Tying Up Loose Ends
by Morgan Brice
Loose Ends is the fourth novel in my ongoing Badlands series, with a sexy psychic medium and a hot homicide detective who hunt down supernatural killers in Myrtle Beach. All the book titles in the series are also titles of songs by Bruce Springsteen, since Vic, the detective, is a huge fan of The Boss. But as the title suggests, unfinished business—both personal and ghostly—plays a big part in the plot.
One of the things I love about writing a couple in an evolving, established relationship is that over the course of a series we get to delve much deeper into the characters and see them struggle and grow. We also can explore their back stories to find out where they’ve been hurt, what lessons they’ve learned the hard way, and which experiences shaped them for better or worse.
In this book, Simon Kincaide, the psychic medium, is confronted by an ex-boyfriend who turns up without warning four years after their break-up. Simon’s estranged mother also tries to barge into his life and break up his established relationship with Vic D’Amato, the cop. Vic’s past successes as a detective come back to haunt him when someone with a grudge decides to destroy his life. The high-profile upcoming trial of a killer Simon and Vic nabbed puts both men in danger. Meanwhile, Simon’s skills as a medium are put to the test dealing with vengeful and restless ghosts. Cold case murders and unsolved disappearances play a role as well, and nothing is as it seems.
I love being able to dig into the pasts of characters we’ve gotten to know and see glimpses of who they were at other times in their lives, or better understand the events that shaped their choices. Often in the course of having to deal with an ugly element from their past, characters are able to leave behind old baggage and truly grasp how far they’ve come. I also really enjoy weaving that personal growth with their evolution as a couple, learning to work with each other and healing old hurts.
Ghosts and unsolved mysteries are always favorites for me, and in Loose Ends, they play an important role, leading to insights that are essential to unraveling the secrets at the heart of the plot. Throw in a beautiful beach location, feisty friends and steamy sex, and the book is an adventure you won’t want to miss!
Title: Lucky Town
The Blogger Girls 