Fiction Can Be Murder

Book excerpt: Life Becomes Stranger than Fiction when Charlee's Latest Novel Inspires a Real Murder Mystery author Charlemagne "Charlee" Russo thinks the twisty plots and peculiar murders in her books are only the product of her imagination—until her agent is found dead exactly as described in Charlee's new, unpublished manuscript. Suspicion now swirls around her and her critique group, making her confidence drop as severely and unexpectedly as her royalty payments. The police care more about Charlee's feeble alibi and financial problems than they do her panicky claims of innocence. To clear her name and revive her career, she must figure out which of her friends is a murderer. Easier said than done, even for an author who's skilled at creating tidy endings for her mysteries. And as her sleuthing grows dangerous, Charlee's imagination starts working overtime. Is she being targeted, too? Praise: "The charming heroine and the supporting cast shine in Clark's fun and funny solo mystery debut...which doesn't take anyone too seriously in the best way possible."—Kirkus Reviews "Cozy fans should enjoy this funny and affecting view into a mystery writer's life."—Publishers Weekly "Charlee Russo is my new favorite amateur sleuth! Wickedly witty author Charlee takes us along on her wild ride to prove her innocence in the murder of her literary agent, a murder based on the plot of one of her own books! Giving readers an inside look at the writer's life, Becky Clark pens a funny, clever page turner of a mystery and I can't wait for the next one in this terrific new series!"—Jenn McKinlay, bestselling author of the Library Lover's Mysteries "Becky Clark wields a witty pen, writing about an author who is plunged into her own mystery."—Marty Wingate, author of the Potting Shed and Birds of a Feather series "Becky Clark is a hilarious new talent in mystery fiction. With a mixture of humor and plot, Fiction Can Be Murder pulls back the curtain on the creative writing process and exposes the homicidal thoughts that take place while writing a book."—Diane Vallere, national bestselling author of the Costume Shop mysteries "In Fiction Can Be Murder, Becky Clark gives us a fun and funny peek into the writers' life. Although in the case of her protagonist, the smart, likeable, and feisty Charlee Russo, that life includes the real murder of her agent. This clever mystery, first in a new series, is perfect for book lovers."—Vicki Delany, national bestselling author of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mysteries "Fresh, fast, and furiously fun, Fiction Can Be Murder packs one surprise after the next. Becky Clark writes with wry wit, a keen eye, and no shortage of authority on this particular subject. Charlee Russo is like a lot of authors I know—except most of them only dream of killing their agents."—Brad Parks, Shamus-, Nero-, and Lefty-award-winning author of Closer Than You Know "This killer plot will take you on the literary ride of your life. In this new series, Clark has crafted an intriguing mystery that opens the door into the crazy world of literary agents, publishers, royalties, critique groups, and murder."—Cheryl Hollon, author of the Webb's Glass Shop Mysteries "A promising series debut."—Booklist