Mysteries with a Southern Accent
Crazy for Words is mystery author, Heather Weidner's blog on writing, reading, and anything that catches her interest.
Yesterday, we photographed over 140 participants at Bethia UMC's Vacation Bible School. Today, our Upward team passed out popsicles after the presentation. I got to meet Nutzy the Flying Squirrel and some other furry friends at the petting zoo.
I love that Steve Berry mixes history in with his Cotton Malone thriller series. In The Jefferson Key, he explores the idea that the four American presidential assassinations and the other attempts were related. This one has a lot of car chases, gun fights, intrigue, and pirates.
A lot of the action takes place in and around Virginia and Washington, DC. His protagonists drive a motorcycle down the beautiful staircase at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond. They shoot out the window and make their escape. They also have a battle at Monticello in Charlottesville over one of Mr. Jefferson's inventions that holds the key to a cipher.
The pirate stories take place in and around Bath, North Carolina and Ocracoke Island (Blackbeard Territory), and the characters even end up near Oak Island near Nova Scotia.
The book is fast-paced with great page-turning action. And Berry does a nice job with explaining fact from fiction at the end. Add this one to your beach bag for a fun, summer read.
We got up with the sun this morning to go kayaking. It's another beautiful day in RVA. The woods were so peaceful, and the wildlife was out in full force.
It's been raining off and on all day in RVA. It wouldn't be bad if the temperatures would cool off, but it feels like a rain forest out there today. So this morning, we tried indoor go-karting at ThunderBolt. It's a nice facility off of Midlothian Turnpike. It's indoors, and the carts are electric.
Events conspired against us this summer for getting out of town to the beach or the mountains. It looks like it will be a fall vacation. But, we decided to see some sites in Central Virginia. We went to the Metro Richmond Zoo today. The weather's great in RVA. We didn't do the zip line, but we had a nice tour with the animals.
I found thriller author, Steve Berry, through his short story in Faceoff.
I started near the end of Berry's series with The King's Deception, so now I have novels on either side of it to catch up on the story. But, I don't think you lose anything. Berry does a good job with building his characters and providing enough backstory, so you can read his works out of sequence.
The King's Deception is action-packed. It starts with retired state department investigator (and current bookstore owner), Cotton Malone doing a favor for a former boss. He's supposed to escort a youth back to London on a trip that he is taking with his son. The one good deed gets him involved with a 400-year-old hoax that could have major implications for the United States and Great Britain.
I love how Berry weaves history throughout his novel. His research is detailed. I had my iPad out while reading to look at the art and European locations that he described. I had to see the "rainbow" portrait.
And Berry has a knack for dropping bombshells throughout the work. All the roller coaster plot twists kept me turning pages. It was definitely hard to put down.
The King's Deception is a worthwhile read. And I'm hooked on Steve Berry. The Lincoln Myth is next.
Front: Maggie King and Vivian Lawry Back: Heather Weidner, Fiona Quinn, and Rosemary Shomaker
Rosie and a Friend
We had a really nice time at the Hanover Book Festival yesterday. Rosie Shomaker and Fiona Quinn led our workshop, "Anatomy of a Mystery," and we signed lots of copies of Virginia is for Mysteries. It is always nice to talk to so many mystery readers and writers!
Anatomy of a Mystery with Rosie and Fiona
It's going to rain tomorrow in Central Virginia. Come out and see the Virginia is for Mystery Authors at the Hanover Book Festival at Liberty Christian School (8094 Liberty Circle in Mechanicsville, VA) from 10 AM - 2 PM.
We are hosting a workshop on "The Anatomy of a Mystery," and we'll be there to sign books. Stop in and see Fionna Quinn, Vivian Lawry, Teresa Inge, Maggie King, Rosemary Shomaker, and me.
Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather Weidner has been a mystery fan since Scooby Doo and Nancy Drew. She currently lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.
Heather writes the Delanie Fitzgerald mystery series for readers who like humorous mysteries with a strong, female sleuth.
Powered by Squarespace