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Dec 20

#ASmallTownCanBe #Murder

Mark your calendars. Today is the day. My new cozy mystery is releasing if all the technical guru’s at the book sites are alive and awake after the Christmas rush that is happening.

#ASmallTownCanBe #Murder is set in fictional rural Whistle Stop, MN. Angel Delaight decides to relocate from Chicago and see what small town life is all about.

I have lived in a small town all my life. It has it perks, quirks and irritations and most of all a quaintness of family you don’t find in a big city. Small town rural Minnesota helped raise my children.

Though this is a mystery and it is fictional there are some places I pay homage too in my book. The White House Eatery is fashioned after the White House Cafe that used to sit on Main Street. My parents would take me to this nondescript old white building. There was not anything special about the outside but the food on the inside was marvelous as was the the friendliness of the owners and staff.

I used a local photographer for the pictures which I used to design my cover. He will be featured on the blog next week as I acquaint you with the nuances of my book.

One of his photographs is the Depot which is now a museum. It is the front cover. I grew up right down the tracks and across the pasture from the Depot. Lol I don’t know if people considered it the right side or the wrong side of the tracks. My grandfather who I did not meet as he died in 1924, shoveled coal at the depot. I remember hoboes stopping at our home by the tracks to ask for a handout and to visit with my uncle as he was working with the horses in the pasture. It was a common everyday occurrence in my life.

My mom and dad would take on the passenger train that we boarded at the Depot and go to the next town and then we rode back on another train. It was a highlight in my young life.

My community was built because and around the railroad. Today we still have trains traveling through town. I can hear the whistle early in the morning echoing from blocks away. That is why the community in the new book is Whistle Stop.

There is a rhythm to a small town that is different from the city. We know our neighbors. We watch out for those next door. A recent example of that is when someone came to my home. Our neighbors thought we were gone. They were concerned because someone was walking around our home and knocking on our door. I got a text from my neighbor asking me if someone was supposed to be there.

Though we do have our spats from time to time when someone is in trouble the community rallies behind them and supports them. This is small town life.

#ASmallTownCanBe #Murder has all of those elements and more, plus mystery. I hope you enjoy it and if you do please leave a review on Goodreads, Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com or elsewhere. I introduce you to #ASmallTownCanBe #Murder.

You have all heard the story—big-city girl moves to small town and lives happily ever after. That’s not the forever after Angel Delaight found when she moved to Whistle Stop, Minnesota.

First, her realtor is found dead in her new house, which also is rumored to be haunted. Then homeless animals show up at her door, along with a bevy of townspeople who seem to know what she is doing at all times. To top it off, a secret journal turns up during a renovation, indicating more secrets hidden in this small community.

Will those secrets from the past put Angel’s life and those of her friends and family in danger? She finds when the big-city girl meets a small town, it can be murder.

https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1489526531

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-small-town-can-be-murder-julie-seedorf/1135182636?ean=294016357753

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B082YLDW43

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-small-town-can-be-murder

Tell all your friends Angel and Whistle Stop should be their next destination!

Jan 25

The Muddy Course by Diane Weiner

A dead body, a kidnapped sister, and a difficult teenager who wants to meet her real father who happens to be in prison, is all you could ask for in a cozy mystery.

The Muddy Course

Author Diane Weiner sets up the story and the mystery perfectly. Her Sugarberry Falls series continues with The Muddy Course as the fifth book in the series and muddy it is. There are many twists and turns in this book and it keeps the reader turning the pages and wanting more.

Each book in the series seems to get better. This is the second series for this author and it is my favorite. Throw in an anxious mother, a teenager, pets, neighbors and friends and it throws suspicions on everyone.

Sugarberry Falls in itself is a charming community. I always lose myself in this community and want to visit and stay at the Inn and adopt more animals.

It’s quite tricky as a writer to have three mysteries going at one time and Diane does it well. Her characters likable but they begin to feel more like family with each new book in the series that you read.

I would give this book 5 stars.

The Muddy Course

Thirty years after her sister’s death, Emily’s mother comes to visit with Earth shattering news. After years of blaming herself for Amy’s drowning, is it possible her sister, who was born with Down’s syndrome, has been alive all this time? Meanwhile, when a man falls from the roof at the Sugarbury Falls arts fair, Dr. Henry Fox is first on the scene but he’s too late to save him. Was the fall accidental? Emily heard two men arguing shortly before the incident. Evidence points to murder. Emily and Henry uncover a web of hidden truths and deceptions while helping the town’s detective solve the murder.

Diane Weiner

Diane Weiner is a veteran public school teacher and mother of four children. She has enjoyed reading for as long as she can remember. She has fond memories of reading Nancy Drew and Mary Higgins Clark on snowy weekend afternoons in upstate New York and yearned to write books that would bring that kind of enjoyment to her readers. Being an animal lover, she is a vegetarian and shares her home with two adorable cats. In her free time, she enjoys running, attending community theater productions, and spending time with her family (especially going to the mall with her daughter and getting Dairy Queen afterwards). Murder is Medical is the latest (book 10) in the Susan Wiles School House Mystery series. Clearing the Course (book 3) is the latest in her Sugarbury Falls series. A Deadly Course won an Eric Hoffer finalist award. Murder is Collegiate made the short list for the Chanticleer Murder and Mayhem Mystery Award. Follow her at dianeweinerauthor.com or visit her Facebook page at dianeweinerauthor

Nov 27

3 Comments

A Surprise Sale!

My publishing company, Skye Bridge Publishing just sent me this notice. My new book will be out on December 21 but until then the print version is being offered for sale ahead of time. It will be a perfect Christmas present. Here is what they said.

Avoid the holiday rush and order your copy now so you’ll have it in your cozy hands by Christmas.
After Dec. 21, retail price is 14.99.

https://theeditingpen.com/a-small-town-can-be-murder/

Aug 1

1 Comment

The Tainted Course by Diane Weiner

Author Diane Weiner’s new release The Tainted Course is a winner in my book. The Tainted Course is the fourth in her Sugarbury Falls Series. I thank Diane for guesting on my blog with a post on the ins and outs of writing another book in an already popular series. Welcome, Diane.

From Diane

From devouring soap operas with my grandmother to reading Nancy Drew mysteries, I’ve always loved a good series. The characters and settings become old friends and unlike in a standalone or a movie, the characters have time to grow and change over a period of time while we become more and more attached to them. A series is attractive because we are in it for the long haul.

In my ten-book Susan Wiles Schoolhouse Mysteries series, retired teacher Susan Wiles solves murders which occur in and around school settings. Just how many mysteries can Susan solve without the books getting boring? What about Emily and Henry Fox in my Sugarbury Falls series? Semi-retired and living in a small town in Vermont, they’ve already seen a lot of action. How does an author keep a series fresh, both for herself as a writer, and for her readers?

            We learn by exposure to different people, ideas, and locals. So do my main characters. What happens when you think your newly found half-brother is a killer, or you’re stuck with your recently discovered mother on house arrest in your home? How do you react when you’ve lived a peaceful life for half a century and suddenly must deal with a moody, eye-rolling teenager? What if your child is in danger? Do you remain meek and quiet if that’s been your way, of does the situation bring out a wild cougar you never knew existed?

In Murder is Medical, the latest in the Schoolhouse Mysteries, Susan teams up with a new friend. We hadn’t seen her working with someone her own age with the same intelligence, curiosity, and gumption as she has. How does she adapt and what does she learn from the experience? By observing the actions and quirks of her new friend, what does she realize about herself?

            Changing locales is another way to keep a series fresh. In Murder is Private, Susan and her daughter travel to Florida and help solve a murder while visiting newly discovered family members. Susan and Mike travel to Atlanta to solve a crime linked to a mysterious letter they receive in Murder is Legal, and to St. Louis in Murder is Medical. New places bring new people and situations into the mix. I’m planning on writing about a destination wedding in an upcoming book.

            Health problems can also keep a series fresh. What does Susan do when Mike has a heart attack and she fears losing him? What about keeping her own diabetes in check? She struggles with weight all through the series, having, like most of us, her ups and downs with it. Emily faces a possible cancer diagnosis. How does she react, especially now that she has a child and that child has already lost a mother recently?

Characters, like all of use, have personal demons, doubts, shortcoming, and self-inflicted obstacles. Over the course of a series, we can empathize with a character facing many of the challenges that we do. Our interactions with others, new experiences, and the challenge of overcoming vulnerabilities is a catalyst for growth both for the reader and the for the protagonist.

My Review:

Emily and Henry are back and there is a new resident in Sugarbury Falls. She brings with her an entire set of problems that disrupt the lives of the community. It is no secret that this series is my favorite series of Diane’s. My previous reviews have stated that.

This is a cozy series but this book touches on a few serious subjects that are prevalent in our society today. I give kudos to bringing this up in her cozy mystery and Sugarbury Falls. As much as we want our books to take us away from the world and give us that cozy feel, adding a little of the real world is not necessarily a bad thing because small communities are not immune to the world’s problems and the way small towns come together in times of crisis is refreshing. I give this book five stars.

The Tainted Course

In a town known for covered bridges, craft fairs, and a cat cafe, murder just doesn’t fit. When newcomer Faith Maguire is murdered, sleuthing couple Henry and Emily Fox are compelled to find the killer and restore equilibrium to their beloved hometown. After all, their daughter is friends with the victim’s daughter, and the body was discovered after a dinner at their good friend Coralee’s inn. Is the owner of the new bed and breakfast in town responsible? Emily uncovers disturbing evidence that shows she’s capable of such a deed. Meanwhile, an elusive motorcyclist throws warning messages through the Fox’s cabin, the handyman from the inn makes secret treks after dinner, and Faith’s ex-husband, denied custody of his girls’ thanks to his wife’s accusations, has been less than truthful since coming to town. Will teamwork bring the killer to justice before it’s too late?

About Diane:

Diane Weiner is a veteran public school teacher and mother of four children. She has enjoyed reading for as long as she can remember. She has fond memories of reading Nancy Drew and Mary Higgins Clark on snowy weekend afternoons in upstate New York and yearned to write books that would bring that kind of enjoyment to her readers. Being an animal lover, she is a vegetarian and shares her home with two adorable cats. In her free time, she enjoys running, attending community theater productions, and spending time with her family (especially going to the mall with her daughter and getting Dairy Queen afterward). Murder is Medical is the latest (book 10) in the Susan Wiles School House Mystery series. Clearing the Course (book 3) is the latest in her Sugarbury Falls series. A Deadly Course won an Eric Hoffer finalist award. Murder is Collegiate made the shortlist for the Chanticleer Murder and Mayhem Mystery Award. Follow her at dianeweinerauthor.com or visit her Facebook page at dianeweinerauthor.

Thank you for being here Diane. I hope you visit her links and enthrall yourself with her mysteries.

Jul 25

1 Comment

It’s Been Awhile

I have been remiss on faithfully blogging here at my Mysterious Musings Blog. My last post was about my wonderful narrator, Darla MIddlebrook and my new audiobook that is out for The Discombobulated Decipherers.

I have no excuses except one for my laziness and that is laziness. I was tired and I needed to take some time to rest. We all need that.

If you haven’t commented on my previous post and my interview with Darla make sure you do so as I haven’t given away the audiobooks yet or you can comment here.

Today I am going to give you a little snippet of the book. I’ll be back with more another day but enjoy and if you like it make sure you listen to the other audiobooks I have out. They are a hoot. Until we meet again. Wasn’t that a Roy Rogers song?

If you are interested here are the links for the book.

Jul 9

2 Comments

A New Audiobook and Producer, Darla Middlebrook

An interview with my producer and narrator of my latest audiobooks (julie Seedorf.

Author Julie Seedorf

The Discombobulated Decipherers is finally out in Audiobook form. What a perfect time for a winter mystery and lots of fun. I feel privileged to have had Darla Middlebrook narrate and produce my book. She is an excellent voice person and adds many surprises to the narration. Wait until you hear her singing voice. I thought it was only fitting to introduce you to Darla and for all of us to get to know a little about her. After reading her interview I know I want to become better friends. Thank you, Darla, for taking us into the story of Jezabelle and Brilliant and leave us wanting more.

Darla MIddlebrook

Who is Darla Middlebrook in real life behind the voice and the acting?

Darla is a 68 years “young” retiree who works on audiobook recording 3 or 4 days a week and does volunteer readings at the local hospital and…

View original post 1,204 more words

Jul 9

7 Comments

A New Audiobook and Producer, Darla Middlebrook

The Discombobulated Decipherers is finally out in Audiobook form. What a perfect time for a winter mystery and lots of fun. I feel privileged to have had Darla Middlebrook narrate and produce my book. She is an excellent voice person and adds many surprises to the narration. Wait until you hear her singing voice. I thought it was only fitting to introduce you to Darla and for all of us to get to know a little about her. After reading her interview I know I want to become better friends. Thank you, Darla, for taking us into the story of Jezabelle and Brilliant and leave us wanting more.

Darla MIddlebrook

Who is Darla Middlebrook in real life behind the voice and the acting?

Darla is a 68 years “young” retiree who works on audiobook recording 3 or 4 days a week and does volunteer readings at the local hospital and some of the local nursing homes. When did you realize you wanted to enter the world of acting and voice work or was it something you always knew and began as a child?

Audiobooks, audiobook narration and voice acting, in general, were not things I had heard of when I was a child.  I began to be interested in doing this right after I retired in 2009.  I thought it would be easy because “it’s just reading, heck I can do that!” (quoting my uninformed, July 2009 self)

How do you choose the projects you accept?

Most of us have heard that you can’t judge a book by its cover.  Well, that’s usually the first thing that grabs my attention.  Then I read the author’s take on the book, read the audition clip and go from there.  If I don’t like one or the other of these, I don’t audition for the book.  I have occasionally, been asked to audition because an author likes my voice.

The Discombobulated Decipherers has many characters. Is it hard to switch voices and how do you decide what inflection to put into each character?

I, usually, skim the entire manuscript to get a “feel” for the characters.  Then I have them talk to each other (in my mind).  I decide right away which characters are “villains” and why they are “villains”.  I do this by indulging in my “bad habit” of reading the last couple of chapters first.  I always make recordings of each character when s/he first occurs in the story and when s/he has emotional moments.  This way I can refer back to the recording to refresh my memory of how I made the character sound. This has helped me to keep the characters consistent if I end up being asked to do a series.

You previously were a Speech Pathologist. How does that career work into your career as an actor and voice professional?

I have more insight into the care of my instrument (voice).  I know what muscles to use and have a decent ear for vocalization.  I am more aware (I believe) of what types of voice(s) can be used when I work because I do not want to pick something that is going to tire or damage my instrument in the long run.  I can refer back to speech errors/problems that I can imitate which actually work as characterizations for voices.  I have also worked with a  professional singing coach since 1975.  This has helped me to use a wide pitch range when building character voices.  Often, a ¼ to ½ tone change in pitch can make all the difference in a character’s voice.

Tell us a little bit about AIRS-LA and why you chose to be a part of that venue?

AIRS-LA has a website which explains their goals and vision much better than I can.  I became involved with them through my first voice-over acting coach, Vanessa Hart (deceased).  She advised me to do as much reading as possible to improve my skills.  After I started with AIRS-LA, I was approached at a conference by Joe Jurca (who is heavily involved with AIRS-LA).  He thanked me for my contribution and praised my reading skills (made me glow, I tell you).  So, I have continued on with them.  Originally, I read CAT FANCY (now called CATSTER) magazine.  Then I suggested that I read the Canadian version of Reader’s Digest.  So, now I read from two magazines. (Did you know that Reader’s Digest is different in each country in which it is published?  Stories are related to the particular country, so Canada’s version has stories that you may not see in the US, British, or Australian editions)

In the Discombobulated Decipherers, you use your beautiful singing voice to add to the story. Do you have other releases or music that you have produced?

No, I do not have any professional music releases.  I have, however, sung in several musicals, operas, and operettas with a couple of semi-professional theatre group in Regina, Saskatchewan.  Regina is the capital of the province and is just up the road about 45 minutes from Moose Jaw, where I live.

     Please tell us about some of your other projects. What was your favorite and what was the hardest one and why?

My favorite project is always the one on which I am, currently, working.  The hardest one I have worked on required that I pronounce several Aztec and Mayan words.  But, in some ways that particular project was easy.  It happened to be a story based on an actual archeological dig in South American.  One of the things that I often do is refer to YouTube for pronunciations.  Well, when I was working on this project, I Googled the “The red Queen dig”.  Up popped a 2-hour National Geographic special about that particular dig!  Words were pronounced and spelled out on the screen!!  All I had to do was listen to them, repeat after the speaker and voila, I sounded like a genius!!  ☺ ☺

What advice would you give to authors or those wanting to go into your profession?

My best advice to authors would be to “read your manuscript aloud to someone” so that you know whether or not it “flows”.  I think authors should do this even if they do not plan to have the book converted to audiobook format.  For those who want to go into Voice Over work, find a good, reputable coach.  DO NOT fall for any of the internet scams that tell you that you can become a voice-over actor in (pick a number) easy online quick lessons.  YOU CAN NOT!  I am lucky that I have had several very good coaches.  I met my coaches at valid Voice Over conferences, not online.  I have singing, acting and speech pathology background that has stood me in good stead, but even after doing this for 10 years, I still consider myself to be a newbie.

Is there anything you would like us to know about you that I haven’t asked?

I am (almost) a crazy cat lady.  Lots of cat-related clothing and knickknacks, but only one cat.  My cat can be a little monster at times and lets me know when (she feels) I have been in my studio for too long ☺

I always ask my guest for their favorite quote? What is yours?

This changes every day, but today’s quotes would be:  “No amount of evidence will ever persuade an idiot” – Mark Twain  OR  “Highly Illogical” – Mr. Spock (Star Trek)

Thank you Darla for taking the time to be here and answer my questions. Make sure you visit Darla’s site and links to see and hear her other work.

Darla’s Website:  https://www.darlasvoice.net/

Darlas’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/199095733771188/

Darla’s Voice Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/Darlas-Voice-246840192020028/

You can find the Discombobulated Decipherer’s Audiobook here along with the others from the series.

It is also available in print and e-book form from Amazon and also available at these ebook retailers.

Comment on this blog as I am giving away two free copies of the audiobook The Discombobulated Decipherers. Invite people over and let them sign up too. I can’t wait for your comments.

Jun 28

1 Comment

Meet Granny Bertha from The Solving the Mystery Series by Matt Ferazz

I am happy to welcome Granny Bertha to my blog today. Granny was introduced to me by Author Matt Ferazz. Let’s meet Granny and see what she has to say.

What was the first investigation you ever did? What was the last? Do you expect to do more investigations in the future?

Oh, Granny, my first investigation was such a long time ago! I was still a young woman, pregnant with my son, when I read in the papers about a man who was found dead in my town. I decided to investigate it by myself, and found out who did it, but was afraid to show my conclusions to the police. Unfortunately, the killer committed another crime after that. I felt so guilty that I promised I was never going to let my fear get in the way of justice again. 

Decades after that, when I was already a grandma, a dead girl appeared near my house, and I promised I was going to get the killer. And I did.

My last case involved a rich girl who freaked out when she saw a painting being unveiled. Nobody knew what that meant, but my sixth sense told me there was something odd about that girl. My investigation proved me right. There was a murder hidden in that story.

It’s my plan to continue my investigations as long as there are murders to be solved. I want to help people, most of all. If I can do that, I’ll be a happy woman.

What do you know about the psychology of a criminal?

Everything I know about the criminal mind – or the human mind, for that matter – comes from my life experience. I like to think I can differentiate a person who would commit a murder from a person who wouldn’t. Unfortunately, I believe that most people can kill if they have the motif and the chance. That’s the tough part of the job.

How would you describe your investigation style?

Each case is different, and I use different methods for each one. I try to listen to everybody, to let them tell their version of the story. It’s so rare to find someone who listens nowadays! People open up like a book when they realize you are hearing what they have to say.

Can you describe a time when your work as a detective was criticized?

Yes: everytime I’m around my daughter-in-law, Lydia. She’s not a bad person, but she hates having a detective in the family. She was a pain in the neck during most of the Convenient Cadaver case, and even afterwards, when I was traveling, she kept telling me I should mind my own business and let the police handle the cases. 

How do you handle investigating when people don’t believe in you?

Let me put it this way: if I only acted when people support me, I wouldn’t do anything in my life! After all, Granny, we are old ladies facing dangerous criminals. People will always say that we’re crazy, and that we should limit ourselves to knitting and taking pills. I love knitting, but I always love catching criminals and I’m good at that. So that’s what I’ll continue to do as long as I can stand on my feet!

Bio: Author of all trades, Matt Ferraz has written thrillers, sci-fi, cozy mysteries and a lot of witty e-mails that sadly can’t be published. With a degree in journalism and a masters in biography, Matt has works published in English, Italian and Portuguese, and loves trying new genres.

Thank you Granny for being here today. You can find out more about Granny Bertha and Matt at the following links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Matt-Ferraz/e/B01G2I8FFU/
Blog: https://grandmaberthainterviews.blogspot.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14405163.Matt_Ferraz
Twitter: @Matt_Ferraz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattFerrazAuthor/

Jun 17

What is a Blog Tour?

I am a lucky writer. There are many people who help me promote my writing and Lori Caswell who hosts the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours is one of them. This past week my blog tour for Granny Bricks A Bandit kicked off.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Blog Tours when it comes to books, I will give a short version of what happens.

Many travelers, when they go on a vacation book their vacation with a travel agency. The travel agency books their stops and sets up their itinerary. All the travelers have to do is hop on the bus or plane and enjoy their vacation. Blog Tours are like that.

Lori Caswell and her Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours arrange our stop on book blogs. Mine is a14 stop tour. As an author, we get instructions from each blog on what they need from us. It may be an interview or they may review our book or we may do an actual guest blog. It is all arranged by Lori. We send everything to her and she gets it where it needs to go. We authors are forever in her debt. She does an outstanding job of promoting us. Thank you, Lori.

Here is the list of my stops. Feel free to visit the ones you have missed. There is something different on each stop. You might even hear from Granny. Make sure you visit Lori’s site too to find out about other cozy authors and their new releases and books. Also along the way, there may be prizes It is lots of fun for all of us.

Enjoy.

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 12 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY

June 13 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 13 – Brianne’s Book Reviews  – REVIEW

June 14 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

June 14 – Teresa Watson’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW  

June 15 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 16 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

June 17 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

June 17 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

June 18 – The Cozy Pages – CHARACTER GUEST POST

June 19 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY

June 19 – I’m All About Books – GUEST POST, GIVEAWAY

June 20 – Maureen’s Musings – REVIEW

June 21 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW

June 22 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 22 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

June 23 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – GUEST POST

June 24 – Readeropolis – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 25 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, GIVEAWAY

Tour Page Here: https://www.escapewithdollycas.com/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours/upcoming-great-escapes-book-tours/granny-bricks-a-bandit-fuchsia-minnesota-series-by-julie-seedorf/

If you like the series here is the link for all the books.

Apr 12

2 Comments

Straight River by Chris Norbury

It was a treat to read Chris Norbury’s novel Straight River. It is a mystery that holds your attention as the plot unfolds throughout the book.

Matt Lanier comes home after his father is found dead in a farming accident. Things hadn’t been good with their relationship and Matt feels guilt that perhaps his father’s death could have prevented had he listened to the message from his father and returned his call.

It is easy as a reader to identify with Matt as he ponders the fate of his father and sorts out his feelings about being back home and getting reacquainted with old friends. Many of us find ourselves in the same situation. Mr. Norbury’s interpretation of his character put us into Matt’s head and lets us feel his emotions. Does his past interfere with the conspiracy theory he thinks surrounds his father’s death?

I can’t wait to read his next novel in the series titled Castle Danger. Straight River is well written and an exciting read. Chris Norbury is up there with the best of the best with his writing. He deserves accolades and recognition for his skillful plot twists. This is definitely five stars in my mind.

STRAIGHT RIVER

After his estranged father dies in a farming accident, professional musician Matt Lanier returns to his hometown of Straight River, Minnesota. While he’s settling the estate, an old friend and neighbor asks him for help. Her husband’s recent death was ruled a suicide. She insists it was not. Ownership of her farm hangs in the balance.

The local police are uncooperative, so Matt turns to his ex-wife and a young computer prodigy for assistance. As new information surfaces, Matt suspects the two deaths are connected to a violent conspiracy with national implications. His dilemma: Should he risk his life to protect his friend and hundreds of other farmers from ruin?

A1T-pMjGytL._US230_About the Author

Chris Norbury is the award-winning author of the suspense-thriller Castle Danger. His new novel, Straight River, is the prequel to Castle Danger and the first book of a planned trilogy. The stories feature Matt Lanier, a southern Minnesota farm-kid-turned-professional-musician whose middle-class world is turned upside down by a conspiracy of powerful, ambitious, violent men.

Chris grew up in the Twin Cities and earned a B.S. in Music Education at the University of Minnesota. His essays on wilderness canoeing have been published in the Boundary Waters Journal. A volunteer Big Brother since 2000, Chris donates a portion of all book sales to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Minnesota. During the golf season in Minnesota, he works on perfecting his golf game. It’s an impossible dream but also a good excuse to get out of the office. He lives in Owatonna, MN with his wife and golf clubs.

Chris is a member of both the Twin Cities and national chapters of Sisters in Crime. He also belongs to the Alliance of Independent Authors(ALLi), and Support for Indie Authors (SIA). Chris is an advocate of independent bookstores and actively promotes the websiteindiebound.org

Thank you Chris for letting me use the biography from your website and good luck on your future endeavors. you can find Chris at his at:

website Christ Norbury

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