Blog Archives
The Complete Truth
Justified Homicide follows a woman with a haunted past tied into a world of crime and betrayal who must confront her past actions within the legal system in an effort to reclaim her life. What inspired the setup of your story?
It was an unresolved part of my previous book in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles. I thought it would heighten the tension of the storyline and force my main character Madison to face her demons and tell the whole truth. Only she and her confessor knew the complete truth.
It seemed like you took your time in building the characters and the story to great emotional effect. How did you manage the pacing of the story while keeping readers engaged?
I wanted to feel Madison’s emotions. I wanted to crawl under her skin and know the terror she felt at the possibility of losing everything. If she went to jail for her crime, she would be separated from the one person she adored above all others-her daughter Anna. Madison worried about losing the man in her life who helped her rescue Anna from Mexico. She had betrayed his trust. What would I do if I lost everything I cherished? I kept tightening the screws on Madison. It makes the conclusion so much sweeter.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
Retirement from my day job gave me the time and opportunity to explore more emotional depth. When I worked for the federal government, I’d be so tired when I finished work, I couldn’t think. My brain was in overload, so I often wrote early in the morning on the weekends when the house was quiet.
What is the next book that you are working on and when can your fans expect it to be out?
Justified Homicide will be published on November 20th of this Year. The only thing I know about next year is someone’s gonna die in or near Magnolia Bluff. I’m going to relax for a couple of weeks and then start preparing for 2025. My new book should be published in November of 2025. I may slip in another book from my Winston Strom Detective series. I had promised fans of that series I would get another book in for them, but time got away from me. That series is action-packed, graphic, and a lot more sexy.
Author Links: GoodReds | Amazon
Justified Homicide
Kelly Marshall’s Justified Homicide delivers a compelling narrative of resilience and redemption that grips readers from the first page. Madison Tucker, entangled in a world of crime and betrayal, faces the aftermath of her haunted past as it claws its way back into her life. After surviving a harrowing attack from a relentless cartel, she must confront her reality within the legal system, navigating the treacherous journey of reclaiming her life. With the unwavering support of her husband, Dix, and their daughter, Anna, Madison embarks on a painful but determined path to freedom, all while battling her own inner demons. A victim turned fighter, she becomes entwined in a cycle of violence that leaves her with blood on her hands, relentlessly pursued by those who seek revenge. Will society understand her actions, or is she destined to pay the price?
Marshall’s thriller stands out for its intense portrayal of violence’s cyclical grip and the strength of family in adversity. The narrative is skillfully woven, drawing readers deep into Madison’s world, where danger and love collide in startling ways. Madison’s character resonated powerfully with me. Her inner conflict is as raw as her determination, creating an emotional landscape that makes her fight for justice both urgent and heartrending.
With a great pace, the plot balances moments of high suspense with reflective pauses, allowing characters room for meaningful growth. While the plot is richly developed, I think there are instances where the dialogue may not fully capture the depth needed to enhance the story’s emotional impact. Although the secondary characters add layers to the story, I feel that some were underexplored, leaving me yearning for deeper insight into their motivations.
Where Justified Homicide truly excels is in its exploration of resilience and redemption. Madison’s journey, marked by intense lows and triumphant highs, is heartbreaking and uplifting. The climactic conclusion offers a suspenseful and satisfying ending, leaving readers with a sense of hope for her future.
Justified Homicide captivates with a dynamic plot, rich emotional depth, and themes that linger. It’s a story that asks how far one can go to protect loved ones and whether redemption can ever be fully achieved.
Pages: 252 | ASIN: B0CW1HXWYT
Plot Twists and New Revelations
Bye, Baby, Bye follows the mother of a kidnapped child who will do whatever it takes to find her even when those responsible for looking for her daughter neglect their duties. When you first sat down to write this story, did you know where you were going, or did the twists come as you were writing?
I do not do a detailed outline of my book. I tried that once after attending a seminar by Jeffrey Deaver. He is a strong proponent for outlines, but I found the process ate up precious writing time. And while not a complete “pantser,” I always know the end game to my stories. The characters quite often will direct me into plot twists and new revelations. There’s an old saying by those who ride horses, “Give a horse his head.” I give my characters their “head” and let them lead me into new adventures.
Do you think there’s a single moment in everyone’s life, maybe not as traumatic, that is life-changing?
Death of a family member is one of the most traumatic events in a person’s life. Letting go of that life-long relationship is usually a time to come to grips with deep loss and a realization of our own mortality.
What is the next book you are writing, and when will that be published?
For certain, I will be writing a sequel to Bye, Baby, Bye. That will publish in November of 2024. I don’t have a working title yet. It’s too soon in the process. I also have a police crime series, the Winston-Strom Novels. I put that series on hold while I worked on The Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles. Now that I am officially retired from my government day job with Social Security, I have substantially more time to commit to writing, so I hope to do another Winston Strom book in 2024.
Author Links: Goodreads | Twitter | Website | Amazon
Bye Baby Bye
Bye Baby Bye by Kelly Marshall delves deep into the heart-wrenching journey of a mother’s relentless pursuit to reunite with her kidnapped child. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Texas and Mexico, the story unfolds with Madison’s daughter, Anna, being abducted. The narrative spirals into a thrilling chain of events as a recovery effort to rescue Anna goes terribly awry.
Madison, fortified by the unwavering support of her father and the influential Governor of Texas, Dixon Theodore Tucker, audaciously ventures back to a place of personal terror. Once a captive forced into a marriage with the second-in-command of Mexico’s most formidable cartel, she braves her past to reclaim her daughter. The narrative is interlaced with sacrifice and loss, yet amidst the despair, there are silver linings of love and renewed chances at life.
This crime fiction not only holds its readers captive with the suspense of a child’s kidnapping and the measures taken to identify the culprit but also paints a grim picture of the corrupt nature of power dynamics. The narrative spotlights those in positions of authority who, driven by selfish motives and political vendettas, neglect their primary duties. A case in point is Attorney General Forrester, who lets personal differences with Governor Tucker overshadow the urgency of the investigation. His decisions, especially regarding a prisoner exchange, exacerbate the challenges of finding Anna.
Marshall’s adept storytelling is accentuated by her penchant for unexpected plot twists, ensuring readers are constantly on their toes. Additionally, her ability to weave in moments of levity amidst a predominantly somber theme showcases her narrative finesse. However, certain inconsistencies, such as the disjointed account of Madison’s proposed visit to Jose in prison across chapters nine and twelve, do stand out and warrant more seamless integration.
Bye Baby Bye is a gripping tale that traverses the terrain of love, loss, and the darker shades of humanity, making it a must-read for those who appreciate layered crime fiction.
Pages: 138
LITERARY TITAN 