley faces a special challenge when Matthew Borden, a sixteen-year-old with Down syndrome, is orphaned. Finding a suitable foster home for the boy becomes the least of her problems when someone starts threatening her and Matthew.
The sudden appearance of a mysterious FBI agent confirms Ashley’s growing suspicions that Matthew is no ordinary teen. The boy she thought no one wanted is wanted by many…dead or alive.

Dodging danger at every turn, Ashley races to find the secrets that could save Matthew’s life. When the truth unearths her own dark past and threatens more than their lives, the God Matthew trusts may be her only hope for rescue.

A gripping and gritty standalone Christian suspense thriller from the bestselling author of the Guardians Unleashed Series.

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 author A.D. Lawrence when she reviews THE GIRL UPSTAIRS by Jessica Patch. Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of this suspenseful book!

She bought this house to save her marriage. Unearthing its secrets might just claim her life.

.

Gwen McDaniel’s life is broken. But she knows the perfect place to fix it. Cold Harbor, Maine, an idyllic small town with views of Acadia National Park, is where she used to vacation with her parents as a child. Here, she and Steven can start over, renovating their cliff-side fixer-upper while patching up their marriage. Soon, everything will be better.

Except from the moment they arrive, Gwen sees and hears things, and it’s more than just the drafts and shadows that are part of any old house. Steven downplays her fears, warning her not to fixate on problems as she has in the past. But Gwen spent years as a homicide detective, and her instincts don’t lie. Something happened here. Proof comes when she rips up the attic’s carpet to discover a chilling message carved into the wood underneath.

As Gwen delves into the history of the house and the Cold Harbor community, she begins to piece the fragments together. And gradually, a terrifying picture emerges: A missing girl. A house of horrors. And a dark, decades-old nightmare that is more haunting than Gwen ever imagined…

ORDER IT HERE 

Friday, Suspense Sister Patricia Bradley interviews author Jennifer Dodrill about her book, NO EGRETS. Leave a comment to win your own copy!

Life in Stone Creek Cove is supposed to be peaceful—sunny Florida days, friendly neighbors, and a rookery of beloved egrets nesting near the creek. So when the birds vanish overnight, Peg Howard expects nothing more than a little small-town drama.

She doesn’t expect to find a body.

Volunteered to help search for the missing egrets, Peg teams up with her mother-in-law, Hazel, and quickly discovers that Stone Creek Cove has more secrets than birdwatchers. Rumors spread, tempers flare, and what started as a harmless mystery turns into a full-blown murder investigation.

Already juggling a doting grandmother role, a mischievous new puppy, and two very different men competing for her attention, Peg has no desire to become an amateur sleuth. But when cryptic clues and thinly veiled threats suggest someone wants the truth buried, Peg knows walking away isn’t an option.

As Peg and Hazel dig deeper, they uncover shady deals, long-held grudges, and motives hiding behind polite smiles. And in a town where everyone knows everyone, the killer could be closer than Peg ever imagined.

ORDER IT HERE 

Don’t forget to enter our monthly contest!

THE SUSPENSE SISTERS

WE LOVE BOOKS

Villains Who Don’t Think They’re Villains!

 There’s a moment in every suspense story when the truth shifts.

Not for the reader—but for the villain.

Because the most chilling antagonists aren’t the ones who revel in chaos. They’re the ones who look at their choices… and believe they’re justified.

Maybe even necessary.

And that’s where things get dangerous.

As writers, we spend a lot of time getting to know our heroes—their fears, their wounds, their hopes. But if we stop there, our stories fall flat.

Because villains have stories too.

The most compelling antagonists are driven by a belief. A core truth they’ve built their actions around. It might be rooted in pain. Or loss. Or a moment when something in them broke and never healed quite right.

The world is cruel, so I have to be crueler.
No one protected me, so I’ll take control.
This is the only way to make things right.

They don’t see themselves as evil. They see themselves as the solution.

It’s easy to label a character as “bad” and move on. But true suspense lives in the gray spaces.

When a villain has a clear motivation—even one we don’t agree with—it adds a layer of tension that goes beyond surface danger. Suddenly, the reader isn’t just wondering what will happen next…

They’re asking: Could this person have been different?

That question lingers. Because sometimes, the line between hero and villain isn’t as wide as we’d like to believe. The villains who believe they are right are often the hardest to stop.

They don’t hesitate. They don’t question what they’re doing. They don’t see another path forward.

A villain who knows they’re wrong might pause while a villain who believes they’re justified moves forward with conviction—no matter who gets hurt along the way.

When I was writing Unsolved Amish Abduction, this idea stayed with me constantly. The danger in that story doesn’t come from chaos. It comes from someone who believes their actions are warranted. Necessary, even. That belief shapes everything. It’s what allows them to wait. To plan their revenge and act on it without hesitation.

And perhaps the most unsettling thing of all is that it’s what allows them to look at the past not as something to regret, but something to finish.

I think part of what makes these villains so compelling—and so unsettling—is how human they feel. Because if we’re honest, we all justify our choices at times. We all tell ourselves stories about why we’re right.

Most of us never cross the lines these characters do. But that thread of self-justification is something we recognize. And recognition creates connection—even when we don’t want it to.

When I’m creating an antagonist, I don’t start with what they’ve done. I start with what they believe has been done to them. Because once I understand that, then everything else falls into place. Their actions, their choices, the way they interact with the world around them. And sometimes, that’s when a story takes an unexpected turn. Because the villain isn’t just a threat anymore. They’re a person who made one wrong choice followed by another until there was no way back.

The scariest villains aren’t the ones hiding in the shadows. They’re the ones who step into the light fully convinced they’re doing what’s right.

And in suspense, that kind of certainty can be more dangerous than any weapon.

For a chance to win an e-book copy of Unsolved Amish Abduction, tell me, do you find villains more unsettling when you understand why they do what they do… or when their motives remain a mystery?

Please remember to include your email address so that I can get the book to you!

Until next time….

Happy reading!

 

Mary Alford