Winners of the 2015 Spotted Owl Award Announced

The winners for the 2015 Spotted Owl Awards have been announced by Friends of Mystery for the best mystery novel of the year by an author who lives in the Pacific Northwest (Alaska, British Columbia, Canada, Idaho, Oregon or Washington) …

• One Kick by Chelsea Cain (Simon & Schuster)

• Plaster City by Johnny Shaw (Thomas & Mercer)

One Last Breath, A Cooper & Fry Mystery by Stephen Booth, Now Available at a Special Price

Omnimystery News is always searching for newly discounted mystery, suspense, thriller and crime novels for our readers to enjoy.

Today, we're pleased to present the following title, now available at a special price courtesy of the publisher, Witness Impulse …

One Last Breath by Stephen Booth

A Cooper & Fry Mystery (5th in series)

Publisher: Witness Impulse

Price: 99¢ (as of 04/28/2015 at 7:00 PM ET).

  

Around the ancient cave system in Derbyshire are thronging tourists, a medieval castle, and the thriving town of Castleton. With its underground tunnels and caverns, it's the perfect place for a man to hide — or vanish. Detectives Ben Cooper and Diane Fry are looking for such a man, one who is on a murderous rampage.

An escaped convict is on the loose, and, after thirteen years in prison, he may be seeking revenge on the son of the cop who put him away in the first place … Cooper's father.

— One Last Breath by Stephen Booth

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Important Note: Price(s) verified as of the date and time shown. Price(s) are subject to change at any time. Please confirm the price of the book before purchasing it.

New This Week: Fall Guy, A Barry Gilbert Mystery by Scott Mackay

Omnimystery News is pleased to present a mystery, suspense, or thriller ebook that we recently found by sleuthing (as it were) through new or recently reissued titles from independent publishers during April 2015 and priced $4.99 or less …

Fall Guy by Scott Mackay

A Barry Gilbert Mystery (2nd in series)

Publisher: Diversion Books

Price: $2.99 (as of 04/28/2015 at 6:30 PM ET).

  

This is a new ebook edition of a mystery first published by Minotaur Books in 2001.

Detective Barry Gilbert is called into Toronto's Chinatown to investigate the death of Edgar Lau, a man whose history and connections take the detective on a ride across continents and cultures, and deep into an immigrant family's struggle to survive against harrowing odds.

Gilbert must piece together Edgar's labyrinthine history — from his days as a Vietnamese refugee who made a deadly trek to China by boat, to his affair with a prominent member of Toronto's city government, to his dealings with a Chinese drug baron. Throughout the investigation, damaging and sensitive questions are raised — questions somebody in Toronto's police department doesn't want answered.

It soon becomes clear to Gilbert that in addition to hunting down Edgar's killer, he must fight police corruption as well — a fight that could threaten the department's stability and future. This tale of murder and misdoing, family and betrayal, is a riveting police procedural by a masterful mystery author.

— Fall Guy by Scott Mackay

See also the first book in this series, Cold Comfort, which is currently FREE to download!

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Important Note: Price(s) verified as of the date and time shown. Price(s) are subject to change at any time. Please confirm the price of the book before purchasing it.

Daybreak, A Novel of Suspense by Viktor Arnar Ingolfsson, Now Available at a Special Price

Omnimystery News is always searching for newly discounted mystery, suspense, thriller and crime novels for our readers to enjoy.

Today, we're pleased to present the following title, now available at a special price courtesy of the publisher, AmazonCrossing …

Daybreak by Viktor Arnar Ingolfsson

A Novel of Suspense

Publisher: AmazonCrossing

Price: $1.99 (as of 04/28/2015 at 6:00 PM ET).

  

When the shotgun-blasted body of a goose hunter is discovered, the police believe they have a list of suspects who may have wanted the victim dead, from his young wife to the caretaker of his property. But then a second body, another hunter, is found with a similar fatal wound. And then a third. As the pattern emerges — all goose hunters, all shot at the break of dawn — Reykjavik policemen Gunnar and Birkir face the terrifying possibility that a serial killer is stalking the idyllic Icelandic countryside.

Gunnar and Birkir set a trap for the one they call "the Gander," but it quickly becomes a wild goose chase as the murderer plays some tricks of his own. With the clock running out and the discovery of another body all but guaranteed, the cops must determine if there is a thread connecting the victims or if the killings are all part of a twisted game.

— Daybreak by Viktor Arnar Ingolfsson

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New This Week: Scratch the Surface, A Deuce Walsh Thriller by Josh K. Stevens

Omnimystery News is pleased to present a mystery, suspense, or thriller ebook that we recently found by sleuthing (as it were) through new or recently reissued titles from independent publishers during April 2015 and priced $4.99 or less …

Scratch the Surface by Josh K. Stevens

A Deuce Walsh Thriller (1st in series)

Publisher: 280 Steps

Price: $2.99 (as of 04/28/2015 at 5:30 PM ET).

  

Deuce Walsh is a former gangster trying to keep his past hidden in the middle of nowhere Midwest. Seven years ago, his colleagues — The Chianti Brothers — made a power play and left him for dead. He survived, but had to leave everything behind and start from scratch with a new identity.

But when his brother-in-law Colm, a degenerate gambler and wannabe wiseguy, gets himself into trouble, Deuce is brought back into the life of crime and finds himself helping Colm pay off a debt to the very people who tried to have him killed in the first place.

— Scratch the Surface by Josh K. Stevens

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Vanishing Point, A Sharon McCone Mystery by Marcia Muller, Now Available at a Special Price

Omnimystery News is always searching for newly discounted mystery, suspense, thriller and crime novels for our readers to enjoy.

Today, we're pleased to present the following title, now available at a special price courtesy of the publisher, Mysterious Press …

Vanishing Point by Marcia Muller

A Sharon McCone Mystery (23rd in series)

Publisher: Mysterious Press

Price: $1.99 (as of 04/28/2015 at 5:00 PM ET).

  

Sharon McCone is hired to investigate one of San Luis Obispo County's most puzzling cold cases. A generation ago, Laurel Greenwood, a housewife and artist, inexplicably vanished, leaving her young daughter alone. Now, new evidence suggests that the missing woman may have led a strange double life. But before McCone can penetrate the tangled mystery, she must first solve a second disappearance — that of her client, the now grown daughter of Laurel Greenwood.

The case, which forces Sharon to explore the darker sides of two marriages, comes uncomfortably close on the heels of her own marriage to Hy Ripinsky, and she begins to doubt the wisdom of her impulsive trip to the Reno wedding chapel.

— Vanishing Point by Marcia Muller

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A Draw of Death, A Helen Binney Mystery by Gin Jones, New This Week from Gemma Halliday

Gemma Halliday Publishing is a boutique publisher of light-hearted mystery, romantic suspense and romantic comedy novels, perfect for popping into your beach bag for a weekend away or cozying up beside a warm fire for a quiet night in.

We've selected one of their recently published titles to feature here today …

A Draw of Death by Gin Jones

A Helen Binney Mystery (3rd in series)

Publisher: Gemma Halliday Publishing

Price: 99¢ (as of 04/28/2015 at 4:30 PM ET).

  

After twenty years as a political wife, the now-divorced Helen Binney should be able to organize a small event for the local library without breaking a sweat. But she didn't plan on the guest speaker, a controversial celebrity poker player, literally drawing a hand of death. Whose buttons did he push a little too hard? Was it really, as the police believe, the niece of Helen's handsome lawyer/friend, Tate?

Getting to the truth would be a lot easier if it weren't for a cranky runaway cat, a group of poker players who put the "fanatic" in fan clubs, and death threats that may or may not be imaginary from an end-of-the-world cult. With the stakes so high, can Helen save Tate's niece without drawing death herself?

— A Draw of Death by Gin Jones

See all three books in the highly reviewed Helen Binney Mystery Series for $3.99 or less each on Kindle. A Holiday short story is also available featuring this character.

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The Sherlockian, A Novel of Suspense by Graham Moore, Now Available at a Special Price

Omnimystery News is always searching for newly discounted mystery, suspense, thriller and crime novels for our readers to enjoy.

Today, we're pleased to present the following title, now available at a special price courtesy of the publisher, Twelve …

The Sherlockian by Graham Moore

A Novel of Suspense

Publisher: Twelve

Price: $2.99 (as of 04/28/2015 at 4:00 PM ET).

  

In December 1893, Sherlock Holmes-adoring Londoners eagerly opened their Strand magazines, anticipating the detective's next adventure, only to find the unthinkable: his creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, had killed their hero off. London spiraled into mourning — crowds sported black armbands in grief — and railed against Conan Doyle as his assassin.

Then in 1901, just as abruptly as Conan Doyle had "murdered" Holmes in "The Final Problem," he resurrected him. Though the writer kept detailed diaries of his days and work, Conan Doyle never explained this sudden change of heart. After his death, one of his journals from the interim period was discovered to be missing, and in the decades since, has never been found.

Or has it?

When literary researcher Harold White is inducted into the preeminent Sherlock Holmes enthusiast society, The Baker Street Irregulars, he never imagines he's about to be thrust onto the hunt for the holy grail of Holmes-ophiles: the missing diary. But when the world's leading Doylean scholar is found murdered in his hotel room, it is Harold — using wisdom and methods gleaned from countless detective stories — who takes up the search, both for the diary and for the killer.

— The Sherlockian by Graham Moore

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The Tiger Troubles by David A. Kelly, a New Ballpark Mysteries Mystery for Junior Sleuths

Omnimystery News is pleased to present in this post a new First Clues: Mysteries for Kids series title published this month …

The Tiger Troubles by David A. Kelly

Series: Ballpark Mysteries

Publisher: Random House

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Recommended for Junior Sleuths, Ages 7 to 9

  

Someone is blackmailing the Detroit Tigers' famous slugger, Tony! They've stolen his favorite trophy, and unless he fills a tiger-shaped bag with signed baseballs, he'll never see the trophy again. Luckily, all-star sleuths Mike and Kate are ready to pounce on the case. Can they track down the thief in time to save Tony's treasure?

— The Tiger Troubles by David A. Kelly

The Last Minute, A Sam Capra Thriller by Jeff Abbott, Now Available at a Special Price

Omnimystery News is always searching for newly discounted mystery, suspense, thriller and crime novels for our readers to enjoy.

Today, we're pleased to present the following title, now available at a special price courtesy of the publisher, Grand Central …

The Last Minute by Jeff Abbott

A Sam Capra Thriller (2nd in series)

Publisher: Grand Central

Price: $2.99 (as of 04/28/2015 at 3:00 PM ET).

  

Sam Capra must commit an impossible assassination — or he will lose the only person in the world who matters to him …

Sam Capra has one reason to live: to rescue his baby son from the people who abducted him. An ex-CIA agent, Sam now owns bars around the world as cover for his real mission-working undercover for a secret network as mysterious as it is powerful, while using his skills to find his child.

Now the kidnappers have offered a deadly deal: they'll surrender Sam's child … if Sam finds and murders the one man who can expose them. Teaming up with a desperate young mother whose daughter is also missing, Sam tracks his prey-and his son-across the country in a dangerous race against time, and must unravel a deadly conspiracy if he's to rescue the only person in the world that matters to him.

— The Last Minute by Jeff Abbott

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The Doll Maker by Richard Montanari, New in Bookstores during April 2015

Today's featured new hardcover mystery, suspense, or thriller title scheduled to be published during April 2015 is …

The Doll Maker by Richard Montanari, a Kevin Byrne and Jessica Balzano Mystery (6th in series)

Publisher: Mulholland Books

    

A quiet Philadelphia suburb. A woman cycles past a train depot with her young daughter. There she finds a murdered girl posed on a newly painted bench. Beside her is a formal invitation to a tea dance in a week's time.

Seven days later, two more young victims are discovered in an abandoned house, posed on painted swings. At the scene is an identical invitation. This time, though, there is something extra waiting for Detectives Kevin Byrne and Jessica Balzano: a delicate porcelain doll.

It's a message. And a threat. With the killers at large, Detectives Byrne and Balzano have just seven more days to find the link between the murders before another innocent child is snatched from the streets.

— The Doll Maker by Richard Montanari

For a list of more new hardcover titles to be published this month, visit our New Mysteries page for April 2015. For new paperback mysteries, visit The Mystery Bookshelf where a selection of April 2015 mysteries, novels of suspense, and thrillers are shelved.

The Postman Always Purls Twice by Anne Canadeo, New on the Mystery Bookshelf during April 2015

New on the Mystery Bookshelf during April 2015 …

The Postman Always Purls Twice by Anne Canadeo, A Black Sheep Knitters Mystery (7th in series)

Publisher: Gallery Books

  

When the cast and crew of a Hollywood movie arrive to film on location in quiet Plum Harbor, the village is aflutter at the A-list actresses. The Knitters are dazzled by the glamour and since Maggie's shop is an important set, they are privy to the backstage excitement and inside gossip.

But from the first day of filming, accidents and menacing coincidences abound. The show must go on, but no sooner have the lights, action, and stitching begun when the killer strikes again — this time, cutting one character from the script for good.

— The Postman Always Purls Twice by Anne Canadeo

To see more new paperback titles scheduled to be published this month, visit The Mystery Bookshelf for April 2015. For new hardcover mysteries, visit New Mysteries where for a list of April 2015 mysteries, novels of suspense, and thrillers is provided.

Five Mysteries in the Dorothy Parker Series by Agata Stanford, Now Available at a Special Price

Omnimystery News is always searching for newly discounted mystery, suspense, thriller and crime novels for our readers to enjoy.

The first five titles in the highly reviewed Dorothy Parker Series by Agata Stanford are now available at a special price of $3.99 each. We're featuring the first book in the series, below …

The Broadway Murders by Agata Stanford

A Dorothy Parker Mystery (1st in series)

Publisher: Jenevacris Press

Price: $3.99 (as of 04/28/2015 at 1:00 PM ET).

  

When a Broadway producer is found dead in his luxurious apartment it is believed he choked on a cherry tomato. That he was not murdered is a surprise to the denizens of the Great White Way.

Dorothy Parker, her adorable Boston terrier named Woodrow Wilson, Robert Benchley and the newspaper men of the Algonquin Round Table go on a scavenger hunt with the Marx Brothers, do the rounds of speakeasies, attend Broadway's opening nights, dance at the Waldorf, and then pull up a chair at the Algonquin Hotel's famous daily luncheon and enjoy a tossed salad of bon mots, all while sleuthing about for clues to find a killer.

— The Broadway Murders by Agata Stanford

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Bait, A Duty and Honor Novel by Leslie Jones, New This Week from Witness Impulse

Every week, Witness Impulse — an imprint of William Morrow — releases new suspense and thriller digital originals, typically priced at just $2.99 (or less) each.

Omnimystery News is pleased to present you with one of this week's titles …

Bait by Leslie Jones

A Duty and Honor Novel (2nd in series)

Publisher: Witness Impulse

Price: $2.99 (as of 04/28/2015 at 12:30 PM ET).

  

A female CIA agent and a Delta Force soldier must catch a deadly assassin … but do they know where the danger truly lies?

After several assassination attempts on an allied royal, the CIA sends in operative Christina Madison — who bears a striking resemblance to the monarch — to pose as the famous princess and draw out her would-be killer.

When Delta Force Lieutenant Gabriel Morgan's team is assigned to Christina's undercover protection detail, he's less than thrilled. Gabe wants nothing to do with a woman whose rumored screw-up nearly got her last team killed. Not to mention there's bad blood between Gabe and the CIA — he doesn't trust anyone who lies for a living.

But once the trap is set and the assassin takes the bait, Gabe must protect her with his life … because danger lurks in the shadows, and now Christina is in the crosshairs.

— Bait by Leslie Jones

See also the first book in this series, Night Hush, for 99¢ on Kindle.

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A Conversation with Legal Thriller Writer Hubert Crouch

We are delighted to welcome author Hubert Crouch to Omnimystery News today.

Hubert's second legal thriller to feature attorney Jace Forman is The Word (Serpentine Books; April 2015 trade paperback and ebook formats) and we recently had the chance to catch up with him to talk more about it and the series.

— ♦ —

Omnimystery News: Introduce us to Jace Forman. What it is about him that appeals to you as a writer?

Photo provided courtesy of
Hubert Crouch

Hubert Crouch: Jace Forman is a trial lawyer in Fort Worth, Texas. He is in his mid-forties, single (he recently lost his wife in a car crash), and has one son, Matt. Contrary to the image many have of trial lawyers, Jace is humble and honest — not the flamboyant, acid-tongued advocate customarily portrayed in print and televisions series/movies. As a result of his humility/honesty, he is highly effective in the courtroom — juries trust him.

Jace is also flawed. His personal life is a mess. He was not faithful to his first wife. His son blames him for his mother's untimely death. These imperfections give readers reason to like him — he is human just like they are.

OMN: How do you expect his character to develop over the course of the series?

HC: The characters are always evolving, learning about themselves, changing as we all do — but there are fundamental characteristics that remain essentially static (e.g. in Jace's instance, his integrity). Relationships evolve as well. Jace works closely with his legal assistant, Darrin McKenzie. In addition, he contracts with a PI, Jackie McLaughlin, to do investigative work. His relationships with Darrin and Jackie evolve and keep the reader guessing as to who might be the best match for him, and why.

OMN: Into which fiction genre would you place your series?

HC: Legal thriller. I hope readers find my books want to be exhilarating page-turners. By design, the chapters are short and end in a way to make the reader want to keep turning the pages. Many of the posted reader reviews state they finished the first book in the series, Cried For No One, in two sittings. I want to keep it that way.

OMN: How would you tweet a summary of The Word?

HC: A fallen soldier, a fanatical crusade, a volatile mix of freedom of speech, women's rights and religion.

OMN: How much of your own personal or professional experience have you included in your books?

HC: The characters are amalgams of people I have personally come in contact with in my personal or professional life, or whom I have read about in newspapers, Internet articles, or books. In no instance do I attempt to mimic or capture a real person.

OMN: Tell us a little more about your writing process.

HC: I prepare a detailed plot outline (which I revise many times) before writing the first word of the actual novel. I also prepare biographies of all the characters in the book that detail their ages, physical traits, and other personal characteristics. I have found that this type of thorough preparation makes the actual writing go much more smoothly. When I would write court briefs, I used the same methodology.

OMN: Where do you most often find yourself writing?

HC: Writing environment is so important. My wife and I have a mountain retreat in Monteagle, Tennessee — not far from the campus of The University of the South (Sewanee). I write from a screened-in porch looking out over the Pelham Valley several thousand feet below. I often tell my wife there is not a more beautiful, serene, inspiring setting anywhere. There are no annoying distractions (like car engines, leaf blowers, or grass mowers), the only sounds are those coming from the chickadees, hummingbirds, cardinals and wrens, and the occasional pecking of woodpeckers. It is a wonderful place to let your mind roam freely!

OMN: How do you go about researching the plot points of your stories? Have you come across any particularly challenging topics?

HC: I use multiple sources to fact-check my books. The vast majority of the research occurs during the "outline" phase. My predominant resource is the Internet. I also consult with experts. For example, I contacted a federal judge in Dallas about how she would conduct voir dire (jury selection) in a highly publicized trial. She was kind enough to give me a detailed description of her approach. I also rely on my personal experience. I have been a trial lawyer in Dallas since my graduation from SMU Law in 1976 and have handled countless cases. I don't need to fantasize about what goes on inside a courtroom — I know from actually living it.

The most challenging (and rewarding) topic I researched was The Bible. I had never read The Bible from beginning to end. I did this — very, very slowly and with the assistance of excellent resources: How To Read The Bible by Harvard Professor James L. Kugel and several books by Bart Ehrman, Chair of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. What I learned was enlightening, surprising and, at times, troubling. I urge everyone, believers and non-believers, to undertake this journey.

OMN: How true are you to the settings of your books?

HC: Cried For No One and The Word are both set in Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin, Texas. I take some liberties (e.g. street names) but many of the places (restaurants being a good example) really exist. Many are institutions such as Hut's, the famous hamburger joint in Austin, and Angelo's, the go-to place for barbecue in Fort Worth. I think the Texas setting is very important to my characters. When people think of Texas certain images come to mind: bigness, flashiness, corruption, and far right politics, to a name a few. People like to read about the extraordinary and that's easy to find in Texas. I capitalize on that in my novels.

OMN: If we could send you anywhere in the world to research the setting for a book, where would it be?

HC: A rustic get-away in the English Cotswolds. The reasons: my ancestry is English/Scottish, some of the best playwrights and writers penned their works there or nearby, and the surroundings appear serene and inspiring. Seems like a wonderful place to outline/write a novel. Besides, I love The Beatles and have never been to Liverpool or Abbey Road in London (which would be easy side trips).

OMN: What are some of your outside interests? And have any of these found their way into your books?

HC: I have loved music since I was old enough to walk. I started with Elvis and, when the British Invasion hit, I became (and still am) an avid Beatles fan. In 7th grade my mother bought me a candy-apple-red 1964 Fender Mustang guitar. I spent hours teaching myself to play and then, while still in junior high, formed a band dubbed "The London Fog." The music bug never waned and I continued to play actively after graduating from law school, forming an all-lawyer band known as "The Live Band" (we didn't have a name for our first gig and, when we saw the invitation boasting "live band," felt that moniker would fit us nicely). We have played at private parties in the Dallas area for over forty years. And, yes, music does play a part in my writing. Interestingly, I recently read Stephen King's Revival and was pleased to learn he also played in a band in high school (his reminisces in this regard played a significant role in the book). I have even penned some songs which can be accessed on my personal website, and/or purchased on iTunes under the band name "Turnstyle." Give "Till I Come Back Around" a listen — you just might like it.

OMN: What is the best advice — and harshest criticism — you've received as an author?

HC: Draft an outline before starting to write. I have found it's much more effective for me to know where I'm ultimately going to end up before starting on the journey. I am sure other authors might disagree, and insist this approach is too confining — rather, you should let your mind wander as you write, let it take you wherever it wants. In a way, it's similar to the argument among songwriters as to whether it's better to write the lyrics first and then the melody, or vice versa. John Lennon and Bob Dylan preferred to write the lyrics first; in contrast, Paul McCartney usually came up with the tune before writing the words — a good illustration is "Yesterday" which Paul sung as "Scrambled Eggs" while working out the melody.

As far as criticism is concerned, the harshest has come from my wife. When I draft an outline or write a chapter, she is the first to read it. Her comments are candid (at times, brutal) but typically right on. My wife is my most loyal fan and harshest critic.

OMN: Tell us how you came up with titles for your books.

HC: Both of my novels have been titled after Beatle songs. The first, Cried For No One, was the inspiration of "For No One" from the Revolver album. The Word came from a song off "Rubber Soul." I chose them as a nod to the strong influence Beatles music has had on me throughout the years, and because the titles worked with the plots. For example, The Word is about, in a significant sense, religious fanaticism, and begs the question: who really knows what The Word is and what it means? People are still killing each other over that one, aren't they?

OMN: How involved were you with the cover designs?

HC: My wife and I were intimately involved in the cover design for both books. The first was a photograph of a "Weeping Angel" from the Oak Lawn cemetery in Metairie, Louisiana. We purchased the photograph at an art gallery in the French Quarter. When we were trying to come up with a cover design, my wife suggested the photograph. I called the gallery owner, Joe Dunn, and asked if I could use it. He told me that he didn't read much and deferred to his wife Pamela. Smartly, she wanted to read the manuscript before agreeing so we emailed it to her. She loved it and gave her consent, provided we gave her husband credit (which we gladly did).

OMN: Suppose your books were to be adapted for television or film. Who do you see playing the key roles?

HC: I have been told by a fair number of readers that Cried For No One would make an excellent movie. As a result, I have given some consideration as to who should play Jace (as well as the other characters). Recently, my wife and I watched The Judge starring Robert Downey, Jr. After we finished, we turned to each other and said, "He would be perfect."

OMN: What kinds of books did you read when you were young?

HC: As a child, I read all of the Hardy Boys and Tom Swift books, and then progressed to the James Bond series, all of which influenced my choice of genre.

OMN: Who are some of your favorite authors to read today?

HC: For entertaining reads, the authors I most frequently turn to are: John Grisham; Greg Iles; Robert Harris; Thomas Cook; Stephen King; and Nelson DeMille. Recently, I reread Deliverance and, for the first time, Winter's Bone. Both books are beautifully written and suspenseful at the same time.

OMN: What do you look for when selecting a book to read?

HC: When searching for an entertaining book to read, I look for a thriller/mystery that is not over 400 pages. I want a page-turner I can finish in two or three sittings. Writers who try to awe the reader with beautiful writing but offer little plot get no interest from me.

OMN: Create a Top 5 list for us on any topic.

HC: My top five movies are (not in any order): Godfather (I & II — I can't decide which is better); Forrest Gump; A Few Good Men; Silence of the Lambs; and Scent of a Woman.

— ♦ —

Hubert Crouch is a practicing trial lawyer in Dallas, Texas. He graduated from Vanderbilt University (B.A. 1973) and then obtained his law degree, Order of the Coif, from the Dedman School of Law, Southern Methodist University (J.D. 1976). Crouch is a founding member and partner of Crouch & Ramey, L.L.P. He and his wife split their time between Dallas, Texas and their mountain retreat in Monteagle, Tennessee.

For more information about the author, please visit his website at HubertCrouch.com and his author page on Goodreads, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

— ♦ —

The Word by Hubert Crouch

A Jace Forman Legal Thriller

Publisher: Serpentine Books

Ezekiel Shaw and his fanatical followers preach a gospel of hate, picketing the funerals of fallen soldiers, and praising God for sending America's soldiers back in body bags. But when they disrupt the funeral of Second Lieutenant Lauren Hanson, a West Point graduate killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, hard-charging Fort Worth trial attorney Jace Forman becomes determined to put an end to their crazed crusade no matter the cost.

As Jace and reporter Leah Rosen battle the odds and the clock in pursuit of justice and truth in the courts, they draw closer to uncovering a shocking conspiracy — and facing sinister forces that will stop at nothing to keep them from revealing the truth.

— The Word by Hubert Crouch