Five by Five—New mystery thriller incorporates a wealth of research

By Max Bowen

Michael G. Colburn’s Lady Black Mystery series has returned with the second book, “Asylum Murders” (Dec. 16). Set in the streets of 1890s Melbourne, Lady Edith “Edie” Black has reinvented herself. Once a notorious London thief, she now poses as a widowed aristocrat while secretly establishing herself as a private investigator.

In this Five by Five, Colburn dives into the lengthy research he did, particularly on the setting and time period and how he worked to get everything right. He talks about Lady Edith and how she came to be and what we can expect in future books.

How does the setting (both time and location) influence the story?
The details of the setting have to be as authentic as possible when writing a historical mystery in order to be believable. Building details and styling, street names, tram stops, the weather — all have to be researched to mesh with the story and action. Writing about the 19th century, I always use a period accurate map of the location I am writing about. Character names need to reflect the time and location as well. For example, I wanted to use the name Neil. I got conflicting information, so I had to dig further; I found Neil used as a first name in Tasmania, but I didn’t find it used in Australia. I was writing about the Torres Strait in eastern Australia; my Neil became a blackbirding pirate from Tasmania. In writing about a variety of locations, I rely on research as much as creativity.

What kind of research did you do when writing?
I did extensive research on daily activity and news in the locations where my books take place. Local newspaper archives are an important source. There is a wealth of information available in the daily news. During writing, a lot of the research is to make sure the words, actions, names and events fit with the 19th century and where the characters are located. I don’t try to convey accents or dialects; the reader can impose those if the wording works. As an example, in writing Lady Black Book Two, “Asylum Murders,” I found several events that became part of my story in the daily news of Melbourne. One example: there were reports of severed human limbs showing up in the Yarra River flowing through Melbourne. Some were dragged ashore by dogs. I never found where they identified a source of these limbs, and they became an important detail in my narrative.

How did you develop the character of Lady Edith?
I wanted a strong-willed lady lead. Many of the mysteries I read and enjoy have female lead characters. When researching the theft of the steamship Ferret for the beginning of “Stolen Brilliance,” the first Lady Black novel, I read an article in the Cardiff Wales newspaper that reported on ship activity in the port. It stated that James Henderson, the new “owner” of the Ferret, boarded the ship, refurbished and ready for departure, with a tall, elegant lady listed as his wife. I found no further reference to Henderson’s wife, and of all the many articles on the missing ship and subsequent activities of the thief, none mentioned his wife until a brief reference in Melbourne before and during his trial. There is no record that I could find that he had a wife, and that suited my needs perfectly. I built the lady into a story and a heroine.

What’s your process for creating a mystery?
I can’t always do this, but I try to find a time and place, involving genuine occurrences and actual crimes, preferably unsolved, to build into a narrative of investigation and sometimes resolution. I also want to build conflict and mystery between the characters along the way. In the first two books, I had multiple unsolved crimes that I could incorporate (and resolve in a fashion) using my characters and story. I try to write so that the multiple events that are real come together and are resolved by the end of the narrative, but leave room for surprises.

Was it always the plan to make this a series? How will things develop further in future books?
Yes, it was. While each book has a resolution, some details are left open to continue the story and relationship of the characters. For the forthcoming third book in the series, I’ll revisit another true event (the sinking of the R.M.S. Quetta) and build the book around it.

Five by Five: Tragedy leads to expose of aviation industry

By Max Bowen 

When Rossana D’Antonio’s brother was killed in the 2008 TACA 390 plane crash, that loss led to a lengthy research effort that incorporated her experience as an engineer and strategic communicator to expose the shortcomings in the aviation industry, captured in her book, “26 Seconds.” 

In this article, Rossana talks about what was learned and her take on the aviation industry, as well as the call to action embedded in the story.


What inspired you to write this book?
“26 Seconds” was borne out of a personal tragedy. Fueled by heartbreak and driven by my expertise in civil infrastructure, I set out on a quest for answers. The loss of my brother in the TACA 390 plane crash wasn’t just personal—it exposed systemic gaps in aviation safety that demand accountability. As an engineer and public advocate, I wrote this book to challenge assumptions, question industry practices, and empower readers to think critically. Part memoir, part exposé—it’s a wake-up call wrapped in a deeply human story. I want people to see how one life lost can lead to broader change.

How did you go about trying to learn what happened?
As an engineer and a strategic communicator, I leveraged every tool in my arsenal to uncover what really happened, not only with TACA 390 but with other parallel aviation accidents here in the US and abroad. I pored over public records, interviewed aviation insiders, analyzed technical reports, and asked the hard questions the industry doesn’t want us to ask. Interestingly, the TACA 390 accident investigation report was never made public which, to me, screamed of a cover up. As if living a true crime story, I managed to get a copy of the report through indirect means which ultimately exposed the smoking gun.

What did you find out?
In my search for the truth, I discovered the crash wasn’t simply a tragic accident—it was the result of systemic failures that were predictable and preventable. My investigation uncovered flawed engineering, regulatory blind spots, and a pattern of corporate avoidance. I discovered an aviation industry that experiences systemic weaknesses, chooses profits over safety, withholds the truth from its customers, and is willing to risk lives to get its planes back up in the sky. “26 Seconds” reveals that what happened to my brother wasn't an outlier event but part of a troubling pattern that affects each one of us as consumers.

What’s your take on the aviation industry? Is it safe?
It depends on how you define “safe.” Statistically, flying remains one of the safest modes of transportation. But beneath the surface, “26 Seconds” reveals cracks in the aviation system. It seems that not a day goes by when the news isn’t reporting on unattended risks, overlooked warnings, and a regulatory system that too often prioritizes profit over prevention. My purpose is to spotlight the human stories, the accountability gaps, and the urgent need for reform. The real question isn’t whether the system is safe—it’s whether those in power are doing enough to keep it that way. That’s my call to action embedded in my book.

What do you hope people take from this book?
“26 Seconds,” at its core, is a challenge to look at deficiencies more deeply, question the status quo, and recognize the power of our voice. I hope readers walk away not just moved by my story but awakened to the vulnerabilities in systems we’ve always trusted. It’s a call to action—for change, for oversight, for justice. I want people to realize that every life lost in a plane crash is more than a statistic but represents a human story. And that story could be theirs. If this book sparks conversations, drives reforms, and empowers others to speak truth to power, then I’ve accomplished my mission.

Five By Five: Years of research informs book on walking away from a strained relationship

By Max Bowen

In her new book, “Estranged: How Strained Female Friendships Can Be Mended or Ended,” Susan Shapiro Barash dives into the complexity of female relationships. The book, which took years to research, came about after Susan heard several stories about the difficulties in ending a relationship with a close friend or sister.

In this Five by Five, Susan talks about the inspiration behind the book and the lengthy research she did. She talks about her experience with difficult relationships and what she hopes readers take from the book.

What inspired you to write this book?
I wanted to write this book for a long while and began the research several years ago. I kept hearing stories of women 'breaking up' with a close female friend or a sister and how distraught there were. I was also hearing about a shift in attitude and rather than be ashamed and/or devastated, many reported they felt free and as if they had some agency.

What kind of research was done?
I interviewed 150 women for this project and did a questionnaire with another 111 women. This was comprised of a diverse group of women from across the country. I researched studies, read articles and books about relationships, friendships and looked at pop culture, fiction and history in terms of female bonds.

In writing this book, what reasons did you learn as to why it can be difficult to walk away from a broken friendship?
It is difficult for women of all ages to leave an unhealthy friendship. The reasons include: secrets shared, the years of being close now disintegrating, the societal message that our female friends are our support system, losing ground socially — especially if two friends are in the same group, being judged, being alone, no longer being included.

I was intrigued by the different examples of unhealthy friendships. What’s your experience been with these types?
The types of friendships I established for this book are the result of the 150 interviews. After listening I realized that the interviewees fell into these 'categories.' The scenarios and issues that emerged were familiar and happened frequently. Each 'type' of friend resonates on some level—Like most of you, I have encountered a few along the way. What matters is that we 'wake up' and see the friendship for what it is and consider the value or lack of value.

What do you hope readers take from this book?
My hope is that women identify with the interviewees' narratives and realize they can estrange from an unhealthy friendship, regardless of the history and attachment. That there is power and positivity in doing so. It is liberating and gives women more voice and confidence in themselves. There is no reason to stay in an emotionally abusive, negative friendship, no matter than our culture tells us we are bffs forever. It isn't always so and my findings show that females are beginning to own this, happily.

In writing, Elizabeth Splaine's books took her on a journey of research

From heart surgery to Hitler's family, author Elizabeth Splaine covers quite a bit in her books. In this interview, she and I talk about her newest book, “Swan Song of a Jewish Diva,” slated to be released late next year. In this book, a Jewish opera singer rises to fame and becomes Hitler's obsession. In what has become the norm for her work, this book called for a lot of background research, and the result is a lot of learning for Splaine.


We take a long look at some of the new ground she covered, and share a few interesting historical facts. Splaine's most recent book, “Devil's Grace,” also taught her much, but began with a strong suggestion that she write about the light. She also recorded the audiobook, soon to be released, and she shares how her background in opera helped prepare her, as well as the new tricks she had to learn.