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A Hush at Midnight
In A Hush at Midnight, Marlene M. Bell crafts a fast-paced and suspenseful murder mystery that plunges celebrity chef Laura Harris into a nightmare. Accused of the brutal murder of her confidant and mentor, Hattie Stenburg, Laura finds her life spiraling out of control. The headlines splash her name and the accusation everywhere, and the question haunts us: how could someone like Laura, admired and celebrated for her culinary genius, end up at the center of such a dark scandal? As everything around her unravels, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Laura Harris is a powerhouse of resilience. Her journey through false accusations and the fight to clear her name is inspiring. Despite the crushing weight of public scrutiny, she pushes forward, showing incredible strength and determination. I found myself rooting for her at every turn. Laura emerges from her ordeal not just stronger but transformed, and it is impossible not to admire her grit. She quickly became my favorite character, a testament to Bell’s skill in crafting a compelling and relatable heroine. The plot had me hooked from the very start. Every twist and revelation pulled me deeper, refusing to let go. I couldn’t help but keep turning the pages, desperate to piece together the mystery. Bell’s narrative keeps the suspense high and the action relentless, making the book nearly impossible to put down. As I read, the story’s rhythm kept me constantly engaged. The way the tension built and unfolded made for an utterly consuming reading experience. But it’s not just the plot that stands out. Bell’s writing style is another highlight. She writes with a vivid and immersive quality that brings every scene to life. Her descriptions are rich and detailed, making the atmosphere almost tangible. As someone who deeply appreciates the craft of writing, I was impressed by her ability to paint such a vivid picture with words. Her prose pulls you right into Laura’s world, and it’s clear that Bell has a gift for creating a setting that feels as real as the characters.
Marlene M. Bell proves herself to be an exceptional novelist. Her storytelling captivates, her characters resonate, and her writing elevates the entire book. I highly recommend A Hush at Midnight to anyone searching for a gripping, well-written mystery. If you’re a fan of thrilling plots and strong, enduring protagonists, this novel will not disappoint. Bell has crafted a story that stays with you long after the final page.
Pages: 303 | ASIN : B0DFWW9GWF
An Earlier Murder Was Necessary
Copper Waters follows an antiquities appraiser looking to escape her complicated relationship, who gets mixed up in a double murder investigation. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Because New Zealand is noted for the huge number of sheep that reside there, I wrote a murder mystery surrounding a particular flock belonging to Annalisse’s friend. I raise Dorset sheep, so why not write what’s familiar? As I began the outline on 3 x 5 cards prior to writing the story on my computer, I realized an earlier murder was necessary in order for the sheep station family members to be seamlessly considered as prime suspects. Copper Waters weaves two murders and several possible culprits including the station’s Corriedale stud ram named, Dax. Can a sheep be tried and convicted of murder? The reader will have to pick up a copy of Copper Waters to find out!
How did the mystery develop for this story? Did you plan it before writing or did it develop organically?
All of my books, including the children’s books, are worked out via an outline so it’s easier to manage the number of subplots. If I free write, I have a tendency to go off in too many different directions causing confusion for the reader, which is never a good thing. Each chapter is laid out on a card and the book is totally finished in basic format prior to beginning the novel document. I know the general direction of each chapter by the time I begin Chapter One.
The outline method was a happy accident after writing the fourth draft of Stolen Obsession, book one, in the Annalisse series. A strong developmental editor pointed out my many wandering sideline scenarios within the plot. She suggested turning each subplot into series installments. The original Annalisse standalone book I had created turned into a multi-book series at that point.
My writing is completely planned out ahead of time, although red herrings and foreshadowed events are added and do surprise me, occasionally. I’m know for twists and turns in each of the books and an ending that may surprise readers, like that in Copper Waters.
Are you a fan of the Cozy Mystery genre? What books do you think most influenced your work?
I prefer cozy mysteries because they aren’t as graphic and allow a more simplistic way of uncovering the villain(s). To understand how to write an ongoing series in the mystery genre, I read Cleo Coyle books and the Louise Penny Chief Inspector Gamache series. Both authors have a different approach and style, but they enable me to learn how to incorporate previous installments in a current book. The trick I struggle with most is how much information from previous books is too much information for new readers who might pick up a later Annalisse series novel. Not all readers begin with the first book in a series. As an example, Copper Waters advance reader copy was adjusted after its release with less information based on reader recommendations.
Do you have plans for a fifth book in the Annalisse Series? If so, when can your fans expect it out?
There will be a fifth book in the Annalisse series, and a new murder closer to home. Readers will find main characters, Anna and Alec at his Brookehaven estate in upstate New York as they are pulled into his horseracing sideline business more heavily. However, the next series book release for Annalisse is off in the future until my new one-book mystery is released, possibly in spring of 2024.
Before book five, I’m currently taking a fun break while drafting a standalone mystery unrelated to the Annalisse series. Completely new characters in entirely new circumstances!
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Antiquities expert Annalisse Drury and tycoon Alec Zavos are at an impasse in their relationship when Alec refuses to clear up a paternity issue with an ex-lover.
Frustrated with his avoidance when their future is at stake, Annalisse accepts an invitation from an acquaintance to fly to New Zealand—hoping to escape the recent turbulence in her life.
But even Annalisse’s cottage idyll on the family sheep farm isn’t immune to intrigue.
Alec sends a mutual friend and detective, Bill Drake, to follow her, and a local resident who accompanies them from the Christchurch airport dies mysteriously soon after. A second violent death finds Annalisse and Bill at odds with the official investigations.
The local police want to close both cases as quickly as possible—without unearthing the town’s dirty secrets.
As she and Bill pursue their own leads at serious cost, the dual mysteries force Annalisse to question everything she thought she knew about family ties, politics, and the art of small-town betrayal.
