A Hint of Murder [Kindle Edition]

Lia Fairchild (Author)

Book Description

Detective John Lewis encounters a unique cast of characters throughout each A Hint of Murder story. One reader said, “I couldn’t stop reading once I started.” Another said, "The clues are all there, and there's an AHA! moment...Even I couldn't figure out who the killer was.."

The Writer - Bestselling author Alicia Fairfield has captured the attention of a killer who is recreating the murders from her books. Pinning down a suspect could prove difficult. Is one of her millions of fans the culprit? Or is the person much closer; her schizophrenic son, a disgruntled associate, or possibly even her loyal literary agent? The guilt over the loss of these innocent lives drives Alicia to the brink of despair. How close to the edge will she go before she can stop the menacing evil?
Story length 9,000 words

The Doctor - Russell Morgan had it all; good looks, the perfect woman, and a rewarding career as a respected physician. But when his patients start turning up dead, his world begins to crumble. If this murderer isn't stopped, everything the good doctor has worked so hard to build will be destroyed. Detective John Lewis returns to track down the killer.
Story length: 12,000 words

The Bouncer - Disillusioned nightclub bouncer Bobby Crane feels like nothing more than a glorified errand boy. He longs to be a professional singer, but just when he's offered a big break, a man is found dead and a witness claims to have spotted Bobby's car at the victim's house. Can Detective John Lewis and his new partner clear Bobby’s name and solve the murder? Or will all his singing be done behind bars?
Story length: 10,400 words

**BONUS MYSTERY** “Homeless” will leave you with a smile, and a twist so surprising you never saw it coming.

Product Details

• File Size: 227 KB
• Print Length: 133 pages
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00698G7U4
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #178,082 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing stories, wonderful characters, effective exposition August 1, 2012

By Sarah Edmondson

Format:Kindle Edition

In Lia Fairchild's "A Hint of Murder" anthology, the whodunit mystery is taken to a new level. Fairchild manages suspense like a pro, revealing everything in a way that still left me guessing what exactly the outcome would be. The stories are short but well-written and intriguing enough that I read all three in one sitting. The clues are all there, and there's an AHA! moment when the outcome is revealed. Even I couldn't figure out who the killer was in two of the stories until the ending. This, in my humble opinion, is the sign of a great mystery writer: someone who can lay all the cards on the table yet keep the reader guessing and - most importantly - reading.

The anthology consists of three short stories plus a bonus story. The first is about an author who descends into madness. The second details killings at a hospital, where nearly everyone has a potential motivation to kill. The third combines the seedy underworld with one of mankind's oldest motivations to commit murder. All three stories have red herrings among the suspects, people I really wanted to be the killers but who weren't.

All three stories also share a common detective team that's working the cases. I thought this was a great idea, because there were characters I could take with me from story-to-story and learn more about while I met the flawed people and glimpsed the broken worlds of those involved in the murders. The detectives, Frank and Lewis, were colorful and unique, and they didn't fall prey to the stereotypical detectives I've read in other books. I loved their exchanges and how Fairchild portrayed the connection they had from years of working together while maintaining each man's unique perspectives. I found myself grinning every time Frank came along in the story.

I have to say that what impressed me most was Fairchild's ability to frame the events and the mindset of her characters without unnecessary prose. It's difficult to create a new world with new characters in a novel let alone in a short story and balance the need for both exposition and brevity. I suspect Fairchild's true gift is the economical use of effective words, especially in the creation of her characters.

And I loved her characters, all of them. Fairchild could bring a character to life with one sentence in a way that made me smile. Their motivations were unique, their backgrounds diverse and even their word choices in dialogue different. Not all of them were honorable or decent, but I could connect to each of them. Even better - I felt like I'd always known all of them, which is rare when I read a book. There's usually a cardboard character or two in most books I've read whose name I don't bother to remember, because the character's addition to the story felt forced or like an afterthought. I didn't have that sense in any of these stories. I left the stories feeling as if I'd learned something new about my neighbors of five years.

Aside from Frank, my favorite characters were Alicia - the author - and Bobby - the bouncer. I was also rooting for Nicole - the crappy nurse - as well, I think because I wanted her to succeed when everyone else wrote her off.

All in all, I highly recommend this one.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars More than a hint of awesome January 27, 2012

By Jill Krawczyk

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Lia Fairchild has a gift for being able to convey fully developed and realistic characters in very little time. These three short stories sucked me in and held me start to finish. I also love that the detectives carry over for each story, without dominating the tale. It adds a comfortable familiarity to the series.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT READ January 6, 2012

By M. J. Weinberg

Format:Kindle Edition

I become aware of this author on Facebook and I am very glad that I did.

Lia Fairchild's A Hint Of Murder Series comprising THE WRITER , THE DOCTOR and THE BOUNCER are the perfect size to have for desert after lunch with no pesky calories. The characters are well drawn and the pages just fly by.......If you're looking for the perfect reading snack..this series is for you

MJW51

Brooklyn New York

More About the Author

I've been creating stories my whole life, but only for me, in my own head. Then one day I sat down and started to write a book. I completed my first novel, In Search of Lucy, in February of 2011. Seven months later, AmazonEncore contacted me about representing my book. It's currently in the top 10 for Kindle Drama.

My second full-length novel, Vigil Annie, was released on Amazon in December of 2012! One reviewer called this thriller "suspenseful, well-crafted, and fast paced."

I recently completed my first romantic comedy, The Tech Guy, now available on Amazon.

My other works include a mystery series (A Hint of Murder) and a short, sweet romance (Special Delivery).

I was born and raised in Southern California and hold a bachelor's degree in journalism and a multiple subject teaching credential. I'm a wife and mother of two teenagers.

Look for updates on me and my books at http://www.liafairchild.com or follow me on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/#!/liafairchild or Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/lia.fairchild.author?fref=ts