WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE?

 Wondering what's HOT in Inspirational Suspense this week? Be Quick or Be Dead by Vikki Kestell.

When three young men go missing from different points around Tahoe, Miss Finch catches the scent of a killer, and enlists the help of her friend, Simon Fletcher.

Fletcher, however, is skeptical. “Tell me why you think it’s murder.”

“They found the first victim.”

“Whereabouts?”

“Lake Tahoe. A particularly deep part of the lake.”

“But wasn’t that guy hiking thirty miles north of the lake when he disappeared? How did he end up in the Big Blue?”

“Ah. It seems that a person or persons unknown gifted the young man with an ankle bracelet attached to three cinder blocks.”

Simon stills. “So it is murder.”

“Undeniably. And until the next victim surfaces—pardon my tasteless turn of a phrase—I doubt the authorities will connect him to the other instances of missing persons.”

“Why do you feel the disappearances are connected? Do we know the cause of death on this guy?”

“We do not; however, the medical examiner does.”

“And . . . you know the medical examiner?”

“No, but quite fortuitously, I have a friend who—”

“Owes you a favor?”

“Why, whatever would make you think that?”

He waved his hand in the air. “Only being around you since the day we met. So let me have it. Cause of death?”

“The particulars? Still very hush-hush. However, the coroner’s ruling? Homicide.”

When a second victim is found and a fourth individual disappears, the danger becomes clear to Simon and Miss Finch: Lake Tahoe solo adventurers had best be quick . . . or be dead.

Prepare yourself for . . . The Tahoe Mysteries.

Book 1: Number 1 with a Bullet
Book 2: Be Quick or Be Dead
Book 3: Death on the Big Blue, 2026
Murder by Accident, A Miss Finch Prequel

BE QUICK OR BE DEAD is book 2 in the The Tahoe Mysteries series. And you can get your Miss Finch Mystery at THIS LINK! 

I hope you LOVE it! ~ Marji Laine

NEW MYSTERY - The Inspiration for My New Release

My new story, A TROLL FALLS, is set in what is now the Dallas Arboretum which borders lovely White Rock Lake. This beautiful garden paradise was a yearly field trip with my homeschool kids (pictured there more than a decade ago) and their friends for biology lessons and school photos. 

On my most recent visit, I learned a little tidbit from a fellow who worked there. It sparked all sorts of stories in my head, so when I was invited to participate in this second round of Ever After stories, I decided to use that rumor to fashion a twisted little mystery. And the DeGolyer House, the center of the Dallas Arboretum, inspired my setting for A TROLL FALLS. 

The book is set in 1948 when my mom, a Dallas native, was eleven years old and my grandfather was a fire captain at one of the Dallas stations. It was near the century mark for Dallas and the city was known for amazing Tex-Mex food, yearly cattle round-ups, and Elm Street which was called "the Broadway of the Southwest." 

I used one of the events at the Majestic theatre (which is still an icon of downtown) in a date for one of my characters. The movie, "Red River," starring John Wayne, premiered at the theatre on August 26,  1948. My characters went to the premiere hoping to see the stars, but they were at the Hollywood premiere. It's probably a good thing, because a thunderstorm soaked the block party that the city of Dallas had set up. Square dancers, cattle, trick ropers, and all the guests were thoroughly soaked just before the movie began. That was only the beginning of the trouble for my character that night, though!

I don't want to give any spoilers, so I'll keep the trouble, and the rumor, to myself. I bet you'll be able to figure out what that rumor is by the time you finish reading the book! Here's a little more about A TROLL FALLS: 

Murder. Even the word sounds ugly. Almost as ugly as the corpse on the shore.

Dallas, Texas, 1948

Opal Stedman enjoys caring for old Mrs. Farnesworth. But keeping her sister Ruby out of trouble, well that is another issue entirely. Especially now that Ruby has stepped into high society with her new beau. A dubious man. Maybe even duplicitous. 

Even the handsome security guard warns her sister about him.

When a body is dragged onto the shore of the lake that borders their home, rumors and worries over the new man become assurances. But why has he involved her household in these gruesome shenanigans? 

And why are Opal’s loved ones suddenly having “accidents”?

Loosely based on the little-known fairy tale of “Snow White and Rose Red” this mystery twists its way all along the banks of White Rock Lake during its heyday.

This is based on one of my favorite fairy tales. Share one of your favorite fairy tales and why you like it for a chance to win one of my e-books! Be sure to leave your email address! (US only.)

Just released on Tuesday,
A TROLL FALLS is available in
paperback or e-book at Amazon.com

What's in a Name?

When it comes to novels, particularly romantic suspense or romantic mysteries, the names of the main characters re extremely important. 

It's funny how it works, but more often than not, a female lead will have a short name or go by a shortened nickname. Gabby instead of Gabrielle, Dani instead of Danielle, Sam instead of Samantha, or Mac instead of MacKenzie. 

And then there are the unique names for female sleuths. Names like Lyric, Stella, Addie, Londyn, Bristyl, and Teagan. You might even recognize some of these names from some recent bestsellers. 

Names that you don't often see nowadays as main characters are some of the most popular names from a past generation like Lauren, Karen, Natalie, Janet, Candice, or Carolyn. In fact, a few of these are found more often as the main antagonist or a secondary antagonist. 

Names with three syllables are not often used. And neither are those names with the accent on the second or last syllable, like Colleen, Breana, Denise, Elaine, Elizabeth, Victoria, Catherine, Valerie, or Eileen. 

The same situation is true of the male counter parts in romantic suspense or mystery. Names like Paul, William, Charles, Benjamin, and Larry can make great other guy names - bestie, antag, side kick, or voice of reason, but not usually the romantic interest. Even Joe or Dale can fall into this category. Is it the soft consonants that are used? 

The male lead will usually have one or two syllables with hard consonants. There was a time when names like Clint, Flint, Skeet, Rick, and the like were the most popular. Single syllables with and ending in the t sound have become a little passé at this point. 

But the rule still holds with those names that are a little more normal. Names like Scott, Matt, Eric, Travis, Quinn, Wade, Steve, Dan, Mike, and Matt are pretty well-used. 

So what are the main character names in the book you're reading right now. Or what are the characters from your favorite book? Do they support my thoughts or blow them out of the water? 

Share your thoughts in the comments below for a chance to win a free e-copy of one of my books. 

Book Review: CROSSHAIRS

I just spent the last few days reading a gripping suspense called CROSSHAIRS, by our beloved Suspense Sister, Patricia Bradley. As a reader, it was cool in that I was aware of more going on than the main characters, but the plot was so full of twists and turns, I truly didn't see the end of it coming. 

There's a difference between suspense and mystery genres. You probably already know that, but in case you don't, the mystery genre has secrets - hidden things that must be discovered. The suspense genre has something of a ticking clock. An anticipation of something about to happen. Oftentimes, the "clock" is more like a target on one of the main characters - a mortal threat of which they are unaware. 

And in really juicy stories, there are elements of both suspense and mystery. CROSSHAIRS is definitely one of those. The book is a little different in that there are several mysteries that converge to create a chair-gripping story. I was delighted to see all of the different mysteries tied up in neat little bows. 

Oh, did I mention the romance. True confessions - I love clean romance. Especially when they seem real with elements of doubt, vulnerability, and insecurity. I gotta tell you, the main characters in this story have an undeniable chemistry that is palpable. 

I highly recommend this book for those who love the twists and turns of a juicy mystery and the intensity of a strong suspense. You're going to be delighted from the first page to the last! 

Here's a little more about CROSSHAIRS by Patricia Bradley: 

Investigative Services Branch (ISB) ranger Ainsley Beaumont arrives in her hometown of Natchez, Mississippi, to investigate the murder of a three-month-pregnant teenager. While she wishes the visit was under better circumstances, she never imagined that she would become the killer's next target - nor that she'd have to work alongside an old flame.

After he almost killed a child, former FBI sniper Lincoln Steele couldn't bring himself to fire a gun, which had deadly and unforeseen consequences for his best friend. Crushed beneath a load of guilt, Linc is working at Melrose Estate as an interpretive ranger. But as danger closes in on Ainsley during her murder investigation, Linc will have to find the courage to protect her. The only question is, will it be too little, too late?

Award-winning author Patricia Bradley continues her Natchez Trace Park Rangers series with a story about how good must prevail when evil just won't quit.

**Just another little note here. I know this is Book 3 of the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series, but it is a completely stand-alone story. You'd probably get a kick out of reading them in order, but I didn't miss a thing by reading this one before I read the others. Which I will DEFINITELY be doing!

I was delighted to find CROSSHAIRS as an audiobook. Do you like listening to stories? I love it because I can do something more productive as I indulge - like crochet or cooking or cleaning. Leave a comment about your experience with audio books. I'm giving away a free kindle copy of one of my own books.  

What Makes a Good Mystery? (Volume 3)

 

I love a good mystery! I think I’ve mentioned that before. And I’ve been sharing my thoughts on what makes a good mystery and suspense story. Have you been following along?

So far, we’ve chatted about how the story has to have intensity:

    Lucy Reynolds agreed, "It has to get my heart pounding and maybe looking over my shoulder at least once."

     Rachel T says, "I like when an author weaves pieces of the puzzle into a larger whole. I usually can't figure it out until the reveal."

    Carolyn Hutson adds, "The unexpected makes for a good suspense, but I also want some scenes that make me jump out of my skin and make me not want to stop reading."

Then, we talked about the twists in a story. Y’all had a lot to say about those. 

    Cindi Knowles commented, "I love a good mystery, suspense, or thriller that has lots of twists and turns, that keeps me guessing and turning pages because the story is that enthralling." 

    Alicia Haney puts it this way, "I love the twists and turns, also when the unexpected suddenly shows up!"

    Barb D. adds, "I enjoy the twists & turns, and just enough things about the various characters in a story, and then suspect everyone! I like endings that I didn't see coming!"

This week, I want to talk about something that actually is necessary for ANY fiction story.

Character Depth Some of you think it's important too! 

    Gail H. has an opinion about the antagonist. "The best to me is a culprit that seems unlikely and is not revealed until the very end. Those I would have never guessed."

    Winnie says, "I love engaging characters and a little romance."

    Carolyn suggests, "The way the characters respond to stress is important as well. I have to like the characters and really feel what they are feeling."

    And Amy adds, "It's best when I'm completely invested in the characters and story. 

Interest in characters is no surprise. If you think of your favorite books, likely the characters are what stick in your mind. I bet you can name these books!

• Darcy and Elizabeth 
• Scout  
• Jo and her sisters 
• Lucy and her siblings.

To me, the main characters need to be as real as my next-door neighbor with history, burdens, mistakes, dreams, and values. A really good character is a broken one because we are all broken, right? I know “Mary Poppins” is likely a favorite story, but characters that are practically perfect in every way can get tedious and annoying when it comes to mystery.

I prefer characters that have something in the past that affects their decisions and actions. In fact, if done well, the character will have a difficult time in their history that they have to relive at some point near the end of the story.

That’s not to say that the “brokenness” has to be tragic and heavy, though. Give me the girl that dresses to the nines and then walks into the post office with donut icing under her nose or the guy who dunks his chip into habanero sauce thinking he’s Texan enough to take it. I love laugh-out-loud characters who are willing to laugh at themselves, too. It makes them real and memorable.

So what about you? Tell me about your favorite characters or the character you’re reading about right now. What makes the character stand out? Share your thoughts about characters in the comments and you might be the winner of a $10 Amazon gift card and a super-sleuth magnifying glass. And you might just find yourself in an upcoming volume of What Makes a Good Mystery!

What Makes a Good Mystery? (Volume 2)

 

Last month, I asked the question, what makes a good mystery? I love a good mystery, and I’ve found a number of things in some of my favorites that end up giving me that ahhhhhhh at the end of a story.

Several of you shared your favorite elements in mysteries, and the one I have for today was mentioned over and over again in last month's comments. It is a must for a good mystery or suspense!

Plot Twists

I love it when I see a story headed one direction, and it suddenly doubles back or goes down some alley I didn’t even notice. Like a magician, an author of excellence will give us a slight of hand trick, capturing our attention in one way while working a little mischief in another.

Twists make mysteries great, but they have to be reasonable. 

Decades ago, there was a movie where a number of fictional detectives were gathered together for a special dinner party. They (and their authors) were accused of “criminal acts” such as introducing the antagonist for the first time at the very end of the story, allowing the hero to have information that isn’t given to the reader, and so on. It was a spoofy movie, but it makes a good point. Have you ever read a book that had something like these “literary misdeeds?” What other twisted "misdeeds" have you seen besides the two that were mentioned?

Twists are a necessity for a mystery or suspense, but they should have a few rules.

•          Be logical
•          Connect
•          Have roots

Being logical is self-explanatory – “Elementary, my dear Watson.” The twist might come from right field, but once it has been revealed, heads should nod. “Of course” or “Why didn’t I see that?” might come to mind.

A twist should also connect to something. This leads to a pet peeve of mine, something like one of those misdeeds. A crucial clue just appears out of thin air. Total coincidence. It happens, but the twist should at least be connected to something that the characters know or do within the logical progression of the story.

Finally, I think a well-conceived twist will have its roots at the beginning of the story. Then when it does surface, a reader gets an extra aha! because it’s been there all along.

Have you enjoyed a good twisted mystery? One where you really didn’t see something coming and then wham? Tell me about it! Share your experience in the comments. One lucky commenter will win a $10 Amazon gift card and a super-sleuth, lighted magnifying glass.

What Makes a Good Mystery? (Volume 1)

I love a good mystery, but what is it that makes a mystery good? Is it the plot – the whodunnit with twists and turns? Is it the characters that fill in the gaps and the detective – amateur or not – whose shrewd observations reveal the truth? Maybe it’s the conflict between good and evil?

I have a growing list of the elements that I like to see in a mystery/suspense story—way too many to put down in just one article. I’ll share them with you a little at a time, though. Here’s the first one.

Intensity

While the story doesn’t have to be a full-fledged suspense for me to enjoy it, there has to be at least one scene full of foreboding where the creepy music enters my mind. A moment when the hero realizes what’s going on and puts a target on his or her back.

This is the moment that, in novelist vernacular, is called MEP – at least in my notations. The explanation of which is full of abstracts and higher-level cognition . . . okay, okay. It stands for Most Exciting Part. Really cultured and professional, huh! LOL! But if this piece of the story isn’t intense, then it’s a meh MEP for me. Entirely forgetful.

On the other hand, if the hero is suddenly and unexpectedly (well, at least the hero doesn’t expect it) thrust into danger, painted into a corner where I can see no escape, I’m up all night making sure that there is indeed escape, and justice is done!

As I read exceptional mysteries and suspense, I have some things that are a must for me to feel that ahhhhhhh at the end of the story. I bet you have some of those as well. 

Share your idea of the most important element of a great mystery/suspense in the comments, and you might just be the winner of a $10 Amazon gift card and a super-sleuth lighted magnifying glass.   

A Chat With Romantic Suspense Author Patricia Bradley

         

Cozy Mystery Author
Linda Kozar

Step in. Step out. Let's introduce ourselves! My name is Linda. Last name Kozar. And I write cozies, as in mysteries! This is my debut post on Suspense Sisters and I am thrilled to be a part of this stellar group of storytellers.

My guest today on Suspense Sisters is Patricia Bradley, who is a romantic suspense author living in the Deep South. Her short-stories have been published in Woman’s World. Her fourth book in the Logan Point series, Silence in the Dark, released this summer. Gone Without a Trace , is book three in the Logan Point Series, and book two, A Promise to Protect. Book one in the Logan Point Series, Shadows from the Past, has won several awards…the 2008 Maggie (Inspirational Category)…1st Place in the 2012 Touched By Love and Daphne du Maurier contests…finaled in the 2012 Genesis…bronzed in the Frasier. Click here to find out more about the Logan Point Series. Patricia has also written several romances for Harlequin, Matthew's Choice, and The Christmas Campaign. She is an abstinence/healthy relationship speaker and has spoken to many students and adults over the years. When she's not writing or speaking, Patricia likes to throw mud on a wheel and try to make something beautiful. 

Suspense Author
Patricia Bradley

Patricia, how did you get started as a writer? Tell us how far back you go.

Oh, my goodness. When I turned 35 I had trouble sleeping. I would go to bed and toss and turn. Then one night as I stared at the ceiling, a man appeared (in my imagination) and he stood at a window with belching smoke stacks in the background. He turned and looked at me and said, “This wasn’t the way my life was supposed to turn out.” He went on to tell me a lot about his life and that’s when I wondered if I could write his story. I bought a Writers Digest magazine and started learning the craft of writing. I started out with short stories and my very first one was published by Woman’s World. I thought I had it made and would soon have a book released. Thirty-two years later, I did.

I adore your tagline: "Where love and faith cross paths with murder!" How did you come up with that? And when did your love of mystery and suspense begin?

I really don’t know where my tagline came from. I was doodling nouns, trying to come up with one and the words sort of just popped into my head. And my love of mystery and suspense began with Agatha Christie and then moved on to Mary Higgins Clarke. I know I must have read Nancy Drew when I was a kid, but for the life of me, I can’t remember it.

Give us a little rundown on the theme of your books and how you transitioned from romance, adding the suspense factor we at Suspense Sisters love so much.

     

In addition to the books mentioned above, I also have a novella, The Gingerbread Pony, that was in anthology that twelve of the Heartwarming authors got together and wrote. It debuted at #81 on the USA Today Top 150 Books in October of last year. I have written all of these books since January of 2013, plus one more Memphis Cold Case book, Justice Buried. I’m starting books nine and ten.

My overall theme is justice, but each of my books deal with problems we all face, like forgiveness or trust. My last Logan Point book, Silence in the Dark, deals with a missionary running from God, and the first Memphis Cold Case book, Justice Delayed, deals with a woman who has a hard time trusting God after her sister is murdered.

As for transitioning from romance to suspense, it’s the other way around. The suspense comes first. The first draft is almost nothing but the suspense thread, and it’s what I love writing the most. Romance is just so hard for me to write, although it is getting easier.

I never intended to write a strictly romantic book, but in late 2013, my agent, the wonderful Mary Sue Seymour, emailed me that she was meeting with the Harlequin Heartwarming editor in a couple of days and wanted me to send her a story idea and one-sheet.

I took a deep breath and emailed her back that I was in Chattanooga, and if I could come up with an idea on the way home, I’d send her one. Then I prayed, asking God to give me an idea if writing for Heartwarming was in His plan for me. By the time I arrived home, I had a solid plot, the perfect small town and two great characters. Heartwarming eventually bought the story, and that’s when I really learned how to write a romance. I turned in the 293-page manuscript about the time my first Logan Point book released in 2014, and Victoria Curan, the senior editor at Heartwarming then, sent the first revision letter with 269 comments with suggestions on how to fix the story.

Is there a genre you would secretly like to write in but are terrified to do so?

No, romance is scary enough for me. I am actually trying my hand at a cozy mystery which is different from romantic suspense.

How can readers find you? 

| Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest |

More on Patricia Bradley with Linda Kozar on Chat Noir Mystery & Suspense Radio

Click to Listen

Patricia is giving away a copy of her latest book in the Logan Point series! 

DO YOU WANT THE CHANCE TO WIN IT?

Leave a comment if you would like to throw your name in the hat. And, if you're wondering what she does with all that "mud she throws on a wheel," Patricia makes beautiful pottery:)

      

Linda Kozar writes both fiction and nonfiction titles, but is well known for her cozy mysteries. She founded and serves on the board of The Woodlands, Texas ACFW chapter, blogs regularly on Cozy Mystery Magazine and is the host of Chat Noir Mystery & Suspense Radio Show, part of the Along Came A Writer radio network on BlogTalk Radio. She and her husband live in The Woodlands, Texas and enjoy spending time with their two grown daughters, wonderful son-in-law, and Gypsy, their spunky Jack Russell terrier.




 

Gypsy's trying to sneak onto the dinner table to make off with whatever she can on our plates.