BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--AUTHOR MARTIN ROY HILL'S INSPIRATION FOR THE BUTCHER'S BILL

Award-winning author Martin Roy Hill writes the Linus Schag, NCIS, thrillers and the Peter Brandt thrillers. In addition, he’s the author of a sci-fi novella and a book of suspense and mystery stories that take place during and after the Cold War. Learn more about him and his books at his website.

Most of my plots are inspired by news events or historic facts. The plot for my thriller, The Butcher’s Bill, was no different.

A sequel to my first Linus Schag, NCIS novel, The Killing Depths, The Butcher's Bill revolves around one man's attempt to uncover the truth behind the real-world theft of nearly $9 billion in cash during the Iraq War. That theft was the biggest heist in history and it has never been adequately investigated.

What follows is the true story that inspired the fictional story in The Butcher's Bill.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Bush administration made a controversial decision. Billions of dollars belonging to Saddam Hussein and his government sat frozen in financial accounts in U.S. banks. After the fall of the Baghdad government, the White House decided to confiscate those funds and use them to pay for the rebuilding of Iraq.

That, itself, was not controversial. How the administration did it was.

Rather than place the Iraqi funds in a holding account and pay contractor bills as they came due, the Bush administration decided to convert the holdings into $40 billion in U.S. greenbacks and send it to Iraq by the planeload. Once in Iraq, the cash was handed out to contractors without much regard to receipts for work performed. Some witnesses claim the money was simply stuffed into duffle bags and handed over to contractors.

While the haphazard distribution of $31 billion was controversial enough, there was an even greater outrage. Nearly $9 billion in cash—$8.9 billion to be precise—simply disappeared, apparently stolen. Any attempt to investigate the theft was blocked at the highest levels of the government.

Graft and corruption plague every war, but the Iraqi conflict may have seen the most overt war profiteering in history. The Bush administration's excessive use of private contractors for everything from operating mess halls to building bases set the stage for widespread illegal activities. The president's granting of immunity from prosecution to all contractors for any questionable activity only exacerbated the problem.

Contractor-operated mess halls knowingly served rancid food to troops. Construction of facilities for both U.S. and pro-U.S. Iraqi troops was at best careless. Several American service members died when electrocuted by improperly wired barracks. Inadequately constructed plumbing poured raw sewage into newly built buildings, rendering them uninhabitable.

The widespread use of so-called "security contractors"—i.e., armed mercenaries—was the most controversial. These private military companies claimed their personnel were highly trained former military or law enforcement professionals. In fact, many of these security contractors had little or no military or law enforcement background. Many had criminal histories and some were known former members of Latin American death squads.

Security contractors were responsible for some of the most egregious acts. There were allegations of security contractors smuggling weapons into Iraq, possibly to sell to insurgents. Some were accused of smuggling drugs, which they sold to U.S. troops. Many security contractors were accused of wantonly killing Iraqi citizens without cause. Only when a group of security contractors machine-gunned more than 20 unarmed Iraqi civilians in Baghdad in 2007 were any of these people prosecuted.

These are the facts behind the plot of The Butcher's Bill. Now for the fiction.

NCIS Special Agent Bill Butcher found himself in the middle of this byzantine environment when posted to Iraq during the war. A former Navy SEAL, Butcher is a man of high moral standards, with a strong sense of right and wrong, especially when it involves the welfare of serving men and women.

Butcher was continually frustrated when Bush's immunity proclamation prevented him from investigating the myriad acts of profiteering and corruption he saw around him. When pulled off an investigation into the missing $9 billion in cash, Butcher refused to give up. He continued to probe the theft even after returning to the States. His obsession with the missing funds eventually cost him his NCIS job as well as his marriage. When Butcher discovered the truth behind the missing money, those responsible for the theft come after him.

Those who stole the money want Bill Butcher dead. The cops want him for murder. Butcher's only hope is his former NCIS colleague and closest friend, Linus Schag.

Torn between loyalties, Schag walks a thin line between doing his job and helping his friend. Working from opposite ends, Schag and Butcher peel back the layers of conspiracy, revealing a criminal enterprise reaching into the highest levels of government.

Taken straight from today's headlines, the plot of The Butcher's Bill ranges from the California mountains to the waters of the Pacific and I hope, keeps readers on edge until its final, explosive climax.

The Butcher’s Bill

Meet William Butcher, aka The Butcher, former Navy SEAL, now a disgraced ex-NCIS agent.

Those who stole $9 billion in cash from Iraq want him dead.

The cops want him for murder.

Butcher's only hope is his former NCIS colleague and closest friend, Linus Schag.

Together Schag and Butcher tear away the veil of conspiracy, uncovering a criminal enterprise reaching into the highest levels of government.

Ripped from today's headlines, this sequel to Martin Roy Hill's highly praised The Killing Depths takes the reader from the California mountains to the coastal waters of the Pacific into the dangerous world of war-profiteers and international mercenaries, and is guaranteed to keep readers on edge until its final, explosive climax.

Buy Links

paperback

ebook 

HISTORICAL ROMANCE AUTHOR BEVERLEY OAKLEY DISCUSSES GEORGIAN ERA FASHION

The author in her historically accurate costume

Beverley Oakley is both an historical costume maker and the author of Regency, Georgian and Victorian-set romance laced with mystery and intrigue. Today she joins us to discuss fashion in the Georgian era. Learn more about Beverley and her books at her website.

How Did a Lady of the Georgian Era Prepare For a Day Out?

“Serendipity” – meaning the discovery of something interesting or fortunate by chance – is one of my favourite words as it pretty much encapsulates my life.

It was serendipitous that I discovered my husband around a campfire in Botswana twenty-five years ago. Not just because he turned out to be an excellent husband, but because of his encouragement and the exciting life he’s given me. Without that, I’d not have lived and worked in twelve countries and published twenty-five historical romances.

It was serendipitous, also, when I stumbled upon a pair of russet silk curtains for only $1.99 in a Melbourne op-shop (or charity shop). With ten metres of beautiful fabric in a colour fashionable during the Georgian period, it fired up my dormant enthusiasm for costuming, serendipitously sparking a whole new platform from which to publicise my historical novels.

Historical Costume Talks

Many years ago, I’d studied costume design at the London School of Fashion. I’d always been fascinated by the Georgian era and the beautiful quality fabric gave me license to embark upon an ambitious project at very little cost.

I immediately sought out the Janet Arnold pattern book I’d been given for my eighteenth birthday on the even of my departure to the UK.

At first the project of making a 1780s polonaise was just for the fun of it. I envisioned my latest novel’s beautiful heroine, Celeste, wearing it as she secretly slips through the trees at Vauxhall Gardens for an assignation with the dissolute – but redeemable – rake, Lord Peregrine, in Wicked Wager.

However, I soon realised I couldn’t wear the gown unless I had the proper underpinnings. I needed 1780s stays (the precursor of the corset), to create the barrel-shaped torso and to push up the breasts, referred to at the time as ‘rising moons’. I also needed panniers and a ‘bum-roll’ to push the skirt out at the sides and back to create the right silhouette.  As I researched the layers required by the lady of fashion, I gained a better understanding of the mind-set of the day.

Here’s how the Georgian lady would go about dressing.

The author made these 1780's
stays and the chemise using
historically accurate patterns
and cutting instructions and
apologizes for the daringness
of the cut.

First she’d put on her chemise (which was cut with no wastage from good quality, hardwearing linen). The chemise, or shift, was worn against the skin and would be frequently laundered in an age when bathing was infrequent and the garment would absorb the body’s natural oils.

From an authentic pattern of 1780 I made half boned stays or a ‘pair of bodies’ as they were sometimes referred to. Working women often wore leather stays until they disintegrated but there are some beautiful extant luxury examples.

Panniers and Corset

By the time I’d finished the panniers, I’d hit upon the idea of staging a costume display accompanied by a talk. Calling it ‘History through Costume – From Georgian splendour to Regency Simplicity’, I shopped it around and was delighted by how many libraries and community groups booked me for an hour-long talk with questions on the social and political events of the period 1750-1820. This was the impetus for finishing the costume and selecting the information I’d relate.

Finding the right shoes was a mission. I’d planned to make a pair until another op-shop hunt yielded a pair of gems. As an aside, ladies would put on their shoes and stockings before being laced into their stays. Believe me, it’s incredibly difficult to bend down and put them on afterwards – just as it is driving for an hour on the freeway with lots of twists and bends when you’re confined by a 1780s polonaise, which allows little shoulder movement. (I had to strip down to my chemise in order to drive home after my first talk, having made the mistake of going in costume since I wasn’t’ sure I’d find someone at the library who could lace me up.)

The Bum Roll

Panniers and the ‘bum-roll’ achieved the fashionable silhouette. Ladies’ drawers made their appearance in 1806 but only ‘fast’ women wore them.

Russet Petticoat with Both Front and Back Ties

While to us a petticoat is an undergarment, during the Georgian period the petticoat referred to the actual skirt. The fabric was pleated onto ties that went first around the front and was tied at the back, and then around the back (tying at the front.) It was quite versatile as it allowed for expanding girths so could be used by different family members or during pregnancy. A pair of separately constructed pockets would have been tied around the waist first, enabling the wearer to place her hands through the side slits of the voluminous skirts, into the large pockets. The slim, high-waisted silhouette of Regency fashion put an end to pockets and heralded the introduction of the reticule or ‘ridicule’ as it was also known.

Finally, the gown would complete the ensemble. (The cosmetics, adornments and high hairstyles of the times – ranging in height from 1 to 1-1/2 times the length of the face – are a topic for another time; though I will mention that while trying to authenticate the powdered look during one race against time to get to a show, I found myself about to spray a can of white enamel paint over my elaborate hairstyle instead of coloured hair spray).

So, there’s a glimpse into the dressing routine of a Georgian lady. I’m always finding new facts to include in my talks, which some schools are now interested in, and which have been aired on radio.

Oh yes, and if you don’t know how the lady of 200 years ago answered the call of nature during long and riveting church sermons, and you can’t get to one of my shows, the answer is that she might well have discreetly used a bourdeloue, an elegant vessel made of porcelain or pewter and shaped like a gravy boat which her maid would have emptied into the garden or church yard.

My latest novel, Wicked Wager, is set in 1780 when the polonaise was the height of fashion. Wicked Wager was previously published by Harlequin Escape under the name Beverley Eikli and has since been revised. The ebook is on sale for .99 cents through the end of April.

Wicked Wager

Can innocence survive the machinations of a malevolent society beauty and a charismatic rake?

Two weeks before her nuptials to her cold, harsh cousin, virtuous Celeste Rosington finds herself in the arms of notorious libertine, Lord Peregrine.

The unexpected encounter is, at first, shocking, but as his charm weaves its magic, becomes a welcome distraction from her troubles. Isn’t she already the subject of whispers due to her involvement in the mysterious disappearance of a wealthy plantation magnate - a role, orchestrated by her demanding husband-to-be?

A role in which Celeste failed spectacularly.

Nevertheless, Celeste has no intention of sacrificing all of her scruples for a man she knows is only toying with her. One kiss from handsome, charismatic Viscount Peregrine will surely be enough to give her the strength to fulfil her marital obligations?

But what if one kiss is not enough?

With her reputation in the balance, Celeste soon finds herself navigating the treacherous waters of envy, intrigue and deadly secrets, unaware she’s a pawn in a wicked wager between a ruthless society beauty and delicious, dissolute Lord Peregrine.

Could Peregrine really be a party to such perfidious plans? Will his reckless charm be the final undoing of a young woman once respected for her virtue and piety?

Or will Peregrine discover that true love is more powerful than greed and ambition in time to save Celeste from the terrible fate that otherwise awaits her?

Buy Links

paperback

ebook 

INTERVIEW WITH #ROMANCE AND #MYSTERY AUTHOR L.A. KELLER

Today we sit down for a chat with mystery and romance author. L. A. Keller. Learn more about her at her website and blog.

When did you realize you wanted to write novels?

I’ve written short stories since I was twelve and always dreamed of writing a novel. As the years went by I put writing aside to focus on my career as a project manager and technical writer. My goal was always dancing just out of reach due to my other commitments. My first book was written mostly after eleven pm on weekends but now I set aside time to write.

How long did it take you to realize your dream of publication?

It took me two years to write and publish the first book. I wrote a first draft of the novel, threw it out and started completely from scratch. During the re-write I sought a large publishing house but after much research opted to create my own publishing company.

Are you traditionally published, indie published, or a hybrid author?

I am indie published.

Where do you write?

I have an office in my home in which I do much of my writing. However, there are days when I prefer to sit at the kitchen table or on the sofa with the television playing a reality show.

Is silence golden, or do you need music to write by? What kind?

I generally write without any distraction, mostly because I write early in the morning when others in my household are asleep. If I am listening to music, it is old school country because that is what my character loves the most.

How much of your plots and characters are drawn from real life? From your life in particular?

Since I write murder mysteries, my plots are not drawn from real life but my characters are. I once created a character based on a woman I stood in line behind at Office Max because her outfit was so colorful she made me want to write her into a story. Anyone I come in contact with may wind up as a character or some element of that person may be incorporated into a character. Events that make me laugh in my own life frequently appear in my work. Watch for a scene in the next book where my character accidentally loses her press-on fingernail in a dish she serves to a guest.

Describe your process for naming your character?

This is one of the most difficult tasks for me. I do lengthy research on character names to understand the meaning of names. It’s important to me to not have characters with similar names in the same book because, as a reader, I find that can be confusing. I also want to feel some connection to a name if the character is recurring. My main character, Jayne, is named after my mom but I changed the spelling.

Real settings or fictional towns?

I base my books on the real town of Cave Creek, Arizona but change the names of streets and businesses. In Cocktails at Sunset, I created a fictional assisted living facility and drew a floorplan so that I could map my character’s movements accurately. I drive to a spot I want to include in a scene and take photos for my reference.

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?

Jayne has a unique memory for whatever one of her restaurant guests has ordered. I based this on a friend who actually does have this strange ability.

What’s your quirkiest quirk?

I carry on long conversations with my cats. They don’t answer me, but I’m sure they understand every single word.

If you could have written any book (one that someone else has already written,) which one would it be? Why?

Take Me With You by Catherine Ryan Hyde - I love all of her books but this one touches my heart more than others. Her characters are so real and her story so poignant you are sad when you reach the last page.

Everyone at some point wishes for a do-over. What’s yours?

I wish I had gone to college immediately after high school rather than taking years to complete my degree.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Shopping carts not returned to their place! I know that is completely unrelated to writing but it makes me crazy.

You’re stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves? Sunscreen, water and a satellite phone.

What was the worst job you’ve ever held?

I was a hotel housekeeper for two weeks. It gave me an appreciation for how hard they work and how inconsiderate some guests can be. I always leave a tip when I check out.

What’s the best book you’ve ever read?

Gone with the Wind because it is an epic love story.

Ocean or mountains?

Definitely, mountains. I live in the desert and hike as much as I can. However, a beach vacation is always at the top of my list.

City girl/guy or country girl/guy?

I’m a city girl who grew up in the country with chickens, cows and horses.

What’s on the horizon for you?

I’m excited to finish the third book in the series and start on a different writing path. I enjoy writing romance as short stories on my blog and hope to create a new series in that genre. I will also be doing some speaking engagements later in the year.

Anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself and/or your books?

I hope reading my books brings the reader some joy and suspense. Ultimately my goal is to carry the reader away from the day to day stress and struggle. On the more personal side, I’m a breast cancer survivor. My sister-in-law is a two time breast cancer survivor, and my sister is now a two time survivor. I am a strong proponent of performing self-exams and patient advocacy.

Menu for Murder

A Jayne Stanford Mystery, Book 1

A tete-a-tete with the wait staff wasn’t listed on the menu, but that never stopped Mayor Franklin McArthur from ordering ala carte. Jayne Stanford is just one of the many desserts he’s tried to sample. When he turns up dead, after a private party Jayne worked, all the evidence points to Jayne as the murderer. Her life begins to unravel faster than you can say “Order up”.

As clumsy as a cowboy on a three-day drunk, Jayne has never been the perfect waitress. But her knack for remembering quirky details about the guests she serves has kept her a few tips away from the unemployment line. Now she has to put those skills to use or wind up spending her days waiting tables in prison.

As Jayne embarks on a hunt for the person who set her up she must rely on her best friend, Bailey, to painstakingly piece together the clues. Who was in the black Hummer? Why would someone want to kill a lecherous old fool like the Mayor? What does the key open? Should Jayne take a chance with her heart and trust, Jonas? The closer she gets to the truth, the more determined the killer is to make Jayne the “Catch of the Day.”

Buy Links

paperback

ebook 

#COOKING WITH CLORIS--MYSTERY AUTHOR KELLY BRAKENHOFF'S BIEROCK RECIPE

Debut mystery author Kelly Brakenhoff is an American Sign Language interpreter, scone baker, half-marathon runner, chocolate lover, Hufflepuff, wife & mom, dog petter, and Husker fan. Learn more about her and her books at her website.

When Cassandra Sato, the main character in Death by Dissertation, moves from big city Hawai'i to rural Nebraska, she expects the food to taste foreign. After all, growing up on an island, she was used to fresh seafood, sushi, and Spam— the comfort food in a can. The only fish she's likely to find in Nebraska comes from a stream or the freezer.

One of the first unusual meals she encounters is a German concoction called a Bierock. They're meat and cabbage stuffed in yeast bread hand-pies. Cassandra is surprised to discover there's a Midwest-famous restaurant chain with a devoted fan base of Bierock-loving Nebraskans called Runza. (Definitely stop there if you're ever driving I-80 through Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, or Colorado.) Cassandra's hesitant at first, but soon grows to like them, especially when she realizes one can double as a hand-warmer during chilly fall football Saturdays.

If you're not from the Midwest, likely you've never heard of Bierocks either, but I promise they are delicious. They also freeze well and make for easy picnic or potluck food. No fork required.

When my family didn’t live in Nebraska, our first stop after arriving at the airport was always the Runza restaurant drive-thru for a hometown meal of delicious, hot Runza and Frings (a genius combination of fries and onion rings).

Occasionally, we hosted a football watch party or got a craving for them when we couldn't buy the real thing. Over the years, I’ve tried many different Bierock recipes. This one incorporates whole-wheat flour and Greek yogurt to make a quick, healthy breaded crust for a traditional, Nebraska Bierock. My favorite are the Swiss Mushroom Bierocks, but you can change up the cheese if you want a different twist using American, Provolone & peppers for a Philly Bierock, or Pepperjack for a more southwest flavor.

Quick & Healthy Bierocks (homemade Nebraska Runzas)

Featuring a whole-wheat, no-yeast dough, these Swiss Mushroom Bierocks take less than an hour start to finish. They are great for football tailgate parties, potlucks, or Husker ex-pats who miss eating our beloved Runzas.

Serves 8

Ingredients:

Dough

3 cups whole wheat flour

3 cups plain Greek yogurt

1-1/2 T. baking powder

1-1/2 tsp. salt

Filling

1 lb. ground beef

1 med. onion, chopped

1 bag coleslaw mix

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. seasoned salt

8 slices Swiss cheese (optional)

8 small baby Portobello mushrooms, chopped (optional)

Preheat oven to 375. Prepare a large baking sheet with foil and cooking spray or parchment paper. (Less clean-up later, you’re welcome.)

Brown the hamburger and onions in the largest frying pan you own. You might need 2 medium pans if you don’t have one large enough. If you decide to add the mushrooms, throw them in with the meat and onions.

In a large mixing bowl, add flour, baking powder and salt, and mix well. Add the yogurt and mix until all of the flour is incorporated into a batter. Knead the dough until it’s dry and elastic (this will take about 1 minute—if it’s super-sticky, you can always add some extra flour). Then, divide the dough into 8 equal size balls. Using your hands or a rolling pin, spread the dough rounds into 6”x4” rectangles. 

Once the meet is browned and the onions and mushrooms are soft, add Worcestershire, oregano, seasoned salt, and pepper to taste. Now add the whole package of cabbage to the skillet. It might not all fit at once, but stir the bottom bits to the top frequently until the whole thing is lightly stir-fried. Do not overcook the cabbage. 

Place one slice of Swiss cheese on each of the rolled dough pieces. Some people like American, Provolone, or Pepper Jack cheese instead. Spoon 2 generous spoonfuls of meat on each dough. Roll up the longer sides of the rectangle and pinch them together, then gather the short sides and pinch together. Flip the pinched seams to the bottom. The finished Bierocks should be fairly large and rectangle shaped. 

Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool for about 5 minutes before serving. They are good plain or with ketchup.

Death By Dissertation

Ambitious Cassandra Sato traded her life in Hawai’i for a dream position at Morton College in rural Nebraska. She expected the Midwestern church casseroles, land-locked cornfields, and face-freezing winters would be her biggest challenges, but it’s her job that’s rapidly becoming a nightmare.

A deaf student is dead and the investigation reveals a complicated trail of connections between campus food service, a local farmer’s beef, and the science lab’s cancer research. Together with her few allies, Cassandra must protect the students caught up in the entanglement.

Dealing with homesickness, vandalism, and a stalker, Cassandra is trapped in a public relations disaster that could cost her job, or more. No one said college was easy.

Buy Links

paperback

ebook 

#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--EARTH DAY REPURPOSING

Happy Earth Day!

Authors are often told to “write what you know.” Lois Winston, she who writes about me, did just that when she created me. Lois worked for many years as a designer and editor in the crafts industry, working for craft book publishers, craft kit manufacturers, and both craft and women’s magazines. Sound familiar?

At one point Lois worked as the editorial director and head designer for a company that produced craft kits and leaflets. One of the leaflets she designed was for crafts with an ecology theme. So today, in honor of Earth Day, we thought we’d show that leaflet and feature one of the crafts from it.

So much of our food these days comes in plastic containers. For years we’ve recycled tons of plastic, much of which is shipped to China for repurposing into new plastic items. However, China now has more plastic than they can handle, and has decided they will no longer accept many forms of plastic. Communities across the U.S. are either halting their plastics recycling programs or limiting them only to #1 and #2 plastics.

Rather than adding these plastics that are no longer recyclable to our landfills, why not repurpose them into decorative containers for gardening and storage?

Decorated Plastic Containers

Materials:

Assorted plastic containers in various shapes and sizes

Assorted scraps of fabrics

Assorted yarns

Scissors

Pinking shears (optional)

decoupage

brushes

sealer (matte, satin, or glossy finish)

1. Cut fabric into desired shapes. You can use pinking shears to cut out squares and rectangles of patterned fabrics or use scissors to cut out objects, such as flowers, from print fabrics.

2. Using decoupage and following the manufacturer’s directions, adhere fabric to plastic container, overlapping fabric as desired.

3. When decoupage is dry, apply two coats of sealer, allowing sealer to dry between coats.

BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--GUEST AUTHOR SUSAN CORY ON THE INSPIRATION BEHIND DOPPELGÃNGER

Susan Cory, an award-winning Cambridge architect, is the author of the Iris Reid Mystery Series, featuring Cambridge amateur sleuth Iris Reid. Today she joins us to speak about the inspiration behind the third book in the series. Learn more about Susan and her books at her website.

Have you ever wondered what could happen if you didn't totally wipe your hard drive before getting rid of your old computer? Or what could happen if any of the blank checks sent by credit cards fell into the wrong hands?

I live in a close-knit community in Cambridge, Ma. Most of us know Joe, our long-time mail deliverer, and he knows us. So when Joe was instructed to forward a certain household's mail to an address in a neighboring town, he knew that the family hadn't moved. He alerted the police who discovered a ring of con artists who were diverting people's mail in order to steal identities and cash any checks from their mail.

While this scam was coming to light, I was busy trying to figure out how to get rid of my old computer.  Some computer stores and charities advertise that they'll remove your personal information before recycling your old equipment, but what if one of their employees is less than honest?

These two ideas came together to suggest a plot for Doppelgänger, my third book in the Iris Reid mystery series. A family of grifters uses Iris Reid's stolen identity to commit a crime. While stripping Iris' data off her old computer, Rosica Bakalov, notices her own striking resemblance to this new “mark”. She becomes fascinated with Iris and starts to stalk her. Meanwhile, Iris, out on bail, is desperate to pick up her doppellgänger's trail before her case goes to trial.

By the way, my husband smashed my hard drive with a hammer before I took my last computer to be recycled. I wasn't taking any chances... 

I'd love to know how you get rid of your old computers by posting a comment here.

Doppelgänger

An Iris Reid Mystery, Book 3

During a robbery, a bank guard is shot. The license of the getaway car is traced to Architect Iris Reid. When the police arrest Iris and show her security footage of the robbery, she sees her own face looking back.

Scrambling to defend herself against an airtight case, Iris discovers that her mail's been diverted to an abandoned apartment in the next town. She's able to find a clue there that allows her to pick up her doppelganger’s trail.

But someone is watching her every move.

Buy Links

paperback

ebook 

HOW THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BECAME THE INSPIRATION FOR NJ LITZ'S ROMANTIC MYSTERY

NJ Litz is a former journalist and communications director. Her books combine mystery with romance and feature strong women who get justice for those who can’t get it for themselves. No Bed of Roses, her second novel, launches April 23. Learn more about NJ and her books at her website. 

The Inspiration for No Bed of Roses

When I started writing fiction rather than news stories and corporate communications, which were my career, I followed the adage, “Write what you know.” Having spent two-thirds of my life in the St. Louis area, I tapped into one of its revered institutions—the Missouri Botanical Garden—for my second romantic mystery.

You might be surprised to know that the Missouri Botanical Garden, or MOBOT, is the oldest botanical garden in the United States. (I was expecting that honor to go to some place on the east coast since it was settled earlier.)

I’ve visited MOBOT since I was a child for field trips and summer camps, but really came to appreciate it when I grew older. Having lived in Boston and Chicago as well as St. Louis—all of which have winters that can be both frigid and snowy—I crave color by February every year. Between my need for color and with MOBOT providing a visual feast for the eye and soul, it’s not surprising that I became an avid gardener.

If you’re a gardener, too, you know what it’s like to be seduced by all the choices at your local nursery at this time of year, then realize when you get home that you’ve bought way too many flowers, and it will take you the entire weekend to plant them. And then you go to another nursery the next weekend and do the same thing!

One of the things that made MOBOT perfect for a mystery is that the 79-acre garden has more than 30 specialized or sub-gardens. These include a garden for the visually impaired that relies on plants with texture and scents; a maze; a garden designed to attract birds; a geodesic dome for tropical plants, and a Japanese garden devoted to harmony. Plus, there are numerous gardens devoted only to roses, daylilies or irises.

Think of all the places to hide something!

To solve the mystery surrounding the death of her research assistant, my botanist heroine Bree has to decode the clues the assistant left as part of a treasure hunt in MOBOT she had planned for her lover. Bree suspects he’s the killer.

In addition to the physical beauty of the Garden, Bree’s quest is also complicated by the need to decode the “language of flowers”. The use or arrangement of flowers conveys special meanings. For example, a peony represents good fortune and a happy marriage. Did you know that the pink rose expresses platonic love and friendship? A red rose plays an important part in the romance between Bree and Nick, the slacker journalist who partners with her, in solving the mystery.

No Bed of Roses

Feisty botanist Brianna Kincaid reluctantly teams with hard-partying journalist Nick Mancini to find the killer of her research assistant. Initially, the assistant’s death appears to be an accident. However, she has a unique substance in her body that Bree identifies as a poisonous plant. Bree also learns her assistant, Megan, was pregnant.

Bree discovers Megan planned a treasure hunt for the mysterious father of her child in the lush Missouri Botanical Garden. Bree is convinced the clues identify the father, whom Bree believes murdered Megan.

When Bree and Nick succeed at decoding some of Megan's clues, the hunters become the hunted as the killer tries to stop them.

Buy Link