Today, Author Carolyn Marie Wilkins is stopping by to talk about her latest release, Let the Murderer Say Amen.
Tell me about your latest book.
My latest book is called Let the Murderer Say Amen. It’s the second book in my Psychics and Soul Food Series. The series is set in 1924 and details the crime-fighting exploits of Nola Ann Jackson, a young African American psychic living in Southern Illinois. Nola recently lost her husband in the First World War. Broke and dispirited, she’s returned to her hometown of Agate, Illinois, to live with her Aunt Sarah, a master practitioner of the African American folk magic known as Hoodoo.
Here is the book description:
The people of Agate, Illinois, have welcomed Bishop Pius Amun Ra with open arms, flocking to become congregants of his Temple of Righteous Revelation. He has won over the hearts not only of the Black churchgoers, but of the city’s white political and wealthy elite. Bishop Ra is more than a preacher of the good word, he is a faith healer, blessed with the gift on the banks of the Nile during his youth in Egypt. His worshippers believe he can cure cancer—and even raise the dead.
Sequoia LaMarche was saved by Bishop Ra, and the young white woman serves his church as a singer, receiving death threats for her efforts. Despite Ra’s protection, members of the Temple’s inner circle hold Sequoia in contempt, including bodyguard Sam Constant, who publicly accuses her of stealing money from the collection plate. After the confrontation, Sequoia’s murdered body is discovered, and Sam becomes the police’s number one suspect.
Nola is a good friend of Sam’s sister, believing he’s innocent. Guided by her psychic instincts, she conducts her own investigation, uncovering secrets about the Bishop and the people closest to him, including his wife. The leaders of the Temple are not as righteous as they claim. Their altruism masks sins they prefer buried. And when another murder occurs, Nola must unveil the killer before she becomes the next victim . . .
Why did you decide to write it?
I have done a fair amount of research on African Americans during the Roaring Twenties. One of the things that really fascinated me was the number of charismatic leaders who emerged during this period—Pan Africanist leader Marcus Garvey, Bishop Daddy Grace, Drew Ali and Father Divine, to name a few. These leaders all had a dramatic effect on their followers. People gave away their money, left their families and broke up their marriages to join these groups.
This led me to wonder what would happen if a murder were to take place within the group. What if Nola were asked to use her psychic gifts to find the killer? It felt like a great setting for a murder mystery.
What’s your favorite place to write?
I have a room upstairs where I write. Once I close the door, it is peaceful and solitary.
What’s the nicest thing a reader has ever said to you?
My book just got reviewed in The New York Times. The reviewer called it “A fast-paced jaunt that touches on race, religion and even romance.” I’m still on Cloud Nine.
When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
When I was in the second grade, I wrote a series of little stories. My parents, bless their hearts, typed them up and bound them in a book. Seeing that book made me know writing was in my future.
What author would you love to meet?
Maya Angelou—she has been a lifelong inspiration for me.
What books have you read lately and loved?
Nonfiction: I recently read a wonderful memoir by the Indian violinist and social activist Vijay Gupta called Restrung that I found very inspiring.
Fiction: I burned through David Heska Wanbli Weiden’s Wisdom Corner in a single day. Gripping suspense set on a reservation in New Mexico. Written by someone who’s lived it.
What books are at the top of your to-be-read pile?
Looking forward to diving into Delia Pitts’ latest mystery, Revenge in a Small Town. Delia is a great writer. I am sure it is going to be fun!
What’s next for you?
The third book in my Psychics and Soul Food series comes out in July 2027. Stay tuned!
Use the Black Fiction Addiction affiliate link to purchase your copy of Let the Murderer Say Amen by Carolyn Marie Wilkins.
To learn more about Carolyn Marie Wilkins, visit her website, or connect with her on social media.
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