Welcome to my stop on the book tour for Lethal Assumptions by Kassandra Lamb. This book tour was organized by Silver Dagger Book Tours. On my stop, I have an excerpt from the book as well as a great guest post from the author on the importance of children's books. There's also the tour wide giveaway for a chance to win a signed paperback of another book by the author or a $10 Amazon gift card. Be sure to visit the other stops on the tour for more content. Enjoy!
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Series: C.o.P. on the Scene Mystery #1
Author: Kassandra Lamb
Publisher: Misterio Press
Publication Date: December 13th 2021
Print Length: 330 pages
Genre: Crime Mystery
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Judith Anderson’s no-nonsense attitude and confidence served her well in her climb to homicide lieutenant in the Baltimore County PD, but that confidence is shaken when she finds herself one step behind a serial killer—just eight days into her new job as Chief of Police in a small Florida city.
The first victim, a female college student, may be a case of wrong place, wrong time. But the bodies keep coming, with a mishmash of MOs, and the murders may be linked to various cases in nearby Jacksonville.
While Judith assumed the CoP job would be challenging, she’s finding it harder than she imagined to establish her authority without alienating and be more hands-on without micro-managing. Plus, evidence is stacking up that there’s a leak in her department.
Who can she trust? If she makes the wrong assumption, the wrong decision, it may be her last. In a race to save lives, she’ll draw on every talent and instinct that made her a star in Baltimore. But will it be enough this time?
Fans of JA Jance’s Sheriff Joanna Brady and JD Robb’s Eve Dallas will love this new female cop on the scene!
Goodreads * Amazon * Apple Books *
The rookie, hat tucked under her arm, stood stiffly at attention in front of my desk—slightly shorter than average but sturdily built, dark hair in a tight bun low on her neck. She saluted. “Officer Barnes, reporting as ordered.”
“Requested,” I said, leaning my chair back to look up at her more comfortably. “At ease, Officer.”
She relaxed slightly.
“I assume Detective Bradley explained what I have in mind.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“There will be no hard feelings, no repercussions, if you don’t want the assignment. Understood?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Her voice still sounded like a raw recruit answering a drill sergeant.
“I’m thinking six months.” I was considering having a rookie rotate into the position periodically. It would be a good way to assess their potential, as well as solve my lack-of-an-assistant problem. Again, unorthodox, but you do what you gotta do.
“There’ll be some tedious stuff involved. Answering phones, opening my snail mail and such, but I want you with me whenever I’m out in the field. You’ll learn the department along with me.”
No response.
“When we’re at a crime scene or discussing a case with another officer, I want you paying close attention. I’ll want your take on things afterwards. Any questions?”
“No, ma’am.”
Was that a glint of anger in her brown eyes?
“Are you thinking that I’m asking you because you are the only female rookie?”
A slight hesitation. “No, ma’am.”
“Okay, that is not allowed.”
She blinked. “What, ma’am?”
“Lying to me. I always want to hear what you truly think, even if I won’t like it.”
She blinked again. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I asked Detective Bradley if any of the rookies had admin experience. You were the only one who did.”
“With all due respect, ma’am, that is because I’m female. Men don’t usually take clerical jobs, except maybe in a mail room.”
“So why did you take a clerical job?”
“To pay the bills while I got my training. If you’re female, warm and breathing, you can usually get a file clerk or receptionist gig, without any experience.”
I nodded. Not much had changed in that respect since I was a young woman.
She cleared her throat. “I’ve handled the phones, typed correspondence, filed, set up meetings, fetched coffee.” Her lip curled slightly.
I gestured toward my personal coffee maker at the end of the credenza behind my desk. “I keep my own stash of coffee, and you’re welcome to share it.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I blew out air. “You’re giving me a crick in my neck, Officer. Please, sit down.”
She hesitated again, stared at the visitor’s chair like she thought it might bite.
“Sit.”
She sat, perched on the edge, wiggling some and rearranging the accouterments on her duty belt that had caught on the metal arms of the chair. She placed her hat on her knees, looking no more comfortable than she had when standing.
“So?” I said.
Two blinks this time. “Ma’am?”
“Do you want the assignment?”
She opened her mouth.
My phone rang. I held up an index finger. “Hold that thought.” I grabbed up the receiver. “Anderson.”
“Chief, this is Jenny. Jan said you wanted to know about any missing-person calls.”
I visualized pregnant Jenny, sitting sideways in front of the dispatch terminal. “Yes.”
“We got one, just now. I passed it on to the sarge.”
“Name?”
Movement in my peripheral vision. Barnes had taken out her notepad and pencil.
Jenny said the name and my heart stuttered in my chest.
I repeated it out loud for Barnes’s benefit, but I didn’t need it written down to remember it.
I knew who it was.
In her youth, Kassandra Lamb had two great passions—psychology and writing. Advised that writers need day jobs—and being partial to eating—she studied psychology. Her career as a psychotherapist and college professor taught her much about the dark side of human nature, but also much about resilience, perseverance, and the healing power of laughter. Now retired, she spends most of her time in an alternate universe populated by her fictional characters. The portal to this universe (aka her computer) is located in North Central Florida where her husband and dog catch occasional glimpses of her.
How Important are Children’s Books? Incredibly!
by Kassandra Lamb
My favorite writer when I was a kid was Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the Little House on the Prairie series. I devoured the entire series. I even wrote to her when I was nine.
Unfortunately, she had passed away four years prior (yes, I am that old), but her husband, Almanzo Wilder actually answered my letter. It was bittersweet—to learn that she was gone, but to actually get a letter from her husband!
He was very kind and thanked me for my support of his wife’s life work.
What I didn’t realize then was that Laura Ingalls Wilder would inspire me to be a writer someday. All I knew at the time was that I loved her stories of her life growing up in pioneer days.
But this simple, unassuming woman, telling her real-life story, planted the seed in my mind that maybe, just maybe, I too could be a writer.
So never underestimate the power of children’s books. They not only expand vocabulary and teach life lessons and all that...
But they just might plant seeds that determine that child’s future path and success.
Win a $10 Amazon gift card (open worldwide) or a signed paperback of Police Protection by Kassandra Lamb (US only)!
(All the Ups and Downs is not responsible for this giveaway, its entries, or the prizes. Silver Dagger Book Tours and the author assume all responsibility with this giveaway.)
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What made you write a mystery -crime fiction if you were so fasinated with the writer Laura Ingals Wilder. They are so different
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great question! I was fascinated with the pioneer days when I was a kid, but as an adult I mostly read mysteries. So it was natural that I would also write in that genre.
DeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.
ReplyDeleteabfantom at yahoo dot com
like the cover
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great read
ReplyDeleteThanks, Everyone! I'm glad you find the story intriguing and like the cover. I was pretty pleased with how it turned out! My cover designer is a delight to work with.
ReplyDeleteThis book looks so neat thank you for a chance to win and Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Zelda, and Happy Holidays to you too!!
DeleteSounds like a great Crime Mystery. I like the cover.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan. Glad you like it!
DeleteIt sounds like a really interesting book, very intriguing. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds interesting, good details.
ReplyDeleteI like the book details.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read this book! Sounds like a great read!
ReplyDeleteLooks like an interesting book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest.
So glad you all find the details about the book interesting. That warms an author's heart. <3
ReplyDeleteAnd yes the "you all" was intentional...LOL I'm from Maryland and we say "you all" there (plural). I guess it's because we're on the cusp between the north and south. :)
ReplyDelete