Category: Guest Blogger

Guest Blogger ~ CB Wilson

~ patyjag ~ 5 Comments

Beyond the Teacup: Cozy Mystery in the Modern World

Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve always been the one asking, “What if?” What if the rules could bend just a little? What if the story ventured further than expected? What if a cozy mystery—beloved for its comfort and familiarity—could also genuinely surprise you?

My relationship with mystery began early and rebelliously. I was the kid who read her first Nancy Drew book, then promptly rewrote the ending. Not because I disliked the story, but because I craved something sharper, deeper, perhaps a touch more dangerous. Nancy opened the door to mystery, but Agatha Christie sealed my fate. Once I discovered intricate puzzles, layered motives, and the quiet brilliance of intelligent women navigating hostile worlds, my reading preferences were forever transformed.

That tension between comfort and risk? That’s exactly why cozy mystery resonates so powerfully. At its heart, cozy mystery has always rested on a solid foundation: an amateur sleuth; a close-knit setting; quirky, memorable characters; and a crime that disturbs but doesn’t overwhelm everyday life. Readers seek that familiarity, that sense of place, and the reassurance that justice will ultimately prevail. But here’s what excites me: cozy mystery is evolving.

Today’s cozy readers welcome more complexity. They want adventure that challenges their protagonists. They appreciate emotional depth that reflects genuine human experiences. They enjoy romance that feels real to the characters rather than formulaic. Most importantly, they’re drawn to strong female protagonists who think critically, adapt resourcefully, and sometimes make mistakes while holding their ground.

When I created The Gem Hunters Mysteries, I deliberately chose to push beyond the traditional cozy framework while honoring its essentials. My protagonist isn’t a baker or bookstore owner who stumbles into crime—she’s a diamond investigator whose job is to recover stolen gems. She operates in a world where money, power, and obsession collide, where the stakes carry genuine weight. She’s smart, she’s tough, and she’s navigating a dangerous, high-stakes environment typically reserved for thrillers while maintaining the heart and accessibility that cozy readers cherish.

For me, this isn’t about breaking the rules. It’s about expanding them.

Diamonds, much like mysteries themselves, are inherently layered. They carry history, symbolism, and powerful motives. They inspire obsession, loyalty, betrayal, and sometimes murder. Using gemstones as the driving force behind a cozy mystery allows me to explore global intrigue, family secrets, and personal risk while keeping the focus squarely on character development, relationships, and puzzle-solving.

The response? Readers have enthusiastically embraced this expanded vision. What I’ve learned about the genre is thatcozy mystery isn’t fragile. It doesn’t collapse when you introduce international travel, genuine danger, or a heroine carrying emotional scars. Instead, the genre shines brighter when writers trust both the framework and their readers enough to ask challenging questions. What if the amateur sleuth brings professional expertise to her investigations? What if the small-town setting connects to a much larger, more complex world? What if comfort doesn’t require predictability?

I still love the classics, and I honor the genre’s roots every time I write. But I also firmly believe cozy mystery has room to grow, stretch, and reflect the realities of modern women—women who simultaneously juggle careers, relationships, fears, courage, and insatiable curiosity. While the cozy mystery genre has always celebrated intelligence, community, and justice, I’m discovering that it can also celebrate ambition, expertise, and courage in the face of genuine danger. These additions don’t diminish what makes cozies special. They enhance it.

So yes, perhaps it’s simply who I am: the explorer, the one who rewrites endings, the one who views cozy mystery not as a restrictive box but as an invitation. After all, isn’t that where the real mystery begins? In the space between what is and what could be? In the questions we dare to ask and the boundaries we’re brave enough to test?

The beauty of cozy mysteries is that they welcome us home while encouraging us to venture a little further each time. That balance—between the familiar and the unexpected—is exactly what keeps readers turning pages and writers like me pushing the envelope.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Every diamond has a story… but some are worth killing for.

When Sunset Peak’s legendary Peak Diamond disappears during the town’s glittering centennial gala, Taylor Hunter knows one thing: this was no ordinary theft. As a renowned “Diamond Detective” and reluctant heir to a family legacy of jewel thieves, Taylor has solved high-profile cases around the globe—but this time, it’s personal.

The stakes spiral when a perfect replica of the diamond is found, a notorious diamond broker turns up dead, and her twin sister Hope’s fingerprints are discovered at the crime scene. With Sunset Peak’s future—and her sister’s freedom—on the line, Taylor must partner with the one man she swore she’d never trust: Police Chief Rocky Rockman, her ex-husband’s dangerously charming best friend.

Armed with her expertise, her sharp instincts, and Glimmer, her diamond-sniffing dachshund, Taylor races to unravel a tangled web of stolen gems, buried secrets, and hidden betrayals stretching far beyond her small Arizona town. But someone is willing to kill to keep the truth buried—and if Taylor’s not careful, she could be their next target.

Perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich, Ellery Adams, and Jenn McKinlay, The Fire Diamond is a fast-paced cozy adventure mystery where family secrets cut deep, small-town gossip hides deadly truths, and every diamond comes with a price.

BUY links:

Amazon: https://mybook.to/TheFireDiamond

Barnes & Noble:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fire-diamond-cheryl-wilson/1148442601

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-fire-diamond/id6753361681

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-fire-diamond

Award-winning author, CB Wilson, writes two beloved cozy mystery series: the Gem Hunters Mysteries—beginning with The Fire Diamond—and the Barkview Mysteries, set in the dog-friendliest town in America. A GIA-trained gemologist and lifelong dog lover, she fills her books with sparkling clues, warm humor, and unforgettable canine sidekicks. She lives in Arizona, where she writes stories rich with diamonds, danger, laughter, and loyal dogs.

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/cbwilsonauthor

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/137800079

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/c-b-wilson

Instagram: www.instagram.com@cbwilsonauthor

Linktree. https://linktr.ee/cbwilsonauthor

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1HfOVqN7aBccTW70_wlL0w

tikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@author.cb.wilson

Guest Blogger ~ Rob Bates

~ patyjag ~ 3 Comments

I’ve been a journalist covering the diamond industry for 30 years, and I’ve always had a creative outlet in addition to my day job. For a while, I did sketch comedy and stand-up. But when I got married and had a son, I knew I couldn’t spend my free time running around to clubs.

I always thought if I was going to write fiction, it would probably be about the diamond industry, because, as they say, you write about you know, and this is one of the few fields I feel I really know. I guess I could write about being a middle-aged writer who lives in New York City, but that’s pretty well-trod territory. 

I wanted to write a mystery because they have a specific formula that makes them enjoyable to both read and write. If I was just going to write a regular novel about the industry, I’d be a little lost. But with a murder mystery, it’s much simpler. You know there’s going to be a murder, and you know the hero will solve it. I think readers enjoy that familiarity as well. 

Before I started the series, I knew I wanted to have an amateur sleuth, and that it shouldn’t have a lot of violence (as I’m squeamish and kind of a wuss), and that it should be funny. Which, it turns out, is almost the exact definition of a cozy mystery. The only difference between my books and traditional cozies is that my books are set in New York’s Diamond District (47th Street), whereas the traditional cozy is set in a small, tight-knit town (or a bookstore, with a cat). However, 47th Street is definitely a tight-knit community. Maybe I’ve invented a new genre: the urban cozy. Also, murder mysteries tend to have punny titles, and as you can tell, I like punny titles.

After writing three books, I wasn’t sure I was going to write another one. I knew if I was going to continue this series, I’d have to write about lab-grown diamonds, because they are the big issue in the diamond industry right now, and I’ve probably had hundreds of conversations about them. 

I decided to write a fourth for two reasons. First, I was relatively happy about how the third book, Slay It With a Diamond, came out, and hoped that it would be my breakthrough. Which it wasn’t. Not sure what I was thinking.

But I also became interested in ChatGPT, and resultant freak-out from the creative community. It made me consider how the diamond industry’s recent travails mirror what’s happening in other sectors. Just like a diamond grown in a lab is just as “real” as one from the ground, a song written by ChatGPT is just as real as one written by a person. But does that matter? Should it? I thought those were all interesting questions, which I explore in the book. 

So while the book is mostly about diamonds, I also wanted to reflect on bigger questions about disruption, technology, and how we define what is  “real.”  

I read a lot of sci-fi—mostly classic sci-fi—while writing the book; it turns out authors have been thinking about these things for a long time! I wanted the book to have some sci-fi elements, just like the third book incorporates some gothic elements. Not everything I write about in the book is possible. There’s a tech company in it that I made up, with the goal of coming up with the stupidest idea for a business possible. And the funny thing is, people asked me if it was real.

As far as my writing “process”—and I use the term lightly—first I come up with an idea, then I write an outline, then I disregard most of the outline, and spend the next year or so writing and procrastinating and worrying about the deadline (not necessarily in that order).   

I also listen to music while I write—generally, songs with lyrics, which everyone tells me not to do, but at this point I’m so used to it, I can’t help it. (In fact, I have music with lyrics on while I’m writing this.)

I give myself a goal of writing an hour a day, though that’s not always possible. I try to do it early in the morning but sometimes end up doing it late at night, because of the procrastination thing.

A lot of my best ideas come when I’m reading other stuff; it will give me an idea that I’ll think is great and jot it down. Then, the next day I have to decipher my handwriting, and wonder why I thought that idea was so great. 

My process is not particularly disciplined or thought out and I don’t recommend it to anyone. 

MAKING A KILLING IN DIAMONDS

DIAMONDS SO REAL, NO ONE KNOWS THEY’RE FAKE

Journalist-turned-sleuth Mimi Rosen is back with another fun and exciting mystery set in New York City’s Diamond District.

A brilliant scientist has discovered a way to produce synthetic diamonds so close to the real thing, not even incredibly sophisticated equipment can tell them apart from natural gems. But then, the scientist disappears, just as these high-tech imitations begin to turn the diamond market upside down.

As Mimi tries to locate the scientist and his mysterious formula, she uncovers a trail of murder and intrigue, where executives double-cross each other and use people as pawns in a deadly game of money and power.

A fast-paced adventure ripped from today’s headlines, Making a Killing in Diamonds is both a clever, twist-filled mystery as well as a heartfelt look at the ways humans try to hold onto what’s true and meaningful in an increasingly fake-filled world.

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Diamonds-Diamond-District-Mystery/dp/1684923220/

Rob Bates is the award-winning News Director of JCK, a leading jewelry industry publication, and the critically acclaimed author of the Diamond District Mystery series. With over 30 years of experience covering the global gem and jewelry trade, Bates is widely recognized as one of the industry’s most trusted voices. His reporting has shaped conversations on conflict diamonds, sustainability, and technological disruption, earning him more than a dozen editorial honors, including the GEM Award for Media Excellence and the American Gem Society’s Triple Zero Award. As co-host of The Jewelry District podcast, he brings together leading thinkers from across the luxury and diamond worlds. Bates’s Diamond District murder mystery novels blend insider knowledge with page-turning suspense, offering readers a rare look into the power dynamics, ethical tensions, and facades of the jewelry world. He lives in New York City.

Social Media Links:

https://www.facebook.com/robbatesauthor

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-bates-4a14576/

https://www.instagram.com/robbatesauthor/

Website: https://robbatesauthor.com/ 

Guest Blogger ~ Kathy Sechrist

~ patyjag

From Memoirs to Mystery: Crafting a New Narrative Through Healing
Writing has always been my sanctuary—a place where I can sift through the cacophony of life’s experiences and find meaning. After penning two deeply personal memoirs about my journey through domestic violence and the healing that followed, I never imagined that my next literary endeavor would take a sharp turn into the realm of mystery and murder. Yet, here I am, sharing with you the unexpected evolution of my writing journey.

The Healing Power of Words
Before I delve into the origins of my latest book’s premise, I must first acknowledge the role my memoirs played in my life. They were not merely books; they were lifelines. Writing them gave me the courage to confront my past, the compassion to forgive myself, and the empowerment to advocate for change. Each word was a step toward healing, an act of defiance against a world that often silences survivors.

As I shared my story, I realized how deeply connected I was with others who had walked similar paths. This connection fueled my desire to continue writing—not just for myself, but for those who needed their voices amplified and their stories told. But after two memoirs, I found myself at a crossroads. I wanted to explore new narratives and challenge myself creatively while continuing to honor the themes of courage and resilience.

The Birth of a Mystery
The idea for a mystery novel came to me unexpectedly, like a whisper in the quiet moments of reflection. It began with a question: What if the very skills I had honed while writing my memoirs could be used to craft a story that was both thrilling and meaningful? Could I weave a tale that captivated readers while subtly addressing themes of empowerment and justice?

The premise for the book took root in my mind while I was reflecting on the concept of duality. In life, as in writing, we often wear many hats and navigate different roles. I was intrigued by the idea of exploring the dual nature of people and circumstances—the light and the dark, the seen and the unseen. This duality became the cornerstone of my mystery novel.

Characters with Depth and Purpose
My transition from memoir to mystery was guided by the essence of character development. In my memoirs, authenticity was paramount. I had to be truthful, raw, and vulnerable. In crafting my mystery, I applied the same principles to my characters. They had to be real, flawed, and relatable.

At the heart of my story is a protagonist who embodies resilience and strength. This character is a survivor, much like myself, and her journey is one of empowerment. She navigates a world filled with secrets and shadows, using her intuition and determination to unravel the truth. Her past, marked by adversity, becomes her greatest asset as she faces new challenges.

A Plot Rooted in Reality
The plot of my mystery novel is woven with threads of real-world issues that resonate with me deeply. It’s not just a tale of whodunit, but a narrative that examines justice, moral ambiguity, and the power dynamics inherent in society. These themes emerged from my lived experiences and my advocacy work, reminding me that fiction can be a powerful vehicle for change.

The setting, too, is steeped in authenticity. Drawing on my life’s journey, I crafted environments that reflect both beauty and menace. The juxtaposition of a seemingly idyllic community with its hidden undercurrents of treachery underscores the novel’s central conflict. Just as survivors often navigate the complexities of their own environments, my characters must traverse a landscape where nothing is as it seems.

Empowerment Through Storytelling
Writing a mystery allowed me to explore empowerment in a new light. While my memoirs focused on personal empowerment, my novel broadens the scope to include communal and systemic empowerment. It challenges readers to question their assumptions and consider the broader implications of justice.
The process of writing this book was an empowering journey in itself. It required me to step beyond my comfort zone, to trust my instincts, and to embrace creativity as a tool for advocacy. Every twist and turn in the plot was an opportunity to highlight the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of standing up for what is right.

A Message of Hope and Courage
Ultimately, my mystery novel is a testament to the transformative power of storytelling. It is a reminder that we all have stories worth telling and that our voices matter. Through the lens of fiction, I hope to inspire readers to confront their own truths, to seek justice, and to find strength in vulnerability.
In writing this book, I discovered that the line between memoir and mystery is not as stark as it seems. Both genres require honesty, courage, and a willingness to explore the depths of human experience. Both offer the chance to connect, to heal, and to advocate for change.

As you turn the pages of my mystery novel, I invite you to embark on a journey of discovery—a journey that echoes the resilience of survivors everywhere. May it inspire you to embrace your own story, to seek the truth, and to find empowerment in unexpected places. Together, let us continue to write new chapters of hope and courage in the book of life.

Bodies Under the Bluebonnets (no cover)

Book 1 in the Secrets Never Sleep series.

Sara Matthews comes to China Grove searching for peace. After a lifetime shaped by control, fear, and survival, she buys a neglected house on the edge of a small Texas town, hoping distance and silence will finally offer her a fresh start.

But peace is hard to find when bodies begin turning up beneath the bluebonnets.

As the town reels, Sara becomes entangled in a murder investigation that exposes long-buried secrets, betrayals, lies and dangerous loyalties. Police Chieff Dean Williams believes the deaths are connected—and the closer he gets to the truth, the clearer it becomes that Sara’s past has sharpened instincts others ignore.

Having learned to read danger long before it shows its face, Sara recognizes the warning signs no one else wants to see. Yet each step toward the truth draws her deeper into a web of threats, where trust is fragile and survival is never guaranteed.

When the case finally closes, Sara learns one unsettling truth: China Grove has been hiding secrets for decades—and the land remembers all of them.

Bodies Under the Bluebonnets is the first novel in the Secrets Never Sleep Series, a gripping small-town Texas mystery in which buried crimes resurface, and a woman who survived one kind of violence must face another to reclaim her life.

Available Late Spring 2026.
Be the first to know when Bodies Under the Bluebonnets is released—follow kathysechrist.substack.com for launch updates, behind-the-scenes details, and early announcements.

Parris Blue Photo

Kathy Sechrist is a survivor of domestic violence and a dedicated advocate for those who have experienced similar trauma. Through her powerful and honest writing, she shares her journey of healing and resilience, offering hope and support to others. Kathy is passionate about raising awareness of the prevalence of abuse and breaking the cycle of silence that often surrounds it. Critics and readers praised her work for its raw vulnerability and its ability to connect with readers on a deep emotional level. Kathy resides in the Hill Country of Texas with her companion, Dean, and Toby the cat, Warlord of the house.

www.kathysechrist.com

Guest Blogger~ Michael Geczi

~ patyjag ~ 2 Comments

Why and How I Write Psychological Thrillers

Seven of my eight novels are psychological thrillers. The eighth? Inspirational/book club/family crisis fiction with a lightly speculative thread. But that’s a story for another time

For me, psychological thrillers offer endless opportunities to tell the complex stories I want to tell and enjoy myself in the process. I can break rules, twist tropes, create wonderful and hateful characters who interest me (and I feel I know), and generally skirt around violence without ever describing it in detail.

“The Serial Killer Anthology,” my first series, is a collection of five novels related to serial killers. In theory, they are standalones, but – as I mentioned earlier – I break the rules. Although two of the stories feature the same characters (the homicide team of the Santa Monica Police Department), some of them also appear in a third book. I didn’t want to write a series about one detective or team … I wanted different people, places, and circumstances — but they keep sneaking into some of the stories.

And I couldn’t stop them. They can be pretty insistent.

I rarely, if ever, describe actual violence. I don’t need to; readers have imaginations. It’s easy enough to leave that responsibility to them. Instead, I focus on what’s going on in the characters’ heads: from victims to suspects to law enforcement to other citizens.

The serial killings and the geographies provide a vital playing field for me to maneuver the characters, kind of like a chess match. When I write, I’m interested in motivation, thoughts, clues, and internal struggles – and, when possible, stretching to extremes. Readers can expect twists and turns, as well as surprising and thought-provoking endings.

For instance, in the series’ fifth book, “Then She Died,” my motivation was to experiment a bit with structure; specifically, the expected roles of the protagonist and the antagonist, and how readers might feel if I played around with them. What if the protagonist is not likable and the antagonist is likable? At least for a chunk of the story? I was immediately intrigued with the idea. I was also interested in creating a character who experiences a period of relative normalcy in Act Two, but nothing close to that in the first and third acts.

I love being surprised by my own endings. It’s enjoyable to begin a book with a rough idea of the ending, only to be blown away by the words that get typed when I actually get there.

My books are the result of a writing process that is both structured and unstructured.

I’m a pantser who grasps onto one or two of the thousands of characters who flow through my brain every day. Something about them needs to be unique, often flawed, but they always have real emotions (even if they don’t surface until later). Then I need a geography that works for the plot and the characters: as it turns out, it’s usually somewhere where I’ve lived – I want the environment to play a role in the story. So … Southern California, Arizona, New Jersey, Massachusetts. Each offers excellent color and atmosphere.

With a couple of potential twists and turns in my pocket, I start painting the outside of a house. I try to get the primer down first, making sure it’s even and smooth – and then I start layering in plot points and crises. I break some rules because I like to get the first 25% of the manuscript close to complete before proceeding. And close to complete means I have the characters right, the inciting incident right, but have left room to plug in new and necessary information as I write the rest of the book. I then switch my brain to the structure of the other 75% and write 500-word mini-chapters/scenes for the rest of the book, so I know the flow will work.

At that point, I go back to the beginning and apply additional coats of paint over the primer until I know it is done. How long does that take? It varies, but at some point, I know. I feel it.

And I have great fun with an ending that draws on my original thinking but regularly surprises me as well.

I’ve been a writer my entire life – journalist, speech writer, crisis manager, ghost writer, etc. Being an independent author enables me to focus on the stories and readers, rather than the bureaucracy associated with traditional publishing. That works for me at this point in my life.

I’m currently working on the third book in my second series, “The Revenge, Unhinged Series,” the first two books of which were “Pointless” and “Soulless.”

I’m fortunate to be engaged with many of my readers. I email with quite a few and am always intrigued by the comments and encouraged by their remarks. My favorite comment was in one review where the writer said, “The suspense mounts as we approach the final pages, and, no sooner do I breathe a sigh of relief … the ending is worth a star of its own, because as much as I hate it, I love it.”

For me, it doesn’t get any better than that.

“The Serial Killer Anthology” is a five-book series perfect for fans of dark, intelligent thrillers that delve into the killer’s psyche and the investigators obsessed with stopping them. It delivers compelling and page-turning storytelling, with each story digging deeply into a variety of psychological and emotional perspectives and points of view.

The killer? Of course, but not always. The victims. Yes, but in some new ways. Law enforcement? Sure, but sometimes including exploration into their personal lives too. Local communities, institutions, friends, and extended family – most of whom are not even known to the victim – are explored and make for compelling story arcs. Collateral damage is an insensitive term, of course, but does describe some of the POVs the stories will emphasize.

The anthology comprises standalone books and a two-book mini-series. The first book – “The Deadly Samaritan” – is a standalone story set in 1992. Two – “Killer Dead, Victim Alive” and “Hunting a Cat in Dogtown” – comprise a modern-day, two-book series with many of the same characters and an extended story. The fourth book – “The Compass Killer” – introduces a character tied back to the first book, and the fifth book – “Then She Died” – is another standalone.

In these books, we explore parental behavior, small-town politics, doomed friendships, copycats, terrible misunderstandings, and the effect of traumatic loss.

With the exception of “Hunting a Cat in Dogtown,” each book can be read as a standalone.

Looking for a captivating read? Consider “The Serial Killer Anthology”!

Book Links

https://books2read.com/theserialkilleranthology

Michael Geczi is an author based in Scottsdale, Arizona. A former journalist, corporate executive, consultant, and university instructor, he is the author of nine books. “The Serial Killer Anthology” includes five psychological thrillers: “Then She Died,” “The Compass Killer,” “Hunting a Cat in Dogtown,” “Killer Dead, Victim Alive,” and “The Deadly Samaritan.” “The Revenge, Unhinged Series” includes “Pointless” and “Soulless.” He also wrote the inspirational, lightly speculative novel “Equinox.” Early in his career, he published an investment advice book.

Website

http://www.michaelgecziauthor.com

Social Media Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-geczi-0450841/?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092170581996

https://www.threads.com/@michaelgecziauthor

https://bsky.app/profile/michaelgecziauthor.bsky.social

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/michaelgecziauthor

https://www.instagram.com/michaelgecziauthor/

Guest Blogger ~ MM Desch

~ patyjag ~ 2 Comments

Why I Wrote an LGBTQ (Medical Thriller) Mystery

Every mystery writer knows that moment when life hands you a story, though mine arrived with the bureaucratic charm of a DEA agent on an ordinary afternoon in my Phoenix psychiatric practice. I suppose I should have expected it, having recently qualified to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid addiction treatment. The universe has peculiar timing, particularly when you’re drawn to the psychological complexities of LGBTQ characters navigating medical mysteries. Maybe it’s because I’ve spent years watching people navigate the collision between who they are and who the world expects them to be, and writing LGBTQ characters in medical crises lets me excavate those psychological fault lines in ways that feel necessary, especially these days.

The agent’s unannounced inspection was routine, professional, even cordial once I explained that I hadn’t actually used this newfound prescribing capability yet. But as we sat in my office, surrounded by the everyday detritus of psychiatric practice, tissues strategically placed, diplomas asserting competence, that one plant I somehow hadn’t killed, my writer’s mind began its familiar excavation. What if I had been prescribing buprenorphine? What if some had gone missing? What if someone in this very building was orchestrating a diversion scheme with the methodical precision of a chess master?

That afternoon planted the seed for Tangled Darkness, though it would marinate in my subconscious for years before finally demanding to be written.

The premise crystallized when I combined that DEA visit with my experiences serving on Arizona’s Medical Board committee for impaired physicians. I’d witnessed how addiction could transform brilliant medical minds into ethical contortionists—people trained to heal suddenly finding themselves entangled in webs of their own making. The stories I heard were psychological case studies in how desperate circumstances can rewrite even the most carefully constructed moral code.

But the real catalyst emerged from a pattern I’d observed: the more ethical and scrupulous a physician was, the more vulnerable they became to exploitation. Their conscientiousness could be weaponized against them with surgical precision. This paradox fascinated me, the idea that integrity could become a liability. What if someone filed a false complaint against an innocent psychiatrist? What if that psychiatrist harbored a secret history that made the accusation both plausible and devastating?

Enter Dr. Leslie Schoen, my protagonist. She’s ethical, competent, and living with the transparency that recovery demands—her wife Izzy knows about her journey with alcoholism, and they’ve built their relationship on that foundation of honesty. Which makes the secret she’s now carrying so much more corrosive. When a Medical Board complaint lands alleging that Leslie has stolen opiates from her clinic, she can’t bring herself to tell Izzy, not when her wife is pregnant, not when the accusation feels like a knife twisted in the wound of her recovery. The irony is exquisite in its cruelty: her very status as someone in recovery makes the false allegation both plausible and devastating.

The murder element emerged from a simple question: In a medical practice where controlled substances represent both healing and profit, what happens when someone knows too much? I envisioned Damon Grady, a medical assistant caught between loyalty and desperation—his death would need to be clinically precise yet psychologically revealing, appearing as an overdose while carrying deeper implications about betrayal and survival.

My years in addiction psychiatry taught me that buprenorphine occupies a uniquely precarious position in the opioid crisis. It’s medication that can save lives when used properly, yet because it is another opioid, it’s valuable currency on the street. This duality—medicine as both salvation and commodity—became the engine driving my plot. The very safeguards designed to prevent diversion could be manipulated by someone who understood the system from within.

Portland provided the perfect setting after my relocation from Phoenix. Here was a city where medical marijuana dispensaries operated alongside prestigious medical centers, where progressive healthcare coexisted with the ongoing addiction crises. This backdrop felt like the perfect petri dish for the story I wanted to tell—where cutting-edge addiction treatment coexisted with people dying from overdoses three blocks away.

What made the premise truly compelling was layering in the psychological complexity I’d observed throughout my career. The most dangerous people I’ve encountered in clinical practice aren’t the ones wearing their pathology like a neon sign—they’re the ones whose choices feel both inexplicable and inevitable. I wanted characters who would make readers squirm with recognition, the kind of people you might defend at a dinner party right up until you learn what they’ve done.

The investigation structure allowed me to explore how medical professionals react under scrutiny. Having participated in peer reviews and committee investigations, I understood the unique terror of having your professional reputation questioned. That fear could drive even innocent people to make choices that would haunt them forever.

Writing Tangled Darkness became an exercise in precision—every scenario needed to be plausible enough that medical professionals would nod in recognition yet twisted enough to keep readers guessing. The drug diversion scheme had to be sophisticated enough to temporarily succeed but flawed enough for a determined psychiatrist to unravel. Because even the most brilliant criminals are ultimately human, and humans make mistakes—often the kind that reveal exactly who they are when nobody’s supposed to be watching.

The deeper I dove into the story, the more I realized I wasn’t just writing about prescription drug diversion or murder. I was exploring how systems designed to help us can be corrupted, how past traumas shape present choices, and how the pursuit of truth sometimes requires risking everything we’ve built. It’s a psychological-medical thriller doubling as an LGBTQ mystery. Many would say all of the above.

That cordial DEA agent who visited my Phoenix office had no idea he was launching a debut novel. But then again, the most compelling stories often begin with an ordinary moment—a routine inspection, a casual question. Sometimes the best plots are just waiting there in the everyday machinery of our lives, disguised as paperwork.

TANGLED DARKNESS

When Dr. Leslie Schoen becomes a suspect in her clinic assistant’s murder, she investigates a dangerous web of opiate drug theft while protecting her pregnant wife and confronting her own haunted past. Racing against time to clear her name, she discovers everyone has secrets—and someone in her inner circle is willing to kill to keep them hidden.

Buy link: https://books2read.com/u/bwgvYO

MM Desch brings over three decades as a practicing psychiatrist to her debut psychological thriller, TANGLED DARKNESS (Rowan Prose Publishing). With a passion for telling realistic stories about the veiled realm of psychiatric practice, Desch blends high crime and suspense with her real-world knowledge of addiction medicine. She and her wife live in Portland, Oregon, USA.

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