Latest Books DEATH TAKES A FALL with Sharon Lynn

When Maddie McGuire finds herself tumbling over a cliff while hiking The Cotswold Way, she uncovers much more than ancient woods. Terrified by her shocking discovery, she returns to the safety of her international internship at the Roman Baths only to find competition in the form of the tittering, aristocratic Gwendolyn De Valence, who has captured the attention of everyone Maddie hopes to impress. Turning to her boyfriend Constable Edward Bailey, only reveals dark secrets about his past, leading her down a dangerous path which, this time, she may be unable to escape.

Author Sharon Lynn recently sat down with The Big Thrill to discuss her second Cotswold Crimes Mystery, DEATH TAKES A FALL.

Sharon Lynn

Can you pinpoint a moment or incident that sparked the idea for this book

The inspiration for A Cotswold Crimes Mystery series came from the desire to write a mystery someplace exotic, and as I was lucky enough to live in Bath England as a teen, it seemed the perfect location. The 19 year old protagonist is drawn from my daughter who is independent, brave, brilliant, and occasionally, irresponsible.

DEATH TAKES A FALL, book two in the series was formulated while entertaining on a warm summer’s afternoon. A friend had just gotten a new job at a wonderful non-profit and I thought, “How could that be used for evil?”

When you first created your protagonist for this book, did you see an empty space in crime lit that you wanted to fill? What can you share about the inspiration for that character?

My main character, Maddie McGuire, is a 19 year old American on an international internship at the Roman Baths in England. Most amateur sleuths are more mature, but I wanted teens and twenty-somethings to have someone they could relate to. She is also appealing to parents (although she tends to drive dads a little crazy), or anyone who remembers being that age.

In addition to a great read, what do you hope readers will take away from this story?

Maddie matures over the course of this story, learning to allow herself to trust others. Having a support system, especially if you’re away from home, is vital at any age.

What can you share about what you’re working on next?

I am currently writing book three in the series, Death Plays With Fire which finds Maddie deep in the Cotswolds at the Chedworth Roman Villa, plagued by uppity druids. I have just signed a contract to extend the series to six books, so Maddie will have many adventures to come!