Suzanne Baginskie – 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

How Entering a Contest Advanced My Goal to Authorship

Readers and writers are always interested in how I started writing my first romantic suspense book and developed it into a series. After nineteen years of submitting and selling short mystery and romance fiction, I entered a Harlequin Romantic Suspense novel contest in 2018. Their guidelines asked for a blurb and a synopsis. I literally had to devise a fictional story plot! Challenged, I sat at my desk and created Dangerous Charade in less than two weeks. I submitted my idea and waited for the results.

When the email for round one arrived, fifty novel premises were accepted and one of them was mine. I’d made it in. Now the next request required three written chapters. Time of the essence, I thought of nothing else. I fleshed-out the characters, added the crime and suspense, and weaved in romantic affairs of the heart. I worked hard, rewrote, and polished them again, and when the due date arrived, I hit send.

Three weeks later I heard the news, my entry made it in along with twenty-four other writers. Their last instructions asked for the full novel. Competition was stiff. We had a month, but time flew by fast as life got in the way. It wasn’t easy, but I applied myself and soon wrote: The End. I submitted my manuscript and hoped for the best.

In the meantime, I started another book and patiently waited. The day that final emailed response appeared in my inbox, I held my breath and clicked it opened. The message brought both good and bad news, I’d made it into the last ten entries but only one novel could win, and it wasn’t mine. Rejection hurt, but I had completed my first novel.

When COVID-19 reared its ugly head for the second year in 2021, I saw a call out for romance novels from a traditional publisher, Magnolia Blossom Publishing. I immediately revised and submitted Dangerous Charade. A couple of weeks later, I was offered a contract through a Zoom video call. When they asked me for a series name book two was half finished. It had a different set of characters and crime, but I used the same FBI agents premise. The terrible danger these partners faced together trying to catch criminals and stay alive allowed an emotional relationship to blossom between them. So, I chose FBI and the second word Affairs for the title. It hinted at the hazards of working undercover and affairs of their hearts. Thus, the FBI Affairs Series was born.

I continued the theme and completed Dangerous Revenge-Book two, and Dangerous Innocence-Book three. Each of my novels introduce you to new FBI protagonists who are involved in bizarre criminal situations. They can be read in or out of order, as each novel is a standalone.

Entering that contest in 2018 advanced my goal for authorship. Thankfully, it pointed me in the direction of writing characters who thrived on dangerous ventures, took ultimate risks, and in the end fell in love along the way. Check out my FBI Affairs Series.

Suzanne Baginskie

Dangerous Charade

Book one of the FBI Affairs Series

When an undercover sting in a Las Vegas Casino goes wrong, FBI Agent Noelle Farrell’s cover is blown, and someone wants revenge. Noelle’s sent to Florida under the Witness Protection Program where she runs into her old partner, Agent Kyle Rivers. A man she worked closely with and admired. Kyle’s mourning his father. He failed to keep him safe from a deadly stalker. Deep in hiding, someone targets Noelle. She fears for her safety. Noelle leans into her faith and struggles to keep her independence. Kyle vows to protect Noelle, unaware she has a secret—one her assailants already know.

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JPCX2CX

Suzanne Baginskie and her husband, Al, left New Jersey and relocated to the west central coast of Florida. She’s been writing ever since her mother gifted her a five year diary for her eighth birthday. Unknowingly, her mother’s inspirational nudge helped the writer inside her emerge. She recently retired from a law firm as a paralegal-office manager. Now she writes daily spinning tales of romantic suspense that pair tantalizing mystery with compelling romance. She starts each day with a four mile walk and meditates on her current writing project. A voracious reader, she supports her local library association as a friend. She loves traveling, especially on cruise ships. Most sea days on board, you’ll find her plotting stories outside on the deck gazing at the ocean. Currently, she is working on her fourth book in the series.

Website: http://www.suzannebaginskie.com