HI guys!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we're playing host to a stop along the Rachel's Random Resources tour for a story that takes no prisoners and makes no apologies. It's a book that, from the sound of things, will draw you in and never let go...in a purely creeping way considering there's a potential murder at hand! Ladies and gents, get ready to dive between the pages of today's title in the spotlight...
Getting Away with Murder
by
Joy Wood
About the book...
Claire is happily married to the charismatic Max Maric and living the dream in a luxury house in the prestigious Sandbanks area of Poole Harbour. She loves her husband and their precious son, Freddy. Her life is perfect. Or so she thinks.
Annabelle is Max Maric’s lover. She’s a wealthy widow and is all set to marry him, just as soon as he’s divorced. Her life will then be perfect. Or so she thinks.
One man, two women, but they can’t both have him.
And he doesn’t get to choose – the schizophrenic decides, with a sophisticated plan to eradicate her nemesis in the most heinous of ways.
The intended victim needs a friend. Fortunately, she has a new one she’s become close to.
But nobody told her that false friends are worse than open enemies.
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~~~ EXCERPT ~~~
Annabelle attending her regular counselling session
He began speaking to the tape as he always did, giving her name and the date before his voice turned to therapist mode. She got it. She just needed to play the game.
“I’m pleased to see you today, Annabelle. You’ve cancelled two of our last sessions.” It seemed more of a statement than a question so she didn’t bother answering.
He continued, “I’ve had a telephone discussion with Dr Stead. We discussed your upcoming marriage and the fact you’ve made your fiancé aware of your diagnosis, which will bode well for the future should things start spiralling out of control again. We both agree the fact you’ve made him aware of the situation, is good, but what I did want to discuss today was that he fully understands the consequence should you become ill again.”
“Yes, he fully understands.”
“Understands what, Annabelle? What exactly have you told him?”
She took a deep breath in, ready with another pack of lies she’d worked on during the drive to his office. “Everything you suggested last time. Naturally, he was a little concerned but I have to say, he’s been very supportive.”
“Concerned?” His brows creased together as only an enquiring therapist could. “Was he shocked?”
“A little, yes. Or maybe surprised is a better word.”
“Tell me, during your . . .” he overdid the puzzled face, “how many months have you been together?”
“We’ve known each other years, but began our relationship four months ago.” Even to herself it sounded a paltry amount of time, but she knew categorically that Max was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.
He carried on along the same track, “So, during these four months, has he ever seen you get stressed or maybe lose your temper?”
“We all get stressed, but on the whole I’d say not. We don’t really have a cross word. We both have the same goals in life and are completely compatible. I don’t get angry like I did with my first husband.”
“That’s reassuring. But in everyday life, we all suffer with stress, or for want of a better expression, we all come under pressure. My concern is how you are going to handle that when such a situation arises, and more importantly, how your fiancé will react. We’ve worked together on coping strategies but we do need to be mindful that another incident could have huge consequences.”
“Yes, of course. But as I’ve said many times since the episode with my late husband, I am now better. I’m a completely different person. That almost seems like it was somebody else. I’m on a new pathway in my life right now. Nothing like that will happen again with Max and I, I can assure you.”
“But you do understand my apprehension regarding the speed in which you’ve progressed in your relationship. I’m reassured you have explained it all to your fiancé, but I’m somewhat sceptical about him not being unduly worried. No disrespect intended, but I think any man would be that enters into a relationship with a woman with a history such as yours.”
“Yes, but he’s relieved I have you helping me to move on as well as being thankful the courts were lenient. He knows I was ill at the time and is sympathetic about that. I’ve reassured him that I’m on medication to control everything. Dr Stead said as long as I keep taking that, he sees no reason for me to ever go back to that dark and dismal place.”
“Has Dr Stead suggested that your fiancé accompanies you to any sessions with him?”
“No. He didn’t seem to think that was necessary.”
“I see. Then we must trust his professional opinion even if he and I differ. You’ve been doing well with the bespoke programme, and we want to make sure that continues. But your life is going to change dramatically when you get married. Part of my role is overseeing your sustained positive mental health, but also I feel I have a responsibility to ensure that a man who has become central in your life, is aware of the potential chance at some stage of a reoccurrence of a negative episode which could put him in danger.”
“Fine,” she said firmly, “I’ll discuss it in greater depth with him then.”
“That’s my advice. While I can’t force you to bring your fiancé with you to one of our sessions, I am suggesting that he does accompany you. One session most probably would be all we’d need together.”
“Right, well, I’ll think about it. But before I do anything, is my medical history confidential? If I choose not to tell . . . elaborate further about my diagnosis, nobody else gets to know but you and Dr Stead, do they?”
She glared at George Grey knowing the answer but wanted to remind him of his place. He wasn’t controlling her relationship with Max.
His face remained deadpan. “Of course your medical history is confidential. But we find ourselves in uncharted waters here. And as you’ve said yourself, you’ve explained everything that has happened to your fiancé, therefore,” he peered over his glasses at her, “I’m finding it difficult to comprehend why you would object to him gaining more information. Information which could protect him and give him a greater awareness of how to support you if in the future you find your mood . . . fluctuating.”
She needed to remain calm. Best to fake tiredness and get out of there.
“Look . . . with respect, I’ve spoken to Dr Stead and he’s happy with me and my medication. And I’ve done as you previously suggested and explained everything that has happened to my fiancé. I’m feeling rather tired today and have a splitting headache. If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to cut today’s session short.”
“Of course. Just one thing that has occurred to me. You say you’ve explained everything. How clear have you been?”
“I don’t know what you mean?”
“Have you told your fiancé there was an accide
nt and your husband died?” he paused giving her time to digest what he was saying . . . “or have you explained it was you that killed him?”
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About the author...
Joy Wood has worked as a nurse most of her adult life and turned to writing six years ago to ‘see if she could.’ Her earlier work was adult romance and intrigue, but more recently she has switched genres to romance with a crime element. Joy lives in the small but charming seaside town of Cleethorpes in North East Lincolnshire and her writing ideas come from watching the tide turn daily, of course with the obligatory ice-cream – someone has to support the local economy!
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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today and be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
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