A KILLER MOTIVE: Cover reveal!
Also: Swiss photos, conference info, and an antidote to bad news.
WE HAVE A COVER!
A Killer Motive, my 11th book, publishes on September 9, 2025. I think HarperCollins’ art department outdid themselves yet again! Ready?
Ta-daaaaaaa!
Hope you love it as much as I do!
Why a lighthouse, you ask? Because of the name of an important (fictional) location: Lighthouse Beach.
But, wait. What’s the book about?
You never know who’s listening.
To Stella Dixon, sneaking her teenage brother out of their parents’ house for a beach party was harmless fun—until Max disappeared without a trace.
Six years later, Stella’s family is still broken, and she can’t let go of her guilt. The only thing that keeps her going is helping other families find closure through A Killer Motive, her true crime podcast.
In a bid to find new sponsors and keep making episodes, Stella goes on a local radio show. But when she says on air that if she had just one clue, she’d find Max and bring whoever hurt him to justice, someone takes it as a challenge.
A mysterious invitation to play a game arrives, with the promise that if Stella wins, she’ll get information about what happened to Max. Stella thinks it’s a sick joke…until Max’s best friend vanishes. And she’s given new instructions: tell nobody or people will die.
Desperate and unable to trust anyone, Stella agrees. But beating a twisted, invisible enemy seems impossible when they make all the rules…
I’d be incredibly grateful if you added A Killer Motive to your Goodreads, and/or pre-ordered, and/or asked your library to pre-order a copy now.
SO, WHAT ELSE IS NEW?
Writing, writing, writing
I’m feverishly working on a new thriller, and the challenging premise is kicking my butt. This is the “it’s the worst thing I’ve ever written stage” which happens every. single. time. Fingers crossed that means I’m doing something right :-)
Trip to Switzerland
I had a lovely time visiting family in Switzerland in January. Tips back home are always bittersweet as Mum passed in 2020, and Dad has dementia, so it’s excruciatingly hard at times. However, I spent a lot of time with my sister and nephews, and saw one of my best friends from high-school years, and I loved every minute.
Montréal Mystery
I’m hugely excited to attend Montréal Mystery, which takes place on May 23 & 24. I’ll be on two panels, one in English, the other in French. It’s going to be merveilleux.
Details & registration here.
MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival, Toronto
Toronto’s brilliant annual crime and mystery festival is back! It’ll take place in a brand-new location at Victoria University (University of Toronto) from June 27-29. Sign up for info & more details here.
AND FINALLY, ARE YOU FED UP WITH BAD NEWS?
Me too, and I thrilled to share this antidote to help:
Here’s an excerpt from Fix the News’ “About” page:
Fix The News is an independent, subscriber-supported publication, read by 60,000 people from 195 countries. Each week, we find 30-40 stories of progress from around the world, and summarise and share them in our email newsletter. We have a podcast too, called Hope Is A Verb, where we interview people doing extraordinary things to make the world a better place.
I can’t remember how I heard about Fix The News, but their newsletter is a highlight of my week, every week. The stories of progress (planet, human, climate, science) are astounding, and a balm for the soul. I have a paid subscription, but you can sign up for free. I’m a client, so not affiliated in any way, but their work, and the stories they share, are wonderfully inspiring, which is why I’m spreading the word.
That’s it from me. As always, thanks for reading!
Hannah Mary McKinnon / Holly Cassidy xo
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