BooksChatter: ℚ♫ Dangerous Secrets: Leah Nash Mysteries [4]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Susan Hunter to talk about Dangerous Secrets (10 November 2017, Himmel River Press, 364 pages), a Cozy Mystery, book four in the Leah Nash Mysteries series.

**Grab a FREE copy of the first book in the series, Dangerous Habits**

"I love Susan Hunter! Her Leah Roberts series has original plots, wonderfully fleshed-out characters, and you never know "whodunnit" until the very end! You know who you WANT to have done it, because the author has the gift of creating snarky, selfish personalities that you cannot stand, but the ending is always a surprise." - Lanette, Amazon Verified Purchase

|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || The Series || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

A very warm welcome back to Susan Hunter; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

Here at BooksChatter we love music; do you have a music playlist that you used in Dangerous Secrets , or which inspired you whilst you were writing it?

"My taste is pretty eclectic, here's one of the playlists I like when I'm first getting started."

What was the inspiration for Dangerous Secrets ?

"I got the idea for Dangerous Secrets while I was reading an article about the trend toward Air BnB-type rentals, and Miguel seemed the perfect character to give something like that a try. Then I just started thinking about what could go wrong."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"I share some characteristics with lead character Leah Nash, but actually I'm probably closer in temperament to supporting player Detective Charlie Ross: stubborn, slow to change, a certain canny knowledge born of experience, but not a major intellect, wants to do the right thing, but often says the wrong one, and far too fond of a diet that isn't very good for me."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Dangerous Secrets - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"For Dangerous Secrets, I followed the same "theme" I'm currently using for the series: a photograph that conveys a sense of something mysterious and possibly ominous and a silhouetted figure in the shadows representing Leah Nash. Sometimes the photo represents a specific location in the book, but in this case, it's just intended to convey a sense of danger."

Why should we read Dangerous Secrets and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"Books in the Leah Nash series have more action, the lead character is a little more prickly, and the plots more twisty and complex than you might find in some traditional or cozy mystery series, but it falls within those categories because there's no explicit sex or violence. Readers who like books within a series to be complete—the central mystery wrapped up and no huge cliffhangers at the end—and who enjoy seeing characters grow and relationships develop across a number of books, will be rewarded by following the series."

Can you tell us something quirky about Dangerous Secrets , its story and characters?

"I have a friend who's an avid birdwatcher and I decided to work birdwatching into the plot as a silent nod to her."

Who would you recommend Dangerous Secrets to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"I don't think there's anything to beware of in the plot or language, but readers might want to rethink their online dating strategies!"

If you could / wished to turn Dangerous Secrets and the Leah Nash Mysteries series into a movie, who would be your dream team?

" I focused on actors who fit the characters in an earlier Q&A, so this time I'll suggest directors and location. I think Tina Fey would be a great director for this movie, because she'd totally get Leah's personality. The location could pretty much be any small Wisconsin town with a mid 20th century downtown largely still largely intact as it limps into the 21st. Actually, if location costs were a factor, any small town, anywhere in the US, as long as the season was late fall, would work. "

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"Mystery is the genre I like best, though within all the sub-genres (cozy, hardboiled, legal thrillers etc.) I divide my time up pretty evenly. When it comes to writing, though, I find the traditional/cozy subgenre "

What is your writing process?

"I figure out who the victim is, why he/she was killed, which characters had motives to kill her and how their lives intersected with the victim and sometimes each other. Then I write backstories for everyone. I know how the book will open and how it will end before I start writing, and usually have at least a vague idea of what the midpoint will be. Then I develop a list of things that need to happen to get there, and I get started. Things can change quite a bit within that framework, but the victim, the killer and the motive usually remains constant."

What is in store next?

"I'm working on the fifth book in the series, and I've recently realized I need to kick it up a notch if I'm going to make my fall deadline. The victim is Laurel Sheridan, a creative writing teacher on the faculty of Alcott College, a liberal arts school about 10 miles away from Leah's stomping grounds in Himmel. Leah is pulled into the investigation when her ex-husband becomes a person of interest to local police investigating the murder. As in all Leah Nash mysteries, there are plenty of suspects, a few twists and turns, and (I hope) a solution that surprises. A familiar cast of supporting characters, and some new ones, will also be part of the story."

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"No pets at the moment, but fitting the special to me category is a photo of me with five of my six siblings at a wedding. I'm the one in the middle of the back row."