Guppy Book of the Month - A Short Time To Die - Susan Alice Bickford

Guppy Book of the Month

Welcome to the next 'Guppy Book of the Month' post!  I'm very excited about highlighting the books that I'll be receiving as part of my special Live Auction win at Malice Domestic 30.  Each time I receive a book, I'll tell a bit about it and also a bit about the author.  No promises as to when I'll get it read and my thoughts shared, but if it looks great to you, check it out at your local library or bookstore.  Some of these books will be debuts and some will be from authors already established.

A Short Time to Die

by Susan Alice Bickford

Nominated for Best Debut Mystery at 2018 Left Coast Crime 

Walking home on a foggy night, Marly Shaw stops in the glare of approaching headlights. Two men step out of a pickup truck. One of them is her stepfather. A sudden, desperate chase erupts in gunshots. Both men are left dead. And a terrified girl is on the run—for the rest of her life . . .

Thirteen years later, human bones discovered in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California are linked to a mother and son from Central New York. Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Detective Vanessa Alba and her partner, Jack Wong, dive into an investigation that lures them deep into the Finger Lakes. They find a community silenced by the brutal grip of a powerful family bound by a twisted sense of blood and honor, whose dark secrets still haunt the one family member who thought she got away . . .

From Susan's website:

Susan Alice Bickford was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in Central New York.

After she discovered computer graphics and animation her passion for technology pulled her to Silicon Valley, where she became an executive at a leading technology company.

She now works as an independent consultant, and continues to be fascinated by all things high tech. She splits her time between Silicon Valley and Vermont.

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I'm always really interested in the books that get nominated as 'Best Debut' for any award event.  I'm sure the authors are so pleased that their wonderful creation is appreciated by many.  Therefore, I was really thrilled to get a copy of A Short Time To Die and find a new-to-me author to follow.  After taking a look at Susan's website, I noticed that she has a new book coming next year entitled 'Dread of Winter'.  Just the cover made me cold.  Ha!  Since I've found that A Short Time To Die also includes cold weather, these would both be perfect for my rule of 'read cold books in the heat'.  Lovely!

My deepest thanks to Susan for sending me a copy of A Short Time To Die.  I am very much looking forward to reading it and have also added Dread of Winter to my list.  Susan, wishing you much luck in your writing endeavors!