Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion

OK, a roll of the dice (1+4=5) gives us Murder Between the Pages as our February Josh Reread.

Our reread begins in about two weeks on February 1st.

Here's the blurb:

"Felix Day, author of the Constantine Sphinx mysteries, and Leonard Fuller, author of the Inspector Fez mysteries, are bitter rivals and the best of enemies. Both happen to present when a notorious author of roman à clef is shot by an invisible assailant during a signing at historic Marlborough Bookstore.

Even if they weren’t both suspects, it’s the perfect opportunity to match wits and sleuthing skills.

If only the murderer was equally amused."

Josh price-dropped this to $2.99 (thru February 15th)!
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
https://smile.amazon.com/Murder-Betwe...
And the audiobook is still available at AuthorsDirect for only $3.50. https://shop.authors-direct.com/colle...

To be honest, it wouldn't have been a hardship to reread any from the list, but I do love this one!

Ooh, i have the audio for this. I think I'll listen along.

I have the audiobook for this too, I might do a re-listen :)

Looking forward to this and I'll probably read along with audio, or go back and forth between them which has become a new favorite way to read. :)

I read this just after it came out in October 2016 and listened to the audiobook when it came out in March 2017, so it's definitely time for a reread.

For those who want to take a little trip back in time, here's the link to our October 2016 BOM discussion. As always, watch out for spoilers! :)

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I read this about 2 months ago in the historical box set. It's become a favorite. ☺️

I had literally not thought about this book practically since publication. But going through it to reformat, it turns out it's funnier--and more poignant--than I remembered. I had such a vague recollection of it.

Checking my files yesterday, I discovered I bought this in an ARE sale and... haven't read it!

Debbie wrote: "Checking my files yesterday, I discovered I bought this in an ARE sale and... haven't read it!"

iT'S PRACTICALLY A NEW BOOK!

I know! I'm desperately trying to hold off reading before February, but... but...

You could always reread it in February. ;-)

It's time! I began a re-listen today and will begin re-reading my ebook tomorrow. The narrator is Kale Williams. So good.

Karen wrote: "It's time! I began a re-listen today and will begin re-reading my ebook tomorrow. The narrator is Kale Williams. So good."

Oh! I love Kale Williams! I didn't realize he narrated this one. I'll have to go check it out.
I started my reread. I'm on chapter 4.

I hope all of you are enjoying rereading Murder Between the Pages. It really is a gem and Kale Williams narration is a treat. I'll be doing a slower reread before commenting (in topic) later this week.

**DEFINITE SPOILERS BELOW**





This was--is--the first time I killed off a believable viable second romantic alternative character, and I think readers had some problems with it.

Harp is one of the few characters I regret killing off.

(Which is to say, I liked him and could have used him elsewhere--not that I changed my mind about who and how my main characters ended up together.)

That’s interesting, Josh. I didn’t have a problem with Harp getting bumped off but he was definitely intriguing.

Averin wrote: "That’s interesting, Josh. I didn’t have a problem with Harp getting bumped off but he was definitely intriguing."

Did you think at any point he was going to be the romantic interest?

I maybe would have thought that if the story had been from a single POV.

Sequel...Murder Between The Plot Twists...he faked death to flush out a killer, now he's back etc. :D

Josh wrote: "Averin wrote: "That’s interesting, Josh. I didn’t have a problem with Harp getting bumped off but he was definitely intriguing."

Did you think at any point he was going to be the romantic interest?"

Definitely during my first reading (despite the blurb). Reading this time I felt somehow even sadder at his loss of possibilities. There was a code to share these truths about oneself and a chance for... something... if a positive response was received. Harp seemed like the kind of character who wouldn't be "one and done," who'd try to find a way to a (hidden) relationship.

I think about the men and women of those times. Suppose they were as old as 25 when the war ended. They'd be 49 at Stonewall and 95 in 2015 when their right to marry in the U.S. was confirmed.

Oh, and I think Harp would have made a great spin-off character... but this story wouldn't have been as poignant.

Debbie wrote: "I maybe would have thought that if the story had been from a single POV.

Sequel...Murder Between The Plot Twists...he faked death to flush out a killer, now he's back etc. :D"

LOL.

Karen wrote: "Oh, and I think Harp would have made a great spin-off character... but this story wouldn't have been as poignant."

No, it wouldn't. And I felt like the initial victim wasn't too much of a loss from everyone's point of view. But Harp is a genuine casualty and tells us just how ruthless the killer is.

Karen wrote: "Josh wrote: "Averin wrote: "That’s interesting, Josh. I didn’t have a problem with Harp getting bumped off but he was definitely intriguing."

Did you think at any point he was going to be the roma..."

I'm always conscious of that when writing historical. What a long, long road.

Debbie wrote: "I maybe would have thought that if the story had been from a single POV.

Sequel...Murder Between The Plot Twists...he faked death to flush out a killer, now he's back etc. :D"

Yes! Of course this would be one of Josh's more tongue-in-cheek stories. Who killed J.R. revisited?

Gotta be at least a coda there.

I too thought Hero could be a spinoff. Apologies, but the format of two first person narrators gives away who the MCs/love interests will be.

Stupid Kindle autocorrect. I meant Harp.

Averin wrote: "Stupid Kindle autocorrect. I meant Harp."

Freudian slip?

Averin wrote: "I too thought Hero could be a spinoff. Apologies, but the format of two first person narrators gives away who the MCs/love interests will be."

Oh yes. For sure. In this case, I was glad of it though as I hoped it would steer readers from getting too attached to the idea of Harp.

Maybe:(. But now I wonder if you did something ala The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, hmmm.

I want to echo everyone else. I forgot Harp died (I listened on audio for this read) and actually started looking through my unread Josh titles (not a long chore) to see if he was an MC of one of them. Before I started on the codas he was dead, so that saved me a job.

Josh wrote: "Did you think at any point he was going to be the romantic interest?"

Not exactly, but I did think there might be some wavering between the two for a while, like Adrien English and Guy Snowden.

(I had read it before, but forgot all of the plot details.)

Debbie wrote: "Sequel...Murder Between The Plot Twists...he faked death to flush out a killer, now he's back etc. :D"

Lurve!

I hope that more readers find a time to read or reread this story. I appreciate its mix of humor and poignancy.

The two MC's book titles are hilarious, albeit reflecting a time when certain cultural stereotypes were more acceptable. Looking back at the past reminds us of how far we've come, how we relapse, and how far we still have to go.

On the poignant side, imagine the lives of those who hoped that one war was horrific enough to end all others, only to find themselves immersed in another of unimaginable horror. And the beat goes on...

Whatever the current state of affairs, stories of finding love bring solace.

Averin wrote: "Maybe:(. But now I wonder if you did something ala The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, hmmm."

:-D :-D :-D

Karen wrote: "I hope that more readers find a time to read or reread this story. I appreciate its mix of humor and poignancy.

The two MC's book titles are hilarious, albeit reflecting a time when certain cultu..."

This is the truth. Even though my first love is mystery, even though my books are first and foremost mystery, the relationships--particularly the romantic relationships--are ultimately the most important thing.