Now Say You're Sorry: A Reese Clayton and Emerson Lake Novel

by Barbara Fournier

When an abused young woman is the sole survivor of a string of murders, two detectives uncover a web of hidden secrets that could be deadly.

South Dakota detectives Emerson Lake and Reese Clayton were seasoned detectives with a complicated relationship, but nothing prepared them for the day a secretive man and a revered police Sergeant were murdered in an eerily similar fashion.

It isn’t long before they discover the victims have something else in a tortured young woman so traumatized she can barely remember anything.

As more bodies are discovered, the detectives begin to suspect a serial killer may be the pawn in a much bigger conspiracy involving the city’s most respected residents, including members of the police department.

Not knowing who they can trust or when the killer will strike again, the two detectives must put aside their own differences to find the killer…no matter who gets hurt in the process.

Now Say You’re Sorry is a textured mystery that pulls you in and won’t let you go. If you enjoy complicated characters, surprising plot twists and page-turning suspense, then you’ll love this gripping novel from Barbara Fournier.

Get your copy of Now Say You’re Sorry and discover an exciting, entertaining mystery you won’t be able to put down.

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2021

About the author

Barbara Fournier Author of Now Say You’re Sorry a detective mystery set in South Dakota remembers her first writing classes at a community college in the Hudson Valley. She never imagined seeing her name on the cover of a book nor sitting at the desk of a bookstore signing her creation for the first time.
She is also the author of After Our First Hello a memoir on her personal and professional life as owner and operator of two hair salons a career that spanned 35 years.
Now retired, Barbara and her husband of nearly fifty years reside in upstate New York. They have one beautiful daughter and son in law.
You can follow Barbara on Facebook at Author Barbara Fournier. Check out her website at barbarafournierauthor.com.

Reviews

[Lorraine Evanoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before the book even begins, the author’s dedication sets the tone for the profound intensity of her debut novel. The story jump-starts on page one and the action moves forward apace. Barbara Fournier’s unique premise, plot lines, and characters keep you turning the page.

This well-researched police-procedural set in bucolic South Dakota balances corrupt officials with salt-of-the-earth heroes. In addition to wonderful phrasing, imagery, and suspense, Fournier has a knack for romantic tension and sex scenes.

I hope this is the first in a series for the heroic investigative duo of Reese Clayton and Emerson Lake!

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know where to begin after reading Now Say You’re Sorry by Barbara Fournier…… to say this is a gripping, emotional, suspenseful, rollercoaster of a story just isn’t enough.

Fournier introduces readers to two amazing detectives, Reese Clayton and Emerson Lake, that readers will respect and fall in love with immediately. The two work so well together that you know that they will get the case closed and the guilty parties locked up….eventually. Unfortunately in Now Say You’re Sorry they are going to have to work extremely hard and the case is going to have them chasing their tails as well as watching their backs.

When two murders are discovered where the deceased are both staged the same bizarre way, it is determined that they have a serial killer loose in South Dakota. And it becomes more serious, as if two dead bodies isn’t serious enough, when one is identified as Sergeant Martin Kelsey. And as the detectives begin their investigation they learn that the two cases may have more in common that just the way the bodies were staged after being killed. However no one knew the dark, twisted rabbit hole they would be traveling down to find the guilty party or parties.

There is so much that could be said regarding Now Say You’re Sorry but to reveal more would be taking from the story and Fournier has crafted such a tale that saying much more could ruin the story for readers. What I can tell you and I feel very confident saying this is….. you will want to allow yourself plenty of time to enjoy this tale, have a drink and a snack at the ready, silence your cell phone and read with a light on (even if it is sunny out)…..and let anyone in the house know that you are reading a captivating story so proceed with caution when approaching you when the book is open.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an amazing read. I could not put it down after I started. It is hard to keep my interest but this sure did from start to finish..

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

8.25

[Deborah Lyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the author's first novel, and a good one it is. Starts off a bit slow but by about p. 70 it takes off and you can't put it down.

Set in South Dakota, the town of Cromwell is turned upside down when people start dying and a young woman has been found brutally raped many times over. Detective Lake and Clayton have their work cut out for them trying to take down the killer or killers.

Look forward to other adventures with Lake and Clayton.

[Donna Picerno · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Thriller Like No Other

Now Say You're Sorry pulled me into the story from the very beginning. I was so intrigued and needed to know more. It had many layers to the plot which I was not expecting. The author did an excellent job of keeping me on the edge of my seat. I can't wait to read more books by this incredible author.

[Phil Bayly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting murder investigation is the focus of this maiden novel by Barbara Fournier. The actual crime is original and captivating. It pulls you into the story. The victims and perpetrators sometimes blend. This isn't a perfect book, but there is nothing easy about self-publishing. The raw manuscript is powerful.

[Joycie DF · Rating 1 out of 5]

My book club of ten women read this book. No one thought it was great. Most people did not like it. The best part was the portrayal of the traumatized girl. The worst part was also the traumatized girl. Skip this self-published book.

[David Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this textured mystery thriller. An amazing cast of complex characters and enough twists and turns to keep you riveted. I couldn't put it down and it still haunts me (in a good way).

[Jacqueline Boulden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a crime novel and mystery rolled into one as police try to find out if an abused teen is responsible for her stepfather’s murder. The plot carries the story along with well-defined characters following one trail after another until they figure out what happened. Add in a friend of the young woman who wants to protect her, and you’ll keep turning the pages until the surprising ending. Next up, Death in My Reflection, as Fournier sends the team of cops off on a new puzzle.

[Ryan Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being form South Dakota, I liked this gripping police procedural detective story set here. Of course it's in the fictional town of Cromwell, South Dakota. But the setting and characters like Detectives Clayton and Lake are spot on for people on our area. The mystery itself was gripping and intriguing.

[Lisa Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

This book kept my attention from page one. It was very hard to put down. Lots of emotions from page to page

[Maggie Mcgivern · Rating 5 out of 5]

New author well worth reading

I was loaned a copy by a relative; liked it so much I bought a kindle copy for myself. Hope she publishes many more!!!

[Patrick Morin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kept you on your toes.

[Amanda Ewing · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE LOVE LOVE

[Natalie Hesch · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel terrible that I hated this book because the author seems like such a nice woman. Unfortunately the style of writing was not my cup of tea. There weren’t enough details, I couldn’t relate to any character, and it felt like it was a bunch of statements instead of immersing myself in the story. It was a struggle to finish and I wish I would have loved it.