Book Review - Rules of Crime by LJ Sellers

Rules of Crime
LJ Sellers
Paperback: 294 pages
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (February 26, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1611098068
ISBN-13: 978-1611098068

In this latest Detective Wade Jackson mystery, he is called by his daughter, Katie, who tells him his ex-wife, Renee, is missing. Jackson doesn't tell Katie, but he suspects that Renee may have fallen off the wagon and has walked away until she can straighten out again. When her wealthy fiance receives a ransom call, the horrible truth that she has been kidnapped is revealed.

While Jackson is investigating the kidnapping, his protege, Detective Lara Evans is on a case involving a young woman who was beaten and dumped at the ER. The University of Oregon coed is unconscious, so Lara has the task of trying to identify the victim before she can even start looking for a perpetrator.  

The kidnapping case is taken over by a new FBI liaison in Eugene, Agent Carla River, and things do not go well when the money is taken to the kidnapper. Even though some suspects are taken into custody, they are unwilling to reveal any information that can lead the officers to Renee.

This is another good suspense novel from Sellers, and the plot twists complicate the story enough to keep you guessing. Some of the police deductions seem to come too quickly in places, but that was a minor flaw in an otherwise well-written book. I especially liked the relationship between Jackson and his daughter.

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FTC Disclaimer:  The author sent me an ARC of the book some time ago, but Mr. Federal Trade Commission, that is what authors and publishers do. They send advance review copies to reviewers all the time. No money changes hands, although if LJ would like to share some of her royalties... wait, I didn't really say that. Just ignore the last comment, please.

New Opportunities in Publishing

This is an exciting time for writers with all the new avenues of publication opening up with e-books and digital publishing, and I have enjoyed hearing of the success of writers like Joe Konrath, LJ Sellers, and others who have sold hundreds of books. (They also have great tips and advice on self-publishing.)

I have put some titles up on Kindle and Smashwords myself, but recently decided to go through Books We Love Publishing Partners and let them do all the formatting for the different venues. I am not technically savvy and my learning curve for all things computer is very steep. Just ask my kids who dread the e-mail from me with the subject line "Help."

There are pros and cons to going with a publisher as opposed to uploading books independently, and one of the reasons I decided to do the former is because I've had a long relationship with Books We Love. They have been in the business of connecting authors and readers for several years and that connecting is still going on with the publishing arm of the business. Sure, I will still have to do a lot of my own promoting, as most of us writers have to do now, but BWLPP is doing some, too. That is a real advantage for me, as well, because promoting is my second least favorite thing to do.

BWLPP is taking a small percentage of the book sales, and I am willing to give them that for the ease of publication, as well as the added promotion. Many other writers are doing it all themselves, and I admire them for that. But it is not for me, and I think we all need to take the path of most comfort when it comes to taking advantage of these new opportunities.

What about you? Would you go totally independent, or take advantage of a publisher?

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One Small Victory is now available in paperback. It has been on Kindle and Smashwords for almost a year and BWLPP just released the paper edition via CreateSpace on Amazon.

Friends Forever is enjoying a new life in paperback and as an e-book, also through BWLPP. It has been revised and updated since it's first brief publication years ago.