Blindspot
by Maggie Smith
April 29 - May 24, 2024 Virtual Book Tour
Synopsis:
From the author of the award-winning Truth and Other Lies comes a gripping suspense novel about an ambitious prosecutor on the hunt for her sadistic stalker . . . only to be framed for murder when he turns up dead.
Rachel Matthews is used to stress—from the cutthroat world of the district attorney’s office to her escalating clashes with her teenage daughter. So when a stranger sends a lavish bouquet with a macabre message and leaves a disturbing video on her doorstep, she’s quick to act. Teaming up with an old classmate turned private investigator, she wades through old case files, searching for someone harboring a grudge. But before she has time to pinpoint a suspect, her stalker issues a demand—he wants money, lots of it, or he’ll hurt her daughter.
Desperate to protect her child, Rachel agrees but soon finds herself fleeing a bloody crime scene, fearful for her life. As evidence mounts against her, Rachel realizes it’s up to her to unmask the enemy behind this vendetta before it’s too late.
Fans of Scott Turow’s Presumed Innocent, Julie Clark’s The Lies I Tell and Heather Chavez’ Before She Finds Me will embrace this taut tale of long-simmering revenge right up to its surprising and twisty climax.
Book Details:
Genre: Psychological Suspense
Published by: Puzzle Box Press
Publication Date: May 21, 2024
Number of Pages: 318
ISBN: 9798989677917
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Goodreads
Read an excerpt:
April 24, 2023, County Courthouse
The killer is sitting in this courtroom and it’s up to me to prove it.
It isn’t every day a murder this sensational happens in Milwaukee. Sure, we’ve had our share of drive-by shootings, domestic arguments that escalated, home invasions that turned deadly. And yes, there was that lurid trial a while back where the deranged sicko drugged, then ate his victims. That one landed our city in the national spotlight. A once in a lifetime case.
But this one’s right up there. Everyone involved is high profile. Which means it warrants the top guns. Which means my boss of nine years, Marcus Huntley, Deputy DA, is sitting first chair. I catch his eye and his expression confirms what I already know. This is the most important case of my career, and if the verdict goes south, any hope for that promotion goes right along with it.
But this isn’t only about winning for me. There’s a lot more at stake. Consequences I don’t dare think about or I’ll lose my nerve. Because even though the police are convinced this is an open and shut case, I know better.
I know they’ve arrested the wrong person.
Because I witnessed the murder. But for reasons I can’t reveal, I have to keep quiet. Only two people know the whole story and I’ve sworn them to secrecy.
I watch the crowd. Examine every person in detail. Who’s talking to whom, who’s staring at their lap, who’s looking around the room. Who’s fidgeting, adjusting their tie, or rummaging through their purse. Who looks bored and who looks agitated? But even though I’m an expert in spotting a tell, I’m coming up empty.
The electricity in the air ratchets up as the judge enters and the bailiff calls the case. I’ve been up most of the night, pacing the floor, rehearsing my lines, imagining how today would go. What to say and what not to say. What needs to happen so I can walk out of here satisfied.
Part of me wants to scream. Part of me wants to whimper. Part of me wants to rush out the door and never look back.
But I don’t do any of those things. Instead I steel my nerves and set aside the theatrics. A bead of sweat slithers down my spine as I stand to address the judge.
In an orange jumpsuit. And handcuffs.
“Rachel Elizabeth Matthews. You stand accused of first-degree intentional homicide.
How do you plead?”
“Not guilty, Your Honor,” I reply.
***
Excerpt from Blindspot by Maggie Smith. Copyright 2024 by Maggie F Smith. Reproduced with permission from Maggie Smith. All rights reserved.
Review:
5 stars!
Riveting! I suspected EVERYONE!
Blindspot is the new psychological thriller slated for publication in just a few days, and it is a suspense-filled doozy! With a personable female assistant district attorney as the main character besieged by an unknown stalker watching her every move, I was completely absorbed by the story and on the edge of my seat, wondering what in the world was going on!
Single mom Rachel Matthews is the Milwaukee assistant district attorney who is the target of a mysterious and menacing stalker. She’s successful and competent in her career and on the brink of taking a big step up the professional ladder. But while she flourishes at work, her private life has long since reached a stalemate. It’s been just her and her daughter since birth, and Rachel is satisfied with that; her daughter means everything to her. However, over the past several months, their relationship has been strained as Rachel puts in long hours at her job, while Charley struggles to navigate the teen years and some difficult high school issues. When the stalker includes Charley in their sick game, Rachel takes matters into her own hands.
The story begins with Rachel in court and then goes back in time to explain how she came to be on trial for murder. The bar is immediately pretty high for tension and continues to build. Many of the individuals Rachel interacts with act suspiciously or come into her life a little too coincidentally, and I eventually suspected everyone and never quite trusted any of them. Rachel takes some big risks that place her in jeopardy, and the resulting twists in the story made me gasp out loud and, of course, compelled me to keep reading on and on. The book was riveting and thoroughly entertaining.
I recommend BLINDSPOT to readers who enjoy mysteries,
thrillers, and psychological suspense.
Author Bio:
In a career that’s included work as a journalist, a psychologist, and the founder of a national art consulting company, Maggie Smith added novelist to her resume with the publication of her debut, Truth and Other Lies, a women’s fiction novel set in Chicago and released in March 2022 by Ten16 Press. It won NIEA’s Juror Grand Prize, the Star Award for Debut Fiction from Women’s Fiction Writers Association, Foreword INDIES Gold Metal for General Fiction, and was selected for the Women’s Book Association Great Group Reads.
In addition to her writing, Maggie hosts the weekly podcast Hear Us Roar (215+ episodes), blogs monthly for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and is Managing Editor for Chicago Writer’s Association Write City E-Zine. She resides in Milwaukee WI with her husband and her aging but still adorable sheltie. Her second novel, a psychological suspense called BLINDSPOT will be released in May 2024.
Catch Up With Maggie Smith:
MaggieSmithWriter.com
Goodreads
BookBub - @MaggieSmithWriter
Instagram - @maggiesmithwrites
Threads - @maggiesmithwrites
Facebook
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2 comments:
"a suspense-filled doozy!" ~ Haha, I love it! Great review! Can't wait to read this one this summer! :-)
I so enjoyed kickback and sinking into this book! I will have to obtain her previous one now.
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