THE
VIRTUAL VALENTINE is case number Four in my popular Minx Tobin
Murder Mystery Series. For those of you not familiar with this series, click on
the link for my
Author Notes on THE BLOODSTAINED BISTRO, case number one, my
Author Notes on THE ILL-GOTTEN INSURANCE, case number two, and my
Author Notes on THE DUPLICITOUS DIVORCE.
Minx
Tobin is a fitness instructor newly relocated to Los Angeles, California, who
has a knack for solving puzzles--puzzles concerning dead bodies. For fun,
romance, and... unexpected corpses, follow her adventures in this murder
mystery series!
As
you can deduce from the title, THE VIRTUAL VALENTINE has something to do with
an online dating site. And, of course, Minx once again finds herself in a world
of hurt... nothing virtual about it.
KISSES CAN BE DEADLY
The serial killer
stalking Los Angeles will soon be served his just deserts. But that doesn’t
mean Minx Tobin is out of danger. First, there’s a crank caller. Then her tire
is slashed. Quite possibly, her throat is next. But if the throat-slashing
murderer is out of the picture, then who has it in for Minx?
Gabe Harris works two
full-time jobs. First is solving murders as homicide lieutenant for LAPD.
Second is trying to keep his new girlfriend, Minx, out of danger. But this
time, she isn’t to blame for her predicament. Gabe’s job is proving hazardous
to her health.
Artist’s rendering of a possible cover
Desert Breeze Publishing has
published all six (to date) Minx Tobin novels. THE VIRTUAL VALENTINE has
received great reviews including FIVE Stars from Goodreads and 4.5 Stars from
Sensual Reads! All books are available both electronically and in print.
Online serial dater turns out to be a serial killer.
But when Death claims this murderer, why is Minx also in danger?
Amazon.com
Ebook and Amazon.com Print
Here is a book trailer for THE VIRTUAL VALENTINE:
This book is part of the
Intriguing Mysteries line.
Real life tidbit: I included
an interest of mine in THE VIRTUAL VALENTINE--Lewis Carroll’s fantasy world. In
my book, I created a café called the Mimsy Grove, based on Carroll’s poem,
“Jabberwocky.” The café features servers dressed as characters from Alice in
Wonderland. “Off with her head!” Oops!
Another real life tidbit: Los Angeles was the perfect
spot to begin the Minx Tobin Murder Mystery Series, after she left her
hometown. L.A. has such great energy. I’d always wanted to visit, but never had
the chance (except for changing planes at the LAX airport). So by setting the
story in L.A., I could experience it without the expense of travel! After
living vicariously through Minx’s adventures in L.A., I was happy I was able to
go there last year. Omigosh! Driving on the freeway is CRAZY! And speaking of
freeways, Minx has a hair-raising experience on LA’s Interstate 5 headed for
Mexico.
Scene
Setup: Minx has been abducted and awakens with a nasty headache.
Not again.
That was Minx’s first thought. How
could she not think that? Her head felt as if it was going to explode--again.
And it also felt as if her seventeen stitches might grow in number to a few
more.
The instrumental music, playing in the
background, worsened her headache. Drums, trumpets, maracas all boomed
painfully inside her brain.
Her second thought was to soothe the
throbbing spot with her hand, only her hands, or rather her wrists hurt, too.
She reluctantly opened her eyes and
looked down at her hands. A pair of gleaming stainless steel handcuffs cruelly
cut into her skin, into the bones.
Instead of being scared, she was
angry. It was too lovely a day to be cooped up inside a car, driving on a
uniformly monotone Interstate, headed for some unknown destination, with a
murderer by her side.
Without looking to her left, she had a
pretty good idea who the driver was.
...
“You’re awake,” came the murderer’s
grating voice.
“Yes, I am.” Minx turned to her
tormentor. “Guess you didn’t hit my head hard enough.”
“I can fix that, you know.”
Minx pressed her lips together to keep
from replying. The last thing she needed was another concussion.
...
Minx gazed at green traffic signs
decorating the Interstate. Interstate 5.
A bit of ‘Jeopardy’ trivia came back
to her. Interstate 5 was the only Interstate highway to touch both the Canadian
and Mexican borders.
The type of music in the car and the general direction clinched the
deal: the murderer was headed for Mexico.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hope you enjoy Minx and Gabe’s adventures. There are lots more surprises in store for them as
the series progresses. Case Number Five is THE YULETIDE YORKSHIRE.
Happy reading,
Susanne Marie Knight
Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing
With A Twist!
