EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY
Love, Lies and Murder
by Leslie Wolfe
Love, Lies and Murder by Leslie Wolfe is currently on tour with Silver Dagger Book Tours. Grab your copy for only $0.99 or free on Kindle Unlimited!
The tour stops here today for an excerpt and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.
For more books by this author, check out my blog post on Casino Girl and my blog post on Las Vegas Crime.
Description
Breathtaking suspense unraveling at train-wreck speed, in an unforgettable collection.
Sometimes the only way to do the right thing is to break the rules.
Love, Lies, and Murder is a collection of 19 short stories that explore the extremes of human emotion and the conflicts that result. Every story will leave you tense and breathless as the characters race to a conclusion that is as unexpected as it is satisfying.
Intense and gripping, each story features a hero that seeks justice and the triumph of good over evil by whatever means necessary - regardless of what society’s rules find acceptable.
The collection is taut, visceral, and addictive. All the emotions we feel every day, when taken to their extremes, offer a roller coaster of passion, conflict, and chills.
Nineteen droplets of suspense in a thrilling anthology that will leave you unsettled, longing for more.
Fans of David Baldacci, Robert Dugoni, and James Patterson will love reading Leslie Wolfe.
Excerpt from “The Banjo”
He ran parallel with the train as fast as he could, reaching for the handlebar and trying to figure out how he could hop inside, when the freight car was that high. It was above his waist level, and he needed to grab onto something with both his hands and pull himself inside the car, if he didn’t want the risk of slipping under the car and losing one or both of his legs in the process.
Freight train hopping was more difficult than he’d expected. He was almost out of breath and the train seemed to move faster, catching speed, while the distance between his extended hand and the handle he was aiming for increased inch by inch. At least that car had its door wide open and seemed empty. If he could only push forward some more, gain up on the damn thing, come close enough to venture a foot up that step, while grabbing onto the handle.
The train squealed and slowed down, as the tracks curved a little, and he pushed himself to run faster. Then he lunged forward with the last drop of energy he had left, and grabbed that handle while his left foot found the wide step underneath the car’s open door. His right arm flailed in the air, desperately looking for something to grab, while his body was pushed backward by inertia. Then he felt a strong hand grip his right wrist and yank him up forcefully. He landed face down on the car’s floor, while the same strong grip dragged him all the way inside.
“A thing like that could get you killed out here,” he heard a man’s voice say calmly.
He looked up at the man who’d pulled him inside. He was young, barely twenty years old, if even. His face was grimy, smudged with dust and sweat and dirt, and his clothes were nothing unexpected for a habitual train hopper. His blue eyes were fixed on his Rolex, and he quickly covered it with the sleeve of his windbreaker.
Still panting hard, he pulled himself up to his feet and shook the young man’s hand.
“Thanks,” he said, “I appreciate it.”
“Huh,” the young man replied with a grin, dazzling white teeth sparkling against the grime on his face. “You should.” Then he laughed, a quick laugh cut short by a few coughs. “You’re no train-hopper material, dude,” he continued when he was able to catch his breath. “What, you got lost, or somethin’?”
“Nah,” he replied, still panting. “Just looking for someone.”
The young man whistled. “So, you got a place to live, and nice clothes, and food, but you hop trains for fun?”
“Not for fun, no. I’m looking for my brother,” he replied. “Someone said he might have been riding freight trains through these parts of the country.”
The young man gave him a good look, head to toe, and he felt he was being evaluated. Maybe the kid was thinking how much money he had on him, or if it was worth killing him. He held his gaze steadily, unafraid, glad to feel the holster of his weapon tight against his ribs.
“Name’s Travis,” the kid said, extending his dirty hand again.
He took it and shook it firmly. “Jack.”
“Got some food on you, Jack?”
He hesitated a split second, then took out two of the chocolate bars he’d stuffed his pockets with before leaving the city.
Travis took one carefully, almost as if he expected him to slap him or punch him or something. Then he whistled again, and slowly unwrapped the bar, savoring the experience. Then he wolfed it down in two good bites, chewed hastily with his mouth open.
“Umm, good stuff.”
Jack watched him eat and felt something tug at his heart. This kid was about the same age as Conrad, his younger brother who had vanished almost two months ago. Conrad was going home from school one day, and it was later than usual. He’d stayed at school longer, working in the lab with three other med-school students, colleagues of his at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and those three students were the last people to have seen him.
From the lab, he had to cross the campus and walk a few blocks through Streeterville, to the Brown Line train station. From what Jack was able to deduct, it was already dark when Conrad had left the university about seven, his banjo strapped on his back, and a small backpack in his hand. That’s the way his colleagues described his appearance that day. He was his normal self, maybe a little tired after a long day studying countless blood samples on the electronic microscope, and he’d told everyone he was hungry.
Then he vanished.
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt, including two full stories.]
Praise for the Book
“This was a fascinating and captivating read that had me immersed from the beginning. The stories flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. There are plenty of attention-grabbing moments in this page turner that will take the reader on a ‘train-wreck speed’ journey.” ~ Piaras
“I really enjoy intense, gritty murder mysteries, and I did like the mysteries in this book. The stories that I loved were the ones that touched my heart. ‘The Banjo’ was such a surprise. ‘A Reason’ - I read it twice and had tears running down my face both times. ‘A Tour of Duty’ ... just wow! ‘Pay It Forward’ is so heartwarming. I am so glad I read this anthology.” ~ GrandmaHeather
“The title literally lets you know what the book is about. The book is divided into three sections and each section is about one of the words in it. So, the first section is about love and each section follows the theme of the introductory word. The book is expertly crafted and each section is full of wonderful stories.” ~ Liberrian
“This is a collection of short stories that will hit you right in your heart. They are all emotionally charged, all different but linked by extreme feelings and conflict. All of them are vivid and captivating, with compelling characters and so well structured that I'd have problems trying to choose just one favourite because there are so many that truly touched me.” ~ Clau
“Enjoyed each story! Each one had a plot that wouldn't let you stop until you finished the story. The stories of the military man and his dog plus ‘Adam’ particularly stood out. Leslie Wolfe continues to write tremendous short stories and novels. Just about all these stories could become great novels.” ~ Amazon Customer
About the Author
Leslie Wolfe is a bestselling author whose novels break the mold of traditional thrillers. She creates unforgettable, brilliant, strong women heroes who deliver fast-paced, satisfying suspense, backed up by extensive background research in technology and psychology.
Leslie released the first novel, Executive, in October 2011. It was very well received, including inquiries from Hollywood. Since then, Leslie published numerous novels and enjoyed growing success and recognition in the marketplace. Among Leslie’s most notable works, The Watson Girl (2017) was recognized for offering a unique insight into the mind of a serial killer and a rarely seen first person account of his actions, in a dramatic and intense procedural thriller.
Leslie enjoys engaging with readers every day and would love to hear from you.
Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card.
Links
Amazon (Kindle Unlimited)
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