Synopsis of Motive for Murder:
Meet Erica Coleman—a gifted and quirky private investigator with
an OCD-like passion for neatness
and symmetry, a penchant for cooking, (ten terrific recipes are included), and
a weakness for chocolate.
Erica imagined that her trip to Florida would be a slice of
heaven—a chance to get away from it all and catch up with her best friend, Wendy.
But one day into her vacation, all hope of fun in the sun is dashed when she stumbles, literally, over a dead man on Wendy’s driveway. With police closing in on her
friend as their main suspect, Erica must find
the real killer before Wendy ends up behind
bars.
With Erica’s skill, solving the mystery should be a piece of cake
but then a second homicide-attempt hits close to home andgenerates a whole new
list of suspects. There’s no way to sugarcoat it, a murderer is on the prowl,
and no one is above suspicion.
As the plot thickens, it appears Erica may have bitten off more
than she can chew, but she forges on, sifting through mounting evidence until
she hones in on the killer who has a surprising motive for murder. With a dash of romance and some surprising twists, this
thrilling mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last
page.
Praise from Traci
Abramson and Betsy Brannon Green:
Motive
for Murder is fresh, captivating, and cleverly written. The colorful cast of
characters will enthrall readers as they try to navigate the clever twists and
turns of this captivating mystery. Intriguing, memorable characters, and a
skillfully written mystery make Motive
for Murder Marlene Bateman's finest work yet—a must read! Traci Abramson
With a fresh, crisp writing style, Marlene Bateman introduces
readers to a fascinating cast of characters and skillfully unravels an
intricate plot full of twists and surprises! I loved Motive
for Murder and you will too! Betsy
Brannon Green
Excerpt:
“As
she drove back to Wendy’s house, the headlights cleaved the darkness and shone
through the rain, which was falling harder now. Erica parked across the street
and was nearly to Wendy’s door when she stopped suddenly, catching herself as
she nearly fell over something.
It was the still
figure of a man lying face down on the driveway. He was strangely unmoving. The
light from the porch illuminated a puddle alongside him, which was growing
bigger by the second. A chill shivered down Erica’s spine as she noticed that
the puddle was streaked by dark red threads that ran and merged with rivulets
of rain.”
Favorite Candy?
English Toffee
About how long does it
take to write a book?
My first novel took three years, but I still had a lot of children at home. My last one took nine months.
My first novel took three years, but I still had a lot of children at home. My last one took nine months.
What is your favorite
food?
I love Chicken Fettuccine! I also love halibut—I could eat that every day!!
I love Chicken Fettuccine! I also love halibut—I could eat that every day!!
What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?
Never. Give. Up. People don’t fail because they can’t write, they fail because they stop trying.
Never. Give. Up. People don’t fail because they can’t write, they fail because they stop trying.
What makes your novel
standout from the crowd?
If you like mysteries, this is the book for you. The intriguing plot twists and turns and has plenty of surprises to keep you reading. The characters are fun and fascinating,there is plenty of humor and a final surprise twist at the end.
If you like mysteries, this is the book for you. The intriguing plot twists and turns and has plenty of surprises to keep you reading. The characters are fun and fascinating,there is plenty of humor and a final surprise twist at the end.
One food you would never eat?
Sushi. Yeah, I know some people love it, but I’d rather eat worms.
Sushi. Yeah, I know some people love it, but I’d rather eat worms.
Where do you write?
In what is called a formal dining room. Who ever invented that term, anyway? How many people nowadays really use a formal dining room? It’s my “writing sanctuary.”
In what is called a formal dining room. Who ever invented that term, anyway? How many people nowadays really use a formal dining room? It’s my “writing sanctuary.”
What else have you written?
Most
of my books are nonfiction. The first is Latter-day
Saint Heroes and Heroines, which is a compilation of true stories about
people in early Church history who risked their life in defense of the gospel.
My
next three books are about angelic experiences in early Church History—when
people actually saw or heard an angel.
The first book in this series is; And
There Were Angels Among Them. The second book is, Visits From Beyond the Veil, and the third is; By the Ministering of Angels. These books are wonderful—they show
just how much Heavenly Father loves us and how aware He is of our lives.
Next,
I wrote Brigham’s Boys, which tells
the life stories of sixteen men who worked closely with Brigham Young as he
brought the Saints across the plains and colonized the Great Basin.
Then I
wrote my first novel, Light on Fire
Island.I was so happy when it became a bestseller. I then went back to non-fiction and wrote Gaze into Heaven, a landmark book that
contains 50 documented near-death experiences in early Church History. After
reading it, you will never think of life, or death, in the same way.
Do you like the spotlight or lurking in the shadows?
I am a very shy person, so I’m a lurker.
Does music help you or distract you while you are writing? If
you like to listen to music while you write, what is a favorite selection?
I don’t generally listen to music as I write. However, once in a while I’ll slip in a
CD,but it is something simple and soothing, like “Sounds of the Forest” or
“Rain” or “Sounds of Nature.”
Find more information about Marlene on her Website
Motive for Murder can be found at the following places:
Amazon:
Seagull:
Deseret Book:
Hello, Marlene! Great to meet you. I love a good mystery and this one does sound like a lot of fun. Congrats on your wonderful writing success!
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