Blog Archives
Willingness to Sacrifice
Dual Duplicity follows a woman who dreams of becoming a physician but holds a secret that could ruin her reputation. What were some sources that informed this novels development?
While researching the Regency Era, I stumbled upon the biography of Dr. James Barry who is my inspiration for this story. His life choices were perfectly aligned with my protagonist’s desire and willingness to sacrifice to achieve her goals. And, I inserted Dr. Barry as an historical personality into my fictional tale.
Julia was a character that I loved following. What was the funnest scene for you to write for her character?
The scene I especially enjoyed writing was when Dr. Bennet Caldwell exposes Julia’s secret and offers her a proposition in return for his silence.
What were some ideas that were important for you to explore in this book?
Highlighting how women’s capabilities and talents were dismissed and suppressed by society. Also, the lengths to which a woman will go, regardless of risks to her reputation, to fulfill her dream.
This is book two in your 1832 Regency Series. What can readers expect in book three?
Gentle and Easy Death is Book 3 in this series. In this novel, someone is killing patients on a hospital ward and the question is…are these ‘mercy killings’ or are these deaths the handiwork of a serial killer? In either case, the perpetrator must be stopped.
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Dual Duplicity (1832 Regency Series Book 2)
![Dual Duplicity (1832 Regency Series Book 2) by [Patricia Catacalos]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41SjkXVFSKL.jpg)
Dual Duplicity by Patricia Catacalos is an enchanting story of Julie Maxwell, a young eligible bachelor who becomes involved with Lord Wesley, a doctor working during the cholera crisis. While she becomes quickly intrigued with her new love interest, she quickly realizes the complexities within their developing relationship, adding some conflict and challenges to their acquaintanceship. As close family and the relationship’s intentions are called into question, Julia must explore much more than she initially expected.
The story progresses quickly, giving the reader a clear picture of each character, their place within Julia’s life, and where they stand in greater society. Julia quickly learns how integrated her life becomes with Lord Wesley, even from a respectable distance. As her brother works with the doctor as an intern, these developments wield incredible attention within an ever-expanding circle of associates and connections.
As the characters develop, a few unexpected plot twists emerge, changing the storyline’s trajectory and building the reader’s anticipation to discover more. The book’s pace moves quickly and steady enough to keep the reader engaged without missing any details or diminishing any events. You discover that every description is key to the characters, their goals, and the story’s direction.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story’s development and how one layer of plot twist unravels carefully to unveil another. Each chapter paves the way for another exciting shift in events that keeps the reader turning one page after another. Lady Maxwell is a spectacle that doesn’t disappoint, and she’ll keep you and the other characters on your toes with her unparalleled sense of wit and intelligence.
Good storytelling is what gives readers incentive to enjoy a page-turner from beginning to end. Dual Duplicity is an exceptional example of fantastic narration, offering readers a bird’s eye view of every move and twist without revealing too much at once. The characters are exciting and fun to follow from one scene to the next. I highly recommend treating yourself to a thrilling story with captivating characters with nostalgic visuals of a decadent era.
Pages: 228 | ASIN: B07GWX74HJ
Being Jack The Ripper
Bedeviled by Her Suspicions follows a woman who fears that her cousin could be Jack the Ripper and hires a detective agency to find out the truth. What was the inspiration for the setup to this thrilling story?
I wanted to write a series involving three brothers who operate a detective agency in Victorian England. When researching that era for famous murderers and their crimes, Jack the Ripper was of course a prominent figure. Researching that case and the various individuals suspected of being the Ripper inspired Bedeviled by Her Suspicions.
Isabel is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some driving ideals behind her character development?
Isabel is intrinsically good and is torn between doing what she feels is morally correct, seeking the truth to save lives, and the guilt she harbors in suspecting her cousin of being Jack the Ripper. This laid solid ground work for her character development.
I enjoyed the mystery at the heart of this story. Was the mystery planned before writing or did it develop organically?
When I began research for my Zane Brothers Detective Series, I found a female criminal whose crimes were mimicked in Book 1 of the series. But because I chose my setting to be in 1888 London, naturally the crimes of Jack the Ripper and the Torso Killer needed to be intertwined with that mystery. That led to the mystery in Book 2, Bedeviled by Her Suspicions, in which historical suspects in the Jack the Ripper case were incorporated into the historical mystery. So, in the case of Bedeviled by Her Suspicions, I knew how I wanted the mystery to develop.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Currently I am writing my 26th book, Medley of Murderous Intent, which takes place in 1908 London where the 1908 Olympics were being held and during which the first African American won a gold metal. A new generation of Zane brothers must determine who is threatening the Olympian contestant…the historical personality John Baxter Taylor, Jr. This historical mystery will be available late 2021.
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Bedeviled by Her Suspicions
![Bedeviled by Her Suspicions (Zane Brothers Detective Series Book 2) by [Patricia Catacalos]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51-vvgDyhRL.jpg)
Bedeviled by Her Suspicions (Zane Brothers Detective Series Book Two) by Patricia Catacalos is a historical fiction mystery set in London in 1888. Isabel Haynes is a milliner who suspects that her cousin, Thomas Haynes Cutbush, might be the serial killer known as Leather Apron (Jack the Ripper), murdering women in Whitechapel. She enlists the help of the Zane Brothers Detective Agency to prove that her suspicions are wrong. Isabel feels drawn to Noah Zane from their first meeting. Noah pretends to be Isabel’s beau so that he can remain close to her. Can he protect her from harm as they search to find the truth?
I enjoyed reading this riveting historical thriller. I love mysteries that keep me guessing throughout the story. Part of this story is told from the point of view of the killer, and the few clues that are given match up with Thomas, but could also indicate several other characters. I was immediately suspicious of every man described with a handlebar mustache, since that was the only identifying physical feature that was mentioned about the killer. Although this is the second book in the series, it is not necessary to read book one to enjoy this story. This books can be read as a standalone mystery story. Book One, The Mystery of Her, features Noah’s older brother, Zachery. Book Three and Book Four both feature Noah’s younger brother, Evan.
While I enjoyed this story, I felt that the romance happened a bit too quickly for me, with Noah and Isabel declaring their love for each other within a week of their first meeting. I liked the historical Victorian setting of the story, which was vividly described, but I felt that some of the descriptions of actions were unnecessarily specific and distracted from the flow of the story.
With that said, Bedeviled by Her Suspicions is a compelling murder mystery that will appeal to anyone looking for an alluring mystery that will keep them guessing throughout this entertaining book.
Pages: 238 | ASIN: B01NCM4HJY
LITERARY TITAN 