Published January 14th 2014
Genre: Mystery / thriller / crime
Eleanor Raven Series: Book 1
There are rules that every player of every
game must abide by, no matter how dangerous the sport.
Toronto has become the backdrop to a macabre set of artistic installations: women kidnapped, tortured and horrifically displayed by a killer with a vision.
Only someone capable of understanding the killer's creative desire will be able to stop the murders and D I Eleanor Raven is uniquely qualified. Driven by a complex personality she pursues only the facts, only the things she can see, but never casts a judgement.
But she also has a dark and dangerous secret - one that will threaten her very survival.
Toronto has become the backdrop to a macabre set of artistic installations: women kidnapped, tortured and horrifically displayed by a killer with a vision.
Only someone capable of understanding the killer's creative desire will be able to stop the murders and D I Eleanor Raven is uniquely qualified. Driven by a complex personality she pursues only the facts, only the things she can see, but never casts a judgement.
But she also has a dark and dangerous secret - one that will threaten her very survival.
BUY LINKS
PRAISE FOR THE SAFE WORD
Just
read The Safe Word by Karen Long – an unputdownable serial killer tale. James
Purefoy
For DS Eleanor Raven It's not so much who, what or when but 'why' that leads this powerful read to its conclusion and Karen Long reminds us that a brutal, vicious and destructive act is not something inherently 'Evil' or derived from Satan but is a rational choice made by a human being. The quirky, offbeat and endearing relationship between Eleanor and her partner Laurence Whitefoot shines a light on this dark compelling world of sexual intrigue and mystery. My imagination was certainly held captive! Robson Green
Most fictional detectives these days have to have a ‘thing’ to set them apart from the others, and Raven’s is one of the most original for a long time. The plot moves in some unexpected directions, and builds to a genuinely exciting climax. The Safe Word is an impressive, confident debut. Convincing characters and some nice twists make for a compelling, satisfying thriller, and I look forward to seeing what’s next for Eleanor Raven. Killing Time
For DS Eleanor Raven It's not so much who, what or when but 'why' that leads this powerful read to its conclusion and Karen Long reminds us that a brutal, vicious and destructive act is not something inherently 'Evil' or derived from Satan but is a rational choice made by a human being. The quirky, offbeat and endearing relationship between Eleanor and her partner Laurence Whitefoot shines a light on this dark compelling world of sexual intrigue and mystery. My imagination was certainly held captive! Robson Green
Most fictional detectives these days have to have a ‘thing’ to set them apart from the others, and Raven’s is one of the most original for a long time. The plot moves in some unexpected directions, and builds to a genuinely exciting climax. The Safe Word is an impressive, confident debut. Convincing characters and some nice twists make for a compelling, satisfying thriller, and I look forward to seeing what’s next for Eleanor Raven. Killing Time
ABOUT
KAREN LONG
Karen Long was born and raised in the English midlands, educated at
Bangor University and taught English and Drama for fifteen years. During her
teaching years she studied biology and neurology with the Open University and
this interest in medicine, forensics and forensic psychology is reflected in
her writing. She is an enthusiastic traveller and has spent time in Toronto,
which became the backdrop and inspiration for The Safe Word.
She is a keen amateur naturalist with a deep and abiding love for the
crow family. She has dedicated time, love and several fingers in an effort to
rehabilitate crows, magpies, rooks and ravens.
Karen is happy to correspond with readers and can be contacted through
her website KarenLongWriter.com, where she posts regular blogs.
The Safe Word is Karen's first novel and was an Amazon bestseller, soon
to be joined by the second in the Eleanor Raven series, The Vault. Karen is
working on the third novel in the series.
Where are you from?
I’m originally from Wolverhampton but have
spent the last twenty-five years in Shropshire. Black Country gal goes rustic!
Tell us your latest news.
I’m half way through a rewrite of the third
book in the Eleanor Raven series. It’s called The Cold Room.
When did you first consider yourself a
writer?
The first time I declared myself to be
such, was when I held a copy of The Safe Word as a paperback. It made it real.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I read a small article in a Toronto
newspaper, which detailed how a woman had been snatched off the street and
bundled into the back of a van. Helpful witnesses contacted the police, who
stopped the van, liberated the woman and arrested two men. The victim, far from
displaying gratitude, was outraged at having her ‘Red Letter’ sexy kidnap day
disrupted by the police. Now that’s a story!
Do you have a specific writing style?
I do. I like metaphors, not similes. Try to
show without telling and like a strong narrative rhythm.
How did you come up with the title?
A ‘safe word’ is a mutually agreed word
that, when uttered during a sado-masochistic session will stop the punishment.
It features metaphorically, as well as literally in the novel.
Is there a message in your novel that you
want readers to grasp?
I imagine the most obvious message is to be
cautious when indulging in unsafe sexual practices with strangers. However, on
a less didactic level, it’s about learning to understand that you never completely
know, or understand your motivations.
How much of the book is realistic?
I try to keep the forensic science as
accurate as possible. I’m writing crime fiction, not science fiction. However,
sometimes you have to tweak the rules to get the story to work.
Are experiences based on someone you know
or events in your own life?
No, they’re way too rich for my blood.
However, I can say that I have visited the places mentioned in ‘The Safe Word’, including the tranny clubs.
(All in the name of research!)
What books have most influenced your life?
“Lord of the Flies’ by William Golding and ‘The
Bloody Chamber’ by Angela Carter.
If you had to choose, which writer would
you consider a mentor?
I think you steal a little bit of technique
and style from every writer you read. If I were to choose, it would have to be
Agatha Christie. She doesn’t cheat, her science is spot on and the stories keep
you on tenterhooks.
What book are you reading now?
I’m on the last chapter of ‘Severed: A
History of Heads Lost and Heads Found.’ It’s by Frances Larson and I thoroughly
recommend it.
Are there any new authors that have grabbed
your interest?
There are so many new and exciting writers
out there but I’m happy to give a plug to Mark Tilbury (The Revelation Room)
and David McCaffrey (Hellbound).
What are your current projects?
When I’ve finally pressed the ‘send’ button
on “The Cold Room’ I’m getting back to a novel I started before Christmas. It’s
a stand-alone called ‘The Girl Who Drowned’ and I hope to have it finished
before the year is out.
What would you like my readers to know?
That no author ever sets out to write a bad
novel and it’s still cheaper to download a book than buy a coffee.
AUTHOR LINKS
All author or review enquires please contact Karen
Long’s Personal Assistant J.B. Johnston – brookbooks@hotmail.co.uk
Check out
Book 2 – The Vault - http://amzn.to/1WSnlDn
Did
you know that Eleanor Raven is also online?
GIVEAWAY
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PRIZE – SIGNED PAPERBACK OF THE SAFE WORD – OPEN INTERNATIONALLY
2ND
PRIZE - ECOPY OF THE SAFE WORD – OPEN INTERNATIONALLY
I would love to read this book.
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