Blog Archives
Locked-Room Mysteries
Pioneering Secrets follows a high school teacher, a reporter, and a detective from a small town who are trying to find the person responsible for killing a teen girl. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
When I was a kid, I loved locked-room mysteries. The murder method in this story is based on a reverse version of my favourite locked room story. I can’t give any more details than that, as it would give it away.
There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
All the characters in the book are based on real people in my life. I’ve tried to give them character and personality traits similar to each of those people.
How did the mystery develop for this story? Did you plan it before writing, or did it develop organically?
It began with a vision of the opening murder scene, then grew from there. I planned out each murder scene ahead of time, as well as the characters and suspects. Other than the opening chapter, I didn’t write any parts of the book until I had the pivotal scenes fleshed out ahead of time.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
This is the first book in the Rolling Brook Falls series. I have a few new stories already planned, with the next two fleshed out. I hope to have the 2nd book published by the end of December 2025. The next story will delve deeper into Andie’s past, as well as continue to develop the budding romance between her and Detective Sayers. Readers can expect the same sass from Andie and C.J. that was showcased in the first book.
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Rolling Brook Falls is a sleepy little town where summer tourism is high, everyone knows their neighbour, and no one locks their doors. That all changes when a teen is murdered leaving everyone baffled as to why.
When Andie, a local high school teacher, decides to investigate the death of her favourite student, she clashes with the town’s new no-nonsense police detective. Determined to find out how her peaceful community could become stained with murder, she sets out on her own to search for answers. But after the killer strikes again, the mystery deepens, and Andie wonders if she’s in over her head.
Ignoring the detective’s warnings to stay out of the investigation, Andie and her reporter friend C.J. soon discover more is going on in their quiet little town than they ever could have imagined. As the bodies pile up, the two women race to solve the mystery before another of their friends is murdered, and before the killer sets their sights on them.
The Excruciating Assignment
In Fate Can Toss a Boomerang, a detective faces his own teenage trauma when he investigates the murder of a loathed gym teacher with a dark past. What was the idea, or spark, that first set off the need to write this book?
I attended several different schools growing up. Decades later, I began to hear horror stories from other former students, and they revealed that not one, not two, but three of the female teachers I had known in two different schools had targeted children for perverted purposes.
All of these women were surly, unpleasant, and seemed to deliberately try to make themselves look like “plain Janes.” Two of them had flown completely under the radar, and you couldn’t have picked them out of a crowd for any reason. The third one, on the other hand, had body language that would have been more suitable for an actress playing a stripper in the musical Gypsy, and she behaved seductively around everybody, kids, adults, boys, girls, just whoever was standing in front of her at the moment. This was a sight to behold, let me tell you! She was constantly, ahem, “shaking her maracas” right in everyone’s faces. I thought she was “crazy,” but I was just a child and couldn’t really add all of this up. Nobody was cognizant of child molesters back then, in the early 1970s, and somehow this bizarre situation never got addressed. I’ve always wondered, though, if I could see there was something extremely wrong with this pathetic excuse for a human being when I was just a kid, where were the adults who worked at that school? Were they blind as bats, or what? So when I heard it was even stranger than I had thought back then, and this creature had been trying to seduce little boys, that, and the stories I’d been hearing about the other two teachers as well, was what gave me the idea for writing this book. Everything I’d picked up on about all three of these creepy gals went into the story.
What were some of the emotional and moral guidelines you followed when developing your characters?
It’s a story of a contrast in opposites. I created the main character of Detective Knox Wanamaker as a guy with a very strong moral fiber who always tries to do the right thing. He fought off Petra the child molester when he was a boy, and she didn’t get her way with him. Naturally, she hated him for it. Now he’s stuck with the job of solving her murder, and even though he thinks his town is better off without Petra in it, he goes about fulfilling the excruciating assignment. In contrast, there’s Petra, who couldn’t care less about doing what’s right, and probably doesn’t even know the definition of the word. She’s all about taking whatever she wants for herself, and that includes children’s innocence. She made a mess of her life, and several other people’s lives besides, and now she’s the victim in a whopper of a murder case that falls in Knox’s lap. Some people think their job assignments are bad, but get a load of his!
How did you decide on the title of this novel?
Oh, that one was so much fun to come up with! I was brainstorming a title and zeroed in on the whole idea of “what goes around comes around.” Murder may never be the right course of action to take, yet there is some sense of poetic justice at play with this one, given what Petra was doing to children. It finally caught up with her. So, “Fate Can Toss A Boomerang!”
Can you give readers a glimpse inside the next book you are working on?
I’ve got two more in the works at the moment. The one that should be finished soon involves an American family that inherits property in Argentina during the 1960s, but they don’t realize the lovely mansion they’ve been handed had an outrageous former purpose. That mystery starts up from there!
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Now Petra is dead, and Knox-older, wiser, and harboring long-buried truths-gets stuck with leading the investigation. As he tries to unravel the mystery behind her violent end, questions spiral. Who killed Petra, and why? Was it revenge? How could it not be? And can Knox finally expose the secrets Petra took to her grave, once and for all?
Literary Titan Gold Book Award: Fiction
The Literary Titan Book Award honors books that exhibit exceptional storytelling and creativity. This award celebrates novelists who craft compelling narratives, create memorable characters, and weave stories that captivate readers. The recipients are writers who excel in their ability to blend imagination with literary skill, creating worlds that enchant and narratives that linger long after the final page is turned.
Award Recipients
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Silver Book Award
Celebrating the brilliance of outstanding authors who have captivated us with their skillful prose, engaging narratives, and compelling real and imagined characters. We recognize books that stand out for their innovative storytelling and insightful exploration of truth and fiction. Join us in honoring the dedication and skill of these remarkable authors as we celebrate the diverse and rich worlds they’ve brought to life, whether through the realm of imagination or the lens of reality.
Award Recipients
The Adventures of Mrs. Hats: The Mayan Headdress by Christopher Corbett
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Breath Play
Breath Play is a mystery-thriller that follows Dan Burnett, a retired NYPD detective turned private investigator, as he uncovers the chilling pattern of murdered young nurses whose bodies wash ashore along Long Island Sound. While juggling a budding romance with his girlfriend Mia and supporting his daughter Hannah in her new career, Dan finds himself unable to resist the pull of a developing serial killer case. As each victim’s backstory is revealed, and the investigation tightens around eerie patterns and disturbing truths, the book builds a slow, suspenseful momentum filled with quiet tension and emotional depth.
I enjoyed the way the book mixes the peaceful rhythm of Dan’s post-retirement life with the unsettling presence of violent crime. The writing is smooth and conversational. Like listening to someone recount an incredible story. The dialogue is natural, the pacing is just right, and the scenes between Dan and Mia are some of the most intimate I’ve read, not just physically, but emotionally. The sensual moments don’t feel forced; they feel like part of a very real, very lived-in relationship. That kind of emotional realism adds a weight to the story that goes beyond solving murders.
What I appreciated was how the story took its time, weaving in layers of Dan’s life beyond the central investigation. The car theft subplot, in particular, added depth and a welcome change of pace, giving us a fuller picture of Dan’s world and the kind of cases he handles. It might not have been directly tied to the serial killer thread, but that contrast made the darker moments hit even harder. The life of a PI isn’t just one mystery at a time, and Terhaar captures that beautifully. The suspense crept in slowly, building until I realized I was completely hooked. And those Elsa Nordstrom reports are absolute gut-punches. They brought the victims to life in a way that was deeply moving.
This book isn’t just for crime fiction fans, it’s for readers who love characters with heart, quiet moments that carry weight, and thrillers that don’t rely on explosions to keep your attention. If you’re someone who enjoys character-driven mysteries with a slow burn and a touch of romance, Breath Play will stick with you. It’s warm, dark, tender, and smart. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a mystery that feels personal.
Pages: 229 | ASIN : B0FH7MLZGK
An Ocean Life
T.R. Cotwell’s An Ocean Life is a character-driven novel chronicling the emotional and physical journey of Mark, a stressed-out tech entrepreneur, as he attempts to unwind with his family during a long-awaited trip to Maui. The story moves fluidly between vivid underwater exploration, tense family dynamics, and quiet introspection. While Mark tries to reconnect with his wife Cecilia and their daughters, old habits and personal ambitions resurface, threatening the fragile balance he’s trying to hold onto. At its heart, the book is about reckoning with aging, love, guilt, memory, and the pull of the ocean.
What I liked most about Cotwell’s writing was its intimacy. The prose is sharp but unpretentious, and there’s a warmth in the way he describes both the mundane and the majestic. The dialogue felt natural and unfiltered. Scenes like the failed dinner reservation or the late-night beach encounter made me cringe and laugh at the same time. I felt for Mark, even when he was being a bit stubborn. Cotwell doesn’t paint his protagonist as a hero, and that’s what makes him believable. The underwater scenes are particularly special. There’s a kind of reverence in the way Cotwell writes about the sea. It’s calm, awe-filled, and precise.
Some sections about startup life or diving gear got a bit long. I appreciated the detail, but occasionally it slowed the momentum. I enjoyed Mark’s inner monologue, and I wished Cecilia’s voice came through more. She’s clearly grappling with a lot. Still, their tension is what kept me hooked. They’re two people still in love, trying to remember how to show it, trying to find each other again in the chaos of family, work, and life.
An Ocean Life is tender and thoughtful. It’s for people who have ever felt torn between what they want and what they’ve promised. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys quiet stories with emotional depth, especially readers who have weathered a few storms of their own.
Pages: 347 | ASIN : B0D2L2SBBL
Finding Humor in the Darkest of Times
The Secret Lives of the Doyenne of Didsbrook follows the protégée of a former actress who discovers the actress’s hidden notebooks, after her questionable death, revealing a dark past and possible motive for her murder. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
All the characters, apart from The Doyenne, were featured in a long-listed short story about a writers’ group in a rural part of the UK. I loved these characters so much, I didn’t want to let them go, so I decided to turn the short story into a novel.
The short story was written as a farce, and I carried on writing the novel in that vein. However, once The Doyenne’s character was introduced and her story became more complex, it was inappropriate to have slapstick scenes going on around her. It is still humorous in parts, but now has more bittersweet undertones.
I enjoyed your characters, especially DCI Middleton. What was your favorite character to write for and why?
DCI Humphrey Middleton was definitely up there. In the first few drafts, he only appeared at the beginning, but a few beta readers suggested that I bring him back later in the story, which I did.
I think those whose jobs involve coming face-to-face with death regularly, doctors, nurses and police officers, are exceptional people. So, it was interesting to get inside Humphrey’s head, and I do believe that being able to find humour, even in the darkest of times, keeps us all going. Edna Fowler and Arthur Boniface were also fun characters to write.
How did the mystery develop for this story? Did you plan it before writing, or did it develop organically?
I will always be a pantser at heart, but I did try to plot The Doyenne. I knew if I was going to turn my quirky little writers’ group short story into a novel, something had to happen that would profoundly affect them all. So I decided to ‘bump off’ the character who was known and loved by all! I am a sucker for telling stories in flashback, but I will try to curb that enthusiasm with my next novel.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out and what can your fans expect in the next story?
It was written as a stand-alone novel, like my debut, Just Say It, but, as I am already missing the characters from The Doyenne, it makes me think that I might venture down the road of writing novellas about some of them, but, at the moment, it is a big maybe.
I am nearing the completion of the first draft of my third novel, which I hope will be released in 2026. I am totally out of my comfort zone because it is more of a psychological drama, but I am too invested in the character to bail out on them now.
So, it is fair to say that I am still trying to find my niche, genre-wise. However, without a doubt, I am most comfortable writing bittersweet storylines, because I believe that, however dark a story gets, a smattering of humour is essential.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Villagers are appalled to learn that the charismatic Jocelyn died from Hemlock poisoning. Police claim she shot and ate a quail that had ingested hemlock. A theory disputed by all who knew her well. The animal-loving Jocelyn would never kill anything, but due to the lack of forensic evidence, police rule death by misadventure.
Jocelyn’s young protégée, Lucy Fothergill, determined to discover the truth about what happened to her mentor, discovers a hidden stash of Jocelyn’s notebooks, revealing jaw-dropping secrets from Jocelyn’s past. The impression Jocelyn gave the world that she lived a near-perfect life was an Academy Award-winning performance.
Believing the events from Jocelyn’s past may have led to her death forty-eight years later, Lucy begins to piece together the clues that lead to the truth.
The sleepy village of Didsbrook is about to wake up!
Broken Things
Broken Things is a beautifully raw novel about a woman named Maggie Oliver who’s reeling from the loss of her husband and son after a traumatic accident. Left with little more than a lakeside cabin and a bucket of unresolved pain, she escapes her old life in San Francisco and holes up in the Sierra Nevadas. But this isn’t just a grief story. It’s a sharp, funny, sometimes eerie look at healing, memory, and rediscovering identity when everything else feels gone. The book swings between the very real, like Ambien-fueled breakdowns and late-night sobs, and the surreal, with dreamlike elements and mysterious happenings that might just be her imagination. Or maybe not.
I was genuinely surprised by how often I laughed while reading a novel so deeply rooted in trauma. Corso’s writing carries a dry, cutting wit that never feels forced, it’s a natural extension of Maggie’s voice. Her narration is filled with sharp observations and brutally honest reflections, often delivered with a kind of dark humor that perfectly balances the heaviness of her grief. One moment that stood out occurs during a storm, when she panics and thinks, “I’m not going to die alone at the hands of a cruel, cabin-smashing troll.” It’s absurd on the surface, yet completely relatable to anyone who’s ever spiraled into irrational fear late at night. This blend of levity and pain doesn’t undermine the story’s emotional weight; instead, it makes Maggie feel vividly real, like someone you know well enough to reach out to.
What really got under my skin, though, were the strange, almost ghostly twists. There’s a whole chunk where Maggie sleepwalks and finds furniture rearranged and the pilot light mysteriously lit, things she swears she didn’t do. Then there’s the discovery of a music box shaped like a cabin that feels like more than just a keepsake. These elements creep in slowly, and they’re not loud or gory, they’re unsettling in a quiet way. The mystery is never over-explained, which I loved. It left me with questions that lingered in the back of my mind long after I put the book down. Is it grief? Is it the house? Or is it something else entirely?
The real heart of the book, though, is Maggie’s slow, cautious return to life. Her relationship with her quirky neighbor Zach and his precocious daughter Mina adds so much warmth to the story. There is a moment when Mina simply asks Maggie, “Are you sad?” and the directness of that question is profoundly affecting. Kids don’t dance around grief the way adults do. That moment was simple, but so emotionally honest. I appreciated how Corso let Maggie be messy and weird and not always likable, she’s not some perfect, noble widow. She’s bitter, she’s sarcastic, she cries in her car. And that’s what makes her journey back to writing, and maybe even back to joy, so satisfying.
Broken Things made me feel a lot. It made me laugh. It made me uncomfortable. It made me think about my own griefs, the ones I’ve shared, and the ones I haven’t. I’d recommend this book to anyone who’s been through a loss, or who just loves character-driven fiction with a sharp voice and a touch of weird. It’s for fans of dark humor, haunted houses, and messy healing. It’s one of those stories I’m going to be thinking about for a long while.
Pages: 300 | ASIN : B0F6W5P5H3
LITERARY TITAN 