The First to Die by Suzanne Trauth
About The First to Die
The First to Die Psychological Suspense
Setting - New Jersey
Publisher : Willow River Press
Publication date : November 18, 2025
Print length : 334 pages
ISBN-13 : 978-1965059661
ASIN : B0FQ4T189P
Connie Tucker, a free-spirited beach bartender, has been estranged from her family in New Jersey ever since her actress mother, Simone, disappeared one night during a violent storm at the theatre where she was rehearsing. Uncontrollable and in a rage at the loss of her parent, fifteen-year-old Connie is exiled to California, due to her delinquent behavior, to live with an aunt she doesn’t know. Fifteen years later, Simone’s murdered remains are discovered at a construction site and Connie returns to the east coast for the funeral—she owes it to her mother. The cold case unit will take over now and solve the crime. But then she discovers a message her mother left behind. It feels like a dispatch from the grave. Connie must face her tortured past, the guilt of concealing a devastating secret, and the part she played in her mother's disappearance. Unearthing buried family history and childhood demons, she confronts the agonizing reality that she doesn’t know where she belongs, where to call home. Who to trust. When a second suspicious death occurs, Connie races to unravel the events of the night Simone disappeared. Her mother was the first to die…but not the last.Excerpt
“They found Mom. You need to come home.”
Her older sister Gaby wasn’t one to waste words.
Connie should have been relieved, comforted, something. Unfortunately, it was fifteen years too late for that. And anguish she had buried deep in her body, and mind, erupted with a vengeance.
She cooled her heels in San Diego until the last possible moment to return for the funeral. The less time spent there, the better. New Jersey triggered chilling images tethered to that night. To the last time she saw her mother.
The plane thumped to earth, delivering Connie Tucker to the past with a bounce. Everything about this state was a rude wake-up call. She couldn’t wait to board the return flight to California. At fifteen, she left New Jersey in a rage, thrown out of the only home she’d known, dumped thousands of miles away on a relative she’d never met. Nerves twitching, her insides were a stew of anxiety and bitterness, wondering how people here would react to seeing her. Connie shook her head to tamp down the unruly thoughts and scold herself. They were the ones who should be nervous.
About Suzanne Trauth
Suzanne Trauth is a novelist and playwright. Her novels include What Remains of Love(a first-place winner in Women's Fiction, Firebird Book Awards; a finalist in General Fiction, American Book Festival; and a finalist for the Hemingway Prize) and the Dodie O’Dell mystery series–Show Time, Time Out, Running Out of Time, Just in Time, No More Time, and Killing Time. Her most recent novel, The First to Die, a domestic suspense, will be released in November 2025. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, the Dramatists Guild, and the League of Professional Theatre Women.
INTERVIEW
The
First to Die
- When did you first realize you
wanted to be a writer?
When
I was in grade school I started writing short plays and stories. In high
school, thanks to a supportive English teacher, I entered writing contests and
won several prizes. I might have kept writing but I got waylaid by doing
theatre in college and, eventually, a teaching career. But I always wanted to
write. When I retired from teaching, I started to write full-time. And I read a
lot from the time I was little.
- How long does it take you to
write a book?
That
depends. My six cozy mysteries were written about ten months apart. On the
other hand, my historical romance took twenty-five years from inception to
publication! My current novel, The First to Die, took about three years from
first full draft to publication.
- What is your work schedule like
when you're writing?
Unlike
many authors I am not an early morning writer, or person for that matter. So, I
spend the morning completing life’s chores and settle down to write in the
early afternoon. I try to work most days for four to five hours.
- What would you say is your
interesting writing quirk?
Not
all that interesting but I have to have a cup of tea by my side…and I like to
make notations with a red pen.
- How do books get published?
With a lot of
persistence and a bit of good luck. It took me a few years to get the first
book in my cozy mystery seriespublished; then they appeared every ten months.
My historical romance took 25 years from inception of the idea to its
publication. My most recent book, The First to Die, took about three
years of writing and rewriting to get published. I was fortunate to find a small
publisher who accepted my work and moved it along quickly. But each book
required lots of submissions over several years. You can’t give up.
- Where do you get your
information or ideas for your books?
Inspiration comes from
many sources for me. My cozy mystery series focused, in part, on a community
theatre and everyone involved in producing the plays. Since I spent my career
doing theatre, I had plenty of material to draw on. And I centered the action of
every story around a different play. My historical romance was based on the
life of woman I’d met back in the 1990s in the south of France. Her story was
the backbone of the novel, but it also required extensive research on World War
II and the battles in Europe. My current suspense novel, The First to Die,
was triggered by the story of an elderly woman who I thought would make a great
character.
- When did you write your first
book and how old were you?
I received the contract
for myfirst book in 2016 when I was 66 –I started my writing career after I
retired from full-time teaching as a university professor.
8. What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I read a significant number
of books every year, many of them crime fiction in a variety of genres. I’m
also Pilates-obsessed! I spend time with family and friends seeing movies and
going out to dinner.
- What does your family think of
your writing?
I have a very supportive
family – they read all of my books and rate them on book sites. They are also
my early readers. I have other siblings who are published so we have that in
common.
10. What was one of the most surprising things you
learned in creating your books?
How much promotion I was responsible for! Writing the book and
finding a publisher are the first steps in a writing career. After that, even
for writers published by the larger houses, the process requires the author to get
out there and pitch the book to potential readers—both in person and online. I
visit book clubs, libraries, and bookstores. And of course, participate in
blogs such as this…I am grateful these blogs exist!
- How
many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
I have published eight books, including The First to Die.
Books are like children…hard to say which is the favorite. I would have to say
whichever is the most recent, the one occupying my mind at the moment. So right
now, it’s The First to Die.
- Do
you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what
are they?
I’d say find a writing group that you can share work with and get
feedback; take workshops or classes to help you refine your writing; persist,
persist, persist!
- Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of
things do they say?
I hear from readers via
reviews that are posted, mostly online. I also hear from readers who email me
with comments and from readers at book events. Fortunately, their comments have
been very positive and encouraging: depending on which book, the material made
them laugh or cry!
- Do
you like to create books for adults?
I only create books for adults.
- What
do you think makes a good story?
In my opinion, a good story engages the reader from page one and
holds that interest through to “The End.” That demands relatable characters,
compelling plot points, and high stakes.
- As
a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
Write! I’ve wanted to be a writer from the time I was in primary
school. I loved the creative process of putting characters on the page.
- What
would you like my readers to know?
I think I’ve just about covered everything. Except to say thanks
for reading this and sharing my writing journey!
Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today! Want to Book a Tour? Click Here
Kathleen Bailey is the award-winning author of The Olivia Penn Mystery Series. She writes mysteries with heart and humor that keep to the traditional and cozy sides of crime. For over twenty years, she worked as a pediatric physical therapist with children who have special needs, drawing on degrees in English, psychology, and physical therapy. She now writes in Virginia with her feline assistant, who insists on supervising every draft. When she’s not writing, Kathleen can usually be found covered in cat hair, surrounded by far too many sticky notes, and plotting new twists to keep readers guessing. She is a member of Sisters in Crime.