Author Interview + Giveaway: Walk Into Silence by Susan McBride

WALK INTO SILENCE

By SUSAN McBRIDE

On-Sale: December 1, 2016

A woman vanishes from a Texas town. Did she simply run off, or is something darker at play?

When Patrick Dielman shows up at Detective Jo Larsen’s desk insisting that his wife, Jenny, is missing, Jo wonders if it’s a case of a bored housewife running away.

But as she digs deeper into Jenny’s life, Jo learns that Dielman keeps a stranglehold on the family finances, down to the last nickel, and that Jenny’s first marriage dissolved following the death of her young son. By all accounts—including her doctor’s—she never recovered from the loss. Between a controlling husband, a tragic past, and a callous ex-husband, Jo can’t be sure if she should suspect foul play or accept that the woman may have wanted to disappear.

For Jo, whose own demons are shadowing her every step, finding Jenny becomes more than the typical protect-and-serve.

Advanced Praise:

“I’ll read anything by Susan McBride.”

—Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“McBride is the author of several chick-lit romances and mysteries (To Helen Back), but this dark stand-alone thriller is a departure. Recommend for Faye Kellerman fans.”

—Library Journal

“[A] gripping standalone...A suspicious death, a murder, and submerged passions all figure in this tale of twisted love and redemption.”

—Publishers Weekly

“McBride's intense, heartbreaking thriller grabs from the start and stays long after the end...Pulse-pounding twists and turns make this one memorable story.”

—RT Book Reviews

1. Jo has many skeletons in her closet which sometimes get the best of her and become her greatest weakness. Why did you choose to have a flawed character? What do you think is Jo’s greatest strength?

I don’t believe there’s a human being on earth who isn’t flawed. So I can’t fathom writing a character—particularly a main character—who hasn’t been damaged, or at least dinged, in some way. Jo’s experiences have made her the person she is, and I see her as stronger because of them. She understands and empathizes with victims in a way that others cannot. She fights for them wholeheartedly because no one fought for her, so she’s determined not to let them down. She’s often called “dogged,” and that is definitely one of her strengths. Jo is a seeker of truth. She wants to believe in justice. If she’s on your side, you’re damned lucky. If she’s against you, you’re screwed.

2. What research was required to write Walk into Silence? What did you learn from the research that you didn’t already know?

I always do a lot of research while I’m writing a book, so I’m very appreciative of the Internet and how I can look up details in a snap. When I wanted photos of quarries so I could see what color the water was, or if I needed articles about what happened to abandoned quarries, I Googled. I also used my experiences in some instances—just after college, I worked for a psychotherapist and transcribed for MDs—so I was familiar with the terminology I used in the book. When my own knowledge and/or the Internet didn’t suffice, I actually hit the road. For example, I wanted to be sure I was getting the proper set-up of the police department in my fictional town of Plainfield, Texas. So on a trip back to Dallas, where I lived for nine years, I visited the Frisco P.D. I was given a guided tour of the facilities, and I asked a lot of questions. That helped immensely and hopefully lends authenticity to Jo Larsen, her partner, and the operation of the Plainfield police department in Walk Into Silence.

3. Was there anything you wanted to add or had to eliminate from the story? What was it and why?

I did end up removing a character from the book. He was kind of an ass: a stereotypical chauvinistic cop. Instead of serving as a foil for Jo, he just ended up being annoying. So, poof! He was gone, and the story is much better for it.

Susan McBride is the USA Today Bestselling author of Blue Blood and the Lefty Award-winning, Anthony Award-nominated Debutante Dropout Mysteries from HarperCollins/Avon, including The Good Girl's Guide to Murder, The Lone Star Lonely Hearts Club, Night Of The Living Deb, Too Pretty To Die, and Say Yes to the Death. Susan has a second bestselling series with HC/Avon that debuted in May 2014, the River Road Mysteries, that include To Helen Back, Mad as Helen, and Not a Chance in Helen. A fourth installment, Come Helen High Water, will be out in June 2017. A darker mystery featuring Texas police detective Jo Larsen, Walk Into Silence is a November 2016 Kindle First pick and will be released by Amazon's Thomas & Mercer imprint on December 1, 2016.

Visit Susan­­’s­ Website: www.susanmcbride.com

Follow Susan on Twitter: @SuzMcBrideBooks

Like Susan on Facebook: @SusanMcBrideBooks

(1) Print copy of WALK INTO SILENCE - Open to US only!

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