Josie Douglas came to the isolated country cottage with
her research, a good alibi, and a gun. She hoped that she’
d have enough time to unravel the facts behind the
tragedy that years before shattered her life. Instead she
found herself in a house haunted by its own dark history.
A series of strange coincidences, a ghostly visitor, and a
mysterious brass key provide Josie with tantalizing clues to
a mystery that keeps her guessing at every turn. As does
Marc Westbrook—a landlord who embodies the meaning
of the term drop-dead gorgeous. Soon she’ll have to trust
him with the secret that drove her into seclusion—a secret
that has already cost one man she loved his life.
her research, a good alibi, and a gun. She hoped that she’
d have enough time to unravel the facts behind the
tragedy that years before shattered her life. Instead she
found herself in a house haunted by its own dark history.
A series of strange coincidences, a ghostly visitor, and a
mysterious brass key provide Josie with tantalizing clues to
a mystery that keeps her guessing at every turn. As does
Marc Westbrook—a landlord who embodies the meaning
of the term drop-dead gorgeous. Soon she’ll have to trust
him with the secret that drove her into seclusion—a secret
that has already cost one man she loved his life.
From Publishers Weekly
In the plodding first of a new psychic crime fighter trilogy from bestseller
Hooper (Sleeping with Fear), Noah Bishop of the FBI's Special Crimes Unit is
now supervising an all-female team of civilian contractors known as Haven.
Together, they track a serial killer who has moved his maniacal atrocities
from Boston to a small town outside Atlanta, where he continues to kidnap,
torture and kill women. Psychic Dani Justice, who can often predict the
future through her dreams, becomes obsessed with the case. The
investigation of the crimes gets lost amid lots of psychic babble by members
of Haven, hand-wringing by the local police, and frequent snapshots of the
killer with his victims. An abrupt ending doesn't deliver on any of the trauma
and drama that Justice's dreams have predicted, though presumably
readers will get satisfaction on that score in the next entry in the series
In the plodding first of a new psychic crime fighter trilogy from bestseller
Hooper (Sleeping with Fear), Noah Bishop of the FBI's Special Crimes Unit is
now supervising an all-female team of civilian contractors known as Haven.
Together, they track a serial killer who has moved his maniacal atrocities
from Boston to a small town outside Atlanta, where he continues to kidnap,
torture and kill women. Psychic Dani Justice, who can often predict the
future through her dreams, becomes obsessed with the case. The
investigation of the crimes gets lost amid lots of psychic babble by members
of Haven, hand-wringing by the local police, and frequent snapshots of the
killer with his victims. An abrupt ending doesn't deliver on any of the trauma
and drama that Justice's dreams have predicted, though presumably
readers will get satisfaction on that score in the next entry in the series
| Kay Hooper - April Author of the Month |
Illegal Possession was released on
March 25th, 2008. Once you start you
won't put it down. It is a great read that
we have at 4.5 out of 5 stars.
March 25th, 2008. Once you start you
won't put it down. It is a great read that
we have at 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Check out the exclusive
interview we had with Kay
Hooper below. We had a lot
fun talking with her.
interview we had with Kay
Hooper below. We had a lot
fun talking with her.
Click on any of the images to
find out more about the books.
find out more about the books.
Here it is, our exclusive interview with the one and only Kay Hooper - April's
Author of the Month, 2008!!!
Author of the Month, 2008!!!
1. What is your all-time favorite book - not yours and why?
A. Tough question! Let me answer it this way: The book I’ve read the most times over the years is probably
Gone With the Wind. That said, I’m an avid reader, so there are lots of “favorite” books, for lots of different
reasons. Pretty usual for a writer, I think.
2. Was the jump from Romance to more suspense / thriller a tough one? What caused you to write more
suspense / thriller books.
A. Honestly, it wasn’t so much a “jump” as it was an evolution. I had suspense elements way back in my very
first books, and in fact most of my books contain suspense or mystery elements. The difference is a matter of
degree: I began writing romances with suspense or mystery (or paranormal) elements, and now I write
suspense/thrillers with paranormal and romantic elements.
3. Do you have any plans or are there any plans to turn any of your books into a movie?
A. Well, unfortunately, unless a writer has strong connections to Hollywood, it isn’t up to us – we have to wait
for Hollywood to come calling. I get regular “nibbles” of interest from this or that production company, but so far
nothing’s come of it. I certainly wouldn’t say no if someone wanted to turn one or more of my books into a film.
4. Do you have any superstitions when you write or when you finish a novel?
A. Not Really. I have habits, of course, certain music I listen to when I’m writing, for instance, but nothing so
ingrained that I can’t write without it.
5. I love the villains in suspense books, I think they make the book. Do you research the villain or hero
more?
A. Well, strictly speaking it would be the villain, since I do a great deal of reading on criminology and the
criminal mind. But I also read a lot on general psychology and behaviors, so that applies to both.
6. If you could go back in time and solve any mystery for yourself, what would it be?
A. Cool question. There are actually two crimes that totally fascinate me: Jack the Ripper, and Lizzie Borden.
In the first case, I’d love to know, for certain, who was guilty of those crimes. In the second case, since I believe she
was guilty, I’d love to know exactly how the murders occurred.
7. How many times during your writing of a novel do you change directions from what you originally planned
to do?
A. Every chapter? <smile> Since I don’t outline ahead of time, I tend to have only the vaguest notion of where
a story is heading – at least for a large part of the book. At some point, usually halfway or so through, I begin to
“see” the ending and feel pretty confident of where I’ll end up. But until then, I discover the story pretty much the
way the reader does.
8. Would you ever consider writing any True Crime novels or bringing back a non-fictional character, ie:
Jack the Ripper or Ted Bundy, and placing them in a fictional setting?
A. You know, others far more qualified in nonfiction or more experienced in using real people in fiction settings
have been there and done that, so I doubt it. Real crime does fascinate me, but I’ve never been tempted to morph
fiction into fact – so to speak.
9. What historical figure would you like to sit and talk to (alive or dead)?
A. Cleopatra. She ruled in a time when few women could, and that fascinates me. I’m also fascinated by the
Tudors, and would love the chance to talk to Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
10. I see you are a big Agatha Christie fan, as am I. Which one of your books would like her to review?
A. I think I’d be terrified if she reviewed any of mine! But she’s another person I’d love the opportunity to sit
and talk to. That would be very, very cool.
A. Tough question! Let me answer it this way: The book I’ve read the most times over the years is probably
Gone With the Wind. That said, I’m an avid reader, so there are lots of “favorite” books, for lots of different
reasons. Pretty usual for a writer, I think.
2. Was the jump from Romance to more suspense / thriller a tough one? What caused you to write more
suspense / thriller books.
A. Honestly, it wasn’t so much a “jump” as it was an evolution. I had suspense elements way back in my very
first books, and in fact most of my books contain suspense or mystery elements. The difference is a matter of
degree: I began writing romances with suspense or mystery (or paranormal) elements, and now I write
suspense/thrillers with paranormal and romantic elements.
3. Do you have any plans or are there any plans to turn any of your books into a movie?
A. Well, unfortunately, unless a writer has strong connections to Hollywood, it isn’t up to us – we have to wait
for Hollywood to come calling. I get regular “nibbles” of interest from this or that production company, but so far
nothing’s come of it. I certainly wouldn’t say no if someone wanted to turn one or more of my books into a film.
4. Do you have any superstitions when you write or when you finish a novel?
A. Not Really. I have habits, of course, certain music I listen to when I’m writing, for instance, but nothing so
ingrained that I can’t write without it.
5. I love the villains in suspense books, I think they make the book. Do you research the villain or hero
more?
A. Well, strictly speaking it would be the villain, since I do a great deal of reading on criminology and the
criminal mind. But I also read a lot on general psychology and behaviors, so that applies to both.
6. If you could go back in time and solve any mystery for yourself, what would it be?
A. Cool question. There are actually two crimes that totally fascinate me: Jack the Ripper, and Lizzie Borden.
In the first case, I’d love to know, for certain, who was guilty of those crimes. In the second case, since I believe she
was guilty, I’d love to know exactly how the murders occurred.
7. How many times during your writing of a novel do you change directions from what you originally planned
to do?
A. Every chapter? <smile> Since I don’t outline ahead of time, I tend to have only the vaguest notion of where
a story is heading – at least for a large part of the book. At some point, usually halfway or so through, I begin to
“see” the ending and feel pretty confident of where I’ll end up. But until then, I discover the story pretty much the
way the reader does.
8. Would you ever consider writing any True Crime novels or bringing back a non-fictional character, ie:
Jack the Ripper or Ted Bundy, and placing them in a fictional setting?
A. You know, others far more qualified in nonfiction or more experienced in using real people in fiction settings
have been there and done that, so I doubt it. Real crime does fascinate me, but I’ve never been tempted to morph
fiction into fact – so to speak.
9. What historical figure would you like to sit and talk to (alive or dead)?
A. Cleopatra. She ruled in a time when few women could, and that fascinates me. I’m also fascinated by the
Tudors, and would love the chance to talk to Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
10. I see you are a big Agatha Christie fan, as am I. Which one of your books would like her to review?
A. I think I’d be terrified if she reviewed any of mine! But she’s another person I’d love the opportunity to sit
and talk to. That would be very, very cool.