An Unwilling Suspect
by Jo A. Hiestand
GENRE: British mystery
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Jo A. Hiestand will be awarding a $30 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please visit GoddessFish.com to follow the tour, remember the more you comment better your chances on winning.
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BLURB:
McLaren’s fiancĂ©e tragically died one month ago. Trying to heal emotionally from her death, McLaren settles into a rented farmhouse in the woods near picturesque Lake Windermere, in Cumbria. But he’s barely had a chance to rest when Helen, the woman in the neighboring cottage, is killed…and is discovered near his front door.
Because McLaren had spent much of the previous day with her, and his snowy footprints lead to and from her house, he becomes the prime murder suspect in what the police label a frustrated romantic advance.
Motives for Helen’s murder are as chilling as the outdoor temperature. There’s the hands-on garage mechanic who’d like to put his hands all over her, the affluent fishing guide, and Helen’s former boyfriend who wanted to renew the relationship.
Can McLaren find the killer before the police jail him for murder?
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Excerpt:
The acrid smell of smoke woke him. He lay in bed, trying to understand what was happening. As the significance of the odor occurred to him, he threw back the duvet and got up quickly.
He forgot that he’d looked up a few things last night. He must have fallen asleep without putting away the laptop, for it flipped off the top of the bed and crashed onto the floor. “Damn.” He bent over and picked it up. The top dangled, gripping the keyboard by its left edge. McLaren punched the power button but nothing happened. The screen stayed black. He tossed the laptop onto the bed and quickly slipped into his jeans and shoes as the odor intensified.
He ran into the front room. Fingers of light gray smoke threaded through the air and he coughed, but he saw no other sign of fire. He checked the back room, kitchen and second bedroom, but encountered nothing more than smoke. As he dashed back into the front, he glanced outside. The land was on fire.
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Review:
4 stars
McLaren tragically lost someone who mattered to him, now trying to heal he finds himself in a rented farmhouse near Lake Windermere , in Cumbria.
But so far no much rest has come his way, he meets his neighbor Helen who lives in cottage near where he is staying. But the troubles just started as she is found murdered not too far from his place, and he becomes the prime suspect as they find his snowy footprints that lead from her hour.
There’s the hands-on garage mechanic who’d like to put his hands all over her, the affluent fishing guide, and Helen’s former boyfriend who wanted to renew the relationship. McLaren now need to find the guilty party before the local police jail him for her murder, will he be able to do so. You will have to read to find out. Good story and a bit drawn out, but well worth the read.
I receieved a free copy for my honest review!
Review by Jara
McLaren tragically lost someone who mattered to him, now trying to heal he finds himself in a rented farmhouse near Lake Windermere , in Cumbria.
But so far no much rest has come his way, he meets his neighbor Helen who lives in cottage near where he is staying. But the troubles just started as she is found murdered not too far from his place, and he becomes the prime suspect as they find his snowy footprints that lead from her hour.
There’s the hands-on garage mechanic who’d like to put his hands all over her, the affluent fishing guide, and Helen’s former boyfriend who wanted to renew the relationship. McLaren now need to find the guilty party before the local police jail him for her murder, will he be able to do so. You will have to read to find out. Good story and a bit drawn out, but well worth the read.
I receieved a free copy for my honest review!
Review by Jara
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
A month-long trip to England during her college years introduced Jo to the joys of Things British. Since then, she has been lured back nearly a dozen times, and lived there during her professional folk singing stint. This intimate knowledge of Britain forms the backbone of both the Taylor & Graham mysteries and the McLaren cold case mystery series.
Jo’s insistence for accuracy, from police methods and location layout to the general feel of the area, has driven her innumerable times to Derbyshire for research. These explorations and conferences with police friends provide the detail filling the books.
In 1999 Jo returned to Webster University to major in English. She graduated in 2001 with a BA degree and departmental honors.
Her cat Tennyson shares her St. Louis home.
Social Links:
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Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteDo you write every day? Do you have a word goal for each day you write?
ReplyDeleteHi, Peggy. I write everyday, usually. There are exceptions, of course -- I try to do all my errands on one day, but can't always accomplish that. Some days I spend more time than others on writing. Yesterday, for example, I wrote about eight hours, but the day before I wrote only four hours. I may not write every day when I'm doing the second draft, but when I'm into the first draft I feel I need to write every day -- ideas come too quickly and I need to get them down before I forget! So, long answer to your question...I try to write daily. I think it's good discipline and it keeps the story flowing in my head.
DeleteCongrats on the tour and thanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Lisa. Glad you came by and good luck!
DeleteThank you for hosting my book and the review today!
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed the description of the book. Sounds like an intriguing read.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed the description of the book. Sounds like an intriguing read.
ReplyDeleteHi, Dianne. Thanks for your kind words. I hope you like it if you choose to read it! ;-)
DeleteGreat review, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one!
ReplyDeleteVictoria, thanks for logging on and commenting!
DeleteSigning off for tonight. Thank you to EskieMama & Dragon Lady for hosting the review today, and thank you, everyone, for logging on and commenting. I appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteI was really enjoying following this tour, thank you for all the great blog posts and excerpts!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read.
ReplyDelete