Agatha nominee interviews part I - Joan Long and M.A. Monin

Dark and Stormy Book Club

Joan Long/M.A. Monin
Show notes
Our first episode dedicated to the nominees for Agatha Awards begins today. Our first nominee
is Joan Long who is nominated for Best First Novel for her book “The Finalist”
The Finalist (Level Best Books) Five authors, each with their own secrets, are chosen to
complete a deceased novelist's unfinished manuscript. For single mom Risa Marr, the
competition is the opportunity of a lifetime. At stake is a million dollars and a contract to continue
the famous novelist's bestselling thriller series.
Transported to the tropical paradise of Key Island, the finalists are cut off from the world and
given seven days to draft their best ending for the book. But when one of them turns up dead,
theories and accusations abound. Accident? Suicide? Or Murder? To what lengths will
competitors go to win? And who, if anyone, will leave the island alive?
We then chatted with M.A. (Mary) Monin who is nominated for Best First Novel for her book
“Death In The Aegean”
Death in the Aegean (An Intrepid Traveler Mystery) Level Best Books. When private banker
Stefanie Adams takes a much-needed vacation to the Greek isles, vowing to embrace
opportunities as they come, instead of finding romance and adventure she is suspected of
murdering a bride who accused her deceased father of artifact theft. Unfortunately, the
newlywed's accusation also ties Stefanie, a former archaeology student, to the robbery of a
newly discovered Minoan statue, the golden Akrotiri Snake Goddess.
With two high-profile crimes to solve, Greek police are under pressure, and both crimes lead
straight to Stefanie. To avoid Greek prison and maintain her career, Stefanie must identify which
of her fellow travelers is the real killer.
Between the light-fingered backpacker with an eye on the bride's jewelry, the travel blogger
whose career the dead woman ruined, a flirtatious German tourist who is after more than
romance, and the long-suffering bridegroom, Stefanie's task won't be easy. Everyone, it seems,
had a motive for wanting to see the last of Emma Keller.
We wish both of these lovely ladies good luck. We will have two more nominees on our podcast
next week so be sure and join us.
TRIVIA
Last week's question was:
Which author worked at a job and had to dress up as a tuxedo wearing yogurt?
a. Elly Griffiths
b. Sue Grafton
c. Louise Penny
d. Gillian Flynn
The answer is d. Gillian Flynn. Flynn attended Bishop Miege High School and graduated in
1989.. As a young woman, she worked odd jobs which required her to do things such as dress
up as a giant "yogurt cone who wore a tuxedo
This week's question is:
“High Tower Court” building had what influence on author Michael Connelly?
a. He thought it was haunted
b. He featured it in his book
c. He wanted to live there
d. He wanted it renamed
Tune in next week for the answer.