Tip of a Bone
Christine Finlayson
Tip of a Bone is all about mystery.
~fuonlyknew
~fuonlyknew
…plenty of drama, action, danger and some romance.
~readalot
~readalot
I enjoyed this mystery with all its twists and turns and I loved spending time with these characters in a city I know all too well.
~Books-n-Kisses
~Books-n-Kisses
Interesting mix of characters, good balance between good and bad characters.
~Storeybook Reviews
~Storeybook Reviews
Tip of a Bone
Genre: Mystery
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Adventure Publications (September 3, 2013)
ISBN-13: 978-1591934394
E-Book ASIN: B00EGWE5HC
Synopsis
Buried bones, a missing eco-activist, and a deadly fire? It’s not what Maya Rivers bargained for when she moved to the coastal city of Newport, Oregon to reunite with her brother, Harley. Yet when Harley is accused of an unthinkable crime, Maya insists on adding “amateur sleuth” to her career options. It isn’t long before she discovers an eerie clue . . . but the closer she gets to the truth, the closer a murderer follows.
About This Author
Christine Finlayson borrowed from her “past lives” as a waitress, barista, environmental educator, and water scientist when creating her debut mystery novel, Tip of a Bone—a tale that takes place on the stormy Oregon coast. In her spare time, Christine loves to run on forest trails, watch waves break, compete in triathlons, and photograph anything Northwest-weird or wild. She’s now working on her second book, a novel of suspense.
Christine’s an active member of Sisters in Crime, Friends of Mystery, Oregon Writers Colony, and Willamette Writers.
Interview
What is your favorite character to write
about?
My favorite character in Tip of a Bone is definitely the main
character, Maya Rivers. She’s fearless, a bit prickly, and determined to get
answers, no matter what it takes. The great thing about writing fiction is you
can put characters into the worst jams and then sit back and watch them try to escape
it. Invariably, Maya surprised me.
Did you write a character that you hate?
I don’t hate any characters, even
the bad guys, but I definitely like some more than others. When writing, I try
to make each character well rounded, giving them both positive and negative
traits—just like people in real life.
To me, the most aggravating character
in Tip of a Bone is Maya’s boss,
Willy O’Brien. He’s chauvinistic and
overbearing, yet he can be kind, too. His “bad” side borrows from several
different people I’ve encountered. J
Is this part of a series?
I’m open to the idea of Maya
Rivers becoming a series character, especially because so many readers have
asked, “What happens to her next?” But I didn’t create her that way—she doesn’t
have a job that would make people drop like flies around her. In Tip of a Bone, she gets involved as an
amateur sleuth because of her emotional connection to the victim. If she’s
going to keep sleuthing, she may need a new career.
I do have a second novel nearly
done. It’s set in Portland, Oregon and is more suspense than mystery.
What would you like my readers to know?
Tip of a Bone was inspired by my frequent trips to the
Oregon coast. Although it’s often windy or rainy there, I love the wildness of
the ocean, dunes, rocks, and cliffs. My husband and I actually honeymooned in
the same coastal community where Tip of a Bone is set, and we drank a toast at
the Rogue Ales Brewery. Talk about life coming full circle!
Author Links:
Webpage: http://www.christinefinlayson.com
March 25 – fuonlyknew ~ Laura’s Ramblins and Reviews – Review, Giveaway
March 26 – readalot blog – Review
March 27 – Books-n-Kisses – Review
March 28 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review, Guest Post
March 29 – Deal Sharing Aunt – Review, Interview, Giveaway
March 31 – Reviews By Molly – Review, Giveaway
April 1 – Queen of All She Reads – Review, Guest Post
April 2 – Brooke Blogs – Review
April 3 – Kelly P’s Blog – Interview
April 4 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
March 26 – readalot blog – Review
March 27 – Books-n-Kisses – Review
March 28 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review, Guest Post
March 29 – Deal Sharing Aunt – Review, Interview, Giveaway
March 31 – Reviews By Molly – Review, Giveaway
April 1 – Queen of All She Reads – Review, Guest Post
April 2 – Brooke Blogs – Review
April 3 – Kelly P’s Blog – Interview
April 4 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
My Review:
I do not know what I would do in this predicament. I do not know how I could let a killer get away, but I do not know if I could risk my life or the lives of my loved ones. I would have to prove my brother innocent though. The author included some activist actions, and I liked that they were trying to make a difference. The ending was good, and I guessed who was guilty, but I was not positive. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own.
Giveaway:
Love the interview. I've never been to Oregon...yet, I would love to get there some time. My husband and I keep working our way that way further and further, so hopefully soon. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debbie! Oregon is a beautiful state, especially during the summertime, and the coast is very scenic, with cliffs and dunes and sparkling waves. I hope you have the chance to visit soon!
ReplyDeleteIt's always nice to get a peek into an author's life and see how it influenced the story. The setting is so obviously important--both to Maya and her creator. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Writer of Wrongs! To me, setting is an essential part of the story--and that's reflected in Tip of a Bone. I served on an author panel recently and the moderator asked each of us, "Could you move your story to another location?" I had to say no. It wouldn't be same book without Newport/the Oregon coast.
ReplyDelete