Friday Five Writing Prompts: May 7, 2021

 

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This week’s words were: exchange, first-hand, friendly, jump, trick.

So, a bit of explanation.  In case you’re new here, I have a Peloton bike.  Honestly, I love it.  Matt’s my favorite, even though they call him the Baby-Faced Assassin (because he looks harmless and then hands you your rear halfway through the ride).  But Cody is my go-to when I’m down and out.  Which is why I chose him for my Thursday morning ride.  Halfway through, Cody said something that made me think, “Zayne would like this guy.  Andy would be scandalized and somewhat traumatized, but Zayne would love him.  And… this is the result.  Marianne, this is 110% all for  you. Continue reading “Friday Five Writing Prompts: May 7, 2021” →

Review: Thief of Souls by Brian Klingborg

cover207100-medium Lu Fei is a graduate of China’s top police college but he’s been assigned to a sleepy backwater town in northern China, where almost nothing happens and the theft of a few chickens represents a major crime wave. That is until a young woman is found dead, her organs removed, and joss paper stuffed in her mouth. The CID in Beijing–headed by a rising political star–is on the case but in an increasingly authoritarian China, prosperity and political stability are far more important than solving the murder of an insignificant village girl. As such, the CID head is interested in pinning the crime on the first available suspect rather than wading into uncomfortable truths, leaving Lu Fei on his own.

As Lu digs deeper into the gruesome murder, he finds himself facing old enemies and creating new ones in the form of local Communist Party bosses and corrupt business interests. Despite these rising obstacles, Lu remains determined to find the real killer, especially after he links the murder to other unsolved homicides. But the closer he gets to the heart of the mystery, the more he puts himself and his loved ones in danger.

Continue reading “Review: Thief of Souls by Brian Klingborg” →

Review: The Last to See Her by Courtney Evan Tate

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A woman disappears into the dark city night…

Gen is on the verge of a divorce from her cheating husband. When her sister, Meg, has a convention to attend in the Big Apple, she invites Gen along to celebrate her newly found freedom. But the perfect sisters’ getaway quickly goes awry when a tipsy Gen defiantly throws her wedding ring off the hotel room’s balcony. Then, wanting some fresh air, she decides to take a late-evening walk alone and vanishes without a trace.

The investigation that follows uncovers secrets—and betrayals—between sisters and spouses that will twist the truth in on itself until nothing is clear.

What really happened to Gen and who, besides Meg, was the last to see her? Continue reading “Review: The Last to See Her by Courtney Evan Tate” →