Denise N. Wheatley is kicking off a new series. I recently spoke with her about The Heart-Shaped Murders.
Tell me about your latest book.
Thank you for hosting me once again, Chandra! The Heart-Shaped Murders is my latest book, and it hits shelves via Harlequin Intrigue on May 1. It’s Book 1 in my West Coast Crime Story series, and in it, readers will meet Lena Love, an LAPD forensic investigator who’s on the hunt for a serial killer with a twisted modus operandi.
The tables turn when the killer attacks Lena, leaving her with a partial heart-shaped symbol carved into her chest. She leaves LA to return to her hometown, coming face-to-face with detective David Hudson, the love she left behind. Soon sparks fly, even as Lena is targeted and stalked, and bodies—all marked with the killer’s signature heart—are discovered in David’s jurisdiction. It becomes a race against time to catch the attacker before Lena loses her life.
Why did you decide to write it?
I am a true crime fanatic, and I love watching documentaries on serial killers. They inspired me to write this series, where I could create my own narrative, murderer, victim profile, motive, and resolution. Of course I enjoyed adding a romantic element to the storyline as well. The trope in The Heart-Shaped Murders is enemies to lovers.
What do you want readers to learn from the story?
This story delves deep into the science behind forensics, the mind of a serial killer/socio-psychopath, and the anatomy of a crime scene. Those plot points fascinate me, and I really enjoyed learning more about them as I did research for the book. I hope that all my fellow armchair detectives will pick up something new when they read it.
What do you want readers to learn from your life?
I’d love it if my journey inspires readers to follow their dreams, whatever they may be. Many of my readers want to write books of their own. I always tell them that it’s never too late to start, there’s always room for your story, and nothing/no one should stop you from just going for it. What have you got to lose?
If you could pick another profession, what would it be and why?
I’d love to work in the criminal justice field. I truly have a passion for sleuthing. Trying to figure out who’s committed a crime, or following up on cold/missing persons cases has become a (slight!) obsession. Maybe one day!
When did you fall in love with the written word?
I fell in love with the written word when I was about two years old. My mother would always read to me as a child, and I’d cry because I wanted to know how to read those books myself! Once I did learn, I always had a book in my hand.
What’s something readers would be surprised to know about you?
I think readers might be surprised to know that I don’t drink alcohol. Never have. Yet every single book I’ve written has characters that love their cocktails lol. I really enjoy researching specific types of drink recipes—especially the festive ones for my Christmas novels. Another fun fact is that I’m a night owl. For some reason, my creative juices really start flowing at around 11 pm. I can easily stay up all night writing.
What books have you read lately and loved?
I just finished Kelly Cain’s A Tasty Dish and loved it, as well as Mia Heintzelman’s The Friendship Contract. I am currently reading Marcella Bell’s The Wildest Ride, and I’m really enjoying that one, too.
What books are you excited to read?
I am really looking forward to reading Darby Baham’s Bloom Where You’re Planted. It’s a Harlequin Special Edition and hits shelves on 5/24. K.D. Richards’ Shielding Her Son, which is an Intrigue, is on the list as well.
What’s next for you?
I am currently working on Book 2 in my West Coast Crime Story series, Death in the Nevada Desert. It’s based on Lena’s brother, Detective Miles Love, who’s called to River Valley, Nevada, to help his ex-girlfriend investigate a serial killer whose modus operandi is similar to the killer’s in The Heart-Shaped Murders.
I’ve got a holiday novel coming out with Harlequin Intrigue later this year titled Backcountry Cover Up. It’s about an elite women’s group that’s involved in a dangerous pyramid scheme. I’ll also be releasing a holiday novella with Intrigue titled A Deadly Christmas Invitation about a luxurious grand opening at a secluded Vermont inn that seems too good to be true, because it is…
Do you have anything you would like to add?
I’d love to thank all of my readers for their support. If I’m a new author to some, hello! I hope you’ll take a moment check out my work.
Use the Black Fiction Addiction affiliate link to purchase your copy of The Heart-Shaped Murders.
To learn more about writer and blogger Denise N. Wheatley, connect with her on social media.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Denise-N-Wheatley/e/B001KHBZ7E
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denise_wheatley_writer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/denisewheatley
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@denise_wheatley_writer
Writer’s Blog: http://www.denisenwheatley.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeniseNWheatley/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3118421.Denise_Wheatley