This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Victoria Weisfeld will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Mysteries and thrillers are what I write. They’re considered a genre, of course, but as Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell said, “Every good story has a mystery in it.” It’s the unknown outcome—will the hero succeed, will the woman find happiness, who is the real enemy?—that keeps us turning pages. It’s the desire to find out “what happens next?” I like to ground the mysteries in my stories in aspects of real life that I’ve experienced, though fortunately, I haven’t experienced everything I write about!
She Knew Too Much, my new thriller, is set in Italy, mostly in Rome. Yes, I’ve been there several times, exploring the city with my husband and on my own. It’s certainly one of my favorite places, so was fun to “revisit” it by writing about it. My main character is a travel writer and blogger. I engage in both those activities, so writing about them feels natural to me. When she’s attacked, she spends a few days in the hospital—and for that I drew on an episode in which my husband’s horseback riding accident led to two weeks in an Arizona hospital. Those experiences and many, many more end up woven together (dressed in new garments, as it were) in the novel.
In addition, I do a lot of research, because I love doing it. A lot of it is very specific or situational, like how long would it take to walk from x to y? And some is deep background. I stumbled on Douglas Preston’s The Monster of Florence about a northern Italian serial killer and the botched prosecutions of various suspects. This was very helpful in understanding how the Italian justice system works and how it differs from ours. I used Word Reference to help with translations and that site’s forums to interact with Italian speakers about slang and idioms.
I am an only child, so I never had a brother who was important to me, like Genie’s brother Robbie is so important to her. But I certainly have observed many siblings and how they interact. Also key to the novel, I’ve observed how people who must work together have to set aside personal feelings for the good of the project.
When people say, “It must be liberating to write fiction. You can just make it up!” I know they’ve never tried to write any. At least not the way I do. I work hard to stay grounded in a core of truth, a bedrock of shared understanding, so that I can connect with my readers. Once they trust me, I can stretch things a bit.
You might be thinking that science fiction and fantasy are two genres where the “shared understanding” idea doesn’t apply. But I believe it still does. My favorite contemporary science fiction writer is Neal Stephenson, and his science is impeccable. With that solid base, his characters can do . . . anything! Fantasy writers put people in unfamiliar worlds, with supernatural powers, but with familiar motivations and interactions: they’re on a quest, they’re fighting enemies, they’re seeking love or power. While we might not resonate with how they look or their unusual abilities, we can understand what they’re all about.
This is probably an oversimplification, but I believe it’s generally the case that people like stories and characters they can relate to. That was one of the joys of writing She Knew Too Much. I related not only to the main character, but to a good number of the diverse supporting cast, as well.
I hope your readers take the opportunity to read She Knew Too Much. I think they will find it a fast-moving story with touches of romance, humor, and a big dose of humanity. I welcome their responses. Thank you for inviting me to share these few words about its creation.
Travel writer Genie Clarke arrives in Rome seeking inspiration, but her trip turns deadly when she overhears two mafia operatives discussing a secret “Project.” Before she can escape, she’s attacked and left for dead. Awakening in a hospital-alive but hunted-Genie finds the police unwilling to believe her. Only Detective Leo Angelini takes her seriously, uncovering ties between her assault, a murdered woman, and a powerful criminal network.
With the threat escalating, Leo moves Genie into hiding, where she becomes both key witness and prime target. Cut off from safety and unsure who to trust, Genie must outthink the conspirators determined to silence her.
From Rome’s bright piazzas to its shadowed alleys, she faces a terrifying fight for survival-and an unexpected connection with the detective risking everything to protect her. She Knew Too Much is a lean, suspenseful psychological thriller about fear, courage, and the price of knowing too much.
Enjoy an Excerpt
I crossed the one-way traffic to reach the Piazza del Popolo’s spacious central rectangle. People ambled toward one or another of the half-dozen streets that converged on the Piazza or to the steps leading up to the Villa Borghese Gardens, where I’d spent the afternoon. I was aiming for the Via del Babuino, street of the Baboon, which got its name from a particularly hideous sculpture. In a few blocks, that street ended at the Piazza di Spagna and the always-crowded Spanish Steps, a half block from my hotel.
On the far side, I again negotiated the circling rush of traffic and chanced a look behind. What the hell? The spiky-haired blond had crossed the first stream of traffic. Now he jostled through the crowd, coming straight my way. He was tracking me, and he didn’t care if I knew it.
I was in trouble. And, if I didn’t want to believe my eyes, the hair on the back of my neck confirmed it. I picked up my pace, walking as fast as I could in my flimsy sandals.
Dozens of times I’d traveled the few blocks connecting the two piazzas. Now this familiar street radiated hostility, and the stones of the Sunday-shuttered buildings reflected no warmth. Surely something, some business, would be open. I sped past my favorite stationery store, the gallery whose owner I’d interviewed. Shut tight as oysters.
Why hadn’t I asked someone near the piazza for help? Could I have made myself understood? Would they have agreed to get involved? I shook my head in frustration.
About the Author: Vicki Weisfeld is a Midwesterner (Go Blue!) transplanted to New Jersey. Her short stories have appeared in leading mystery magazines, including Ellery Queen, Sherlock Holmes, and Black Cat. Find her work also in a variety of anthologies: Busted: Arresting Stories from the Beat, Seascapes: Best New England Crime Stories, Murder Among Friends, Passport to Murder, The Best Laid Plans, Quoth the Raven, and Sherlock Holmes in the Realms of Edgar Allan Poe. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, which awarded “Breadcrumbs” a best short story Derringer in 2017, and the Public Safety Writers Association, which gave a similar award to “Who They Are Now” in 2020. She’s a reviewer of New Jersey theater for TheFrontRowCenter.com and crime/mystery/thriller fiction for the UK website, crimefictionlover.com.
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Charlotte Douglas has spent far too long trying to stitch her life back together after a single betrayal shattered her place in the community that once adored her. With every polite nod and measured smile, she shoulders the same whispered story: she is not the young lady she ought to be — and certainly not the kind any respectable man would escort into a ballroom.
D. Taylor is a passionate storyteller with a love for multicultural romance, adventure, and historical fiction. She independently wrote and toured with her novel Allied Hearts, a compelling romance that explores love, identity, and the strength of human connection.
Along Florida’s shoreline, fourteen-year-old Madi anticipates solitude and familiar routines. Instead, she meets Matthew, the older neighbor whose swimmer’s build and lifeguard courage draw attention. Though admired by many, it is his recognition of Madi that alters her quiet expectations.
Nineteen-year-old Chris moves through early adulthood searching for something genuine. Through a series of relationships, he confronts attraction, confusion, and the desire for deeper connection. Told in his voice, the story blends humor and introspection as he reflects on women who leave lasting impressions.
What does Meg, a retired kindergarten teacher, do when the killer of her husband and only child still walks free a year after dirt had covered their graves? Go rogue, of course!
A retired CPA and lawyer, GG Calpo now writes cozy mysteries and urban fantasies. She blends her experiences as a Filipino American immigrant with the everyday stories of life around her. She spends her time reading, crocheting blankets and sweaters for her five grandchildren, watching mystery TV shows and taking long walks in her neighborhood. She resides in Central New Jersey, with her husband and two corgis, Whiskey and Nugget. 
Bound by destiny, torn by fate—their love stood unbroken, victorious over all.
Margaret Izard is an award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. Her latest awards are 2024 Reader’s Favorite Honorable Mention for Stone of Love and 2024 Spring BookFest Silver Award for the same title. She spent her early years through college to adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her desire for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets.
One mysterious icon. Four fractured timelines. A global conspiracy. A leap in consciousness that could heal the world—or end it.
Lira was meant to die for the throne.
Raven 🐦⬛ Storme writes dark, smut-heavy romance for readers who crave obsession, power struggles, and secrets whispered in the dark. Living in Pennsylvania, she’s been married for fourteen years and shares her life with fourteen dogs—because calm has never been her aesthetic.
What if your child grew up believing there were no limits on who they could become or what they could achieve? Join Vinny, a curious little boy from a small town, as he turns creativity into adventure by creating a Secret Map of his dreams. 
Jackie Wallace is a serial entrepreneur, podcaster, and author whose passion for learning through trial and error has consistently driven her to transform obstacles into opportunities. As a business owner and self-starter, she’s passionate about sharing insights with ambitious professionals and spotlighting their unique success stories. To date, she has interviewed over 300 people who took the leap of faith to pursue their passions.
There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
Amanda is a sapphic romance author based in Westminster, Colorado, where she balances her love of storytelling with her role as a People Development Manager and devoted mom to a spirited little girl. When she’s not writing about the supernatural and soul-deep love, she can be found exploring local coffee shops and bookstores, experimenting in the kitchen, or going on various adventures with her daughter. Known for her warmth, humor, and passion for human rights, Amanda brings equal parts compassion and imagination to everything she does—both on and off the page.
