Ink and Riffs: Murders, music and magic

Ink and Riffs is a regular review series written by me, Citywide Co-Host Max Bowen, to talk about what I’m reading and listening to and why I think it’s awesome. Feel free to send suggestions to citywidemax@yahoo.com. 

Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees (comic)
Without a doubt, this has been one of the best comics I’ve read in some time. Here’s the story:

Don’t. Murder. The locals.

This is small-town serial killer, upstanding citizen, and adorable brown bear Samantha Strong’s cardinal rule. After all, there’s a sea of perfectly ripe potential victims in the big city just beyond the forest, and when you’ve worked as hard as Sam to build a cozy life and a thriving business in a community surrounded by friendly fellow animal folk, warm decor, and the aroma of cedar trees and freshly baked apple pie…the last thing you want is to disturb the peace.

So you can imagine her indignation when one of Woodbrook’s own meets a grisly, mysterious demise—and you wouldn’t blame her for doing anything it takes to hunt down her rival before the town self-destructs and Sheriff Patterson starts (literally) barking up the wrong tree.

This was the original graphic novel debut by writer-artist Patrick Horvath, and I gotta say, he’s off to a hell of a start. The story was dark, tense and kept me guessing until the twist (and twisted) ending. The art reminds me of the books I read as a kid, which really just serves to make the whole thing even more surreally creepy. Read this one and then check out the new sequel series.

Work in Progress (music)
I’ve been a huge fan of the music of gavn! for some time, and this new album, “Work in Progress,” is a great example of his skill with music and vocals. The flow of the seven-track EP is powerful and passionate, from the opening track, “Eventually,” and continues throughout.

“Dead to Me” really stood out to me, with a story of the challenges of moving on from a person that needs to be left behind. I’ve been there a time or three and know firsthand how hard this can be.

The album shifts around a bit, with the more mellow “Shame” that slows things down a bit but maintains that same strength. The vocals are a real high point for me, with an intensity that draws you right in with a shared emotional experience.

This album is a high recommendation from me. You’re going to find yourself immersed in the stories and with this delivery, it’s sure to be a favorite.

Island Eight (Book)
Written by M.Z. Medenciy, “Island Eight” is the first in the Ataraxia Series and from what I have read so far, is one to be watched. Here’s a look at the story:

In a world on the verge of repeating a cataclysmic history, Sophia, an entertainer from the town of Salinas, unknowingly holds the keys to the world’s salvation. Yet, she turns a blind eye to their king’s tyranny to ensure her happiness. But not even the gods can protect her when the eyes of the castle shift directly to Salinas. After narrowly escaping death with the aid of a mysterious man who whisks her away to once forbidden lands, Sophia is unwillingly sucked into the brewing war with which she wanted nothing to do.

One thing that I really liked about the story is that it balances the seriousness with a good dose of humor and personality. There’s plenty of light-hearted moments that break up the tension and M.Z. weaves these different parts together perfectly. The result is a very organic tale with very realistic characters.

I can see that a lot of world-building went into this, not just the different cities, magical beings and legends, but the people themselves. Even if they’re not the main characters, each person has something that makes them unique and keeps the story moving forward. I’m really looking forward to the rest of this book and the series as well.

Five by Five—A special agent pens his life’s work into thriller series

By Max Bowen

Author Mel Harrison isn’t just a writer of thriller stories—he’s lived the life.

A former special agent and regional security officer with the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, Mel is the creator of the six-book Alex Boyd series, with the newest book, “Crescent City Carnage,” having been released in October. Here’s a look at the story:

Special agent Alex Boyd and his wife Rachel Smith are only a day into their New Orleans vacation when they discover their good friend and colleague, Simone Ardoin, has been brutally murdered. Simone’s parents, members of New Orleans’ high society, are devastated by the tragedy and implore both Alex and Rachel to work with local police to find her killer. The more Alex and Rachel delve into the case, the more deeply they’re drawn into a labyrinth of secrets as twisting as the city’s alleyways, and as dark as its hidden corners.

Mel talks about the New Orleans setting and its role in the book, as well as his background and how it shaped the story. He talks about writing a series and how his main character has evolved over the years.


Why was New Orleans chosen as the setting and how does it serve to drive the story?
While New Orleans is the first domestic setting in my six-book Alex Boyd thriller series, I selected the location because it has characteristics that are conceptually similar to my first five overseas adventures. The Louisiana culture in general, and New Orleans specifically, is unique in America. It is a rich gumbo of black and white, hard-working and laid-back, and innovative and corrupt. When you blend in the amazing food, incredible architecture of the city, and history, it forms the perfect backdrop for a heart-pounding and emotionally captivating story setting.

How was the character of Alex Boyd created and how has he changed over the course of the series?
I developed Alex Boyd’s character based upon my own background as a special agent and regional security officer with the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service. Of course, I enhanced certain things to make Alex exciting and memorable to the readers. I created his physical appearance to set an image in the mind of the audience. He’s tall, good-looking, a tough guy, and big enough to handle most situations.

I felt it vital that he also have a keen sense of humor. After-all, in the Foreign Service you meet a range of people in both the embassy and among the foreign community who have divergent views and customs. And you are dropped into dangerous situations that would stress most people. Humor helps deal with this. Also, Alex is successful because he is dedicated to the job and to keeping people safe.

Rachel Smith’s parallel career in the Foreign Service as a press officer and later a senior political officer was created by me to bring readers into the real world of smart couples trying to make it in the challenging world of diplomacy. The humorous banter between Alex and Rachel continues in all the books. As for how he has changed in the series, once he meet and falls in love with Rachel Smith he realizes there is much more to life than merely “the job.” Being a team in every aspect of their life is vital to him.

Was it always your intention to write a series?
Yes, I always wanted to write a series, I just wasn’t sure how many books would be included. I was certain I would have the same protagonist throughout the series. In addition to having Alex Boyd as my lead character, I knew I wanted to have a strong female lead, Rachel Smith, who was an intellectual match for Alex, and also a physical match as well. As I intended to put both of them in harm’s way, I gave each of them the fighting skills to deal with adversaries. I also decided it would be useful to bring back a few secondary characters into subsequent stories, thereby creating linkages that would exist in real life.

How has your professional experience helped you as a writer?
The first bit of advice I learned when I decided to be an author was to write what you know. I have drawn on my knowledge of living overseas, working in American embassies, and dealing with real crisis’ to craft my stories. All of my books are set in locations where I have either lived for several years or worked there from time to time. My characters are fictional, yet they are a composite of people I worked with in different settings. The stories are occasionally based upon events that actually happened, but I have taken the liberty to jazz them up or modify them to excite the reader. As for the extraordinary relationship between Alex and Rachel, well, you will have to draw your own conclusion.

What got you into writing in the first place and why is the thriller genre the one you chose to work in?
Toward the end of my career, I believed I had enough interesting and exciting experiences to write thrillers that would appeal to a broad range of readers. Picking the thriller genre was a no-brainer for me. Thrillers and action-adventure novels are the types of books that I personally enjoy reading. My knowledge of dealing with terrorism, riots, kidnapping and verbal foreign policy disagreements was sufficient to form the basis of each story. When I retired to Florida and moved into my current community, I found it had numerous writing groups to help individuals create the type of books that they yearned to create. I am very grateful to all those who helped my writing improve.

Five by Five: Lyn Squire goes for a unique take on the mystery genre

By Max Bowen

In his new book, “Fatally Inferior,” author Lyn Squire brings back his protagonist Dunston Burnett. A lot has changed with the character, and he’s feeling more like an investigator after the events in the first book. A good thing too, because in “Fatally Inferior,” he’s got a perplexing murder to solve.

In this interview, Lyn talks about Dunston’s growth, the mystery he’s tasked with solving and the setting of Victorian England.

How has Dunston changed from the last book?
Dunston Burnett, my protagonist, is a diffident, middle-aged, retired bookkeeper. In “Immortalised to Death,” the first book in The Dunston Burnett Trilogy, he comes out of his shell enough to engage in a mild flirtation. It does not end well. After that experience, his unease around women becomes even more pronounced in the second book, “Fatally Inferior,” and a bachelor he will remain for the rest of his days. He did however earn the respect of his policeman colleague in book one, and this bolsters his confidence as an investigator in book two.

What went into creating this mysterious disappearance?
I wanted to move away from the standard ‘locked-room’ mystery in which the corpse is found in an enclosed space without any feasible means of exit for the killer. In “Fatally Inferior,” the body vanishes, seemingly spirited out of a snowbound, locked-tight country house. The only tracks in the white surrounding the house lead from the backdoor, but that door was locked the entire night of the disappearance and all keys were safely secured. This apparent impossibility is the mystery confronting Dunston at the start of “Fatally Inferior.”

How does this particular case challenge Dunston?
As in all his cases, the mystery at the heart of “Fatally Inferior” pits Dunston’s limited sleuthing skills against the complexity of the crimes he confronts. Whether he succeeds or not is an open question. But this time he also faces a greater and more personal challenge. Initially, Dunston was intrigued by the case as an intellectual puzzle, but when he suffers a devastating loss, he becomes a man on a mission, driven and determined.

Where do you see this character going?
The third book in the trilogy, “The Séance of Murder,” is a story of greed. Dunston is invited to a distant relative’s house where he finds himself involved in a séance and a murder. After more deadly deeds, Dunston’s fate hangs in the balance. He is presented with the unexpected prospect of an affluent lifestyle, but only if he can expose the killer before he himself dies. Either outcome – wealth or death – brings Dunston Burnett’s life as an investigator to an end. “The Séance of Murder” will be released in 2026.

What’s the influence of setting this in Victorian England and involving the family of Charles Darwin?
Charles Darwin’s life and times drive and shape “Fatally Inferior” in two ways. One stems from the uproar that greeted the publication of “The Origin of Species.” Darwin was immediately bombarded with scathing reviews, blistering editorials and crude cartoons. This avalanche of disgust and hatred from believers in God’s creation of man, led me to imagine a more malicious assault on the scientist, the abduction of a family member. The other arises from his marriage. Darwin and his wife were first cousins. In the 19th century, the offspring of such marriages were thought to suffer loss of vigor and infertility. This brought to mind an image of a couple desperate for a grandchild only to be cruelly robbed of this happy outcome by a vile act of revenge. Together, the invective and Darwin’s blood relationship with his wife, are the structural foundations of “Fatally Inferior.”

“Hard Style Juice” tells a murder mystery through a wrestling lens

I’ve been a fan of both professional wrestling and comics for many years, so getting to talk about both for this interview was just perfect.

Writer Clay McCormack, artist Ricardo Lopez Ortiz and I dive into “Hard Style Juice,” a new series that you can only see on Comixology Originals. Here’s a look at the story for those new to it:

Wrestling is big business in arenas across the country, and for the Castros, it’s the family business. "King" Castro is the patriarch of the family, he’s also the manager, booker, promotor, MC, and owner of the local independent wrestling promotion KCPW, King Castro Pro Wrestling.

His daughter, Ramonita "Mona" Castro, has dreams of going to business school, but also has a penchant for wrestling. And his son, Rey Castro, is the star. A real showman, Rey is known as the "King of the Death Match," and he's on the verge of getting a contract to go pro.

Pro wrestling built the Castro family, and now it’s about to tear it apart. A shocking in-ring death sends the family spiraling out of control, and down the path of revenge as one big question rears its head: was it an accident? Or was it murder?

We talk about the series origins, and how Clay and Ricardo’s interest in wrestling played a role in shaping it. Clay talks about working with murder mysteries and how he paces the story, while Ricardo shares how he captured the feel of the wrestling world and his favorite parts to draw.

The series is now three issues in, with the fourth to be dropped on July 16, and we go into where the story is now and a few hints as to what we can expect in future issues.

Mystery boxes and twist endings with “Jill and the Killers”

Who doesn’t love a good mystery? Oh, what’s that? It’s a real crime? And we need to solve it? And we could be killed? Yeah, that’ll be fine.

In the Oni Press four-part series, “Jill and the Killers,” teenager Jill Estrada is dealing with the unsolved disappearance of her mother, a police detective, and trying to get back to a normal life. . . . even as her friends become obsessed with Box Killers, a true-crime subscription game where each month’s “unsolved case” is custom-tailored to the life of its player. There’s only one catch: Jill’s game seems to be all too real—and when her clues begin to connect the dots to a very real series of disappearances in her hometown, Jill and her friends must conquer their fears and own personal struggles to solve the case.

Series writer Olivia Cuartero-Briggs joins us to talk about its origins, as well as why she chose to use a subscription box as the vehicle for the story. Olivia worked with artist Roberta Ingranata on “Jill and the Killers” and we talk about how the two met and the collaboration process. Olivia’s worked on murder mysteries before and goes into how the past experience informed this new project.

We’ve gotten the chance to read the final issue (out on April 17), and while we won’t be giving out any spoilers, Olivia does share how she devised the end of the series and hints at a possible continuation.

Maggie Giles takes us on a “twisted” murder case

It all starts out with a simple jewelry heist…until things take a most unexpected turn!

When cracked open, the case morphs into a full-fledged murder investigation with an unknown drug that seemingly connects a string of deaths. Quite a story, eh? Well, buckle up, because in this episode, Curtis and I talk shop with author Maggie Giles for her new book, “Twisted.” Along with being a great crime thriller, the story explores the different sides of crime and mental health and asks the question: How much are we responsible for when we aren’t fully in our right mind?

Maggie shares the origin of this story and all the different changes she made from first draft to finished product. This includes cutting down the narration from multiple points of view to just a few. She shares the lengthy research she had to do and how her time with Women’s Fiction Writers Association—including being in charge of social media—benefitted her during the story crafting process and in promoting her works.

Maggie takes us into the minds of her characters, which run the gamut of personality types. She talks about who made the final cut and which names got left behind (and may come back in a future book?).

William Sterling shows us why puppets are just terrifying

William Sterling

I think we can all agree on that one, right? So of course these creepy dolls would find themselves into the pages of William Sterling’s soon-to-be-released book, “String Them Up,” out on Sept. 22 through Crystal Lake Publishing.

In this interview, William takes us through the town of Hollow Hills, which is plagued by a series of brutal murders. We meet the toymaker, once a beloved member of the community, now the prime suspect in the killings. William talks about Sinclair Redman, a man with a dark and haunted past who must unearth the truth behind the killings as the bodies continue to pile up.

William talks about the concept of toys in horror and why it appealed to him for his new book. We look at his first time working with a publisher and his own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to promoting his work. Plus, there’s a great giveaway for those that pre-order the book!

Death is just the beginning in Susannah Marren’s new book

In mystery thrillers, a death often happens right off the bat. Such is the case with our next guest, but we also get a slew of tightly-held family secrets.

In this interview, Curtis and I sit down with author Susannah Marren to talk about her newest book, “Maribelle's Shadow,” in which the death of Maribelle Walker’s adored and impressive husband Samuel unearths the secrets and lies between Maribelle and her sisters. Curtis and I talk about the theme of secrets, a common element in Susannah’s work and why it plays such a prominent role. We also look at how Samuel’s death leads to those secrets being revealed.

Susannah has a long career in teaching gender studies and guest teaching creative nonfiction. She talks about the research she did for the book, which included interviewing many women across the country, and what she learned. She also shares her favorite and most challenging parts to write.

 

“The Deadly Deal” blends some real life with a high-speed story

By Max Bowen

Seventeen years ago, J. Lee penned the first draft of his pharmaceutical-inspired thriller, “The Deadly Deal.” But when his agent tragically passed away, the manuscript was shelved, and Lee went on to other literary pursuits.

On Sept. 12, that draft—massively rewritten with a new feel—will be available, and what a ride it is!

In the book, David Centrelli, an average junior businessman, is thrust into a world of deception and accusation when his best friend’s tragic death is exposed as a cold-blooded murder. But can an ordinary guy really escape death from experts trained to administer it, and prevent a colossal calamity already set in motion by the highest levels of government?

In this interview, Lee shares how his career in the pharmaceutical industry inspired much of the book, David Centrelli as a character, and the multiple perspectives through which we see the story.



Let’s begin with the real-life aspect of the book. How much of this is based on your time in the pharmaceutical industry?
“The Deadly Deal” was actually written (first draft) seventeen years ago, when I worked in an industry tangential to the FDA. I’d obtained a literary agent and was two weeks away from submitting to publishers when my agent was diagnosed with cancer and soon after passed away. When that happened, I shoved the manuscript in the proverbial drawer. But all these years later, after publishing my first two books, I decided to reread it and got excited by the idea all over again. The FDA approval process has of course changed since, but the premise of the book felt fresh and compelling to me. So the plan at the time was to “dust it off, make a few minor edits,” and pursue publication. What happened instead was a massive rewrite of the entire thing, including the title. So while I wouldn’t say a great deal of the story is based on my time in the industry, I would say the book wouldn’t have happened without it.

Does the story follow any real-life cases or stories about the pharmaceutical industry?
No. The premise is strictly fictional and this is purely a work of fiction, even though it references a lot of facts with regards to drug development timelines, financials, and the FDA processes.

What led you to pursuing writing after years in the pharmaceutical industry?
Business has always been my day job; writing has always been my passion. In a lot of ways, my books have served as a creative outlet to balance a workday filled with numbers and customers and presentations, and I do truly enjoy both. Time is limiting, however; and my goal is to be in a situation where my wife and I can consider the possibility of me writing for a living. I’m not there yet, but I will be.

I liked the fast-paced feeling of the book. Did you go through different versions before settling on this?
Thanks for sharing! A quick pace was certainly the goal. Readers of this genre seek and deserve a story that keeps their interest and makes them wanting more. If the mystery or underlying question of the book is wrapped in layers of boring context, they can and should stop reading it. There are simply too many great books out there.

As for your question about different versions…absolutely there were multiple drafts. As a general rule, I rewrite every book at least once or twice anyway, and that’s even before the editing phase. But this one was even more extreme because the first draft was written so long ago. Now at the end of a long process, I must say that it’s been pretty cool to reflect. I look at it today and remember writing some of it nearly twenty years ago, and a lot of life happened in between.

Was this written “by the seat of your pants” or did you plan this out?
There are some writers who have the uncanny ability to freewrite from the beginning and produce an integral, impressive and intriguing story that keeps the educated reader guessing and wanting more until the very end. The truth is, I’m just not one of them. I can only envy them.

Because I outline every novel I write, I certainly know the major plot twists and storylines from the start. But part of the fun for me is leaving enough wiggle room in the outline to make a few changes as I go.

All that said, an outline definitely has its benefits. In fact, I rely on it to make sure I keep sight of the overall story, introduce the right twists at the right time, effectively utilize red herrings, avoid predictable characters, introduce hints without blowing it, and try to do it all in a suspenseful manner. So as much as I might envy those who can do it all off the top of their head, I’m very thankful for my outlines.

  

Who is David Centrelli and how does he handle being thrust into this conspiracy?
I wanted David’s character to be an everyday businessman who suddenly got thrust into extraordinary situations he knew he wasn’t equipped to handle. In my previous two books, the protagonist, Ben Siebert, was a former Marine specially trained to handle such situations. Part of the appeal for me while writing “The Deadly Deal” was acknowledging that David wasn’t. I think that’s a more relatable scenario for most of us. To round him out I added some character backstory and, without question, some character flaws. We all have them, and above all I wanted him to be relatable.

As for how does David handle the conspiracy, not particularly well at the beginning for sure. That’s where Anne comes in. She gets him to see that in life we really do need others to help us from time to time, even if we’ve been burned before and have developed a hard shell. The contrast between the characters was fun to write because it felt so real, and very relatable, to everyday folks like you and me. David changes over the course of the book. In the midst of running for his life and trying to figure a complex situation out, he learns a lot about himself, more so than any other character I’ve written.

What would you say is the biggest challenge he faces?
The times where he has to escape death from people trained to administer it. Ironically enough, making David an everyday businessman turned out to be one of the most enjoyable and challenging aspects of writing the book at the same time. I didn’t have the crutch to lean on that he could just evoke years of Special Forces training to outmaneuver his assailants. Instead, I had to create realistic and believable ways someone without such training could. That’s harder to do than you’d think.

Certainly, there’s the aspect of personal growth and self-reflection he experiences too, as he learns to trust again and realizes he wasn’t living the life he wanted before, but I think if he were sitting here now, he’d say simply staying alive was the hardest part. Then he’d give me grief for not arming him with military training.

The book follows different perspectives. Why go with this approach?
Short answer: because it’s fun to write and for me, it’s fun to read.

Long answer: There’s something simplistically intriguing about a story that lets the viewer try to figure something out before its conclusion. Call it a mystery, thriller, suspense novel or even in the movies, when the audience gets to play along with the protagonist to help solve the riddle, there’s a connection to and investment in the story that isn’t there otherwise. Having multiple perspectives and putting the reader in the head of different characters helps me as the author to facilitate that connection.

I’ll balance that with the fact that I’ve been told my plots are complicated and it can be hard to follow all the characters I use. I find truth in that feedback, and I have been trying to apply it to my writing. I won’t write simple plots that don’t have moving parts, but if it’s not clear enough for people to follow, it needs to be addressed. Finding that delicate balance is both the challenge and the fun for me.

This book is a standalone from your Ben Siebert series. Will there be a sequel or possible crossover?
All of that is on the table. Considering the way “The Silent Cardinal” ends, there are a few different paths Ben’s storyline could go down, and I am exploring some of them. He never wanted to be in the mess he found himself in as the premise for both books, so I am thinking through the right way he could be called back into action that is consistent with his character.

And as for a sequel to “The Deadly Deal,” David’s everyday aspect would be a fun character to somehow intermix with Ben, but I would have to make sure it was done in an interesting and realistic manner. Thanks for the idea!

I read that your wife helps edit the book. Did this lead to any major changes to this title?
Tons. She’s a voracious reader who seeks strong character-driven stories and, in many ways, is an even better writer than I am. Her ability to take a paragraph of my draft and get the same points across in a sentence or two is mind-blowing to me.

Plus, if plotting is my favorite part of the writing process, editing is its necessary evil. I know it makes the book better, and I know it’s something I should look forward to. But by the time I’m into the thick of the editing phase, I’ve already rewritten the story five times and am ready to move on to the next idea.

So, I can’t even begin to tell you how much it helps that my wife edits every single page. She’s my biggest supporter and critic at the same time, and I’m so thankful…

Even if it means she rips it to shreds.

Patrick H. Moore builds on the success of first novel with “27 Days”

By Max Bowen

Like they say, write what you know.

Patrick Moore has taken his career as a private investigator and built a brand-new career as a novelist. His first indie-published book, “Cicero’s Dead,” has led to a new novel, “27 Days.” In this book, we meet PI Nick Crane, caught in a race against time to save his friend and business partner from alt-right power brokers and domestic terrorists who will spare no one to “Make America Safe Again.”

The terrorist group, “The Principles,” is led by Nick’s old enemy Marguerite Ferguson, who is out for his blood. When The Principles kidnap Nick’s friend and business partner Bobby Moore, Nick is informed that he has 27 days to surrender to Marguerite, and if he doesn’t, Bobby will be tortured and murdered. Help appears in the form of a young, idealistic female FBI agent named Carrie North who wants to arrest Marguerite for conspiring to commit domestic terrorist operations against the U.S.. Nick and Carrie join forces and the race against time to rescue Bobby Moore begins.

In this interview, Patrick talks about how one career led to another, Nick Crane’s progression as a character, and the topical aspect of the story.


Let’s begin with your choice to jump into novel writing. What prompted this?
I don’t really remember making a choice to write novels. It’s almost like it was just a given in my psyche, analogous in a way to Descartes’ famous dictum, “I think; therefore, I am,” only in my case it would be “I exist; therefore, I write novels.” The fact my parents read to us a lot when I was a child undoubtedly helped plant the seed.

In 2014 you indie-published your first thriller, “Cicero’s Dead.” How did that experience help with your new book?
“Cicero’s Dead” was my first Nick Crane crime thriller. It did fairly well and sold plenty of electronic downloads. Although many readers really enjoyed Cicero, I felt it had a few flaws, which I tried to correct in “27 Days.” First, I felt Cicero was a bit generic. The antagonist, Arnold Clipper, was a bit of a stock villain. Furthermore, he was offstage through most of the story. The reader only experienced him third hand. So, in “27 Days,” I took pains to make the villains highly visible. Also, I felt the text of Cicero arguably contained gratuitous violence, which I tried to avoid in “27 Days.”

How did your career as a private investigator and sentencing mitigation specialist inform the book?
Through working as an investigator and a sentencing mitigation specialist, I’ve become very familiar with how our legal system actually works, particularly at the federal level. I’ve worked on hundreds of cases, mostly criminal in nature. I’ve seen score of judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys in action, and I’ve interviewed countless witnesses. I’ve pored over Discovery, sometimes for days at a time. All of this experience has enabled me to write thrillers that are, hopefully, realistic in terms of how our criminal justice system works.

Were there any stereotypes or clichés of thrillers that you wanted to avoid?
I wanted to write a novel with social and political relevance, which is perhaps not typical of most thrillers. I wanted it to be more than pure escapism. On the other hand, I followed many of the standard conventions. I tried to create a page-turner steeped in unpredictability in order to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Patrick H. Moore

What writers do you feel really get the reality of criminal investigations?
Richard Price and Michael Connelly come to mind. Also Tana French, the brilliant American-Irish writer who has made Dublin her center of operations. And of course, there are many others. I think that Steve Hamilton, Dennis Lehane and James Lee Burke also have a good handle on the “reality of criminal investigations” filtered through their own potent imaginations.

The antagonists of the book want to “Make America Safe Again.” How do current events tie into the book? Was this always the plan?
The “Make America Safe Again” theme reflects the current ethos of the far right here in the United States, which I believe poses a “clear and present danger” to our democracy. The January 6th insurrection is a perfect example of this unfortunate mentality in action. I think the unhinged quality of the antagonists in “27 Days” reflects the “win at all costs” mentality of many present-day right wing elected officials and their enablers in the media. It was always my intention to depict a similar group of miscreants in action in “27 Days.”

In your opinion, what are the challenges of tying in current events without making the book all about your political viewpoints?
This is an excellent question. We’ve all read books where the storyline is simply a thinly-veiled attempt to “make a point” rather than to simply “tell a good story.” The key to avoiding this pitfall, which I was of course aware of, was to create compelling realistic characters (my protagonist Nick Crane and his crew) locked in a life-or-death struggle against their adversaries. The reader is welcome to simply enjoy a lively and suspenseful page-turner without giving much thought to the larger social implications of the story if they so choose.

Nick Crane and Marguerite Ferguson. Who are they and what happened to make them enemies?
My protagonist Nick Crane is a veteran LA private investigator. Although compassionate on the inside, he is one tough and determined SOB, more than willing to “throw down” when necessary. His main antagonist in “27 Days,” Marguerite Ferguson, is one of the principals, a shadowy group of wealthy and influential right-wing aristocrats. Nick has been a thorn in the side of the principals ever since he and his team brought one of their key members, a serial killer of women and “gentler, kinder torture” expert named Frank Constantine, to justice in 2011, eight years before “27 Days” takes place. In the prequel to “27 Days,” which is called “Rogues and Patriots,” and which will hopefully be published next year by my publisher Down & Out Books, the reader will learn that Nick has thwarted all of Marguerite’s previous attempts to destroy him, earning her undying enmity in the process. Marguerite is not used to having her plans foiled and she perceives Nick’s refusal to bow down to her and the principals as a resounding slap in the face.

Are Nick and Carrie North a good team? How do they complement one another?
Nick Crane has always been somewhat skeptical of law enforcement and he is initially highly suspicious of FBI Special Agent Carrie North and her intentions. Nick is used to bending or breaking the rules as he sees fit and reporting to no one. Nonetheless, Nick learns to accept Carrie based on the courage she exhibits, her firm belief that Marguerite Ferguson must be brought to justice for the good of America, and her willingness to help Nick rescue his partner Bobby Moore, who has been kidnapped by Marguerite and her crew. Carrie, on the other hand, gradually gets used to Nick and comes to accept his unconventional approach to “working a case.” As the story progresses, the reader sees that Nick and Carrie are, in fact, indispensable to one another.

I loved the cover! How did it come about?
I’m really glad that you like the cover, something that everyone seems to agree on. We wanted a dark and forboding cover that epitomizes the danger Nick finds himself in. The managing editor of Down & Out Books, Lance Wright, asked his sister Dr. Margo Nauert to design the cover and, to my delight, she did a brilliant job.

Will there be more Nick Crane books?
I certainly hope so. I believe that Down & Out Books will publish the prequel to “27 Days” early next year. It is called “Rogues and Patriots” and it will answer many of the questions readers of the current book have concerning what led up to the predicament Nick finds himself in at the beginning of “27 Days.” “Rogues and Patriots” is almost finished. There will be a third and final book in the “Nick Crane versus Marguerite and the Principals” series with the working title of Giant Steps. After that, I may write more Nick Crane thrillers but they will either be standalones or part of a new series with different antagonists.

Mark Ellis blends art theft with murder in “Dead In The Water”

 In his fifth book in the Frank Merlin series, Mark Ellis takes us back to WWII to the scene of a grisly murder. But at the same time, priceless pieces of art go mysterioiusly missing. Merlin must uncover the link between the two in this new book, set to be released on April 25 through Hachette.

In this interview, Ellis talks about the setting and how they influenced the books, how his own life proved an inspiration and who Frank Merlin is and how he’s changed over the years.

Why place the book in WW2?

I was born in 1953. World War Two loomed large in my life from an early age. My father was in the Navy during the war and on service in West Africa he contracted a wasting lung disease. It took a while but he eventually died from this. My mother worked for a railway company in South Wales during the war, and made frequent trips up to London when it was being bombed. She told me many fascinating stories about these visits and life in general on the Home Front. It seemed only natural when I decided to start writing historical crime fiction, that World War Two be one option for a period setting. When I then dug deeper into that historical period, I discovered that Britain suffered a huge increase in crime during the war years. This helped make up my mind for me.


What kind of research did you need for this book?

With each book I spend at least three months researching the particular period. In the case of my latest book, “Dead In The Water,” that period was the summer of 1942. For my earlier books I spent a lot of time in libraries, but with the huge advances in the internet, I can now access much of the information I need there. I have also built up my own little World War Two library which is very helpful. History books are a major source of information obviously but I also use biographies, diaries and novels written during the war. Period films can also be useful.


How does the setting influence what happens in the book?

All my books have fictional plots set against specific historical facts which influence the storylines. Much of the plot in “Dead In The Water” revolves around the American military who had been arriving in Britain in their thousands since the beginning of 1942. My first book features murders at the American Embassy, presided over in 1940 by Joseph Kennedy. The London Blitz provides a vivid background to my second book. The background of my third book is espionage among De Gaulle’s Free French in London, and that of my fourth, the wartime British film industry.



Who is Frank Merlin and how did you create the character?

It was always my aim to have a detective hero in a senior position at Scotland Yard, so therefore a man likely to be in early middle age. Originally the hero was a true London Cockney with a wholly English background. However, while on holiday in Spain, I had the idea of making him half-Spanish. He is still to all intents and purposes, a Londoner but has a slightly more exotic background. His back-story is that his father, Javier Merino, was a Spanish seaman, who on a visit to London met and fell in love with Agnes, the daughter of a London ships chandler. Javier settled down with Agnes in London and in due course took over the chandlery from her father. The couple had 3 children, Frank Merlin, originally named Francisco Merino, being the first born.

 

Mark Ellis

How has Merlin changed over the course of the series?

He has remained basically the same though there have been developments in his life which have made him personally happier. I won’t go into detail as that would entail spoilers.


In this book, DCI Merlin discovers a mangled body found just as priceless art goes missing. Without giving away spoilers, how do these two stories intertwine?

Terrible stories of Nazi looting of art from Jewish families in ‘30s and ‘40s Europe still feature in the news to this day. In “Dead In The Water,” one important plot line concerns extremely valuable pieces of looted art which somehow end up in 1942 London. I shall say no more than that various people want to get their hands on it and violence ensues.


Did you have to carefully outline this book?

I do not plan out my books in advance. During my research, I often get plot ideas which I note down. Then I start writing and see where those plot lines take me. Usually, I’m about three quarters of the way through a book before I know who did what.


This is the 5th book in the series. Did you always intend this to become a series, and if not, what happened that it became one?

Yes, I always intended there to be a Frank Merlin series, which is why I set the first one very early in the war. (Merlin 1 is set in January 1940.) As I continued the series, I adopted the habit of setting each book 6 to 9 months after its predecessor. My aim has always been to take Merlin through to the end of the war, so this would imply at least 4 more books if I can manage that.


Where do the ideas for the different stories come from?

Many of my story ideas come from research, as mentioned above. If not they likely come from something I’ve read or seen in the past. The inspiration for my 4th book, “A Death In Mayfair,” came from a book I read a long time ago about the British film industry during the war. This was a surprisingly active production period and there were numerous film studios in and around London during the period. I remembered this when I started researching the book and it gave me the idea of creating a fictional film studio where murder could be done.


There are five books in the Frank Merlin series, and I am working on the 6th. The five books are:

1. The Embassy Murders (previously Princes Gate).

2. In The Shadows of the Blitz (previously Stalin’s Gold).

3. The French Spy (previously Merlin At War).

4. A Death In Mayfair

5. Dead In The Water (4/25 publication date in USA)

A bit of the city and the country in this novel double-header

Interested in a gripping murder mystery with all kinds of cool twists? How about a story of a family home with a web of secrets? Either way, this episode has you covered!

Up first is Priscilla Paton to talk about her new book, “When the House Burns,” third in the Twin Cities Mystery series. A murder case with a commentary on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on housing, this book brings us back to Detectives Erik Jansson and Deb Metzger as they search for the killer of an adulterous real estate agent. Priscilla and I look at where the series is now and why she decided to set amidst the backdrop of current events. We also talk about the detectives, their relationship and how its evolved throughout the series.

Following this is Julia Brewer Daily for her new book, “The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch.” The story focuses on Emma Rosales, heiress of the largest ranch in Texas—The Thorn. Running the ranch is something Emma could handle with her eyes closed…if The Thorn were any ordinary property. Julia and I look at the real-life inspiration among the ranches of Texas, how her upbringing leant itself to the writing process and the secret of The Thorn.

Todd Keisling’s “Devil’s Creek” hits a new intensity in horror

For this episode, I’m joined by Todd Keisling, author of “Devil’s Creek” a book that creeps the hell out of me after just a few chapters. It’s the author’s eighth book and unsurprisingly, has been nominated for a Bram Stoker Award, the highest honor in the genre.

Todd and I sit down to talk about the world he’s created in this new book, which centers around a death cult in a rural community and those that manage to escape it. We explore the mentality of its leader, Jacob Masters and how he led a community from its normal life to their grisly end. Jack Tremly, one of those brave enough to deft Masters, is the main character of the book and we talk about his role in the years that follow.

Todd has dedicated the book to Frank Michaels Errington and Matt Molgaard and he shares who these people are and the influence they had on the novel, as well as the forward written by Ronald Malfi. This book goes to some extremes and Todd talks about just how intense he’ll make a book and where he draws the line.

Rhode Island Author Expo Preview: Sharyn Haddad Vicente, Christine Carr

Sharyn Haddad Vincente (L) and Christine Carr

Here’s part two of our preview interviews for this year’s Rhode Island Author Expo! This is just a sampling of the many great writers you can meet there.

First up, it’s suspense writer Sharyn Haddad Vicente, for her debut book “Love Me,” first in the Paige Vale Psychological Thriller series. Set in an idyllic New England town, the police soon find themselves facing a dire challenge when a serial killer begins leaving bodies in their wake. Enter Paige Vale, a high school student who uncovers unsettling facts about the crimes and leads the police to learn that little is as it seems.

After that, it’s Christine Carr, author of “Mother Daze, Tales from the Imperfect Playground” and “Corwin and Friends: We Can Do It.” We talk about both titles as well as the character of Corwin, who was created in February of 2020 with the idea of sharing heartfelt messages of hope and courage at a time when we all needed a sense of care and reconnection.

Kevin Lucia talks about the new arm of Cemetery Dance Publications

As we close on Halloween, it makes perfect sense to welcome back one of my favorite horror authors, Kevin Lucia. This time, we're diving into the small press industry with a look at his role as e-book and trade paperback editor at Cemetery Dance Publications. It's a significant change for the press and one that's upped their status in a big way.

In this episode, we talk about what this means for the company and the work that made it happen. Kevin addresses the publisher's past issues with making deadlines and the complete turnaround that he's witnessed.

But that's not all! Kevin has some new projects in the works, including “The Horror at Pleasant Brook,” out this Halloween. Along with a look at the story, we talk about the kill factor in horror books and some of his best methods to end a character. Hey, it's a horror episode, what did you expect?

Mary Keliikoa shares her third book and growth as a writer

In Mary Keliikoa’s “Kelly Pruett Mystery” series, a grieving single mother inherits her late father’s PI business, and begins tackling mysteries on her own, leading her into dangerous territory.

Following the success of the series debut, “Derailed” (2020) and sequel “Denied” (2021), Keliikoa has released another installment,“Deceived,” through Camel Press. Here's a look at the plot for the new book.

Kelly finally feels like she’s coming into her own. With her personal life well on track, a gig uncovering what drove a client’s granddaughter underground could be good for business. But after her undercover operation at the homeless shelter reveals rampant drug dealing, she’s suddenly kicked off the case... just as another girl goes missing.

Vowing to expose the truth even if it means pro-bono work, Kelly is taken aback when her half-sister helps her hunt down answers in a tent city brimming with distrust. When her investigation doesn’t move quickly enough to save a second woman from a vicious murder, Kelly doubles her efforts unwilling to accept defeat.

Mary and I dive into the plot of the new book, as well as Kelly's challenges from the other two. We look at how the main character and author have grown over the years, and how Mary feels about her writing career with three titles now released.

Mary talks about her work as a legal secretary and how this helped her as a writer. We look at the stereotypes of mystery books and some of the things she strove to avoid in this series.

Frank Barbiere walks us through some “Astonishing Times”

What if you lived in a world full of superheroes? Would you be amazed every day to see people who can perform impossible feats or would they just be part of the landscape? In this episode, “Astonishing Times” co-writer and co-creator Frank Barbiere joins me to talk all about this new five-part series, which you can only get at comiXology Originals.

Noah Sans, a young reporter living in the shadow of his father, lives in a world full of superheroes—but no one seems to care. After a world changing event called The Cataclysm, people moved on, and now heroes are old news. But when Noah begins investigating a mysterious murder, he comes face to face with his most revered heroes and is forced to confront a secret past that could change the world forever.

We talk about Noah's character and his perspective on the world of heroes and himself, especially when compared to his father, a journalist who was friends with the greatest heroes. We look at the world creation and how he and co-writer Arris Quinones crafted the cast.

Frank also talks about working with Arris, who is no stranger to the world of comics (he's the host of YouTube's Variant) but newer to writing them. We also look at the rest of the team and brilliant work they did bringing this idea to life.

Katherine Dean Mazerov goes from journalist to novelist

Murder meets the absurd in “Summer Club,” the debut novel by journalist Katherine Dean Mazerov. In this interview, we talk about what led her to go from writing the news to writing her own book, and the real-life drama that inspired it.



Katherine dives deep into her main character, Lydia Phillips, who is herself a former journalist. When a dead body shows up at the Meadow Glen Swim and Tennis Club, Lydia resumes her role as a reporter to get to the bottom of the mystery. We also look at the lessons and challenges that awaited Katherine in the world of book writing.

Author Michael Kaufman's new book features a main character with a computer in their brain

Michael Kaufman returns to fiction with his new book, “The Last Exit.” Set in Washington, D.C. in 2033, climate change has hit hard, fires are burning, unemployment is high, and controversial longevity treatments are only available to the ultra-rich. Michael talks about the different elements he weaves together in this novel and how he balances them out.

We also look at how he's promoting the book at a time when book festivals aren't happening. Michael talks about the different ways he's interacting with the fans and what they've had to say about the book.

Michael also talks about the main characters, Jen Lu, and Chandler, a computer in her brain that assists her with police work. We look at the balance between the two and how they work as a team.

Author David Rohlfing shares his killer thinking in debut novel

In this episode, David Rohlfing talks about the writing process for his debut novel, “Deliberate Duplicity.” Originally at nearly 200,000 words, a heavy editing process gave Rohlfing a lot of writing lessons, mainly on how much detail is enough.



This novel explores the twisted, vengeful mind of a serial killer, and follows the dedicated detective, Sasha Frank, who’s hell-bent on solving the mystery behind a string of gruesome crimes. Rohlfing talks about what makes a good villain for this kind of book, as well as the story behind the main character.