This week I read a suspense story from my favorite small press, Mantle Rock Publishing, written by fellow suspense writer, Deborah Sprinkle who hails from my hometown of Memphis. Deadly Guardian kept me turning pages until past midnight so I could finish it.
Don’t you love the cover? It perfectly showcased the setting. Next to my art department at Revell, Diane Turpin is my favorite cover artist!
Here’s the back cover copy:
When the men she dated begin dying, Madison Long must convince the police of her innocence and help them determine who has taken on the role of her guardian before he kills the only man she ever truly loved, Detective Nate Zuberi.
Madison Long, a high school chemistry teacher, looks forward to a relaxing summer break. Instead, she suffers through a nightmare of threats, terror, and death. When she finds a man murdered she once dated, Detective Nate Zuberi is assigned to the case, and in the midst of chaos, attraction blossoms into love.
Together, she and Nate search for her deadly guardian before he decides the only way to truly save her from what he considers a hurtful relationship is to kill her—and her policeman boyfriend as well.
My take:
I really enjoyed this fast-paced, twisty story. There were enough clues and red herrings to keep me guessing until the end. Madison was no wimpy female character, and I especially liked the romance that developed between her and Nate. And along with the fantastic setting, Sprinkel’s secondary characters–Sarah and Jeannie added a lot to the story. The spiritual element came across naturally and added to the emotional journey for Madison.
You can purchase Deadly Guardian at:
Deadly Guardians has a small-town setting. Which do you prefer: Big city or small-town setting? Leave your answer in the comments and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library!
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Comments 33
Hmm, I do enjoy big-city cop stories, etc, but probably small town would be my favorite setting. So much more community (everyone knows everyone else!) and a peaceful landscape to complete the picture!
Author
Great comment, Monique. I like the small-town feel whether it’s a big city or a town. 🙂
Small town, but big city can draw me in.
I like a mix of settings. To be honest, I get tired of all the small towns.
I love how you showcase/recommend fellow suspense authors on Fridays. I’m always looking for new authors to read.
Author
Thank you, Terri. I like to share books I enjoy. I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment!
Author
I agree, Lisa! Thanks for stopping by.
I definitely enjoy the small town setting. I love the cozy feeling a small town offers.
Author
I think most people do, Nicole. Thanks for dropping by.
Hmm, it’s even more interesting that he’s someone she once dated. That adds all kind of ripples to the earthquake–good twist.
Author
Yes, Delores! Thanks for dropping by.
The size of the town doesn’t really matter to me. What does matter is how the author weaves it into the story. For instance, the True Blue K-9 Unit series is set in NYC, but the authors have all made it feel like it’s just a neighborhood. The use of a big city, however, means that many more readers are likely to recognize well known landmarks, and thus relate to it. For example, I lived in the D. C. area for a couple of years. When stories are set there, I can picture the area clearly.
I love small town community because I have lived in one for so long. I agree with you the True Blue K9 series is wonderful in that it felt like everyone was friends and neighbors.
Author
I have to read that series, Debra! Thanks for joining the conversation.
Author
I agree, Tim. That’s why if an author uses a real place, they really have to do their homework. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
As the publisher of this book, I was taken with the first three chapters. I also could not put the book down. That is the way I like books. We are pleased to have Deborah Sprinkle as one of our authors. Thanks for the wonderful article, Pat.
Author
You’re welcome, Kathy. Loved this book!
I love small towns. But I also like the suburbs. Irene Hannon writes about St. Louis and some of the burbs that I was familiar with so it’s like visiting where I lived for 20 years! But my favorite is small towns with quaint old buildings
Author
I love it when I read about a place I’ve visited in St. Louis, Paula. That’s one reason I like to visit my settings–that way I can mention places that people recognize and have visited.
I like them both, but I think I like small town setting the best, where supposedly everyone knows everybody, but do they really?? This book sounds like a very good page turner and I would love to read it. Thanks for the chance. Have a Great weekend. God bless you.
Author
You’re welcome, Alicia. It is a page-turner, for sure!
I have enjoyed books with both big city and small town settings.
Author
Me, too, Erika. It’s really the writing that draws me in.
The size town really doesn’t matter to me. I think of small towns in cozy mysteries but larger cities for most suspense/mysteries.
Author
I think you’re correct, Gloria. Thanks for dropping by.
Pat, Thank you for sharing “Deadly Guardian”. It sounds like a page-turner. I enjoy small-town settings,
Have a wonderful weekend.
Author
Thanks, Caryl. I think small-town settings are carrying the day. 😉 Glad you stopped by.
That’s a hard question to answer since I like to read. A story doesn’t necessarily have to have a city or a town to get my interest and keep me reading. Besides small town and big city can mean totally different things based on a person’s background and experiences. That’s probably more true with small town than big city since most people may think of New York City, New Orleans, etc. when big city is mentioned.
Author
Deep thoughts, Edward. Since I live in a town of 15K, a city of 50k feels like a big city. lol. Thanks for stopping bu and joining the conversation!
a southern small town.
Author
A reader after my own heart! Thanks, Shelia!
I love small town settings! I live in a small town so I understand small town philosophy 🙂 Any author who can bring a fictional small town to life as if it’s one I could visit one day, is an exceptional one.
Thanks for featuring “Deadly Guardian”, sure sounds shivery with a killer after each of Madison’s boyfriends! Yikes!
Author
It’s a book I think you would enjoy, Trixi! And I love writing about small towns.
Thanks so much, Patricia, for reviewing my book! I’m a big fan of yours and it’s a real honor to be included as one of your Reader Friday books!