Admit to Mayhem
Author: D.J. Adamson
Publisher: Horatio Press
Pages: 286
Genre: Mystery/Amateur Sleuth
Book Description:
With a contrary attitude and an addiction for
independence, Lillian Dove admits she has not been a success in life. In fact,
she considers failing as one of her addictions. Yet, when she comes across a
suspicious house fire with a history of arson and murder, she instinctively
attempts to help someone trapped. Lillian becomes the only possible eyewitness
to criminal arson, and her life begins to spiral out of control.
Lillian Dove is an endearing “everywoman”
struggling with life issues, emotional complexities and a habit of doing just
the opposite of what she’s told to do. These qualities in a heroine give the
reader an ability to vicariously struggle along with the protagonist in this intriguing
Midwest Noir mystery.
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Excerpt
My name is Lillian
Dove. I am a recovering alcoholic, five years sober.
Five long years, yet the clink of ice in a glass still sets me
on edge.
There
is no graduation from alcoholism. Or life, for that matter. I am also addicted
to Pepsi, chocolate, men, being afraid, being afraid of not being afraid,
men—again--and my independence, co-dependence and unsettling ability to fail no
matter my attempt. There are other compulsions and bad habits, but I can’t
think of them right now. Memory loss, see? And I obsess on how much I forget,
if I remember. Giving up alcohol turned out to be easier than changing some of
my other behaviors.
Especially my bad judgment when it comes to men. The type of
man I’m most attracted to is like a tall, Tom Collins on a sweltering, summer
day: gin, a little lemon--but not too
sour—with sweet syrup and bubbly soda.
It’s hard to resist, even if I know it’s not good for me.
I’ve pledged a
Tom-Collins-abstinence.
Yet, Chief Charles Kaefring began offering me his attention. I
thought my sobriety realigned my sexual magnetism. I was attracting a different
type.
He started coming to my
desk to tell me he was leaving and instructed me to send all his calls to his
assistant. At first I couldn’t figure out why he thought I needed this
instruction. I already transferred his calls as a manner of routine. Then a
week after making sure I was aware of his whereabouts, I bumped into him
lakeside at Louise’s Italian Kitchen.
Louise’s is my
Friday night routine. I celebrate making it through another week. One spaghetti dinner at a time.
After that Friday night, I saw him at Louise’s every week. If
he got there before me, I’d see him glancing toward the entry as if waiting for
me to arrive. If I got there first, I’d pretend I never expected him to show
up--which was the truth. Each and every time he arrived, I was flabbergasted.
I wasn’t sure what was starting up between the two of us or who
started it. I mean, how could a man like him seriously be interested in me?
And even after weeks
came and went, I still didn’t trust him. At each dinner he’d ask if I’d like
wine with my meal. “Of course,” I’d say, letting my glass set without drinking
it. If he worried the wine wasn’t good, I’d bring the glass to my lips, without
sipping. I figured if he knew I had a drinking problem, he’d beat the hell out
of there. Eventually though, he stopped asking if I wanted wine and only
ordered one glass instead of two.
Still, he kept showing
up.
I knew I was starting to slip into a situation that could toss
my sobriety into the toilet, but meeting for dinner didn’t seem like
backsliding into emotional drunkenness. Although, it never feels like slipping
until you find yourself in a ragged heap of discontent.
Our routine altered when on a Sunday afternoon he telephoned
giving me a weather report. He said the day was hot and getting hotter. He said
he was putting a steak on the barbecue, and he just happened to have two. Are you
hungry?
About the Author
D. J. Adamson is an award-winning author. Her family roots grow
deep in the Midwest and it is here she sets
much of her work. She juggles her time between her own desk and teaching
writing to others at two Los Angeles Southern California .
For More Information
- Visit D.J.’s website.
- Connect with D.J. on Facebook
and Twitter.
- Find out more about D.J.
at Goodreads.
- Visit D.J.’s blog.
- Contact D.J..
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