SUSPENSE SISTERS: Sit Down with Author Darlene L. Turner about Scent of Peril

Kristen here. Today, I'm welcoming back my friend Darlene L. Turner to the blog. She's talking about her latest release, Scent of Peril, and giving away one e-book copy. Keep reading to the end to learn how to enter the giveaway.

Darlene, thank you for joining me on the blog today! What sparked the first seed of this story—an image, a question, a character, or a “what if” moment?

When I first thought of writing this National Park Protectors series, I wanted each Hoyt sibling to have a vocation connected to a park, so I brainstormed ideas. I thought of the game warden vocation, so I researched it and discovered they’re called Conservation Officers in Canada. Once I looked into their role, the story blossomed from there.

If you could step into one scene from the book—not the dangerous ones—where would you go and why?

I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but there’s a scene at the end of the book that happens on Thanksgiving Day. The family interaction is special, and I loved writing it into the story!

That sounds like a sweet scene to join. What’s one part of your daily routine that quietly fuels your creativity or keeps you grounded?

Devotions and prayer. Every morning, I start my day in God’s word; then before I start writing, I pray for direction and God’s words, not mine. Oh…and I love writing with a coffee! 😉

I love that routine! What’s one theme in this book that reflects something you’ve personally wrestled with or learned in your own life?

As I wrote the never-ending danger in the relentless wilderness, one truth kept rising to the surface—God is with us in our storms. Wyatt’s struggle to trust, Taylor’s fight to protect, and the K-9’s unwavering loyalty remind us all that faith isn’t about having everything figured out. It’s about holding on when nothing makes sense. This is something we’ve probably all struggled with at one point or another. I know I have!

Same here! That's a powerful message most of us can relate to. What are you working on now?

I’m working on book five in the series. It’s Tanner Hoyt’s story, and he’s a search and rescue pilot.

That sounds like it's going to be another fascinating story. Where can your readers learn more about you?

Readers can find me at https://darlenelturner.com/.

Thank you, Darlene, for sharing your time and story with us! Keep reading to learn more about Darlene and how to enter to win a copy of Scent of Peril.

Darlene L. Turner is a New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestselling author known for her high-octane stories and riveting twists. Sparked by Nancy Drew, she’s turned her love of solving mysteries into her writing, believing readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. Dubbed “the plaid queen” for her love of everything plaid, Darlene resides with her husband Jeff in Ontario, Canada. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.

Now, here's more about Scent of Peril.

An innocent witness taken…

A K-9 in hot pursuit.

Dispatched with her K-9 partner, Shadow, to locate an abducted boy, Constable Taylor Grant finds herself ambushed in the wilderness along with Wyatt Hoyt, the child’s father. As Taylor and Wyatt relentlessly pursue the kidnappers and follow the little boy’s cryptic clues through treacherous terrain, they face persistent attacks and lethal traps. Each step closer to rescuing young Levi uncovers a deadly conspiracy tied to Wyatt’s past and a weapons-smuggling ring. With time running out, can they outwit a ruthless mastermind to save Levi before it’s too late?

Scent of Peril is available in all these places: