Mystery We Write Tour: Marilyn Meredith

Marilyn Meredith is the author of over thirty published novels, including the award winning Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series, the latest Raging Water from Mundania Press.  Writing as F. M. Meredith, her latest Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel is entitled,  No Bells, the forth from Oak Tree Press. Marilyn is a member of EPIC, three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America.  Marilyn borrows a lot from where she lives in the Southern Sierra for the town of Bear Creek and the surrounding area.

When you were a child, what did you want to "be" when you grew up?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I wrote stories, books, wrote and produced a magazine, wrote plays for the neighborhood kids to perform. However, becoming one didn’t really happen until all my children were nearly grown.

In what genre do you write?  If you were to choose another genre, what would it be and why?

Right now I’m writing mysteries, but I’ve also written historical family sagas, Christian horror, psychological horror, romance with a supernatural touch so perhaps, if I had to try something new it would be thrillers.

What is the most adventurous thing you've ever done?

As part of the Authors in Schools program for Left Coast Crime in Alaska, I flew to Bethel and then rode in a Suburban on a frozen river to a small village called Kwithlik. Not only the most adventurous thing, it was also the scariest.

When I was a kid I did all sorts of adventurous things—but it was a different time. I lived in Los Angeles and went all over by myself, sometimes walking, sometimes on the streetcar.

What made you choose to write the particular novel(s) you have written?

When I began writing the first Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery, I had no idea that it would turn into a long running series. One or two real incidents sometimes triggers the beginning of a real plot.

When I started Raging Water I knew two things that I was going to put in it, the mysterious deaths of two friends and a bad storm that causes Bear Creek to flood.

Who is one of your favorite authors?

William Kent Krueger. He usually includes some Native American lore in his books, but what I love the most is his wonderful descriptions of the settings.

Will you share a blurb from one of your books?

Raging Water Blurb:
Deputy Tempe Crabtree’s investigation of the murder of two close friends is complicated when relentless rain turns Bear Creek into a raging river. Homes are inundated and a mud slide blocks the only road out of Bear Creek stranding many—including the murderer.

I know there are some people who like to read a series in order, but let me reassure you that every book is complete. Though the characters grow through each book, the crime is always solved.  Here is the order of the books for anyone who wants to know: Deadly Trail, Deadly Omen, Unequally Yoked, Intervention, Wing Beat, Calling the Dead, Judgment Fire, Kindred Spirits, Dispel the Mist, Invisible Path, Bears With Us, RagingWater.

Do enter my giveaway contest for a copy of the previous Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery, BEARS WITH US. Leave a comment and you're automatically entered. Include your email addy so I can get in touch with you should your name be selected at random. The winner will be announced on my blog (http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com) on December 12, 2012. Good luck!

For more information on Marilyn Meredith and her novels, please visit her at http://fictionforyou.com and follow her blog at http://marilymeredith.blogspot.com/

Mystery We Write Tour: Rionna Morgan

*** Giveaway Alert***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Joining us today is Rionna Morgan. Growing up out West, Rionna Morgan followed her love of horses to the rodeo arena and her love of English to the classroom and to writing. She has been looking forward to sharing her stories with you her whole life. Rionna is a founding member of Montana Romance Writers; she reads as much as she can possibly hold, and she loves most of all combining the chilling edge of a knife with the sweet surrender of romance. Rionna shares her home in Missoula, Montana with her husband, her four children and the mountains outside her window.

Let’s get to know Rionna Morgan a bit better!

When you were a child, what did you want to "be" when you grew up?

Rionna: I wanted to be a writer. I scribbled continually in notebooks and made up the best stories ever. I often feel sorry for my mother, as she was the one who was continually stuck trying to decipher my tales.

Name three things on your bucket list.

Rionna: I want to go to Ireland. I want to be a grandmother. I want to visit the Library of Congress and pull my book from the shelf.

In what genre do you write? If you were to choose another genre, what would it be and why?

Rionna: Romantic Suspense. If I were to choose another genre, I would chose paranormal. I love it. It is such a fun, spooky genre!

If you were going to be stranded on an island all alone for a year, and you could only take three books with you...which three would you choose? Why?

Rionna: The collected works of Edgar Allan Poe and William Shakespeare. With those two gentlemen, I can be entertained for years! The other book would be a huge blank journal, because I need to write. …assuming that I get to take pencils. ☺ Thank you Rionna.  And for a bit about Rionna's just released novel:

Look for Love’s Justice anywhere online books are sold!

Buy on Amazon

Sarah Johnson is a profiler in Portland, Oregon. She thinks she has successfully moved beyond the pain of her mother’s death 15 years ago. Her mother, a Pulitzer Prize winning writer, died in an Alabama women’s prison while on an undercover assignment. However, when Justin Breslow shows up at her office claiming to be an investigative reporter from Dallas wanting to do a feature on her mother, Sarah realizes the pain has just been dormant. She agrees to work with Justin; she’s always wanted to retrace her mother’s final days, but she has no intention of sharing family secrets with a perfect stranger. Sarah and Justin unravel a plot more complex and sinister than they expected. They pursue a trail of  deceit and corruption to a women’s prison in Alabama, a centuries old hotel in Georgia and a family ranch in Texas. Nothing is simple or as it seems. Along the way, Sarah tries not to fall for Justin’s Southern charm, and Justin fights to resist Sarah’s beauty and sharp intellect. This unlikely duo will find more than they ever hoped to—in the prison, in their own backyards, and in each other’s arms. Whether they survive to enjoy their discoveries is the final mystery. Excerpt from Love's Justice “What if I didn’t go as a snoopy reporter?” Justin closed the small space, successfully trapping Sarah between the refrigerator and the counter. “And just went as a man?” With a smooth shift of his body, he slid into an amazing fit against her. Sarah drew in a quick breath. The air-cooled kitchen suddenly became a furnace. His hands gripped the counter on either side of her. His face was so close she could see her reflection in his eyes. “That is exactly what I don’t need.” “Don’t need, but maybe want?” Justin moved closer. Their lips were just a breath apart. “Don’t,” Sarah breathed. Her heart rapped hard in her chest. Justin smiled, enjoying watching her eyes cloud to darkness. This was going to be easy. “Don’t what.” His lips brushed hers. “Tell me. Don’t what?” Sarah fisted her hands in his shirt. To pull him closer or push him away, she wasn’t exactly sure. Panic and need and she didn’t know what all, tumbled around in her stomach. Instead of taking the time to decipher what to do, she just acted and tugged him to her. He caught her bottom lip, soft and warm, between his teeth. He felt her body give against his. He savored the taste of her, the warmth. “I’m going with you,” he whispered against her lips. She nodded her head, but his words never registered. My plan is working perfectly, he thought as he pulled her deeper into the kiss. Below are ways to catch up with Rionna. Drop on by…she loves the company!

Please be invited to visit my blog to Enter to Win a Piece of Montana! Website Twitter Facebook Goodreads What is on your bucket list??

Covering Their Asses

I just read the headlines that Micah Moore, confessed killer of Bethany Deaton, has retracted his admission of guilt and is now saying Bethany really did kill herself.  You can read the full story here.

I find this puzzling, but not surprising.  It isn’t the first time a death that had any relation to IHOP was suddenly dismissed or covered up.  Sadly, unless this movement is shut down, it won’t be the last.

 

In his first statement to police, Micah Moore described exactly how Bethany died, telling them that he held a plastic bag over her head until her body shook.  That’s a pretty graphic description for someone who was never at the scene.

Moore’s attorney is saying he made the confession under duress over the suicide of his dear friend.  I’m throwing a big, fat, red IHOP flag on this one. 

 

He may have confessed while under duress, but it wasn’t from grief.  My guess:  if he was under duress it was from fear. 

See, Moore might not have killed her… he might have taken the fall for someone who did…someone like Tyler Deaton perhaps?  Or someone else in the upper echelon of the IHOP organization?  Someone who stood to lose a lot if Bethany ever told the truth about what was really happening behind IHOP’s veil of secrecy.

The saddest part of this whole thing is that while IHOP tries to cover its tracts and save its ass, Bethany’s family is suffering with no closure in sight.

I pray the truth comes out and this prayer alone should make many leaders at IHOP very nervous.  ~

 

 

 

Mystery We Write Tour: Larissa Reinhart

Larissa Reinhart considers herself lucky to have taught English in Japan, escaped a ferocious monkey in Thailand, studied archaeology in Egypt, and survived teaching high school history in the US. However, adopting her daughters from China has been her most rewarding experience. After moving around the Midwest, the South and Japan, she now lives in Georgia with her husband, daughters, and Biscuit, a Cairn Terrier. 

She loves small town characters with big attitudes, particularly sassy women with a penchant for trouble. When she’s not writing about southern fried chicken, she writes about Asian fried chicken at her blog about life as an ex-expat at theexpatreturneth.blogspot.com. She and her writing friends also chat weekly about books on their Little Read Hens Facebook page and littlereadhens.com.

 

Tell us about one of your most embarrassing moments…

 The most embarrassing moment in my life had to happen in high school, right? I participated in the Washington D.C. Closeup program, breaking my small town yoke, with the chance to shine amidst other high school students from all over the country.  For a week I had the chance to learn about our nation’s government, but more importantly there were boys who had no idea I was a total dork in my hometown.

After a night at a dinner theater (which seemed too romantic for words), I had met a boy from Alaska. Alaska! The state seemed so exotic and so... far away. Dreamily, I accepted his invitation to sit together for breakfast at the Department of Transportation. The large conference room buzzed with excitement. We were to visit the senate chambers that day, but more importantly A BOY ASKED TO SIT NEXT TO ME.

My stomach felt fluttery and my skin chilled. The mere presence of this boy made me queasy. Literally. I ate my breakfast to try and quiet my nerves. Eggs, toast, bacon. A bad decision. A waiter arrived at our table. I gripped the table and asked for the bathroom. The waiter, an older gentleman in a white jacket, asked me to repeat myself. I glanced at the door far across the room. Farther than I remembered. I opened my mouth to repeat my question. As I tried to form the words, nausea grappled my stomach into a vise-like grip and squeezed. In what felt like an out-of-body experience, I saw myself spew breakfast all over the table. Where the boy from Alaska sat in shock. My memory fails me after this point. I next remember laying in my hotel room watching MTV for the rest of the afternoon. Which I did not get at home, so it wasn’t all bad.

What made you choose to write PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY?

We had moved to Japan from Georgia. Scenes with my heroine, Cherry Tucker, appeared in my head while I made my daily commute of driving my children to and from school. I was working on another book at the time, but Cherry kept popping up and eventually her family, friends, ex-husband, and ex-love appeared to me as well. Then my father died. I flew home to my small hometown for three weeks to stay with my mom, and the idea for the mystery was born. Maybe it’s crazy, but I had this idea of an artist having to paint a portrait of a murdered man in his coffin.

 

At what point in your life did you decide you wanted to become a published author?

I had visions of becoming a published author as a child. I wrote little books and magazines and sold them to my neighbors. I used my high school typing classes to write short stories. I worked at my local newspaper office in high school and even had my own column. However, my priorities changed in college. I felt too insecure to write fiction and didn’t want to go into journalism. Almost twenty years later, I attempted my first full manuscript. It was a ridiculous 140,000 words, but it gave me hope. I wrote another manuscript, PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY, and decided to pursue publication.

 

Can you share with us a blurb from PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY?

Blurb:

In Halo, Georgia, folks know Cherry Tucker as big in mouth, small in stature, and able to sketch a portrait faster than buckshot rips from a ten gauge -- but commissions are scarce. So when the well-heeled Branson family wants to memorialize their murdered son in a coffin portrait, Cherry scrambles to win their patronage from her small town rival.

As the clock ticks toward the deadline, Cherry faces more trouble than just a controversial subject. Her rival wants to ruin her reputation, her ex-flame wants to rekindle the fire, and someone’s setting her up to take the fall. Mix in her flaky family, an illegal gambling ring, and outwitting a killer on a spree, Cherry finds herself painted into a corner she’ll be lucky to survive.

PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY (Henery Press, August 28, 2012) is a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, a 2012 The Emily finalist, and a 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner.

Buy Links:

Amazon Kindle     B&N Nook     Kobo

Amazon Paperback     B&N Paperback

 

You may also find Larissa at:

website: larissareinhart.com

I’m frequently on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest;. and Pinterest for the character, artist Cherry Tucker.

 

I’d like to encourage readers to enter my giveaway contest. Up for grabs is an e-copy of PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY, book one of the Cherry Tucker Mystery Series. Leave a comment and you're automatically entered. Include your email addy so I can get in touch with you should your name be selected at random. The winner will be announced on my blog (http://theexpatreturneth.blogspot.com/) on December 11, 2012. Good luck!

 

 

 

 

Mystery We Write Tour: Earl Staggs

Mystery author Earl Staggs recently received his second Derringer Award for Best Short Story of the Year. His novel MEMORY OF A MURDER earned a long list of Five Star reviews. SHORT STORIES OF EARL STAGGS, a collection of 16 Mystery tales, is available in print and Ebook. He served as Managing Editor of Futures Mystery Magazine and as President of the Short Mystery Fiction Society. He’s a contributing blog member of Murderous Musings and Make Mine Mystery and a frequent speaker at conferences, seminars, writers and readers groups.

 

I had the opportunity to ask Earl some personal questions and I think you will find his answers both interesting and entertaining. 

 

When you were a child, what did you want to "be" when you grew up?

A cowboy. I grew up during the infancy of TV, so for entertainment, we went to the movies.  We could buy a ticket and stay all day. There were usually at least two full cowboy movies as well as a few serials, and we watched them over and over again.. I had a lot of heroes. Hopalong Cassidy. . .Lash LaRue. . .Gene Autry and others. My favorite, though, was Roy Rogers, who was billed as King of the Cowboys. 

Many years later, I had the thrill of meeting Roy in person. It was a great experience to spend time with someone I idolized as a boy. My wife and I even had a picture taken with him. I wrote a story about that day called “White Hats and Happy Trails,” which is on my website. The picture’s there, too.

 

At what point in your life did you decide you wanted to become a published author?

I harbored a desire to write nearly all my life and dabbled a little from time to time. By 1995, our daughters were grown and on their own, and my wife and I decided we’d shoveled enough snow for two lifetimes. We left Maryland and moved south. That’s when I decided if I was ever going to seriously try to be a writer, it was time to do it. I started out writing short mystery stories and after a few years, was fortunate enough to have some of them published. Sixteen of them are included in my collection called SHORT STORIES OF EARL STAGGS, available in print and Ebook.

One story involved a private eye with a psychic gift.  The protagonist, Adam Kingston, had to solve a sixteen-year-old murder and stop a rash of new ones. Feedback on that story was very positive, and a few people suggested I take Adam into a novel. So I did.  The result was MEMORY OF A MURDER. It took a while to find a publisher (of course), but it’s still in print and doing well, thank you very much.

That original story which fueled my desire to be a published novelist, is called “The Missing Sniper,” and is available as an Ebook novella from Untreed Reads.

I’m working on a sequel to MEMORY OF A MURDER now. I want to give it a title beginning with MEMORY OF. . .  something, but have not come up with the right something yet. This time, Adam is searching for a missing young woman and for the killer of another one murdered twelve years ago. Any title suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

 

What is something you wish you could do better?

Time management. I would get more writing done if not for seductive distractions. A good show on TV. . .a new book from a favorite author. . .a nap. Probably the worst distractions are email and the Internet. If you’ve been in the writing community for a while, you’ve made a lot of friends and contacts. You HAVE to keep in touch, right? And there are great sites out there on the net you have to check out regularly. Otherwise, how would you keep up with that’s going on in the publishing industry?

All are good excuses for putting the writing aside, but they are major time drains. It really comes down to establishing priorities and good time management.

I recall an interview with the wife of a well-known prolific writer. When asked how he managed to turn out so much, she said, “He’s committed to writing a certain amount every day, and he’s not allowed to check his email until he does it.”

That sounds like a good plan. I need to work on that.

 

Name something on your bucket list.

A horse. I’d like to have a small ranch and a horse of my own, maybe more than one. I began this piece saying I wanted to be a cowboy when I grew up. While I haven’t completely grown up in some ways, it seems I’ve come full circle.

 

Tell us about your books:

TALL CHAMBERS: JUSTIFIED ACTION, a Mystery/Thriller, will be available soon in Ebook and print form. Watch for announcements on my website:  http://earlwstaggs.wordpress.com

 

You’re invited to visit my site now where you can read Chapter One of my Mystery novel, MEMORY OF A MURDER.

 

You can also read a short story called “The Day I Almost Became a Great Writer.” Some say it’s the funniest story I’ve ever written.

 

There’s another story there called “White Hats and Happy Trails,” about the day I spent with my boyhood idol, Roy Rogers.  There’s even a picture of my wife and me with Roy to prove it’s all true.

 

Thanks again, Susan, for being a gracious hostess.  Thanks also to everyone who stopped by.

 

GIVEAWAY

Please leave a comment and you may win a free book.

 

At the end of the tour, I’ll draw two names from those who left comments.  The first name drawn will receive a signed print copy of MEMORY OF A MURDER, a mystery novel with a long list of Five Star Reviews.  The second name drawn will receive their choice of a signed print copy or an Ebook of SHORT STORIES OF EARL STAGGS, a collection of 16 tales of mystery from hardboiled to humorous.

 

Where can readers learn even more about you and your writing?

 

Email: earlstaggs@sbcglobal.net

Website: http://earlwstaggs.wordpress.com

Another Broken Family in IHOP's Wake

I want to share an email I received from a woman named Julie.  She wrote:

Dear Susan,

I read your book House of Lies and I was in tears part way through because my son is in IHOP in Kansas City and I haven’t spoken with him in over a year.  He stopped returning my calls after telling me he was advised to ‘fast from his family.’ He believes that IHOP is his true family and that his life’s focus is to pray in the end of the world, to be in God’s end time army.  He’s left myself, my husband and his two little sisters behind, not to mention all of his friends.  I’ve gone to the IHOP campus and I’ve been in the prayer room.  The buildings aren’t as you described in your book, but the people are.  They speak in their own language and the aura of arrogance is more than troubling.  When my son first got involved, I went to pray in the prayer room often and it is exactly as you described it in the book.  The repetitive chanting and deep mantra meditation, the swaying and often twitching, it resembles videos I’ve seen of mass hypnosis, and I never thought I believed in demons until I saw what is happening there.  The last time I tried to see my son, (which was last March) he waved to me from down the hall but refused to talk with me.  I was then asked to leave by a man I can only presume to be one of the leaders.  Because my son has cast us aside voluntarily and he is over 18 years, I have no legal recourse.  Mine and my husband’s hearts are broken.  But at least my son is still alive, which is more than what Bethany Deaton’s family has to hold onto.  I pray for them every day and mourn their loss from one mother’s heart to another.  Let no one tell you IHOP is not a cult, it is.  Anyone who speaks otherwise is deceived.  As I read your book I related to the character of Sally and of the McCulley’s, both with children trapped inside, both willing to do anything to get them out.  Maybe your book is prophetic.  Maybe someone will have the strength to blow up the place and save all of our children.  I pray it would be so.  God bless you and thank you for writing House of Lies.  I know it’s fiction, but for me, it affirmed my heart and told me that others see IHOP for what it really is.  Like you wrote, it’s a spiritual heroin. Your book made me realize I’m not alone and when others are ready to stand up and fight against this, my family will join in the battle. 

In HIS love,

Julie

 

There are many cult groups in our world and, though they all have their own agendas, there is one thread of commonality.  They destroy relationships, kill friendships and leave families utterly broken.  These things are not of God. 

Sadly, Julie’s letter is not the first I’ve received that has expressed these things.  She is one of many who are suffering because of IHOP and other cult-like organizations. 

Please, study every group from the foundation up before getting involved.  Just because something looks good and feels good doesn’t mean it is good for you.   ~

Mystery We Write Tour: Anne K. Albert

Anne K. Albert’s award winning mystery and romantic suspense stories chill the spine, warm the heart and soothe the soul…all with a delightful touch of humor. When not at the keyboard she loves to travel, walk on a beach, visit friends and family, and of course, read using ‘Threegio’ her beloved and much cherished Kindle 3G. She can be found online at Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Goodreads, Pinterest, Amazon and her blog.


Susan - When you were a child, what did you want to "be" when you grew up?

Anne - I don’t recall ever wanting to be one specific thing. I tended to pick a career, but the desire to follow it through rarely lasted more than a week! I do, however, remember wanting to travel. My desire to see the world and experience what it had to offer even prompted me to ask Santa for a suitcase! (FYI, I got it!)

Susan - At what point in your life did you decide you wanted to become a published author?

Anne - To be honest, I never imagined ordinary people could be authors. I was convinced they were a breed unto themselves--privileged individuals who not only had something to say, but more importantly had people surrounding them who wanted to listen!

With that in mind, I kept my writing personal. I wrote letters and notes to friends and family, and while I longed to write mystery, I never ventured into fiction. I didn’t believe I could.

Then, in the late 1980s, I worked as a display advertising sales representative for a small weekly newspaper. That was the very first time I came face-to-face with a computer. (FYI, I was a mere infant at the time!) J Anyway, I fell in love with the sound of fingertips flying across the keyboard. I love the sound. It’s music to my ears. It may sound silly, but that’s what inspired me to write my first book.

Susan – Would you tell us about FRANK, INCENSE AND MURIEL?

Anne – Of course! It’s the week before Christmas when the stress of the holidays is enough to frazzle anyone’s nerves. Tensions increase when a friend begs Muriel to team up with her sexy high school nemesis, now an even sexier private investigator to find a missing woman. Forced to deal with an embezzler, kidnapper, and femme fatale is bad enough, but add Muriel’s zany yet loveable family to the mix and their desire to win the coveted D-DAY (Death Defying Act of the Year) Award, and the situation can only get worse.

Susan - If you could have one last meal, what would it be?

Anne - Anything my husband decides to cook (and yes, he’s that good!) with a glass of chardonnay.

Susan - Name three things on your bucket list.

Anne – (1) Visit Ireland. (2) Tour Newfoundland’s “iceberg alley”. (3) Return to London and leisurely meander through the UK.

Susan - Describe yourself in only three words.

Anne – Happy. Optimistic. Content.

Thanks for featuring me today, Susan. I’d like to encourage readers to enter my giveaway contest. Up for grabs is an e-copy of FRANK, INCENSE AND MURIEL. Leave a comment and you're automatically entered. The winner will be selected at random and announced on my blog on December 12, 2012. Good luck!

 

Fox 4 News Interview

Murder of Bethany Deaton Has Similarities to Novel ‘House of Lies’

Posted on: 10:27 pm, November 23, 2012, by Gia Vang and Sarah Clark, updated on: 09:39pm, November 24, 2012

 

To watch the video interview click HERE

Pinterest

Share

Twitter

Email

GRANDVIEW, Mo. — The Grandview murder of 27-year-old Bethany Deaton is a tangled web of sex, drugs and religion — and some believe it parallels the novel, “House of Lies.” FOX 4′s Gia Vang talked to the author, Susan Claridge, who agrees — the murder of Bethany Deaton has similarities to her book.

“From my regular readers who knew more about me and from personal friends — they were saying, ‘Have you seen this? Like, this is your book playing out in real life’ and that was kind of scary,” Claridge said.

Claridge’s “House of Lies” was released in early October. It’s about a woman who tries to save her estranged sister from a religious cult, only to find murder and a political agenda. The novel is based out of Kansas City, and one of the murders is eerily similar to Deaton’s.

As for Deaton’s murder, Jackson County prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said Deaton’s husband, Tyler Deaton, ordered the death of his wife. Tyler Deaton is reportedly the leader of a close-knit religious group known to engage in group sex. Bethany’s admitted killer, Micah Moore, told authorities he and other men, including her husband, drugged Bethany and sexually assaulted her for months. Moore said the men feared Bethany would tell her therapist about the abuse so the decision was made to kill her and to stage her death as a suicide.

In Claridge’s novel, a woman was murdered in an attempt to keep her quiet — not to mention, drugs.

The similarities have some readers — and some FOX 4 viewers — wondering if Claridge knows more than she says.

“For example, the drugs, I didn’t have the same drugs that were used, but the fact that a drug was used and how it was used and why it was used, is all the same,” Claridge said.

Deaton’s body was found at Longview Lake. In the book, the body of a victim was discovered in another lake near by.

And there’s the connection with the International House of Prayer. Claridge said her sister is the director at St. Louis’ Gateway House of Prayer, an off-shoot of IHOP. Bethany was a former intern for the IHOP University in Grandview. Her admitted killer, Micah Moore, was a current student at the time of her death.

Claridge said her novel is a piece of fiction with a sequel expected to be released next year. That book takes an international twist.

IHOP representatives did not return our call for comment and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department said it is still investigating Deaton’s death.

Objective Reviews Amid Controversy

As a writer, it is always exciting to hear what others are saying about your work.  We all know that a review is merely the subjective opinion of one reader so they don't make or break the writer.  BUT... they can boost a writer's confidence and let them know they are on the right path, appealing to their target audience, etc.  AND... it just plain feels good to hear that people are enjoying what you worked so hard to create.

In lieu of the current controversy involving one of my books and several members of the International House of Prayer, I wanted to share some of the objective reviews for my latest release, House of Lies.

_____________________________________________________________

Action Packed Awesome!  October 25, 2012 Barnes & Noble

It will remind you of The DaVinci Code because it's a political cult suspense and really makes you think about what goes on behind closed doors. Easy, fast read even though its a longer book then what I'm used to reading. I can't stop thinking about the story and hope there's a sequel. Highly recommend!

 

This one has it all, October 30, 2012 Amazon

House of Lies is yet another in a series of can't-put-it-down-page-turners by S.R. Claridge. This story opens with intrigue and keeps you guessing to the very end. Lots of twists and turns, characters that come to life, and enough action to leave you exhausted at the end. House of Lies is a strong mixture of action, romance, political and religious scandal and solid detective work. I'm seriously hoping there's a sequel to this one!

 

Oct. 31, 2012 on Smashwords :
I couldn't put this book down, stayed up late to finish it and was left wanting more. I'm hoping there's a sequel because it was left open-ended like there is more coming. I found myself thinking about it during the day and laying in bed contemplating what would happen. The story totally sucked me in. It is like DaVinci Code meets Fifty Shades, only it doesn't have the open erotica of the Shades books, still there's a sensual undertone between Skylar and Braznovich that adds an exciting level of romance to the story. There's so much action in this book that it really gets your adrenaline pumping. Awesome book, one of my favorites!

Oct. 31, 2012 on Smashwords :
Excellent read. I found myself intrigued through the entire book. It starts with a bang and I wondered what was happening and then the story started to unravel, but just as understanding would ensue there was another plot twist that kept me salivating. It reminded me of the DaVinci Code and it has the perfect mix of humor and sex to break up the action. This book is action-packed suspense!

Oct. 25, 2012 on Smashwords :
I'm a Dan Brown fan. I like his style and the amount of action in his books, which is what made me pick up House of Lies because it was said to have a DaVinci Code feel. Did it ever! I was worried at first that the story would be too religious-based, but as I read, it was clear that a political aspect was in play. I found the plot enticing, as it lured me toward new angles and perspectives at every turn. This is the kind of book you lay in bed at night thinking about and trying to figure out. The fact that it ends abruptly tells me there's another one coming and I am eagerly awaiting it. Anyone who enjoys suspense and action will find this book to be a phenomenal read. Worth the price. Highly recommend it.

Oct. 23, 2012  on Smashwords

House of Lies is a political cult suspense about a woman who sets out on a mission to save her sister from what appears to be a religious cult group; however, as we move through the novel we discover that the religiosity of the group is merely a cover to hide the real agenda, which is quite political in nature. An anonymous tip leads her to a private investigator and a cop, who begrudgingly agree to assist her quest. That’s really all I can say without giving anything away.

This book has it all. There are plot twists that literally and figuratively take the reader to the edge of their seat and tauntingly leave them there. There is angst and suspense, action, romance and a little bit of sex. But, strangely enough, those things aren’t what drive the story. The character dialogue is the cohesive agent that skyrockets this book to a whole new level of storytelling. I was so enthralled I felt as if I were watching the story like a movie; that’s how powerfully written is the character interaction. But it doesn’t stop there. S.R.Claridge’s ability to tie together past and present events and weave them into a believable storyline is impressive; not to mention this author succeeds at doing something of which most mystery writers fail. She incorporates humor at precisely the right moments, when the reader needs a release from the mounting tension.


As I read, I began to wonder if the book, though fiction, held any truth about cult groups and their potential hidden agendas. I found myself contemplating if the author had once been involved in a group like the one described in House of Lies, and if so how much of what happens in the novel actually happened in real life. It was a similar feeling to what I had when reading Dan Brown’s DaVinci Code years ago. In fact, if I had to liken this book to one that is currently on the market, I would say it is The DaVinci Code, and I wouldn't be surprised if we find some controversy developing as word of this book gets out.


I give House of Lies a full five star rating. If you enjoy suspense novels, you will not be able to put this book down. Without giving away the ending, I can assure you that a sequel is to follow and I only hope it will be released soon.

_______________________________________________________________
If you haven't read House of Lies, you may visit my website for a free read of the first several chapters.  www.AuthorSRClaridge.com  

Or, you may order the book today in Ebook and Print at the following retailers:
Barnes & Noble
Amazon
Smashwords

You may also watch the video trailer here: