Meet Erica Coleman—a
gifted and quirky private investigator with an OCD-like passion for neatness and symmetry, a penchant for
cooking, (ten terrific recipes are included), and a weakness for chocolate.
Erica imagined that
her trip to Florida would be a slice of heaven—a chance to get away from it all
and catch up with her best friend, Wendy. But one day into her vacation, all
hope of fun in the sun is dashed when she stumbles, literally, over a
dead man on Wendy’s driveway. With police closing in
on her friend as their main suspect, Erica must
find the real killer before Wendy ends up
behind bars.
With Erica’s skill,
solving the mystery should be a piece of cake but then a second
homicide-attempt hits close to home and generates a whole new list of suspects.
There’s no way to sugarcoat it, a murderer is on the prowl, and no one is above
suspicion.
As the plot
thickens, it appears Erica may have bitten off more than she can chew, but she
forges on, sifting through mounting evidence until she hones in on the killer
who has a surprising motive for murder. With a dash of romance and some
surprising twists, this thrilling mystery will keep you on the edge of your
seat until the very last page.
Praise from Traci
Abramson and Betsy Brannon Green:
Motive for Murder is fresh, captivating, and
cleverly written. The colorful cast of characters will enthrall readers as they
try to navigate the clever twists and turns of this captivating mystery.
Intriguing, memorable characters, and a skillfully written mystery make Motive for Murder Marlene Bateman's
finest work yet—a must read! Traci Abramson
With
a fresh, crisp writing style, Marlene Bateman introduces readers to a
fascinating cast of characters and skillfully unravels an intricate plot full
of twists and surprises! I loved Motive for Murder and you will too! Betsy Brannon Green
Excerpt
“As
she drove back to Wendy’s house, the headlights cleaved the darkness and shone
through the rain, which was falling harder now. Erica parked across the street
and was nearly to Wendy’s door when she stopped suddenly, catching herself as
she nearly fell over something.
It was the still figure of a man lying face
down on the driveway. He was strangely unmoving. The light from the porch
illuminated a puddle alongside him, which was growing bigger by the second. A
chill shivered down Erica’s spine as she noticed that the puddle was streaked
by dark red threads that ran and merged with rivulets of rain.”
Marlene Bateman Sullivan was born in Salt Lake
City, Utah. She graduated from the
University of Utah with a BA in English. She is married to Kelly R. Sullivan
and they are the parents of seven children.
Her hobbies are gardening, camping, and
reading. Marlene has been published
extensively in magazines and newspapers and has written a number of non-fiction
books, including: Latter-day Saint Heroes and Heroines, And There Were Angels Among Them,
Visit’s From Beyond the Veil, By the Ministering of Angels, and Brigham’s Boys. Marlene also wrote the
best-selling novel, Light on Fire Island.
A busy writer, Marlene is set to
have three books published this year. Gaze
Into Heaven, a fascinating collection of over 50 documented near-death
experiences in early church history, was published earlier this year. Next is Motive for Murder, the first in a
mystery series featuring the quirky Erica Coleman. In July, Heroes of Faith,
a collection of stories about people who risked their life for the gospel, will
be released by Cedar Fort Inc.
For all my blog followers, a disclaimer: I haven't actually read this book. This is just an informational spotlight. I think I might have to pick it up though. It looks good, right?
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