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Someone Else’s “Normal”
Fake is the story of a con man running from his past. Kip sets out to take advantage of two older women who are trying to start a detective agency. They find it’s slow going because of their age, so they are looking for a young “front man” to appeal to clients. Kip figures he can handle the job and make a little money grifting on the side. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As I age, my mysteries have tended more toward older protagonists. The idea of a conman seeing two sixty-something women as marks ripe for picking isn’t new, but the unexpected outcome is both fun and fresh. In this story, nobody is tending to her knitting!
What was your approach to writing the interactions between your cast of characters?
That was a bit of work, because I wanted each narrator to have their own voice. Kip the Conman is brash and conversational. Maureen the invalid reads more than she talks, so her style is more formal. They clash on several levels, and vocabulary is a large part of showing readers how they think and where they’re coming from.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
As humans, we tend to believe that we’re normal. What I have experienced is how the world is. What I think is how rational people think. Reading is a great way to learn that normal isn’t only one thing. It isn’t you; it isn’t me. In books, we get to know the characters better than we know even our closest friends and family, because we see inside the minds of others. Reading lets us experience someone else’s “normal.”
Can fans look forward to seeing more work from you soon? What are you currently working on?
I want to write a sequel to Fake, but it hasn’t yet started growing inside my head, and I can’t force a story. It will come soon, I hope.
My alter-ego author, Maggie Pill, writes cozy mysteries, and her Cats & Crimes series has a book set for release in October of 2024 (It’s #3 in the series). It’s called Have Cats-Will Crime-Solve.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Fake
Fake, by Peg Herring, offers an intriguing dive into the life of Kip Morgan, a seasoned con man forced to flee when his fraudulent schemes catch up with him. Landing in the quaint town of Bayville, Michigan, Kip finds himself in an unexpected predicament. Struggling to reconstruct his life, he stumbles upon a quirky detective agency run by two older women, a source of local amusement, who are on the lookout for an investigator. Sensing an opportunity to exploit these seemingly affluent and bored ladies, Kip uses his refined skills to secure a position with them.
The narrative cleverly unfolds as Kip integrates into the agency, which is a fascinating assembly of individuals with their own concealed pasts that rival his own. He inadvertently discovers a semblance of legitimacy in his craft as he joins forces with the agency to prove the innocence of a man convicted of killing his boss. The story follows this motley crew of societal outcasts as they attempt to outwit criminals and seek justice, all the while revealing their own complex backgrounds. Despite Kip’s initial portrayal as a calculating swindler, the author infuses him with a playful tone that renders him surprisingly endearing. His relentless pursuit of a scam is tempered by glimpses of depth and vulnerability, transforming him into a multi-dimensional protagonist. The inclusion of two older women, one of whom is paraplegic, in heroic roles adds a refreshing layer of diversity and depth to the narrative, challenging conventional stereotypes.
The gradual revelation of the characters’ backstories which are as compelling as the mysteries they unravel. The author skillfully peels back layers, exposing the hidden facets of each character, and enhancing the reader’s engagement and curiosity. This nuanced approach ensures that the personal histories of the protagonists are as enthralling as the cases they undertake, keeping readers invested in their journey. While the book embraces a thoughtful, measured pacing, which allows for in-depth exploration of characters through flashbacks, some readers might find these moments slow the momentum.
Fake succeeds in delivering a narrative rich in mystery and surprising twists. It underscores the notion that everyone harbors a story and the lengths to which individuals will go to achieve their desires. For readers who enjoy tales of underdog sleuths navigating the complexities of their past while solving contemporary mysteries, this book offers a captivating and entertaining read.
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