The Big Thrill Discusses MOVING IS MURDER with Joan Havelange

Book CoverHow well do you know your neighbours?

Linda Burton is house-sitting for her aunt’s friend in the pretty little town of Glenhaven. Linda, who has spent her working career in the city, has fallen in love with the pleasant little country village. Everyone she has met is so friendly.

Strolling down the alley one evening in search of Gertrude, a pet cat, she hears a voice complaining about burying a body. Not completely convinced she heard correctly, Linda decides to emulate her heroes, amateur detectives. She tries her hand at detecting. Unfortunately, Linda puts her trust in the wrong person.

Joan Havelange

Can Linda outwit the killer? Will her aunt Violet figure out the clues Linda has left? And even if Violet does, will it be too late for Linda? And will Violet fall into the same trap?

Joan Havelange recently spent some time with The Big Thrill discussing her contemporary thriller, MOVING IS MURDER.

A novel is such a major undertaking; there’s the writing of it, of course, then you’re spending months and months revising, polishing, and then promoting it. How did you know this was the book you wanted to spend the next couple of years on?

This thriller was a step out of my comfort zone. But I like it.

Were there any particular books, movies, or songs that were knocking around in your head while you were writing this one?

Mr. Rogers’s theme song, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. The antagonist in my thriller gives this innocent tune a sinister twist.

When you first created your protagonist for this book, did you see an empty space in crime lit that you wanted to fill? What can you share about the inspiration for that character?

I wanted to give a new twist to the amateur sleuth; they always catch the villain. What happens if the villain catches them?

What can you share about what you’re working on next?

My next novel is a historical mystery set in the early 1900s. The title is The Séance Murders. The release date is May of next year.


 

Joan Havelange is the author of five cozy mysteries. Her mysteries have been in the top ten list of her publisher two years in a row. She is an accomplished actor and director of community theatre, which lends well to her writing. Joan is a world traveler and enthusiastic golfer. She lives on the prairies and has three grown children.

Moving is Murder with Joan Havelange

ITW