Hush, My Darling (Benoit and Dayne Mystery 2) by Winter Austin-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 27, 2022

Sometimes, the past starts to bleed into the future…

Dark memories haunt Eckardt County Deputy Lila Dayne. Two years ago, she survived a serial killer’s attempt to add her to his growing list of victims in Chicagoland, but the fight cost her more than just time lost to surgeries and rehab. Now she’s finally beginning to connect with the people in this small section of southeast Iowa, even if she can still sense him watching her.

Sheriff Elizabeth Benoit has her sights on bringing down Eckardt County’s corruption when two bodies surface, both bearing striking similarities to the serial killer victims discovered along I-80—and one delivers a personal message for her department. Lila spirals out of control under the pressure, pushing everyone out of her life.

As Elizabeth and her deputies try to bring Lila back into the fold, the killer closes in, marking his next victim. Lila must shake free of her fears and trust those who have supported her—or the killer will finish what he started.

•••••••

REVIEW:HUSH, MY DARLING is the second instalment in Winter Austin’s contemporary, adult BENOIT AND DAYNE murder, suspense thriller series focusing on small-town Sheriff Elizabeth “Ellie’ Benoit, and former Chicago police officer turned deputy Lila Dayne. HUSH, MY DARLING can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from third person perspectives (Lila and Elizabeth) HUSH, MY DARLING follows in the wake of a possible serial killer in Eckardt County. Former Chicago police officer Lila Dayne is the newest recruit/hiree on the Eckardt County police force but Lila’s past is a mystery to Sheriff Elizabeth Benoit, a mystery that is about to upend the town, sending Lila into a spiral from which she may never return. With half the town submerged under water in the wake of a seasonal storm, an unsolved serial case and a badly decomposed body has followed Lila Dayne to Eckardt County, and with it, a message that the killer has come to finish the job. As the only known surviving victim of the I-80 killer, Lila knew it was only a matter of time before her past comes full circle, and threatens the people with whom she works, loves and plays.

The large ensemble cast is spirited, dynamic and impassioned. Most of the previous story line characters return including Sheriff Elizabeth Benoit, Deputy Lila Dayne, Deputy Rafe Fontaine, Deputy Ben Fitzgerald, Deputy Brent Meyer, and Deputy Kyle Lundquist; ME Dr. Olivia Remington-Thorpe and her husband Dr. Dominic Thorpe, dispatcher Georgia Schmidt, and former Eckardt County Sheriff Kelley Sheehan. We are introduced to former CPD detective Cecil Waterford, and Agent Tate McCall with the Illinois State Police. The relationship between the Drs Thorpe is turning messy and concerning.

HUSH, MY DARLING is an intriguing, haunting and gritty story of power and vengeance, murder and mayhem, obsession and control.The premise is tragic and edgy; the characters are broken, intense and determined.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one THE KILLER IN ME

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Danger in Rural Iowa

Did you know that in the state of Iowa, we have one of the most disturbing and long running cold case? The Villisca Ax Murders happened in June of 1912. An unknown assailant entered the home and using the owner’s ax, slaughtered the whole family and two others, then disappeared into the night. To this day it remains a mystery of who did it. As a little added fun, the house is apparently haunted. The current owner rents it out per night for those willing to deal with the paranormal.

That’s not to say, there aren’t more cold cases and murders in our Hawkeye state, we’re not immune to violence in all forms. Yes, Iowa’s bigger cities and towns typically carry the brunt of the statistics for violence one would associate with places with large populations, such as gang violence, homicides, riots, and assaults. But what some people don’t expect is that same kind of danger to occur in rural towns. Yet, it happens. Even in the far-flung corners of the state, and I live in one of those corners. When it involves humans, one can’t get far from the evil that lurks beneath.

Setting my latest series in a rural area, and then writing about the dangers that can come knocking has been fun, and an eye-opener for me. Why? Because I took that old adage “write what you know” to heart and did it. I know rural life and all its little nuances. I know of the dangers that lurk in the shadows and come to head when tragedy strikes. This is what gives my stories depth and layers. A real feast for the senses. And a reality check, because leaving your doors unlocked when you live in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by miles of crop fields isn’t always a good thing.

Programs like Murder in the Heartland on the ID network and other shows dealing with small town deaths are fairly popular with the true crime crowd—I being one of those crime junkies. Shows and podcasts such as those are good idea gleaners for me. Man, I cut my teeth on watching shows like Unsolved Mysteries and Murder, She Wrote, guess it was only a matter of time before I was pulled into writing in the mystery/crime fiction genre.

So, what’s the claim to fame murder/cold case from your state? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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A lifelong Mid-West gal, Winter rediscovered her love of her beloved Iowa with its hot summers and snowy winters. She grew up listening to the captivating stories told by relatives around the table or a campfire. Since becoming a published author, she learned a mindset of a glass half-empty personality makes for a perfect suspense/thriller author. Taking her ability to verbally spin a vivid and detailed story, Winter translated that into writing deadly romantic thrillers. Combining her love of all things rural, agricultural, and military, she’s turned her small town life upside down.

Winter Austin is graciously offering a paper copy  (USA only) of HUSH, MY DARLING or ebook copy (International) to ONE lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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10. Giveaway runs from February 7-11, 2022)