I’m a retired Oregon
attorney who traded contracts for mysteries. I’m
writing the Annie Velasquez mystery series. The first
instalment, In Harm’s Way,
was published in 2019. You can purchase my books in
paperback or ebook from all the usual online outlets,
or you can also get the ebook through my publisher's
store. (See links in sidebar.)
After considerable delay
(entirely my own fault!), I finally finished the second
book in the series. Family Secrets was
published in April 2024 and is available through the
same sources as In Harm’s Way.
Book 2 in the Annie
Velasquez Mystery Series
Family Secrets begins
shortly after the events of In Harm’s
Way. Annie and her brother, Joe, have
decided to rebuild their dad’s bicycle shop. What
should be a straightforward building project becomes
anything but when someone starts causing problems at
the construction site. First, small items are stolen,
then the shop itself is vandalized with spray painted
graffiti and broken windows, and problems escalate from
there, including vandalism at Annie’s home.
When Annie stops in at a local coffee
shop, she comes face to face with her former girlfriend,
Nicky Fleming, who has long been believed to have been
murdered. In fact, Annie has been the person of interest
in Nicky’s murder. When Annie reports sighting
Nicky to her family and Portland homicide detective,
Beth O’Brien, she’s met with skepticism.
After all, Nicky’s family identified the body,
so how could Annie have seen Nicky alive and well?
In the meantime, Annie has been approached
by Mandy, a restaurant server who asks Annie to locate
her long-lost girlfriend. Annie reluctantly agrees,
but the information Mandy provides isn’t sufficient,
so Annie has to let her know she won’t be able
to help. Mandy refuses to listen and starts stalking
Annie, which makes Annie wonder if Mandy is the vandal.
Is Nicky really alive? If so, where
has she been and why has she reappeared? Does Detective
O’Brien believe Annie about Nicky? Who is so determined
to damage the new bicycle shop? Is it Mandy? Or someone
else? Will Annie ever be free of the police? Will she
and Beth ever get together? Has Grandma Natalie found
someone who loves her? And will Annie and Joe ever be
able to open Velasquez Cycles? |