Waterborne by J. Luke Bennecke Book Tour! Guest Review and Excerpt!

 

Waterborne by J. Luke Bennecke 

Publisher

 Jaytech Publishing, May 2024

 Category

 Medical Thriller 

Tour Dates 

September 16-October 7 2024

 ISBN

 978-0965771597 

Available 

Print and ebook

 320 pages

   

Description Waterborne by J. Luke Bennecke

Civil engineer Jake Bendel is in danger—in danger of running afoul of the Governor of California. Jake, the project director of a multi-billion-dollar plan to solve California’s drought crisis, is spearheading a controversial, polarizing, but revolutionary desalination project. But the project is only 3/5 complete, and time is running out on what’s hailed as a last resort in California’s battle against a brutal, decades-long drought.

 Running afoul of the Governor is about to be the least of Jake’s concerns when he and his longtime friend and fellow engineer Paige Terner find themselves terrorized by a maniacal, stop-at-nothing terrorist intent on revenge—revenge and catastrophe. Jake learns that a mysterious waterborne virus is poisoning people throughout the state—and the source of the virus is his desalination plants. But how has this mystery virus wiggled its way into the water supply? In a pulse quickening race against time, Jake must uncover the truth. And that means dodging bullets, confronting the ghosts of his past, weathering a mounting body count, and withstanding threats that come way too close to home.

 What Jake uncovers is a secret network of vengeful terrorists with an unspeakably sinister plan. But before Jake can find a way to cure the masses, he is injected with the virus. Against the backdrop of a ticking clock, Jake is forced to track down the leader of the terrorist group. The stakes couldn’t be higher as he navigates through layers of betrayal and manipulation. Millions of lives hang in the balance—including Jake’s—in this standout thriller about bioterror unleashed, the brilliance of scientific pursuit, and the enduring spirit of a man who refuses to give in.

CHAPTER 1

August 1st – Stockton, California

11:15 p.m.

Mass murder can be complicated. But profitable.

From a vacant corner of the Chili’s parking lot, behind a four-foot-high wall of cropped manzanita shrubs, Gunther Pertile scanned the area for civilians. Not a soul in sight. He whipped out his Glock 9mm—with suppressor—aimed at each of the two main overhead lights and squeezed off two muffled rounds. Glass shattered, falling to the ground as the entire scene went dark.

He dismounted his jet-black Harley, then slid off his helmet to reveal the short, curly hair he’d recently bleached to no longer be the dark-haired, dark-eyed killer on the FBI’s most wanted list.

Running his fingertips along each of the four loaded mags inside the pocket of his leather jacket, he calculated the time to empty all sixty rounds. At three rounds per second and another three seconds to swap each mag, he could finish in just over half a minute.

One dead every half second.

Not bad.

But he tossed aside his mass shooting fantasy, forced himself back to reality, drew a deep breath and relished the security of his weapon. After two decades as a sniper, he knew tonight’s assignment—his actual job—would succeed.

Piece of cake.

His weapon holstered, he glided through the front door of the restaurant and took a window seat.

A flash of blue pulled into the parking lot. The target—a civil engineer named Jake Bendel—wore a gray fedora hat, jeans, a light blue dress shirt and plaid charcoal sport coat as he exited a Tesla and strolled toward Chili’s carrying a laptop, several rolls of paper, and a three-ring binder. Inside, the hostess escorted him to a booth on the room’s opposite side. Physically, the target’s height and weight matched the profile the boss had provided. At a height of just above six-one, maybe two hundred pounds, Gunther evaluated the level of effort to accomplish the abduction.

Within tolerance.

After Bendel sat, he ordered dinner and worked, checking his Apple Watch every few minutes.

Gunther took a slow sip of ice water, studying the mostly vacant dining room of the restaurant.

Eventually, the target’s food came and he ate—still checking his watch. Gunther smiled.

The other members of the assault team had already taken care of Jake’s friend, Dave, who most definitely would not be dining at Chili’s tonight.

Or anywhere ever again, for that matter.

Gunther finished his water and set the glass on the table.

His Android read 11:55 p.m.

Perfect.

He dug a hand into his pants pocket and wrapped his fingers around a syringe filled with enough Trihypnol to subdue a professional wrestler. With the quarter-inch-long needle capped at the tip, he’d avoid accidentally injecting himself with the hypnotic drug.

Trihypnol was the perfect concoction for tonight’s events. Once administered, the victim would remain fully awake, but in a highly suggestible and altered state of consciousness—alert and fully mobile for up to four hours. The famous Dr. Jake Bendel would later crash like a pelted pigeon and sleep for half a day, with zero memory of the evening’s activities.

Bendel stuffed the last piece of halibut into his mouth, chewed, and washed it down with a final swig of beer.

Game time.

© J. Luke Bennecke

 A high octane, high tech, high stakes thriller that brims with action, tantalizing twists, and a pulse-racing plot, Waterborne grabs readers from the first page—and doesn’t let go. Arresting, imaginative, disquieting, and teeming with tension, Waterborne is unrelenting, unquestionably realistic, and unputdownable. J. Luke Bennecke’s Waterborne is a masterfully-rendered, gripping tale that will leave readers breathless.

Praise for Waterborne by J. Luke Bennecke

“With intriguing concepts and well-rounded protagonists, J. Luke Bennecke’s WATERBORNE is a high-octane page-turning thriller, elevated by fascinating scientific detail and an empathetic hero.”- Indie Reader

“An entertaining, action-packed tale involving viruses and terrorism.”- Kirkus Reviews

“Waterborne is recommended to those who love thrillers with a technological and engineering basis rather than a militaristic or espionage one. And anyone who enjoys thrillers where regular (though brilliant) people find themselves in incredibly high-stakes situations will find plenty to dig into as well.”  Independent Book Review

“This is an action-packed, fast-paced thriller set in the immediate future that is equal parts thought-provoking, edge-of-your-seat thrilling. Easy to read and fast-paced with plenty of thrills.”- Avonna Loves Genres

“Bennecke was able to create a suspenseful story that was driven by an action-packed plot. The book pulled me in and left me eager for the next installment.”-OnlineBookClub.org

Guest Review

Waterborne

Guest Review by Laura

“She'd brought Jake on board to solve California's drought by finishing all five plants in record time. At her request, Jake had engineered the concept of pumping and treating seawater with energy created by a new form of cheap, safe nuclear power. The clean water would provide a basic human resource to most of California's booming population for decades.” 

This might be the most thrilling book that I have read all year!  'Waterborne,' by J. Luke Bennecke is a sometimes frightening, sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartwarming sucker punch of a novel that will make even the most stoic reader squirm. 

This book is a thriller, not a horror novel, but the idea of a terrorist threatening our water supply is scary enough that it had me shivering, and I don't even live in California! But, let me break down the main plot for you so you can get what I mean. 

Jake Bendel is a civil engineer who is working on a plan to end all drought in California for good. Great, right? Well, not for everyone. See, there is a group of terrorists that want to use Jake's water treatment plants to poison the population of the state—and they intend to use Jake to do it. Unfortunately, Jake has no awareness of their plans and no memory of being kidnapped by them as they gave him a drug to make him forget their interactions. 

When the clock is ticking and his life, as well as the lives of millions of innocent people, are on the line, will Jake have what it takes to stop the terrorists in their tracks? 

I found the ending to this one really satisfying and I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it! Bennecke is a very talented author! I'll definitely be watching for more from him in the future! 

About J. Luke Bennecke

Multi award winning and best selling author, J. Luke Bennecke is a veteran civil engineer with a well-spent career helping people by improving Southern California roadways. He is the author of three bestselling, award-winning thrillers: Civil Terror: Gridlock, Waterborne, and his 2023 release Echo from a Bayou 

 Website

 https://www.jlukebennecke.com/ 

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https://www.facebook.com/jlukebennecke 

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This giveaway is for 1 print or 1 ebook copy and is open worldwide. This giveaway ends on October 18, 2024 midnight, pacific time. Entries accepted via Rafflecopter only. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow Waterborne by J. Luke Bennecke

Waterborne Web Tour Schedule

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus  Sept 16 Interview

Sal Goodreads  Sept 17 Review

Suzie Goodreads  Sept 18 Review

Mike M Goodreads  Sept 19 Review

Bee Book Pleasures  Sept 20 Review

DT Chantel Amazon & Goodreads  Sept 23 Review

Kathleen Celticlady’s Reviews Sept 24 guest Review- Laura & Excerpt

Gud Reader  Goodreads Sept 25 Review

Leslie StoreyBook Reviews Sept 26  guest review Nora & Interview

Ellen Goodreads  Sept 27 Review

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Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Oct 1 Guest Review-Mark

Linda Goodreads Oct 2 Review

Mindy Room without Books is Empty  Oct 3 & Excerpt

Liam Goodreads  Oct 4 Review

Bookgirl  Amazon & Goodreads Oct 7 Review

   

Bearly Evident by Lois Schmitt September 9 - October 4, 2024, Virtual Book Tour!

A Kristy Farrell Mystery

When a body is found in the Happy Place Animal Sanctuary, wildlife reporter Kristy Farrell is on the case. She soon discovers this was no accident. It was MURDER!

Five people were present at the sanctuary when the death occurred. As Kristy digs deeply into the victim's past, she uncovers dark secrets affecting each of these five suspects--powerful motives for murder.

Meanwhile, life is anything but calm on the home front. The best friend of Kristy's widowed mother is a victim of a pyramid scam. Kristy, assisted by her veterinarian daughter, is determined to expose the fraud although it may be at great personal risk.

Back at the sanctuary, things are spiraling downhill. Wolves escape and another body is found. With the bad publicity, the sanctuary may be forced to close. And a killer is still on the loose!

Despite being thwarted at every move by her nemesis, the blustery Detective Wolfe, Kristy uncovers a major hole in the alibi of a key suspect. But as she gets nearer to closing in on this killer, it looks a if she might become the third victim.

Genre Cozy Mystery

Published by: Encircle Publications

Publication Date: September 4, 2024

Number of Pages: 280

ISBN: 9781645995609 (ISBN10: 1645995607)

Series: A Kristy Farrell Cozy Mystery, 4

Book Links Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | Encircle Publications

I started back for my appointment with the sanctuary’s business manager when I heard voices coming from behind a desk. I recognized one of the vices. I snuck behind to look and listen.

“I know you want her job, and to tell the truth, I’d much prefer you,” Nick Lamonica said.

“Why can’t you fire her?” asked the other man. I couldn’t see his face, but he wore orange leather boots.

“Be patient,” Nick answered, “She may be gone sooner than you realize.”

A woman’s scream pierced the air.

Nick and the man in orange boots sped off in the direction of the scream. I raced after them.

The screams had come from Gina Garone, the sanctuary director. She pointed to one of the animal habitats. Spread across the grass was a body.

Hovering over the body was a mountain of fur with fangs.

Bella the bear.

***

Excerpt from Bearly Evident by Lois Schmitt. Copyright 2024 by Lois Schmitt. Reproduced with permission from Lois Schmitt. All rights reserved.

A mystery fan since she read her first Nancy Drew novel, Lois Schmitt combines a love of mysteries with a love of animals in her series featuring wildlife reporter Kristy Farrell which includes Monkey Business, the first in the series, Something Fishy, 2nd runner-up for the Killer Claymore Award, and Playing Possum, Silver Falchion Award Finalist. Bearly Evident is the fourth in the series, but each book can be read as a stand alone.

She is a member of several wildlife and humane organizations as well as Mystery Writers of America and the Long Island Author's Guild.

Lois worked for many years as a freelance writer and is the author of Smart Spending, a consumer education book for young adults. She previously served as media spokesperson for a local consumer affairs agency and often incorporates consumer scams into her books. She also taught at Nassau Community College.

Lois lives in Massapequa, New York with her family which includes a 120 pound Bernese Mountain dog. This dog bears a striking resemblance to Archie, a huge dog of many breeds, featured in her mystery series.

For latest news on Lois visit :
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Facebook - @LoisSchmittAuthor

 

 

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Shadows Llysygarn Book 1 by Thorne Moore Book Tour! @SilverDaggerBookTours #Shadows #LongShadows #LlysygarnSeries @thornemoorenovelist @thornemoore2019

 There are old tragedies sealed in the stones of Llysygarn 

and their shadows don't let go.  

Shadows

Llysygarn Book 1

by Thorne Moore

Genre

 Paranormal Historical Crime

 Kate Lawrence can sense the shadow of violent death and it's a curse she longs to escape. But, joining her cousin Sylvia and partner Michael in their mission to restore and revitalise the old mansion of Llys y Garn, she finds herself in a place thick with the shadows of past deaths.

She seeks to face them down but new shadows are rising. Sylvia's manipulative son, Christian, can destroy everything. Once more, Kate senses that a violent death has occurred…

A haunting exploration of the dark side of people and landscape, set in the majestic and magical Welsh countryside.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Long Shadows

Llysygarn Book 2

 Llys y Garn is an ancient mansion riddled with mysteries. What tragedies haunt the abandoned servants' attics, the derelict great hall, the deep mire in the woods?

1884. The Good Servant. Nelly Skeel is the unloved housekeeper whose only focus of affection is her master's despised nephew.

1662. The Witch. Elizabeth Powell, in an age of bigotry and superstition, who would give her soul for the house she loves.

1308. The Dragon Slayer. Angharad ferch Owain, expendable asset in her father's eyes, dreams of wider horizons, and an escape from the seemingly inevitable fate of all women.

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Thorne was born in Luton and graduated from Aberystwyth University (history) and from the Open University (Law). She set up a restaurant with her sister and made miniature furniture for collectors. She lives in Pembrokeshire, which forms a background for much of her writing, as does Luton.

She writes psychological mysteries, or "domestic noir," exploring the reason for crimes and their consequences, rather than the details of the crimes themselves. and her first novel, "A Time For Silence," was published by Honno in 2012, with its prequel, "The Covenant," published in 2020. "Motherlove" and "The Unravelling" were also published by Honno. "Shadows" is set in an old mansion in Pembrokeshire and is paired with "Long Shadows," which explains the history and mysteries of the same old house. Her latest crime novels, "Fatal Collision" and "Bethulia" are published by Diamond Crime. She's a member of Crime Cymru.

She has also written the Science Fiction trilogy "Salvage," including "Inside Out," "Making Waves" and "By The Book" as well as a collection of short stories, "Moments of Consequence."

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#Paranormalbooks #mysterybooks #historicalbooks #paranormalmystery #historicalmystery#books #readers #reading #booklovers #BookTour #Giveaway #bookbuzz #bookboost #bookrecommendations #BookBlogger #Bookstagram #bookish #bookclub #MustRead #Writersofinstagram #AmReading #BookPromo #AuthorPromo #writingcommunity #readerscommunity  

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Jack Long and the Demon’s Deal by L.J. Hamlin New Release Blitz!

 

Title: Jack Long and the Demon’s Deal

Author: L.J. Hamlin

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: 09/17/2024

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 39800

Genre

 Paranormal, Romance, paranormal, family-drama, gay, nonbinary, demon, angel, demonic pact, magic, bartender, musician, PTSD

Add to Goodreads

Description

"Jack Long owes everything to his older brother, so when his brother has to give up one dream to protect another, Jack steps in. He doesn't have much, but a friend's inspiration has Jack taking a huge leap of faith and doing something he never thought he'd do--a ritual. During the ritual in a graveyard, Jack ends up with far more than just the help he came for. With a demon for a house guest, he has no idea what to expect, especially because this demon is hotter than hell."

Excerpt

Jack Long and the Demon’s Deal L.J. Hamlin © 2024 All Rights Reserved

The twang of the guitar marked the end of the set, and Jack had a beer waiting behind the small backwoods Texas bar for his brother Kris.

“Beer?” Kris asked, leaning heavily against the other side of the bar. He looked bone weary, deep lines around his eyes. Jack was worried that working three jobs was going to run his brother into the grave early, something he’d been deathly afraid of happening from the day he was fourteen and their parents had passed away in an accident.

“You seem a little off tonight.” Jack passed over the cold bottle. It was a local brew.

“Show wasn’t good?” Kris asked, worry showing as Jack picked up a glass to clean. The bar was quiet enough that they could talk. Most people were on the main floor and were still dancing, even though the music had switched from the band to a CD.

“No, you sounded great. I just know you, Kris. You were tense.” Jack was pretty close to his older brother, a man who’d been like a father to him. He could read him fairly well, no matter how much Kris tried to hide his worries.

“I might have to give up the band,” Kris blurted out, and Jack was shocked. He hadn’t been expecting that. His brother loved playing with his laid-back country band.

“Why?” Jack asked.

“Cherry is pregnant. We’ll need more money. I need to find one job that pays well enough to support us, even when she can’t work. I just can’t see the band making enough money for me to justify the time for practicing and performing.”

Jack did his best to hide his shock. “Congratulations, but I thought Cherry couldn’t have kids?”

Kris and Cherry were high-school sweethearts and had married a couple years ago. Jack loved his sister-in-law; they were close, and she’d told him herself about her health issues.

“That’s what her old doctor told her, but she’s at three months now. I waited to tell you, but her new doc says she might need bed rest for some of the pregnancy. Her blood pressure is low and a bunch of stuff I don’t understand, but God, Jack, we want this baby. I’ll pay every doctor’s bill it takes to keep my kid and Cherry safe and happy. I’ll find a way. I can’t lose either of them.” Kris looked like the world was weighing on his shoulders yet again. He hadn’t had an easy life. He deserved a break, and Jack wished he could give him one, but he was just a bartender in a shitty bar. He had no money to spare.

“Is there anything I can do?” he asked anyway.

“Win the lottery? Don’t stress about it though, kid. It’s not your job to take care of me.” Kris waved away his offer of help.

“You’re my brother. Cherry is like my sister, and that baby she’s carrying is family. If I can help, I will. I’ll get a second job, help you out,” Jack offered, meaning every word.

“I appreciate it, Jack, but you need to take care of you first. Working too much is no good for you. I don’t want you burning out again. Look, we’re due back on. We’ll talk about it more some other time.” Kris took a swallow of his beer, then turned and left before Jack could argue.

Kris got back up on the small stage with the rest of his band. The CD stopped, and Kris strapped his guitar on and took the mic. He was just over six feet tall, with broad shoulders, a slight beer belly, and a handsome sort of face. He kept his blond hair shaved, a habit from his short time in the army. Jack looked a lot like his brother, except he was a good few inches shorter, with a slimmer frame. Where Kris’s hair was cropped close, Jack let his grow long, golden blond down to his shoulders.

Kris looked at home on stage, dancing lightly in time with the music, crooning his own lyrics and a few covers. He was talented, with an excellent voice and good with the guitar, but he’d never had a break. Jack couldn’t imagine ever getting on that stage himself. He would fall apart, he was sure. Though both he and Kris had been diagnosed with PTSD for different reasons, it didn’t affect them in the same way. Kris was far more confident—at least he was when it came to music. He could be useless at small talk.

“Hey, spaceman, you with me?” a voice called, and Jack shook himself out of his hyper focus on his brother and realized he had a friend at the bar.

Kim Joy stood out in a redneck bar, not just because of their mixed heritage, making them the only Asian in a room full of white people. It was their clothes, their long black skirt and corset, the blue streaks in their black hair, the dramatic eye makeup and dark lipstick, the pentagram on a cord around their neck.

Hazelwood Creek didn’t have many half Chinese, goth, nonbinary femme witches. In fact, it only had Kim Joy, and their little shop had caused quite the stir. Jack personally loved them. They were snarky and sweet, whip smart. And he was lucky enough to call them a friend.

“Sorry, Kim. What would you like to drink?” Jack asked.

“Whisky sour, and I may have overheard a little. Congratulations on becoming an uncle.” Kim Joy smiled, their bright-red lipstick shiny even in the dim bar light.

Jack prepared Kim’s drink. “Know any spells to bring in wealth?”

“None that’ll be what you need, but I do have a suggestion. It’s not something to be taken on lightly though.” Kim took their whisky sour and swirled the plastic stirrer through the liquid. They looked very serious and kept their voice low.

“One second.” Jack had to leave to serve someone quickly, but Kim was still waiting for him when he was finished.

“I was never much of a believer, not before I knew you, so shoot. What is it that you think I should try?” Jack trusted them. If anyone was a real mystic, it was Kim Joy.

“Your life needs more balance, right?” Kim asked seriously.

“I guess my family could use a little more light. This baby is the first miracle in a while, but I’m scared giving up music will kill part of Kris,” Jack admitted.

Kim nodded. “You need to summon a balance demon and make a deal.”

“A balance demon?” Jack was a bit in over his head. He’d seen Kim Joy do small things: blessings that charged the air, simple healings. He’d started lighting the candles they suggested and keeping crystals, but demons? He didn’t even know those were real.

“It’s not for the faint of heart. You have to be willing to make whatever deal is offered. I’ve talked with demons before, and word is, balance demons are the least dark, but still far from light. They can be trusted though, not like tricksters. Their word is their bond,” Kim Joy explained in hushed tones.

“How do I summon one?” Jack asked, out of his depth but willing to try just about anything.

“You need to go to a deconsecrated church ground, like the one on Bishops Hill, in the hour before dawn. Knock three times on the door and say ‘I seek balance,’ then light a candle and wait for it to go out. When it does, the demon will appear.” Kim Joy described the process as if it were simple.

“I get off close to dawn. I could go tonight, but I don’t have a candle in my car.” Jack wanted to act soon. If this failed, which he was almost certain it would, he still needed time to find a way to help Kris.

“I have some in my bag. A white candle would be best.” Kim Joy patted their colorful large bag.

“Is this something an amateur should mess with alone?” Jack wanted to be sure. On Kim’s advice, he’d warded his apartment against evil, little things like that, but summoning a demon was leaping forward about a dozen steps in the witch path.

“Most people I would advise against any dealings with demons, but Jack, you have the purest spirit I have ever encountered, and that will work in your favor. And like I have told you before, you could be a very powerful witch with practice.” Kim Joy’s eyes shone in the dim bar light. Anyone else standing before him, apart from maybe Kris and Cherry, he would have assumed they were trying to trick him somehow, that there was some kind of gain in it for them. But Kim Joy was made of goodness, and Jack trusted them.

“Can I borrow a candle, please?” he asked, mind made up.

“Of course. Here, take it now. I’m not staying much longer. One more quick dance and home for me. I need to charge some moon water. You’re lucky it’s a full moon. The veil is thinner tonight,” Kim Joy said brightly as they opened their bag and passed over a large tea light.

“Do you have a ride home?” Jack asked, worried about them getting home safely.

“A circle member is coming to pick me up, a trusted friend. Don’t you worry, Jack Long. Besides, you should know by now a person would be a fool to cross a witch.” Kim Joy flashed him a wicked smile, reading his concern easily, as they always did.

“Just because I know you can defend yourself from a lot doesn’t mean I want you put in a situation where you have to do so,” Jack told them, firmly putting the candle into his loose work pants pocket.

Kim Joy grinned. “You’re a doll, Jack, but I’m fine. Let me know how it goes.”

“I will.” Jack patted his pocket. Kim Joy took their drink to go dance, and Jack focused on the rest of his shift.

NineStar Press | Books2Read

Meet the Author

LJ Is a disabled queer writer in her late twenties, she’s been writing for many years and loves to share her stories she’s never without a few projects on the go and writes as much as her body allows. She is a lover of animals which often shows in her books and her social media.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a $50.00 NineStar Press Gift Code!

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The Button Collector by @m.m.cochran_writer Book Blitz! #XpressoTours @XpressoTours⁣⁣⁣⁣ #mmcochran #⁣⁣TheButtonCollector

 

The Button Collector by M.M. Cochran

Publication date

 September 17th 2024

Genres

 Adult, Psychological Thriller

When Chicago journalist Jessica Knight is linked to a string of odd murders happening across the country, her life takes a turn for the worse.

She is left wondering why her relatives are the ones dropping like flies under the signature mark of a serial killer . . . why she can’t stop thinking about Michael Bradley, the appealing detective assigned to protect her . . . and most of all, why, despite being the Button Collector’s prime target, she’s still alive at all. 

One thing she knows for certain: the killer is always watching. As the line between truth and deception begins to blur, Jessica crumbles under the dense web of lies she’s trying to keep straight–especially once the police start questioning more than just her sanity. With pressure mounting, Jessica must navigate being under the watchful eye of the police–and the killer–while risking it all in a dangerous game to make up for the mistakes of her past.

Her days are numbered…one way or the other.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

EXCERPT:

Chapter 1

The first thing I feel when I step outside my apartment building is his eyes on me.

They burn. They haunt. They’re always there, somehow finding me almost every day since the first murder.

Long shadows stretch over the brown patch of grass before my building. They’re soft on my boots and heavy on the winter flowers that need sun. Rain pelts down the petals, but I’m too cold to get my fingers wet and shake the water off the weak flowers.

The thick weather clouds the feeling of his surveillance, but I still close my eyes to escape it.

Count backwards from ten.

Nine.

Eight.

Seven.

Okay, it’s gone.

Now open your eyes, I instruct myself.

It’s time to catch a cab. “Time to catch a cab,” I say.

Leave me alone. “Leave me alone,” I say.

The office buzzes with fluorescent lights over rickety desks made for half-hearted journalists. I slide between their narrow spaces and make my way to the associate editor’s desk. The editor in chief smokes in his office, and Della can tell me everything he knows, so I avoid him and his stench. It’s not something I can handle this morning, though on a good morning, I’d crave the smell of his cigarettes.

“Della, John wanted to see me? Why?” The tip of my umbrella taps the ground, sprinkling cold drops of leftover rain onto my pant leg.

She doesn’t even look at me, doesn’t even jump at the opportunity to comment on my red lipstick that’s too dark or my unshapely long coat. “He’s in his office.”

“But—”

“Jessica.”

The smoke in John’s office rolls onto me in waves of foggy white. My automatic response is to cough, clear my throat, but it would be nothing more than for show. He knows I’m used to it.

“Knight. Come here, I’ve got somethin’ for you.” He fingers me in and motions for me to take a seat. The dark leather on the chair does everything but absorb the moisture from my wet thighs.

He nudges a stack of papers in my direction. “Here’re some stories for the week that I came across over the weekend. Fire and Crime section looks like it’ll be good and full next issue, but I’d like you to start on this Button story. A profile about him to follow-up his murder we reported on last week. It’ll take some research, so I want your time and attention on this one. All week.” He taps the folder with his index and middle finger, keeping his cigarette in place between them. “Make it good. If you need me to get some intern on the other stuff, you just let me know, Knight. Let’s focus on this Button profile, and make sure to really center it around the freakshow killer more than the victims.”

John takes a long, focused drag off the cigarette. Blows it in a thin streak over his shoulder. Eyes me with a glare that’s crimped with sixty-year-old crow’s feet.

“You alright, Knight?”

“Fine. But why do you want me for this? I’m not investigative, just—”

“A hard crime reporter. I know. But you really proved yourself with investigative journalism skills after you covered that murder trial last month. I want to spread your wings a little more. Cover this Button story, Knight. It’s going to sell a lot of papers. Keep it up, and we’ll change your title to Investigative instead of just Crime Journalist.”

“Thanks, John, but I’m comfortable with my position.”

“I’ll give you a little raise, dear.” He wraps his lips around his cigarette and blows the smoke over his shoulder again. “And I’ll hire one of those interns to take over hard crime. Okay?”

“Alright. Thank you.”

“Well, we’ll see how this Button story goes.”

I nod.

“You sure you’re okay, Knight?”

“Yeah, fine.”

“Then shake that look off your face and get to work. I’d like to have that story by Thursday; I want the designers to arrange A1 layout around it. This’ll generate a lot of attention, you know. People are all over this Button Collector thing.”

“The word count?” I ask. I usually don’t have to talk word counts with him, but with big stories like this—like that trial—he always has some requirements to meet.

“Give me nine-hundred, no less.”

A knock on the door diverts his attention to behind me. “John,” the receptionist says, “a young lady would like to speak with you about advertisement.”

John pushes back his chair and stands, surrendering his cigarette to the dusty ash tray. “Stay here, Knight. I’ll be right back.”

My next breath is stifled by the smoke that folds into my face when he walks by. He leaves the door cracked behind him.

Author As both a self-published and traditionally published author of YA fiction and a thriller, I know how vulnerable and scary handing your manuscript to an editor can be. . . But it is my job to take care of my clients and their stories, cherishing them as my own.

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The Anger Chronicles Series: The Anger Chronicles, Book One by Jessie Preisendorfer New Release Blitz!

 

Title: The Anger Chronicles

Series: The Anger Chronicles, Book One

Author: Jessie Preisendorfer

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: 09/17/2024

Heat Level: 1 - No Sex

Pairing: No Romance

Length: 76800

Genre: Contemporary Young Adult, contemporary, lit/genre fiction, YA, F/F, middle school, foster kids, family dynamics, mean girls, anger management

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Description

Shay, fourteen and queer, just got placed with her fifth foster family in three years. Of course, she’s always angry or about to be, who wouldn’t be? This latest foster family, a rabbi, an accountant, eight-year-old twins, and a big black cat offer Shay another chance at being part of a family.

Shay is the new kid at school for the third time in one year, which is bad enough, but being in eighth grade just complicates things, especially when Shay develops a crush on the cute girl who runs the art club. As much as she tries to stay above the school drama, Shay is sucked into it after she makes yet another anger-fueled bad decision that gets caught on video and goes viral. One bad decision essentially ruins her school life and a budding relationship. It jeopardizes Shay’s placement with the Morgensterns just when they’re finally getting closer.

When Shay gets an apology letter from her estranged father, recently released from prison, she realizes she needs to make a choice. Should she stay with the Morgensterns, or should she give her father another chance? Will her anger issues continue to sabotage any chance at stability?

The Anger Chronicles

Jessie Preisendorfer © 2024

All Rights Reserved

Chapter One

Things that suck about being a foster kid (incomplete)

Changing schools

Being perpetually behind in school (see #1)

Not knowing the rules and breaking them anyway

Being the “outsider-est” outsider everywhere, even at home Having to pretend to like everyone in the new family

All of the above happened to me this past year. Three times. There was more that happened to me this year. I was placed with three different foster families, went to three new schools, ran away from one super shitty caseworker (twice), met some stereotypical mean girls, and had a starring role in one viral video that ruined my life.

Things didn’t completely suck 100 percent for once in my shitty life, when, by good luck, which I never had, I met the Morgensterns. (You should know that I don’t believe in luck. I don’t know how else to explain that my placements usually suck, but this one doesn’t. I’m partially at fault for my bad placements—I have “anger issues,” according to my social worker, Rhonda the Craptastic, and I make pretty bad choices, if I’m being completely honest.)

One more thing. I almost died from the smell of bacon drifting into my room. Absolutely starving, I started down the stairs to find the bacon in my brand-new placement and tripped over a big black cat on the landing. Grabbing the railing to prevent plunging to my death, I stopped and sat with this huge cat next to me, staring at me. I tried to remember when I had eaten last—I guessed Thursday. And today was Saturday? Maybe?

I couldn’t stop thinking about the peanut butter sandwich I’d eaten under the train tracks. This was how much of an idiot I was. I could have taken the whole loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter, but no, I packed one whole sandwich to sneak out of my last foster house. Not even an apple or anything. Idiot. (You should know that I’m not an idiot when it comes to school. I’m okay at school, when I go to school. I just “lack common sense,” according to Rhonda the Craptastic, who can rot in hell.)

Happy family sounds rose up from downstairs. That made me so angry I forgot about being hungry for, like, a minute. I wasn’t angry at the family sounds or the family. It wasn’t their fault my shitty social worker called them at midnight last night to come pick me up. I was just angry in general. I didn’t even know why. (You should also know I’m usually angry.) Sometimes, it got my attention, like now—it was there, right below my skin. Just as quickly, I only felt hungry again; the anger had slipped back beneath the surface. I heard a door open behind me.

“I hope you’re hungry. Mrs. Morgenstern always makes a nice breakfast on weekends. I hope Spock didn’t bother you. He doesn’t usually like people. He’s not as hefty as he seems. He’s under tall.” Mr. Morgenstern laughed at his own corny joke as he made his way down the stairs, stepping carefully around Spock, the huge black cat.

I remembered Mr. Morgenstern driving home. He could barely see over the steering wheel. Sitting on the stairs, I thought, He’s under tall too.

He stopped at the bottom of the stairs. Here comes the pep talk. But he simply said, “Come on in when you’re ready. I’ll save you some bacon.”

I was so hungry. So hungry. But I was sitting on the stairs in another new house. With a new family. And new rules. And eventually, new drama. Then a new new family. A burst of laughter came from the kitchen. Suddenly, I was more tired than hungry. So tired. Too tired to even be angry. I went back upstairs to the room on the third floor and crawled back into bed.

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NineStar Press | Books2Read

Jessie has been performing comedy in her spare time for over twenty-five years, which definitely comes in handy during the day in her job as a high school teacher. She grew up in the Poconos, in a house in the woods on a lake, with very little parental oversight.

It was even more dangerous than it sounds, but it was the ’70s. Jessie is a lifelong writer, and with her first novel, she is eager to contribute to the queer YA subgenre. Jessie lives outside Philadelphia with her wife, two cats, and fantasies of days spent volunteering at goat rescues after she retires.

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