September 2026 – Page 3 – Ladies of Mystery

Crafting the Fifth Novel in my FBI Affairs Series

After setting three of my four standalone novels in Florida towns, I decided to set the fifth book, Dangerous Triangle in Tampa, Florida. About forty minutes from my home, Tampa is a rapidly growing Gulf Coast city known for its sunny climate, diverse economy, and rich cultural history, including the historic Ybor City district. Visitors are drawn to attractions like the scenic Riverwalk along the Hillsborough River, as well as its vibrant nightlife and iconic Cuban sandwich, which dates back to the cigar factory era of the late 1800’s.

While Tampa continues to thrive, certain violent crimes remained a concern, which provided me with the premise for my next novel. My characters are FBI Special Agents that work in the Cybercrime, Human Trafficking, and Violent Death Unit. The story was about a gripping, high-stakes investigation that spanned a decade, weaving together a serial killer case, A.I. cybercrime, and a looming terrorist plot, forming a chilling three-sided web of danger.

I’ve always been drawn to strong FBI characters, particularly female agents and their dynamic partnerships with their male counterparts. FBI agents operate on a national level, often tackling complex, high-risk cases that naturally lend themselves to suspenseful storytelling. What makes them especially compelling to me is the balance between their professional duties and personal lives. My characters face intense, life-threatening situations, and yet they also deal with relatable family and emotional challenges. Before each mission, they are required to sign an agreement prohibiting romantic involvement as it could compromise their case. Of course, emotions aren’t so easily controlled. That tension adds another layer of conflict, as they strive to remain professional while navigating their feelings. Ultimately, their mission comes first, and they find ways to reconcile their personal lives once the case is resolved.

When I created character names for this novel, I looked for combinations that felt strong, memorable, and fitting for federal agents. Since my series features both a female and male lead, I like their names to complement each other in a way that readers will remember. In Dangerous Triangle, for example, I chose the last names London and Monroe because they felt distinctive and worked well together.

Once my book was written and published, the real challenge began, “marketing.” Many authors struggle with how to get their work noticed beyond social media, which can only take you so far. One strategy that worked well for me was tying my books to a specific location, such as my home state of Florida. I discovered that “location equals marketing.” Readers are naturally drawn to stories set in places they recognize or feel connected to.

At times, I participate in local craft shows and farmers markets to increase my sales. As a traditionally published author, I set up a table and engaged directly with potential readers. At first, simply describing my books as mystery and suspense didn’t always spark interest. But when I mentioned that my stories were set in Florida cities, people became more curious. They would browse more carefully, read the back cover blurb and often purchase one book or even the entire series. Offering autographed copies also made a difference. The in-person events created a personal connection, and I found there are many readers that genuinely enjoy supporting local authors. By the way, in 2025, Dangerous Triangle won a Silver Presidential Medalist Book Award from the FAPA (Florida Authors and Publishers Association.)

Dangerous Triangle

FBI Special Agent Olive London and her partner, Special Agent Jason Monroe, are thrust into a high-stakes investigation that spans decades in Suzanne Baginskie’s latest romance thriller, Dangerous Triangle. As they delve into the chilling case of a potential serial killer, new clues surface about the most recent victim, a young college student who may have met her fate through an online chat room. With the pressure mounting, London and Monroe turn to the Bureau’s cutting-edge A.I. program, Atlas One, and its brilliant controller, Professor Steve Dalton. But just as they begin to unravel the dark web of the serial killer’s activities, a terrorist threat against Tampa, Florida emerges, forcing the agents to pivot and confront a danger that could result in mass casualties. Amidst the relentless action and rising tension, another kind of excitement ignites between London and Monroe. Several close calls awaken a romantic attraction they can’t ignore, yet both are painfully aware that acting on their feelings could jeopardize their careers. Dangerous Triangle masterfully weaves together action, romance, and intrigue, making it an unmissable installment in Suzanne Baginskie’s gripping FBI Affair series. Will London and Monroe catch the killer and thwart the terrorist plot in time? And will they risk everything for a chance at love?

Buy Link: FBI AFFAIRS: http://amazon.com/dp/B09JPCX2CX

Suzanne Baginskie is an award-winning author of the “FBI Affair Series.” Five books of mystery, suspense and romance set across her home state of Florida. A retired office manager/paralegal, with 30 years of legal experience, she brings authenticity to her crime stories. She loves traveling, especially on cruise ships. Most sea days on board, you’ll find her plotting stories outside on the deck while gazing at the beautiful blue ocean. Every time she sails a ship, she donates autographed copies of her books and bookmarks to their library.

Links:

Website: www.suzannebaginskie.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com.sbaginskie

Instagram: www.instagragram.com.sbaginskie

X: Https://twitter.com/sbaginskie

Link Tree: Https://linktr.ee/SBaginskie

I’ve admitted it before; I’m a setting thief. I also steal dialogue, people, and events. But book seven in my PIP Inc. Mysteries series takes my thievery to a whole new level. Last year I participated in something called Santa’s Shelves at the Felton Fire Protection District’s Fire Station. It’s an annual event, with vendors paying a fee to be included in the fundraiser for the district. The fire station is home to 30 volunteer firefighters, full-time EMTs, Captains, and a Fire Chief, serving 6,000 permanent residents and up to 15,000 summer visitors.

At the two-day Christmas faire last year, opportunities for theft of setting, dialogue, characters, and murder, presented themselves and I decided to steal all of them. I’ve done it before. The bank robbery in “Mags and the AARP Gang” took

place where I bank and my admission that I was “casing the place” to understand how to rob it made bank officials exceedingly anxious and got me put under surveillance until the book came out and I presented the manager with a copy so he and the nervous employees would understand that my robbery was pure fiction.

And then there was the time I witnessed a death at a funeral and turned it into the beginning of

“The Funeral Murder.” In both of those thefts, I only used the setting, a soulless entity, and created the characters…well mostly. Setting a death at the eighteenth hole pond at the Delavega Golf Course for the “The Two- Faced Triplex, “

and the murder in the walkway near the post office for “What Lucy Heard”

was even more settings-driven without any potentially real characters.

I’m still amazed and delighted by how eager to help with ideas and means for murder so many people are when I tell them I’m writing a cozy murder mystery. They find flaws in my reasoning and make corrections which make the killings work so well that I often wonder how many innocent-seeming bystanders fantasize about committing murder and if only the prospect of getting caught keeps them from doing it.

For “A Faire to Remember,”

I went way beyond the norms of privacy by placing many real people in the book. I fictionalized them and made up their backstories, but they will know who they are and recognize their booths and the placement of them if they read the book. I also made the fire captain a serious suspect with motive and means to be a murderer. That last decision made me worry. Was he too real? Was the setting too real?

I wondered if I should make up a town and place it in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Fellow writer Victoria Kazarian does a series set in River Grove but assures me her setting is really Felton, California. Should I borrow her town? I like that my books are set in real places and many readers enjoy recognizing local references so I really didn’t want to do that.

With the book off to the editor, I finally had to confront my dilemma. I called the fire station and explained to the volunteer who answered the phone that I had been a vendor last year when the lights strobed and a towel was put over them…

“That was me,” he exclaimed. “I’m the one who put the towel over the light fixture. Is my name in the book?”

“You’re referenced but not named,” I offered. “Cool! But if you want to use my name, I’m good with that!”

“I hope your captain will feel the same because he’s a suspect.”

“Send him an email and ask him.”

I did. He wants to read the book when it comes out.