What Are You Reading: Author Stacy Verdick Case? {+ Giveaway}

It’s my pleasure to be participating in author Stacy Verdick Case’s virtual book tour for her release, AN INTIMATE MURDER, the latest installment in her Catherine O’Brien series.

As part of the tour, Stacy will be joining us to talk about what she’s reading and share an awesome giveaway. I’ll also be sharing my thoughts on this entertaining murder mystery.

First, here’s a brief synopsis of AN INTIMATE MURDER:

      Catherine O'Brien, the irreverent detective, is back in An Intimate Murder. When Jonathan and Susan Luther are murder in their home, St. Paul homicide detective Catherine O'Brien and her partner Louise discover this isn't the first time the Luther family has been visited by tragedy. Is it a case of bad family luck or is there something more?

Please join me in giving Stacy a warm welcome. Welcome, Stacy. What are you reading now?

What are you reading now? I get asked this question all the time on various blog tours, interviews, etc. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m a writer, or if people are just curious. Or maybe people are curious because I’m a writer, who knows. Part of me feels like I should say something intellectual like Dostoyevsky or Shakespeare so I sound smart, but the truth is I’m a genre omnivore. 

Being a mystery writer I have a strong leaning toward mysteries, but I love a romance, I love literary fiction, short stories, plays, humor, science fiction. You name it I love it. If it has a good story, and is well-written, I want to read it. As a writer, I think there’s a benefit to reading across genres. I think if you don’t you’re missing so much.
 
There is a beauty in the language of poetry that you can’t get anywhere else. The world building in sci-fi and fantasy is epic. I love being able to relieve the first time I fell in love when I read romances. Literary writers are more in love with words and use language in a way that is like no other. From all these genres, I glean mini-tutorials on the craft that I can use in my own writing.

Also when I answer the ‘what are you reading now?’ question I’m sure it’s off putting to hear three answers, because I have an e-reader, I listen to audiobooks in my car (and in the shower), and I still like to hold a book in my hands.

Unusually heavier stuff like literary fiction is my audiobook selection, because when I lay down at night to read a book I want brain candy. However, when I wake up in the morning and I’m ready for my commute I’m ready for the depth in literary fiction.

My e-reader is full of short stories, articles, and poetry. Because if I’m reading on my e-readers it means I’m in a doctor’s office, or a long line somewhere, and I have a few minutes to grab a snippet.

When I’m curled up on my couch it’s with a book. A real one with pages I can turn without charging a battery. I don’t care what the futurists say. I don’t care if they tell me books are going away. In my lifetime, I’m never going to let it happen. If I have to take an eBook and print it out and read it that way, I will. I am tech-savvy enough to figure it out, so don’t think your DRM is going to stop me.

For those of you who are still curious below is a list of what I’m reading at the time of this writing in my three chosen formats:

Paperback: See Jane Run by Joy Fielding
Audiobook: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
EBook: Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

Stacy, thanks for joining us and sharing your list of books you were reading. As readers, I think we’re always curious what the authors we enjoy are reading to see if we read the same things.

Now, let me share a bit of background on Stacy.

Stacy Verdick Case was born in Willmar, Minnesota. After a brief stint as a military brat, where she lived in Fort Sill Oklahoma and Fort Campbell, Kentucky, her family moved back to Minnesota.

Stacy has written all her life earning a High School Writer Award and a Daphne Du Mauier Award for excellence in Mainstream Mystery/Suspense.
Stacy currently lives in a suburb of St. Paul with her husband of twenty-years, her five-year-old daughter, and their two cats. 

An Intimate Murder is the third book in the Catherine O’Brien series. For more on Stacy and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Goodreads.

Now for my thoughts on AN INTIMATE MURDER …..

Detective Catherine O’Brien is the type of protagonist I enjoy reading about.

Author Stacy Verdick Case has created a fun and entertaining character in Catherine. O’Brien is strong, independent, witty and outspoken. But she is also caring, loyal and very realistic.

In the latest installment in the Catherine O’Brien series, AN INTIMATE MURDER, Catherine and her partner, Louise Montgomery, are faced with solving a double homicide. Jonathan and Susan Luther have been murdered in their home but as the detectives investigate, they learn the Luther family has experienced murder before.

Saddled with a reporter to improve public relations, the detectives have their hands full as they try to find the killer.

The author does an excellent job blending the horrors of the tragedy with bits of humor to keep the story flowing smoothly without becoming too dark. The bantering of the two detectives and their interaction with others enhances the story adding realism to the events.

The rich dialogue and twists will keep you spellbound as you try to discover who the real killer is.

AN INTIMATE MURDER is the third installment in the series, but can be read on its own. Detectives O’Brien and Montgomery are two officers that will have you laughing and shaking your head as they solve this case.

An Intimate Murder by Stacy Verdick Case, Catherine O’Brien Series Book #3, Before The Fall Books, @2014, ISBN: 978-0983713760, Paperback, 284 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the author as part of her virtual book tour. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for a $50 Barnes and Noble Gift Card and two signed copies of AN INTIMATE MURDER.

To enter, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and following the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load, so please be patient. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today. What books are you reading? Do you read in more than one format at a time? What format is your favorite?

*This post contains affiliate links. a Rafflecopter giveaway