Sue Coletta

Follow to get new release updates and improved recommendations

About Sue Coletta

Sue Coletta is an award-winning crime writer and an active member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Feedspot and Expertido.org named her Murder Blog as one of the "Best 100 Crime Blogs on the Net" (Murder Blog sits at #5). On alternate Mondays, she also blogs at the Kill Zone, a multi-award-winning writing blog.

Sue lives in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire and writes two serial killer thriller series (Tirgearr Publishing) and true crime (Rowman & Littlefield Group). She's multi-published in numerous anthologies and her forensics articles have appeared in InSinC Quarterly. She's also the communications manager for the Serial Killer Project and Forensic Science, and founder of #ACrimeChat on Twitter. And recently, she appeared on an Emmy award-winning true crime show (sworn to secrecy till an air date is slated).

On Murder Blog, Sue shares crime tips, police jargon, the mind of serial killers, true crime stories, and anything and everything in between. If you search her archives, you'll find posts from guests that work in law enforcement, forensics, coroner, undercover operatives, firearm experts... crime, crime, and more crime.

For readers, she has the Crime Lover's Lounge, where members will be the first to know about free giveaways, contests, and have inside access to deleted scenes (if available). As an added bonus, members get to play in the lounge. Your secret code will unlock the virtual door.

BONUS: When you join Sue's community you'll receive two killer reads!

Are you an author?

Help us improve our Author Pages by updating your bibliography and submitting a new or current image and biography.

Learn more at Author Central

1 11 1

$2.99

Kindle Edition
$0.99

Kindle Edition
$2.99

Kindle Edition
$0.99

Kindle Edition
$2.99

Kindle Edition
$0.99

Kindle Edition
$0.00

Kindle Edition
$2.99

Kindle Edition
$0.00

Kindle Edition
$13.99

Kindle Edition
$3.99

Kindle Edition
$2.99

Kindle Edition

Author Updates

Titles By Sue Coletta

All Formats Kindle Edition Audible Audiobook Paperback

Fractured Lives: Brotherhood Protectors World (Mayhem) Jul 16, 2018

by Sue Coletta , Brotherhood Protectors World

( 10 )

$2.99

Three couples, the perfect Maine vacation, and a fateful night that blows everyone’s mind.

Couples are going missing in Sunset Cove at Long Lake, and the authorities seem more concerned with not tarnishing the reputation of their popular tourist destination. Until ... while out for a spin on her wave runner, Shawnee Daniels pulls alongside a deserted canoe.

Blood stains the seat.

When retired SEAL Brandon “Boomer” Rayne wakes to an empty bed—his bride-to-be Daphne nowhere inside their rented cabin—he enlists the help of the only people he’s met in the state: the couple next door, Shawnee Daniels and Revere, Massachusetts Detective Levaughn Samuels.

Uncertainty bonds the two neighbors, forced together by tragedy. Their predicament turns even deadlier when the half-nude body of a female washes ashore. No obvious signs of homicide exist. How did she die? Does her death relate to Daphne's disappearance?

Time's running out.

Can they piece together the mystery to find Boomer’s fiancé? Or will an elusive serial killer determine their fate?

Note: This book was previously published through Amazon Kindle World.

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

I Am Mayhem: The Mayhem Series: #4 Apr 20, 2021

by Sue Coletta

$0.99

As bloody, severed body parts show up on her doorstep, Shawnee Daniels must stop the serial killer who wants her dead before she becomes the next victim.

But can she solve his cryptic clues before it's too late? Or will she be the next to die a slow, agonizing death?

With crows stalking her every move, Shawnee can barely function. Things worsen when body parts show up on her doorstep. An unstoppable serial killer wants her dead. Mr. Mayhem threatens to murder everyone she loves, sending Shawnee a piece at a time.

As Mr. Mayhem sits in judgement, his cryptic clues must be solved before the final gavel drops. The game rules are simple—win the unwinnable or submit to a slow, agonizing death.

When Shawnee tries to fight back, she discovers her very existence is based on lies. But the full impact of the truth might become the headstone on Shawnee’s grave.

Hacked (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) Jul 1, 2018

by Sue Coletta , Operation Alpha

( 43 )

$2.99

**This book was previously published in Amazon Kindle Worlds ***

When the FBI asks Shawnee Daniels to help stop a serial killer who remotely hacks vehicles and crashes them while the owners are behind the wheel, she faces the greatest challenge of her life.
How--and why--he targets his victims is a mystery. They don't know each other. None of them work in the same places or have the same friends. They don't even live in the same state. The only link is they all drive Fords.
When Detective Levaughn Samuels's car is taken hostage and controlled by a psychotic killer--his life teeters on the edge of a high-speed chase.
Can Shawnee stop the killer before she loses the only man she's ever loved? Or will the ride of his life end in his death?
HACKED is a Mayhem Series crossover novella.
Click to own your copy today!

Other Formats: Paperback

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

60 Ways To Murder Your Characters: Crime Writer's Reference Guide Apr 19, 2016

by Sue Coletta

( 27 )

$0.99

Looking for inspiration on how to murder your characters?

With this handy research guide, no longer will you need to search for ways to murder your characters, or stare at a blank screen while you mull over the character development of your antagonist. Many of the murder methods listed in 60 Ways to Murder Your Characters come with ways you can use them in your novel, short story, or flash fiction.

From the basics, like a shotgun blast to the head to the more creative ways to commit murder on the page, this research guide will help bring your crime scenes alive.

Let’s face it. Being an author isn’t an easy endeavor. Crime writing is even harder, because we need to ensure our stories ring true. That’s why I’ve given you the exact measurements for how to dissolve a body in lye or acid, for instance. If I can help your stories ring true, then I consider it a win. Don't let the preview fool you. There's all kinds of information in this guide.

If you check out my blog, you’ll find endless posts on research, forensics, and police procedures. Let my passion for crime help you. One element of my psychological thriller/mystery, Marred, that readers found the most chilling were the crime scene details and forensics.

Don’t take my word for it.

What others are saying about Marred as it relates to this guide…

“Coletta’s carefully researched writing style and whip-smart dialogue brings the reader inside a world of >b>unthinkably gruesome murders, crime scene forensics, and criminal psychology as Sage and Niko try to stop a brutal, twisted killer. The intrigue builds through many plot twists and turns, and Coletta’s vivid, heart-stopping descriptions are so jarringly real that there are several scenes I'll never forget.”

“Be prepared to accompany Niko and his team to some grisly crime scenes; even if the descriptions are not too stretched, you clearly see that Sue Coletta is serious about her research.”

“The twists, turns, and hidden clues keep you immersed in pure story right from the heartbreaking prologue to an end you’ll never see coming. But what impressed me most—and this is coming from a person who spent a lifetime as a real-life homicide detective and forensic coroner—is the accuracy of detail in the crime scenes and how well woven the forensic evidence is.”

“There’s no doubting the amount of research that’s gone into this story. The vivid, disturbing and grisly descriptions of crime scenes and the forensic details are chillingly detailed. A well-structured, dark and suspenseful plot, which makes it easy to get caught up in the narrative and be drawn to Sage.”

“Sue Coletta isn't going to spare you the gory details or an honest look behind the crime scene tape. She's a well versed author in all things crime who indelicately dumps you into the middle of a life which has been disrupted, disturbed, and marred by the evil acts of a solitary man.”

“I pre-ordered this book and, as soon as it downloaded to my Kindle, I began reading. I couldn't stop reading. I finally finished it in the middle of the night and enjoyed every page. Ms. Coletta's forensic details are superb.

Crime Writer's Research: Your One-Stop Answer Center to Crime Writing, Murder, Police Procedures, Serial Killers, and More Apr 23, 2016

by Sue Coletta

( 11 )

$2.99

Need Research to Help Your Stories Ring True?

Look no further. In Crime Writer’s Research you’ll find countless hours of research that I’ve compiled into one handy guide to help other crime writers, or any author who has a murder, crime, or police procedures in their books. Let my passion for crime lend credibility to your story.

In Crime Writer’s Research you’ll find information on serial killers, police procedures, a rare never-before-seen interview with a real-life undercover operative, and so much more.

Take a look at the Table of Contents:

Seven Phases of the Serial Killer — This chapter discusses what the serial killer experiences, his inner desires and fantasies.

The Terrifying World of Serial Killers — Unlike the previous chapter, we’ll concentrate of how serial killers are classified by the FBI and how you can use this knowledge to write a more realistic antagonist.

What Happens at The Body Farm? — I’ll take you inside the forbidden place where the dead litters the earth.

Blood, Bodies, and Bugs — In this chapter you’ll learn what happens to the body after death; what affects rate of decomposition; life cycle of blowflies; how to estimate time of death, etc.

What Happens Inside an Autopsy Suite? — Specifically, the careers of individuals who work in an autopsy suite and what their job entails.

Exceptions to Search Warrants — There are exceptions to search warrants, and your detective needs to know what they are, including but not limited to Terry Stops, Exigent Circumstances, Custodial issues, Abandoned Property, etc.

Crime Writers’ Boot Camp: Jurisdiction — In order to investigate a homicide, a detective needs to determine if the crime scene is within his jurisdiction. We concentrate on Subject Matter Jurisdiction, then move on to…

Crime Writers’ Boot Camp: Jurisdiction Part II — Nexus, Territorial Jurisdiction, and more.

Police Procedures: United States vs. Canada — Two detective friends sat down with me to discuss the differences between the US and Canadian police procedures and law.

Why Dogs are Such Fantastic Trackers — Ever wonder how your best buddy can tell when you've petted the neighbor’s dog? Now you’ll know why. Plus, learn how to print your dog in case of emergency.

Forensics: Radiocarbon Dating and Skeletal Differences — Forensic breakthroughs and how to tell if a skeleton is male or female.

Psychopaths & the Criminally Insane — Have a psychopathic killer in your story? Read this chapter.

If She Walks Like a Victim — What our body language tells potential attackers.

Candid Interview with an Undercover Operative — Using an alias, this undercover operative comes forward to discuss what happens behind the scenes of a sting. We also cover how he deals with the "theatre of crime," family life, befriended the suspect, the inner workings of undercover work, etc...

Badass in Heels: Self-Defence Moves — Learn techniques to make your protagonist a badass in heels.

Silent Mayhem: The Mayhem Series: #3 Apr 24, 2019

by Sue Coletta

( 14 )

$0.99

Some things in life defy comprehension, but that doesn’t make them any less real. Or deadly.

When a familiar crow drops a cryptic scroll at Shawnee Daniels’ feet, she’s compelled to open it, even though everything in her power warns her not to. Mr. Mayhem—the most prolific serial killer the North Shore has ever known—claims her life is in danger. He “claims” he wants to help her, but just last year he threatened to murder everyone she loves.

While Mayhem taunts her with oddly-placed feathers, like The Creator left at his crime scenes, an interstate killing spree rocks Massachusetts and New Hampshire. A madman is decapitating men and women, dumping their headless corpses on two area beaches. But what Shawnee soon uncovers shatters all she’s ever known, her memories shredded, the whispers of the past in shambles on the ground.

Can she find the strength to move forward, or will the truth destroy her?

Other Formats: Paperback

Murder USA: A Crime Fiction Tour of the Nation Feb 12, 2016

by Kristen Elise

( 12 )

$0.00

In Washington, D.C., an image on the screen of a cell phone connects a nationwide terror threat with an unknown anthrax researcher... In Kansas City, MO, a young woman has disappeared without a trace... At the U.S./Mexico border, desperate travelers risk their very lives to head south...

Murder, U.S.A. is a compilation of excerpts from thirty-one full-length crime fiction novels. Each mystery, thriller, or suspense novel in the collection is set somewhere in the United States; together, the collection offers a "murder tour of the nation" to readers of all sub-genres of crime fiction. Organized by setting and labeled by sub-genre, the collection features pieces of romantic suspense, cozy mystery, legal and corporate thriller, paranormal mystery, historical mystery, dystopian suspense, near-future thriller, medical mystery, traditional mystery, political procedurals, hard-boiled/noir, international thriller, and psychological suspense.

Excerpts from Patrick Balester, Stephen Brayton, Joyce Ann Brown, Craig Faustus Buck, James R. Callan, Lance Charnes, Sue Coletta, G.G. Collins, Diana Deverell, Lesley A. Diehl, Pam Eglinski, Kristen Elise, Ph.D., Elaine Faber, Sunny Frazier, M.M. Gornell, Michael Hebler, Dorothy Howell, Gay Kinman, Tracy Lawson, Sheila Lowe, Janet Elizabeth Lynn, Kathy McIntosh, Kelly Miller, Cathy Perkins, Sara Rickover, Carole Sojka, Linda Thorne, and Will Zeilinger.

Wings of Mayhem: The Mayhem Series: #1 Dec 12, 2018

by Sue Coletta

( 44 )

$2.99

When the cat burglar and the serial killer collide, HE looks forward to breaking her will, but SHE never gives up. Not ever. Not for anyone. And especially not for him.

A serial killer stalks the streets ...

Shawnee Daniels - computer forensics specialist/hacker for RPD by day, cat burglar by night - always believed her "fearlessness rules" mantra would keep her on top and out of jail. When she hacks a confiscated hard drive at the Revere P.D., she focuses on a white-collar criminal accused of embezzlement. To teach him a lesson and recoup the funds she breaks into his massive contemporary in Bear Clave Estates. Jack has even more secrets, deadly secrets, secrets worth killing over.

A cat burglar picks the wrong house to rob ...

Shawnee thinks she made it out clean until a deadly package arrives at her door soon after. He's found her. As a glowing eagle taunts her Skype screen, Jack tells her she stole his precious trophy box - and he wants it back!

Their lives collide ...

When her "helpful" best friend convinces her to date charismatic Detective Levaughn Samuels, her two worlds threaten to implode. Ordinarily Shawnee keeps a firm line between her professions, but dating Levaughn might help her get this psycho off her tail.

And now, no one is safe....

Click to own your copy today!

Other Formats: Audible Audiobook , Paperback

The Rendering: Collection of Dark Flash Fiction & Short Stories Jul 9, 2016

by Sue Coletta

( 9 )

$0.00

Flash fiction with a bonus short story thrown in to lighten an otherwise dark collection of tales.

Haunting Memories - Sometimes the one you seek isn't who you'd imagined.

Emerging Evil - When that tiny voice inside your head leads you down a dark path.

Gut Instinct - Do we always trust our gut instinct?

K9 Christmas - A light, comical tale...some dogs have all the luck.

A Fighting Chance - Karma's a bitch.

One Regret - Or maybe, it's just what the doctor ordered.

Sweet Revenge - He who laughs last...

Pretty Evil New England: True Stories of Violent Vixens and Murderous Matriarchs Nov 1, 2020

by Sue Coletta

( 21 )

$13.99

For four centuries, New England has been a cradle of crime and murder—from the Salem witch trials to the modern-day mafia. Nineteenth century New England was the hunting ground of five female serial killers: Jane Toppan, Lydia Sherman, Nellie Webb, Harriet E. Nason, and Sarah Jane Robinson.

Female killers are often portrayed as caricatures: Black Widows, Angels of Death, or Femme Fatales. But the real stories of these women are much more complex. In Pretty Evil New England, true crime author Sue Coletta tells the story of these five women, from broken childhoods, to first brushes with death, and she examines the overwhelming urges that propelled these women to take the lives of a combined total of more than one-hundred innocent victims. The murders, investigations, trials, and ultimate verdicts will stun and surprise readers as they live vicariously through the killers and the would-be victims that lived to tell their stories.

Other Formats: Paperback

Blessed Mayhem: The Mayhem Series: #2 Dec 12, 2018

by Sue Coletta

( 22 )

$3.99

A cat burglar stumbles across a serial killer at work. SHE piques his curiosity, but HE doesn't allow witnesses.
Accompanied by his loyal crow companions, Poe, Allan, and Edgar, Mr. Mayhem's crimes strike fear in the hearts and minds of folks across Massachusetts' North Shore. When Shawnee Daniels-cat burglar extraordinaire and forensic hacker for the police-meets Mayhem in the dark, she piques his curiosity. Sadly for her, she leaves behind an item best left undiscovered. Or is it serendipity by design?

Color him curious, but he yearns to examine the psychology behind her life choices, tough girl routine, witty banter, and unique double-life. In a different time and place they may have even become friends. But unfortunately, their predicament defines the risk.

The stakes are too high to stop now.

For reasons authorities cannot fathom, these seemingly unrelated murders will go down in history as the most impressive killing regime of all time, even if it means permanently erasing Ms. Daniels from the equation. All the pieces are there if the authorities look hard enough. The question is, will they? The only new wrinkle is Shawnee Daniels, and she may be his toughest opponent yet...if she's clever enough to play the game.

READERS' CHOICE AWARD WINNER
Click to own your copy today!

Other Formats: Paperback

Marred: Grafton County Series: #1 Nov 11, 2015

by Sue Coletta

( 65 )

$2.99

When bestselling author, Sage Quintano, escapes from a serial killer, he retaliates by kidnapping her twin sister. Can Sage rescue her sister, or will he end his reign of terror with a matching set of corpses?
When a serial killer breaks into the home of bestselling author, Sage Quintano, she barely escapes with her life. Her husband, Niko, a homicide detective, insists they move to rural New Hampshire, where he accepts a position as Grafton County Sheriff. Sage buries secrets from that night--secrets she swears to take to her deathbed.

Three years of anguish and painful memories pass, and a grisly murder case lands on Niko's desk. A strange caller torments Sage -- she can't outrun the past.

When Sage's twin sister suddenly goes missing, Sage searches Niko's case files and discovers similarities to the Boston killer. A sadistic psychopath is preying on innocent women, marring their bodies in unspeakable ways. And now, he has her sister.

Cryptic clues. Hidden messages. Is the killer hinting at his identity? Or is he trying to lure Sage into a deadly trap to end his reign of terror with a matching set of corpses?

Click to own your copy today!

Other Formats: Paperback

More Information

Are you an author? Visit Author Central to change your photo, edit your biography, and more

See Author Pages Frequently Asked Questions

Anything else? Provide feedback about this page

Similar authors to follow

About Sue Coletta

Customers Also Bought Items By

Are you an author?

Author Updates

Looking for inspiration on how to murder your characters?

Need Research to Help Your Stories Ring True?

More Information