BOOK TITLE: THE WAGES OF SIN

AUTHOR: Nancy Allen

ON-SALE: April 26, 2016

ISBN: 9780062438751

FORMAT: E-book

PRICE: $2.99

BLURB: Another suspenseful legal thriller set in the Ozark hills starring prosecutor Elsie Arnold, who’s ready to deliver justice for a pregnant woman who was killed–with the only witness her young daughter–but, arguing for capital punishment in a small town, Elsie’s in for more than she bargained.

SUMMARY: In rural McCown County, Missouri, a young pregnant woman is found beaten to death in a trailer park. The only witness to the murder is Ivy, her six-year-old daughter, who points to her mom’s boyfriend—father of the unborn child. County prosecutor Madeleine Thompson promises the community justice, and in the Ozarks, that can only mean one thing: a death sentence.

When Madeleine’s first choice for co-counsel declines to try a death penalty case, she is forced to turn to assistant prosecutor Elsie Arnold. Elsie is reluctant to join forces with her frosty boss, but the road to conviction seems smooth—until unexpected facts about the victim arise, and the testimony of the lone eyewitness Ivy becomes increasingly crucial. Against Elsie’s advice, Madeleine brings in the state attorney general’s office to assist them, while cutthroat trial attorney Claire O’Hara joins the defense.

Elsie will not let the power of prosecution—of seeking justice—be wrested from her without a fight. She wants to win the case, and to avenge the death of the mother and her unborn child. But as the trial nears, Elsie begins to harbor doubts about the death penalty itself. Meanwhile, the child Ivy is in greater danger than anyone knows.

 
Please tell us about your journey to become an author? What inspired you to become a writer?

I write legal thrillers—courtroom dramas. Why? Because I’ve got the chops. I spent the first five years of my legal career as a felony prosecutor in the Ozarks, putting people away for violent crimes. After I left the prosecutor’s office, I spent about ten years as Assistant Missouri Attorney General. I know my way around a courtroom!

And while I was trying those horrific crimes, I’d think: I ought to write a book about this. But years passed before I finally picked up a pen and wrote The Code of the Hills, the first novel of my Ozarks Mystery series. 

What kind of research did you do for The Wages of Sin?

Because I’ve handled murder cases as an attorney, I already had personal experience in the area. But I needed help from a medical doctor regarding the victim’s death, and the death of her baby in utero—the crime that is prosecuted in the book. Also, since the crime was a domestic assault, I conferred with an expert in victim’s rights for the latest law enforcement trends in that area. 

Are any of the characters/events inspired by real life or people?

I’d be a liar if I didn’t confess that my flawed protagonist—prosecutor Elsie Arnold—shares many qualities I possessed in my younger days. (Including all of her vices.) 

What is your purpose in writing this novel? What do you want the readers to take away from the story?

I write to entertain; but legal thrillers can embrace larger social issues. In The Wages of Sin, Elsie battles conflicting feelings about the death penalty, from an insider’s perspective. 

What was the biggest challenge you faced in writing and/or publishing your book?

 I got stuck midway—which was really intimidating. Thank goodness, it wasn’t for long; I had a eureka moment and soldiered on to the end!

Any future plans for sequels or upcoming works?

I’m beginning to plot and plan my 4th Ozarks Mystery, which will be released by HarperCollins/Witness in 2017; but in addition, I’m writing a new legal thriller with James Patterson. We are co-authoring a book for Mr. Patterson’s new BookShots line, entitled Juror #3.

What do you find is the best and worst part about being an author?

The best part? Reading and hearing the reactions of readers who enjoyed my book. And the worst? Reading and hearing the reactions of readers who didn’t like it so much….

For moreinformation:
https://m.harpercollins.com/9780062438751/the-wages-of-sin

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