Tag Archives: mystery

BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY: Xonarye – Japan by S.H.S.

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Xonarye: Japan
S.H.S.
Publication date: September 1st 2025
Genres: Adult, Mystery, Young Adult

In the snowy heartlands of Izumo, Japan, Leaf Brodie seeks answers. What begins as a path of discipline and inner reflection under the watchful eye of Master Kenji becomes a deeper journey-one where ancient secrets lie hidden in the folds of tradition and trust can shatter with a single lie.

As Leaf explores sacred shrines and timeless landscapes, a betrayal from within rocks his world. Yuji, once a friend and fellow student, is exposed as a spy for the powerful Reblick syndicate. The destruction he leaves behind is devastating-but the artifact he steals, a sacred belt buckle, is missing one thing: the next clue.

That clue isn’t written on paper or etched in stone-it’s been burned into human skin. On Master Kenji’s back is a mysterious script, unknown even to him, and unlike anything Leaf or Selina have seen before. What they uncover is not just a lost language-it’s a gateway to the forgotten land of Xonarye.

Blending action, cultural discovery, betrayal, and ancient myth, Xonarye: Japan is a powerful continuation of the global adventure.

The complete series:

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

When the dojo finally came into view, Leaf’s sense of calm and safety was suddenly shattered.

The main gate hung open, crooked on its hinges. Shards of splintered wood lay scattered across the stone pathway. A few windows had been shattered, with broken glass spread all around him . The paper screens of the main hall were torn and flapping loosely in the breeze. It looked like a storm had blown through but there had been no storm. Leaf’s heart pounded in his chest. He quickened his pace, stepping
over the debris, eyes scanning every corner. The courtyard was a mess, the practice weapons strewn about, some cracked in half. The tatami mats were shredded, spilling straw across the floor like scattered autumn leaves.

“Selina?” he called out, his voice sharp against the silence. “Yuji? Kenji?”

Nothing but the breeze whistling through some rocks around the dojo.

The rooms were upturned. Mats tossed aside, scrolls unravelled, some torn. Kenji’s study , usually immaculate , was in chaos. Books were thrown from their shelves, papers were scattered, and ink was spilled like blood across the floor. Kenji’s prized calligraphy scrolls hung lopsided, some sliced through as if by a blade. The room smelled of old ink and cold air, carrying a whisper of ash as if something had been burned. Leaf’s mind raced. Who would do this? Why?

He moved quickly through each room, heart hammering. No one. No sign of life. He reached the small back garden where the snow had settled undisturbed.

Suddenly, footsteps crunched behind him. Leaf spun, fists clenched. Selina stepped out from the shadows, her eyes sharp, surveying the damage.

“What happened?” she asked, voice low and controlled.

Leaf shook his head, the words tangled in his throat.

Author Bio:

Scott Shepherd is an emerging Australian author with a passion for adventure, storytelling, and the lure of lost lands. Hailing from Naracoorte, South Australia, Scott self-published his first novel in 2020, introducing readers to the daring world of Xonarye. Since then, he has written three books in the Xonarye series, bringing his vivid imagination to life through tales set in exotic locations steeped in mystery and culture.

In 2025, Scott re-released a refined edition of his debut novel, Xonarye: Australia, followed by the second instalment, Xonarye: Cuba, with the third book, Xonarye: Japan, set for release later the same year.

A part-time novelist, full-time family man, and self-described “regular guy,” Scott continues to write from his hometown, where he balances storytelling with hiking, fatherhood, and shared adventures with his partner. Whether at his desk or exploring the outdoors, Scott is always chasing the next great journey—on the page or beyond.


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Xonarye: Japan Blitz

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BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY: Royal Danger by Avishai El

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Royal Danger
Avishai El
(The Mystique Series, #2)
Publication date: October 15th 2025
Genres: Adult, Mystery, Psychological, Thriller

Something happened to Vaughan.

Those closest to her speak in half-truths and glances. One moment, she was walking among them—intuitive, brave, haunted. The next, she was part of something no one can explain. A fracture in time. A storm no one saw coming. Some believe she stumbled into it. Others believe she was always meant to be its center.

They say she inherited a crown, but no one saw it placed on her head.

They say she vanished during the final seal, but no one witnessed her fall.

And they say the darkness never stopped chasing her… even now.

There were signs. Whispers. Visions. A golden ticket that kept appearing in strange places. A man named Eli who stayed by her side long after others fled. And a mother who saw too much, too late.

Was it destiny? Madness? Or something that lives in the shadows between?

Royal Danger is a slow-burning psychological mystery thriller laced with horror, surreal visions, and eerie spiritual phenomena. It is a story about intuition, unraveling identity, and the thin, terrifying veil between love, legacy, and annihilation.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

“Flower’s body trembled as she sat on the cold floor, each breath coming in short, ragged gasps. The weight of the guilt crushed her, and her mind swirled with memories of the warnings—the cryptic visions that had haunted her for so long. She had been entrusted with Vaughan’s safety, told over and over to protect her, but somehow, she had failed. It wasn’t just a warning; it was a responsibility—one she had let slip through her fingers.

Why didn’t I act sooner? The question echoed in her mind. Vivid images of Andres flashed through her thoughts: his smiling face, his trusting eyes, and the way he had died so suddenly, so violently. The sharp memory of his lifeless body still haunted her dreams. Could she have saved him? No, but the feeling of regret overwhelmed her.

Her heart ached with the familiar sting of loss, of failure. She frantically looked at her phone for any sign of Vaughan, but all she saw was the silent screen, the unanswered call. Her thoughts twisted, each one more unbearable than the last. What if this is it? What if it’s too late?

The shrill, agonizing cry that had erupted from[…]”

“ in ragged gasps as she tried to figure out how to break free. The cold, hard floor beneath her felt like it was closing in.

Then, she stumbled.

Her foot collided with something heavy, sending it crashing to the ground. The sound of metal clanging against stone resounded through the room, and as her eyes darted down, she saw it—a pan, ancient and worn, its surface etched with symbols that seemed to dance in the dim light.”

Author Bio:

Avishai El (1989-present) was birthed in Morocco to her mom who is Moor American. She grew up in Morocco. For 5 years she has been a Certified Raw Food Educator and Holistic Health Coach helping people with everything from weight loss to chronic illness. She has worked in hospitals getting babies off of respirators, helped cancer patients shrink their tumors holistically, and has traveled to receive an award for her tireless education on the healing benefits of essential oils.

Her first published book was “Earthly Desserts” which received 5-stars. She has since published self-help books, journals, and notebooks that support the health of her clients. She teaches professional and entrepreneurial women how to get rid of stress, drop the pounds, and create the life they deserve. She has provided published resource books on Amazon so they can do just that.

Website / Facebook / Instagram / X


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Royal Danger Blitz

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BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY: Lavish by Tinia Montford

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Lavish
Tinia Montford
(California Kings, #2)
Publication date: August 6th 2025
Genres: Adult, Mystery, Romance

Serena King has spent years burying her sins beneath designer heels and ruthless ambition. But no lie lasts forever. When a ghost from her past returns, armed with secrets that could destroy her, she’s forced into a game she can’t control.
The first move? A marriage forced upon her

To him—her brother’s ex-best friend. Her first mistake. The man who was her first… and then broke her heart.
Miles Whitmore.

He’s not the reckless charmer she remembers. He’s colder. Crueler. Hungrier.

Miles wants to salvage his scandal-ridden family’s legacy. He needs power. He needs redemption. But he’s got secrets that could destroy everything too.

Their marriage is a business deal, a show for the public. But behind closed doors?

It’s a war.

A war of lies. A war of seduction. A war of who will break first.

But the deeper they fall into their twisted game, the more hatred turns to heat. The more vengeance turns to obsession.

Because in a world where power is everything and love is the most dangerous game of all…

The biggest threat isn’t their enemies.

It’s each other.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

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EXCERPT:

I spotted Mama and Daddy at the far end of the room, whispering vehemently among themselves. It was only when I got close that I heard Mama hiss, “He’s on something, Vincent!”

I almost gasped as Omar Whitmore stumbled through the crowd, his champagne glass tilting dangerously in his loose grip.

That’s not drunk. I know drunk. Drunk is falling into a gardenia bush after too many martinis or flirting with someone’s husband.

What started off as a simple party was now becoming a Jerry Springer episode.

The day after the most beautiful night of my life. Of course everything went wrong.

“Relax, Vonnie. He’s fine,” Daddy said, but I could see he didn’t believe himself.

“This is not the first time. Look! He’s sweating like this is the Mississippi Delta! He’s falling over, and his eyes look blacked out like an alien,” Mama said. “He ain’t been right since his father died.”

“You weren’t any better,” Daddy reminded her. Mama glared at him.

I expected tonight to be low-key. Simple but luxurious. A big King party for the whole town before Laurene’s engagement party next week, complete with rosé, twinkling lights, and that laidback summer feel that Lush brings.

“You saw him at the mayor’s gala when the press was interviewing him. He looked unshaven and dirty like some drifter.”

“That’s just grief,” Daddy said, standing up for his best friend.

Mama’s glare didn’t ease up. “I never let myself go like this when my daddy died. Omar gave a sloppy, rambling speech at the town hall. He crashed my Women of Lush networking brunch, and you know much time I put into that, Vincent, don’t act dumb.”

“It could be depression. Anxiety?”

“And? What does that have to do with him messing up my party?” Mama put her hands on her hips. “The Ashbournes are here. Lord knows we don’t need to give them any more ammunition than they already have. All the families that matter in Lush are here. Mayor Johnson, the Lush Chronicles, investors, donors—”

I knew better than to interrupt when Mama was pissed. My eyes flicked back to Omar.

“He’s our friend,” Daddy said, wincing as he watched Omar fall into a guest who yelped.

Despite what Miles thought, Mama had been dropping hints about giving me King Developments. She wanted to add another venture to King Enterprises, but Erik was too busy with King Aviation. Laurene was obsessed with her art.

This was it. But one wrong move from me tonight, and she’d place it right back into Erik’s lap without blinking.

So, I stayed still.

Author Bio:

Tinia (TUH-NIA) Montford is a Pisces who’s a sap for romance, especially when there’s (tons of) kissing. Loves eighties sitcoms and will consume anything with chocolate. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in English and Graphic Design. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Fiction.

You can find Tinia at http://www.tiniamontford.com or on social media: @tiniawritesbooks

Website / Goodreads / Instagram / Facebook / Amazon / TikTok


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Lavish Blitz

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BOOK TOUR: Death’s Honesty by Brian Anderson

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Book Tour

Death’s Honesty

The Lyle Dahms Mysteries

By

Brian Anderson

 

About the Book:

Publication Date: July 14, 2025

Genre: Mystery. A hardboiled PI novel with family dynamics.

 On his deathbed, Minneapolis private investigator Lyle Dahms’s father, a retired suburban police patrolman, asks his son to reach out to a dark figure from their shared past. Despite his reservations, Dahms feels he cannot refuse. But the visit sets off a chain reaction that will expose long-buried family secrets and provoke dangerous enemies. As threats mount, Dahms must protect not only his family, but also that of his dad’s former partner—a man he is not sure
he can trust.

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon Kindle

Amazon Paperback

Barnes & Noble

Apple Books

Wild Rose Press

  

Excerpt:

The drive home took a lot less time than the drive up to the motel. Driving home always seems to take less time. I fiddled with the radio, but I couldn’t seem to focus on the music.
Instead, I thought about Donnie and Mindy. I didn’t believe in their future. There was too much of the past in their way. I didn’t even think I owed them anything. But now I knew their secrets. Now, they were my secrets, too.

I thought about my dad. Donnie’s secret had been his as well. He’d hid it away. He’d let it eat at him. He died trying to be rid of it. He died passing it on to me.

I arrived home more tired than I remember being before.

 

Naomi was tall and round, yet oh so shapely, with full, womanly breasts and an unmistakable aura of strength that seemed even more potent the times she yielded to me. Her small mouth, now primly fixed, seemed to hold secrets. But there was light dancing in
her blue eyes as if to say that those secrets were merry things eager to spill out. Her freckle-splashed cheeks were framed by marvelously long tangles of hair—the color of embers—that shone lustrously as though spun from the afterglow of a radiant sunset.

Despite our recent troubles, I was deeply aware of the hold that she had on my heart—a hold that I feared, once released, would leave me profoundly diminished. There was no question that I’d be a fool not to fight to hold on to her. And no question that fighting wouldn’t be enough.

 

What Readers Are Saying:

Death’s Honesty. A Lyle Dahms Mystery. Readers have called the series “funny and well-crafted” and say that “author Brian Anderson does a terrific job of channeling a combo of Hammett and Chandler with a sassy sense of humor of his own.”

 

Guest Post:

My first mystery novel, The Shiver in Her Eyes, was published in August 2022, and the fourth in the Lyle Dahms mystery series, Death’s Honesty, will be published in July 2025. I was also fortunate enough to have a standalone mystery, Yule Tide, published late last year.

Five books in three years.

When people hear this, they often say, “You’re quite prolific.” But the truth is very different.

I began writing the Lyle Dahms mystery series before the birth of our first daughter. She just turned thirty-two. After she was born, I was able to serve as a full-time stay-at-home dad for ten years. Two more daughters came along, and these were the happiest days of my life. I would get up very early, way before they began to stir, and make my way down to my basement writing desk to work for an hour or two on what would eventually become my novels. The rest of the day was devoted to them. When the girls were all in school full-time, I took a job at a Seattle-based nonprofit. My writing time decreased, but I was fortunate enough to find a critique group that encouraged me to keep at it. We’ve been together for more than twenty-five years. With their advice and support, I revised and re-revised my manuscripts. I weathered many rejections over all those years, but, bolstered by my faith in the work and the motivating force of my critique group, I eventually found a publisher in The Wild Rose Press.

I am deeply indebted to everyone, my long-suffering wife Sue, my three beautiful daughters, my fellow writers, and most importantly, to my readers, for whatever success I’ve achieved.

In my books, I try to weave a tapestry that is part menace and part merriment. Part mystery and suspense, and part laugh-out-loud humor. Tension, yes, but also release.

I still write slowly and revise often. I am not prolific, but I am grateful, and I hope to be bringing you all these novels for some time to come.

About the Author:

Brian Anderson is a graduate of the University of Minnesota whose Dinkytown
neighborhood provides the setting for his mystery series featuring private
investigator Lyle Dahms. The Dahms novels spring from his lifelong love of
mystery fiction, especially the works of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler,
as well as more contemporary masters like Robert B. Parker and G.M. Ford. He is a three-time finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association mystery and suspense contest.

Brian spent much of his professional career working to alleviate domestic hunger
serving as the operations director of the Emergency Feeding Program of Seattle
& King County as well as the manager of the Pike Market Food Bank in
downtown Seattle. Married with three beautiful daughters, he now lives and
writes in Ocean Shores, a small city on the Washington coast.

 

Contact Links:

Website: www.brianandersonmysteries.com

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/brianandersonmysteries

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22749823.Brian_Anderson

Facebook: www.facebook.com/brianandersonmysteries

Instagram: www.instagram.com/brianandersonmysteries

X: www.x.com/RedmondBrian

 

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

BOOK BLITZ: Rachel’s Deadly Inheritance by Jean-Pierre Blackwood

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Mystery/Romance

Date Published: April 18, 2025

Rachel’s Past

In a city plagued by hidden crime, Rachel Remington is a solitary investigator
haunted by her family’s tragic past—her mother’s murder and
her father’s assassination. At 26, her obsession with finding their
killers drives her into a dangerous confrontation with a shadowy underworld of
illicit drug trafficking.

Will Rachel Get Her Revenge?

As hope emerges through the enigmatic Detective Trent, Rachel’s life spirals
into chaos. As they join forces, she discovers hidden agendas and dark secrets
threatening to consume her.

Games, Betrayals, and Love

Caught in a perilous game of trust and betrayal, Rachel must uncover her
family’s past while evading those determined to silence her. In a
thrilling tale of revenge and unexpected alliances, will Rachel uncover the
truth, seize her chance for redemption, find love, or will the shadows of her
past cost her everything?

 

About the Author

It’s never too late to make my dreams come true. I was lucky to be
born on the southern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, specifically in
Alexandria. My summers were spent on the beach, enjoying the sunshine, the
original surfboards/paddle boards, and the game of sand pickleball before it
even made it to the US.

Not having TVs, I read many books, especially wartime ones, Ian
Flemings’s early James Bond novels, John Le Carre, Agatha Christie,
Maurice LeBlanc (Arsene Lupin), and other detective/mystery-type books. For
school, we had to read all the French Classics. I was always intrigued by how
the characters always managed to resolve their problems.

At the Age of 19, I came to California as a foreign student. After graduating
with an engineering degree, I was able to obtain my permanent residency. I
never looked back. My mother was able to join me, but unfortunately, my father
passed away.

Once I graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree, I joined an
International Engineering and Construction Company and spent all my working
time with them. What was great is that the company moved me to many work
projects around the world, where I spent an average of a couple of years on
each. My wife joined me on some of these assignments.

But my love for writing was always with me. During my stay abroad, I wrote a
philosophical book and many articles for local newspapers and the Laguna Beach
weekly issues, comparing life in Laguna Beach with life in Indonesia. I wrote
articles for the company’s monthly newsletter, as well as for other
publications.

I recently decided to use a “nom de plume”/pseudonym for my
writings. My real name is Jean-Pierre Zacaropoulos. Having a last name
starting with a “Z” had me called upon in classes either as one of
the last ones or one of the first one. It was always a guessing game. But
usually having an A or B will push you to the top (Ha! Ha!). So I decided to
choose a “B”

Now, I have a little bit more time, so I decided to make my long-time desire
come true. I wrote my mystery/romance novel, which will be followed shortly
after by a sequel.

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram

BookBuzz

Purchase Link

Amazon

COVER REVEAL: Lavish by Tinia Montford

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Lavish
Tinia Montford
(California Kings, #2)
Publication date: August 6th 2025
Genres: Adult, Mystery, Romance

Serena King has spent years burying her sins beneath designer heels and ruthless ambition. But no lie lasts forever. When a ghost from her past returns, armed with secrets that could destroy her, she’s forced into a game she can’t control.
The first move? A marriage forced upon her

To him—her brother’s ex-best friend. Her first mistake. The man who was her first… and then broke her heart.
Miles Whitmore.

He’s not the reckless charmer she remembers. He’s colder. Crueler. Hungrier.

Miles wants to salvage his scandal-ridden family’s legacy. He needs power. He needs redemption. But he’s got secrets that could destroy everything too.

Their marriage is a business deal, a show for the public. But behind closed doors?

It’s a war.

A war of lies. A war of seduction. A war of who will break first.

But the deeper they fall into their twisted game, the more hatred turns to heat. The more vengeance turns to obsession.

Because in a world where power is everything and love is the most dangerous game of all…

The biggest threat isn’t their enemies.

It’s each other.

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order


Author Bio:

Tinia (TUH-NIA) Montford is a Pisces who’s a sap for romance, especially when there’s (tons of) kissing. Loves eighties sitcoms and will consume anything with chocolate. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in English and Graphic Design. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Fiction.

You can find Tinia at http://www.tiniamontford.com or on social media: @tiniawritesbooks

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Amazon


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BOOK TOUR & GIVEAWAY: Morgan’s Landing by Linda Griffin

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Where is Julie Morgan?

Morgan’s Landing

by Linda Griffin

Genre: Mystery, Police Procedural

“Morgan’s Landing is a fast-paced, unpredictable
mystery you’ll devour in a single sitting.”

 ~ Indies Today

In the small Maryland town of Morgan’s Landing,
fourteen-year-old Julie Morgan is living in comfort with her wealthy family.
She disappears on her way to school after a spat with her twin sister.

Detective Jim Brady, married and the father of two, has been on the Morgan’s
Landing police force for twelve years. He identifies a few suspects in the
girl’s disappearance—Is it the fired school janitor, a paroled sex offender,
Julie’s computer teacher…or his own teenage son? Jim can’t believe his son
could be involved, but his wife is convinced the boy is hiding something.

He needs to find Julie before the worst happens—and keep the peace at home.

Amazon * Apple *
B&N
* Google
* Kobo * Audible
* Bookbub
* Goodreads

 

I was born and raised in San Diego, California and earned a
BA in English from San Diego State University and an MLS from UCLA. I began my
career as a reference and collection development librarian in the Art and Music
Section of the San Diego Public Library and then transferred to the Literature
and Languages Section, where I had the pleasure of managing the Central
Library’s Fiction collection. Although I also enjoy reading biography, memoir,
and history, fiction remains my first love. In addition to the three
R’s—reading, writing, and research—I enjoy Scrabble, movies, and travel.

My earliest ambition was to be a “book maker” and I wrote my
first story, “Judy and the Fairies,” with a plot stolen from a comic book, at
the age of six. I broke into print in college with a story in the San Diego
State University literary journal, The Phoenix, but most of my magazine
publications came after I left the library to spend more time on my writing.

My stories have been published in numerous journals,
including Eclectica, Thema Literary Journal, Avalon Literary Review, The Nassau
Review, and Orbis, and in the anthologies Short Story America, Vol. 2, The
Captive and the Dead, Australia Burns, 2023 in a Flash, and Apocalypse.

Member of the Authors Guild and Sisters in Crime

 

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bluesky * Bookbub * Amazon
* Goodreads

 

Follow the blitz HERE for special content and a $10 giveaway!

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BOOK TOUR: Friends are Forever by Mike Martin

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Readers new to the Windflower mysteries and those returning will experience the joys of a close-knit community that thrives on the simpler things in life…

 

Author: Mike Martin

Pages: 318

Format: Paperback, eBook, Free on Kindle Unlimited

Genre: Mystery

As Winston Windflower, his police colleagues and their families gather in Marystown, Newfoundland, to celebrate those being promoted up the RCMP ranks, a sophisticated heist by international mobsters and local biker gangs unfolds in multiple cities and towns throughout the province, robbing banks and businesses of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Mounties soon realize more than money is being lost.

In this, the sixteenth novel in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series, author Mike Martin continues to craft intrigue in the cultural and geographical setting unique to Newfoundland and Labrador. Readers new to the Windflower mysteries and those returning will experience the joys of a close-knit community that thrives on the simpler things in life: por’ cakes, a lighthouse in serious need of a facelift, TV movie nights and the warmth of get-togethers with family and friends. 

Friends are Forever is available at Amazon.

Book Excerpt

Sergeant Winston Windflower couldn’t be happier for his friend and colleague Eddie Tizzard. On Windflower’s recommendation and with the approval of the big boss, Superintendent Ron Quigley, Tizzard was being promoted to sergeant in the Mounties, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. But in terms of being proud, Windflower might have to stand in line because in the crowd that was gathered at RCMP Headquarters in Marystown, Newfoundland, were Tizzard’s partner, Carrie Evanchuk, and his dad, Richard Tizzard. Both were beaming from ear to ear as they juggled Eddie and Carrie’s two children in their arms.

Carrie had the easier task as little Sophie had been fed and was now snoozing in milk heaven. Hughie, on the other hand, would try and make a break for it every now and then, so Richard had to hang on tightly. He finally gave in and handed the little boy over to his Aunt Brenda, who was sitting farther back in the audience with the rest of Tizzard’s extended family.

Eddie looked down over the assembled RCMP officers and his family and smiled when he saw Hughie trying to get up closer towards him. He could also hear Hughie yelling “Daddy, Daddy” whenever the little boy got pulled back into the crowd. He smiled again as his superintendent called him to the podium and asked him to take off his corporal’s uniform jacket. Ron Quigley then handed him his new jacket with three chevrons pointing down and a crown on top on the right sleeve of his dress uniform, the RCMP’s famous red serge.

There were no speeches. That wasn’t the RCMP’s style. So, the two men shook hands, and Tizzard walked back to his place to thunderous applause from his fellow officers and family. Next on the agenda was the promotion of Windflower’s assistant in Grand Bank, Constable Samira Gupta, to corporal. This time Windflower did the honours, and Gupta exchanged her old uniform for one with two chevrons pointing down that indicated her new rank. She didn’t have any family in the crowd but was very popular with the troops, given the nice round of applause that she also received.

Some of those were special cheers from Windflower’s wife, Sheila Hillier, and his daughters, Stella and Amelia Louise, who had come over from Grand Bank for the occasion. All three loved Sam Gupta. They loved Eddie Tizzard, too. But they all had also made a strong connection with Windflower’s new sidekick and now brand new corporal.

There was a small reception afterwards with coffee and a large cake with the RCMP insignia on it. Both girls had a large piece of cake while Windflower and Sheila visited with Richard Tizzard and Carrie. It was a great celebration day for the Force, as the members called it, and there was plenty of good cheer all around.

But while the Mounties and their families were celebrating, something far more sinister was happening a short distance from the hotel where they were eating their cake.

A group of men had ambushed an armoured truck, and two of them had managed to somehow get inside and now had both armed guards hostage. They ordered the guards to undress, took them to another vehicle, a large panel van, and shoved them inside. As someone else drove them off, the first two men stripped and put on the security guards’ uniforms.

As the reception continued at the hotel, the fake security guards resumed the route that the real guards had been on and made stops at a number of local businesses before making one last visit to the bank in the shopping mall. They looked like the real deal as they walked into the branch. But instead of making their usual stop at one of the tellers, they asked to speak to the manager. A few minutes later the manager was left tied and muffled in the safe, and the false security officers walked out through the bank’s main doors with bags of loot from their efforts.

By the time the alarms were sounded and the bank manager released from the safe, the robbers were long gone. Gone from the bank and gone from Marystown. The real security guards were found out on the highway where they had walked to after being dumped in a deserted area. The day after, when the police started looking for suspects, they were not only off the Burin Peninsula, but they were waiting for a flight at the airport in Gander to take them completely out of the province. Of course, none of that would be known for days as the investigation into the boldest crime in Marystown history began.

– Excerpted from Friends Are Forever by Mike Martin, Ottawa Press and Publishing, 2025. Reprinted with permission. 

Guest Post

You Can’t Judge a Book by Its Cover, But it Does Give You a Peek Inside

With the publication of Friends are Forever there are now 16 books in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series. I know that sounds like a lot, but the series started in 2012. The old writer’s joke is: How do you get to be an older, established writer? Keep writing and don’t die!

That means we have had to come up with 16 somewhat different covers that all fit within the general theme of what might be a Sgt. Windflower Mystery. And while you certainly can’t judge a book by its cover, it should give the reader a hint of what’s inside. Over that time we’ve done many different things. But everything we hope, has led readers back to Grand Bank and to that most beautiful corner of Canada. This has included ice bergs and boats and fishing stages and sheds. And lighthouses, of course. But the most touching covers, I believe have come from pictures. Particularly ones that we and our family have taken while visiting Newfoundland.

We are fortunate indeed to be able to visit Newfoundland every year for most of the month of August. That means we get to enjoy the people and the scenery that make this place so special. And of course, we get to eat. A lot. Homemade raisin bread toast almost every morning. Fish every meal we can. Jiggs Dinner at the wonderful Garnish Bakeapple Festival. Cheesecake of all types, including Sgt. Windflower’s favourite chocolate peanut butter at Sharon’s Nook and Tea Room aka the Mug-Up.

To try and compensate for this orgy of eating we walk when we are in Newfoundland. A lot. We do hikes in Gros Morne National Park, to the shipwreck site in St. Lawrence and up to the top of the hill at Cook’s Lookout in Burin. Of course, we do tons of walking in Grand Bank. On the hiking trail up to the lookout and up to the Cape on every fine day. But some of the best walks are after supper when we and the dog try and stroll off some of the extra calories that we’ve consumed during the day.

It is also a calm and peaceful way to end another glorious day in Grand Bank. That is exactly what we were trying to show you in the cover for Friends are Forever. Looking out over the Atlantic Ocean as the sun slides away into the horizon. Wouldn’t you like to be there? You may not be able to get there right away but you can get a taste of what it might be like by reading the book.

A great cover should invite you in and in the case of a series welcome you to take a peek inside. So come in, sit down. You’re among friends again. We’re happy to see you.

Mike Martin is the author of the Award-Winning Sgt. Windflower Mystery series. The latest book is Friends are Forever. Available from Amazon and where all fine books are sold.

About the Author

Mike Martin was born in St. John’s, NL
on the east coast of Canada and now lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario.
He is a long-time freelance writer and his articles and essays have
appeared in newspapers, magazines and online across Canada as well as in
the United States and New Zealand.

He is the award-winning author of the
best-selling Sgt. Windflower Mystery series, set in beautiful Grand
Bank. There are now 16 books in this light mystery series with the
publication of Friends are Forever. 

A Tangled Web was shortlisted in 2017 for the best light mystery of the year, and Darkest Before the Dawn won the 2019 Bony Blithe Light Mystery Award. All That Glitters was shortlisted for the LOLA 2024 Must Read Book of the year award.

Some Sgt. Windflower Mysteries are now available as audiobooks and the latest Darkest Before the Dawn was released as an audiobook in 2024. All audiobooks are available from Audible in Canada and around the world.

Mike is Past Chair of the Board of
Crime Writers of Canada, a national organization promoting Canadian
crime and mystery writers and a member of the Newfoundland Writers’
Guild and Capital Crime Writers.

Website & Social Media:

Website ➜  https://sgtwindflowermysteries.com/ 

Twitter ➜ https://www.x.com/mike54martin 

Facebook ➜  https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore

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BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY: A Dead Man Speaks by Lisa Jones Gentry

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A Dead Man Speaks
Lisa Jones Gentry
(The Clive January Mystery Series, #1)
Publication date: November 29th 2024
Genres: Adult, Mystery, Paranormal, Thriller

Introducing the first in a new paranormal crime mystery series set in 1980s, New York City on Wall Street

Clive January is a driven, self-made Black man, a ruthless, wildly successful investment banker who had it all – until he is shot and killed from behind by an unknown assailant. As Clive lies in a pool of blood, his life slowly ebbing away, he hears voices, unearthly beings tormenting him, telling him that he will burn in hell, unless he finds out who killed him. Now before it’s too late, his ghost must solve the crime of his own murder and his only choice is to work with the white racist cop assigned to his case, Detective Bob Greene.

Their relationship begins in hate and distrust, but soon they each realize that they have more in common than they could ever believe. And in the wrenching ending, they discover the truth that frees them both.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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Lisa will be at the LA Times Festival of Books on Saturday April 26th at 12 noon!

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EXCERPT:

I slipped into my car, the creamy leather seats enfolding me as I whizzed down the expressway…the smell of the ocean filled the car…an aphrodisiac, teasing my senses. I thought about her waiting for me…opening the door…And then I saw her face, the light green eyes clouded against her golden, taffy-colored skin, the thick mop of dark, curly hair framing her face. How often had I held her, how often had I seen her lips part in that same half-teasing, half-defiant smile…

“Hi…”

I grabbed her, wanting to make love to her before I told her. But she smiled playfully, pushing me away. “Look what I got.”

She pulled out a gram of icy, white coke, licking the edge of the paper hungrily. “To celebrate.” Would she still want to celebrate when I told her that I’m leaving, but not with her? All the years between us, but I still can’t do it; I still can’t surrender my soul to her. Would she understand this time, too?

“Here, Clive. It’s good…” A sucking noise. The dull light glinted against the pipe, trembling ever so slightly. She must really be fucked up.

“Almost as good as the first time…remember…”

That’s what she always said. Ssssssssssssss, a nice long one. My eyes shut tightly, letting the feeling curl over me like a woman’s touch, soft, seductive, and always so deadly.

“I’m gonna get some champagne.” She leaned down over me, kissing me slowly. I could taste the coke on her lips. Her hand rubbed my cheek. Tiny, soft hands.

My eyes followed her small body weaving out of the room, down the hallway, and into the kitchen. I closed my eyes again, going over every detail of my plan in my mind for the hundredth or maybe thousandth time; I’d lost track now. Every step sharpened by time and urgency. One more week, and I’d have the final payment and my freedom from a life that was no longer mine.

I was finally starting to relax; the blow was starting to kick in. It always took longer when I was tensed up, but now the tingly feeling was rushing through me. A sharp, searing pain was suddenly tearing through my back, ripping the breath out of me. I doubled over. It felt as if someone had taken a thousand knives and exploded them in me. And it was all a blur, except for blood everywhere: on my chest, covering my hands, the white carpet, and the room’s empty.

And I realize, I’d been fuckin’ shot…somebody’s…but now the room was spinning. I knew this was it. The dark curtains were enveloping me and then the light…like the light at home, soft…beckoning…taking me to the place I thought I’d forgotten. And then I smiled, I understood now, all the years, all the money…the lies, but you could never escape, it would always pull you back…

Author Bio:

People would consider Lisa Jones Gentry, the author of “Forbidden Love” a true renaissance woman, because the former entertainment attorney, became an artist, author, creative executive, and writer-producer for film, television and digital content…

Lisa discovered her passion for the creative side of the business while serving as broadcast counsel at CBS in New York City, where she was the lead attorney on deals ranging from multi-millions to billions, such as the Olympics and Major League Baseball deal. But her Hollywood calling changed from “behind-the-deal” to “behind-the-laptop”, and ultimately moved to LA to break into the business as a writer-producer. As luck would have it, the first film script that she and her writing partner wrote was optioned by Paramount.

For the next four years they had several screenplays and teleplays optioned and set up at networks and studios, including development deals. She then took that creative experience and brought it to her position as EVP of Development for the stalwart Western International Syndication, formerly a division of renowned Western International Media, once the largest media buying entity in the world. Charged with expanding the company’s traditional roster of syndicated programming into network and cable, she executive produced over 100 hours of television in various formats and genres, airing on broadcast and cable. She also structured a joint venture between French broadcasting giant TF-1, Stephen J. Cannell Productions and Western for the international distribution of a one hour dramatic series.

Though “behind-the-deal: again, she didn’t stop her work behind-the-laptop and during that time wrote her first novel, “A Dead Man Speaks.” It garnered her an NAACP Image Award nomination for Best Debut Author, followed by a Literary Critics Award nomination for best general fiction. And her creative roll continued with a First Look Deal for Lisa and her writing partner at Sony Pictures under their Screen Gems banner.

With the cataclysmic changes in the “business,” like many other writers and producers, it wasn’t long before Lisa expanded her focus to digital media and due to her writing and executive experience was recruited to be the CEO of Comedy Express, a start-up broadband network targeting the young adult male demo. Ultimately, Comedy Express was acquired by the famed National Lampoon.

Following the acquisition of Comedy Express, Lisa not only managed to write another book – this time as a co-author of the nonfiction, “So You Want to be A Lawyer,” now in its second printing –she continued her expansion into digital media and technology and worked as Co-CEO of another early stage start-up company that launched two 24/7 television networks on cable, IPTV and satellite networks outside the US in Europe and Asia. Today, Lisa is a frequent speaker on technology and digital media, at the Tribeca Film Festival, the FCC start up conference and many other venues.

As if all that she’s done isn’t enough, Lisa is also an accomplished artist, and has been exhibiting and selling her work for several years. She has had worked featured in television series and TV Movies and buyers of her work have included on air talent, Arthel Neville and television Executive Producer, Samm Art Williams.

And while she loves exploring her artistic side, Lisa has no intention of slowing down her writing, as she continues to flex her creative muscle with several TV and film projects that she’s developing as well as her current book, “Forbidden Love,” the true love story of a white nun and a black priest in the segregated fifties as told by their son Joe Steele.

Website


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