Traditional mystery featuring retired Mountie

Tickety Boo · 09-13-2011, 10:44 PM

I'm still finding my way around here, but wanted to do a little BSP for my first novel, Slow Curve on the Coquihalla, now available for Kindle at Amazon and also at Smashwords in a number of formats. (Just search "Coquihalla".)

I had a most excellent review today from a stranger in Kentucky - it read "RE Donald's traditional mystery SLOW CURVE ON THE COQUIHALLA is everything the genre represents" and concluded with "The tale flows north & south between Canada & the US with dogged "police" work, well-drawn characters, plot twists, and red herrings. It isn't until the last pages when you know the killer that your mind flips back to realize all the clues were there, but they were buried in a polished story.
A great take to bed read for anyone who loves crime fiction in a traditional fashion."

Needless to say, I was totally excited when I read the review! Love to hear what anyone else has to say about it. I originally wrote it in 1995, then revised it a couple of years later after attending a week long mystery writing workshop at the Book Passage in Corte Madera, Calif. with Elizabeth George.

RE Donald

MmavisO · 09-14-2011, 07:41 PM

Amazon link:http://www.amazon.com/Coquihalla-Hun...6043459&sr=8-2
Smashwords link:http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/86656

Tickety Boo · 09-16-2011, 12:38 PM

Thank you so much for posting the links, MmavisO! I'm still new here and just learning the ropes. Seems the traditional mystery lovers (like myself) are in a minority most places, far outnumbered by those who like thrillers and suspense. I cut my teeth on writers like John D MacDonald and Dick Francis, and two of my favorite authors in recent years are Elizabeth George and Martha Grimes. (Right now I love almost everything by John Lescroart or Michael Connelly.) My intent with my hero, Hunter Rayne, was to create a North American character who had some of the characteristics of Thomas Lynley and Richard Jury, but I wanted him to move around North America rather than be in one city. Hence the "highway mystery" series. Coquihalla is my first "highway", then comes the Grapevine north of L.A., followed by ... lots of ideas!

Tickety Boo · 10-10-2011, 05:55 PM

I have a new cover for my novel and I'm pleased to say the mystery lovers who have read it have been very complimentary! I'm very interested in getting feedback, so if anyone has any comments, please share them.

I like to have a central theme in my novels, in spite of the fact that the whodunnit mystery is the most important ingredient, and the theme in this first one is father/daughter relationships.

09-13-2011, 10:44 PM	#1
Tickety Boo Highway mysteries Posts: 7 Karma: 505000 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Kindle	Traditional mystery featuring retired Mountie I'm still finding my way around here, but wanted to do a little BSP for my first novel, Slow Curve on the Coquihalla, now available for Kindle at Amazon and also at Smashwords in a number of formats. (Just search "Coquihalla".) I had a most excellent review today from a stranger in Kentucky - it read "RE Donald's traditional mystery SLOW CURVE ON THE COQUIHALLA is everything the genre represents" and concluded with "The tale flows north & south between Canada & the US with dogged "police" work, well-drawn characters, plot twists, and red herrings. It isn't until the last pages when you know the killer that your mind flips back to realize all the clues were there, but they were buried in a polished story. A great take to bed read for anyone who loves crime fiction in a traditional fashion." Needless to say, I was totally excited when I read the review! Love to hear what anyone else has to say about it. I originally wrote it in 1995, then revised it a couple of years later after attending a week long mystery writing workshop at the Book Passage in Corte Madera, Calif. with Elizabeth George. RE Donald

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09-14-2011, 07:41 PM	#2
MmavisO Seeker Posts: 349 Karma: 479648 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Liberty, MO USA Device: Asus TF, PB 360, Jetbook Lite	Amazon link:http://www.amazon.com/Coquihalla-Hun...6043459&sr=8-2 Smashwords link:http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/86656

09-16-2011, 12:38 PM	#3
Tickety Boo Highway mysteries Posts: 7 Karma: 505000 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Kindle	Thank you so much for posting the links, MmavisO! I'm still new here and just learning the ropes. Seems the traditional mystery lovers (like myself) are in a minority most places, far outnumbered by those who like thrillers and suspense. I cut my teeth on writers like John D MacDonald and Dick Francis, and two of my favorite authors in recent years are Elizabeth George and Martha Grimes. (Right now I love almost everything by John Lescroart or Michael Connelly.) My intent with my hero, Hunter Rayne, was to create a North American character who had some of the characteristics of Thomas Lynley and Richard Jury, but I wanted him to move around North America rather than be in one city. Hence the "highway mystery" series. Coquihalla is my first "highway", then comes the Grapevine north of L.A., followed by ... lots of ideas!

10-10-2011, 05:55 PM	#4
Tickety Boo Highway mysteries Posts: 7 Karma: 505000 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Kindle	I have a new cover for my novel and I'm pleased to say the mystery lovers who have read it have been very complimentary! I'm very interested in getting feedback, so if anyone has any comments, please share them. I like to have a central theme in my novels, in spite of the fact that the whodunnit mystery is the most important ingredient, and the theme in this first one is father/daughter relationships.