Until Dead: A Cold Case Suspense by Donnell Ann Bell

Interview by James M. Jackson

When Lt. Everett T. Pope is notified of an explosion in downtown Denver close to the judicial buildings, his first instinct is gas leak. No such luck. As Incident Command and Pope's own Major Crimes unit move in, he discovers he knows the intended victims—an Assistant U. S. Attorney—and Pope's former partner, now a private investigator, has died shielding the injured AUSA with his body.

As ATF and the FBI take over investigating the bombing and unraveling motives behind the murder attempt, Pope is relegated to a peripheral role. But the injured AUSA's aunt is a United States senator used to getting results. She turns to the team that solved the Black Pearl Killer murders with a very big ask—find her answers and locate the bomber.

FBI Special Agent Brian DiPietro must recall his entire cold case team from their far-flung assignments knowing he's being asked to do the impossible. The senator, however, doesn't know the meaning of the word. All too soon, DiPietro finds his team working alongside ATF on a red-hot mission. One that uncovers a decades' old cold case.

Until Dead is the second novel in the “A Cold Case Suspense” series. I had not read the first, which I will soon rectify, but I wanted to congratulate you on doing a superb job of introducing continuing characters in such a way as to quickly bring a new series reader up to speed on the relationships among continuing characters. Can you describe for readers and other authors how you determine which characters should have their own point of view? I think you chose six?

Thank you, Jim! I’m honored to be included in Writers Who Kill and interviewed by James M. Jackson! I think I’ve mentioned I’m a fan of your Seamus McCree series. (I almost missed a plane in Monterey because I was reading your short story.) But I digress. Ordinarily, I try to keep a tight leash on point of view. But because I’m writing a taskforce series, and the story has several moving parts, multiple POVS are/were necessary. For that reason, I rely on four main POV characters – three members of the taskforce and the antagonist to tell the story—the same number used in Black Pearl, book one.

As far as the additional two POVs you mentioned, they were important secondary characters I used to set up the story. (Those are the only times their POVs appear.) Because my taskforce was not yet involved, I felt their points of view were necessary to impart information.

Why did you choose to call your series Suspense, rather than Thriller (or Domestic Thriller)?

Whew! An easy answer: my contract called for a suspense.

That is an excellent reason. It strikes me as largely a police procedural. I enjoy reading police procedurals but have never written one because you must get all the police “facts” correct. I noticed your author notes thank lots of law enforcement folks. Readers and other authors would love to know how you learn how police forces do their jobs.

I understand your reluctance because as a new writer, I did the same. I always had a dead body, though, so I would call my local coroner’s office and try to elicit information from a no-nonsense woman who would say, “You’re who, you want to do what?”

Later, I met her through a citizens’ academy where she was one of our instructors and I was trained in the volunteer victims advocacy. This woman is listed in my acknowledgements, also. Additionally, she has helped numerous authors, including my friend Annette Dashofy. This coroner is married to a deputy sheriff who is another great resource. I’ve taken two citizens academies as well as the Writers Police Academy.

I co-own an online group called Crimescenewriter, which a veteran police officer started to help writers. I’ve learned over the years  that most people (law enforcement included) are generous. Online classes are great, but I also know how I learn best. I’m a tactile, auditory learner and have been fortunate to have experts say, “Give me a call, or let’s Zoom, and we’ll discuss.” I can’t stress how beneficial ride-alongs, citizens academies, and even volunteering can be in helping a mystery author grow.

I learned from Until Dead that military psychologists have stricter rules than private practitioners about when they must notify authorities of a dangerous patient. Civilians are required in most states to report patients they believe are a danger to themselves or others. In Until Dead we learn that in the military, they may only report a patient deemed to be a danger to the president. My immediate reaction after learning that was to think the military standard is nuts. What’s the scoop?

I thought it was nuts, too, and of course, you picked up on it. I wrote a large portion of Until Dead during 2020, which was difficult to corroborate because getting through the Veterans Affairs Administration’s public information line was impossible. I received the “Duty to Warn” information from a military psychiatrist, and I’m grateful for his expertise. However, when I was brainstorming book three of my cold case series with a former FBI agent, we discussed my dilemma, and she believed the stricture has changed and suggested I add the  words “or a direct threat to Homeland Security.”

I try very hard to get my facts straight and debated whether to change. Still, during final proofs, I buckled, and added her suggestion. I can only hope I’m close and fully admit any mistakes are my own.

And when we make mistakes, readers do find them! As a former consulting actuary, I was delighted to see Viola Franish, FSA (Fellow Society of Actuaries) included as a character and, more importantly, confused by at least one person for being an accountant. I thought I would share one of my two favorite actuary jokes: “An actuary is someone who wanted to become an accountant but didn’t have enough personality for it.” After you finish groaning, you answer my question: how did Viola end up being a character?

I am not groaning! I learned about actuaries when my kids were entering college. They have left brains like their dad, and I tried to sway them in that statistical, lucrative direction. Did they listen? Of course not. My son is a certified public accountant, and my daughter went into supply chain management with an emphasis in information technology. What can I say? I’m SO disappointed. 😉 I was thrilled to create Viola because I finally got an actuary in the family. Moreover, I needed a red herring and the accountant/actuary angle worked perfectly (in my opinion).

You didn’t croak after my first actuary joke, I’ll risk another: How can you tell an introverted actuary from an extroverted actuary? When an introverted actuary talks with you, he looks at his toes. When an extroverted actuary talks with you, he looks at your toes. Which brings me to my question: with many continuing characters from Black Pearl, what method do you use to remember each character’s traits, speech patterns, life history, etc.?

LOL. I will be repeating those jokes, I promise you. With only two books in the series currently, it hasn’t been that hard. I do keep a journal. I added ATF characters in book two and they aren’t part of book three (currently). If I use them in another book, that could be confusing. Right now, my cast of characters is so real to me I have no problem telling them apart and I slip easily into their individual characters when I write. One character is going to be the ultimate challenge in book three, so wish me luck!

Until Dead ends with a twist that promises another novel. When you started writing the Cold Case Suspense series, how many novels did you plan, and did you already know their storylines before you started writing Black Pearl? And irrespective of what you thought when you started, what’s your current plan?

My contract called for two books, and an option. Book three is the option and I think my editor and publisher is interested based on the outline (and the twist) I’ve suggested. I’ve brainstormed with two Guppies, Kassandra Lamb and Susan Hatters-Friedman, on my idea as I have no expertise in the direction I’m going other than extensive reading. These wonderful experts have been encouraging. I have an ending in mind, so all I can say is this may be the end, or I could write a spinoff. I hope that’s not too vague an answer.

Thank you, Jim, for the opportunity and the fun questions.

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DONNELL ANN BELL is an award-winning author of four romantic suspense novels, all of which have been e-book bestsellers. Until Dead is the second in a suspense series. Donnell and her husband are recent transplants to New Mexico. Visit her website and connect with her on Facebook. The Until Dead ebook is available from all your favorite online retailers. Click here for links.

Donnell Ann Bell's Deadly Recall Released!

 Sex, politics and religion are not topics discussed in polite company. Donnell Ann Bell writes about all three in her new novel, Deadly Recall. When I heard that Donnell’s second novel was about to be released, my hands itched. I wanted to read the book and interview her. She’s won numerous awards for her writing, so when I found out that Donnell was a finalist in the 2010 Golden Heart® contest for unpublished novels with the manuscript for Deadly Recall, it was no surprise. Deadly Recall was meant to be published.

Here’s a teaser for everyone from Donnell’s website: “Seventeen years ago Eden Moran blocked out a murder. Heaven help her, she’s about to remember.”

Elaine: Parts of the book read like a romance, others, like a mystery and the remainder is suspense. How did you decide on the structure for Deadly Recall?

Donnell: Hi, Elaine. Whoa! Way to make me go and think. I wrote the book, in my opinion, the way it needed to be written. Deadly Recall is a romantic suspense, but there’s a strong mystery that needs to be told in its pages. In my mind it’s two subgenres. At least, the mysteries I read include suspense.

As for the setup, because Eden, my protagonist, has repressed memories, I needed a catalyst to make her remember. When my police detective interviews Eden, he’s the spark that activates her heroine’s journey and Detective Kevin Dancer’s call to adventure. Trust is an issue for Eden, and for her to give in to her memories, she needed a confidant, a support system. Detective Dancer, in trying to solve his cold case, is attracted to Eden and fills that role. Kind of like the setup of Romancing the Stone with Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas. Joan Wilder has to trust Jack T. Colton before they can go after the jewel and save Joan’s sister. In Deadly Recall, Eden has to trust Detective Dancer, so we can get to the heart of the mystery and find out who killed Sister Beatrice.

Elaine: In categorizing novels for the market, mixing two genres seems acceptable. But what do you do when three (sub)genres are mixed?

Donnell: Again, I see Deadly Recall as two subgenres. Not so in The Past Came Hunting, where I incorporated a bit of Women’s Fiction and even Young Adult into my Romantic Suspense.

In the past, mixing genres has been discouraged by the major publishing houses because their marketing departments are tasked with labeling books for brick and mortar bookstores. Thanks to small presses and electronic publishing, publishers have branched out freeing authors to enlarge their storytelling parameters.

One of the reasons fellow Sisters in Crime author Ann Charles created her own publishing company (when she had plenty of offers) was because she had so many subgenres in her series. Note: I still prefer tight writing and pacing. And here might be a good place to mention in Catholic school I received checkmarks for ‘failure to conform.’

Elaine: The premise of Deadly Recall, an apt title, relies on the trauma repressed memories of female main character, Eden Moran. What did your research into this psychological phenomenon teach you?

Donnell: That it’s an inconclusive, misunderstood field, and that psychiatric and mental-health professionals still have a lot to learn. Law enforcement and the judicial system remain highly suspicious of people who use repressed memories as a defense. Something I can’t fault them with; it’s too inconclusive. Works great for a fiction plot, though.

While researching my plot, I read stories written by alleged victims with repressed memories. One that struck me was a case in California. A little girl watched her father abuse, murder and bury her best friend in the desert. As an adult, the daughter claims something triggered the event and her memories resurfaced. She testified against her father, sending him to prison and solving a decades-old cold case. That newspaper article definitely sparked my idea for Deadly Recall.

Elaine: Eden’s repressed memories include not only a murderous day’s memory, but also a talent that she failed to realize. Is this common in people who have trauma repressed memories?

Donnell: I have no idea if it’s common, only that to me it made sense. I formed Eden’s goal, motivation and conflict here. Eden’s gift was encouraged by a woman she loved, Sister Beatrice, and quashed by her regular music teacher, Sister Agnes. Eden loved playing the piano for Sister Beatrice, despised playing for Sister Agnes. With Sister Beatrice gone, and Eden blocking, one of the side effects she suffers is that she suppresses her talent.

Elaine: In Deadly Recall, you explore issues in the Catholic Church. Were you raised Catholic?

Donnell: I was raised Catholic and still am. I may touch on issues in the story, but I tried not to dwell, justify or preach on any of them. That would be author intrusion and not the purpose of this book. Deadly Recall is simply Eden’s journey (she’s definitely fallen away), a love story and a mystery.

The primary reason I chose the Catholic Church is that I’m a firm believer that every story has to have conflict. In my debut novel, a police lieutenant and ex-con fall in love. In Deadly Recall, two equally off-limit characters are drawn together. If I placed this story inside, say, the Baptist or Methodist Church, the conflict wouldn’t have been as great as their members don’t take a vow of celibacy.

Elaine: Eden’s horrible relationship to a nun contributes to her repressed memories. Do you think the Church confuses the concept of humility with humiliation?

Donnell: I can’t speak for the Church. I can, however, speak for human nature. People often bend a rule or a commandment to suit their purposes. In my Catholic school experience, and later when I entered public school, I had good teachers and bad teachers. Later, when I entered the working world, I had good bosses and bad bosses—and I should insert here, I was certainly no angel. Jealousy, belittling and bullying exist in every stage of life and in secular and non-secular organizations alike. Fortunately, goodness, kindness and generosity prevail as well. Human nature is that constant struggle of good versus evil, which happily keeps us writers in business.

Elaine: Eden Moran and the male main character, Kevin Dancer, both come from dysfunctional families. Both have issues from their past. How do they overcome those issues?

Donnell: One of the things I got out of writing this book is that every single character, save the killer, finds forgiveness or forgives someone. Eden, who has been estranged from her family, is reunited with them. Kevin forgives his stepfather and vice versa. Kevin also realizes that although Eden shares his stepfather’s profession, she is nothing like him. Kevin aka Detective Dancer also changes his mindset that not everyone accused of a crime is guilty. Finally, when the bishop asks Eden to forgive Sister Agnes, and to free her memories of Sister Beatrice, Eden turns a page. This freedom allows her to regain her gift. In my mind, forgiveness is what enables people to move forward, and that is what I hope readers take away from this story.  

Elaine: Do you think past problems have to be resolved in order to have functional relationships in the present—can you really leave the past behind?

Donnell: Although I took psychology in college, and have training as a volunteer victims’ advocate, I’m speculating when I say some people possess the character and willpower to overcome; others regress, refuse, lash out and/or seek addiction. So many factors determine your question and my inability to answer it—brain, environment, prenatal care, heredity. I will say analyzing the human condition is why I write.

Elaine: After reading The Past Came Hunting, your first published novel in 2011 and Deadly Recall, haunting is a common theme of your work. Why, and will you ever write a supernatural novel?

Donnell: While the characters are definitely “haunted,” and although I enjoy reading otherworldly novels, I enjoy dealing with real world events more. I do have a reincarnation story, called “The Memory Maker,” that took first place in the Gothic Romance Writers Chapter, in – oh, no—The Haunted Hearts Contest.  I may drag it out of mothballs someday.

Elaine: Did you stay with Bell Bridge Books, the publisher of The Past Came Hunting or move to a new publisher? Why?

Donnell: I stayed with Bell Bridge and signed a two-book contract with them in which Deadly Recall was book one. I love working with Bell Bridge Books and the wonderful staff, including my editor Pat Van Wie. The main reason is because Debra Dixon and Deborah Smith are not only publishers, but they are successful authors and widely respected in the industry. They also understand authors. When Debra Dixon said she had a vested interest in seeing both publisher and author succeed, I was like. . .where do I sign?

Elaine: What comes next, Donnell?

Donnell: I just turned in book two of my contract, working title called, “Betrayed.” This book takes place in Denver, keeping with my theme Too Close to Home and should come out late 2013. I’m excited about Betrayed. I learned a lot from this book and stretched as an author to write it.

Bonus: Salty or Sweet? Not sure what this means, but, I’ll bite, especially if they’re chocolate-covered pretzels. Thanks so much for having me, Elaine.

Elaine: You fudged!

Donnell Ann Bell is a two-time Golden Heart® finalist. Her debut novel The Past Came Hunting became an Amazon bestseller, reaching as high as #6 on the paid overall list and finaling in 2012 Gayle Wilson Award for Excellence, RWA’s® Greater Detroit Bookseller’s Best, and the 2012 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. Deadly Recall, brought to you by Bell Bridge Books, is her second published novel. Learn more about Donnell at www.donnellannbell.com