Liz Adams Mystery Series, Book 4
Cozy Mystery
Date Published: 06-28-2024
Publisher: Wild Hawk Press
Sun-kissed sands and sinister secrets. A honeymoon in paradise turns perilous in this riveting seaside mystery.
A tropical vacation transforms into a web of danger and deception when an author and his manuscript vanish. Is his thriller about money laundering in the Caribbean too close to the truth?
With the stakes high and time ticking, Private Investigator Liz Adams and her new husband, Brad, along with their truth-sniffing Labrador, Duke, partner with the local authorities to unravel a multitude of crimes. As they search for clues, the newlyweds explore the delights of the island, including a hunt for buried treasure.
Will they unearth the clues in time, or will the honeymoon end in heartbreak? Set against the backdrop of the stunning island of Grand Cayman, this cozy mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
Interview with Stacy Wilder
Have you read anything that made you think differently about fiction?
I like authors who aren’t afraid to break the rules. For example, the Preston and Child Pendergast series effortlessly blends genres, throwing in elements of science, history, archaeology, and even art. I love how they stretch the boundaries of storytelling.
When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O’Neal is written in present tense and from two points of views. Reading books that break tradition gives me permission to take creative risks.
In book two of the Liz Adams Mystery series, Carmel Conundrum, I alternated between a first person and third person which allowed me to incorporate some details that would have been tricky to reveal with just a single viewpoint.
How do you select the names of your characters?
Some of my characters’ names are friends or family who asked to be in the story. In Cayman Conundrum, Commissioner Aaron Holmes is loosely based on a friend of ours from England.
But beyond that, I keep detailed notebooks with character worksheets for every story. The names often evolve as the characters take shape, and sometimes they change based on feedback from my editors or early readers.
One of my favorite characters in Cayman is Pearl, the queen of the island’s gossip.
Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
No. My hope is to deliver a story that everyone can enjoy, with twists, turns, and surprises that keep readers turning the pages. The magic, for me, lies in creating those “aha” moments that everyone discovers.
What was your hardest scene to write?
No single scene stands out, but Cayman Conundrum presented its own unique challenge since the plot revolved around money laundering. That meant lots of research—everything from reaching out to experts to pouring over books and articles on the subject. It was a fascinating learning experience.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
A common thread runs through the books. However, each book can be read as a standalone.
What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
To deliver a fun, page-turning mystery, to grow and develop as an author, and to donate a meaningful amount of the proceeds from the book to charities that support the homeless both people and pets. Based on the amazing feedback from readers and reviewers, I feel like I’ve achieved the first two. Hopefully the word will spread, so I can reach that final goal of making a meaningful contribution to those charities.
What inspired you to write Cayman Conundrum?
I get inspiration for most of my stories either in the middle of the night or while I’m journalling in the mornings. Cayman Conundrum was inspired by an author friend of mine who told me that she could never publish the first book she wrote because it might get her killed. That comment stayed with me and eventually found its way into the heart of this story.
Can you tell us a little bit about the next books in Liz Adams Mystery Series or what you have planned for the future?
I’m currently working on A Camping Conundrum, a novella, and a prequel to Charleston Conundrum which will be available as a free download. Colorado Conundrum will follow Camping.
One thing that sets me apart is that I don’t do traditional cover reveals. As soon as I start a new story, I collaborate with my amazing cover designer, and then I share the cover on social media to get feedback. The image of the cover is a huge motivator for me to complete the book!
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Cayman Conundrum?
In Cayman Conundrum, we follow Private Investigator Liz Adams and her new husband, Brad, as they embark on what should be a blissful honeymoon in the Cayman Islands. But when they arrive, they’re met with troubling news—Brad’s former business partner and close friend, Tim, has mysteriously gone missing. Tim moved to the Caymans to pursue his dream of becoming an author, but Liz and Brad quickly begin to suspect something far more sinister is at play.
One of the more unique characters in this story is Duke, their loyal Labrador retriever. Duke has a remarkable ability to detect when people are lying, a skill that proves invaluable as Liz and Brad dig deeper into Tim’s disappearance. Duke was inspired by our own beloved Lab, Eve. While Eve doesn’t have Duke’s lie-detecting abilities, she’s a true communicator. She howls the words ‘I love you’ for her breakfast in the mornings.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
I love it when I’m right there in the story with the characters seeing what they see, hearing what they hear, and sensing their emotions. I really enjoyed exploring the island of Grand Cayman through my characters’ eyes. The island became another character in the book.
About the Author
Stacy Wilder writes mysteries, children’s stories, short stories, and poetry. Her mission is to deliver a delightful story to readers of all ages while benefiting a larger community. She donates a portion of the proceeds from the sales of her books to causes that help the homeless, both people and pets.
Beyond writing, Stacy is deeply devoted to her faith, family, and her beloved Labradors. She is also enthusiastic about the causes she supports, the beauty of art, the serenity of the beach, and the joy of reading.
She and her husband live in Houston, TX with a totally spoiled Labrador named Eve. www.storystacy.com
Contact Links
Purchase Link
https://mybook.to/CaymanConundrum
3 comments:
Thanks for having me!
How did you approach character development?
For the main characters, I have character worksheets that I keep in a notebook for each story. Some of the characters are loosely based on real people who have asked to be in the books. But most of them are a product of my imagination. One of my favorite characters in Cayman is Pearl, the queen of the island's gossip.
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