Johanna Kincaid returns in Book 3 of the Shaman Mystery Series, Incident on the Right of Way. The first draft is completed and now in the hands of my expert and highly discerning BETA Team. I have been doing some revisions of my own. The plot structure seems firm, but as my writing journey revealed in Book 2, sometimes the characters high-jack the story. So far they have gone along with my storytelling.
Each of my books tells a mystery in a different way, yet all include a touch of the mystical. This is no "cozy mystery -gone bad," like Clouds Over Katahdin. Incident on the Right of Way is full of hidden clues, misdirections, and red herrings. Up to a point, the reader knows more than the main characters! Everyone, it seems, has a theory about who was killed ( yeah, that's an unknown) and who killed them. No one can figure out why, either. There is a spinning plate of plausible villains with more than one motive for their evil actions.
This book doesn't skimp on crime solvers either. Trace Helberg, aka "Valkyrie," the state police investigator from "A Convergence of Crows," joins the local sheriff's department, where Kaye MacKenzie, Johanna's daughter, is a dispatcher. Hollis and Brown, two Clinton County deputies, are in over their heads when a work crew makes a grisly discovery in a flooded creek during a gas pipeline expansion project.
Johanna becomes involved because the son of a local businessman has gone missing. The rural town of Bentonville is abuzz with rumors and assumptions. Is Tucker Robinson the victim or the perpetrator? It depends on who you ask.
Enter Cecile Martel, former cyber-crime member of the ATF, turned forensic genetic genealogist. She runs a lab and is charged with discovering the identity of the human remains discovered in the creek. Cecile is a feisty character who dominates the room in every scene.
All of this occurs in the spring of 2020, at the beginning of the global pandemic lockdown, hampering communications and adding to the tension of a small town with some big secrets.
Oh, that's right, I mentioned research! I was able to conduct an extensive interview with a gas pipeline inspector who was happy to educate me on the rules, regulations, and safety measures for the construction and maintenance of energy grid development. He told me about the things that can go wrong and what should be done about it. He revealed a few stories from his years on the job and there it was! The Incident on the Right of Way was a plausible situation.
Be prepared to meet some new characters.
I completed a course in forensic genetic genealogy and that is where the story finds wings of its own. I really enjoyed learning how this new technology can help solve cold cases and find missing persons.
The Mountain Lion does not take a back seat in this story. Johanna's spirit guide makes some surprising appearances. Just a word of warning. The stakes are high in this book. It has a few twists and turns and a some heartbreaking moments, as well.
Best, Anneka 𑁍