GUEST POST and GIVEAWAY
Murder Between the Pages
(The Nina Foster Mystery Series Book 1)
(The Nina Foster Mystery Series Book 1)
by Linda Hope Lee
Murder Between the Pages by Linda Hope Lee is currently on tour with Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours. The tour stops here today for a guest post by the author, an excerpt, and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.
Description
It’s a sad day for librarian Nina Foster when she discovers her good friend, bookstore owner Wildeen Bergman, dead on her office floor. Worse yet, another friend, romance writer Zelma Duke, becomes the police’s prime suspect. Nina knows Wildeen had something on Zelma. Was it enough to warrant murder? Handsome Stephen Kraslow, owner of the local newspaper, joins forces with Nina to find out the truth. The quest takes them on a dangerous journey of twists and turns before they reach the final outcome.
Excerpt
Nina stopped in the doorway and stared. The office appeared hit by a hurricane. Cupboard doors hung open, and drawers from the desk and work counter lay on the floor, their contents scattered…Wildeen lay on her stomach, one arm curled under her body, the other outstretched. Her head, turned to the left, revealed a large gash behind her left ear… Call 911 and then check for a pulse. Maybe she was still alive. But, as she dug into her purse for her cell phone, Nina knew instinctively that, mostly certainly, Wildeen Bergan was dead.
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]
Praise for the Book
“Typical of cozy mysteries, there is a cast of characters in Murder Between the Pages, but each one is a unique person. The author deftly doles out clues without slowing down the plot. Loved the attraction between Nina and Steve, and how the mystery unfolded as the protagonist tracked down the real killer.” ~ Linda H
“Librarian Nina Foster cannot quiet her suspicions and theories when her hometown is shocked by murder. Nina’s concerns prompt her to get her nose out of the books and onto a hot trail of clues. Not so fast though, author Linda Hope Lee has some surprises in store for her protagonist cover to cover, as Nina discovers the dangers of researching Murder Between The Pages. […] The premise of a Librarian amateur sleuth is delightful.” ~ Wendy
“I choose the book because of the cover and I am happy I did it. It's a nice cozy mystery, perfect for book lovers or to make you love books. Nina must solve a mystery involving her friend.” ~ Dana-Adrian B.
“Clever and entertaining cozy mystery. Our lovely librarian has issues. She has friends and one wise and fun relative. She is capable and when in peril it was not because she is too stupid to live. A little romance. A lot of mystery with many suspects. A page turner.” ~ Barbara Tobey
“This cozy mystery is not the most original, but it has a good plot and excellent characters. The best, however, is the flow. No unnecessary filling, and everything on a timeline.” ~ T Olsen
Guest Post by the Author
My Favorite Occupations
I thoroughly enjoyed my profession as an elementary school librarian. As a child I loved to read, and spending my adult years not only reading more children’s books but also sharing them with kids was great.
However, other occupations held an appeal, too. One was journalism. I always thought reporting the news would be exciting and challenging. Observing, gathering the facts, and arranging them into a story that would entertain as well as inform drew my interest.
Being a detective was a third career that beckoned. What could be more fun than tracking down and interpreting clues to solve a puzzle? Okay, detecting carried an element of danger, too, but that only added to the appeal.
Like a lot of avid readers, I eventually came to the awareness that reading wasn’t enough. I wanted to write, too. Not that I thought I could do so much better; I just wanted to do it, period. Loving children’s books as I do, you’d think that’s what I wanted to write, but writing for children wasn’t my choice. I don’t know why. The closest I’ve come is my young adult book, A Dream for Julie.
I started with short stories, mainly confessions, which were popular at the time. Seeing my words in print, not to say being paid for the effort, was a thrill. Writing scripts for educational media came next. Finally, I decided I was ready to try a novel. Home For the Heart, a romantic suspense, was the result, and I was lucky enough to find a publisher.
That was twenty-six books ago. In those stories, I got to be, among other professions, a matchmaker, an interior designer, an actress, an art gallery owner, and a jazz singer.
Now comes Murder Between the Pages, Book 1 of The Nina Foster Mystery Series. This is my first cozy. I don’t know why writing a cozy took so long. Anyway, to bring this article back to the beginning, it occurred to me that with this series, I am fulfilling my desire to participate in those three occupations that drew me, the one I did pursue and the two I wished I could’ve pursued.
Nina Foster, the main character in MurderBetween the Pages, is a librarian. She differs from me in that she’s a public, rather than a school, librarian. But, like me, she loves working with children; story hour is one of her favorite activities.
She’s a detective, too. Okay, an amateur sleuth. But she gets to track down clues and put together the puzzle of her best friend’s mysterious death.
And the journalist? He so very conveniently appeared in the form of Stephen Kraslow, who owns the town’s newspaper, The Richmond Review. He also becomes Nina’s love interest. The two work together to solve the crime.
So, at last, I am able to vicariously experience all three of my favorite occupations. I wonder what took me so long?
About the Author
Linda Hope Lee had written contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and mysteries. Other pursuits include watercolor painting, photography, collecting children’s books and anything to do with wire-haired fox terriers. She makes her home in the Pacific Northwest.
Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card.
Links
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