Blog Tour: Blood Red by Wendy Corsi Staub

 

Author: Wendy Corsi Staub
Publisher: William Morrow
Date of publication: September 2015

From New York Times bestselling author Wendy Corsi Staub comes the first in a terrifying new series set in a small town with a sinister secret

The razor’s gleaming blade slices effortlessly through skin and tendon, and he relishes the final anguished moments of his prey. There’s only one thing he prizes more: their long, silken strands of red hair. But these women are merely stand-ins . . . a prelude to his ultimate victim.

Nestled in New York’s Hudson Valley, Mundy’s Landing is famous for its picturesque setting—and for a century-old string of gruesome unsolved murders. Rowan returned to her hometown years ago, fleeing a momentary mistake that could have destroyed her family. Life is good here. Peaceful. Until an anonymous gift brings Rowan’s fears to life again.

The town’s violent history was just the beginning. Soon everyone in Mundy’s Landing will know that the past cannot be forgotten or forgiven—not until every sin has been paid for, in blood.

Blood Red is the first in a new series about the town of Mundy's Landing.  I found this to be a pretty interesting mystery.  The book starts off with an abduction and assumed murder.  Then quickly brings us to Mundy's Landing, home for Rowan and her family.  She receives a package that brings her back to a time in the past she would like to forget.  Somehow it all ties together, but the reader is left guessing until the end.

I did enjoy the story.  I thought the author did a good job of keeping my attention throughout the book.  The characters were interesting.  I liked Rowan, despite her transgression 14 years before.  She clearly made a wrong spur of the moment decision, but has done all she could to make it right again.  The story is told  from multiple people's points of view.  How they all tie together is, at first, not easy to figure out but toward the end it all comes together with a twist.  You know who the killer is all along, but do you really?  You'll have to read to find out!  

This is actually the second book I have read by this author.  I like her style, so I know I'll be looking for her other works. The next book in the series, Blue Moon, comes out next summer.  I look forward to visiting with the people of Mundy's Landing again!

About the author:

New York Times bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub is the award-winning author of more than eighty novels in a career that has spanned more than two decades. Under her own name, Wendy achieved New York Times bestselling status with her single title psychological suspense novels. Those novels and the women’s fiction she writes under the pseudonym Wendy Markham have also frequently appeared on the USA Today, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookscan bestseller lists.

In Autumn 2015, Wendy will launch two new series. The first is the “Mundy’s Landing” adult suspense trilogy for HarperCollins, with the launch title, Blood Red, on sale September 29, to be followed in 2016 by Blue Moon and Bone White. The other is “Lily Dale,” a hardcover cozy mystery series set in the upstate New York spiritual community. Book One, Nine Lives, goes on sale October 26, with a second title to come in Summer 2016.

Wendy now lives in the New York City suburbs with her husband of twenty-four years and their two children. A 1986 graduate of the State University of New York at Fredonia, she proudly delivered the keynote commencement address at her alma mater in May 2008, was a featured speaker at the 2011 Academic Convocation. 

For More Information

Visit Wendy’s website.

Blog Tour:

 September 28

Interviewed at C.A. Milson

Guest blogging at Night Owl Reviews

September 29

Guest blogging at Freda’s Voice

Book reviewed at Stormy Night’s Reviewing and Bloggin’

September 30

Guest blogging at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews

October 1

Book featured at I’m Shelf-ish

October 2

Book featured at Harmonious Publicity

October 5

Book featured at Crystal’s Chaotic Confessions

October 6

Guest blogging at Becky on Books

October 7

Book reviewed and Author interview at From the TBR Pile

October 8

Book featured at Authors and Readers Book Corner

October 9

Book featured at Write and Take Flight

October 12

Book reviewed at Cheekypee Reads and Reviews

October 13

Guest blogging at Lori’s Reading Corner

October 14

Book reviewed at Booked on a Feeling

Book reviewed at Queen of All She Reads

Book reviewed at Storm Goddess Book Reviews

October 15

Book featured at Chosen By You Book Club

October 16

Guest blogging at Around the World in Books

Book featured at Celticlady’s Reviews

October 19

Interviewed at Reviews by Crystal

Interviewed at Deal Sharing Aunt

October 20

Book featured at Abibliophobia Anonymous

October 21

Book featured at Booklover Sue

October 22

Book reviewed at The Self Taught Cook

October 23

Book reviewed at Fallen Over Book Reviews

Book reviewed at I Smell Sheep

Book reviewed at Curling Up by the Fire

Throwback Thursday: The Last to Know by Wendy Corsi Staub

Author: Wendy Corsi Staub
First published in 2006 by Zebra
Re-issued by Harper October 2012

Townsend Heights is the perfect small town. The sort of peaceful, suburban existence Tasha Banks dreamed of living when she left her fast-paced career for full-time motherhood. But now, Tasha's perfect dream is turning into a terrifying nightmare. Someone is targeting women in Townsend Heights -- and not just any women. A serial killer is looking for a particular kind of prey...young, stay-at-home mothers...exactly like Tasha. One by one, Tasha's friends are disappearing, only to die in horrific ways. Suddenly, terror is transforming Townsend Heights into a sinister place of fear and foreboding -- a place where evil lurks behind every corner, hiding behind the mask of a familiar face -- a face that may be the last one Tasha ever sees.

 The Last to Know was actually a pretty good mystery.  I wasn't liking it so much in the beginning because I felt there were too many characters to keep track of and I was having problems following it.  But, eventually, everyone fell into place.  It seems that all of the characters involved have secrets.  The trick is to figure out which ones are relevant to the murders and which ones aren't.  I liked that part of the book because it kept me guessing.  I was pretty sure I had it figured out who the killer was about halfway through, but because of some twists and turns  thrown in, I doubted myself a couple of times.  In the end, I was happy to see I was right.  

The storyline is a little convoluted and I would hate to give anything away.  My only complaint is that the Stay at Home moms came across as extremely whiny.  I'm not sure if this is how the author perceives SAHMs or if she was making a comment on suburbia.  But, I know a lot of SAHMs and they aren't like that. 

I listened to the audio book.  Even though it was 14 discs long, I felt like it went really fast. If you missed this one by Ms. Staub, I definitely recommend it.  Give this throwback a shot!