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

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Her Fatal Valentine, Part 5

If you’re just joining us, you should know that Not Your Usual Suspect authors are treating our fans to an eight-part mystery round robin, Her Fatal Valentine. It started on February 4, so it’s easy to get caught up!

We continue our Valentine mystery round robin with Part 5 of Her Fatal Valentine by Kathy Ivan.
 

"You're a real piece of work, Lauren." Sarcasm laced Carter's response to her question. "You murdered your boyfriend when you found out he was cheating with another woman. Why, couldn't stand the competition?" 

"Caroline wasn't competition, Detective. She was vindictive, petty, narcissistic, and shallow, but I loved her. She was my sister but I wasn't blind to her faults. Anything I had, she had to have it, take it."  Lauren paused before whispering, "Even you." 

Lauren stood, her nerves slightly steadier now the shock of finding Kyle's body was sinking in. Kyle was really dead, lying in a pool of blood less than 20 feet away, while the man she'd always loved, the man her sister had stolen and married to keep them apart stood glaring down into her eyes, a strange light blazing in the depths of his dark gaze.

"Caroline's body was found in our home. I was drugged, bound and gagged. Mike's blood was everywhere, and you've always blamed me. Tonight, you show up here, before I even arrive, and there's been another murder. Why were you here first? How did you even now I'd been here?" 

John ran his hand through his hair, fingers mussing up the dark brown curls that hadn't seen a razor in far too long. His face, his whole demeanor seemed… tired. Leaning against the post of the front steps, he slid his back along its length until he sat back, braced against the wood.

"I got an anonymous call. Blocked number. The caller said they had proof you'd killed Caroline. Gave this address." He blew out an exhausted breath, before reaching into his pocket, pulling his cellphone and punching in a programmed number.

"Yeah, it's Carter. We have another one. The Valentine's Day killer has struck again."

 
Who called Detective Carter? Is there a serial killer on the loose or is somebody targeting Lauren? And why Valentine's Day? Where is Mike's body? Check back for part 6 by Elise Warner on Friday, February 15.

9 comments:

Rita said...

Dang. Can't you guys just post the rest tomorrow? This is killing me.

JB Lynn said...

Love the sister twist!!!!!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Kathy! This is so much fun.

Anne Marie Becker said...

Oh, I LOVE the romantic spark between them. Can't wait to see where this goes!

Jean Harrington said...

You ran with it, Kathy, and upped the suspense for everyone--especially Lauren. Good show!

Clare London said...

oh oh, I can't believe the way it all flows so well, with cheeky twists and sinister developments every day :)

Elise Warner said...

Now what would happen if eight of us tried to write a novel together? Kidding. Just kidding.
Enjoyed the sister angle, Kathy.

Sylvia said...

Wow! What fun!! Love the sister angle and frankly, I think she did it. Or better yet...it was the butler.

I'll be back tomorrow to find out was the killer.

Sylvia

Julie Moffett said...

This is a blast, I must admit! Of course, since I penned the second to last piece, I know what comes next. Bwhahahahaha. But I don't know how it ends. Wendy is keeping it all under wraps! :)

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