Straight Chatting from the LIbrary: Pat Duggan

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READ THE INTERVIEW

What is the favorite book you remember as a child?

I cannot remember one specific title, but I used to read books from The Famous Five series, written by the English author Enid Blyton in the 1950’s.

What is your favorite book today?

My book interests vary depending on the circumstances. I am still a fan of the Bible. However, when it comes to light reading, I enjoy Janet Evanovich novels. If I am in the mood for intrigue I enjoy books like The Da Vinci Code.

What are you reading right now?

At present I have turned my attention to writing my next book and this process begins with rereading an early draft first written about fifteen years ago.

E-Reader or print? and why?

I like to read books in print form. I am still old fashioned and like to turn the pages.

One book at a time or multiples?

I am a one book at a time person. I have never been good at multitasking.

Dog-ear or bookmark? (don't worry—Librarian Judith won't hold it against you—much)

I am a bookmark person – I like to look at the closed book with the bookmark showing me the progress made.

When do you do most of your reading?

Once I start a book, if it is good I try to read at every spare moment until I finish it. Unfortunately, delay can lead to lapse of memory and I have to look back to recall where I am.

Favorite place to read?

I have a Laz-Y-Boy chair in my office – it is a quiet, comfortable spot and looks out on the street providing a natural break as needed.

Favorite genre?

Usually gentle mysteries, although I do enjoy the occasional complex intriguing book.

What would make you not finish a book?

Two things - I do not appreciate graphic, gory details. I also become bored by too many irrelevant finite details. For example: reading ‘a sandwich’ described as two slices of sliced white bread with one piece of iceberg lettuce and two slices of deli thin sliced black forest ham is boring. Just write ‘a sandwich,’ unless the detail is relevant to the plot.

Keep books or give them away?

I am happy to give away most books when I have finished reading them. However, I tend to keep serious books which are of interest to me long term and I feel need to be studied and reread.

READ THE BLURB

Murder at Serengeti Plains is the third mystery novel in the series, featuring amateur sleuths Hazel Davies and Anna Kohl. The earlier novels are Murder at Eagles Nest and Could They Be Twins?

The book is set in a new residential subdivision, Serengeti Plains, built by the renowned local builder, Zebra Homes. It is located in the peaceful, historic town of Centerville, Ohio. However, peace is shattered when the new residents are awakened one morning by the sound of police sirens. The procession of police cars, come to rest in their own neighborhood. A body has been discovered! Was it an accident or was it murder? Hazel Davies and Anna Kohl have recently moved into this new subdivision. They have previously helped the police to solve murders in both Florida and Ohio, but they did not expect to find one on their own doorstep. When the police begin to look at their friend as the perpetrator, they find themselves drawn into yet another murder investigation.

READ AN EXCERPT

Detective Grant and Officer Kilgore found Noah and Luke in the next street which was a ‘hive’ of activity, with multiple homes in various stage of construction. Both were trying to focus on the job in hand, while clearly concerned about what was happening in the cul-de-sac. They had figured someone would come and talk to them when they were ready. Grant introduced himself and Officer Kilgore, then made a note of their names for his records.

Noah spoke up first and said, “I know you have been over at site 564. When I looked there seemed to be a body, but I am still hoping I was wrong. Surely, it cannot be true. I am hoping it was just a hoax, you know a dummy or something. Tell us what has actually happened?”

Detective Grant replied, “I am sorry to tell you, it is not a hoax. We found a body, buried in the gravel basement this morning. Louis Taylor discovered the hidden body when he and his crew were pouring the concrete for the basement floor. We are fortunate that it was discovered before they started pouring in the corner where it was hidden.”

Both Noah and Luke were clearly shocked by the news. Finally, Luke asked, “Do you know who it is? I mean is it a man or a woman? And what were they doing on a building site?”

Grant cleared his throat and answered, “Well, it is a man, probably in his late forties. Unfortunately, there was no identification on the body, so we are still working on an I.D. In fact, I am hoping you will be able to help me out on that matter. I have just received a photograph from the coroner’s office. I am afraid it is a little difficult to look at, but I would appreciate your help if you could just take a look.”

MEET THE AUTHOR

Originally from Manchester, England, Pat Duggan moved to the U.S. in 1985. After a career in finance, which included running her own book-keeping and tax business, in the Cincinnati area, Pat and her partner retired and moved to Oregon. Years later, they embarked on a five-year journey, traveling across the country in a motorhome. Writing was a whole new direction for Pat, which began with two non-fiction books – The Power Within and Finding God in an RV. Then she branched into writing fiction as she turned to her love for solving murder mysteries and the challenge to figure out ‘whodunit!’

Sadly, their traveling days are over, but settling down has brought its own reward as it inspired this latest novel.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writesstoriesrealandimagined
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Pat-Duggan/e/B0845YGGV3/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3153509.Pat_Duggan

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Serengeti-Plains-Pat-Duggan/dp/B09MYYWS71/

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