Narelle here. I’m delighted to welcome Janice Cantore to our blog today and share an interview plus my recommendation for her new book, Edge of Truth, that’s releasing next week.
What inspired this story?
This book was inspired by a sad news story here in Hawaii. A woman and her husband were snorkeling, and the woman was lost in a shark attack. The way the story was initially reported, it sounded fishy, as if the husband had done something sinister. Later news reports clarified everything, but the seed was already planted in my brain : what if a husband murdered his wife and tried to pass it off as a shark attack? Would that be the perfect crime? After many ‘what if questions’ Edge of Truth was born.
What messages or themes do you focus on in this book?
Faith in the face of huge loss and the painful unknown. How faith sustains us and keeps us moving, in spite of pain and loss.
How does faith play a role in this story?
Lanie’s faith is tested – first when a man she believes is a killer walks free – and second when her own sister is reported missing -presumed dead. Though her faith wavers, Lainie holds on despite the pain and setback and ends up stronger than ever.
What about this book excited you while writing it, and what do you hope readers will learn?
The mystery aspect of the book. Will the killer be brought to justice? What happened to Lainie’s sister? Will everything be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction? It was great fun plotting this out and I hope people are surprised and gratified by how the story has been shaped.
What do you find to be the most challenging part of the writing process? What advice would you offer young writers?
The endings are always the hardest for me. Wrapping everything in the book up without being the ending contrived is always a challenge. What advice would you offer young writers? Don’t fear editing. Don’t fall so in love with your prose that you can’t see when changes need to be made. Writing is re-writing.
What books or authors have shaped you recently?
Francine Rivers is always a favorite, as is Randy Alcorn. One secular writer who never disappoints is Rober Crais.
One case almost destroyed her career. Now the past seems to have caught up with her. And as a high-stakes game of truth and lies unfolds, someone’s out for retribution at any cost.
As a detective in the Long Beach Police Department’s violent crimes division, Lainie Jensen is no stranger to hard-to-crack cases and unusual disappearances, but then her sister Evie vanishes on a trip to Hawaii. After traveling there to look for her, Lainie quickly realizes her brother-in-law Stan is telling law enforcement a story that doesn’t appear to add up.
FBI special agent Ben Isaacs has spent six months collecting evidence to take down a money laundering operation. While his fellow agent Efren Gomez goes undercover to infiltrate the ring, Ben investigates those connected to it, including Stan Moffitt, who Ben believes could help lead to the criminal kingpin. Then Stan’s wife goes missing just days after Ben contacted her seeking information, and he knows there’s more to this case, especially when he loses contact with Efren and law enforcement comes up short in their search for him.
When Ben’s and Lainie’s investigations converge, Lainie’s not eager to work alongside Ben given their complicated history, but she’s willing to do so if it means figuring out what Stan knows and locating Evie. Soon, Lainie can’t deny Ben’s dedication to finding the truth or her growing admiration for him. And the more the two examine the evidence, the more they suspect Evie’s disappearance is tied to a highly publicized criminal case from Lainie’s past . . . and someone is playing a perilous game aimed at personal revenge.
Buy EDGE OF TRUTH from Tyndale
Narelle’s Thoughts: The story is more weighted toward suspense than romance and would appeal to suspense readers who aren’t big romance fans. I recommend Edge of Truth to romantic suspense readers who like friends-to-more romances with law enforcement characters, forced proximity, a cold case, missing people, family drama, and strong faith elements in the story.
Check out my book recommendation and Fan Girling episode at the links below.
A former Long Beach, California, police officer of twenty-two years, Janice Cantore worked a variety of assignments, including patrol, administration, juvenile investigations, and training. She’s always enjoyed writing and published two short articles on faith at work for Cop and Christ and Today’s Christian Woman before tackling novels. She now lives in Hawaii, where she enjoys ocean swimming, golfing, spending time on the beach, and going on long walks with her Labrador retriever, Tilly.
Janice writes suspense novels designed to keep readers engrossed and leave them inspired. She has penned more than a dozen novels including the Line of Duty series, the Cold Case Justice series, and several standalones.
Visit Janice’s website at janicecantore.com and connect with her on Facebook at facebook.com/JaniceCantore and at the Romantic Suspense A-TEAM group.