NOT YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS

A group blog featuring an international array of killer mystery, suspense, and romantic suspense writers. With premises and story lines different from your run-of-the-mill whodunits, we tend to write outside the box. We blog several times a week on all topics relating to romantic suspense and mystery, our writing, and our readers. We welcome all comments and often have guest bloggers. All our authors can be contacted separately, too, using their own social media links.

We find our genre delightfully, dangerously, and deliciously exciting - join us here, if you do too!

NOTE: the blog is currently dormant but please enjoy the posts we're keeping online.


Julie Moffet . Cathy Perkins . Jean Harrington . Daryl Anderson . Nico Rosso . Maureen A Miller . Sandy Parks . Lisa Q Mathews . Sharon Calvin . Lynne Connolly . Janis Patterson . Vanessa Keir . Tonya Kappes . Julie Rowe . Joni M Fisher . Leslie Langtry

Monday, February 4, 2013

Her Fatal Valentine, Part 1

As a special treat for our Not Your Usual Suspect fans, we've got a mystery just for you. You won't see it anywhere else but here at NYUS. Several of our wonderfully talented authors have put together a little mystery adventure round robin that we're calling Her Fatal Valentine. Join us every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the next few weeks as we unfold an eight-part whodunit Valentine's story that hopefully will keep you guessing right up to the end. So drop by often in the next two weeks and see if you can figure out the mystery!

Her Fatal Valentine, Part 1, by Cathy Perkins
 
“This is going to be a killer night.”
Kyle Bennett gave the room one last inspection. Candles flickered on the tables, the mantle. Flowers—roses that cost him a minor fortune—filled a vase. Music he'd pulled out of Lauren's stash played through the speakers. Steaks marinated in the fridge alongside the champagne and strawberries.
The small jeweler's box was stuffed in his pants pocket.
He'd pulled out every chick cliché he thought might make Lauren happy. He wanted this to be a Valentine's Day to remember. One she could tell her girlfriends about when she showed off the rock on her finger.
He moved to his bedroom and made sure the gym socks were in the hamper and the lid was down in the john.
Awesome sex was definitely in order tonight, too.
He was looking for clean sheets when the doorbell rang.
Damn. He glanced at his watch. What a time for Lauren to decide to be not just on time, but fifteen minutes early.
He gave the bed another assessing look. The sheets were pretty clean.
There was always the sofa.
The shower.
Location didn't matter.
Wearing his best smile, he crossed the living room and opened the door.
His smile faded. “What are you doing here?”
Then he noticed the pistol.
It was the last thing he ever noticed. 

Don’t forget to come back for Part 2 of Her Fatal Valentine on Wednesday, February 6.

12 comments:

Kathy Ivan said...

Great job, Cathy. Draws you right into the story and make you think: What's going to happen next?

Clare London said...

Oh what a punch of an opening :). I'm hooked already! This is a brilliant idea, and you've got a posse of superb authors to carry it through!

I think the butler did it. What do you mean, there's no butler? :P

CathyP said...

I haven't seen any of the other segments and can't wait to see what the other do with the story!

Anne Marie Becker said...

Oh, I can't wait to read the next one! :D

Jean Harrington said...

A great beginning, Cathy. Now I'm off to post the news on Facebook and Twitter.

JB Lynn said...

Great opening and I love the title.

Rita said...

I have to wait until Wednesday? Not fair. This is fun.

Anonymous said...

Clare - just because no butler has been mentioned so far doesn't mean it wasn't the butler whodunnit. Maybe the mysterious caller is a disgruntled former employee - a butler who was dismissed for some reason?

Dee J. said...

Great start, Cathy! Nothing like a terrific hook to suck us in.
:)

Julie Moffett said...

Good stuff, Cathy! Way to set the mood and tone! :)

Unknown said...

I'm totally hooked already. Great job, Cathy. Can't wait to read the next instalment!

Wynter said...

Love the hook!

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