Can You Guess Whodunnit?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN:  The scene: The couch, in front of the TV

The TV movie: a thriller

The characters: Hank and Jonathan

The actual dialogue:

HANK: Ooh. Someone’s gonna drown.

JONATHAN: How do you know that?

HANK: They have a swimming pool, for gosh sake.

JONATHAN: Is that the sister?

HANK:  Yeah. She’s bad.

JONATHAN:  How do you know?

HANK: Her fingernails are too long, and her skirt is too short.

JONATHAN:  Who’s that guy?

HANK: Nobody. Red herring.

JONATHAN: How do you know?

HANK: He looks too guilty.

JONATHAN: Can’t you just watch the movie? And not keep guessing?

HANK: What’s the fun of that?

Oh, Reds, you get the picture.  We are a species unto ourselves—as the wonderful Elizabeth Heiter explains.

(And here’s my prediction for the brand new Elizabeth Heiter novel STALKED: yet ANOTHER wonderful bestselling and buzzable novel of suspense!)

Following the Clues 

By Elizabeth Heiter

I’ve always loved puzzles.  Figuring out exactly how each piece fits to form the full picture.  Being the first one to announce, “It was Mrs. Peacock in the Study with the Candlestick!”  

When I was younger, my mom (a math teacher) would give her high school students extra credit in the form of mind teasers – you’d have to use the clues to put Xs in a grid until you figured out the answers.  To her students, they were a series of challenges throughout the year to help push them from an A- to an A.  For me, they were just fun.  I read Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys by the hundreds (if only I still had those huge rows of books, because now my niece is reading the chapter-book versions…).  

So, it probably came as no surprise to anyone in my family when I began writing mysteries.  Because I love to create the puzzle as much as I love to solve it.

In my latest book, STALKED, there is no Study and no Candlestick.  Instead, popular high school student Haley Cooke disappears from inside her high school.  No one knows if she’s dead or alive, but she’s left a note behind foretelling her own death.  And when FBI profiler Evelyn Baine gets involved, there’s no shortage of suspects:

Linda Varner: Haley’s mom appears to be the devastated parent of a missing child.  She’s quit her job and spends every waking hour searching for ways to get attention on Haley’s case.  But her ex-husband claims Haley ran away, and Evelyn has seen cases before where a supposedly grieving family member wanted to extend their fifteen minutes of fame…

Bill Cooke: Haley’s father seems completely unconcerned that his daughter is missing.  Does he have proof of claims that she ran away from an abusive home that he won’t share because he really thinks she’s safer on her own?  Or is he calm because he knows exactly where Haley is for a much darker reason?

Pete Varner: Haley’s friends claim she didn’t like her new step-father.  Could the feeling be mutual?

Jordan Biltmore: Haley’s older, college-age boyfriend was the last one to see her.  Other students at Haley’s school watched him drop Haley off and drive away, but could he have snuck back around and grabbed her?

Marissa Anderson: Haley’s best friend seems frantic for the police to find Haley.  But a closer look shows she’s jealous of Haley’s life – and her boyfriend.  Could she have been involved in Haley’s disappearance?

The deeper Evelyn digs into Haley’s life, the more possibilities arise, including a connection to fellow agent – and her new boyfriend – Kyle McKenzie’s case.  The only thing certain is that if Evelyn doesn’t find out what happened to Haley fast, she may follow Haley’s fate.

So, readers, how do you feel about puzzles?  Do you like them complicated and twisty; do you like to guess “whodunit” before the end?  Or do you prefer to sit back and enjoy the journey and the surprise?

HANK: Cannot wait to hear! You know I'm firmly in the figure-it-out camp!

About STALKED:

If you’re reading this, I’m already dead…

That’s the note seventeen-year-old Haley Cooke leaves behind when she disappears from inside her high school. FBI profiler Evelyn Baine is called in to figure out who had reason to hurt her. On the surface, the popular cheerleader has no enemies, but as Evelyn digs deeper, she discovers that everyone close to Haley has something to hide. Everyone from estranged parents to an older boyfriend with questionable connections to a best friend who envies Haley’s life.

Secrets can be deadly…

One of those secrets may have gotten Haley killed. If she’s still alive, Evelyn knows that the more the investigation ramps up, the more pressure they could be putting on her kidnapper to make her disappear for good. It’s also possible that Haley isn’t in danger at all, but has skillfully manipulated everyone and staged her own disappearance. Only one thing is certain: uncovering Haley’s fate could be dangerous—even deadly—to Evelyn herself.

About Elizabeth Heiter:

Critically acclaimed and award-winning author ELIZABETH HEITER  likes her suspense to feature strong heroines, chilling villains, psychological twists, and a little bit (or a lot!) of romance. Her research has taken her into the minds of serial killers, through murder investigations, and onto the FBI Academy’s shooting range. Her novels have been published in more than a dozen countries and translated into eight languages; they've also been shortlisted for the Daphne Du Maurier award, the National Readers' Choice award and the Booksellers' Best award and won the RT Reviewers' Choice award.

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The Profiler Series: Hunted | Vanished | Avenged | Seized | Stalked

The Lawmen Series: Disarming Detective | Seduced by the Sniper | SWAT Secret Admirer

Careful--Or You'll End up in My Novel!

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: True story. I auctioned a character name in one of my books—I always do it, and I have a million stories about it, but here’s my fave.

The winner wanted to be the victim.

I winced. No, I said, I’m so sorry, I really can’t do that. It might sound funny now, but when you read it in the book, you’ll be creeped out. And it’ll be creepy for me to write it. So, no, I said.  I can’t.

He insisted. Please, he begged. I really want to.

I said I couldn’t, and if he wanted I could give him his money back, and reopen the auction.

Well, okay, he said. Do whatever you want.

I knew I was right, so I made the winner a secondary character. A cool guy, whose car had been hit, but he wasn’t hurt.

Fine.  But as the story progressed—and you all know I have no idea what’s going to happen in advance—it became clear that this character had to die. HAD to.  So I guess my subconscious was –at work. And the winner was thrilled. THRILLED!

All this to introduce the topic for the amazing Elizabeth Heiter.  At JRW, we always say—I don’t know how she does it.  Elizabeth is a true powerhouse. Non-stop, and unstoppable, with the best reviews ever for her page-turning suspense. Plus, she’s wonderful. But hey—her turn to talk.

What a Character

          by Elizabeth Heiter

     People fascinate me.  Maybe that’s why so many of them end up in my novels.

     I like my characters real, flawed, and relatable.  Whether they’re the heroine or the villain, I think everyone has shades of gray, and I like to show that in my stories.

     The heroine of my Profiler series, Evelyn Baine, is a dedicated FBI profiler who joined the Bureau because her best friend went missing when they were twelve years old.  Evelyn’s goal for most of her life has been to finally find out what happened to Cassie.  But that’s not her whole story.  

     She’s become a gifted profiler, but she’s socially awkward and doesn’t trust easily, not even when people have proved they’ve earned it.  She’s independent to the point of foolishness sometimes, but if a colleague or a victim or a family needs her help, she’s the first to jump in and the last to give up.

 

    In her latest adventure, SEIZED, Evelyn has recently solved the case of her career (the disappearance of her best friend in book 2 of the series, VANISHED), and she’s feeling adrift.  Without that goal pushing her forward, she isn’t sure where she belongs anymore.  So, of course I trap her inside a cult, where a person’s identity is as fluid as a good cult leader’s ability to mold it.

      I surround her with a group of survivalists who really don’t like having a biracial federal agent in their midst.  Among the group are Ward Butler, the leader, and Rolfe Shephard, his second-in-command.

      Early in the story, Evelyn describes Ward Butler like this:

Most cult leaders were charismatic. Narcissistic sociopaths, too, but they had to be able to conceal that. They had to exude enough charm to get a group of people to give up everything they owned and follow them.

Not this guy. As far as Evelyn could tell, he was a hundred and eighty solid pounds of pure menace.

      Butler is a danger to Evelyn, but she’s not the only one.  He’s on a mission, and Evelyn soon learns that it’s not as simple as just leading a cult deep in the Montana wilderness.  He seems to have a plan that’s much, much worse, and Evelyn needs to get word to the FBI, or the cult may unleash a deadly attack.

      If the FBI breaches the compound, Evelyn knows Butler will make her his first victim.  Her only hope to stay alive is Rolfe Shephard, Butler’s only lieutenant, and an enigma to Evelyn.  

      In order to reach such a high status in the cult, Evelyn knows Rolfe must believe deeply in their mission.  But more than once, he’s risked his own life to save hers.  She doesn’t know if she can trust him, but he’s her best chance at making it out of the compound.

      Although none of the characters above are truly based on real people, I do sometimes mesh bits and pieces of real people – characteristics that interest me – and put them on the page.  

      At Launch parties for my books, I’ve also had some drawings for readers to get their name in a book.  I don’t base the character on the person, but I do let them choose if they want to lend their name to a law enforcement officer or a criminal…so far, everyone’s chosen the side of the law!

      What about you?  If you could have your name in a book, would you choose to be in law enforcement or to be a criminal?  And how do you like your characters…strictly good and evil or more of a blend?

HANK: I’ve actually thought about this! (Sadly.) And I’d like to be a TV reporter.  (In fact, Linwood Barclay and Ace Atkins both did that in their books—as a surprise! I am still thrilled!)  But Reds and readers, how about you?

About SEIZED (Profiler Book 3):

Danger is all around her...

What should have been a routine investigation for FBI profiler Evelyn Baine turns ominous when she's kidnapped by a dangerous cult of survivalists. As her worst nightmares become a reality, she begins to question what she's seeing. Because the longer she's inside their compound, the more she realizes this cult is not what it seems to be.

The next terrorist threat is right beside her...

As the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team closes in, Evelyn suspects she may have stumbled onto an emerging terrorist threat – and a leader who has a score to settle with the FBI. If Hostage Rescue breaches the compound, Evelyn's dead for sure. If they don't, the cult may unleash a surprise attack that could leave the whole country shattered.

About Elizabeth Heiter:

Critically acclaimed author ELIZABETH HEITER likes her suspense to feature strong heroines, chilling villains, psychological twists, and a little bit (or a lot!) of romance. Her research has taken her into the minds of serial killers, through murder investigations, and onto the FBI Academy’s shooting range. 

Elizabeth graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in English Literature. She’s a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America and Romance Writers of America.  She writes two series: the psychological suspense series The Profiler, featuring FBI Profiler Evelyn Baine, whom Fresh Fiction called "one of the most amazing characters created in print" and the romantic suspense series The Lawmen, the third of which was just nominated for Best Intrigue of the Year by RT Book Reviews.

A Whole New Level of Crazy

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: What’s new? Ask most people, and they’ll say, “Not much, what’s new with you?” Sometimes of course, we’ll be able to say—new job, new baby, new love, new book, new recipe, new weather, new—whatever. But um, do you know Elizabeth Heiter? I can’t remember where I met her—do you Elizabeth? Oh, right, I devoured her thriller called HUNTED and it was so great! And then she--and her darling mom—came to my book signing in Ann Arbor. (How lovely is that?)

And when you meet Elizabeth, she looks very, well, like a reasonable, intelligent, charming, attractive woman. When you read her books--like her brand new VANISHED (from MIRA), you realized she’s talented.  But in truth? As she admits, she’s:

A Whole New Level of Crazy

                          By Elizabeth Heiter

1 year.  2 genres.  5 books.  And a whole lot of crazy.

Writers already have a reputation as being a little … shall we say, eccentric.  As adults, we spend our time playing make believe, creating characters, dreaming up ways to get them in and out of trouble, and then sometimes talking about the whole thing as if these are real people, and these dramatic events are actually happening.  

But if you want to make people really think writers are crazy, tell them you’re going to have five books on the shelf in one year, in two separate genres.  And, oh yeah, that you’re also going to be writing the next one while you’re at it.

In the past three weeks, my second suspense novel and my first romantic suspense book hit the shelves.  In between, I turned in the third book in my suspense series. 

While marketing those second and third books just released, I’m beginning the proposal for the seventh book (yes, that’s right, seventh…because there will be a second and third romantic suspense coming out in the next couple of months, too).  Oh, and did I mention I have a day job?  And some semblance of a personal life?

When someone new asks me about my writing, and they hear about the schedule, they look at me like I’m crazy.  Completely, utterly, lost-my-mind, fell-off-my-rocker-and-can’t-get-back-on, nuts.

They’re probably right.

This year alone, I’ll have five books in two separate genres hitting the shelves.  I’ve been dreaming of this – and working toward it – most of my life.  I wouldn’t trade it, no matter how crazy it gets.

Still, there have been (many) nights where I got by on three hours of sleep, and a whole lot of mocha lattes.  There have been (many) days where I finished my day job, ate my dinner in front of my computer doing promo for the books, immediately turned to writing the next book, went to bed for a few hours, then did it all again.

In those three hours of sleep, I still wake up, wondering if I remembered to put a book event on my calendar.  And then I wake up again, with a better idea about how to get my FBI profiler in my suspense series out of the latest mess I’ve tossed her into – quite often with a lot of glee, I might add.

And yet, what happens when I have a tiny little break?  Well, first I flop dramatically on the couch and binge watch some TV.  But after that?  When I get my energy back, instead of trying to figure out a way to calm things down just a tad, I start thinking of all the plots bouncing around in my mind.  I start thinking about the next book, and the one after that…

And then I’m off writing again.  In fact, I’m going to have to go

now, because there’s this story brewing in the back of my mind…

How about you?  Do you have a “crazy” passion?  (If it’s reading, I have some book recommendations for you! )

HANK: Ah, uh huh. Kind of feeling like a slacker....But Elizabeth, how do you organize your brain? How do you keep the stories separate? Slacker minds want to know...   What would you like to ask Elizabeth, Reds?

**********************

ELIZABETH HEITER likes her suspense to feature strong heroines, chilling villains, psychological twists, and a little bit (or a lot!) of romance. Her research has taken her into the minds of serial killers, through murder investigations, and onto the FBI Academy’s shooting range.

Elizabeth graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in English Literature. Her manuscripts have been finalists in the Golden Heart®, Marlene, Daphne Du Maurier, and Golden Gateway contests and she won Suzanne Brockmann’s 2010 Haiku Contest. She’s a member of International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America and has volunteered for several chapters, including serving as the Greater Detroit area president.

In 2012, Elizabeth fulfilled a lifelong goal when she sold her first five novels.

www.elizabethheiter.com

www.facebook.com/elizabeth.heiter.author

 www.twitter.com/ElizabethHeiter

 VANISHED (Book 2 in The Profiler series from MIRA Books):

Sometimes, the past can haunt you...

Eighteen years ago, FBI profiler Evelyn Baine's best friend, Cassie Byers, disappeared, the third in a series of unsolved abductions. Only a macabre nursery rhyme was left at the scene, a nursery rhyme that claimed Evelyn was also an intended victim. Now, after all these years of silence, another girl has gone missing in South Carolina, and the Nursery Rhyme Killer is taking credit. But is Cassie's abductor really back, or is there a copycat at work?

Sometimes, the past is best forgotten...

Evelyn has waited eighteen years for a chance to investigate, but when she returns to Rose Bay, she finds a dark side to the seemingly idyllic town. As the place erupts in violence and the kidnapper strikes again, Evelyn knows this is her last chance. If she doesn't figure out what happened to Cassie eighteen years ago, it may be Evelyn's turn to vanish without a trace.

 DISARMING DETECTIVE (Book 1 in The Lawmen series from Harlequin Intrigue):

The case that's haunted one FBI profiler for years may have finally met its match in a sexy—and dedicated—detective… 

When FBI profiler Isabella Cortez finds a stranger outside her office, she's in trouble. Because even though Detective Logan Greer is one of the good guys, their instant attraction is a serious distraction. Ella's got one mission: to find the criminal who hurt her friend and drove her to become a profiler. But Logan's appeal isn't just chemistry. He has a case that bears an eerie resemblance to the crime Ella's been trying to solve for years. Together, they're racing to stop a killer, but the closer they get, the more dangerous the search becomes. Falling in love could be deadly…or it could be the only way to survive.