Today I am excited to share an excerpt from Melinda Leigh’s Her Second Death along with a Question and Answer.
Title: Her Second Death
In this short-story prequel to the Bree Taggert series by #1 Amazon Charts and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh, a murder investigation yields parallels to the Philly detectiveโs own frightening past. When a man is shot in the head, Bree Taggert and her new partner, veteran detective Dana Romano, respond to the call. They break the news to the victimโs ex-wife and learn the estranged coupleโs five-year-old daughter was supposed to have been with him. What starts as a murder investigation quickly morphs into a desperate search for a missing child. The case stirs memories of Breeโs own traumatizing childhood. To find the little girl, Bree will have to relive her own terrifying past.
Author(s): Melinda Leigh
Series: Bree Taggert #0.5
Published by Amazon Original Stories on December 7, 2021
Pages: 47
Genre(s): Mystery, Romantic Suspense, Suspense
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
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Interview with Author Melinda Leigh
Detective Bree Taggert is one of your most popular characters. What is it about her that makes readers come back for more of her story?ย
Bree is strong and smart, but sheโs also flawed and vulnerable. She begins the series as an excellent homicide detective but personally empty. A horrific childhood tragedy distanced Bree from her family and made her a loner. Her sisterโs murder triggers the desire to change that. Bree takes on her sisterโs caseโand her sisterโs kids. Bree sees her own childhood reflected in her niece and nephew and is determined not to let them grow up as damaged as she is. In order to do that, she needs to make herself vulnerable. In accepting responsibility for the children, she starts her own road to healing.ย
I believe readers want to root for her. They want to see her overcome her violent backstory. She often does what is right, not what is easy or comfortable. In each book, she not only solves a murder, she also makes a small step toward healing, with readers cheering her on.
You have published five books in this series so far, but in Her Second Death you write a prequel story. What made you want to show Bree on one of her first homicide cases?ย
I wanted to show the evolution of Breeโs professional life before she begins her personal journey. She is a complex character, and Iโve enjoyed exploring all aspects of her development.
In Her Second Death, Bree is assigned to investigate a violent crime. Tell readers a bit about the case and how she and her new partner Dana Romano work to find the killer.ย
Bree begins the story as a brand-new homicide detective. She and partner investigate the crime in the usual fashion, but Bree brings her own past to the table. She provides unique insight that helps her solve the case.
Bree finds a personal connection to this crime almost immediately. What effect does her own early family tragedy have on her handling a missing child case?ย
The case immediately strikes a familiarโand disturbing–cord in Bree. But she canโt allow her personal discomfort to interfere with the investigation. Sheโll have to relive her past to solve the case.
What is next for Bree?
The next Bree Taggert novel, Dead Against Her, will be released in May. In it, Bree will need to face a more recent demon, the murder of a former deputy with whom she has a personal disagreement. When she took over the job of sheriff, Bree inherited some misogynist deputies from the previous, corrupt sheriff. In Dead Against Her, this conflict comes to an explosive and violent head.
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Her Second Death Excerpt
The medical examiner pulled out of the Fordโs interior. โNo rigor yet. Livor mortis isnโt fixed yet either. Cold would slow decomp, but heโs relatively fresh. Died very early this morning.โ He closed his eyes and his jowly face screwed up as he did the mental math. โSix to eight hours ago, roughly between midnight and two a.m.โ
Which matched the times on the surveillance video. โDetective Romano?โ Reilly called. โCSU is here.โ
As soon as the ME removed the body, the crime scene unit would take over.
โDo we have a next of kin for the victim?โ Romano asked.
Reilly nodded. โHeโs married to Kelly Tyson.โ
โLetโs go notify Mrs. Tyson.โ Romano turned back toward their vehicle. Once behind the wheel, she rubbed her palms together, then pulled a pair of leather gloves from her pocket and tugged them on.
In the passenger seat, Bree blew on her freezing hands. Romano peeled away from the curb.
โWasnโt a robbery.โ Bree rolled the facts around in her head. โThey left cash in Tysonโs wallet. Also, they didnโt take the car. Drug deal gone sour?โ
โWe have no idea what happened, other than a guy got shot.โ
โYou donโt like any of those theories?โ Bree asked.
Romano shot her a direct look. โI like evidence, not theories.โ
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HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY, Melinda!
I love the sound of this book! I’ve been hearing some creat things about Melinda Leigh.
I love this series and the previous connected ones. It was great getting an ‘early years’ prequel.
Woot – Entered the giveaway – greedy fingers crossed!
Great post. I love a novella. I find the pacing is normally good and there is no time for fillers. Looks good. Thanks for sharing.