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Defusing Theories
In Serial Obsession, a journalist-turned-cold case investigator discovers new information in the case of a serial killer and sets out to uncover the truth behind a wrongful accusation. How were you able to strike a balance between suspense and romance?
I always want my novels to be plot-heavy and use the sex and intimacy as just a part of what’s really going on. I want there to be purpose for the relationship, and that purpose will usually be that the main characters find it more advantageous and a lot more fun to work as a duo. Naturally, this arrangement creates depth in the relationship and helps it develop into something almost surreal. The danger and the unknown seem to pull the lovers in even closer, making their connection not only fiery but also a testament to mutual respect and loyalty. Serial Obsession is a great example of how a story creates the relationship, and the lovers’ romance enhances the story.
What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of writing a series? The most rewarding?
The Map Dot Series is different than most book series because the books are actually stand-alones. We call it a series because every book has a common thread—the action takes place in a little Midwestern map dot town. The town is real, and even the locations such as Whittle’s Pub and Grub from Serial Obsession are real, but the story and the characters are entirely from my overactive imagination. These books have no reading order and are only numbered to show the order of release. So, in this case, my challenges were minimal.
Honestly, I spend a lot of time defusing theories about who’s who because everyone thinks there’s a little truth woven into the plot and characters. But that’s just not the case. I just like to build my stories around the places I know best because it helps me visualize and keeps me from taking too many liberties with the flexibility of fiction. Most definitely, the most rewarding aspect of creating this series is going to the little towns, talking with the people there, and getting feedback on the books.
Can you give us a glimpse inside Book 3 of the Map Dot series? Where will it take readers?
Desperate Measures, Book 3 in the Map Dot Series, comes out this spring. This time, the unassuming little map dot town is Argenta, Illinois, and the location is partially the town pub, Bargenta. This book was inspired by my upcoming participation as an attending author on the Love Lit Cruise in February 2026. The main character is a romance novelist who suffers tremendously with the details of her own love life. And, yes, she is embarking on an adventure on the high seas aboard the Love Lit Cruise early in the book. But let me remind you, my characters are not based on anyone real, despite the fact that everyone will assume I am Poppy Wallcroft (sigh). This superficial description of the book might seem like I’m venturing into a more traditional romance subgenre; however, Desperate Measures contains my signature female power character, plot twists that will have your head spinning, and thrilling danger that makes you gasp. Words Matter Publishing and I are shooting for an April release.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
“I’m so sorry, I just came out here half-dressed like I owned the place.”
“…please don’t apologize for making my day,” he said, flashing her a look from those sexy blue eyes. “I never knew that old t-shirt could look so good.”
Camille Hargrove is a serious cold case investigator. When a tip leads her to Lake of the Ozarks to reopen the Kelcee Meyer rape and murder case, Camille vows to find justice for Kelcee and her family. In the process, she encounters Ross Paine, the innocent man framed for the crime. The investigation heats up when Camille and Ross give in to their fiery attraction and become partners in more ways than one. When they expose Shane Simpson, the real killer, Camille becomes his target, and they discover that Shane’s connection to Ross is more complicated than they ever suspected. Unravel the mystery and catch a killer with this sexy duo in Serial Obsession, Marcy Bialeschki’s second stand-alone novel in the Map Dot Series.
Serial Obsession
Serial Obsession is a romantic suspense novel set around the Lake of the Ozarks, and it opens with a chilling hook. A serial killer named Shane Simpson hunts a young woman, Kelcee Meyer, and frames an innocent man, Ross Paine. When journalist turned cold-case investigator Camille Hargrove stumbles onto new information, she heads into the small Midwestern “map dot” towns to uncover the truth. The story weaves between a murder mystery, a wrongful accusation, and a slow-building connection between Camille and Ross, all against the backdrop of a community shaken by fear and rumor.
I felt pulled in by how grounded the world was. The lake towns feel authentic. People work long shifts, drive beaten-up cars, and deal with messy families. The author leans heavily into the genre’s blend of romantic suspense, giving us both danger and desire, and she doesn’t shy away from intensity in either direction. Sometimes the scenes get gritty, sometimes tender, and sometimes downright chaotic, but that unevenness actually made it feel more like real life. I liked that Camille isn’t a perfect detective. She’s passionate, stubborn, and occasionally a hot mess, and that combination kept her relatable.
The book moves quickly from plot to plot: murder, investigation, flirtation, danger, repeat. I realized the speed mirrors Camille’s own momentum. She throws herself into things whether she’s ready or not, and the narrative matches her energy. Ross, meanwhile, is written with this quiet heaviness that lingers. You feel the injustice hanging over him. The contrast between his guarded calm and Camille’s spark gives their scenes a natural tension. Even the villain gets space to be more than a shadow. We see the twisted logic behind his actions, which made the thriller element feel more unsettling.
By the end, what stayed with me wasn’t only the mystery but the themes simmering under it: how communities rush to judgment, how a rumor can ruin a life, and how hard it is to rebuild trust once it’s been shattered. The romance adds warmth, and the suspense keeps the pages turning, but there’s also this thread of “fairness” running through the story that gives it more weight than your typical thriller.
If you like romantic suspense that leans into both sides of the genre, with small-town atmosphere and characters who feel bruised but determined, I think you’ll enjoy Serial Obsession. Readers who want a gritty mystery wrapped in a relationship-driven plot will probably get the most out of it.
Pages: 356 | ISBN : 978-1968542061
Out Of the Drawer
Stupid Gravity follows a sharp but disgraced software engineer who is on probation, witnesses the abduction of a girl from a homeless shelter, and has to find a way to save her without breaking her parole. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I created Alex/Liliane as a secondary character in my first attempt at writing a novel. That particular Not Ready for Primetime manuscript went into a drawer and never came back out, but the rocky backstory of the strange little hacker girl with the gray-fendered Mustang stuck with me. A few years later, I brought her back in a NaNoWriMo project that morphed into a full first draft, Shadow Girl. A discussion with Hank Phillipi Ryan at a writer’s conference led me to realize that what I had really written was the second book in the series and that I needed to go back and develop the origin story. The result was Stupid Gravity.
Alex can’t seem to catch a break and just wants to get her life back on track, but the universe seems to have other plans for her. What was your inspiration for their characters’ interactions and backstories?
Back in the Nineties and Aughts, I used to hang out at a carriage house on Capitol Hill where first one and then another of my friends lived and sold weed. I’ve sometimes reflected on the irony of that little business operating comfortably and profitably for over twenty years while hundreds of more technically legitimate Denver businesses came and went. Visitors stopping in for pot or just a cup of coffee and conversation included lawyers, college professors, two dominatrixes who lived next door, one published poet, a former Penthouse pet, numerous players in the local recreational pharmaceuticals scene, a PO stopping in to buy weed from his probationer, and many more unique Capitol Hill specimens. The incidents and people from that carriage house still provide a wealth of inspiration.
Do you think there’s a single moment in everyone’s life, maybe not as traumatic, that is life-changing?
I think many people have dramatic changes in their life path due to some personal or shared tragedy. We certainly hear about individuals driven to careers in medicine, law enforcement, religion, etc., by such events. In recent years, it would be hard to calculate how many lives were drastically altered by 9/11. For most of us, though, I think life is a little more like billiard balls caroming about on a pool table. I know I’ve frequently thought back on the way seemingly innocuous decisions changed my life—a college course taken, a chance encounter in a bar, a job offer accepted or turned down, etc.
Can you tell us what the second book will be about and when it will be available for fans to purchase?
Set two years after the series opener, Shadow Girl is in the final stage of beta reads and should be released in early 2026. Still the employee-from-hell at HappyMart, still rooming with Cici, and still on probation, Alex/Liliane has developed a side gig doing what she likes to call street-level detective work. That knife-edge balance of an existence comes under threat when a stalker threatens to expose her litany of probation violations. His price for keeping quiet is a hacking job as liable to land her in prison as keep her out.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
Disgraced software engineer Liliane Dupuis is genius-level smart, wise in the way of sarcasm, and incurably socially inept. She’s also living in her car, a forty-year-old blue Mustang fastback with one primer gray fender. She’s on probation, having allowed a manipulative ex-boyfriend to drag her into a failed ATM hacking scheme. And she’s unemployed in 2010 when finding a job is tough even for those unburdened with a felony conviction. When Liliane witnesses the abduction of a little girl from a homeless shelter, she doesn’t figure her new bottom-rung reality carries the risk tolerance for getting involved.
With funds dwindling to desperation level, she uses a fake ID to land a job at a convenience store on a seamy stretch of Denver’s Colfax Avenue. Less than a week into her new salesclerk career, Liliane watches as the shelter kidnapper walks into her store. It’s not a coincidence, she knows. Just karma continuing to mess with her. A call to the police might or might not get the abductor locked up, but the exposure of Liliane’s parole violation will absoluely land her on a Sheriff’s bus headed for the state pen. Instead, she must use her resourcefulness, hacking skills, and ruthlessly logical gray matter to track down the kidnapper and rescue the little girl.
Stupid Gravity
Stupid Gravity follows Alexandra Farone, a sharp but battered software engineer who has slipped all the way down to the street level. She is broke, homeless, newly convicted, and trying to survive probation while living out of an aging Mustang and clinging to the last scraps of her old identity. When she spots a little girl who might be in danger, her life tilts again, pulling her into a messy world of shelters, addicts, low-wage jobs, and small-time criminals. The book blends tension, grit, and surprising humor as Alex reinvents herself as Liliane and stumbles into a mystery that keeps pulling her deeper. The story never sits still, and the tone mixes cynicism with heart in a way that sneaks up on you.
The writing has this blunt, unvarnished rhythm that feels like someone is talking to you while the city hums right outside the window. The scenes in the shelter, with stolen shoes and missing pages from library paperbacks, felt real. The author knows how to sketch misery with a weird sort of warmth, and it got to me. I found myself rooting for Alex even when she made choices that made me cringe. Her sarcasm worked as armor and sometimes as a cry for help, and I kept feeling that mix of frustration and sympathy that only an authentic character can pull out of me. I liked how the story showed small humiliations stacking up until they almost crush her. It made the idea of her chasing after a potentially kidnapped little girl feel brave and foolish at the same time.
I also loved the way the book let humor bubble up in the middle of all this roughness. The people Alex meets feel sharp and odd and alive. Cici, especially, stood out for me with her wild honesty and her ability to read people. Those scenes in her apartment, with candles and cheap beer and joints being passed around, had this messy intimacy that made me slow down and sit with the characters. The conversations were simple but loaded, and it reminded me how strangers can sometimes see us more clearly than the people we once loved. The writing made me feel the confusion and the longing and the strange comfort that comes when someone finally calls you out in a way you cannot dodge. It made the book feel less like a mystery and more like a story about being lost and trying to claw back a sense of purpose.
I think this book is for anyone who likes a gritty story with humor that slips in. It is good for readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries or stories where the setting feels like a character itself. If you like flawed leads who get knocked down hard and still keep stumbling forward, this one will hit the spot.
Pages: 336 | ASIN : B0FDBHB5ZM
Secrets from an Older Generation
All Fired Up follows two strangers who meet on the way to a small island in the Pacific Northwest and discover a shared history while trying to solve an old mystery shrouded in dangerous secrets. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Secrets that can’t stay hidden forever. Once they are discovered, they can trigger an avalanche of trouble, including rekindling long-held resentment. In my story, these are secrets from an older generation. My main characters, Jack and Marianne, discover that their grandfathers knew each other and did something long ago that now has repercussions, and another individual feels it’s time to get even.
I enjoyed the slow-burning romantic relationship between Marianne and Jack. How did their relationship develop while you were writing it? Did you have an idea of where you wanted to take it, or was it organic?
It was very organic. Although I knew that in the end, I wanted them to be together, I didn’t want it to be easy or rushed, and I didn’t always know what would happen next. I understood each of my characters, but I didn’t always know how their personalities would respond to each other. I would write a scene and initiate some action, and see how each personality responded to it and to each other. They became real people to me. But I did have some control. 😊 I wanted them to be tempted, but I didn’t want them to play around with each other. They are two mature adults with responsibilities, and they led two very different lives. So, I tried to write about their relationship as it might be in real life, with two people circling each other cautiously, feeling that there is a connection, but also reeling a bit because this came at them out of the blue: this connection. I also wanted them to be aware that it might not work with the others’ lives being incompatible with theirs at present. Jack is used to life in special ops, never being home and he wants to return to the army because it’s a life he is familiar with and one he does best. Marianne is realizing she wants a home life and her own family. I used the comforts of a home, meals together, and a homeless teenager to further connect Jack and Marianne, giving them both another purpose in life other than what they each currently pursue. It’s what could happen in real life for two people, life showing them what really matters and what truly fuels the heart.
Was there a reason why you chose this location as the backdrop for your story?
Yes. I love the San Juan Islands, and Orcas Island is one of those in that chain of islands in the Pacific Northwest. When I was young, my family would go boat camping around these islands. We would go into the Deer Harbor marina on Orcas to use the laundromat and buy supplies. To this day, I still visit Orcas Island for hiking or a weekend getaway. The ferry ride from Anacortes takes just over an hour to get to Orcas, and during that time, the world just slows down, and you are transported to another pace of life. It’s magical. It’s also beautiful with the wildlife, the evergreen trees, and the rocky beaches. I also like the idea that a serene-looking island can have its secrets.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
The series will continue. There are currently four friends in The Barefoot by Moonlight writers’ group, and each gets their own story. The next book, All You Desire, is set in LaConner and is due out in 2026. In book 1, you met Marianne’s brother Ian Dunaway and her best friend Fiona Sanchez, who is also a member of The Barefoot by Moonlight writers’ group. Ian and Fiona had their eye on each other in book 1, and we’ll see what happens next when a mystery brings them together in the idyllic town of LaConner. Books 3 and 4 are in development, where you’ll meet the other 2 writers in the group, where they, too, will discover a romance and a mystery.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Website | Amazon
When Marianne and Jack meet on the ferry to Orcas Island, it couldn’t be more awkward—for Marianne, that is. Jack has no problem with a woman landing on top of him. It’s a case of opposites attract. But they each have their reasons not to get involved.
But on this small island, avoiding each other isn’t to be.
An old tale of stolen jewels has resurfaced, revealing a dangerous secret kept by both of their grandfathers. It will take Marianne and Jack together to uncover the truth before one of them gets hurt. But solving the mystery means working out an arrangement. Jack needs a place to stay. Marianne has rooms to spare.
In close quarters, it’s soon apparent that solving the mystery might be easier than trying not to fall for each other as they realize that they both long for the same thing.
Who says nothing ever happens in a small island town?
Romance and mystery readers alike will love this page-turning romance set in the ruggedly beautiful Pacific Northwest where an island slowly gives up its secrets.
All Fired Up
All Fired Up blends romance with a thread of mystery, following Marianne and Jack as they find themselves tangled in old secrets, new dangers, and a slow-burning connection that grows warmer with every chapter. The story moves between personal histories, hidden truths, and the quiet charm of Pacific Northwest islands, all while nudging the characters toward each other in ways they don’t expect.
As I read, I found myself enjoying the easy rhythm of the writing. The tone feels laid back one moment and tense the next, which kept me guessing and leaning in. The bits of humor scattered through the story softened the heavier moments in a way that felt natural. I also liked how the setting worked almost like another character. The ferries, the rain, the small communities. It all added a cozy mood that made the danger pop a little more.
There were times when I wanted the pacing to be steadier, but I still found myself pulled along by the characters. Jack and Marianne have a fun kind of spark. It’s sweet, sometimes messy, sometimes frustrating in the way real people are. I appreciated that their connection wasn’t rushed. Watching them circle each other, open up, and slip into something deeper made me smile more than once.
By the end, I felt satisfied. The emotional threads landed, the mystery wrapped up nicely, and the romance paid off in a warm, soft way. I’d recommend this book to readers who love cozy mysteries, small town settings, and slow-burn romances with heartfelt moments. If you want something that mixes danger with tenderness and a little island charm, this will be right up your alley.
Pages: 255 | ASIN : B0FSP71H66
Deep Freeze
Anne Louise O’Connell’s Deep Freeze is a suspenseful mystery set against the unlikely backdrop of Dubai’s indoor ski slopes, posh neighborhoods, and glossy hospitals. At the heart of the story is Susan Morris, an American ex-pat nurse whose curiosity and compassion pull her into the chaos following a tragic ski lift accident that nearly kills her friend’s husband, Dr. Barry Thornton. What begins as a personal favor to comfort a friend quickly spirals into a dangerous investigation involving hospital coverups, cryogenic experiments, and the exploitation of domestic workers. The book moves briskly, balancing cultural detail with medical intrigue, and it doesn’t take long before Susan realizes she’s in over her head.
I was hooked from the start. The writing has a straightforward flow that makes it easy to slip into Susan’s world. What really grabbed me was the way O’Connell built tension through ordinary settings. A shopping mall ski slope or a hospital hallway doesn’t sound like a thriller, but the unease creeps in, and before you know it, you’re bracing yourself for the next turn. I found myself both frustrated and impressed with Susan. She’s stubborn, she pushes too far, but she’s also brave in a way that feels relatable rather than superhero-like. At times, the dialogue felt a little stiff, but the energy of the plot kept me flipping pages late into the night.
Emotionally, the book hit me harder than I expected. The parts dealing with exploited domestic workers left a knot in my stomach. It’s not just about crime or corruption, it’s about people living in the shadows of luxury and power. That gave the story real weight. I also felt for Susan as her marriage slowly unraveled in the background. Those quieter moments balanced out the faster-paced mystery, and I found myself caring as much about her personal struggles as the central investigation. The suspense had my pulse up, but the human side of it tugged at me even more.
Deep Freeze is a gripping read that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys mysteries with both heart and grit. If you like thrillers that blend cultural insight with medical drama, you’ll find a lot to love here. It’s especially for readers who want a strong but imperfect female lead, someone who feels like a real person caught in extraordinary circumstances.
Pages: 244 | ASIN : B0DTLY26YZ
Death and His Brother
Death and His Brother opens with a striking mix of glamour, grit, and unease. A group of musicians, headed to Cape Breton for a new hotel opening, meet fellow travelers on a sleek new train. The stage is set with vivid detail, from the bustling station in Truro to the eccentricities of Connie Del Barba, the formidable hotelier behind The Gramercy’s revival. The plot quickly tightens when the train barrels out of control, its crew incapacitated, and a runaway crisis collides with the lives of the passengers. Parallel storylines weave between Musetta Burrell, a young singer returning home, and Inspector Jimmy Urquhart and Sandy, his sharp-witted reporter wife, who are drawn into the chaos. The novel fuses historical setting, mystery, and human drama into a fast-moving and layered tale.
I really enjoyed how alive the writing feels. The dialogue is quick, sharp, and often funny. The banter between musicians felt natural, like eavesdropping on old friends, while Connie Del Barba’s wit nearly jumps off the page. At the same time, the looming dread of the runaway train gave me goosebumps. Author D.E. Ring has a knack for balancing humor and terror in the same breath, and I found myself alternately grinning and gripping the edges of the book. I’ll admit, a few stretches of description slowed me down, but even then, the sense of place and period kept me invested. The atmosphere, postwar Nova Scotia buzzing with ambition, music, and social change, stayed with me.
I also felt a deep affection for the way the book handles community and identity. The portrayal of Black musicians navigating a predominantly white world, and Connie’s insistence on giving them dignity and top billing, resonated with me on an emotional level. The book doesn’t whitewash prejudice, yet it shows resilience and solidarity. Musetta’s mix of ambition and insecurity felt painfully real, and Jimmy and Sandy’s domestic moments gave the story a grounding warmth. At times, I felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of characters and moving parts, but once I relaxed into the rhythm, it became part of the book’s charm, like stepping into a crowded room where everyone has a story.
Death and His Brother is a ride worth taking. It’s a mystery, yes, but also a lively portrait of people chasing music, purpose, and survival. I’d recommend it to readers who love classic detective fiction with a heartbeat, to those who enjoy historical settings rich with detail, and to anyone who wants a story that makes you laugh even while it makes your pulse race. It’s a book for late nights when you don’t mind losing sleep, because the train is moving and you don’t want to get off.
Pages: 242 | ASIN : B0FDX58QMG
LITERARY TITAN 