Sue Coletta

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About Sue Coletta

Sue Coletta is a proud member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Kill Zone, an award-winning writing blog where she posts every other Monday. Sue's a bestselling, award-winning, multi-published crime writer 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.

2019, 2018 & 2017 Award-winner of Feedspot's Top 100 Crime Blogs on the Net (Murder Blog sits at #5) and 2019 Award-winner of Expertido's Best Crime Blog, Sue shares crime tips, police jargon, the mind of serial killers, true crime stories, and anything and everything in between at https://www.suecoletta.com. 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, when 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!

Sue lives in northern New Hampshire with her husband, who deals with a crazy crime writer feeding circus peanuts to crows named Poe and Edgar, a squirrel named Shawnee (the Marilyn Monroe of squirrels, with her silky strawberry-blonde tail), and a chipmunk dubbed "Hippy" for his enthusiasm and excited leaps each time he scores a peanut in "Hip, hip, hooray!" fashion.

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Books By Sue Coletta

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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

( 3 )

$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.

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

by Sue Coletta

( 9 )

$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.

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

by Sue Coletta

( 58 )

$2.99

She barely escaped with her life. Now, can she save her sister?
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?

"Riveting and haunting! Sue Coletta's page-turning crime fiction is deliciously nuanced with delectable horror and dark humor. Unique and compelling characters make a sumptuous and satisfying meal. Save room for a decadent dessert of plot twists." ~ USA Today Bestselling Author Jordan Dane

Other Formats: Paperback

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

by Sue Coletta

( 41 )

$2.99

Shawnee Daniels breaks into the home of Jack Delsin, a white-collar criminal accused of embezzling money from his employees’ retirement fund. In Robin Hood-esque fashion, her intention is to return their hard-earned cash, but she stumbles across a shocking spectacle. Jack has secrets, evil secrets, secrets worth killing over.

A deadly game of cat-and-mouse torpedoes Shawnee’s life. Can she outrun the killer, prove she’s innocent of murder after Jack sets her up to take the fall, and protect those she loves before he strikes again?

Other Formats: Audible Audiobook , Paperback

Racked: Grafton County Series, #4 Aug 7, 2019

by Sue Coletta

( 10 )

$0.99

It starts with an innocent stuffed animal. It ends in mind-numbing terror.

Five missing boys and an adult corpse found in the town’s water shed was only the beginning for Sage and Niko Quintano. After a hooded-stranger gives their son, Noah, a stuffed animal—the exact Christmas moose given to all the missing boys days before their abductions—their lives spiral downward into uncertainty.

Could Noah be the next boy to go missing?

As they piece together each cryptic clue, the future looks more and more grim. But what they soon discover blows everyone’s mind, the truth teetering on the unfathomable.

What does it all mean, and where do they go from here?

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

by Sue Coletta

( 11 )

$4.99

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 Shawnee 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

Cleaved: Grafton County Series: #2 May 3, 2017

by Sue Coletta

( 18 )

$3.99

Author Sage Quintano writes about crime. Her husband Niko investigates it. Together they make an unstoppable team. But no one counted on a twisted serial killer, who stalks their sleepy community, uproots their happy home, and splits the threads that bonds their family unit.

Darkness swallows the Quintanos whole—ensnared by a ruthless killer out for blood. Why he focused on Sage remains a mystery, but he won’t stop till she dies like the others.

Women impaled by deer antlers, bodies encased in oil drums, nursery rhymes, and the Suicide King. What connects these cryptic clues? For Sage and Niko, the truth may be more terrifying than they ever imagined.

Other Formats: Paperback

Scathed: Grafton County Series: #3 Jul 25, 2018

by Sue Coletta

( 11 )

$4.99

On a picturesque fall morning in Grafton County, New Hampshire, a brutal murder rocks the small town of Alexandria. In the backyard of a weekend getaway cabin, a dead woman is posed in red-satin, with two full-bloomed roses in place of eyes.

In her hand, a mysterious envelope addressed to Sheriff Niko Quintano. Inside, Paradox vows to kill again if his riddle isn’t solved within 24 hours.

With so little time and not enough manpower, Niko asks his wife for help. But Crime Writer Sage Quintano is dealing with her own private nightmare. Not only did she find massive amounts of blood on the mountain where she and her family reside, but a phone call from the past threatens her future—the creepy mechanical voice of John Doe, the serial killer who murdered her twin sister.

Together, can Niko and Sage solve the riddle in time to save the next victim? Or will the killer win this deadly game of survival?

Other Formats: Paperback

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

by Sue Coletta , Operation Alpha

( 39 )

$2.99

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

Shawnee Daniels wrongly assumes she’s being punished for innocently hacking the Police Chief’s photos. Okay, maybe not-so-innocently, but someone had to expose him for the dog that he is. When she arrives at the mandatory computer seminar, the FBI enlists her help in stopping a serial killer who’s remotely hacking vehicles while the owners are behind the wheel.

Why he’s targeted these people remains a mystery. None of the victims frequent the same places, some don’t even live in the same state. The only commonality is they all drive Fords.

When Detective Levaughn Samuels is taken hostage—his life teetering on the edge of a high-speed chase—there’s nothing Shawnee won’t do to save him, no line she won’t cross. And when her BFF shows up unannounced with problems of her own, she only complicates matters.

Can Shawnee stop the killer before she loses the only man she’s ever loved? Or will the ride of his life end in death?

HACKED is a Mayhem Series crossover novella.

Other Formats: Paperback

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

by Kristen Elise

( 1 )

$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.

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

by Sue Coletta

( 20 )

$3.99

READERS' CHOICE AWARD WINNER

A chance encounter . . . a deadly predicament . . . a lethal decision.

Accompanied by his loyal crow companions, Poe, Allan, and Edgar, his 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?

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.

Other Formats: Paperback

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

by Sue Coletta

( 7 )

$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...

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