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A tragic auto accident? No! The accident was staged, and young Doctor Ward murdered. But why? And by whom? The only witness, a DUI motorist, flees the scene. In the aftermath, his widow, Kingsley, impulsively accepts a job in a small-town central Pennsylvania bank, but trouble follows her. She uncovers a loan scam that implicates senior management. Angry and frustrated, she vows to solve both crimes herself, risking her job, her reputation—and even her life.

Author Nancy A. Hughes recently discussed her latest novel, A MATTER OF TRUST, with The Big Thrill:

What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

I hope readers cannot put it down. That whatever life is throwing at them, they can retreat into my story. That they enjoy the twists, turns, surprises, and ending, and are left hoping there will be a sequel. I hope they enjoy the characters, forgetting that they are not real, but people they’d enjoy knowing and identifying as friends.

How does this book make a contribution to the genre?

I write “Character Driven Crime Solving Mysteries.” A MATTER OF TRUST is upbeat, a departure from noir. Readers tell me they’re hungry for a satisfying ending; a distraction from their own, political, and current world problems.

Was there anything new you discovered, or surprised you, as you wrote this book?

I love a good mystery, plotting its twists and turns, and then focusing on the characters to drive the plot. My readers surprised me, saying they liked the characters as much as the plot of my debut, The Dying Hour.

No spoilers, but what can you tell us about your book that we won’t find in the jacket copy or the PR material?

Protagonist Kingsley Ward, her new love and best friends, are featured in A MATTER OF TRUST’s sequel, Redeeming Trust, which will be released in late fall. And a third mystery novel will follow.

What authors or books have influenced your career as a writer, and why?

I don’t have a good answer for this, except to say: I’ve devoured mystery novels since my first Nancy Drew, and read widely from authors that range from #1 best sellers to self-published.

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Nancy A. Hughes, a native of Key West who grew up in Pittsburgh, lives with her husband in south central Pennsylvania. A Penn State graduate who majored in journalism, her career focus was media, community, and public relations for small to mid-sized businesses.

In recent years, she began murdering people—on paper that is. A Matter of Trust follows her debut mystery, The Dying Hour, which was released October 15, 2016. Nancy’s focus is character-driven crime solving mysteries.

When Nancy isn’t writing, she is devoted to shade gardening and to volunteering at the Veteran’s Hospital. Visit Nancy on her website.

ITW