Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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The Mermaid Murders (The Art of Murder series)
Oh, February?! That is closer than I thought! :)
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I know! Right? :-)
ETA: The book will actually be out March 1st... very soon that date, too. :-)
Goge wrote: "Is this a start of a new series?"It's the first of the "The Art of Murder" series and at the same time linked to Winter Kill. You might remember Sam Kennedy? :)
Calathea wrote: "Goge wrote: "You might remember Sam Kennedy? :)"Nope, lol. Refresh my memory.
... Oh, wait, was he Adam's boss?
Linda ~ chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny ~ wrote: "Calathea wrote: "Goge wrote: "You might remember Sam Kennedy? :)"Nope, lol. Refresh my memory.
... Oh, wait, was he Adam's boss?"
He was the Special Agent who was brought in later on.
Jonnie said, "Adam, this is Unit Chief Sam Kennedy." She didn't quite cough when she said Unit Chief, but the words did seem to stick in her throat.
And no wonder. Sam Kennedy was a legend. The kind of legend Special Agents in Charge told bad little subordinates who wouldn't eat their vegetables. The Bureau's very own Bogeyman.
That one. ;)
Oh, wow!! I'm definitely listening to the audiobook of Winter Kill just before The Mermaid Murders is released.
HJ wrote: "Oh, wow!! I'm definitely listening to the audiobook of Winter Kill just before The Mermaid Murders is released."I liked that audiobook a lot. It somehow helped me to stay on top of all the suspects. ;)
Calathea wrote: "Linda ~ chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny ~ wrote: "Calathea wrote: "Goge wrote: "You might remember Sam Kennedy? :)"Nope, lol. Refresh my memory.
... Oh, wait, was he Adam's boss?"..."
Still drawing a blank, I'm afraid. (view spoiler)
Sorry, I don't have the book to look it up.
Linda ~ chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny ~ wrote: "Calathea wrote: "Linda ~ chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny ~ wrote: "Calathea wrote: "Goge wrote: "You might remember Sam Kennedy? :)"Nope, lol. Refresh my memory.
... Oh, wait, was..."
That one. When he was sure that he would be fired.
Calathea wrote: "Linda ~ chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny ~ wrote: "Calathea wrote: "Linda ~ chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny ~ wrote: "Calathea wrote: "Goge wrote: "You might remember S..."Thanks!
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Manning stopped blabbing and disconnected. Jason hauled on his jeans, slammed out of his motel room and stalked down the walkway to thump on Kennedy’s door.
Annoyingly, his hair, still wet from the shower, was dripping down his face. Jason brushed the drops from his cheeks just as Kennedy opened the door. Terror that he might look like he was weeping spurred Jason into attack.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing telling Manning I froze yesterday? You weren’t there. You have no idea what happened. I did not freeze.”
Kennedy said levelly, as though he was used to being greeted every morning by enraged colleagues, “I think you froze.”
“I didn’t freeze. You weren’t even th--”
“And I think you should stop yelling the word froze where anyone can hear you.” To Jason’s astonishment, Kennedy wrapped his hand around Jason’s bicep and drew him into his motel room.
The effect of Kennedy’s large capable hand drawing him briefly and disconcertingly close was…confusing. Definitely confusing. Adult male coworkers did not breach each other’s personal space unless they were very good friends--or possibly about to punch each other.
For damn sure straight male coworkers did not casually manhandle each other. It occurred to Jason to wonder if there had been another reason he had been partnered with Kennedy. Was Kennedy gay?
Ha. Asexual would be more likely.
Fleetingly, he was aware that Kennedy, though also fresh from the shower, had had time to slap on too much aftershave and drink several cups of motel Brand X coffee. He was wearing those reading glasses that made him look older if not scholarly. His shirt was unbuttoned and open, revealing unexpectedly ripped six pack abs.
Kennedy shut the door and let go of Jason’s arm with an okay-knock-yourself-out salute.
“McEnroe pulled a gun on me,” Jason said. Loudly. “That’s what happened. He had the drop on me. You weren’t there. You don’t know what you would have done in the same situation. It’s speculation on your part. And this isn’t about that anyway. This is about you not wanting to be partnered with anyone.”
“I don’t want or need a partner,” Kennedy agreed. “But if I’m going to have one, he sure as hell needs to be someone I can rely on.”
“You can rely on me!” Though maybe shouting wasn’t the most reassuring means of delivering the message. “And if you honest to God thought you couldn’t, you could have talked to me. You didn’t have to go behind my back.”
He wasn’t sure if he imagined the red tinge that appeared in Kennedy’s face. “I didn’t realize you’d been shot.” Kennedy’s tone wasn’t exactly apologetic, but there was a note of something that might almost have been regret. His gaze lowered briefly to the puckered scar on Jason’s shoulder. “Under the circumstances, I don’t blame you for being gun shy, and if I’d known the reason, I’d have spoken to you directly. But that doesn’t change the fact that you shouldn’t be out in the field if you’re not able to--”
“I’m able,” Jason cut in tersely. “I’m not afraid. Unduly. Of being shot. I did not free--”
“And if you can’t admit that there was a problem, how am I supposed to believe that you’ve got it under control?”
“Christ.” Jason turned away raking his hand through his wet hair. He faced Kennedy. “All right. Yes. Maybe I did freeze for a few seconds. It was just the surprise, the unexpectedness of finding a gun in my face.” As he made the admission, Jason realized he had fallen for one of the oldest interrogation techniques in the world: let’s work together to fix this mess.
Yeah. Right. Busted!
He finished without hope that there would be any comprehension, “I’ve been back on the job for a month and I’ve been fine the whole time.” He tried for a lightness he didn’t feel--and Kennedy certainly didn’t feel. “I give you my word, if we end up in a firefight this week, I’ll have your back.”
Kennedy continued to study him, flinty-eyed and unmoved. And then, to Jason’s astonishment, the powerful, aggressive line of the older man’s shoulders relaxed. He said, “All right. I’ll hold you to that.”
“You’ll…”
Kennedy said, “You’re correct. I wasn’t there. I didn’t witness the incident. You’ve been cleared for duty. You believe you’ll be ready next time. We’ll go with that.”
They…would? Kennedy would?
There was a pause--a strange moment--where neither of them spoke or moved. Jason was acutely aware of an unexpected intimacy created by physical proximity and an unexpected lowering of defenses. This was probably the first honest, unguarded conversation he’d had with Kennedy. But it was more than that. He was intensely, forcefully aware of Kennedy as a man. A powerful man. An attractive man. A man with shoulders like a bulwark and a full, sensual lower lip at odds with the ascetic planes of his chiseled face.
What was happening? He didn’t even like Kennedy. Did he?
Kennedy broke the spell with a crisp, “Were you planning to go bare-chested today, Agent West? I’m sure it’ll be a treat for the ladies of Kingsfield, but I suggest you grab your shirt and shoes. We need to get moving.”
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ETA: I just learned that it's Sam on the cover, not Jason. Oops. :-)
Wow. Tension felt in this scene!! Looking forward to reading more, most definitely. Thank you for posting Johanna :-D
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I think it is a tense little book. Every so often it's fun to write characters who do NOT get along. :-D
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https://www.createspace.com/5658259?r...
Johanna wrote: "The Mermaid Murders is now available in print! And I quote Josh: "Which, er, means print readers might actually receive their book before the ebook goes live!"https://www.createspace.com/5658259?..."
Done! ;-))
Thank you so much!
I'm not going to buy the print book! The last few days I have spent emptying one of my bookshelves, the room needs to be painted before I can sell. There are so many books, and less room in my new flat, so sadly, a lot have to be thrown out. It's a fight, I would like to keep them all, they are like good friends who have given me so much joy. But alas!I'm also sneezing non stop, they do collect dust :)
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It's Random Acts of Kindness Day today and Josh is gifting away 10 ADVANCE EBOOK COPIES OF THE MERMAID MURDERS . Yes, you read correctly! The book will be published on March 1st, but now you have a chance to be the lucky (very lucky!!!) winner of one of these advance copies.
To take part in the drawing, click yourself here in our The Mermaid Murders party topic and play with us!
I just finished The Mermaid Murders. I'm not going to spoil it for you if I say it's excellent, classic Josh Lanyon. I was completely engrossed and so enjoyed reading an excellent mystery and lovely romance. Can't wait to discuss it properly once everyone's had a chance to read it! And how did Josh find such a perfect cover?
HJ wrote: "I just finished The Mermaid Murders. I'm not going to spoil it for you if I say it's excellent, classic Josh Lanyon. I was completely engrossed and so enjoyed reading an excellent m..."Agreed!
I'm so looking forward to reading The Mermaid Murders... But I think I'm going to re-read Winter Kill first, just to get in the right mood ;)
Susana wrote: "I'm so looking forward to reading The Mermaid Murders... But I think I'm going to re-read Winter Kill first, just to get in the right mood ;)"I did, too, although Sam Kennedy only makes a small appearance.
Antonella wrote: "Me three ;-)"Me four!
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Karen wrote: "We have another classic Josh series off to a great start!"Exactly, although when I finished I wondered how can I wait till 2017 for the second book ;-).
Antonella wrote: "Karen wrote: "We have another classic Josh series off to a great start!"Exactly, although when I finished I wondered how can I wait till 2017 for the second book ;-)."
That was my first reaction too, especially Winter 2017! I consoled myself by remembering the other books we want Josh to write in the meantime.
HJ wrote: "That was my first reaction too, especially Winter 2017! I consoled myself by remembering the other books we want Josh to write in the meantime."The same goes for me ;-))
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The Mermaid Murders party started over at the party topic. Want to join us for a swin in the pool with mermaid tails? ;-)
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https://www.allromanceebooks.com/prod...
I got it immediately after midnight, but I have a busy week ahead, so I still have to wait for the next weekend to read it... Book releases on Sunday/Monday night are torture!!! ;-)
Oh.my.gosh. It's on my Kindle now. *squee*
My Amazon copy arrived early, so I'm reading it now. I had to look up who exactly Sam Kennedy was. Thanks for that, guys. ;)
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Did it arrive safely, Edina?
Read "The Mermaid Murders" in the wee hours this morning and enjoyed it, as always.Has anyone read "On Beulah Height" by Reginald Hill (another favorite author of mine)? A significant location in Mermaid reminded me of it, but I was relieved that Josh's went in a different direction.
Loved this book do much I couldn't put it down. Can't wait for the next installment.
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Did it arrive safely, Edina?"
Yes, it arrived, ..."
Apparently we had the same idea! :-)
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https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=y..."
Thank you for the link, Sabine!
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
Books mentioned in this topic
The Monet Murders (other topics)The Monet Murders (other topics)
The Mermaid Murders (other topics)
The Mermaid Murders (other topics)
The Mermaid Murders (other topics)
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Special Agent Jason West is seconded from the FBI Art Crime Team to temporarily partner with disgraced, legendary “manhunter” Sam Kennedy when it appears that Kennedy’s most famous case, the capture and conviction of a serial killer known as The Huntsman, may actually have been a disastrous failure.
The Huntsman is still out there...and the killing has begun again.
Did you pre-order yours already? ;-)
http://www.amazon.com/Mermaid-Murders...