The reason for that term of address is that Bill and I are just back from the beautiful Kohala Coast on the Island of Hawaii--where the sun didn't shine, but Left Coast Crime did. It was an extremely well organized conference, with interesting and unusual panels, and there were a lot of young, talented new people in attendance, as well as established folks--don't read that "geezers"--like us. JJ Lamb, a friend from way back, conducted an excellent interview with Bill and me--at least his part was excellent. And he didn't give away any of our secrets!

After ten days of gale-force winds, rain, and overcast skies--which didn't prevent us from swimming with the sea turtles and floating in the tidepools--we returned to sunshine in California. Spring fever has hit, but there is work to be done. My next McCone novel, LOCKED IN is in production, to be released in October. It's a major departure for the series--to say nothing of Sharon's usual life--and I think you'll be interested to get inside the minds of such ongoing characters as Hy Ripinsky, Mick Savage, Rae Kelleher, Julia Rafael, and Craig Morland.

I'm now halfway into the next McCone, COMING BACK--which...well, I can't say too much about it yet, except that it concerns matters of national security. Again, in addition to Sharon, you'll be seeing several ongoing series characters in action.

My best wishes to you all for a pleasant springtime.

Marcia

Traumatized by a recent life-or-death investigation, Sharon McCone flees to her ranch in California's high desert country to contemplate her future. Deep depression shadows her days and nights, and a chance encounter with a troubled, highly secretive Native American woman begins to haunt her dreams. Even though she is determined not to investigate anything during her stay--and perhaps not ever again--McCone is drawn into the plight of the young woman and her dysfunctional family. A murder and traces of violence at a deserted resort lead her across the desert and into Nevada, and finally to a remote and isolated ranch, where danger lies closer than she expects--and where her future and life itself may hang in the balance.

Sharon McCone is hired by her husband's security firm to track down "the ever-running man," a shadowy figure who has been leaving explosive devices at their various offices. She doesn't have to search for long. When McCone narrowly escapes an explosion at the security firm's San Francisco offices, she catches a glimpse of his retreating figure. The ever-running man is dangerously close -- and anyone connected to the firm seems to be within his deadly range. To complicate matters, McCone is forced to question her intensely private husband, Hy, about his involvement in some of the firm's dark secrets. The history of corruption may jeopardize their marriage, but uncovering the secrets of the firm may be the only way she can save her husband's life, and her own.

Read an excerpt here.
Buy the book here.

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