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ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN VORAKA
Article Published on 19th November 2023 by Gabriel Valor | www.vorakamag.com
The latest addition to the Joe Turner Mystery series, "A Long Time Dead," by Author Todd L. Bequette, unfolds as a gripping psychological thriller that may well be considered his finest work to date. This award-winning series makes a compelling return, thrusting the sharp-witted defense attorney, Joe Turner, into a haunting tale that tests his limits and offers readers a classic Bequette twist in the climax.
In the eyes of Kirkus Reviews, Bequette's writing is commended for its consistently sharp and descriptive prose, weaving a web of intrigue and suspense within a thrillingly intricate narrative. The story unfolds as an entertaining and vibrant suspense tale, exploring themes of murderous revenge within the literary world.
The plot involves a dark chapter from Joe's past when his lifelong friend, Owen Prescott, faced an unthinkable accusation a decade ago. At the peak of his success with a bestselling novel, Prescott found himself ensnared by the trappings of fame, accompanied by an obsessive stalker named Desiree Richins. This relentless individual collected Owen's discarded notes, napkins, and nametags.
Simultaneously, Prescott's former college professor, battling alcoholism and depression, launched a lawsuit alleging plagiarism. The professor claimed to have co-authored Owen's acclaimed work, "Orchards of Grace." The tension escalates when the professor is discovered impaled with a literary trophy, and Owen's DNA is traced to the crime scene, making him the prime suspect.
The twist in the tale occurs when Owen vanishes abruptly, leaving behind a flourishing career and a budding romance to live as a fugitive from justice. Fueled by lingering memories and a steadfast belief in Owen's innocence, Joe Turner takes on the challenge of unraveling this cold case, plunging into a suspenseful journey that promises to fascinate readers until the very end.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
T.L. Bequette is a criminal defense attorney turned writer from Lafayette, California. A rising star in the mystery genre, his debut novel, Good Lookin, A Joe Turner Mystery won the 2022 Independent Press Award for Crime Fiction. Bequette’s books have also been honored with a Chanticleer International Book Award and a National Indie Excellence Award.
Kirkus Reviews called Good Lookin’ “a rigorous, thoroughly engrossing mystery from a writer with immense potential.” Blood Perfect, the second in the Joe Turner series, was hailed by Kirkus as “a tale that solidifies Turner as a charmingly reliable champion of the innocent.”
The writer’s most recent book in the series, A Long Time Dead, is his most critically acclaimed. San Francisco Book Reviews praised the book for having "all the elements of a best-selling psychological thriller." Kirkus Reviews lauded, "Bequette's prose is reliably crisp and descriptive, and lots of intrigue and suspense are embedded in a thrillingly serpentine story." Chanticleer Book Reviews noted how “T.L. Bequette masterfully builds his series, creating growth in his characters through each novel. Combining supreme character building and a fast-paced mystery…readers won’t be able to set the book down until the final page. In short, Joe Turner is well on the way to becoming a fixture in contemporary mystery fiction.”
A common theme among praise for Bequette’s writing is the authenticity of his prose, drawn from years of real courtroom experience. A practicing trial attorney for twenty years, much of his law practice involved defending young men from Oakland accused of murder. With a trove of experiences to draw on for his mysteries, he is uniquely suited to bring the reader inside the judges’ chambers, police stations, and jail cells that provide the backdrop for his mystery thrillers.
Bequette holds degrees from The University of the Pacific and Georgetown Law School and serves annually on the faculty of the Stanford Law School Trial Advocacy Clinic.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR T.L. BEQUETTE
Many of your readers appreciate the authenticity of your mystery novels due to your legal background. Can you elaborate on how your experience as a criminal defense attorney has influenced your writing?
Write what you know, I suppose. My years in the courtroom have provided an endless supply of stories, from bizarre crimes to real-life characters who work their way into my books. Ironically, some of the courtroom shenanigans are even stranger than fiction. I do believe that my career as an attorney lends unique authenticity to my writing. I’m able to take the readers into the judge’s chambers or jails and write about those places from experience.
Your latest work, "A Long Time Dead," has garnered high praise. What can you tell us about the book and what readers can expect from it?
The book is somewhat of a departure from the first two Joe Turner mysteries. For one, Joe takes a backseat to another main character. Also, much of the story takes place in England. It was fun to write, and thankfully, the reviews have been great so far. The book was recently honored as a Crime Fiction Distinguished Favorite by the NYC Big Book Award in the category of crime fiction.
Winning the Independent Press Award for your debut book, "Good Lookin'," in 2022 must have been incredible. How did it feel?
To continue reading the full interview, click here to download the November 2023 Literature special issue XI.
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