Guest Post
by Annette Dashofy
The Romance of
Mystery
Over the course
of seven books in my Zoe Chambers mystery series, I’ve come to the realization
that I can throw just about anything at my two main characters, and my readers
won’t mind—as long as Pete and Zoe are in a good place on the last page.
When I wrote the
first in the series (Circle of Influence),
I stupidly had no idea how vested my readers would become in the pair. After
all, I write mystery, not romance. Pete was divorced and had some serious
issues surrounding his ex. Zoe had a terrible history of falling for the wrong
guy. Their combined romantic histories “sucked swamp water.” So, in spite of an
obvious mutual attraction, they agreed (more or less) that they should stick
with being “just friends.”
My first inkling
this wasn’t going to work came at an author event (not mine) I attended after
the release of my second novel (Lost
Legacy), when the bookstore owner acknowledged other authors in the
audience, including me. A reader came over to chat, and while I was talking to
her, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a man approaching from across the
room. His determined stride drew my full attention…and a bit of concern. He was
dressed in camo, including a ball cap covered with fishing lures. He wore a
white beard and a glare in his eyes. The man marched up to me and demanded to
know, “When are Pete and Zoe getting together?”
He didn’t wait
for my response but turned and marched back to his seat, leaving me with my
mouth gaped and my head spinning. This man was not whom I envisioned as my
target audience! Yet he was hooked on the Pete/Zoe relationship.
Camo Man may have
been the first reader to open my eyes, but he wasn’t the last. I’ve tackled
some serious topics in the seven (so far) books in the series, however at every
author event I do, the question of Pete and Zoe’s future always comes up.
Always.
My answer
inevitably is “Keep reading!”
I will tell you,
I’ve learned my lesson about ending a book with them in a bad place. That won’t
happen again.
If you’re new to
the series and start at book one, yes, they get together. Eventually.
If you’ve just
picked up book #7, Cry Wolf, I’ll
give away this much: I put Pete and Zoe through the virtual grinder in this
one. But rest assured, they’re together—perhaps battered and bruised, but
definitely together—on the last page.
About the Book
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Henery Press (September 18, 2018)
Hardcover: 276 pages
ISBN-10: 1635113954
ISBN-13: 978-1635113952
Paperback: 276 pages
ISBN-10: 163511392X
ISBN-13: 978-1635113921
Digital ASIN: B07DXBSPF8
Rural Pennsylvania’s Vance Township Police Chief Pete Adams is down an officer and has been dealing with extra shifts as well as a pair of bickering neighbors, one of whom owns a machete and isn’t afraid to use it.Golden Oaks Assisted Living is outside Pete’s jurisdiction, but a murder in the facility his Alzheimer’s-afflicted father calls home makes the case personal.Paramedic and Deputy Coroner Zoe Chambers has been itching for an opportunity to take the lead in a death investigation. She gets her chance when her boss is hospitalized and not only assigns her to the Golden Oaks homicide but puts her in charge of the county coroner’s office.As if she doesn’t have enough to handle, a long-lost, over-protective, older half-brother walks into her life threatening to drive a wedge between her and the man she loves.A second dead body leads them to realize the case may have dark ties to a distant past…and if Zoe doesn’t untangle the web of lies, Pete will be the one to pay the ultimate price.
About the Author
Annette Dashofy is the USA Today best-selling author of the Zoe Chambers mystery series about a paramedic and deputy coroner in rural Pennsylvania’s tight-knit Vance Township. CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE
was a finalist for the Agatha Award for Best First Novel of 2014 and BRIDGES BURNED
was nominated for the 2015 Agatha for Best Contemporary Novel.
was a finalist for the Agatha Award for Best First Novel of 2014 and BRIDGES BURNED was nominated for the 2015 Agatha for Best Contemporary Novel.Author Links
Website– www.annettedashofy.com
Blog– http://annettedashofy.blogspot.com/
Facebook– https://www.facebook.com/annette.dashofy
Twitter– @Annette_Dashofy
Purchase Links Amazon B&N Kobo
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Sounds like a good read.
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