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| Sandra Nikolai, Author BROKEN TRUST Book 5 of Megan Scott/Michael Elliott Series |
Sandra Nikolai just released BROKEN TRUST, the 5th mystery in
her series featuring ghostwriter Megan Scott and investigative reporter
Michael Elliott. Reviewers of previous books claim the series is “well-plotted
and punctuated with shocks” and “impossible to stop reading.”
According to Nikolai, the pairing of protagonists helps
“create tension and move the plot forward.” By setting this mystery in Ottawa, she takes advantage of
the capital city’s healthcare decision-making, which supports the development of her plot.
Nikolai is currently working on Book 6 of her mystery
series. When she’s not writing, she enjoys baking, especially anything with
chocolate in it as she is a fan of desserts.
Q: What draws you to
write Mysteries? Who is your favorite mystery author?
Sandra Nicolai: Puzzles have
always intrigued me, and mysteries even more so. The ultimate test arrived the
day I decided to write my first mystery novel. I’ve been published for five
years now, but ensuring that all the pieces in a mystery fall into place is
still quite the challenge. And I love every minute of it!
Some of my favorite mystery authors include Donna Leon, Linwood Barclay,
Kathy Reichs, James Patterson, and Louise Penny. I also enjoy discovering new
authors and regularly add their books to my to-read list. I don’t think I’ll
ever catch up!
Q: In your new book, BROKEN TRUST, you’ve
paired Megan Scott and Michael Elliott together again in your new book as
double sleuths to solve the mystery. Does this pairing help to develop the
plot? Romantic interest?
Sandra Nikolai: Yes to both
questions!
In my latest book, BROKEN TRUST,
as in the other books in the series, Megan and Michael’s characters differ in
ways that help to create conflict in the story and move the plot forward. As an
investigative reporter, Michael meets with seedy informants in dark alleys in
his hunt for murder suspects. He thrives on taking risks. Megan’s participation
in his sleuthing activities provides an exciting break from her “boring”
job—ghostwriter of non-fiction material. Since she tends to be cautious and
worries about Michael’s safety, their covert outings enable her to pull him
back from the brink of death when necessary. Of course, Megan’s curiosity
sometimes gets her in trouble too, so it works both ways.
The romantic interest between them originated in the first book, FALSE IMPRESSIONS, and continues to grow
through the series. Is marriage a possibility? Michael might be inclined to the
idea, but Megan’s bad experience with her first marriage planted doubts in her
mind. The topic creates tension between them, which helps to develop the plot.
Q: How do you turn your
ghostwriter into an amateur sleuth? What makes her credible?
Sandra Nikolai: FALSE IMPRESSIONS launched Megan’s
investigative teamwork with Michael when they became prime suspects in the
death of her husband and a female companion. That’s when Megan got her feet
wet, so to speak. Her interest in Michael’s work prompted him to take her along
on some of his ventures. They share a high standard of ethics that drives them
to seek justice for crimes committed, but they have different approaches to
analyzing the evidence.
When it comes to suspects, Michael is objective and trusts his instincts
to guide him. Megan is an in-depth researcher and often deciphers the tiniest
detail and nuance on the path to solving a crime. She bounces her theories off
Michael and, although he doesn’t always agree with her, he appreciates her
input. In the end, Megan’s contributions play a key role in resolving the
crime.
Q: How useful is Ottawa
as a setting to help develop your characters or the mystery? Would the story be
different if set elsewhere?
Sandra Nikolai: Ottawa is
Canada’s capital city and the setting for BROKEN TRUST, the fifth book in my mystery series. The city is home to the federal
government where major political decisions affecting national health are made.
My sleuths investigate the fentanyl crisis here. For readers unfamiliar with
fentanyl, it’s a synthetic drug that’s fifty times stronger than heroin and the
cause of thousands of deaths by overdose.
My sleuths are Canadian and have a special interest in how organizations
are handling the drug crisis here. As they investigate the death of a young
woman who supposedly overdosed in their Ottawa hotel room—yes, they walked in
and found her body!—Megan and Michael interview key administrators regarding
the fentanyl problem. A mystery set in a government town might sound dry to
some readers, but I promise you, it’s a thrilling ride!
Q: Reviewers enjoy the
suspense you’ve created in your previous mysteries. How do you create that
page-turning drive?
Sandra Nikolai: Readers like to
get to the heart of a story, so I keep the narrative as tight as possible. I
cut back on excessive descriptions of people and places and avoid dialogue that
doesn’t move the plot forward. I pepper my stories with clues (including red
herrings), tension, and conflict.
My chapters are short and end with a cliffhanger. I ensure the momentum
is fast-paced so that the action doesn’t stall. Readers tell me they can’t stop
reading—they have to find out what happens in the next chapter. This tells me
my techniques are working!
Q: What do you consider to be the key
elements of a satisfying mystery?
Sandra Nikolai: The first pages
should draw in the reader. Without a captivating hook, the reader will move on
to another book. Setting a mysterious mood that foreshadows the journey ahead
is also an important element.
Suspenseful dialogue between realistic characters is vital to retaining
reader interest. It’s similar to eavesdropping on a heart-pounding conversation
between people you know. My suspects often lie or withhold crucial information,
but I keep readers in the loop so that they come across the clues at the same
time as my sleuths do.
Wrapping up loose ends by the end of the story is another essential
element. Readers need answers to confirm what they already know or didn’t know
about who, why, what, and how. A satisfying resolution to a mystery means a
reader will most likely read another book by the same writer.
Q: Why do readers care
about your characters? How do they relate?
Sandra Nikolai: Like most
people, my main characters have strengths and insecurities. Readers can relate
to Megan’s determination and Michael’s courage as they track down perpetrators.
They admire their mutual loyalty and respect and the way they interact with
each other.
Readers root for Michael and understand his anger and frustration when
he lacks the evidence to bring a cold-blooded killer to justice. They empathize
with Megan’s lingering memories about her husband’s infidelity, as well as her
qualms about Michael’s safety and the future of their relationship. They
support Megan as she confronts dangerous situations, despite her fears.
Q: What are the
attributes of an effective villain/criminal?
Sandra Nikolai: A credible
villain is one that has good qualities and bad qualities. The criminals in my
stories often work in typical jobs and have family or friends, yet they manage
to get sidetracked by the darker side of life.
We’ve all seen news reports about police arrests of doctors, lawyers,
and professors. Who would think that people in such respectable positions could
be murderers? How many times do neighbors discover that the “man who lives down
the street” is a killer? Criminals can’t be typecast. The creepiest part is
that they often live among us.
Q: What’s next?
Sandra Nikolai: Book #6 in the
series. My sleuths return home to Montreal where their greatest challenge
awaits them. It will be a roller coaster of a thriller. Oh, I can’t wait to
write this one!
Q: Tell us about Sandra
Nikolai. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Sandra Nikolai: I love
desserts, so I’ll bake anything with chocolate in it. No surprise there, right?
I also like to read, shop, watch movies, go for walks, and catch up with
friends over coffee. My routine might sound dull to some people, but the first
half of my life was quite hectic, so I welcome the change. I wouldn’t be able
to write without the peace and quiet I now enjoy.
Thank you for inviting me, Joyce!
About Sandra Nicolai
Author Sandra Nikolai weaves
ordinary characters into extraordinary, life-threatening situations, using the
premise that evil often lurks in familiar places. She
is the author of a mystery series featuring ghostwriter Megan Scott and investigative
reporter Michael Elliott. BROKEN TRUST is the fifth book in
this series.
Sandra
has also published
more than a dozen short stories online and in print, garnering Honorable
Mentions along the way. She shares her writing experiences on her blog and has been a
frequent guest writer on other blogs.
About BROKEN TRUST
Hotel rooms often come with perks. A corpse isn’t one of
them.
Ghostwriter Megan Scott and investigative reporter Michael
Elliott discover the body of a young woman in their Ottawa hotel room. Not what
they expected on a business trip to Canada’s capital. She’s wearing a black
lace teddy. A carafe of red wine and two glasses sit on a table. A closer look
inside her purse reveals thousands of dollars, three business cards, and a
supply of pills.
The detective initially writes off Becca Landry’s death as
an open-and-shut case of overdose, but Frank Landry, an ex-military, believes
his wife was murdered. Convinced that autopsy results will prove him right, he
fears the police will soon target him as a prime suspect. He asks Megan and
Michael to investigate.
As they dig deeper, they unearth shocking links that expose
the dark underbelly of a city where widespread fraud, illegal drug trafficking,
and a sense of entitlement defy the system. Elusive conspirators up the stakes
and threaten to block their efforts at any cost.
How can Megan and Michael ensure their trust in each other
is enough to save them on a perilous quest for a cold-blooded killer?
Links
Twitter: @SandraNikolai
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