Harper’s Hell: Behind the Book

The third installment of the Judge Wilhelmina Carson cases is  Harper’s Hell. Let’s peek Behind the Book:

Tampa’s free-spirited Judge Wilhelmina Carson is knocked off her pedestal when her father, Jim Harper, shows up proudly sporting his new trophy wife. Suzanne is too young, too sweet, and way too hot for Jim Harper. Suzanne makes Willa’s teeth ache, while George Carson accepts everything with his usual even-keeled smile. Willa knows she should be a better person, but, well, damn it, she’s just not.

While Willa’s still recovering from the shock of meeting the lovely Suzanne, Willa’s beloved secretary Margaret Wheaton’s life turns upside down, too. Margaret becomes mysteriously involved with a nefarious jeweler. When both Margaret’s husband and the jeweler end up dead, Margaret is the number one suspect.

During Tampa’s annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival, murder chases Judge Willa’s beloved secretary into a world of corruption, bank fraud, and art theft while Willa’s dad, Jim Harper, suffers through hell of his own making.

Judge Willa denies her own family problems and sets out to prove Margaret innocent, taking readers on a ride through Tampa’s month-long pirate party, with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end: whodunnit?

And as for Jim and Suzanna Harper? They have a few lessons for Willa, too.

Harper’s Hell is my tribute to Tampa’s favorite annual festival. Gasparilla energizes Tampa with costumed pirates, parades, fine arts competition, fun runs and marathons, golf tournaments, kings and queens and balls galore. What more could we mystery fans possibly want?

The largest and most extravagant February spectacle is the Gasparilla Parade of Pirates, a Tampa tradition since 1904. We moved to Florida from the Detroit area in 1992, and in 1993 attended our very first invasion. Tourists flock to the city for more than the sunshine in February. A far cry from ice sculptures and frosted windshields of Detroit, we were captivated by the entire spectacle and have never lost our enthusiasm for Gasparilla.

As far as I know, there never has been a murder at any Gasparilla event. But what if…? Bank fraud and jewelry fraud are real crimes perpetrated on the unsuspecting all too frequently in Florida and other locales. Indeed, it’s been reported that 85 percent of American women own at least one diamond. Or do we?

Enjoy the fun of our Gasparilla from the comfort of your reading chair. Be sure to let me know how you liked the book by posting your reviews or drop me a note. I’d love to hear from you.

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4 Responses to Harper’s Hell: Behind the Book

  1. Karen McFarland January 23, 2012 at 12:30 am #

    Okay Diane, you are filling up my new Kindle with all your books! LOL! 🙂

    But I’m enjoying them all. I have to go now. Time to finish…Oops, almost spoliled it. Will write that review soon! Thanks!

    • Diane January 23, 2012 at 5:21 pm #

      Good to know, Karen. It’s lovely having a fan!

  2. Debra Kristi January 24, 2012 at 5:38 pm #

    Both my mother and I are doing the same thing! I expect my mom to get totally hooked because she loves these kinds of books! 😀 I need to get more reading time. DANG. What was that thing Hermione had? I need one of those so that I can go back in time to get more time. Did that make sense? I’m just loopy from lack of sleep. Never mind me. LOL

    • Diane Capri January 25, 2012 at 8:29 am #

      LOL! I totally agree, Deb. More time. That’s what we all need! Glad you’re enjoying the books.

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