Far Gone by Laura Griffin (interview, review and GIVEAWAY)

                                               


                                     Far Gone by Laura Griffin


I have the very great pleasure of hosting author Laura Griffin on the blog today!  She writes some of my favorite romantic suspense stories.  If you haven't read any of the Tracers series, you need to get started!  (and Happy Easter to all of you who celebrate it...I am probably going to have a toothache by the end of the day, lol)



Q: How is FAR GONE different from the Tracers series?

Thanks for inviting me to join you! I love chatting with readers.
Far Gone is my first hardcover, so I’m very excited about it! This is a stand-alone romantic thriller, featuring an all-new hero and heroine, FBI agent Jon North and Austin police detective Andrea Finch. Andrea is on leave from her job when she gets a call from her brother, who has gotten himself into some trouble out in West Texas. She goes there to investigate and soon crosses paths with Jon, who is working undercover to solve a murder. Jon believes the crime is linked to a much bigger plot and that Andrea’s brother is involved.

Although it’s not officially part of the Tracers series, Far Gone has scenes with some of my favorite Tracers characters, who help with the forensic aspects of the investigation.

Q: Where do you get your story ideas?

Everywhere, really. I used to be a newspaper reporter, so I’m constantly skimming headlines for ideas. In the case of Far Gone, the first spark of the idea came when I visited an FBI office and the agents mentioned April 19 as being an important day for law enforcement. I started researching and thinking about focusing a suspense plot around that date.

Q: Is this book more of a romance or a suspense story?

I love to read stories with a good balance of both. To me, the action keeps the pace moving and the romance keeps the emotional tension high. I think both elements are equally important.

Q: What are you writing next?

Next up is the newest addition to the Tracers series. This is the story of Navy SEAL Derek Vaughn and FBI agent Elizabeth LeBlanc, who first met in Scorched. I don’t know the title yet, but I’ll keep you posted!


New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Laura Griffin started her career in journalism before venturing into the world of romantic suspense. The author of twelve novels, she has won numerous awards, including a 2012 RITA Award for Scorched and a 2010 RITA Award for Whisper of Warning.  Laura lives in Austin, Texas. Find her on Facebook at  or visit her website.

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GIVEAWAY

Laura is giving away a signed copy of her new book Far Gone. Leave a comment with a valid e-mail address about your favorite romantic suspense movie for a chance to win!  A winner will be chosen on May 11, 2014.

Make sure you go by Reviews By Crystal on April 21 for another chance to win.

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My review:

Far Gone by Laura Griffin is the exciting romantic suspense tale that features Detective Andrea Finch who has reached a crossroads in her professional career due to  a decision that she is agonizing over.  She crosses paths with Agent Jon North who is doggedly pursuing an investigation that he is having trouble convincing his superiors is significant.  Neither trusts the other, especially once Andrea discovers that her brother may have a bearing on Jon’s case.  Their mutual attraction may not be able to survive the difficult decisions that each must make that pits professional inclinations against personal desires but first they have to live long enough to determine what they mean to each other and how to proceed.

This thrilling tale is one that shouldn’t be started unless you have time to devote to reading the entire book because you will be reluctant to put it down.  The action starts immediately and tension continues building even as one gets a glimpse into the painstaking efforts that are employed during the course of criminal investigations.  There are a few nebulous areas that I would like cleared up but on the whole I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and vicariously experiencing the thrill of following up on seemingly unrelated and boring details which coalesce into the formation of a solid piece of investigative work.  The delightful connection to the folks at the Delphi Center which links this story lightly to the author’s other very exciting series enhances the tale for me and I enjoyed seeing their formidable resources being employed to help Andrea.  One of the reasons that I like this author’s works so much is her ability to create interesting characters whose frustration and exhilaration I come to identify with even as I root for them to win out over the ‘bad guys’.  The combination of action and emotional connections that gradually progress made this a fantastic read and I definitely hope that this story is the beginning of a new exciting series.