Central BookingFamed attorney and bestselling novelist Marcia Clark talks to John B. Valeri about her transition from lawyer to writer and her new book, FINAL JUDGMENT (out 4/21/20 from Amazon/Thomas & Mercer).
Central Booking Episode 1: Marcia Clark on FINAL JUDGMENTCentral Booking2020-04-21 | Famed attorney and bestselling novelist Marcia Clark talks to John B. Valeri about her transition from lawyer to writer and her new book, FINAL JUDGMENT (out 4/21/20 from Amazon/Thomas & Mercer).
Facebook: facebook.com/johnbvaleri Instagram: instagram.com/oyejohn52 Twitter: twitter.com/OyeJohn52 Website: http://www.johnbvaleri.comCentral Booking Episode 146: Maggie Giles on TWISTEDCentral Booking2023-12-06 | Critically acclaimed author Maggie Giles talks to John B. Valeri about her new thriller, TWISTED (out now from Rising Action Publishing/Blackstone Publishing) -- the first entry in a duology that will continue with 2024's WICKED.
Detective Ryan Boone thought the simple jewelry heist was an open-and-shut case. That is until he discovers an unknown drug, and this minor crime he was investigating may be tied to a string of seemingly unconnected murders.
Meanwhile, Mel Parker, unscrupulous leader of a less-than-legal high-end escort service, stumbles across the same pills. On top of protecting her "investment," she has her own reasons for attempting to unravel the mystery behind the medication.
Ryan knows someone has the answers he seeks, and Mel can't come forward. To complicate things further, five other women are implicated in the murders despite most having never met.
As the trail turns up as many mysteries as resolutions, Ryan and Mel must discover the twisted connection before someone else ends up dead.
For fans of The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen and When You Find Me by P. J. Vernon, Twisted will have you questioning the motive behind the murders and how exactly one can be found guilty when the evidence doesn't add up.
About the author:
MAGGIE GILES is the Canadian author of The Things We Lost. Her writing interests span across a variety of genres, but she focuses on women's fiction with suspense elements. A member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association, she enjoys creating new connections and experiencing new opportunities.Central Booking Episode 145: Caroline McBride on FOUR SEASONS AT CUTLERSCentral Booking2023-11-20 | Author and longtime publicist Caroline McBride talks to John B. Valeri about her new rom com, FOUR SEASONS AT CUTLER'S (out now from Post Hill Press) -- the second entry in the Four Seasons Rom-Com Series.
A prolific boyfriend on the spectrum, a tempting new boss, and a year to choose “the one.”
Serial dater Charlotte believes she has finally found her soulmate in Wyatt, but his elusive behavior leads her to question his feelings for her. Completely devoted to him, she desperately tries to sustain their relationship while navigating a demanding public relations career. When Charlotte meets Travis, her new boss, he offers a reprieve from the doldrums caused by Wyatt’s mixed signals. Dating the owner of the restaurant group who recently acquired her company in a hostile takeover is a conflict of interest, but she can’t resist his Southern charm. Until Wyatt resurfaces...
This neurodivergent love triangle takes place during a whirlwind year of travel—both for business and for pleasure—as Charlotte faces challenges and self-discovery in vibrant destinations including Dubai, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas, Boston, Houston, East Hampton, and Park City. Escaping her tiny studio apartment in New York City, she visits her family in Southern California and enjoys romantic interludes in Cannes, Florence, Sirmione, Toronto, Puerto Rico, and Santa Barbara.
Four Seasons at Cutler’s is a romantic comedy about falling in love with someone who communicates differently than those smooth operators who appear perfect.
About the author:
Caroline Alexa McBride grew up in sunny Southern California and remained there for college to earn her B.A. in Political Science at Loyola Marymount University. She holds an M.A. in International Relations from the Universiteit van Amsterdam in The Netherlands where she studied as a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar.
As a publicist, she spent the past decade marketing, branding and launching restaurants across the globe, as well as consulting for private clients.
Four Seasons at Angelino's is McBride's debut novel. She was encouraged by the love of her life to venture into writing fiction as a creative outlet inspired by her work experiences and personal escapades around the world.
When she’s not on the road working, reading books, writing and trying new restaurants, McBride divides her time between Los Angeles and New York City. To contact Caroline, please visit her website: carolinemcbride.comCentral Booking Episode 144: Elise Hart Kipness on LIGHTS OUTCentral Booking2023-11-08 | Debut author and former television sports reporter Elise Hart Kipness talks to John B. Valeri about her new suspense novel, LIGHTS OUT (out now from Thomas & Mercer) -- the first entry in the Kate Green series.
In this exciting debut novel comes a fast-paced thriller that follows a sports reporter’s journey off the court…and into a world of murder and deception.
Former Olympic athlete and sports reporter Kate Green isn’t sure how much more tumultuous her life can get. She’s been put on temporary leave from her job, then NBA superstar Kurt Robbins is killed and the prime suspect in his murder is none other than his wife…and Kate’s best friend.
Kate knows that Yvette’s marriage wasn’t exactly stable, but her friend is no murderer, and Kate is determined to prove it with her own investigation. While she tries to salvage Yvette’s life, Kate’s own continues to unravel. Her career is in limbo. Gossip columns speculate about her future. Her children are battling their own demons. And her estranged father suddenly reenters her life as a detective assigned to Kurt’s homicide case.
As her worlds collide―exposing secrets, lies, and ulterior motives―Kate may have to choose between the games she can play and the one she might lose.
About the author:
Elise Hart Kipness is a former television sports reporter turned mystery/suspense writer. Lights Out is based on her experience in the high-pressure, adrenaline-pumping world of live TV. Like her protagonist, she chased marquee athletes through the tunnels of Madison Square Garden and stood before glaring lights, reporting to national audiences.
In addition to reporting for Fox Sports Network, Elise was a reporter at New York’s WNBC-TV, News 12 Long Island, and the Associated Press. She is currently copresident of Sisters in Crime Connecticut, as well as a member of Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. A graduate of Brown University, Kipness lives on a hobby farm in Stamford, Connecticut, with her family, three labradoodles, chickens, ducks, and one very cantankerous turkey.Central Booking Episode 143: Charles F. Rosenay!!! on TRUE GHOST STORIES OF CONNECTICUTCentral Booking2023-10-23 | Charles F. Rosenay!!! on TRUE GHOST STORIES OF CONNECTICUT: FIRST-HAND PARANORMAL ACCOUNTS BY INDIVIDUALS WHO EXPERIENCED THE OCCURRENCES.
It’s the one you always think of first when people ask you your most memorable paranormal or unusual encounter. It’s the one that will stay in your mind forever. It’s the one that you can’t help but think of if anyone asks you if you “believe in ghosts.”
In this book, Charles F. Rosenay!!! (author of The Book Of Top 10 Horror Lists) collects some of Connecticut’s best-known paranormal investigators, psychics, mediums, and ghost-hunters, who join everyday people in sharing their most memorable, scariest and most unbelievable true stories of the supernatural. Not only are they all true, but most happened in Connecticut, one of the most haunted states in America.
Other collections may give the history of Connecticut’s haunted locations, but this book tells actual stories of what happened at places such as Dudleytown, Fairfield Hills Asylum, the Ansonia Opera House, Sterling Opera House, Old New-gate Prison, Robbins Swamp, New Haven Center Church, cemeteries, and many other known sites, along with private residences. Discover the Demon House of Derby, New Haven’s Pink Lady and so many terrifying and shocking stories that may keep you awake nights… and probably change your mind if you don’t already believe.
Come with us on a journey of Connecticut’s true ghost stories.
About the author:
Author/Actor/Producer/Entertainer Charles F. Rosenay!!! may be best known in the state as the producer of the Connecticut Beatles conventions and festivals for over four decades, or as a professional DJ/MC/Entertainer for as many years. He published his first work, a highly-acclaimed pop culture book titled “The Book of Top 10 Horror Lists,” which collects lists of favorite monster movies, actors, and other themes from one hundred celebrities. The reviews on Amazon have been excellent.
That first effort was finished during the pandemic, and now Charles has completed his second book, “True Ghost Stories of Connecticut: First-Hand Paranormal Accounts by Individuals Who Experienced the Occurrences.”
In this book, some of Connecticut’s best-known paranormal investigators, psychics, mediums, and ghost-hunters join everyday people in sharing their most memorable, scariest, and most unbelievable – but true – stories of the supernatural. Not only are they all true, but they happened in Connecticut, one of the most haunted states in America.
Other collections published in the past may give the history of Connecticut’s haunted places, but this book tells actual stories of what happened at such notorious locations such as Dudleytown, Fairfield Hills Asylum, the Ansonia Opera House, Sterling Opera House, Old New-gate Prison, Robbins Swamp, New Haven Center Church, area cemeteries, along with private residences. Discover the “Demon House of Derby,” New Haven’s “Pink Lady,” and so many terrifying and shocking stories that may keep readers awake nights… and probably change their mind if they don’t already believe.
Rosenay!!! comments, “There’s always that one unexplained experience… it’s the one you always think of first when people ask you your most memorable paranormal or unusual encounter. It’s the one that will stay in your mind forever. It’s the one that you can’t help but think of if anyone asks you if you believe in ghosts.”
Charles is also one of the producers of Connecticut’s original and premier paranormal convention www.ParaConn.org along with his para-partner, Nick Grossmann. The spooky spectacular boasts special guests, speakers, psychics, seminars, and eighty vendors.
Charles F. Rosenay!!! will also be making guest appearances at conventions, libraries, bookstores, and other locations to meet friends and sign copies of his new book.
“True Ghost Stories of Connecticut” is an imprint of Kiwi Publishing, and retails for $19.95 through Amazon. To get an autographed copy directly from the author, call (203) 795-4737 or email ParanormalConnecticut@gmail.com.Central Booking Episode 142: Andrew S. Cohen on THE MURDER MYSTERY RACECentral Booking2023-10-16 | Thirteen-year-old author Andrew S. Cohen talks to John B. Valeri about his first novel, THE MURDER MYSTERY RACE (out now from Permuted Press).
While aboard a luxury cruise liner, sixteen adolescents compete in a lethal challenge to track down a murderer.
Eleven-year-old Andrew Mikaelson lives in Wayveryln, New Jersey with his caring mother, annoying kiss-up stepfather, and lazy, but fun step-uncle. But when a brutal serial killer, known as “The Knife Thrower,” begins killing residents, the town of Wayveryln is rocked. The Knife Thrower is cunning, quick, and can stab someone by throwing his knife—from any distance.
Andrew and fifteen other adolescents have been selected to participate in the annual Murder Mystery Race that can occur anywhere around the world. The competitors must go on a cruise that the Knife Thrower is on. The first person to capture the Knife Thrower receives the coveted award of one million dollars. Andrew makes friends and enemies, and alongside the other contestants, goes through many obstacles. For Andrew to identify the Knife Thrower, he must show ambition, resilience, and bravery.
About the author:
Andrew Cohen was born in 2010 and resides in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. Andrew is an avid tennis and ping pong player and enjoys cooking extravagant meals for his family. Andrew loves archery and is the recipient of six awards from the Camp Archery Association of the United States. A thrill seeker who enjoys skiing black diamonds and riding rollercoasters, Andrew’s bucket list includes riding the top five tallest coasters in the world.
Andrew loves mystery, action, and suspense novels and movies. His writing journey began in second grade when he started writing comics and short stories. When Andrew was in fourth grade, he began writing chapter books. In sixth grade, Andrew chose to submit his latest manuscript to publishers for their review. His journey from writer to published author has officially begun.Central Booking Episode 141: Karen Pierce on RECIPES FOR MURDERCentral Booking2023-10-09 | Detective fiction devotee Karen Pierce talks to John B. Valeri about her first cookbook, RECIPES FOR MURDER: 66 DISHES THAT CELEBRATE THE MYSTERIES OF AGATHA CHRISTIE (out now from Countryman Press).
Drink and dine with recipes inspired by the best-selling novelist of all time.
Poisons, knives, and bullets riddle the stories of Agatha Christie, but so does food, which she uses to invoke settings, to develop characters, and, of course, to commit murder. This to-die-for cookbook offers recipes written by the author for one accessible, easy-to-follow dish or drink for each of Christie’s 66 mysteries. Recipes include Fish and Chips at the Seven Dials Club, Literary Luncheon Meringues, Oysters Rockefeller on the Orient Express, Sixpence Blackbird Pie, Orange Marmalade from Gossington Hall, and more. Along the way, you’ll learn how to make an exquisite omelet, how to roast a leg of lamb properly, and how to serve perfectly timed steak frites. Framing these dishes are insightful essays and headnotes that detail the history of the recipes, their context in Christie’s life and times, and the roles they play in the source works. Based on extensive research and investigation, all dishes appear traditional to their respective eras, so steak fried for 1923 but marinated and grilled for 1964. Completing the collection, thematic menus assemble recipes for a Halloween murder mystery gathering, a “Christie for Christmas,” a book club buffet, and other occasions, making it a filling tribute to the grand dame of detective fiction.
RECIPES FOR MURDER has not been prepared, approved, or licensed by Agatha Christie Limited, RLJ Entertainment, or any individual or entity associated with Agatha Christie or her successors.
Over 50 illustrations
About the author:
Karen Pierce, a detective-fiction devotee, food lover, and Agatha Christie superfan, has attended and volunteered at several Anthony Boucher Memorial World Mystery Conventions and has taken pilgrimages to Torquay and Greenway House, Christie’s hometown and home. Pierce lives in Toronto, Canada.Central Booking Episode 140: Deborah Levison on A NEST OF SNAKESCentral Booking2023-09-29 | Award-winning author Deborah Levison talks to John B. Valeri about her debut novel of suspense, A NEST OF SNAKES (out now from Wild Blue Press).
In her fiction debut, Deborah Levison, author of the acclaimed, multi award-winning true crime book, THE CRATE, weaves a tale snatched from the headlines. A NEST OF SNAKES is loosely based on a spate of lawsuits in which adult men accused their elite private schools of abuses that shocked the nation.
In A NEST OF SNAKES, Brendan Cortland is a broken man. Middle-aged, pasty, pudgy, and fearful, he suffers from chronic depression, nightmares, and agoraphobia. His contact with the outside world is limited to trolling chatrooms, where he hunts pedophiles, and a weekly session with his psychiatrist, to whom he describes dreams of being devoured by predators. The doctor suspects catastrophic abuse, and maybe something more; but in all his years of therapy Brendan never divulged the deepest source of his trauma.
Pushed to his breaking point, Brendan embarks on a quest for justice. It’s the terrifying step he’s avoided for decades: going public with his story. His lawyer warns him that testifying might mean dredging up painful memories, ones he’d rather keep buried.
Still, no one is prepared for the horrible secrets and revelations that emerge during the trial … least of all Brendan himself.
Reviewers call A NEST OF SNAKES “heart wrenching,” “raw and compelling,” “unforgettable,” and “a roller-coaster ride of surprising twists” leading to a “staggering climax” and an “absolutely perfect” ending. Monster Librarian hails A NEST OF SNAKES as one of the fall’s most talked-about novels.
About the author:
Debbie's life has two parts: the first in Canada, where she attended the Royal Conservatory of Music and the University of Toronto, and the second in Connecticut, where she shares a home with three children, two doodles, and one husband.
She's an award-winning writer, published in national and international media. Reviewers decribe her debut novel, A NEST OF SNAKES, as "unforgettable," "powerful," "raw," and "fresh and different." Her first book, a true crime story called THE CRATE, won seven literary awards and has been called "gorgeous and poetic," "heart wrenching," and "a brilliant story." Since its release she has given over 160 author talks, from the U.S. to Canada to the U.K. She loves connecting with audiences and readers.
Her love of storytelling began one summer night by a camp bonfire, listening to a ghost story: The Monkey's Paw. The memory still makes her shiver.
Visit her at www.debbielevison.com.Central Booking Episode 139: Mary Karnes on WEDDING BRIDE AND DOOMCentral Booking2023-09-11 | Debut novelist Mary Karnes talks to John B. Valeri about her inaugural Wedding Planner Mystery, WEDDING BRIDE AND DOOM (out now from Level Best Books).
California wedding planner, Kate Ludlow, moves back home to New England after her marriage implodes. In tow is her teen daughter Ellis, unhappy and nervous about the move. Suddenly, Kate's responsible for turning her part-time wedding planner gig into a full-time business. Kate's off to a good start, too, when she books the society wedding of the year. The prosperity of her business is dependent on the success of Marcy Simpson's wedding. The joy of an unlimited wedding business is intoxicating. But when Kate's best florist is murdered, her focus changes from pulling off the year's most glamourous wedding to saving her own skin-for Kate's suspect number one for the murder. Further complicating her life, Kate's old high school flame, Brian McAllister, is the police detective assigned to the murder case. The spark is definitely not gone from their connection, as they have unfinished feelings. Throw in a scavenger hunt for an antique missing family ring, the job transfer of Kate's ex to New England, and quirky and endearing townsfolk, Kate has more than she can handle-almost.
About the author:
Mary Karnes, a college English major and former teacher, is the mother of four who raised her family though six corporate moves. She always dreamed of being an author and dabbled with writing throughout the years. Once the children were grown and out of the house, she started a wedding planning business, while simultaneously chasing her dream of being a traditionally published author. Her 'Wedding Planner Mystery Series' was born, with her business providing delicious subject matter for her books.Mary resides in New England with her husband, Ken, and her mini-dachshund, Lucky. Her door is a revolving one with her children and grandchildren visiting frequently.Central Booking Episode 138: C.B. Wilson on AUSSIED TO DEATHCentral Booking2023-09-01 | Award-winning author C.B. Wilson talks to John B. Valeri about her new cozy, AUSSIED TO DEATH -- the seventh Cozy Pets/Barkview Mystery.
A REMOTE ISLAND, A MURDER, AND A HUSBAND IN CUFFS…
In author Wilson’s delectable new cozy, newly married Cat Wright finds herself honeymooning alone on a remote island while Russ, her shiny new husband, cools his heels in an Australian jail. Not the stuff dreams are made of. No sooner has the happy couple arrived on Canine Cay, by all reports the perfect honeymoon hideaway, than their pilot, an old buddy of Russ’s, is summarily whacked. Then Russ is arrested and whisked off to lockup on the mainland while Cat’s left to find the real killer herself.
A former reporter, she detects with her usual dogged determination, adorably assisted by Lizzie, the victim’s Australian shepherd and the most vivid of the series pooches so far. Cat has the eerie feeling Lizzie’s smarter than she is, but then lots of people think that about Aussies. The thing is, Lizzie perfectly understands English; and can also read Cat’s mind. It’s not a Barkview mystery if the pup-du-jour doesn’t upstage the humans, and also if said humans aren’t busily engaged in chicanery—and often treasure hunts—involving priceless jewels. In this one, we get diamonds and pearls, the pearls being many, varied, and eminently desirable. (You may get a case of the covets.)
Of course Cat could solve this one by herself, but she feels down under in more ways than one each time a plane lands that isn’t carrying a newly-freed Russ. That is, until the Barkview cavalry arrives—meaning her quasi-uncle the police chief, her aunt the mayor, and Sandy, her own brilliant assistant. Now it’s a party!
Barkview fans will eat this one up like Australians eat vegemite, as will fans of Amy Vansant’s Pineapple Port series, Neil Plakcy’s Golden Retriever Mysteries, every breed of dog person, and cozy readers in search of a treat to go with their tea.
About the author:
The award winning author of six Cozy Pet Mysteries and counting, C.B. Wilson’s love of writing began after she read her first Nancy Drew book and rewrote the ending. After studying at the Gemology Institute of America, she developed a passion for researching lost, stolen and missing diamonds–the big kind. Her fascination with dogs and their passionate owners inspired Barkview, California, the dog friendliest city in America.
C.B. lives in Peoria, AZ with her husband. She is an avid pickleball player who enjoys traveling to play tournaments. She admits to chocoholic tendencies and laughing out loud at dog comics.Central Booking Episode 137: Leslie Budewitz on BETWEEN A WOK AND A DEAD PLACECentral Booking2023-08-21 | Award-winning author Leslie Budewitz talks to John B. Valeri about her new cozy, BETWEEN A WOK AND A DEAD PLACE (out now from Seventh Street Books) -- the seventh Spice Shop Mystery featuring business owner and amateur sleuth Pepper Reece.
It’s the Lunar New Year, and fortunes are about to change.
Pepper Reece, owner of the Spice Shop in Seattle's Pike Place Market, loves a good festival, especially one serving up tasty treats. So what could be more fun than a food walk in the city's Chinatown–International District, celebrating the Year of the Rabbit?
But when her friend Roxanne stumbles across a man's body in the Gold Rush, a long-closed residential hotel, questions leap out. Who was he? What was he doing in the dust-encrusted herbal pharmacy in the hotel's basement? Why was the pharmacy closed up—and why are the owners so reluctant to talk?
With each new discovery, Pepper finds herself asking new questions and facing more brick walls.
Then questions arise about Roxanne and her relationship to Pepper's boyfriend Nate, away fishing in Alaska. Between her worries and her struggle to hire staff at the Spice Shop, Pepper has her hands and her heart full. Still, she can't resist the lure of the Gold Rush and its tangled history of secrets and lies stretching back nearly a century.
But the killer is on her tail, driven by hidden demons and desires. As Pepper begins to expose the long-concealed truth, a bigger question emerges: Can she uncover the secrets of the Gold Rush Hotel without being pushed from the wok into the fire?
About the author:
Leslie Budewitz blends her passion for food, great mysteries, and the Northwest in two cozy mystery series, the Spice Shop Mysteries, set in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, and the Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries, set in NW Montana. She also writes moody suspense under the pen name Alicia Beckman. Leslie is the winner of three Agatha Awards—2013 Best First Novel for DEATH AL DENTE, the first Food Lovers' Village mystery; 2011 Best Nonfiction, and 2018 Best Short Story, for “All God’s Sparrows,” her first historical fiction. A past president of Sisters in Crime and a former board member of Mystery Writers of America, she lives and cooks in NW Montana.Central Booking Episode 136: Russell Brooks on JAM RUNCentral Booking2023-08-11 | Amazon bestselling author Russell Brooks talks to John B. Valeri about his new thriller, JAM RUN -- the second entry in his Eddie Barrows series.
"Jam Run is a Wild Ride across Jamaica!" —Mutsumi Takahashi, CTV News Montreal.
“Jam Run is a gripping crime thriller about the ever-present menace and violence the LGBTQ community faces daily.”—Richard Burnett, Fugues Magazine.
"Brooks packed so much into this book – international crime, gripping thrills that keep you on the edge of your seat and takes on the hot-button topic of homophobia."—Kristin Guthrie, Book Blogger.
Within hours of arriving in Montego Bay, Eddie Barrow and his friend Corey Stephenson witness a gruesome murder outside a bar. When the victim’s sister reaches out for help, they learn of machinations to conceal foreign corporate corruption and a series of horrific sex crimes. However, Barrow and Stephenson’s commitment to solving the case is put to the test once they find themselves in the crosshairs of a ruthless criminal network—one that extends beyond the shores of Jamaica.
About the author:
Russell Brooks is the author of five suspense thrillers—PANDORA'S SUCCESSION, UNSAVORY DELICACIES, CHILL RUN, THE DEMETER CODE, and JAM RUN.
It's been said that his writing can draw the reader in with a powerful and poetic attention to detail, with heart-pounding scenes of devastating hand-to-hand encounters which project fear and fury right in front of the readers’ eyes.
If you enjoy hard-boiled suspense thrillers with conspiracies, martial arts, sex, betrayal, and revenge, you don't need to look any further.
Visit www.russellparkway.com to join the mailinglist.Central Booking: Between the Lines with Wendy Corsi Staub, Author of WINDFALL (Episode 135)Central Booking2023-07-28 | New York Times bestselling author Wendy Corsi Staub talks to John B. Valeri about her new standalone novel of suspense, WINDFALL (out now from William Morrow) -- about three friends who win a billion-dollar lottery only for one of them to go missing along with the winning ticket.
Watch Central Booking Episode 23: Wendy Corsi Staub on THE BUTCHER'S DAUGHTER:
In this newest suspense novel from New York Times bestselling author Wendy Corsi Staub, three friends' lives terrifyingly unravel when they win a billion-dollar lottery jackpot--and one goes missing. Perfect for fans of novels like Taylor Adams' No Exit and The Club by Ellery Lloyd.
It was the girls' weekend they'd never forget.
J.J., Molly, and Leila had once been inseparable, but it's been a long time since college, and life--not to mention distance--have disrupted the former roommates' friendship. When the three reunite for a birthday weekend in Las Vegas, the lottery ticket they buy on a whim has the winning numbers--giving them a billion-dollar windfall. Shell-shocked, they turn to Shea Daniels, a "sudden wealth manager," who promises to guide them through the pitfalls of having more money than they'd ever imagined.
It was the girls' weekend they'd live to regret.
The trio travels to a secluded California mansion, where Shea and her staff cater to their every whim, promising to teach them to navigate their newfound wealthy lifestyles with ease. The house is luxurious beyond their wildest dreams--and purportedly cursed, the last place a missing movie star was seen alive. Their weekend turns to terror when they discover they are trapped--roads blocked and communication disrupted by the wildfires raging around them. And when history repeats itself and one of them disappears--the one who's holding the billion-dollar ticket--the others must face the fact that either their friend has betrayed them...or a predator is lurking.
About the author:
New York Times and USA Today bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub is the award-winning author of nearly one hundred novels. She lives in the New York City suburbs with her husband, one or more of their sons, and two or more rescue kitties, depending on the season.Central Booking Episode 134: Between the Lines Wendy Whitman, Author of RETRIBUTIONCentral Booking2023-07-24 | Legal expert, former executive/producer at Court TV & HLN, and critically acclaimed thriller novelist Wendy Whitman talks to John B. Valeri about her new crime novel, RETRIBUTION (out 7/25 from Post Hill Press) -- the second in her "Deer Killer" series following 2021's PREMONITION.
Watch Central Booking Episode 64: Wendy Whitman on PREMONITION:
After the shattering conclusion of Cary’s quest for justice for the victims of a suspected serial killer in Premonition, Retribution picks up with her cohorts continuing their own investigation to hunt down the person responsible for the heinous murders. The man the media has dubbed the “Deer Killer” continues to haunt bucolic Connecticut—but now, his true agenda has been revealed. As more innocents fall victim to his prey, Detective Hank Nowak’s father enters the picture, only to become entangled in the murderer’s diabolical plot. The past informs the present as Hank, private detective Vito Loggia, and Sergeant Joseph O’Malley race against the clock to stop the killings. Who will be next? More importantly, who will come out on top in this deadly game of vengeance?
About the author:
Wendy Whitman has a unique background through her decades-long work as an executive and producer for Court TV and HLN, covering almost every major high-profile murder case in America. Through her knowledge of the most detailed aspects of the crimes, Ms. Whitman has become an expert on the subject of murder in America. Before attending Boston University School of Law, Whitman worked for comedians Lily Tomlin and George Carlin. After graduating from law school, the author embarked on what turned out to be a twenty-year career in television covering crime. She spent fifteen years at Court TV and another several at HLN for the Nancy Grace show, where she appeared on air as a producer/reporter covering high-profile cases. Whitman received three Telly Awards and two GLAAD nominations during her tenure at Court TV.
Wendy Whitman attended Tufts University, graduating with a degree in English and Photography. Her first book, Premonition, was published in 2021.Central Booking Episode 133: Between the Lines Gabi Coatsworth (A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO STARTING OVER)Central Booking2023-07-05 | Award winning author Gabi Coatsworth talks to John B. Valeri about her life in reading & writing and her debut novel, A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO STARTING OVER (out now from Atmosphere Press) -- about a widowed empty-nester who learns to ask for, and accept, help from family, friends, and community.
Watch Central Booking Episode 99: Gabi Coatsworth on LOVE'S JOURNEY HOME:
It's time for widow Molly Stevenson to stand on her own two feet. With blind dates, a needy ghost, and her small-town bookstore in trouble, she's going to need all her inner strength to prevent another unhappy ending.
Forty-something Molly can't bear to remove her wedding band. Still grieving the death of her beloved husband, the last thing she needs is her sleazy landlord raising the rent to drive her bookshop out of business. Now, this mild-mannered indie bookstore owner must find the inner strength to turn the page to a brand-new chapter.
So she's relieved when the ghost of her husband arrives, claiming he's there to help. But is he?
With a little nudge from beyond the grave, Molly hatches a plan to revitalize her boutique and keep the doors open. But with everyone, including her spectral spouse, insisting she start dating again, Molly isn't sure what's worse - the dates she meets online or the love of her life trying to find her a new man - who's not quite as good as him. How will she find the courage to fight for herself?
About the author:
I was born in Britain, and work brought me to America. Love was why I stayed. I'm an award-winning writer and live in Connecticut in a cottage that's American on the outside, and English inside. If I'm not writing or traveling, I'll be in my flower garden, wondering whether to weed, and holding a cup of my preferred beverage - strong English Breakfast tea. A Beginner's Guide to Starting Over is my first novel, and I love to connect with my readers through my website and social media. I'm grateful for every review, and particularly like to read reviews from readers who enjoy my books, of course!Central Booking Episode 132: L.M. Jorden on BELLADONNA BITTER CONDUCT: A 1935 MYSTERYCentral Booking2023-06-05 | Author L.M. Jorden talks to John B. Valeri about the real-life inspirations for her new novel, BELLADONNA BITTER CONDUCT: A 1935 MYSTERY (out now from Solis Mundi Publishing) -- the second entry in her Plantae Paradoxes to feature homeopathic Dr. Josephine Reva.
Dr. Josephine Plantae Paradoxes -- The adventures of Dr. Josephine Reva, a trailblazing first woman doctor, come to life when she moonlights as a sleuth to solve ‘poison cure’ crimes.
BELLADONNA, Bitter Conduct - A 1935 Mystery Voyage
An Italian opera star spouts strange verses and collapses on a Brooklyn stage during the final act of Romeo and Juliet. Dr. Josephine Reva is in the audience and rushes to render aid.
She suspects the soprano was poisoned by Belladonna, a plant with deadly black berries.
Meanwhile, Chief Detective O’Malley uncovers fascist plots to overthrow the US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Are the two events connected, and could they spark another World War?
Josephine must use her brilliant powers of deduction and botanical poison expertise to solve this paradoxical puzzle.
She heads up the gangway of the luxurious SS Rex to follow the opera troupe to Italy. With her are her loyal patients, her brawny chauffeur (aboard on a secret mission), and a handsome would-be paramour. Is romance on the horizon for Josephine, if she can survive the trip? More murders ensue.
Who’s the killer aboard? A surreal artist and a shocking fashion designer, a cardinal and a priest carrying the relics of the first American saint, a Nazi doctor, an austere British lord, a mysterious Mussolini official, or any of the narcissistic opera divas and dons?
Josephine and her friends must hurry to solve these Belladonna crimes with deeper roots, before the ship docks in Fascist Italy and it’s too late.
About the author:
L. M. JORDEN is an award-winning journalist, author and retired professor with an MS from Columbia University. She lives in France and New England with her family, furry friends and lots of plants.
Her company offers editing, fact-checking and historical research.
www.lmjorden.comCentral Booking Episode 131: Between the Lines with Lynn Sheft, Author of SAVING MARIACentral Booking2023-05-22 | Author Lynn Sheft talks to John B. Valeri about her life in reading & writing and her new suspense novel, SAVING MARIA (out now from Cove Press) -- inspired by a former student who was kidnapped in her homeland before relocating to America.
Watch Central Booking Episode 95: Lynn Sheft on THE DEADLY GAME:
In 2000 in South Florida, Maria Alvarez gets a call from her mother begging her to return to Bogotá, Colombia to reconcile with her father who is dying from chronic kidney disease. Two years earlier, Maria was kidnapped by the Colombian rebel group known by the acronym FARC who demanded ransom for her. After her rescue, she learned that her father told the rebel demanding a ransom that Maria is not his responsibility because she is married. Even though this was his way of dealing with the rebel, the crass statement wounded Maria and her family.
She agonizes over her father's dying wish knowing that if she returned to Colombia she would forfeit her precious green card and risk being recaptured and killed. Leaving her husband and two young daughters behind, Maria finds a way to return incognito, only to find herself back in harm's way and fighting for her life.
About the author:
A native of New Jersey, Lynn Sheft earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami and established herself as a professional copywriter and creative director in South Florida. During her career, she won ADDY and CLIO awards for her campaigns for regional and national consumer accounts. In addition, she wrote articles for magazines, provided editing services and was an adjunct instructor teaching ESL classes.
When she relocated to Connecticut, she turned to writing fiction full-time, including short stories and novels. Her short story, “A Tryst with Fate” was published in Seascape: The Best New England Crime Stories. SAVING MARIA is her second novel. Her debut novel was THE DEADLY GAME.
She is a member of Mystery Writers of America and a board member of Sisters in Crime Connecticut Chapter. She lives in Madison, Connecticut with her husband Barry.Central Booking Episode 130: Korina Moss on CURDS OF PREYCentral Booking2023-05-01 | Agatha Award-winning author Korina Moss talks to John B. Valeri about her new cozy, CURDS OF PREY (St. Martin's) -- the third entry in the Cheese Shop Mysteries.
In Korina Moss's Curds of Prey, murder again comes to Yarrow Glen, and cheesemonger Willa Bauer must be the predator… before she becomes the prey.
Yarrow Glen's favorite cheese shop, Curds & Whey, gets to be a part of the social event of the season: Summer Harrington’s wedding. Cheesemonger Willa Bauer is going all out for the wedding shower’s cheese bar. But the eagle-eyed Harrington family is proving to be a pain in her asiago. A last-minute tasting ends in disaster when one of Willa’s potential beaux, Roman, gets in a fight with the groom. Then the shower arrives, and while there’s anything but love in the air, there is plenty of cheese. Oh, and Roman... again. The day officially ends in disaster when Willa finds the groom―who also happens to be the mayor’s nephew―in the stable, dead as a dodo. At the mayor’s request, Willa must follow the trail of cheese curds to find a killer while continuing to walk a tightrope between two of Sonoma Valley’s most powerful families.
About the author:
KORINA MOSS is the author of the Agatha Award nominated Cheese Shop cozy mystery series (St. Martin’s Paperbacks) set in the Sonoma Valley, beginning with Cheddar Off Dead. Korina is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America, and blogs on Writers Who Kill. Visit her website to learn more and sign up for her free newsletter.Central Booking Episode 129: Ren DeStefano on HOW ILL KILL YOUCentral Booking2023-03-27 | Acclaimed author Ren DeStefano -- AKA New York Times bestseller Lauren DeStefano -- talks to John B. Valeri about her first adult thriller, HOW I'LL KILL YOU (Berkley) -- in which sister triplets share a habit for homicide.
Your next stay-up-all-night thriller, about identical triplets who have a nasty habit of killing their boyfriends, and what happens when the youngest commits their worst crime yet: falling in love with her mark.
Make him want you. Make him love you. Make him dead.
Sissy has an...interesting family. Always the careful one, always the cautious one, she has handled the cleanup while her serial killer sisters have carved a path of carnage across the U.S. Now, as they arrive in the Arizona heat, Sissy must step up and embrace the family pastime of making a man fall in love and then murdering him. Her first target? A young widower named Edison—and their mutual attraction is instant. While their relationship progresses, and most couples would be thinking about picking out china patterns and moving in together, Sissy’s family is reminding her to think about picking out burial sites and moving on.
Then something happens that Sissy never anticipated: She begins to feel protective of Edison, and before she can help it, she’s fallen in love. But the clock is ticking, and her sisters are growing restless. It
About the author:
Ren DeStefano lives in Connecticut, where she was born and raised. When she’s not writing thrillers, she’s listening to true crime podcasts and crocheting way too many blankets.Central Booking Episode 128: Lexie Elliott on BRIGHT AND DEADLY THINGSCentral Booking2023-02-20 | Acclaimed author Lexie Elliott talks to John B. Valeri about her new suspense novel, BRIGHT AND DEADLY THINGS (Berkley) -- a murderous melding of academia and the French Alps.
A remote back-to-basics mountaintop retreat in the French Alps turns deadly as an Oxford fellow finds herself in the crosshairs of her late husband’s dangerous secrets.
The Chalet des Anglais should be the ideal locale for recently-widowed Oxford don Emily to begin cutting through the fog of her grief. With no electricity, running water, or access by car, the rustic chalet nestled at the foot of the verdant, snow-topped Alps should afford Emily both time and space to heal. Joining her will be a collection of friends from the university, as well as other fellows, graduates, and undergraduates.
Something feels off, though—heightening Emily’s existing grief-induced anxiety. Before even making it to the airport, she’s unnerved by a break-in at her home. Once at the chalet, tension amongst the guests is palpable. Her friends and colleagues are behaving oddly, and competition for a newly opened position has introduced a streak of meanness into the otherwise relaxing getaway. As hostilities grow, Emily begins to wonder if the chalet’s dark history has cast a shadow over the retreat. In the salon, a curious grandfather clock looms, the only piece of furniture to survive a deadly blaze a century ago. As its discordant bell begins to invade everyone’s dreams, someone very real has been searching through Emily’s things and attempting to hack into her computer.
When a student disappears, Emily realizes that she’d better separate friend from foe, and real from imagined—or the next disappearance may be her own.
About the author:
Lexie Elliott grew up in Scotland, at the foot of the Highlands. She graduated from Oxford University, where she obtained a doctorate in theoretical physics. A keen sportswoman, she works in fund management in London, where she lives with her husband and two sons. The rest of her time is spent writing, or thinking about writing, and juggling family life and sport.Central Booking Episode 127: Armando Muñoz on MY BLOODY VALENTINECentral Booking2023-02-13 | Acclaimed horror novelist Armando Muñoz talks to John B. Valeri about his newest, MY BLOODY VALENTINE (Stop the Killer) -- a novelization of the 1981 cult classic slasher film.
With a foreword written by George Mihalka, director of MY BLOODY VALENTINE, and written by Armando Muñoz, this novel is the ultimate companion experience for fans of the 1981 film! The novel includes scenes cut from the movie, expanded character arcs, lots of gore, and many other satisfying treats for MY BLOODY VALENTINE fans.
About the author:
AUTHOR ARMANDO MUNOZ CREATES WORLDS OF HORROR IN MULTIPLE MEDIUMS.
Along with being a horror novelist, Armando writes and directs horror films, including Mime After Midnight and Panty Kill, creates bloody special FX, and performs as horror DJ Pervula.
His first novel Hoarder was called "dynamite – a sickening, imaginative shocker" in the pages of Fangoria Magazine. With Turkey Day, he hopes to turn the last Thursday of November into the scariest day of the year. On Hoarder and Turkey Day, author Clive Barker states "Your prose is beautifully crafted. You have an instinctive understanding of the complex challenges of horror story-telling. Consider me a new fan."
Armando followed-up Turkey Day with a sequel titled Turkey Kitchen, released in 2021, the second book of a planned Thanksgiving trilogy.
February 2023 saw the release of My Bloody Valentine: The Novel, Armando's official novelization of the 1981 holiday classic, which includes a Foreword by the film's director George Mihalka. Armando has now transitioned from Valentine's Day to Christmas and is currently writing the official novelization of the 1984 cult classic Silent Night, Deadly Night.
Also nearing completion is Armando's first short fiction collection.Central Booking Episode 126: C.J. Tudor on THE DRIFTCentral Booking2023-01-30 | Internationally bestselling author C.J. Tudor talks to John B. Valeri about her new suspense novel, THE DRIFT (Ballantine Books, 1/31/23) -- a slightly futuristic story in which a deadly and rapidly mutating virus threatens the world's population. Many have perished. Some have survived. And a few have become … the Whistlers.
Three ordinary people risk everything for a chance at redemption in this audacious, utterly gripping novel of catastrophe and survival at the end of the world, from the acclaimed author of The Chalk Man.
“[A] tour de force . . . This is a masterpiece of its kind.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Hannah awakens to carnage, all mangled metal and shattered glass. Evacuated from a secluded boarding school during a snowstorm, her coach careered off the road, trapping her with a handful of survivors. They’ll need to work together to escape—with their sanity and secrets intact.
Meg awakens to a gentle rocking. She’s in a cable car stranded high above snowy mountains, with five strangers and no memory of how they got on board. They are heading to a place known only as “The Retreat,” but as the temperature drops and tensions mount, Meg realizes they may not all make it there alive.
Carter is gazing out the window of an isolated ski chalet that he and his companions call home. As their generator begins to waver in the storm, something hiding in the chalet’s depths threatens to escape, and their fragile bonds will be tested when the power finally fails—for good.
The imminent dangers faced by Hannah, Meg, and Carter are each one part of the puzzle. Lurking in their shadows is an even greater danger—one with the power to consume all of humanity.
About the author:
C. J. Tudor is the author of A Sliver of Darkness, The Burning Girls, The Other People, The Hiding Place, and The Chalk Man, which won the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel and the Strand Critics Award for Best Debut Novel. Over the years she has worked as a copywriter, television presenter, voice-over artist, and dog walker. She is now thrilled to be able to write full-time, and doesn’t miss chasing wet dogs through muddy fields all that much. She lives in England with her partner and daughter.Between the Lines with Terrie Farley Moran, Author of MURDER, SHE WROTE: DEATH ON THE EMERALD ISLECentral Booking2023-01-23 | Award-winning author Terrie Farley Moran talks to John B. Valeri about her life in reading & writing and her new mystery novel, MURDER, SHE WROTE: DEATH ON THE EMERALD ISLE (out now from Berkley Publishing) -- the 56th entry in the venerable, USA Today bestselling series.
A trip to Northern Ireland becomes unexpectedly grim for Jessica Fletcher in this new entry in the USA Today bestselling Murder, She Wrote series.
Jessica Fletcher is quick to accept an invitation to replace a speaker who couldn't attend a Book Festival in Belfast, Ireland. When her Cabot Cove neighbor Maeve O'Bannon hears about the trip, she asks Jessica to deliver some paintings to her family in the village of Bushmills. Happy to extend her travels and see more of the Irish countryside, Jessica agrees.
The festival goes off without a hitch, and it seems like Jessica is in for a relaxing vacation. But then Maeve's cousin Michael is discovered dead under suspicious circumstances. Jessica finds herself once again in the midst of a murder investigation, and she'll have to dig into the O'Bannon family's secrets to unmask the killer.Central Booking: Between the Lines with Deborah Goodrich Royce, Author of REEF ROAD (Ep. 124)Central Booking2023-01-09 | Critically acclaimed author Deborah Goodrich Royce talks to John B. Valeri about her new standalone suspense novel, REEF ROAD (Post Hill Press) -- which takes place during the 2020 pandemic lockdown and was inspired by a true crime cold case.
Deborah Goodrich Royce’s thrillers examine puzzles of identity. Ruby Falls won the Zibby Award for Best Plot Twist in 2021 and Finding Mrs. Ford was hailed by Forbes, Book Riot, and Good Morning America’s “best of” lists in 2019.
She began as an actress on All My Children and in multiple films, before transitioning to the role of story editor at Miramax Films, developing Emma and early versions of Chicago and A Wrinkle in Time.
With her husband, Chuck, Deborah restored the Avon Theatre, Ocean House Hotel, Deer Mountain Inn, United Theatre, Savoy Bookstore, and numerous Main Street revitalization projects in Rhode Island and the Catskills.
She serves on the governing and advisory boards of the American Film Institute, Greenwich International Film Festival, New York Botanical Garden, Greenwich Historical Society, and the PRASAD Project.
Deborah holds a bachelor’s degree in modern foreign languages and an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Lake Erie College.
About REEF ROAD:
When a severed hand washes ashore in the wealthy enclave of Palm Beach, Florida, the lives of two women—a lonely writer obsessed with the unsolved murder of her mother’s best friend and a panicked wife whose husband has disappeared with their children—collide as the world shutters in the pandemic lockdown of 2020.
“Reef Road is magnificent. It feels utterly real, a novel of deeply personal context. It swerves between truth and lies—the lies that lead to an even deeper—and more devastating—truth. Though pure fiction, it reads as compellingly as a mixture of memoir and exposé. It has left me shaken to the core. Deborah Goodrich Royce writes with brilliant understanding of the mystery and occasional grace of trauma.” —Luanne Rice, New York Times bestselling author
A young woman’s life seems perfect until her family goes missing. A writer lives alone with her dog and collects arcane murder statistics. What each of them stands to lose as they sneak around the do-not-enter tape blocking Reef Road beach is exposed by the steady tightening of the cincture encircling them.
In a nod to the true crime that inspired it, Deborah Goodrich Royce’s Reef Road probes unhealed generational scars in a wrenching and original work of fiction. It is both stunning and sexy and, like a bystander surprised by a curtain left open, you won’t be able to look away.
The Shana Merchant novels are a brilliant blend of chilling psychological thriller and gripping police procedural, set against the beautiful backdrop of the Thousand Islands. A perfect pick for fans of Ruth Ware, Lucy Foley and Louise Penny.Central Booking Episode 123: Derek T. Freeman on BUILDING UNSTOPPABLE SELF-CONFIDENCE FOR TEENSCentral Booking2022-12-19 | Connecticut author and parent Derek T. Freeman talks to John B. Valeri about his new book, BUILDING UNSTOPPABLE SELF-CONFIDENCE FOR TEENS: THE FAIL-SAFE FORMULA FOR FINDING YOURSELF, OVERCOMING LIMITATIONS, AND CREATING YOUR BEST LIFE FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
Buy BUILDING UNSTOPPABLE SELF-CONFIDENCE FOR TEENS:
Derek T Freeman is the author of Building Unstoppable Self-Confidence for Teens.
His work aims to inspire tweens, teens, parents, and families by providing motivational content and guiding them through the years that are often seen as the most challenging parts of both parenting and growing up.
As a young teenager, Derek struggled with self-esteem, bullying, and fitting in. Moving schools at the age of 13 threw him into a period of isolation and victimization, which knocked his confidence and made his adolescence very difficult. Although his experiences didn’t affect his success or happiness as he grew up, as his children have gotten older, he’s realized the importance of empowering young people and their families to navigate the sorts of challenges he faced. He has attended countless groups and school functions and, along the way, has realized just how common his school experiences are. He is determined to make the turbulent waters of adolescence easier to navigate for other young people.
Derek is a musician by trade and toured the US for nine years after graduating high school, releasing six albums before the birth of his first child. He then moved into the restaurant business, managing a small team for over a decade. He has two daughters, aged 10 and 12, and a 13-year-old son.
Derek was born and raised in New York and currently lives in Connecticut with his wife, three children, and two cats.
About the book:
You already have the key to unlocking your real personality and fearlessly creating your authentic life free of labels and comparisons – you just need to be shown how. Labels and comparisons stop you from being your real self.
You try to live up to an ideal - to be like the teen you think is smarter, better looking, and more popular than you…
And when you do that - when you try to be something you’re not - you’re living under false pretenses.
This is when the domino effect kicks in: you start to live in fear that someone may find out who you really are. It wrecks your self-esteem, personal power, and any belief that you deserve much more.
That’s a lonely place to be and no way to live your life, right?
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Whether you’re a nerd or a jock, an overachiever or an underachiever, a loner or an outcast - that is not your entire identity. It’s just one tiny part of the vast YOU.
With the help of this book, you can uncover the whole, wonderful person within and, from that, create an incredible life on your own terms.
Here are just a few of the things that you will discover inside:
5 simple steps to find your uniqueness and embrace the amazing personality you didn’t know you had How you can get rid of the negative beliefs about yourself and get your self-confidence back 4 things you can do to escape the comparative trap and live from your authentic self How to be the “ruler of your kingdom” and keep the people you want inside your castle walls…and the others out How following the example of The Three Musketeers will manifest in miraculous ways in your life 6 effective ways to stop a bully in their tracks 7 celebrities who overcame all odds and dominated through their individuality The “1 in 60” rule that will change the way you think about failure How you can find your passion and be your own “Personal Legend” like Santiago in Paul Coelho’s “The Alchemist” How to stop being a victim of body shaming and love who you are And much more…
This isn’t just another workbook to add to your already overloaded schedule. It’s your new toolkit for confronting all anxiety and self-doubt - and your formula to rise triumphantly from it.
Discover how to be truly self-confident and boldly bring your inherent magic to the light.Central Booking Episode 122: Tessa Wegert on THE KIND TO KILLCentral Booking2022-12-12 | Critically acclaimed author and Co-President of Sisters in Crime Connecticut Tessa Wegert talks to John B. Valeri about finding community among crime writers and her new suspense novel, THE KIND TO KILL (Severn House) -- the fourth book to feature Thousand Islands Senior Investigator Shana Merchant.
Tessa Wegert is the author of the Shana Merchant series of mysteries. A former freelance journalist, Tessa has contributed to such publications as Forbes, The Huffington Post, Adweek, The Economist, and The Globe and Mail. Tessa grew up in Quebec and now lives with her husband and children in Connecticut, where she studies martial arts and is currently at work on her next novel.
About THE KIND TO KILL:
A missing tourist spells trouble for Senior Investigator Shana Merchant in this page-turning twisty mystery set in an atmospheric island community with a small-town vibe.
Former NYPD detective Shana Merchant is a skilled Senior Investigator keeping New York's beautiful Thousands Islands community safe. She's a loving partner. A strong woman. A survivor.
She's also bound by blood to a serial killer. And after months of concealing the truth from the world as she hunted Blake Bram down, her secret is finally out.
Shana just wants to get on with her life and win back her community's trust. But as Alexandria Bay fills up with tourists in advance of the annual festival known as Pirate Days, a visitor goes missing, and the case threatens to destroy not just the celebrations, but what remains of Shana's reputation.
Shana's not to blame for the killer in her family, but people are starting to whisper that she attracts trouble. That A-Bay was safer before she arrived. And as the investigation deepens, Shana starts to fear that they may be right.
Because while Bram is gone, he is far from forgotten.
The Shana Merchant novels are a brilliant blend of chilling psychological thriller and gripping police procedural, set against the beautiful backdrop of the Thousand Islands. A perfect pick for fans of Ruth Ware, Lucy Foley and Louise Penny.Central Booking Episode 121: Clay Stafford on Community, Crime & Killer NashvilleCentral Booking2022-11-30 | Esteemed author and all-around Renaissance Man Clay Stafford talks to John B. Valeri about founding Killer Nashville -- and how a love of storytelling has influenced his distinguished career(s).
Clay Stafford is an internationally distributed author, screenwriter, playwright, producer, director, actor (film, television, stage), showrunner, publisher, songwriter / composer, CEO, educator, speaker, and entrepreneur.
About Killer Nashville:
The premier forum for all genres incorporating mystery, thriller, or suspense The Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference was created in 2006 by author/filmmaker Clay Stafford in an effort to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and thriller literature. As a charitable event designed to give back to the writing community, Clay Stafford has remained an unpaid major sponsor of Killer Nashville since its beginning.
Over the years, the Killer Nashville brand has expanded to include much more than the annual writers’ conference, and has become the premier forum for all genres incorporating mystery, thriller, and suspense (and we believe all good stories contain those elements, to varying degrees).
Our objective is simple: to educate and empower aspiring and established writers, and connect them with other industry professionals. We achieve this vision by providing valuable educational content via our Killer Nashville Book of the Day Reviews, our Killer Nashville Silver Falchion and Claymore Award competitions, our weekly blog posts by guest authors and industry professionals, and our educational publication Killer Nashville Magazine.Central Booking Episode 120: Christine Falcone on EXD OUTCentral Booking2022-11-21 | Connecticut author and registered nurse Christine Falcone talks to John B. Valeri about her debut novel, EX'D OUT (available now from Level Best Books) -- the first mystery to feature visiting nurse Melanie Bass.
After their divorce, Visiting Nurse Melanie Bass must keep in contact with Dr. Artie Krapaneck, her philandering ex-husband, as they share custody of her beloved dog, Bruno. When she arrives at a Connecticut highway rest stop to retrieve the dog for "her week" she discovers the body of her ex-husband along with that of an unknown woman. It seems that now Artie will finally be out of her life forever. He isn't. He left a "legacy" that now puts Melanie's own life in danger - as well as Bruno's.
About the author:
Christine Falcone's short stories have appeared in publications such as Imagine, Lancrom Review, and Deadfall: Crime Stories by New England Writers. After working for nearly forty years as an RN in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Christine is delighted that retirement coincides with the publication of her first full length mystery, EX'D OUT. She lives on the Connecticut Shoreline with her family and a dog who is not nearly as well behaved as Bruno, the beloved canine in her novel.Central Booking Episode 119: Phil Hall on 100 YEARS OF WALL STREET CROOKSCentral Booking2022-11-18 | Master of media / author Phil Hall talks to John B. Valeri about his new book, 100 YEARS OF WALL STREET CROOKS -- which chronicles white collar crime throughout the last century.
From the dapper and charismatic Charles Ponzi of the 1920s to the dapper and charismatic Elizabeth Holmes of the 2020s, America has been intrigued and outraged by a parade of audacious personalities who sought to line their pockets by breaking the law. Award-winning journalist Phil Hall recalls the outlandish schemes and scandals from larger-than-life characters including Marcus Garvey, Joseph P. Kennedy, Howard Hughes, Billie Sol Estes, Martha Stewart and Martin Shkreli in this entertaining history of the dark side of the financial services industry.Central Booking Episode 118: Jamie Beck on TAKE IT FROM MECentral Booking2022-11-09 | USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jamie Beck talks to John B. Valeri about her new novel, TAKE IT FROM ME (out now from Amazon Publishing/Montlake) -- the story of two women who have the potential to become unlikely friends if only they can get past their differences.
A humorous and heartwarming novel about friendship and all its little secrets by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jamie Beck.
Wendy Moore hides her collection of pilfered bric-a-brac from everyone, including her husband. He thinks she licked her kleptomania in therapy more than a decade ago. Therapy did help, as did focusing her attention on motherhood. But now Wendy’s gardening and furniture-refinishing hobbies fill up only so much of the day, leaving the recent empty nester lonely and anxious―a combination likely to trigger her little problem. She needs a project, fast. Luckily, Harper Ross―a single, childless younger woman in desperate need of highlights―just moved in next door.
The only thing Harper wants to change is the writer’s block toppling her confidence and career. Then a muse comes knocking. Sensing fodder for a new antagonist, Harper plays along with Wendy’s “helpful” advice while keeping her career a secret so Wendy keeps talking. Sure, she’s torn about profiting off her neighbor’s goodwill―especially when Wendy’s matchmaking actually pans out―but Harper’s novel is practically writing itself.
Just as a real friendship begins to cement, their deceptions come to light, threatening Wendy’s and Harper’s futures and forcing them to reconcile who they are with who they want to be. Easier said than done.
About the author:
Jamie Beck is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author whose realistic and heartwarming stories have sold multimillions of copies. She is a two-time Booksellers’ Best Award finalist and a National Readers’ Choice Award winner. Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist have respectively called her work “smart,” “uplifting,” and “entertaining.” In addition to writing novels, she enjoys hitting the slopes in Vermont and Utah and dancing around the kitchen while cooking. Above all, she is a grateful wife and mother to a very patient, supportive family. Fans can get exclusive excerpts and inside scoops and be eligible for birthday-gift drawings by subscribing to her newsletter at bit.ly/JBeckNewsletter. To learn more about the author, visit her at www.jamiebeck.com.Central Booking: Between the Lines with R.G. Belsky, Author of ITS NEWS TO ME (Ep. 117)Central Booking2022-11-04 | Award-winning author R.G. Belsky talks to John B. Valeri about his new suspense novel, IT'S NEWS TO ME (out now from Oceanview Publishing) -- the fifth book in his critically acclaimed series featuring News Director/reporter Clare Carlson.
Watch Central Booking Episode 55: R.G. Belsky on BEYOND THE HEADLINES:
Dashed dreams: she wanted to run for president one day, now she’s dead at 20
When Riley Hunt—a beautiful, smart, popular student at Easton College in Manhattan—is brutally murdered, it becomes a big story for TV newswoman Clare Carlson.
After days of intense media coverage, a suspect is caught: a troubled Afghanistan war veteran with a history of violent and unstable behavior. The suspect’s mother, however, comes to Clare with new evidence that might prove her son’s innocence.
As Clare digs deeper into the puzzling case, she learns new information: Riley had complained about being stalked in the days before her murder, she was romantically involved with two different men—the son of a top police official and the son of a prominent underworld boss—and she had posted her picture on an escort service’s website offering paid dates with wealthy men.
Soon, Clare becomes convinced that Riley Hunt’s death is more than just a simple murder case—and that more lives, including her own, are now in danger until she uncovers the true story.
It’s News to Me is perfect for fans of J. D. Robb and Karin Slaughter
About the author:
R. G. Belsky is an author of crime fiction and a journalist in New York City. He has a degree in journalism from Ohio University and has had an illustrious career in both print and television news. He is the former Vice President at NBC Local Digital News, Managing Editor of the NY Daily News, News Editor of Star Magazine, and Metropolitan Editor of the New York Post. Most recently, he was a Managing Editor of NBC News. Belsky’s crime novels reflect his extensive media background in newspapers, magazines, and TV/digital news. It’s News to Me is the fifth novel in his Clare Carlson series, following Yesterday’s News, Below the Fold, The Last Scoop, and Beyond the Headlines. Belsky resides in New York City.Central Booking Episode 116: Paul Brad Logan on HALLOWEEN ENDSCentral Booking2022-10-24 | Author and screenwriter Paul Brad Hogan talks to John B. Valeri about writing the official movie novelization of HALLOWEEN ENDS (Titan Books) and collaborating on the film's script.
Facebook: facebook.com/johnbvaleri Instagram: instagram.com/oyejohn52 Twitter: twitter.com/OyeJohn52 Website: http://www.johnbvaleri.comCentral Booking #115: Leslie S. Klinger on THE NEW ANNOTATED STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDECentral Booking2022-10-17 | Award-winning annotator and editor Leslie S. Klinger talks to John B. Valeri about his most recent work, THE NEW ANNOTATED STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (out 10/18 from the Mysterious Press) -- the "definitive," fully illustrated version of Robert Louis Stevenson classic tale of man/monster.
Buy THE NEW ANNOTATED STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE:
Facebook: facebook.com/johnbvaleri Instagram: instagram.com/oyejohn52 Twitter: twitter.com/OyeJohn52 Website: http://www.johnbvaleri.comCentral Booking Episode 114: Judy L. Mandel on WHITE FLAG: A MEMOIRCentral Booking2022-10-10 | New York Times bestselling author Judy L. Mandel talks to John B. Valeri about her new memoir, WHITE FLAG (out now from Legacy Book Press) -- an intimate exploration of death due to addiction and the effects of transgenerational trauma within her family.
Facebook: facebook.com/johnbvaleri Instagram: instagram.com/oyejohn52 Twitter: twitter.com/OyeJohn52 Website: http://www.johnbvaleri.comCentral Booking Episode 113: Louise Willder on BLURB YOUR ENTHUSIASMCentral Booking2022-10-03 | Publishing veteran Louise Willder talks to John B. Valeri about her first book, BLURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM: AN A-Z OF LITERARY PERSUASION (out 10/11 from Oneworld Publications) -- an insider's guide to the making and marketing of books from a copywriter (Penguin Books) of 25 years.
Facebook: facebook.com/johnbvaleri Instagram: instagram.com/oyejohn52 Twitter: twitter.com/OyeJohn52 Website: http://www.johnbvaleri.comCentral Booking Episode 111: Marcia Clark on THE FALL GIRLCentral Booking2022-09-19 | Bestselling author & renowned attorney Marcia Clark talks to John B. Valeri about her standalone suspense novel, THE FALL GIRL (out now from Rare Bird Lit) -- also available on audio, which she co-narrates with Cathy LePard.
Facebook: facebook.com/johnbvaleri Instagram: instagram.com/oyejohn52 Twitter: twitter.com/OyeJohn52 Website: http://www.johnbvaleri.comCentral Booking: Between the Lines with Yasmin Angoe, Author of THEY COME AT KNIGHT (Ep. 110)Central Booking2022-09-12 | Award-winning author Yasmin Angoe talks to John B. Valeri about her new suspense novel, THEY COME AT KNIGHT (out 9/13 from Thomas & Mercer) -- the second book in her critically acclaimed series featuring assassin Nena Knight.
Watch Central Booking Episode 84: Yasmin Angoe on HER NAME IS KNIGHT:
Facebook: facebook.com/johnbvaleri Instagram: instagram.com/oyejohn52 Twitter: twitter.com/OyeJohn52 Website: http://www.johnbvaleri.comCentral Booking Episode 109: Mark L. Dressler on DEAD WRONGCentral Booking2022-09-05 | Acclaimed author and Connecticut native Mark L. Dressler talks to John B. Valeri about his new novel, DEAD WRO NG (out now from Satincrest Press) -- the third book in his popular Dan Shields ("the detective who breaks all the rules") mystery series.
Facebook: facebook.com/johnbvaleri Instagram: instagram.com/oyejohn52 Twitter: twitter.com/OyeJohn52 Website: http://www.johnbvaleri.comCentral Booking Episode 106: Sharon & Randi on Sharon, Lois & Brams ONE ELEPHANT WENT OUT TO PLAYCentral Booking2022-08-08 | Sharon Hampson (of the iconic North American children's entertainment trio, Sharon, Lois & Bram) and her daughter, Randi, talk to John B. Valeri about their new children's book, ONE ELEPHANT WENT OUT TO PLAY (out 8/9/22 from Tundra Books) -- the follow-up to their nationally bestselling SKINNAMARINK, now available as a board book. Both titles are illustrated by Qin Leng and based on the classic songs of the same name, with original content by Randi Hampson.
Facebook: facebook.com/johnbvaleri Instagram: instagram.com/oyejohn52 Twitter: twitter.com/OyeJohn52 Website: http://www.johnbvaleri.comCentral Booking Episode 104: Jess Lourey on BLOODLINE & REWRITE YOUR LIFECentral Booking2022-07-25 | Amazon Charts bestselling author Jess Lourey talks to John B. Valeri about her ITW Award-winning suspense novel, BLOODLINE (out now from Thomas & Mercer), and her non-fiction book on craft, REWRITE YOUR LIFE (Conari Press).
Facebook: facebook.com/johnbvaleri Instagram: instagram.com/oyejohn52 Twitter: twitter.com/OyeJohn52 Website: http://www.johnbvaleri.comCentral Booking Episode 100 Terrie Farley Moran on MURDER, SHE WROTE: KILLER ON THE COURTCentral Booking2022-06-10 | Episode 100! Award-winning author Terrie Farley Moran talks to John B. Valeri about her new mystery novel, MURDER, SHE WROTE: KILLER ON THE COURT (out now from Berkley Publishing) -- the 55th entry in the venerable, USA Today bestselling series.
Facebook: facebook.com/johnbvaleri Instagram: instagram.com/oyejohn52 Twitter: twitter.com/OyeJohn52 Website: http://www.johnbvaleri.comCentral Booking Episode 98: Dervla McTiernan on THE MURDER RULECentral Booking2022-05-02 | #1 internationally bestselling author Dervla McTiernan talks to John B. Valeri about her new standalone novel of suspense, THE MURDER RULE (out 5/10 from William Morrow) -- soon to be a major television series from FX.