It is an honor and privilege to feature the newest release from Gwen Plano. I have known Gwen for many years, and not only is she a talented writer, but she is also a kind and generous soul. Take a look at her new thriller!
Thank you, Jan, for inviting me to your site today. It’s a pleasure to visit your readers and share a bit about my new release. I look forward to doing the same for you.
Redemption, A Father’s Fatal Decision is a mystery thriller that takes place in the Southeast corner of New York state, in and around the city of New Rochelle. Having spent about twenty years in that general area, it was exciting to visit as a writer.
The book tackles themes of forgiveness and redemption through suspense. We accompany the son and daughter of the deceased as they try to uncover the reason for their father’s murder. What they discover prompts them to ask if they even knew him.
Sometimes complicated situations help us see our own challenges in a different light. That is my hope for this book. Most of us won’t experience threats like those of my characters, but pain is universal, as is joy. Seeing either in the extreme helps us recognize our own—and severe or elated, those emotions are impactful.
In this excerpt, Lisa and Trace Holmes drive to the cemetery where their father and baby brother are interred. Trace has a letter he wants Lisa to read.
EXCERPT:
“There’s something I need to do. Will you come with me?”
She looks at her brother’s bloodshot eyes and nods. “Wherever it is, I’m with you. Here, you take the keys and lead the way.”
The siblings swap places. Trace starts the car and pulls out of the parking lot. He drives east and, fifteen minutes later, pulls onto the cemetery’s lane. “Where’s Robbie’s plot? Do you know?”
“Beside Dad’s. Take the next turn.” Lisa points. “You’ll see it. An angel sits on the headstone.”
Trace pulls over and, together, they walk to the grave, where they read the inscription on the stone:
Our beloved angel, Robbie, now plays happily in heaven.
Trace reaches into his pocket, takes out a crumpled envelope, and hands it to Lisa. “Mom and I have seen this already. It’s time you read it as well.”
Lisa straightens the hand-written message and studies her father’s confession. Her face contorts when she focuses on one line in particular, and the next until, finally, she bends over and gasps in anguish. Trace holds her close, and they weep.
“We knew it, didn’t we?” Lisa wipes her eyes and cheeks. “We knew it. But knowing it for certain … well … that’s devastating.”
Lisa scrubs at her chin. “I’ve never felt so exhausted. Every cell in my body begs for reprieve. Layers of sadness weigh down my soul, Trace, and I wonder if I’ll ever laugh again.”
“You will. Ryan will fill that emptiness, and with time, these memories will fade.”
BLURB
Family secrets can be deadly. When Lisa Holmes visits her parents one fateful Saturday morning, she hugs her father and walks to her childhood bedroom. The doorbell rings. Her father opens the door, and one minute later, he lies dead on the floor—three bullets to the chest.
The Holmes family lives on a quiet street, but no one really knows Eric Holmes. He travels for business and comes home a few days each month. Unbeknown to all, Eric has multiple lives.
In this fast-paced psychological thriller, Lisa and her brother, Trace, embark on a quest to solve the mystery involving the murder of their father. The journey takes them into a secret world where nothing is as it seems. As the puzzle pieces begin to coalesce, they discover the meaning of Redemption.
PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3RebK0W
Amazon Purchase Page: https://amzn.to/3XKiLJn
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/3FkQD8z
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
CONTACT INFORMATION:
BookBub: http://bit.ly/3Y26EI5
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3XIe6Yu
Story Empire: https://storyempire.com/gwen-m-plano
Twitter: https://twitter.com/gmplano
Blog: www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections
I will be sharing my review of this new book later in the month. But I can tell you it is a really good read, and I highly recommend it! In the meantime, here are the rest of Gwen’s books.
