Little Lamb Lost by Margaret Fenton
Margaret Fenton's debut thriller, LITTLE LAMB LOST, was seven years in the making and from the early reviews; it was seven years of well-spent time. Fenton a Gulf Coast native has been an active member of her local Mississippi chapter of Sisters in Crime long before she thought of writing, but when challenged by the late Anne George who asked her why she didn't write a thriller, if she was such a big fan, Fenton went to work.
With nearly ten years as a child and family therapist before taking a break to focus on her writing, Fenton's work tends to reflect her interest in social causes and mental health, especially where kids are concerned.
LITTLE LAMB LOST opens when Social Worker Claire Conover's young client, Michael, is found dead and his mother, Ashley, has been arrested for his murder. And who made the decision to return Michael to Ashley? Claire Conover. Ashley had seemingly done everything right - gotten clean, found a place to live, worked two jobs, and earned back custody of her son. Devastated but determined to discover where her instincts failed her, Claire vows to find the truth.
What Claire finds is no shortage of suspects. Ashley's boyfriend made no secret that he didn't want children. And Ashley's stepfather, an alcoholic and chronic gambler, has a shady past. Then there is Michael's mysterious father and his family? Or Ashley herself? Was she really using again?
Amidst a heap of unanswered questions, one thing is for certain: Claire Conover is about to uncover secrets that could ruin lives - or end her own.The early reviews are impressive.
"A relentless social worker makes an intriguing amateur sleuth, and Birmingham offers a fresh take on the New South as a setting for crime fiction. With this solid debut, Fenton--herself a social worker--has set the stage for a promising new series." -- Booklist
"Devastated by the death of a young boy and the arrest of his mother for his murder, social worker Claire Conover cannot let the case go and finds herself in danger when she learns too much. Well done." -- Library Journal
"Gripping and highly entertaining, LITTLE LAMB LOST delivers a fascinating, insider's look into the challenging world of the foster care system. In the best tradition of Margaret Maron, Margaret Fenton's striking debut is a marvelous first entry in a promising new Southern series." -- Julia Spencer-Fleming, Edgar finalist and author of I SHALL NOT WANT.
In an advance review in its April 6, 2009 issue, Publishers Weekly says LITTLE LAMB LOST author Margaret Fenton "puts her experiences as a social worker to good use in her promising debut. With her fine ear for regional speech, Fenton may do for Birmingham what Margaret Maron has done for rural North Carolina."
LITTLE LAMB LOST is a real find. Debut author Margaret Fenton knows how to give her mystery a whole lot of heart." -- Chris Grabenstein, Anthony Award-winning author of HELL HOLE.
LITTLE LAMB LOST debuts in June from Oceanview Publishing.
Michael Haskins spent
five years as the business editor/writer for the daily Key West Citizen
and then another five years as the city's public information officer.
His first book, Chasin' the Wind, has sold out of its first printing
and its sequel, Free Range Institution, is at the publishers. He is
currently writing the third in his Mad Mick Murphy Mystery series, Car
Wash Blues.ThrillerFest
ITW's annual celebration of the thriller world is the largest event of its kind, a meeting place for authors, readers, budding writers, and publishing industry professionals.
For 2011, we’ll be back in the heart of New York in July with the ThrillerFest conference including CraftFest and AgentFest.
ThrillerFest VI will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City.
The dates will be July 6-9, 2011.
More information to follow.
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