Just Another Dead Author - by Katarina Bivald (Paperback)

About the Book

"A French castle, good food, wine, and literature-this writers retreat has everything, even a real murder! Berit Gardner has traveled to France to teach at a writer's retreat. Unfortunately, the class is abruptly cancelled when its star, a bestselling author, is murdered right in front of Berit's eyes. Detective Inspector Roche at the Lyon Police Department now has her hands full with twenty wannabe authors who all have some kind of motive for the murder. Not only are they dangerously used to making things up, but all of them are using the police investigation as an opportunity to do real-life research. With nowhere else to turn, Roche goes to Berit for help. When a second murder is committed, things take a turn for the worse. Luckily, reinforcements, in the form of DI Ian Ahmed, who was on holiday nearby, arrive in the nick of time. Will Berit and Ian be able to stop the daunting murder spree, or will Berit's life once again hang in the balance?"--

Book Synopsis

The pen is mightier than the sword--but both are deadly in the wrong hands

When mystery author Berit Gardner agrees to attend a writer's conference in the idyllic French countryside, she dreams of basking in the sun and nurturing budding talent. But her vacation takes a dark turn when the keynote speaker--a notorious literary titan known for his biting critiques--drops dead at the end of her lecture. As whispers of foul play swirl, Berit quickly realizes she's stepped into a tangled web of jealousy, betrayal, and long-held grudges.

Enter the French commissaire, who is less than thrilled to have a curious author meddling in her investigation. But as the suspects pile up--each with their own motive for wanting the egotistical writer dead--she reluctantly recognizes Berit's sharp instincts could crack the case wide open. With a colorful cast of authors, agents, and aspiring writers all hiding secrets, the stakes rise higher with every clue uncovered.

To make matters worse, a tenacious young journalist vows to outsmart Berit and solve the mystery first, placing herself in the killer's sights. Now, Berit must navigate a maze of deceit and danger while trying to keep the ambitious reporter safe. With time running out and the killer lurking in the shadows, can Berit unravel the truth before her own story ends in tragedy?

Review Quotes

"A fun romp through the publishing industry is icing on the cake!"--firstCLUE

"Bivald plays with the trope of police vs. amateur sleuth in this engaging mystery set at a writers retreat in a French chateau outside Lyon."--Washington Post

"A plethora of characters, settings, motives, and red herrings makes Bivald's latest an engrossing, keep-'em-guessing read."--Booklist

"Bivald's latest will appeal to fans of Louise Penny and Elly Griffiths."--Library Journal

"A sharp and twisty whodunit with a cast of intriguing characters steeped in secrets, this book hooked me from the very start. Katarina Bivald writes with a deep understanding of human emotion and the lengths that people will go to when driven by love or hate, desperation or need. A fantastic read!" -- Nalini Singh, New York Times bestselling author