Tuesday, April 5, 2022

"Crimson Summer"

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Heather Graham has written more than a hundred novels. She's a winner of the RWA's Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Thriller Writers' Silver Bullet. She is an active member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America.

Graham applied the Page 69 Test to her new novel, Crimson Summer, and reported the following:
Crimson Summer is the second book in a four-part series – with, of course, all books standing alone—with focus on murders committed with the killers focused on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. (Danger in Numbers began the series.)

I think it began with my fascination on the human mind—and what we believe. Let’s face it, we all tend to believe what we want to believe. And that can defy fact, science, and simple logic.

But the mind games involved in what people do can be terrifying. Growing up, the news gave us information on terrible things that had occurred involving cults.

One of my main protagonists, now an elite FBI agent with a specialty in cults, spent part of his childhood in one. His parents weren’t bad people—and when he discovered the body of a dear friend who had dared disagree with the leader’s dogma, his parents immediately and yet with care and discretion sought help from the FBI.

Yet, is there truly a madman out there creating a team of horsemen to become the ultimate power him or herself once his Apocalypse has been created?

Or is it someone else with an agenda having nothing to do with religion at all?
Amy pulled out her phone, but before she could dial, it rang.

She didn’t recognize the number; there was no caller I.D.

She didn’t answer with her name or identify herself as FDLE. She just said hello.

For a minute, there was nothing.

Then a soft chuckle sounded.

“Hello? No, ‘Larson, here,’ or ‘Amy Larson, FDLE,’ or perhaps ‘Special Agent Larson’?”

“Who are you and what do you want?” she said.

The soft chuckle sounded again. “I just wanted to hear the sweet and melodic sound of your voice, Special Agent Larson. Do you like to ride? Do you ever go horseback riding, Amy? Horses are such amazing animals, carrying even greater amazement on their backs, such as those with power. Oh! Yes, I called for more than a quiz on horseback riding.”

“Why did you call?” Amy asked, shaking her head at Aidan who was looking at her worriedly. She lifted a finger for him to wait before speaking.

“To hear your voice,” the caller said.

“Okay. You heard my voice.”

“Such an intriguing woman,” the caller said.

“You’ve heard my voice; why did you call?”

“Oh, well. I thought I should let you know that red horses have a great time in New York City. A really, really, great time!”

The line went dead in her hands.
If readers pop over to page 69, it certainly gives a taste of what is happening.
Visit Heather Graham's website.

The Page 69 Test: The Rising.

--Marshal Zeringue