Erica Coleman is visiting her best friend Wendy in Florida. Wendy's son, Brandon, is going to be baptized and knowing that Wendy has had a hard time with her Church activity she decides that she needs to support her for his baptism. But when Erica goes out for a forgotten bag of ice and returns to find a dead body in her best friend's driveway, Erica's natural curious tendency comes out in full force. She's been a police officer and is currently a private investigator, so she knows just how to get information and can get more information than police a lot of times, because she's not quite as scary. Who was this man? Why was he killed in her best friend's driveway? Who is the killer? These questions must be figured out before it's too late. Will Erica be up for the task?
I really enjoyed reading this book. I like Erica, she's flawed, like real people are. I thought that her OCD tendencies were endearing. I like Wendy, she's made some bad choices, but her life is on the right track currently, although her teenage daughter Megan is a bit of a challenge. I liked the mystery, I had kind of half guessed just who the murderer would be, but I was still a bit surprised as to why when all was revealed. I've enjoyed all of Marlene's books that I've read and can't wait to read more!
I was sent an e-copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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About the author: Marlene Bateman Sullivan was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. She
graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in English. She is married to Kelly R. Sullivan and they are the parents of seven children.
Her hobbies are gardening, camping, and reading. Marlene has been published extensively in magazines and newspapers and has written a number of non-fiction books, including: Latter-day Saint Heroes and Heroines, And There Were Angels Among Them, Visit’s From Beyond the Veil, By the Ministering of Angels, and Brigham’s Boys. Marlene also wrote the best-selling novel, Light on Fire Island.
A busy writer, Marlene is set to have three books published this year. Gaze Into Heaven, a fascinating collection of over 50 documented near-death experiences in early church history, was published earlier this year. Next is Motive for Murder, the first in a mystery series featuring the quirky Erica Coleman. In July, Heroes of Faith, a collection of stories about people who risked their life for the gospel, will be released by Cedar Fort Inc.
Here's a short interview with Marlene Bateman to help us get to know her a little better.
Pet Peeves? When I’m at a four-way stop and a person drives through the intersection and the person directly behind them goes next, as if three other people were not waiting. Argh!
Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. Because it’s fun, entertaining, and will keep you intrigued and guessing whodunit until the very end!
What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors? Never. Give. Up. People don’t fail because they can’t write; they fail because they stop trying.
When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"? I love easy questions. A writer. I wanted to write ever since I was young, though I did not commit to it until I was in Jr. High. Having a family set me back because let’s face it, you can’t do everything at one time, but you can do everything if you spread it out!
Hobbies? I raise iris. Beautiful colors. I’m addicted to new varieties in gorgeous colors. I order from catalogues and sell some each year by listing ads on KSL, a local classified ad place.
Where do you write? In what is called a formal dining room. Who ever invented that term, anyway? How many people nowadays really use a formal dining room? It’s my “writing sanctuary.”
Find out more about Marlene Bateman on her website.Labels: LDS Mystery, Marlene Bateman
