So many readers love to read in various genres these days and there are so many variations offered now that it makes sense for authors to write in different genres. That's the case with today's visitor to My Writing Corner.
Marilyn Baron writes in a variety of genres from women’s fiction to historical romantic thrillers and romantic suspense to paranormal/fantasy. What a great variety! She tells us that she’s received writing awards in Single Title, Suspense Romance, Novel with Strong Romantic Elements and Paranormal/Fantasy Romance. She was also The Finalist in the 2017 Georgia Author of the Year Awards (GAYA) in the Romance Category for her novel,
Stumble Stones, and The Finalist for the 2018 GAYA Awards in the Romance category for her novel,
The Alibi. Her latest novel,
The Case of the Missing Botticelli: A Massimo Domingo Mystery, was released just last week. The book is her 28th work of fiction. A public relations consultant in Atlanta, Marilyn is past chair of Roswell Reads and serves on the Atlanta Authors Series Committee.
Her newest work is The Case of the Missing Botticelli which is Book One of the cozy mystery series: A Massimo Domingo Mystery. Let's get a blurb:
American art history major Hadley Evans joins an art detective agency in Florence, Italy, working for Massimo Domingo, once a major player, now the ‘Inspector Clouseau’ of the art world. Determined to save the flailing agency and prove her worth, Hadley and her sexy Carabinieri boyfriend, Luca Ferrari, take on a mysterious client behind her boss’s back. Hot on the trail of a missing masterpiece, they discover a hidden cache of stolen Nazi art in a Venetian villa and encounter an enemy with a link to an evil past.
Doesn't that make you want to start turning the pages? Let's get an excerpt:
Hadley wrote down the phone number and her jaw went slack when she heard and inscribed the rest of the message. “Tell him it’s about a missing Botticelli. It’s urgent.”
A shot of adrenalin coursed through Hadley’s veins. Sandro Botticelli. Her favorite artist in the whole world. Creator of the Italian masterpiece, Nascita di Venere, The Birth of Venus, the ancient Goddess of Love, dated circa 1484. She wasn’t aware a Botticelli painting was missing.
“Is there any additional information you can give me? The name of the painting? The provenance? Capito. I understand the need for utmost secrecy. We can set up a meeting and I’ll make sure Signore Domingo will be there.”
She jotted down some more notes. “Piazzale Michelangelo? At sunset?”
Hadley tilted her head and chewed on her bottom lip. That was a strange destination for a business meeting. Although it offered the most scenic view of the city, perched atop a hillside overlooking Florence, meeting at a park after dark was reminiscent of a murder scene in a film noir. Where the heroine, Hadley, would later be found, dead, her virtue compromised and her throat slit.
Was the female caller from a museum? A high-end gallery? An auction house? Was she an art or antiquities dealer or a wealthy private individual or was she representing a government agency? And, if so, which government? Enemy or ally? She would soon find out.
Was it advisable to go to a park at night? Definitely not. The woman could be representing a client from the criminal art world. That’s why Luca had to accompany her. She intended to sweet-talk him into helping her.
After all, he was in line to become a detective. He was used to investigations. He’d welcome the practice. And above all, Luca was a protector. It was inbred in him.
“You’re staying at L’Hotel Bernini Palace?”
That explained it. The five-star hotel was near the Piazzale. So, a high-end client. Just what the firm needed.
“He’ll be there,” Hadley assured.
Hadley held the message in her quivering hand, pursed her lips, then stashed it in her new Furla handbag. What if the message had somehow been unintentionally misplaced without Signore Domingo seeing it, and she contrived to meet the contact alone? Once her boss saw she could solve a case on her own, he would finally bring her into the fold and teach her secrets of the art theft underworld she was so desperate to learn.
Hooked yet? Sorry, but you'll have to buy the book to get more.
Thank you Marilyn, for being my guest today on My Writing Corner. Here are the buy links for her new book as well as her social media links:
Thank you Marilyn for being my guest. Any comments or questions for Marilyn?
Rebecca, thank you very much for hosting me today.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn Baron
Such an interesting story! Florence is a great setting! Best wishes on your book!
ReplyDeleteC.Becker, thank you for saying so. I loved setting the book in Florence. I appreciate your good wishes for the book. Thanks for your comment.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn Baron
That story sounds interesting! Another winner, Marilyn!
ReplyDeleteIlona, thank you for commenting. I appreciate it.
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