#WriteWed – COLD CASE REOPENED Excerpt

If you’re like me and love unsolved mysteries and cold case files, I think you’ll love COLD CASE REOPENED, my March 2021 release for Harlequin Intrigue. It was so much fun to write the story about Rhea Reilly who believes that her twin sister is still alive and sexy Detective Jackson Whitaker who is risking his career to re-open the closed case. For now, here’s a teaser and free read for you!

Teaser

They are on a cold trail

And running out of time.

Rhea Reilly is certain her twin sister’s sudden disappearance six months ago wasn’t a suicide, no matter what Colorado authorities think. She can’t afford to trust police detective Jackson Whitaker—even if he’s risking his career to uncover the truth. But a lethal trail of lies is drawing them together…and into an inescapable trap.

Excerpt

Rhea had barely finished unpacking her things when the knock came at the door.

She hurried there and threw it open, expecting to find room service with the extra blanket she’d requested. That earlier chill hadn’t left her, not that a blanket would end it, but it had been worth a try.

It wasn’t room service. It was six-plus feet of lethal male, dressed in police blues, with a white Stetson held in hands that he shifted uneasily on the brim. He had shortly cropped sandy-brown hair that screamed former military and eyes the gray of lake waters on a dreary day. He clenched and unclenched his chiseled jaw as he stood there, obviously hesitant, before he finally said, “You should be more careful and check to see who it is before you open the door.”

Anger ignited instantly at his chastisement. “I was expecting room service. Not the police.”

He tipped his head, seemingly sorry, but he didn’t strike her as the type to apologize. Not willingly anyway. And it occurred to her then that he was the officer she’d run into outside the police station. The one who’d helped her pick up her papers and whom she hadn’t thanked.

“Rhea Reilly,” she said and held out her hand. “I’m sorry I was so rude before. I was upset.”

“I understand. Detective Jackson Whitaker. Jax to my friends.” A ghost of a smile danced across full lips, and he enveloped her hand with his big calloused one.

His touch roused a mix of emotions. Surprising comfort. Unwelcome electricity and heat.

“We’re not friends…yet,” she said as he continued holding her hand, longer than expected. Longer than necessary.

She withdrew her hand from his and wrapped her arms around herself. “And I doubt that you can possibly understand.”

That slight dip of his head came again, as if accepting her statement, and he motioned inside her room with his Stetson. “Do you mind if I come in?”

She both did and didn’t mind. Something about his presence was unnerving, but if he was here, maybe it meant that the chief had reconsidered her request.

“Please,” she said and waved him in.

He entered and, as he did so, his gaze swept the room, assessing. Observant. A cop’s eyes taking in the scene and immediately focusing on the thick folder sitting on a small bistro table beside French doors to a balcony facing the lake. The lake was a constant reminder of why she was here.

“May I?” he said and pointed toward the folder.

“Is that why you’re here? Did Chief Robinson change his mind?”

Order

Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/3iGCbKr
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3kAloKb
Amazon Kindle Box Set: https://amzn.to/2PSVRyn
Apple Books: https://bit.ly/coldcasereopened
Apple Box Set: https://bit.ly/applecoldcaseboxset
B&N: https://bit.ly/BNColdCase
B&N Box Set: https://bit.ly/BNColdCaseBoxset
Harlequin: https://bit.ly/HarlequinColdCase
Harlequin Box Set: https://bit.ly/HarlequinColdCaseBoxset
Kobo: https://bit.ly/KoboColdCase
Kobo Box Set: https://bit.ly/KoboColdCaseBoxSet
cold case mystery

Murder, Mayhem & Chocolate

Today I’m doing a holiday visit over at the Carina Press romantic suspense authors blog on which I’ll be writing off and on during the course of the coming year – NOT YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS.

So what do murder, mayhem and chocolate have in common? Why not pop on over and visit with me and Bobbie (aka Sunny) Cole as we discuss those three key ingredients for a romantic suspense. LOL!

And just in case your feeling the winter bite today, let my personal assistant (don’t I wish!) bring you a little something to chase away the chill or try the marvelous Chocolate Chile Recipe over at NOT YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS.

Caridad's Personal Assistant

Kiss Me, Kill Me Succinyl Choline

I hope you’ve been enjoying the Dark Side Demon Mondays I’ve been doing over at the Danger Women Writing website. It should be no surprise to you that I love all things demony and paranormal, but I also love Romantic Suspense. I guess that’s why what I write is really cross-genre and best called Paranormal Suspense.

Because of that, I thought I’d try a little change of pace with the blog and introduce a new segment: Kiss Me, Kill Me Tuesdays! Come visit with me and learn all about those things you need in the world of suspense, like fun weapons, fight scenes, ways to kill people, creating page turners and a whole lot of other stuff. Interesting stuff, I hope.

Today’s Kiss Me, Kill Me is a drug that was employed in a number of murders, but could also be used to paralyze someone for purposes of attacking them. That drug is succinyl choline which is a paralytic drug used to create muscle relaxation and short term paralysis. It acts quickly and has a very short duration of action, making it perfect for surgical procedures such as intubation.

It also made it perfect for murder and an assortment of other crimes. In fact, because of that short duration, it was nearly untraceable for quite a long time.

Why was that the case? Because 90% of the drug is metabolized quickly, leaving only a small trace that was hard to locate.

For some interesting murder cases involving the use of succinyl choline, you can check out these links:

Carl Coppolino
Murder of Nevada Controller Kathy Augustine