With Neighbors Like These by Linda Lovely

A crafty killer uses homeowner association (HOA) feuds to make murder appear to be the latest craze sweeping HOAs—a recreational activity growing faster than pickleball. Too bad some neighbors wind up dead.

In WITH NEIGHBORS LIKE THESE, homeowner association-induced rage seems a plausible trigger for one murder, but a second HOA death convinces Kylee Kane, a retired Coast Guard investigator, that she’s hunting a serial killer with an entirely different motive.

Linda Lovely recently spent some time with The Big Thrill discussing her latest mystery, WITH NEIGHBORS LIKE THESE:

Which took shape first: plot, character, or setting?

The plot came first. Inspired by a class taught by Katherine Ramsland, forensic psychologist. It gave me the idea for a crime and cover-up that could lead to a later revenge murder spree.

Linda Lovely

What was the biggest challenge this book presented? What about the biggest opportunity?

Writing in two first-person POVs–the heroine’s and the villain’s. I wanted the reader to understand the villain’s motives and plans without providing any clue about identity. I needed to make sure the chapters in each POV were clearly labeled, and that the voices were distinct.

How does this book make a contribution to the genre?

This is the first book in a homeowner association (HOA) mystery series. It recognizes that HOAs are this century’s small (and sometimes not so small) towns. That means they are populated with the same heroines/heroes and villains you could find in any sizable community. Plus, HOA rules and power struggles can impact an owner’s everyday life in ways city, county, state, or federal government decisions never will.

*****

WITH NEIGHBORS LIKE THESE is author Linda Lovely’s ninth published mystery/suspense novel. Writing fiction isn’t a huge stretch given the decades she spent penning PR copy. Now she chuckles planning the demise of the villainous types who annoy her in real life. Her goal is to deliver thrill-packed reads while ensuring justice is served and love and friendships triumph. Lovely is a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime. For a number of years, she helped organize the Writers’ Police Academy. When not writing or reading, Lovely takes long walks with her husband, swims, gardens, and plays tennis.

To learn more about the author and her work, please visit her website.