The Charmed Killer begins his reign of terror in Atlanta, leaving a charm in the mouth of each of his victims.
Body Movers #4
MIRA
April 2009
On Sale: March 31, 2009
Featuring: Wesley Wren; Carlotta Wren
320 pages ISBN: 0778326683 EAN: 9780778326687 Mass Market Paperback Add to Wish List
Ever had one of those days? A surprise visit from
her father—who's on the run from the law—has given Carlotta
Wren a lot to think about. Should she join her former
fiancé, Peter, in proving her father is innocent? If she
does, are her body-moving days over?
And then…
A close friend's behavior begins to spin out of control…
The cops turn up the heat on her father's case…
Carlotta discovers that her brother Wesley's gambling debts
are child's play compared to his new vice…
And the Charmed Killer, a serial murderer, unleashes his
wrath on Atlanta.
Now the bodies are piling up—and Carlotta's father is the
number one suspect!
It also goes back to "if you look like a victim, you'll be a victim." Bad guys prey on fear. The key is to look calm and confident when walking down the street. (LuAnn Morgan 2:49pm March 10, 2009)
A long time ago when I still lived in California, I went to pick up a note for a friend from her Dr. The building was 16 stories and he was on the top floor. I got on the elavator and just as the door was about to shut, a man got on. I just looked around, just kept to myself. Well, all of the sudden he is staring at me and telling me how dangerous it is to get on an elavator with a stranger, wasn't I afraid, etc. My heck, I thought my heart would pound out of my chest. He just sat and stared the entire time. I was absolutely terrified and had no clue what to do. Not only that, there wasn't really anything I could do. I just kept praying for the elavator to stop. Finally I got to the top and ran out of it as fast as I could. When I got back on to leave, I hurried and shut the door with the button and then pushed the floor again. He never did come back around me but boy did he scare the living you know what out of me. What do you do in that situation? I just didn't say a word to him nor looked at him when he talked to me. (Vicki Hancock 3:08pm March 10, 2009)
When I started college, my grandmother bought me a whistle she expected me to carry around everywhere with me and would freak out if I had to be on campus at night. I finally told her she didn't trust me - that I always walke with my keys ready to jab into someone's eyes and I carried my backpack on my left shoulder making it easy for me to grab with my right hand and swing at someone. (Kelli Jo Calvert 3:42pm March 10, 2009)
LuAnn--so right. Bad guys look for the easiest target--don't be that person!
Vicki--wow, how scary. Depending on the vibe I got from the guy in the elevator, I might've said, "No, I'm not scared because I'm armed and I know how to defend myself." (He doesn't have to know that you're armed with a can of hairspray.) I think I would've pushed every button, though, and gotten off on the next floor. WHAT A CREEP!
(Reminds me of a time when a guy was following my sister on a sidewalk. She has a permit to carry a concealed weapon and she knows how to use it. She crossed the street and the guy crossed, too. She put her hand in her purse and removed the safety from her pistol, then turned around and told the guy he had until the count of 3 to cross the street. He held up his hands and started yelling that he wasn't doing anything wrong...and she started counting, intent on shooting through her purse if the guy came at her. Instead, the guy crossed the street.)
Kelli--good thinking on always carrying your keys in a defensive manner!
re: the whistle. Actually, they're one of the best and cheapest self-defense tools a person can have. My dad was always asking me what I wanted for my birthday, Christmas, etc. One year I told him to buy me a handful of police whistles on keyrings so I could have one for my keys, one for my gym bag, one for my nightstand, etc. I've never seen a man so happy! Now he's always asking me about my whistles, whether I've had to use them. It makes him feel like he's still protecting me, and I do feel safer. (Stephanie Bond 5:12pm March 10, 2009)
Yes; an unmarked police car attempted to pull me over in a dark,rural are-I was afraid and drove to the next well-lit area.Even as I was driving,I told myself I would not allow anyone to take me "elsewhere"(i.e yhe 'second scene') and would fight and collect DNA if I was attacked-hair,blood, skin. Fortunately, the officer understood my initial reluctance ('tho 3 cop cars met us. I WILL not be a victim,I know ANYthing goes if being attacked. (Dawn Raymer 6:17pm March 10, 2009)
A neighbor's friend was being attacked by an ex-boyfriend. He had her by her hair, dragging her down the sidewalk, kicking her in the ribs prior to my going outside. She was screaming for help. I went out with my baseball bat. He decided he didn't want to tangle with an angry woman with spiked hair and a baseball bat. I've taken self defense training and wasn't going to allow him to beat on that girl any more. I called 911 while he was leaving the scene in her truck. Turned out he was high on crack and several other illegal drugs. I've since invested in a stun gun that I keep on hand as well as my bat. Never hurts to have a back-up. (Kay Martinez 8:14pm March 10, 2009)
Yes. When I left the Peace Corps and was taking time to travel home, I went to Indonesia. The train I took across the island arrived about midnight or so. The only way to get to town was by pedicab. Other than the lights at the station, there were none. I had no idea how far it was to town, what direction, or how much it should cost. It was pitch dark, no one knew where I was or was expecting me. When we got to the compound where I was staying and woke someone up to let me in, there was a problem. I didn't have change to pay the driver and he thought I was trying to cheat him. He didn't know enough english to understand what I was trying to explain. Luckily the owner of the place I was staying woke up enough to explain it him and take care of things. We (P. C. Volunteers) tended to stay in out of the way places, not tourist hotels. For $2 a night you didn't get much even in 1971. I am careful most of the time. Actually, I follow all the suggestions you had in your piece. (Patricia Barraclough 9:51pm March 10, 2009)
Dawn--yes, if a police officer attempts to pull you over in a dark area, you have to right to proceed to somewhere you think is safe. I believe it's suggested that you turn on your inside light to signal that you know he/she's there, then proceed at a slower-than-normal speed to someplace safe. You could also turn on your hazard lights. (Stephanie Bond 10:15pm March 10, 2009)
Kay--Lucky for your friend that you intervened! A baseball bat is a legitimate weapon to have in your home, next to your bed or in the garage. (Practice swinging and making contact into a punching bag.)
And you made a very good point that you can't assume that a perp is sober or sane. There is no "honor among theives" anymore--when drugs are involved, common sense and reason go out the window. Drug-crazed people will kill over pocket change. And the same goes for road rage--a person driving a car who feels wronged if someone passes him or cuts him off can be as dangerous as someone with a loaded weapon! Be careful out there. (Stephanie Bond 10:25pm March 10, 2009)
Patricia--something similar happened to my husband and I in Costa Rica. We went to the downtown area to see a concert and when we came out, the streets were practically deserted. A "taxi" pulled up and asked if we needed a ride, but we were suspect. We were also desperate, though, and got in. My husband is conversational in Spanish, but the driver couldn't seem to understand anything my husband said about where our hotel was located, and vice versa. The guy started acting nervous, which made us nervous. Meanwhile, we're careening along narrow, unlit roads in a deathtrap of a car. My husband and I were both thinking the guy was going to rob us and dump us in a ditch. As a last resort, I pulled my hotel room key out of my purse and held it up and understanding finally dawned on the driver's face. Thank goodness he was honest after all. But it taught us a good lesson--to always have the destination written in the native language to hand to a driver if necessary! (Stephanie Bond 10:36pm March 10, 2009)
I never had an experience like that but I'd really like to read this book. Thanks. Lorraine [email protected] (Lorraine Larose 11:04am March 15, 2009)
The titles sound interesting. I am really intreagued with you getting your PI license though. That is really getting into the heads of your characters. (Karin Tillotson 4:04pm April 8, 2009)
I definitely agree. As a journalist, I often know more about the law than the local cops do! (LuAnn Morgan 4:37pm April 8, 2009)
Sounds like a fun course to take. (Shannon Scott 4:40pm April 8, 2009)
Never thought about how much the two have in common! (Kelli Jo Calvert 5:57pm April 8, 2009)
As with most jobs, they sound more glamorous than they really are. People forget about the hours of drudge work involved to get the job done. If you love your job, it is easier to deal with. (Patricia Barraclough 11:20pm April 8, 2009)
I am just wondering: Did they teach you gum-popping, wisecracking "Mug" speak? You know: I'm gonna blast ya if you don't throw down that rod,she's a hot Mama-all that cool retro-speak. (Dawn Raymer 5:54am April 9, 2009)
The class was taught by a rotation of instructors, from police officers to weapons specialists and self-defense instructors. They made it all sound so glamorous and exciting. But the last set of classes were taught by a female P.I., and she gave me the skinny on just how UN-glamourous the job is. LOTS of sitting, drive-through food, and hysterical clients. She joked that with all the stories she knew on people that maybe she should trade in her shingle for a pen and write her own novel! (Stephanie Bond 2:03pm April 9, 2009)
I luv your work! [email protected] (Lynne Stillwell 9:24am December 30, 2011)
Some of the finest crime novels are women writers writing about women PIs - my own favourites include Carol Lea Benjamin and Sue Grafton as well as Dana Stabenow. I have not read yours yet but I will be looking out for them. (Clare O'Beara 7:20am September 22, 2012)
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