Yet another taste of J.B. Fletcher, only this time with the flavor of literary satire…

As writers, we hear all the time that we’ve got to hook readers in just the first few pages or else. We’ve got to hook agents in the first few pages or else.

Whether you’re looking to get published or just hoping to hook your reader, first impressions are vital. Compelling opening scenes are the key to catching an agent or editor’s attention, and are crucial for keeping your reader engaged.
JEFF GERKE, THE FIRST FIFTY PAGES

This month I snagged from the New Release shelf:

The Author’s Guide to Murder by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White

First, I have to apologize for goofing any Scottish language in this book, as it’s set in Scotland. I avoided attempting the accent, at least. 😊

That said, The Author’s Guide to Murder is the work of three authors: Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White. The story is about—you’ve guessed it—three authors who are working on a book together when a murder happens at the castle they’re visiting. There’s a blurb on the dust jacket calling this a Murder, She Wrote kind of story with a flair of literary satire, and it shows. The prologue sets the grisly, bizarre crime scene with lots of detail thanks to the point of view of the protagonist, the Detective Chief Inspector in charge of the case. Thankfully, the prologue does not mean we’re dealing with some bait’n’switch; rather, the next chapter uses a dialogue format to show the police interviewing one of the women collaborating on a book. If the other authors are anything like the quirky Mrs. Pringle, I think readers are in for a treat here.

Let’s see what next month’s find will teach us, shall we?

Coming up, I have another lovely indie author interview, another point of struggle for my Autistic Biff, and God-willing, a chance to visit some old Wisconsin.

Read on, share on, and write on, my friends!