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New Thriller Ignites Orange County with Mysterious Murder,

Glamorous Intrigue, and Family Secrets

Author Timothy Patten explodes onto the literary scene with a sleek, action-packed thriller that takes us into the dark heart of one of California’s most exclusive communities, perfect for lovers of NCIS and Criminal Minds. The mystery ignites around a beautiful corpse, a family of billionaires, and one man who must beat the clock and the system to clear his name in an enclave rife with secrets, lies, and betrayal—MONEY, FAMILY, MURDER (TMP Novels, LLC, $24.99, Hardcover, July 14, 2015).

I am thrilled to have Timothy Patten here today talking about his debut novel. I love learning about the characters and how the author feels about them, so let’s dive in.

Guest Post by Timothy Patten

Author of Money, Family, Murder

The Ladies of Money, Family, Murder

In my fiction novel, there are several female characters who play an important role in the plot, but the most dominant is Janice Martland, the Orange County District Attorney. After hearing from the local police and FBI in Newport Beach, California, which is one of the most safest, well-policed cities along the prestigious Pacific Coastline, she finds out that a murder had taken place and that the lead suspect is a multi-billionaire named Johnny Barnes.

Since her term as the Orange County District Attorney was up for reelection, she makes it her goal to take Barnes down and put him away forever. She’s a power hungry, egotistical politician that doesn’t take no for an answer. You would never want to disappoint Janice or cross her or you’d be either fired or get crushed by her looks that could kill. You do not want to be public criminal #1 in her county!

Janice grew up in a medium sized family with three older brothers who used to emotionally and sometimes physically beat her up as kids. Instead of causing emotional issues, they drove her to want to be “one of the guys” and become ruthless especially if it had to do with her jurisdiction in Orange County. She grew up to hate sentimentality and affection and never married. She would never hug or cry or offer her forgiveness to any of her siblings for what they did to her growing up.

That is why she became a lawyer in the first place because she saw law so peaceful. If she had it her way, then the whole world would be dis-passionate as well. So Janice wanted to beat her chest and pose in front of the FBI and Newport Beach police on TV and in front of the media cameras to show that SHE is the best DA that anyone could ever be.

In her mind, it was important that justice have a face attached to it, a powerful, intelligent and attractive looking woman from Orange County in a wealthy Mediterranean like city in Southern California.

She knew all of the tricks of the trade and even wrote all of her topics and questions that were asked by the media interviewers. And Janice loved the attention and focus on herself in the process.

Ms. Martland is so determined to get reelected and keep her high profile position that she stakes everything on putting Mr. Barnes away by bending some rules and evidence along the way to make sure that she is the winner when his case comes to trial for the murder of his family trustee, Eva. But she wasn’t afraid to lie her way to the top like she did in the past. In fact, Janice was used to lying, but she was used to not getting caught at it!

So if she was an actress in a movie today, then who could play her role?

Award winning actresses like Meryl Streep, like in The Devil Wears Prada, and Kate Winslet, like she played in Divergent, come immediately to mind. And as Sandra Bullock continues to expand her acting horizon in the film Gravity, I can see her playing this role if it should ever become a film. And never forget Glenn Close in Damages as another great actress.

Do I know anyone like Janice today? No. With as many metropolitan areas in the country like Southern California there may be someone out there that may think and act like Ms. Martland, but it’s up to you to decide!

Add to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

Timothy Patten’s debut novel, Money Family Murder, is a great read that combines politics, money and power and all the dirt and corruption that can come along with it. I love the vibrant colors of the cover and the yellow dress with the red blood is an awesome touch. It just screams, “Take me to the beach with you, please.”

District Attorney Janice Maitland is a blood thirsty politician who wants to use Eva Proliasky’s murder for her own political agenda. I wonder, would she have went as far as she did if the woman wasn’t from one of the most influential families in the United States?

Johnny Barnes never saw it coming. I can’t say I blame him, because why would he? He’s nobody special. Johnny is the kind of guy to hang out at a library, not a gym. Why would someone frame him for her murder?

Janice was incompetent, but driven. She went after him with all she had and then some. He didn’t stand a chance. She would do whatever it takes to win. Her narrow, narcissistic vision doomed him. Or did it?

I am so angry for John. I know life is not fair, but come on. The nerve of some people. No sense of right or wrong, just ME and MINE. It is obvious he will need to find his own answers, but I wonder if anyone will listen even if he does.

I was surprised when John went hunting. It seemed an out of place thing to do with the situation he was in. I thought he wouldn’t have done it for many reasons. I knew what was going on, didn’t he? Or is it one of those things, it’s too far out there for John to believe. It was hard for me to buy it, so the rating suffered…a tad. I get why Timothy Patten did it, but it just didn’t work for me.

The characters are great and Johnny’s kids…well what can I say…kids will be kids no matter what their age. We have the normal girl, a young woman named Mary. Then we have Mark, a computer nerd turned college playboy who knows how to throw a party. I couldn’t help but laugh along with…someone who shouldn’t (?) be laughing at the situation. I love a little humor to lighten the mood of murder. LOL

Andrew, not only is he an idiot, he is…well, you will have to read the novel yourself to find out what happens.

Money, Family, Murder is a novel that evokes emotions of rage at the injustice of the system and the people that play it. It also reminds us, when you come close to losing everything, the things most important come to light.

Predictable, it’s obvious to me from the beginning who is pulling the strings. But some predictability is to be expected. It’s very hard to come up with a story that hasn’t been written, but it is nice when Timothy Patten adds some nice twists at the end that, along with the mystery of the outcome, kept Money, Family, Murder by Timothy Patten as a novel worth adding to your reading list. Did you do it? I see more mystery coming from Timothy that I will be sure and read, so why not come along on the adventure with me?

I received Money, Family Murder by Timothy Patten in return for an honest and unbiased review.

4 Stars

SYNOPSIS

In the picture-perfect community of Newport Beach, violent crime is virtually non-existent—until the beautiful bookkeeper of Newport’s wealthiest family is found strangled in her bed.

Johnny Barnes—loyal husband, dad, and philanthropist—is arrested for a murder he didn’t commit.

With his luck and resources running out, Barnes must battle a corrupt system to conduct his own investigation. His journey takes him from Montecito to North Dakota to Key—and draws him into a dazzling and dangerous web of intrigue, self-dealing, exhortation, and murder.

Racing again the odds and the clock, Barnes will be sent to prison—unless he is able to identify the true murderer and clear his name in time.In the picture-perfect community of Newport Beach, violent crime is virtually non-existent—until the beautiful bookkeeper of Newport’s wealthiest family is found strangled in her bed. Johnny Barnes—loyal husband, dad, and philanthropist—is arrested for a murder he didn’t commit.

He is released on $20 million bail, but the tide of public feeling turns rapidly against him: from the power-hungry DA to a perspicacious police detective to his own influential and unscrupulous in-laws. With his luck and resources running out, Barnes must battle a corrupt system to conduct his own investigation. His journey takes him from Montecito to North Dakota to Key—and draws him into a dazzling and dangerous web of intrigue, self-dealing, exhortation, and murder.

Racing against the odds and the clock, Barnes will be sent to prison—unless he is able to identify the true murderer and clear his name in time.

Packed with heart-pounding intrigue and exhilarating twists, Timothy Patten’s debut novel will leave you on the edge of your seat, begging for mercy — and begging for more.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TIMOTHY PATTEN is retired, grew up in Highland Park, Illinois and graduated from University of Miami, Florida with a BBA and MBA in marketing. He volunteers and supports a few local charities in Orange County, California.