Psychotherapist Emma-Jane Glass has prioritized work over leisure for far too long. She does whatever it takes to help her clients, and it’s bordering on professional obsession. When she publishes a controversial article about unstable mothers murdering their children, an anonymous letter arrives on her doorstep:
I will expose you. Then, I will mutilate you… Wait for me.
After she is abducted into the night, Doctor Glass finds herself at the mercy of a dangerous sociopath. But being a relentless doctor of the mind, she feels an urge to help her fragile captor, even if it might shatter her sanity—and her life. It becomes a game of survival, and only one mind can win.
For fans of deeply layered thrillers by Ruth Ware, Tana French, and Alex Michaelides comes the newest voice in psychological fiction.
CONTENT GUIDANCE: This novel explores aspects of psychology and mental health and contains depictions of self-harm, alcohol abuse, eating disorders, and suicide. Please read with care.
* Disclosure: Some links within this post are affiliate links, which means I’ll get a small commission if you purchase. I only recommend products/books/tools I use and love!
MY 2 CENTS / THE
CRITICAL POINTS:
WRITING (★★★★★): Worthington’s writing style will draw you in! She has a degree in literature and psychology, which she uses to create psychological thrillers, such as Doctor Glass, that let her readers explore the depths of the human mind and how far humans are willing to go when their lives and livelihoods are threatened.
This book started out a little slow, but quickly picked up its pace as she pulls you into the store. Page after page, I couldn’t put this one down. I’ve read a few reviews that say the ending was too fast, but I don’t really agree. I think the story just doesn’t end the way we hope… there is no Hollywood ending here… Life doesn’t always end happily ever after, and Worthington isn’t afraid to show us the ugly side of life.
STORY (★★★★): This is a psychological thriller that will definitely keep you engaged. It starts with Dr. Glass’s kidnapping after writing an article that expresses her sympathy for a mother who killed her child and then herself. I have to say, I cringed as I read her words and yet, I couldn’t put the book down. Some of the scenes were hard to read – disturbing and emotional but I had to know what happened and why. I had to keep reading.
CHARACTERS (★★★★★): Worthington does a wonderful job with the character development in this story. It’s almost scary how she is able to make every single character realistically immoral and evil.
I enjoyed reading through the perspective of multiple characters. Worthington does a great job allowing us to get into the minds of each character. Although nothing really turned out the way I expected, or hoped, that is just the way life goes at times.
APPEARANCE (★★★★): I really like the cover. There is something about it that is so haunting.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Louise Worthington writes psychological fiction for fans of deeply layered thrillers and horror.
She has a passion for exploring the complexity and darker side of the human heart in psychologically-layered tales imbued with strong emotional themes and atmospheric settings from poisonous gardens, and medieval dungeons to an isolated property by the sea. Common themes are mental health disorders, family, motherhood, murder and revenge.
After gaining a degree in literature, she taught English in secondary schools and studied psychology. More recently she runs a farm with her husband in Shropshire and tutors teenagers in English.
She is the author of six novels, including the psychological thrillers Rachel’s Garden and The Entrepreneur, and the gothic horror, Rosie Shadow.
Doctor Glass came out on 11th April 2022, the first book in the Glass Minds series.
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“When an author spins a story that draws you in and keeps you drawn in until you finish the book, you know you will enjoy reading anything written by that author!” – Diane ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Andrea Brafford’s life is nearly perfect. A passionate marine biologist, happily married to Craig, the man she loves, recently moved into a home commensurate with their success to enjoy a life many others only dream about, in one of Houston’s most desirable suburbs. But only a few months later, a trial that dramatically polarizes their town names Craig Brafford as a defendant in the murder of his young wife, shattering the serenity of the peaceful community.
Andi’s name is on everyone’s lips, her relationships exposed and torn to shreds in a highly publicized case that has everyone’s eyes glued to the internet. Andrea’s life remains a mystery that investigators and public opinion equally fail to solve. Was she the happy, devoted wife she’d made everyone believe she was?
Only she can answer that question.
The best-selling author of Dawn Girl is back with a suspenseful, gripping psychological thriller. Fans of Celeste Ng, Alex Michaelides, and Liane Moriarty will enjoy The Girl You Killed, an addictive psychological thriller that will keep readers enthralled until the last page.
What Readers and Reviewers Are Saying About Leslie Wolfe
“Leslie Wolfe has a wonderful ability to make you feel as if you were right there watching the events unfold in this fast-paced and nail-biting thriller.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Wolfe’s strong female characters, whom all appear to be flawed, never disappoint. ” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wow! Just Wow! “This is the first book by this author that I read but I’m definitely reading more!” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This is a chilling, thrilling story, fueled by pure adrenalin, and with more ups and downs than a roller-coaster!” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“The action is immediate and nonstop, and just when you think you have it all figured out, Wolfe tosses in a twist so masterful that it’ll make your head spin.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Wow… Leslie Wolfe is an incredible storyteller.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Leslie Wolfe’s books draw you in, take you along for the ride, and finish with your appreciation of a strong woman! Her books leave you satisfied, yet wanting more!” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Leslie Wolfe has an uncanny ability to bring strong, endearing female leads to life.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Leslie Wolfe’s books are riveting. Her stories keep you glued to the story with always a surprising ending.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Twist upon twist. You won’t be able to put this down.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and other books by Leslie Wolfe!” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Leslie Wolfe is a bestselling author whose novels break the mold of traditional thrillers. She creates unforgettable, brilliant, strong women heroes who deliver fast-paced, satisfying suspense, backed up by extensive background research in technology and psychology.
Leslie released the first novel, Executive, in October 2011. Since then, she has written many more, continuing to break down barriers of traditional thrillers. Her style of fast-paced suspense, backed up by extensive background research in technology and psychology, has made Leslie one of the most read authors in the genre and she has created an array of unforgettable, brilliant and strong women heroes along the way.
A recently released standalone and an addictive, heart-stopping psychological thriller, The Girl You Killed will appeal to fans of The Undoing, The Silent Patient, or Little Fires Everywhere. Reminiscent of the television drama Criminal Minds, her series of books featuring the fierce and relentless FBI Agent Tess Winnett would be of great interest to readers of James Patterson, Melinda Leigh, and David Baldacci crime thrillers. Fans of Kendra Elliot and Robert Dugoni suspenseful mysteries would love the Las Vegas Crime series, featuring the tension-filled relationship between Baxter and Holt. Finally, her Alex Hoffmann series of political and espionage action adventure will enthrall readers of Tom Clancy, Brad Thor, and Lee Child.
Leslie has received much acclaim for her work, including inquiries from Hollywood, and her books offer something that is different and tangible, with readers becoming invested in not only the main characters and plot but also with the ruthless minds of the killers she creates.
Leslie enjoys engaging with readers every day and would love to hear from you. Become an insider: gain early access to previews of Leslie’s new novels.
Andrea Brafford’s life is nearly perfect. A passionate marine biologist, happily married to Craig, the man she loves, recently moved into a home commensurate with their success to enjoy a life many others only dream about, in one of Houston’s most desirable suburbs. But only a few months later, a trial that dramatically polarizes their town names Craig Brafford as a defendant in the murder of his young wife, shattering the serenity of the peaceful community.
Andi’s name is on everyone’s lips, her relationships exposed and torn to shreds in a highly publicized case that has everyone’s eyes glued to the internet. Andrea’s life remains a mystery that investigators and public opinion equally fail to solve. Was she the happy, devoted wife she’d made everyone believe she was?
The Girl You Killed is about domestic abuse that evolves into murder. Not the violent type, with bruises and broken bones, not the type a victim can see coming and run for her life. This story is about an insidious, stealthy form of abuse so devious it ensnares the victim who cannot even realize she’s being manipulated and submitted to the predator’s will, a means to an end, nothing more.
What would readers remember after they finish reading the book?
They will remember that appearances can be deceiving in more ways than one. A cunning, skilled predator can easily deceive young and impressionable women, especially those who want so much to believe fairy tales can happen to them that they choose to lie to themselves to keep the dream alive.
Your writing style is fast, filled with dialogue, almost at the expense of descriptives and narratives. Why is that?
This is how human beings interact, especially when under pressure or stress. We stop paying attention to our surroundings, and focus on the task at hand. People interact with one another, talk to one another, and have feelings for one another and for everything we do. That’s what I’m focused on, rather than specifying each article of clothing someone wears, or the color of the flower vase in an office somewhere. This technique isn’t necessarily good or bad; just somewhat different from mainstream.
What’s the biggest compliment you received from a fan?
It’s when readers tell me they stay up all night to finish the book, because they couldn’t put it down. That’s music to my ears J Like any other artist and entertainer, I thrive knowing that I deliver that escape into the fictional world in a grasping, gritty, and memorable way.
You mentioned science, technology, psychology. How do you keep it real?
I do extensive amounts of research for my work, and I’m fascinated by what I have the opportunity to learn. Additionally, sections of my books go through a process of validation at the hands of several fantastic partners who are law enforcement officers, attorneys, scientists, doctors in medicine. In Dawn Girl, for example, there are sections that speak about using certain plant extracts and animal venoms to achieve certain goals. Despite the extensive research, my hands were shaking a little as I wrote them, metaphorically speaking, and I was relieved when my research “passed scientific review.”
Do you do any book signings, interviews, speaking and personal appearances? If so, when and where is the next place where your readers can see you? Where can they keep up with your personal contacts online?
Apart from social media and email interactions, I’m a veritable recluse. Email is the best and quickest way to reach me, and I was fortunate to build true friendships with readers over email. The majority of my readers ask me when’s the next book coming out, not when I’m getting out of the house, so I get the hint and keep on writing.
Is this book a first in a series and going to be continued?
This book is a standalone, a story centered on a certain family and its layered dysfunction. While this book isn’t what readers would call a “series first,” there are several Leslie Wolfe series you might enjoy.
The Tess Winnett Series features FBI Special Agent Tess Winnett in a series of eight (so far) gripping crime thrillers you won’t be able to put down. The first title in that series is Dawn Girl, but all books can be read as standalones.
Baxter & Holt is a three-book series featuring two Las Vegas detectives who trust each other with their lives, only not with their deepest, darkest secrets. Start this engrossing series with Las Vegas Girl.
Alex Hoffmann is an action-adventure series featuring a young and smart heroine and her team of private investigators. They follow their cases wherever those might take them, even if that means behind enemy lines, in five engrossing thrillers that will remind you of James Bond and Jack Reacher. The book that will get you started on this adventure is Executive.
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The Ragged by Brett Schumacher
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Horror
A New Horror Thriller from the Author and Narrator Brett Schumacher.
I was upstairs looking out the window before bed when I saw it. The thing was closer to the house than ever before. It was right at the edge of the trees, just staring at the farmhouse. ~Corvus
On his deceased grandfather’s farm, Andrew and his wife Celeste unravel a terrifying secret. A dark and brooding creature lurks just outside the fields at the edge of the forest, Stalking Andrew and Celeste’s every move. What had Andrew’s grandfather, Corvus, been hiding all these years that Andrew had been away?
Missing person’s posters have been plastered on the walls inside the small town’s pharmacy and something bizarre is happening at the inherited farmhouse at night.
Secrets and hidden passageways will expose the truth as to what Corvus was seeing. But it seems as though some of the residents of dry creek might have their own mysteries.
Will Andrew and Celeste survive long enough to tell the tale of The Ragged?
Horror Writer and Narrator for the “Creepy Ghost Stories” YouTube Channel. Brett has a deep love for horror with a particular interest in Isolation and Cryptid based stories.
Renee S. DeCamillis is the author of the psychological thriller/supernatural horror novella The Bone Cutters, published through Eraserhead Press as part of their 2019 New Bizarro Authors Series.
Check out our interview on YouTube:
Check out renee’s books below!
(Click on the cover images to order your copy)
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The Bone Cutters – Horror Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Supernatural Horror, Bizarro Fiction, Addiction Horror, a novella from the 2019 New Bizarro Author Series from Eraserhead Press.
By day, a mild-mannered salesperson, wife, mother, rescuer of senior shelter dogs, competitive trivia player and author groupie, happily living just north of New York City. By night, an author of sex, suspense and satire!
Check out our interview on YouTube:
Check out HER LATEST book below!
(Click on the cover image to order your copy)
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.)
SAVING GRACE – “A psychological thriller with more than enough twists, turns, and misdirection to keep even the most jaded reader turning pages all night long.” –Lori Robbins, author of the Silver Falchion Award-winning novel, Lesson Plan for Murder
Grace Pierrepoint Rendell, the only child of an ailing billionaire, has been treated for paranoia since childhood. When she secretly quits her meds, she begins to suspect that once her father passes, her husband will murder her for her inheritance. Realizing that no one will believe the ravings of a supposed psychotic, she devises a creative way to save herself—she will write herself out of danger, authoring a novel with the heroine in exactly the same circumstances, thus subtly exposing her husband’s scheme to the world. She hires acclaimed author Lynn Andrews to help edit her literary insurance policy, but when Lynn is murdered, Grace is discovered standing over the bloody remains. The clock is ticking: can she write and publish her manuscript before she is strapped into a straitjacket, accused of homicide, or lowered six feet under?
With a cast of secondary characters whose challenges mirror Grace’s own, Saving Grace is, at its core, an allegory for the struggle of the marginalized to be heard and live life on their own terms.
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.)
DL Jones is a Writer, IT Professional and Tech Enthusiast.
Visit dljonesbooks.com for more info and to sign up for the newsletter
DL Jones was born in Brooklyn NY, grew up in Newport News VA and has spent the last 8 years in Charlotte NC. He has served time in the US Army and works as an IT Professional. His first love has always been tech, well computers and the web specifically, which has led to a lot of writing. He has had several websites/blogs and podcast over the years.
The Injectionby DL Jones & Devante Cresh ~ Genre: Psychological Medical Thriller
The only thing to save two old friends from death may also be what kills them.
Mr. Peters is a successful business owner. Other than dealing with a recent rash of break-ins, he lives a very satisfying life. That was until a childhood friend and brilliant scientist paid him a visit.
While the two friends had a troubled past, not speaking for ten years, the reunion was a happy one. That happiness quickly took a wrong turn as their lives are threatened.
Now held captive, the use of an experimental drug was the only option. A top-secret drug that enhanced a person’s will and physicality is the only thing giving them a fighting chance.
However, there are deadly side effects. Along with enhanced abilities comes a decrease in mental stability. Moreover, there is more to the kidnappings than first thought.
Will the two childhood friends maintain their sanity long enough to survive?
Would you like a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card?Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
What inspired you to write this book?
What inspired me to write this book, and this is mentioned in the book itself. The old story I heard years ago, probably everyone has heard it. A woman gets into a car accident and thrown from the car. When she wakes, she sees her child trapped under the car. In her extreme desperation she was able to lift the car and pull her baby out. Desperation and adrenaline grew so much that she was able to do the thing that would seem impossible. I was thinking “I wonder if that is true… and if it is, there has to be a medical way to induce that burst of adrenaline… but if there was, there would be side effects.” So the story came to mind, The drug, how it would be tested, the side effects, and what could possibly happen.
Story idea’s usually come to me like that. I just have random thoughts then before you know it, I have a whole book in my head.
What can we expect from you in the future?
Right now, I have a story in a crime thriller box set. The box set is called Notorious Minds, the story is called Dying to Confess. My next release will be a post apoc story, actually I have 2 of those that I’m working on. One is a standalone, the other is a 3 book series. They both may be released under the Devante Cresh pen name as I’m using that name for post apoc and other stories that may have language beyond rated g-pg. Interesting thing about the post apoc series, the pharmaceutical company that makes the drug in The Injection also plays a part in that series. Different time frames but loosely the same universe.
Once those are done, I plan to write more thrillers using a character from the Dying to Confess book. I really like that character. Detective Rebecca Sally, and I want to tell more stories with her.
I enjoyed the characters the most. There is a lot of dialog in this book and the interaction between characters, their quirks and how they think and talk to one another, I find very interesting.
Tell us about your main characters- what makes them tick?
The main Character… Chauncy Peters. He is very interesting. He is very much a decent guy, He loves his wife, made mistakes in the past but has been trying to atone for them ever since. He is successful. But he is also arrogant. He knows about his arrogance and while it isn’t mentioned in the book specifically, you see he is trying to work on it. He has situations where he keeps calling the one officer “miss”, instead of “officer”. Because in his mind, she is a woman, he call women miss. She wants to be called by her title and corrects him and he struggles with it every time he has to address her but he tries. One of the big desires he has is wanting to have a child, but it isn’t working, or hasn’t been working. So that plays into the story and into him dealing with himself.
Who designed your book covers?
The Injection was designed by MIBlart book cover design. I was very happy with this cover, probably the most satisfied I’ve been with any cover I had yet. They also designed my historical fiction thriller (Billette Hall) cover. My fantasy books. I contracted an artist to do the artwork and contracted someone else to do the lettering. I’m not real happy with them and will eventually change them. I like them as far as the artwork but I think they don’t fit the book/genre etc.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
Nope all of my characters were all from my imagination in this book. I haven’t got to where I used real life inspiration for characters yet. But Its something I’ve been itching to do
What did you edit out of this book?
A lot of profanity. One of the complaints I got on early drafts of this story was the language. I never knew people were as opposed to profanity in books as they were, I feel like I’ve read plenty of books that had profanity. After those complaints, I wrote 4 fantasy books, completely clean, no cursing. Then came back to this book, did a rewrite and removed almost all the cursing
Is there an writer which brain you would love to pick for advice? Who would that be and why?
I’m a big fan of Chris Fox. He is very open about what he does so I guess picking his brain would consist of asking him questions he’s already answered somewhere online lol.
I am excited to be one of many tour hosts sharing information about The Injection.
In the murky swamps of central Florida, a boy vanished on the way home one night. No one heard his screams. No one saw him struggle. And the police have no answers. Can one man’s visions reveal the truth?
From international award-winning author, Sandie Will, comes a psychological thriller that dives into the depths of a man’s struggle with the events of the present that are conjuring up the pain from his past.
At age fifteen, Adrian Webster lost his younger brother in a tragic accident. He tried to mourn. He tried to move on. But all he could do was bury the pain.
Ten years later, his best friend’s son, Wyatt, vanishes while riding his bike through Green Swamp in Central Florida. Adrian’s friend has already lost his wife, and he doesn’t want him to suffer the pain of losing a child, making Adrian obsess over finding Wyatt. So obsessed that he’s plagued by visions. Ones that creep into the corners of his eyes. Ones that reveal the truth. And ones that force Adrian to choose between his friendship and unleashing the memories of the past before Wyatt is gone forever and Adrian loses the one thing he loves most in life—his new family.
Readers are already saying: “A riveting page-turner!” “I couldn’t stop reading!” “This book kept me on the edge of my seat!”
Would you like a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card?Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Sandie Will is an international award-winning psychological thriller novelist who lives in Tampa Bay, Florida, and works as a geologist by day. She has published two novels and another is on the way. Her first novel, The Caging at Deadwater Manor, is a young adult psychological thriller/horror that received first place in the 2018 Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Literary Awards for young adult/new adult fiction and an honorable mention in the 2017 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards for young adult horror. Her second is a recently released adult psychological thriller/horror titled, The Takings that is a Finalist in the 2020 Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Literary Awards for Blended Fiction. She is currently working on the sequel which will be released in 2020/2021. She has been married to her husband, Charlie, for over 30 years and they have two sons. Her favorite place to write is in her back room “treehouse” in the arms of an old oak.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Sandie Will is an international award-winning psychological thriller novelist who lives in Tampa Bay, Florida, and works as a geologist by day. She has published two novels and another is on the way. Her first novel, The Caging at Deadwater Manor, is a young adult psychological thriller/horror that received first place in the 2018 Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Literary Awards for young adult/new adult fiction and an honorable mention in the 2017 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards for young adult horror. Her second is a recently released adult psychological thriller/horror titled, The Takings that is a Finalist in the 2020 Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Literary Awards for Blended Fiction. She is currently working on the sequel which will be released in 2020/2021. She has been married to her husband, Charlie, for over 30 years and they have two sons. Her favorite place to write is in her back room “treehouse” in the arms of an old oak.
“This book is ‘One flew over the Cukoos nest’ on speed.” Goodreads reviewer
A dad with a vendetta. An unsuspecting daughter. A psychiatric hospital known for questionable acts. And staff who keep secrets in the attic.
FIRST PLACE – FLORIDA WRITERS ASSOCIATION – ROYAL PALM LITERARY AWARD FOR YOUNG ADULT/NEW ADULT FICTION RECIPIENT OF THE 2017 READERS’ FAVORITE HONORABLE MENTION BOOK AWARD IN YA HORROR
On a cold, January evening, fourteen-year-old Jeannie Kynde is told that her beloved mother drowned in the murky waters along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Her distraught father turns on Jeannie, no longer the caring father she once knew. Four years later, Jeannie is finally old enough to escape her father’s clutches, but he has different plans. He imprisons her at Deadwater Manor, a psychiatric hospital with an unscrupulous past. Between endless psychiatric treatments and a hospital staff up to no good, Jeannie faces insurmountable odds as each day ticks away. Will she be locked away forever? Or can she fight against the nightmare that has now become her world?
If you like suspenseful shockers, you’re sure to love this psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and stay with you long afterward. Check out the great reviews on this novel that debuted on the #1 Hot New Releases bestseller list.
Note: This book is intended for mature young adult, new adult, and older audiences due to profanity and sensual content.
BACKGROUND: The inspiration for the story came from Sandie’s beloved father who worked in various psychiatric hospitals during short periods of his career. In the attic of one such hospital, he made a disturbing discovery – one that bothered Sandie so much, she had to create a story around it. Though fiction, many parts of the book intertwine the patient routines, treatments and outbursts that she learned from her father and other research in a way that makes the story vivid through Jeannie’s perspective.
By day, a mild-mannered salesperson, wife, mother, rescuer of senior shelter dogs, competitive trivia player and author groupie, happily living just north of New York City. By night, an author of sex, suspense and satire.
My background includes stints in travel marketing, travel journalism, meeting planning, public relations and real estate. I was, for a long and happy time, an award-winning magazine writer and editor. Then kids happened. And I needed to actually make money. Now they’re off doing whatever it is they do (of which I have no idea since they won’t friend me on Facebook) and I can spend my spare time weaving tales of debauchery and whatever else tickles my fancy.
The main thing to remember about my work is that I am NOT one of my characters. For example, as a real estate broker, I’ve never played Bondage Bingo in one of my empty listings or offed anyone at my local diet clinic.
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.)
Would you like a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Saving Grace by D.M. Barr ~ Genre: Psychological Thriller
Grace Pierrepoint Rendell, the only child of an ailing billionaire, has been treated for paranoia since childhood. When she secretly quits her meds, she begins to suspect that once her father passes, her husband will murder her for her inheritance. Realizing that no one will believe the ravings of a supposed psychotic, she devises a creative way to save herself – she will write herself out of danger, authoring a novel with the heroine in exactly the same circumstances, thus subtly exposing her husband’s scheme to the world. She hires acclaimed author Lynn Andrews to help edit her literary insurance policy, but when Lynn is murdered, Grace is discovered standing over the bloody remains. The clock is ticking: can she write and publish her manuscript before she is strapped into a straitjacket, accused of homicide, or lowered six feet under?
With a cast of secondary characters whose challenges mirror Grace’s own, Saving Grace is, at it’s core, an allegory for the struggle of the marginalized to be heard and live life on their own terms.
What inspired you to write this book? Saving Grace is about a woman who wonders if her husband plans to murder her for her inheritance once her rich father in Florida dies. My father lives in Florida and my husband has asked more than once about my expected inheritance. I started thinking, what if…
What can we expect from you in the future? My next book, just finished, is a contemporary romantic comedy about pursuing second chances.
Do you have any “side stories” about the characters? I based my favorite character, Zev, on the Hasidic men I met at my last job. They always made me laugh and so Zev provides the much-needed comic relief in the book.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Saving Grace? The protagonist is Grace Rendell, a 45-year-old New Jersey wife and mother who is the only child of an ailing billionaire and has been treated for paranoia since she was six. Her husband is an advertising exec named Eliot who grew up poor and appears to be cheating on her. She has two sons and a father named Barrington who lives with his “chippie of the month” Caprice. Grace’s therapist is Emma Leighmann and the woman who helps her write her book is Andrea Lin, whose pen name is Lynn Andrews. Tom Druthers is the poisons expert who helps her and becomes a love interest. Andrea’s brother “Hack” and his friends also play a big part in the novel.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book? Actually, I rewrote this book around ten times, so I guess what I liked most is when I was finally finished.
Tell us about your main characters- what makes them tick? Once Grace goes off her meds, she comes to believe that once her father dies, her husband will kill her for her inheritance. So she decides to write a novel, with the main character in the same predicament, so she can subtly expose his plot to the world without destroying her life and her family’s life if in fact, her views are a result of her resurgent paranoia and are completely wrong
How did you come up with the title of your first novel? As a Realtor, I specialized in Expired Listings. It seemed like a great title for a book where a serial killer was offing all the real estate agents in a small town.
Who designed your book covers? Each was designed by a different artist. Kim Killion worked with a photo and concept I selected for Expired Listings, and I had a second, less graphic cover designed by Syneca Featherstone. There are two covers for Slashing Mona Lisa, one designed by Carl Graves and a second by the artist at Beachwalk Press, and for my current novel, the cover was designed by David King, the inhouse designer for Black Rose Press, again using a photo and concept I chose.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? My first editor for Saving Grace was Elf Ahearn. If I could do it all over again, I would have listened to her suggestions from the start. In the end, I used them anyway, but it took a long time for me to accept her criticisms were right on.
Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book? Prowritingaid.com is an invaluable tool.
If your book were made into a film, who would you like to play the lead? Sandra Bullock would make a perfect Grace.
Anything specific you want to tell your readers? When you read the metaphors, if they seem odd or strained, remember that Grace experienced everything she knew of life from books. Also keep in mind that Saving Grace is an allegory for the struggle of the marginalized to be heard and live life on their own terms. To me, it’s about women who are forgotten by society after they’ve had their children and “served their purpose.”
How did you come up with name of this book? Not only is Saving Grace an expression, it is also a perfect description of the plot.
What is your favorite part of this book and why? I always love the funny scenes, so I love the scene that satirizes critique groups. I also love every scene with Zev, especially the one where he’s in Hack’s home and some bullies throw a note attached to a rock through the window and he holds it up to Hack and says, “I believe this is for you.”
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination? A combination. There are parts of me in all my heroines: I was a Realtor like Dana Black, I was a reporter with weight issues like Camarin Torres, and like Grace Rendell, I’m a housewife and mother of a certain age who sometimes feels like no one sees me anymore.
Do your characters seem to hijack the story, or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story? My characters always do things that surprise me. In Expired Listings, I didn’t originally intend for Aidan Cummings to become a love interest but once Dana saw him, there is was. In Saving Grace, Zev is a character who came from nowhere.
Convince us why you feel your book is a must read. It’s a unique concept, the idea of a woman who couldn’t write a book to save her life, until she had to. Not that many books out there who weaponize literature.
Have you written any other books that are not published? No, happy to say everything I’ve written has been published, except my newest book which I hope to sell in the next few months.
Originally Hack’s story was much more elaborate and ran concurrently with Grace’s. There were elements I hope to include in a sequel.
Is there a writer which brain you would love to pick for advice? Who would that be and why?
I had the opportunity to interview Brad Parks and ask him how he was able to make Carter Ross so likeable. You can see the interview at www.author-groupie.com, where I interview authors with a new adult fiction book just out, or one that’s in pre-order.
Chris Bostic is the author of exciting adventure thrillers. From his home in suburban St. Louis, he turns family vacations and Boy Scout trips into gripping survival novels. The Northwoods Trilogy was his first series, with the setting chosen thanks to a BSA High Adventure trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Then came his SciFi series The Savage Horde, as well as a trio of standalone novels. He’s now rolled out a new series set in the Smoky Mountains.
Chris continues to build on his brand of epic adventure books. This year featured a three book set – The Bushwhackers Series – set in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The books are: Prepper Mountain, Shadow Warriors, and Jailbreak.
Then came another three book set, The Bourbon Country Series, to close out the year. Whiskey Thief, Kentucky Hug, and Barrel Strength mark a departure from teen fiction into a mature audience blend of psychological thriller and romantic suspense.
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.)
Would you like a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Whiskey Thief (The Bourbon Country Series Book 1) by Chris Bostic ~ Genre: Psychological Thriller, Romantic Suspense
When their Kentucky bourbon tour takes a turn for the worse, two engaged couples join up with strangers to seek shelter in the ruins of an old distillery. Grace encounters more than abandoned spirits on the decaying property, bringing her semi-comfortable world crashing down.
Tensions pull at the group, splintering the couples into teams. Only it’s hard for Grace to know what side to be on when bonds are tested, and opposites no longer attract. Questions abound. Who really are the strangers they paired up with? Should she break convenient bonds for a risky one? Then again, does it even matter if they don’t make it out alive?
Please be advised – The Bourbon Country Series features fast-paced adult psychological thrillers where sexual assault, PTSD, self-blame, and functional alcoholism combine to form a potent blend. Recommended for mature audiences, ages 18+
It’s been six long months since Grace’s world turned upside down. She unexpectedly finds herself back in bourbon country with Vince, dredging up memories barely concealed. Anxiety builds when a mysterious stranger shadows them, but it’s her own indecisiveness that first leads to misadventure.
Just like a flight of unfamiliar bourbons, Grace can only wonder if each of her trials will unleash a rot gut burn or a warm Kentucky Hug. More likely a mixture of both.
Please be advised – The Bourbon Country Series features fast-paced adult psychological thrillers where sexual assault, PTSD, self-blame, and functional alcoholism combine to form a potent blend. Recommended for mature audiences, ages 18+
Barrel Strength (The Bourbon Country Series Book 3)
After another nine solid months, things couldn’t be going much better for Grace. Life has settled into a comfortable routine. So, of course, she’s headed back to bourbon country with Vince. Maybe not the destination wedding she’d been dreaming about more recently, but the venue couldn’t be any more perfect. Or so they thought.
Wedding day should be a joyous occasion for the couple, but nothing is ever easy for them—especially when a manhunt locks down the venue and spirits flow from sleeping barrels.
Please be advised – The Bourbon Country Series features fast-paced adult psychological thrillers where sexual assault, PTSD, self-blame, and functional alcoholism combine to form a potent blend. Recommended for mature audiences, ages 18+
Over 8 years now. I am up to 18 published books, all self-published. Five of those books were originally Indie published, but I have the rights back to all of them now.
Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?
I generally try to flesh out every character all the way down to names and characteristics before I am through the first chapter. Sometimes they change a little bit as the story progresses, but I like to have an idea of quirks, flaws, appearance, etc… ready to go on page one.
What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?
Most all of my books are based on places I have been—often as family vacations. I’m the planning type of vacationer, so I spend hours on the ‘things to do’ part of a vacation. That all comes in handy when it’s time to write.
Do you see writing as a career?
Not for me. I wish, but not yet. After 18 books it feels a whole lot less like a hobby, but it’s just not to where I can support a family. Maybe a retirement job. I can definitely see that.
Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?
I used to read a whole lot more, but after I started writing I found myself not wanting to spend the time reading when I could be working on my own books. I’ve always been a fan of military history, dystopian societies, and the occasional SciFi. But less SciFi these days. That was more of a childhood thing.
Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?
I tend to like background noise. My music choice varies with the scenes I write too, with harder rock music when I get into some conflict scenes. It’s funny, but sometimes I find song lyrics blended into my rough drafts. It’s some kind of weird subliminal thing I do.
Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?
I have never worked on more than one book at a time. I don’t know how well I could do two. I get in the writing zone and obsessed with completion, so I don’t know that I could focus on one book if I was trying to wrap up another. About the only thing I will do is write down is ideas for other books while I’m working on a different one.
Pen or type writer or computer?
Definitely computer. Sometimes I will put some notes on my phone if an idea strikes me while I am out, but I do 100% of my writing in Microsoft Word on my laptop. I don’t even pencil down notes if I can avoid it.
A day in the life of the author?
I only write about half the months out of a year, or less. I won’t start a new book unless I know I have at least a couple weeks of free time to where I can write from start to finish on a draft. When writing, weekend days look a lot like: wake up early, write until breakfast, work in a few hours of writing time in the am and pm around chores and family fun time, then several hours later in the evening. Weekdays meaning writing for an hour on lunch break, and then a few more hours that evening after supper.
Describe your writing style.
Pretty linear. I’m not big on jumping from one scene to somewhere totally different. I like to take a small group of characters and develop them through the challenges they encounter. Typically it’s a normal day that turns into a real adventure. Most of my books span the events of a single day, maybe two.
What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?
I like to start writing with a general idea where I’d like to end up. I’ve tried to outline stories, but it hasn’t always worked out the best for me. Once I had three pages of what I thought were great notes. I was so sure it had the makings of a great story, but by the time I started writing I was through all the notes by about page 35. Needless to say, the story took off and evolved from there. Now I outline a few chapters ahead, writing down ideas and scenes for what could happen, then filling in the details.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
I’ve been told that I’m actually rather good at it. I don’t know how exactly, but several of my recent books have a female lead, and I’ve not once had a negative reaction. In fact, several reviewers have commented that they would never know it was written by a man. Not sure what that says about me….
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
About two months or less of actual writing/editing time. I try not to start anything until I can devote enough time to finish the draft. So I tend to rough it the whole story in 10-20 days (generally 2 weekends and the nights in between). Then I take a little time off. Editing is another full week, or more if it needs extra work. Then another week of editing and proofreading after that.
I’m happy to be one of many tour hosts sharing information about the Bourbon Country Series by Chris Bostic.
Nina Soden 