Joan Hall on Small Town Secrets #StoryEmpireRoadshow

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Today, during the Story Empire roadshow, I’m delighted to welcome Joan Hall to my blog. She and I have a similar love for mysteries and small town settings. Don’t miss out on meeting some of the characters who populate the small town in her book Unseen Motives. Take a look . . .

Small Towns Have Secrets

Hi everyone. I want to thank Mae for hosting me on this second stop of the Story Empire Roadshow. Yesterday I gave you a brief view of the fictitious town of Driscoll Lake. It’s a growing bedroom community, but still small enough that many residents know one another.

vintage photo of a bookmobile with crowd gathered around it

Many people prefer to live in small towns where the crime rates are low and life takes on a slower pace. Bud even small towns have secrets and Driscoll Lake is no exception. I probably should say some people in the town have secrets.

Stephanie Harris is my protagonist in Unseen Motives. She comes back to town for the first time in twenty years for a funeral and soon learns someone doesn’t want her to stay. She receives a “welcoming” note the day she arrives and two others. Someone follows her home one night in an attempt to frighten her, and then she receives a threatening phone call.

Instead of allowing these things to scare her away, Stephanie is determined to learn more about the circumstances surrounding her father’s death.

Stephanie doesn’t know who to trust. Even her high school crush Matt Bradford first acted as if he doesn’t want her around. Their initial meeting was less than friendly and Stephanie learns he was in her aunt’s house only hours before she found the first note.

Brian Nichols is another former classmate. Once the town renegade, Stephanie was convinced he would be in prison by now. When she saw him shortly after her arrival, she was surprised to learn he became a successful building contractor. He acts friendly, but when she wants to question his mother (who was once her father’s secretary) Brian is hesitant to allow it. He tells Stephanie its best to leave the past alone.

Kyle Lawrence, a local newspaper reporter, is eager to help. But Stephanie learns from his wife Christine that Kyle has an obsession about her father’s crime. He was only sixteen when the events happened. Why would he have such an intense interest? Does he have something to hide?

Rachel Jackson is the daughter of Madelyn Cameron Denton, the woman Stephanie’s father murdered. While Rachel accepts the police investigation of her mother’s death, she doesn’t want the past revisited. However, Stephanie can’t imagine Rachel being behind the threats. Rachel isn’t that kind of person.

Then there is the unknown man who makes certain he’s aware of Stephanie’s activities. When he isn’t watching himself, he has people within the town to spy upon her. He can’t afford the truth to come out—to do so would destroy everything he’d worked hard to achieve.

As you can see even people in small towns have their secrets. And small towns aren’t exempt from crime. Murder, suicide, embezzlement. Who would have imagined something like this would have happened in Driscoll Lake?

Book cover for Unseen Motives by Joan Hall features close-up of a window surrounded by brick and vines

Unseen Motives is on sale this week for .99
Click here for the purchase link.

And be sure to check out tomorrow’s tour stop where I’ll be talking with Matt Bradford, Driscoll Lake’s handsome police chief.

At the end of the week, I’ll select two random winners for $10.00 Amazon gift cards. To enter, leave a comment below. What do you think about these characters? Can you tell which ones have unseen motives?

joan hall, author bio box

Connect with Joan:
Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Amazon  |  Goodreads |  Google+  | Pinterest 

Continue to follow the Story Empire Roadshow at these
blogs for more giveaways, prizes and fun!

Staci Troilo | C. S. Boyack | Harmony Kent | Joan Hall | P. H. Solomon

55 thoughts on “Joan Hall on Small Town Secrets #StoryEmpireRoadshow”

  2. Hi Joan and best of luck with your writing!
    A great premise for your story. You know what they say – still waters run deep. So, they can be small towns, yet the secrets may be as terrifying or dangerous as those4 in large cities. Love the cover, too.
    Carmen

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓

    • Thank you, Carmen. Yes, that saying is so true and you’re right – small towns aren’t exempt from danger. Thanks so much for visiting today. I’ll pass the word along to my cover designer. He’s also a friend and fellow writer.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

    • That’s an excellent point, Carmen. I think mysteries in small towns are even more compelling, because normally you don’t look to sleepy communities as a place where bad tidings occur. Thanks for visiting Joan on the SE tour!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

  11. Joan, this is so intriguing! If I didn’t already have it on my Kindle, I would be quick to download it now! Small towns have their secrets, indeed. Love this post and the introduction to the characters. I’m really looking forward to beginning this series. Best wishes!
    Thanks, Mae, as always! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

  13. What a great post, Joan! “Unseen Motives” sounds right up my thriller-addicted alley! My TBR list is now sending me hate mail. Sigh. I’m about to have an awesome winter of reading. Thanks for adding to that.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

    • Soooz, you made me laugh with the comment about your TBR sending you hate mail. I’ve got to remember that one! 🙂

      Also, I forgot you’re going into winter in your corner of the world as we come out of ours. Definitely a great time to curl up with a book.

      Thanks for popping in! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

      • Glad I made you laugh, my friend. As for winter … eeek! I only weigh in at 35kgs around 77 lbs, spread over a 5′ 10″ frame, and the country temperatures are so much colder than Sydney. I’m wearing the classy thermals already and its still 6 weeks till winter begins. Sigh.BUT … it is the BEST reading weather.😁

        Liked by 2 people

      • Soooz, I knew you were thin, but–wow! Wishing you health, wellness and lots of warm days inside with a good book. You are awesome, my friend, and I wish you blessings in abundance! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  16. Great post, Joan. I just ordered Unseen Motives…and can’t wait to begin the adventure. Like you, I grew up in a small town where secrets were a part of life. Thank you Mae for hosting! 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓

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