2021 Top Shelf Awards First Place Winner in Fiction (Crime)
2021 Top Shelf Awards Honorable Mention in Fiction (Suspense)
2021 CIBA Clue Book Award Finalist
2021 15th Annual National Indie Excellence® Awards: Winner, Crime Fiction/Suspense
2021 Eric Hoffer Awards: Finalist
2021 PenCraft Award for Literary Excellence, Suspense
2021 Firebird Book Award, Suspense, Thriller
“The author of this impressive novel has poured elements from radically different genres into the blender and set it on high spin . . . The last page promises further surprises in a sequel, which Buchanan better deliver soon.”
—Booklist
“Buchanan’s narrative is well paced, flying right along. . . . the author has delivered an exciting beginning to an intriguing series.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“A captivating cast, an isolated location, a raging storm, and the threat of death in every dark corner. Indelible reads like the best crime fiction with a shot of adrenalin. Get ready to stay up late because you won’t want to put it down.”
—Ann Garvin, USA Today best-selling author
“I was hooked from the first sentence. Buchanan’s Indelible is a delicious look at what can happen when you create a writing retreat in the bucolic Pacific Northwest and then populate it with many intriguing characters, including a grieving ex-cop, a beautiful woman in a wheelchair, an intuitive, and a serial killer. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire wild ride.”
—John Dedakis, author of the Lark Chadwick Mysteries, and former Senior Copy Editor on CNN’s “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer”
“Indelible is for the reader who loves a fast-paced page-turner; for the reader who likes some sweet romance mixed in with riveting suspense; and for the reader who enjoys getting deeply involved with each character in a well-written book. Indelible is for the writer who fantasizes about an enchanting writing retreat like Indelible’s Pines & Quill.”
—Pamela S. Wright, author of The Right Wrong Man and Twin Desires
“Indelible is a delightful read! The perfect book for an escape on a rainy afternoon. The literary hooks Laurie weaves into the end of each chapter, make Indelible a novel hard to put down. Laurie’s vivid character descriptions remind me of the Nancy Drew books I loved to read so many years ago. Indelible makes any reader want to stay at Pines & Quill! I'm looking forward to reading the next Sean McPherson novel!”
—Ann Margaret Johns, author of Clarkston’s Curse: One Child’s Quest to Explain the Series of Tragedies in Her Hometown
“Secrets lie deep behind the pages of this gripping story. Indelible offers readers an expertly drawn cast of characters in an equally dramatic setting. Watching the next move will keep you on the edge of your seat.”
—Sherry Biscoe, author of Mists of Garibaldi-Tales of the Supernatural and The Man In Number 7
“Early in Indelible, I realized I was in the hands of a gifted storyteller. Through flawed characters and a vivid setting, tension mounts in this fast-paced thriller, leading to a riveting climax.”
—Greg Renz, author of Beneath the Flames
“Smart and sassy, Laurie Buchanan’s Indelible is a fast-paced mystery with deftly drawn characters and a palpable sense of place. I couldn’t put it down!”
—Ashley E. Sweeney, author of Answer Creek
“Indelible hits a truly sweet spot in an idyllic setting at a writing retreat in the Pacific Northwest. Just when you get comfortable, it turns from cozy to thriller. This is a fantastic debut of what will surely be an addictive series.”
—Shelley Blanton-Stroud, author of Copy Boy: A Novel
“Like a killer in the night, Laurie Buchanan’s descriptive prose lures the unsuspecting reader into this chilling mystery. She has created a complex cast of characters in this ripping yarn, and her final reveal leaves the reader hungry for more. I look forward to the next installment!”
—Diane Demetre, author of The Diana Daniels Mysteries
“Buchanan creates characters I couldn’t help but care for and a setting so beautiful I’d love to visit. The story sucked me right in, and the suspense kept me reading. I can’t wait for my next chance to visit Pines & Quill!”
—Elizabeth Anne Wood, author of Bound: A Daughter, a Domme, and an End-of-Life Story
“Buchanan has given us a new hero in Sean McPherson, a man struggling with his past who is touching and sensitive, yet ready to hunt down evil to defend those who need him. Amid a cast of engaging characters, the suspense builds in a crescendo along the Pacific Northwest coast.”
—Sharon Dukett, author of No Rules: A Memoir
“The pace is a roller coaster ride. The tension builds from the first page and doesn’t let up until the very end.”
—Chris Norbury, author of Straight River and Castle Danger
“If you’re an adrenaline junkie like I am, you’ll love this book!”
—Gail Cushman, author of the Breaking Barrier and Wrinkly Bits series
“Hold on to your seat: the ride is fast and furious. Be ready to stay up all night.”
—Tower Lowe, author of No Way Out
“Fast-paced and with plenty of plot twists, you’re sure to be swept up into the story.”
—Debbie Herbert, USA Today best-selling author of southern suspense
“Unputdownable! Buchanan reels the reader in with descriptions of the setting—a writers’ retreat in the breath-taking natural preserves of Washington State. Each of the writer-guests has a personal agenda and style, and the characters are relatable. The tension of the plot contrasts starkly with the peacefulness of the surroundings, so the reader is led repeatedly through crisis and calm, building up to the climax of the book. Simply captivating!”
—Saralyn Richard, author of A Palette for Love and Murder
“Author Laurie Buchanan has written entertaining and believable characters in her debut novel, Indelible. The investigator McPherson is likable and will carry the series along with a wide fan base! A fun read!”
—Jennifer Greer, author of A Desperate Place: A McKenna and Riggs Novel
“Indelible is a fantastic start to what one hopes is a long-running series. Buchanan has created a fascinating thriller set in a writers’ retreat in the Pacific Northwest. Atmospheric and delicious, Buchanan treats her readers’ senses while taking them on a roller-coaster of emotion. Cleverly balancing humor, romance, and a healthy dose of thrill, Buchanan delivers a perfect mystery. You won’t be able to put it down!”
—Michelle Cox, author of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series
2020-10-22
A battered ex-cop seeking a new life runs smack into his past in this philosophical thriller.
In this series opener, Buchanan introduces readers to former cop Sean “Mick” McPherson, still recovering from a past trauma. His partner, Sam, was killed by a sniper in an ambush. But Sam may have been the lucky one. In the car crash following the death of Sam, who was driving, Mick was left temporarily paralyzed. While he regained mobility, he has been wracked by survivor’s guilt for the past five years. That’s why he retired and has been working at the Pines & Quill writers retreat, run by his older sister, Libby, and her husband, Niall MacCullough. This month’s group of writers includes psychic Cynthia Winters; bitter, divorced Fran Davies; wheelchair-bound potter Emma Benton; and standoffish Jason Hughes. Something changes in Mick when he meets Emma. She finds herself falling for him as well. But Mick doesn’t realize that he has a tie to Jason, a serial killer who comes to the retreat with revenge in mind. Cynthia picks up on Jason’s malice; fearing her abilities, he decides to kill her. But resident dog Hemingway comes to her rescue. After narrowly avoiding death, Jason decides to abduct Emma and use her as bait to lure Mick. Then it’s a race for Mick to rescue Emma in time. Buchanan, a retired holistic health practitioner and life coach and the author of The Business of Being (2018), has made a strong transition from nonfiction to fiction with her first novel. Yes, her former jobs leak through with mentions of therapeutic methods. But that truly doesn’t affect the narrative. The author has created a stable of likable, well-rounded characters, starting with the damaged Mick. Especially winning is Irish wolfhound Hemingway, who speaks volumes without saying a word. Jason is an unhinged, single-dimensional loon, to use a nonpsychological term, and is easy to root against. Buchanan’s narrative is well paced, flying right along. But the book ends abruptly, with the author hanging on to certain elements, such as Jason’s accomplice, for use in the series’ sequel. This leaves the volume with a slightly unfinished feel. Still, overall, the author has delivered an exciting beginning to an intriguing series.
This tale offers a promising foundation for a series featuring a strong, complicated investigator.
