This has got to be the longest pregnancy on record.
But finally the collective Evelyn David is proud to announce
the arrival of the newest member of the family: MURDER DOUBLES BACK. The third
book in the Sullivan Investigation Series.
And we're just like many new parents who have very carefully
picked out a name for their little one and once he or she arrives, realize that
the name doesn't fit. So too we had been talking about this mystery for years,
had a title that seemed perfect – but when we finally got into writing and
editing the book, just knew that the title had to change.
So for those of you who have so kindly encouraged us,
supported us, gently harangued us to finish a new Mac and Whiskey book (and we
really appreciate the small kick in the butt you administered, we needed it!) –
please enjoy MURDER DOUBLES BACK.
Synopsis
For 10 years private detective Mac Sullivan has
been haunted by the case of Amanda Norman, a teenage girl who disappeared into
thin air during a class trip. But someone is determined to stir the embers of
that cold case. Each year Mac receives a postcard that asks a simple question:
Where is Amanda Norman?
This year, Mac decides he will answer the question
once and for all.
Join Mac Sullivan, Rachel Brenner, JJ, Edgar, and
of course, Whiskey, the adorable and adored Irish wolfhound, as they try to
uncover the mystery of a long missing girl. As Mac and his team investigate, a dark
trail of murder and deception follows. If Amanda Norman is still alive, will
Mac's efforts inadvertently lead to her death? If Amanda Norman is dead, who
keeps sending the postcards and why?
Murder Doubles Back is the exciting third book in
the Sullivan Investigations Series.
Excerpt
Chapter 1
He'd never forgotten his failure, even without the
annual postcard reminder.
Mac Sullivan turned the card over and scanned the
message. He recognized the scratchy handwriting. Over the past 10 years he'd
received a similar card every December. They had arrived along with the holiday
cards at the police station. But this year was different; the postcard was
addressed care of Sullivan Investigations. Someone's address book had been
updated.
The picture on the front of the card varied, seemingly
random tourist locations – around the DC and Virginia area. No pattern other
than all depicting famous visitor or vacation spots. The postmarks changed each
year but all came from Virginia
The mystery had come full circle–back to where it had
all begun.
The message on the postcard this year was the same as
it always was. Block printing. A simple question. "Where's Amanda Norman?"
Mac's first thought; his mental response to the sender
was always, "Dead." The second was a warning to himself not to ever
say that word aloud. Technically Amanda was only missing. The fourteen-year-old
went on a class trip to the Smithsonian and didn't come home again. The foster
family didn't believe the teen was a runaway. There was no ransom demand. No
reports of sightings. No actual body was ever found. He was the first and, as
far as he knew the last detective on the case. He hadn't solved it.
A decade later, the Amanda Norman disappearance was a
cold case, but not a closed one. The United States Post Office and a very
persistent pen pal saw to that. It was only two months after Amanda went
missing that the postcards had started arriving.
Now that he was retired from the police force and had
his own detective agency, he was thinking that maybe it was time to warm up the
Norman case. His holiday plans had included some quality time with his…He wasn't
sure what to call Rachel Brenner. His girlfriend? Significant other? Rachel worked
for his best friend Jeff O'Herlihy. At Thanksgiving the O'Herlihy Funeral Home
had burned to the ground. Jeff had kept Rachel busy the last month helping him
set up shop in a leased building and file mountains of insurance claims, but
even workaholic Jeff had arranged for his staff to have a couple of weeks off
from the middle of December until after the New Year. Jeff had kept a skeleton
staff to handle any funerals, but Rachel was for all intents and purposes, on
paid vacation.
Mac had already canceled two dates with Rachel during
her down time. He had a feeling that last-minute trip to visit a distant cousin
was actually her raising the dating white flag in surrender. She was a little
vague on the telephone about when she was returning.
Determined to make a real effort, Mac stepped up his
game. He made dinner reservations for New Year's at what Jeff had assured him
was the trendiest spot in DC. Meanwhile there were several cases he needed to wrap
up and a security job at a government contractor's office that started in a
week. His calendar was full.
The timing of the arrival of this latest postcard couldn't
have been worse. His staff of two was on vacation. He had a payroll to meet and
bills to pay. His concentration was needed on the work in front of him and not
the mistakes of the past.
Still...he hesitated to bury the postcard in the file
with the rest. After all these years, why was this one of the Smithsonian? Was
there a special significance that this year's card depicted the place where
Amanda had disappeared? Had something changed for the sender?
He must have asked that question aloud, since Whiskey,
his Irish wolfhound sidekick, felt free to vocalize her opinion.
Mac glanced at the dog, who'd taken over the dark green
futon in his office, then back to the postcard in his hand. "Yeah, this
time is different. It's not just about keeping Amanda's case active. Someone
wants to tell me something."
Murder Off the Books Kindle - Nook - Smashwords - Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle - Nook - Smashwords - Trade Paperback
Murder Doubles Back Kindle - Nook - Smashwords - Trade Paperback
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Brianna Sullivan Mysteries - e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
The Ghosts of Lottawatah - trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 - I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 - A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)
Romances
Love Lessons - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Oooo! Sounds exciting! Looking forward to it, guys1
ReplyDeleteI so look forward to the book....I enjoy your writing. So, this is gonna be a good thing.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! I'm looking forward to reading it!
ReplyDelete