GOOD NEWS! There's a special promotion going on at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, and all other internet ebook sites for the very first Claire Morgan/Nicholas Black thriller, HEAD TO HEAD. For one week, you can download the ebook version to your ebook reader for FREE! Hope you enjoy it!
AUTHOR OF THE CLAIRE MORGAN SUSPENSE THRILLERS:
Book 1 HEAD TO HEAD
Book 2 DARK PLACES
Book 3 DIE SMILING
Book 4 ENTER EVIL
Book 5 REMEMBER MURDER
-Available on June 20, 2013 in ebook and internet trade paperback format. Pre-order now at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, and other internet sites!
eKensington has put out a free sample of this book on the Kindle free ebook list under the title of eKensington Spring Sneak preview.
Book 6 MOSTLY MURDER
-This will be published in December, 2013 in ebook and internet trade paperback format.
Hi!
Thanks so much for dropping by! I want to apologize for my long absence, but I've been dealing with a couple of serious health issues for the last year or so. But I'm fine now and writing again.
The good news is that I've signed with my publisher for three more Claire Morgan suspense thrillers. Book 5, REMEMBER MURDER, will come out on June 20, 2013. It's sort of a sequel inside a series because it starts where my last book, ENTER EVIL, left off. But it can stand alone, as can all of my Claire Morgan thrillers. Book 6, MOSTLY MURDER, and Book 7 should return to my usual format.
I do appreciate all the letters I've received and try to answer each one personally.It means so much to me that you are enjoying my books and recommending them to your friends. A special thank you to my German fans, too. Your support has been incredible.
Also, if you get a chance, you might want to pick up a copy of the romantic suspense novel, DON'T SAY A WORD, which I co-wrote with my friend, Beverly Barton, at the request and with the blessing of her family. It's on the shelves right now. Beverly was a lovely lady, who will be sorely missed by so many friends and fans.
If you have any questions or comments, please drop me an email at lindaladd@swbell.net. I love to hear from my readers!
Warmest wishes,
Linda
AVAILABLE NOW AT BOOKSTORES NEAR YOU
DIE SMILING, Claire Morgan, Book 3
PRAISE FOR DIE SMILING--
"If you enjoy reading thrillers that feature attractive heroines matched against deadly adversaries, this story will keep you riveted to your chair late into the evening. Start it on a weekend and you won't have to set it aside to go to work. I guarantee by Monday morning, you'll be finished with the 396 page novel!" Midwest Book Review
"Edgy, suspenseful, Die Smiling elevates Ladd from up-and-comer to a master in the genre. The author has a knack for creating compelling characters, unique twists, and intensely suspenseful reads that readers simply cannot put down. . . Angela Wilson @ PopSyndicate.com
"The talented Ms. Ladd has done it again--given readers a cannot-put-down thriller that's dark, edgy and intense. Claire Morgan and the supporting cast of characters are multifaceted and believable as they go about solving a twisted case of murder and bringing to justice an evil killer. Another great addition to this stunning series. . .FRESH FICTION
"Chilling, compelling suspense...be prepared to lose sleep!" --- Eileen Dreyer
"A tough, no-nonsense detective with a well-hidden vulnerable side...an edgy, clever thriller!" --- Beverly Barton
"A bright new voice in suspense!" --- Patricia Gaffney
"...plenty of suspense and surprises." --- Publishers Weekly
DIE YOUNG. . .
Hilde Swenson is a beauty pageant queen with a face to die for and a body to kill for. But by the time Detective Claire Morgan finds her in a shower stall—posed like a grotesquely grinning doll—Hilde is anything but pretty. She’s the victim of a sick, deranged killer. And she won’t be the last…
DIE BEAUTIFUL. . .
Brianna Swenson is the beauty queen’s sister—and the girlfriend of Claire’s partner Bud. She tells Claire that Hilde had plenty of enemies, including a creepy stalker, an abusive ex-boyfriend, and a slew of jealous competitors. But what she doesn’t say is that they both shared a dark, disturbing secret. A secret that refuses to die…
DIE SMILING. . .
From the after-hours parties of a sinister funeral home to the underworld vendettas of the Miami mob, Claire follows the trail with her lover Nicholas Black, a psychiatrist with secrets of his own. But it’s not until she uncovers evidence of unspeakable acts of depravity that Claire realizes she’s just become a diabolical killer’s next target…
About Linda Ladd~
I love to write and I love to read.
I've written five books in my detective mystery/suspense series featuring Homicide Detective Claire Morgan at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. Claire runs up against some very dark and disturbing serial killers in these books, but trust me, she can hold her own. I hope you'll get a chance to try them!
My biggest fear is that nobody will show up for my book signings. : )
I also administer diagnostic developmental tests to pre-schoolers (three and four years old), which is very rewarding and enjoyable.
I'm married to the greatest man who ever lived and have the greatest daughter who ever lived, the greatest son who ever lived, not to mention the greatest son-in-law and daughter-in-law who ever lived. ; ) I am indeed blessed in that department. I have the two most beautiful little grandsons named William Tucker and Cooper Russell. They are the smartest kids I've ever encountered. : )
I love cryptograms, crosswords, any kind of word game or board game. I recently bought a game called Loaded Question, which is very interesting to play and gives players insight into how and what their friends and family think and feel. Apples to Apples is also a lot of fun, as is Catch Phrase.
I like watching movies and playing tennis and sitting in my swing and gazing out over the lake. I do yoga to relax and love all Italian food, bar none. I collect Blue Willow dishes and etched crystal goblets. I especially love animals and have dogs, cats, and a parakeet. I lost both my old dog and old cat within a 2-week period, and it nearly killed me. My pets are like members of the family. I'm a big University of North Carolina Tar Heels basketball fan, because Tyler Hansbrough is from my home town. Congrats to Tyler on all the awards he won there! He is awesome, as is his younger brother, Ben Hansbrough at Notre Dame. Now they both play for the Indiana Pacers so I am a big Pacers fan!I'm also a big St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. GO CARDS!
I like Toby Keith because his videos usually make me laugh, and I love to laugh. I love Taylor Swift because she is a breath of fresh air and her music videos are romantic instead of vulgar. I like the new country and all the oldies goldies, but truth is I like just about any kind of music, except really, really high-pitched opera. Ouch!
I love to watch movies and thought The Departed was beautifully written and acted. I recently enjoyed The Cider House Rules again. I thought Mystic River was very good, both the book and the movie. I liked Little Miss Sunshine, and I thought Elizabeth with Cate Blanchett was excellent. She should've won the oscar for that performance. I thought the Changeling was gripping and very well acted.
At the moment I'm reading the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris and watching the HBO series True Blood. I find it hilarious and think the cast and the casting are fantastic. After that, I have a stack of Philippa Gregory's historicals to read, as well as The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.
I also liked the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars movies. I loved all the Bourne films because I think Damon does an outstanding and realistic job as Jason Bourne, especially in The Bourne Identity.
I like the crime shows, of course, especially the ones featuring real-life law enforcement officers. The First 48, Cold Case, City Confidential, Psychic Detectives, Haunting Evidence, all of them.
I like American Idol and Survivor sometimes, and Lost. I also like The Closer, 48 Hours Mystery, Rome, and The Sopranos. I did not like the ending but thought it was clever to end it that way. I love The Tudors.
Now I am also hooked on Justified, Banshee, Dexter, and I love NCIS and Duck Dynasty. They make me "Happy, Happy, Happy." :)
I liked The Overlook by Michael Connelly and have finished Jolie Blon's Bounce by James Lee Burke, both of which were excellent. I also enjoyed Whistling in the Dark by Lesley Kagen and Fatal Flaw by William Lashner. That was the first time I've read Lashner's work, and I really like his style, especially the humor.
Actually I've been reading a lot: The Ruins by Smith, The Road by McCarthy, Cage of Stars by Mitchard, The Innocent Man by Grisham, Water for Elephants by Gruen. Next up is Blaze and Cell by King, the Odd books by Koontz, and Hannibal Rising by Harris.
I am waiting impatiently for the new Robert Crais, Michael Connelly, Harlan Coben, Beverly Barton, Eileen Dreyer, John Connolly, and James Lee Burke. I admire so many authors, it's hard to narrow it down. I've been hearing some good things about Stephen King's new book and look forward to that, too.
I think our men and women fighting overseas to defend our country are the greatest heroes. They, and their families and loved ones sacrificing at home.
Also, the rescue workers after 9/11 and everywhere else. Pretty much all the doctors and nurses, too, and teachers, who are overlooked, underpaid, and under appreciated. And our law enforcement officers and fire fighters, who risk their lives for us every day.
Claire Morgan--Book Four
PRAISE FOR ENTER EVIL--
"Another excellent psychological thriller in this compelling and exceptional series. Wow, this book was everything I had hoped for and more as it ratchets up the suspense with surprising twists and turns. Linda Ladd is a brilliant writer and I can't wait for more of her books. . ." ~Tanzey Cutter @FRESH FICTION
"One of the best things to happen to thriller readers in the last three years is author Linda Ladd's departure from romance to this suspenseful genre. Enter Evil is edgy, mysterious, creepy and will leave fans wondering what will happen next to the Missouri detective. Enter Evil is thick with psychological suspense and razor-sharp intensity that will leave you with chills for days afterward. . ." ~PopSyndicate.com
"Ladd masterfully sets up the suspenseful situations with likable characters that will have readers turning the pages and staying up late to finish. . ." ~Midwest Book Reviews
WHEN THE MIND. . .
His doctors are the best in the world, his father one of the most powerful men in the state. But they couldn't stop Mikey from succumbing to his darkest demons--the ones inside his head. The ones who told him it was time to end it all.
PLAYS A DEADLY GAME. . .
It should have been an open-and-shut case, especially since detective Claire Morgan's lover, Dr. Nicholas Black, recognized Mikey as a former troubled patient. Then Claire finds another body in Mikey's home. Curled inside an oven, charred beyond recognition, the method of murder mind-boggling...
OF MURDER. . .
Claire's only lead is a beaded bracelet around each victim's wrist, believed to ward off the "evil eye." But by the time she discovers what the dead were afraid of, she's trapped in a mind game of her own--with a brilliant, sadistic killer. And this time, there's a method to the madness...
DARK PLACES--Claire Morgan, Book Two:
Praise for "Dark Places"
"Linda Ladd has written one of the most creepy, crawly and compelling psychological thrillers ever. This unique, edgy plot truly gave me the shivers. Claire is a tough-as-nails cop who thinks she's seen it all, and then is proven wrong. The narrative is from Claire's perspective and her voice is quite glib (at times even very humorous) in her telling of the story, which made it even more of a great read." ~Fresh Fiction
"Dark Places is an exciting, thrill-a-minute police procedural. . ." ~Midwest Book Review
A KILLER'S TRACKS. . .
Missouri detective Claire Morgan is eager to get back to work after recuperating from injuries sustained on her last job. But the missing persons case that welcomes her home in the dead of winter soon turns more twisted and treacherous than Lake of the Ozarks’ icy mountain roads. . .
CAN ONLY LEAD. . .
The body is found suspended from a tree overlooking a local school. Bleeding from the head, still alive--but not for long. Someone wanted Professor Simon Classon to suffer as much as possible before he died, making sure the victim had a perfect view of his colleagues and students on the campus below as he succumbed to the slow-working poison in his veins. . .
TO DARK PLACES. . .
Frigid temperatures and punishing snows only make the investigation more difficult. And then the death threats begin--unnerving incidents orchestrated to send Claire a deadly message. Now, as she edges closer to the truth, Claire risks becoming entangled in a maniac's web--and the stuff of her own worst nightmares. . .
Now available at bookstores and other outlets throughout the country, the dark-edged Claire Morgan mystery/thriller series has attracted a large following of fans. The first book, Head to Head, was published in 2006, followed by Dark Places in 2007, Die Smiling in 2008, and Enter Evil in 2009. All four fictional novels deal with a female homicide detective on the trail of twisted serial killers and is set at Lake of the Ozarks. Each book in this police procedural series features parallel storylines–the killer’s descent into madness and murder alongside the on-going homicide investigation.
In addition, Ladd’s literary agent has negotiated a film option with RHI/Hallmark Entertainment for possible adaptation of her novel, "Running Scared." A diversified entertainment company, RHI is a world leader in the production and distribution of groundbreaking, quality miniseries and movies for television. Her other novels are also being considered for film rights.
With more than 3 million books in print, Ladd is the author of 23 novels with a book published nearly every year between 1984 and 2009. Her books have been translated into over 20 languages, including Chinese and Hebrew.
