The Judas Light (Murder for Lunch Book 1)

Annie Taylor ‘s ex-husband is murdered execution style and his body dumped in a Washington, DC public park. Summoned to Belgrade, Serbia, she and her daughter, Lara, learn they have inherited a large fortune and that Steve Taylor was not who they thought him to be. He may not even be dead! The secret to a weapon of mass destruction was entrusted to Annie without her knowledge and it could cost her life and that of her daughter as she is pursued across Europe to the United States and back to the Gran Sasso in Italy. Though currently a modest antiques dealer in Virginia, she was once a skilled agent with the CIA and Annie has powerful friends. Men who would kill for the secret she possesses underestimate her strength and determination to protect her family – and save the world while she’s at it, if she must.

Several of my co-workers at Optical Cable Corporation (OCC) in Roanoke, Virginia began sharing books and our love of mystery novels. While discussing some our favorite works, it was suggested that many of the authors were writing their alter egos as the protagonist. I decided I needed an alter ego for my novels and Cherry Richardson insisted the character should be beautiful, clever and rich. Amy Dupuis, who is close with her daughter as I am with mine, thought a mother-daughter team would be unique. Mike Hofbauer vowed there can’t be too many shoot-outs or car chases in a good action novel. Hunky men, drop dead beautiful, powerful women, urban legends, lies, secrets, passionate sexual encounters and the Annie & Lara action-mystery novels were born. THE JUDAS LIGHT was untitled for most of its development and Dru Shepard worked diligently to find a title that fit the story and that I liked; no small feat. Each day, for fifteen to twenty minutes I’d take a break from my work and have Murder for Lunch.