Authors-Readers Connect discussion

It's not bad, just needs some tightening. Before I suggest anything specific, a few questions:

1. Is the fact that Collei is "one of many" with a traumatic past significant? That is, did something happen in the story world that traumatized a lot of people? Or are you just saying she's like a lot of other people?

2. Why she she flee her hometown?

3. How did she get involved with the murder? (I'm guessing the only connection between fleeing and getting involved is that the former put her in the place to do the later, but is there something more at work here?)

Once I know those things, I probably can suggest some edits.

Okay, thanks. I have a suggestion, although I feel it's probably only a beginning. Try this on for size:

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Fleeing her traumatic past, Collei Odette runs headlong into trouble. The long-cold case of the Bellanger murders draws her attention, and now her passion for solving mysteries leads her into dangerous waters. While Investigating a dubious connection between two families connected to the crimes--one generously admired, the other cold in the ground--Collei recruits a small cadre of friends, one of whom is himself a living mystery. Everyone harbors dark secrets. Everyone is a victim. And Collei and her friends face a stark choice: abandoning this investigation for a safe life or pursuing every lead, even to their deaths.
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You're quite welcome! Glad I could help. For general reference, you (and your group) might find this article on book blurbs that I wrote on Medium to be of help: https://writingcooperative.com/the-co... (This is "friend" link, so you can read it free without a Medium account.)

Hunter wrote: "Thank you! (Again) If I might ask, what is the age rating for the Belt? I have some younger members in my group and I would happily recommend there if that'd alright with you. If it's an adult, I c..."

Mmmmm, I probably wouldn't recommend it for your teen members. Then again, I may have a more conservative view of the question than most people. There is no graphic sex or violence or over-the-top swearing (as seems to be all the rage these days), but there is a lot of non-graphic sexual content, psychological torture, a number of murders and defensive killings, a couple of threatened rapes (although it never actually happens; the perps end up dead), and a smattering of strong language. It's a much grittier novel than my usual fare.

Somewhere out there, someone will be thinking, "What was Dale on when he wrote this?" ;-) Then again, it might seem mild by today's standards.

Hunter wrote: "Thanks for the heads up."

You're quite welcome!