Calculated Book Blitz
Synopsis:
An investigative journalist gets an unlikely tip from
a mysterious informant. Dismissing it as impossible, she disregards the
information and drops the story. Until the informant turns up dead, as
predicted.
Plunged into the murky waters of a seedy underground
prostitution ring, this psychological thriller provides twist upon dark twist
in a story that would ultimately pin the church and several government
officials in the largest murder cover-up the city has ever witnessed.
But is it true, or has the journalist merely been used
as a pawn in a greater scheme? And how many people is she willing to sacrifice
trying to figure it out?
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Excerpt
When she arrived at the
little facility her building provided, a quick look around confirmed she was
the only one there. Just as she’d hoped, and exactly how she liked it to be.
Smiling in satisfaction, she flipped on the television that was perched on the
wall, and turned up the music on her iPod as loud as she could handle it. The
multiple distractions would help her get through the extra mile she was
planning to conquer. With chilled water bottle in place, she cranked up the
treadmill to a nice brisk pace.
As her breathing picked up
speed and her muscles began to warm, Ana’s eye caught a red flash along the
bottom of the screen. Breaking News filled the bar, and the
too-chipper-for-their-own-good reporters were suddenly getting serious. Since
the volume was still muted, Ana couldn’t understand exactly what was going on,
only that they were showing the wide stretch of river that ran along the
outskirts of the city. She wiped the first beads of sweat from her brow, and
used the remote to turn the volume of the television higher while
simultaneously adjusting her music.
As the reporters spoke,
home-video footage of something floating in the water rolled before her eyes.
The camera zoomed in, the frame ever so shaky, and it became clearly apparent
that the “something” was a person - face down with long brown hair spread out
like a Catholic halo. It appeared another victim had been pulled out of the
water; the count was quickly tallying up. A young woman this time, and possibly
one who had gone missing the night before.
Ana’s pulse skipped a few
beats as they replayed the video over and over. There was something familiar about
the long, lean body. Slowing the treadmill to a stop, she ripped the ear buds
from her head to give the segment her entire attention.
...it appears at first
glance that the victim suffered from a deep cut to the throat, and received
multiple stab wounds to the chest...
The beads of accumulated
sweat turned cold on Ana’s brow. She immediately reached for her phone and
dialed Kylie’s number.
“What the hell, Ana?” Came
her friend’s groggy voice.
“Turn your TV on. Channel
four. Hurry.” Ana said, eyes transfixed to the screen in front of her.
“Recognize that face?”
...It’s thought the victim
may be one of the young girls recently reported missing. The screen flashed
candids of three possible women. All brunettes. All tall and thin. All roughly
the same age. Among them was a photo of Mara, just as Ana had expected there
would be.
But the body was too bloated
and disfigured to be absolutely certain, and an autopsy would be needed.
... The body will be taken
in for processing where officials hope to shed more light on the case in the
near future. In the mean time, they’re cautioning residents to avoid....
“Did you see that?” Ana’s
voice escaped in more of a demand than a question. “Please tell me I’m seeing
things.”
“Oh my god...” Kylie
whispered into the receiver, confirming the dread that was building in Ana’s
stomach. “Do you really think it’s her?”
“I know for a fact it is.”
Ana declared, the pull in her gut getting stronger by the minute. “The autopsy
will confirm it.”
“So, what does this mean
exactly now?”
“That maybe I should have
been listening a little closer when I was talking to Mara.” She said with
regret as she swiped her forehead with the back of her hand. “And maybe I
should have asked more questions. There’s a story here, I’m sure of it now.”
“What are you going to do?”
Kylie’s voice was decidedly more alert now.
Ana shook her head. “I have
no idea.”
Though if she were to be
truthful with herself in that moment, she’d already made up her mind. Ana
flipped off the television, and left the little gym to get started.
Formerly a freelance journalist, Novelle has
found placement of her pieces in both online and print publications since 2008.
Additionally, she has written multiple screenplays, and contributed her writing
to many non-profit and for profit organizations. She has launched several blogs
over the years, which garnered international attention.
In 2013, Novelle returned to her first love –
fiction. Writing under the names Renee Novelle and R.S. Novelle, she has a
publication schedule that includes Psychological Thrillers, Suspense,
Paranormal Fiction, Contemporary Women’s fiction, Chick Lit, and New Adult.
Though she received her Bachelor’s of Science
in Communication, summa cum laude, she considers herself a constant student of
the written word. She’s an avid reader, an enthusiastic quote poster, and
rarely takes “no” as a final answer. She has an unhealthy obsession for
theater, dance, music and art, and strongly believes that wine is
simultaneously the beginning of, and resolution to, all of life’s problems. She
believes in following dreams, and that in the end, you always end up where
you’re meant to be.
Connect with Renee:
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