Review, Interview & Giveaway: Hijack in Abstract by Larissa Reinhart

Hijack in Abstract

Hijack in Abstract
A Cherry Tucker Mystery, Book 3
Larissa Reinhart

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Henery Press

Date of Publication: November 1, 2013

Number of pages: 257

Cover Artist: Jessie Porter & Scott Asano

Available at the following retailers:
Amazon     BN     Kobo

Cherry Tucker’s love life has shifted into neutral. And her siblings, Grandpa, and sort-of-ex-husband have flipped her personal life to greasy side up. But life in Halo, Georgia, isn’t all bad for the sassy, Southern artist. Her career has pushed into full throttle. A classical series sold. A portrait commissioned. Then Uncle Will, Forks County Sheriff, calls in a favor to have Cherry draw a composite sketch of a hijacker. Suddenly, life takes a hairpin when the composite leads to a related murder, her local card sharking buddy Max Avtaikin becomes bear bait, and her Amazonian nemesis labels the classical series “pervert art,” causing Cherry to be shunned by the town.

Cherry’s jamming gears between trailer parks, Atlanta mansions, and trucker bars searching for the hijacker who left a widow and orphan destitute and Max Avtaikin in legal jeopardy. While she seeks to help the misfortunate and save her local reputation, Cherry’s hammer down attitude has her facing the headlights of an oncoming killer, ready to grind her gears for good.

Excerpt: 

“You’re a copper thief, Tyrone?” I said as I crosshatched shadow lines to emphasize the composite’s cheekbones. “Now why would you want to spend your nights stripping air conditioner units when you could be doing something more productive?”

“I don’t strip A/C units,” Tyrone tapped on the sketch pad. “His nose needs to be longer.”

I grabbed my gum eraser and scrubbed at the end of the composite’s nose.

“Air conditioners are not enough of a challenge for Tyrone here,” said Luke. “He likes to shimmy poles for his wire.”

Tyrone smiled. “They call me the Flying Coderre.”

“Were you up on a pole when you saw this guy?”

Tyrone cut his eyes to Luke. “Allegedly. At the rest stop on the interstate near the Line Creek exit.”

“What was the guy doing?”

“Helping himself to a truck.”

“You don’t need to know that information,” said Luke. “Just draw.”

“I’m just curious. It’s not like I’m going to look for the guy.”

Luke snorted, which was his way of saying “I don’t believe you.” We’ve had some past misunderstandings on the difference between “being helpful” and “interfering with the law.” Luke refused to acknowledge I can gain information as good as any cop just through my local gossip network. I call myself inquisitive and creative. He calls me nosy and harebrained. He forgets my interest for crime had been honed from growing up around a county sheriff. I never wanted to be a cop, though. Not unless I could bedazzle my uniform and stonewash the polyester out of the cotton/poly blend. And those cop shoes? Forget about it.

“I don’t think the deputy trusts you.” Tyrone eyed my drawing. “The dude was wearing a track suit. Shiny blue or black. It was hard to tell the color in the dark.”

I began sketching in a track suit collar. “I’ve given the deputy no reason not to trust me.”

Luke snorted again.

“Are you catching a cold or something?” I said. “Do you need a tissue?”

“I need you to finish up and stop talking to the perp.”

“Tyrone, let me ask you this,” I said. “If you had a girlfriend who was an artist, and you knew she had a painting deadline that involved a life study, and then found her innocently drawing this model, would you accuse her of cheating?”

“Do not talk to her, Tyrone,” said Luke.

“What’s a life study?” said Tyrone.

“Drawing the human figure using a live model.”

“Drawing somebody naked,” said Luke. “And not just anybody. Her ex-husband.”

A knock sounded on the door and we glanced at the narrow inset window to see Uncle Will glaring at us. He twirled his finger in the wrap-it up sign and nodded at Luke.

“Dammit,” said Luke. “How did you pull me into that?”

Interview: 

Today, we welcome Larissa Reinhart to Musings and Ramblings. Let's all give her a big Geeky welcome!

I have some questions for you that are writer specific as well as some fun stuff so that we can really get to know the real you. *grin* Plus we will finish things off with round of Think Fast. Ready to begin?

Hey Judith! Thanks so much for having me on. I’m ready!!

Writing Specific
1. Tell us something about yourself that's not in your bio.

I once ate cow rectum in Japan. I didn’t know what it was. Very chewy. The cook thought it was hilarious. Especially since he had to gesture and point to explain what we were eating.

2. What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Reading. I also love to travel. What I don’t like to do is clean the house, but that’s generally what I have to do if I’m not writing.

3. How did you choose the genres you write in?

I wrote Portrait of a Dead Guy and then my editor told me the genre. So I guess the genre choose me. And now I keep the Cherry Tucker books in that genre. Which some call cozy. I call them funny, Southern, romantic mysteries. But that’s hard to shelve.

4. Is there any particular author or book that has influenced you or your writing?

Stephen King’s ON WRITING is one of my favorites about writing. Any book I read has had an influence on me, though. And I like to read all kinds of fiction.

5. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

I’ll start with the best compliment. When readers take the time to email, tweet, or Facebook me to tell me they like Cherry Tucker. She’s flawed. Seriously flawed. But they still like her. My toughest critic is myself, but probably second toughest is my editor. But I need her to be tough to make me better a writer.

Fun Stuff
6. If you could have dinner with anyone, past or present, fictional or real, who would it be and why?

I’ll say the bartender Red from the Cherry Tucker books. Because I’ve heard his bar makes some good hot wings.

7. You are going to be stranded on a deserted island and bring 3 luxury items. What would they be?

A blender, margarita mix, and tequila. Wait, I need ice. So a cooler, ice, and Coronas. Wait, I need limes... Ok, I can’t do this one.

8. Pick two celebrities to be your parents. Who are they and why?

Doris Day and David Niven in Please Don’t Eat the Daisies. Wouldn’t you have loved to be their kids?

9. What would we find in your refrigerator right now?

You wouldn’t find any margaritas or beer. They’re on that desert island.

10. If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

The Case of the Missing Sock. Because that’s what happens every week on laundry day.

Think Fast
Summer or Winter? Summer
Coffee or Tea? Coffee
Cake or Pie? Pake. I’m for real.
Car or Truck? Depends on the engine.
Print or Electronic? Print!

Thanks for coming by and spending some time with us. Any final words of wisdom to pass along?

Thanks so much for having me! That was fun. I just want to thank everyone for their support. And has anyone tried Pake? I saw it on a menu once and have been dying to try it. Pie + Cake. Genius.

Review: 

This is the third book in the Cherry Tucker Mystery series by Larissa Reinhart. Cherry Tucker remains a feisty, opinionated, loud mouthed, big hearted spit fire of a character. She may be a bit redneck, but you would never have a truer friend. I just love reading about Cherry's exploits. She makes a trip to the SipNZip an adventure.

This book begins with Cherry in the local police station at 3am doing a composite drawing for her honorary uncle, Sheriff Will Thompson. There was a shooting and hijacking of a rig out at the interstate reststop, and the police were lucky enough to find a witness. A witness who was trying to steal copper wire, but a witness none the less.  Of course, when Cherry finds out about it, she can't but be curious and want to know what happened.  And how else do you find out, except by asking questions? Cherry's ex boyfriend, Deputy Luke Harper, doesn't take kindly to Cherry's way of finding out information and would like to keep her out of the investigation completely. With Cherry's recently sale of her "Classical" paintings, and a new portrait commission lined up, she really shouldn't have time get involved.  Little does she know exactly how far she will end up delving into the investigation.

One of the great things about the Cherry Tucker books are the variety of interesting associates. Cherry has quite a collection of the unique, engaging and distinctive cast of characters around her. From Max "The Bear" Avtaikin to her sister Casey and from Grandpa Ed to her best friend Leah, Cherry's friends and family all help to showcase the many sides and facets of Cherrilyn Tucker.

Every book I change my mind about who I think Cherry should be with romantically. I imagine if I am having this kind of trouble, there is no wonder Cherry seems so confounded with her options. In book 1, I was rooting for Luke, book 2 had me reconsidering Todd and in this book I put some sincere thought into Max. It's my opinion though, that Cherry will never settle down until she resolves things with her mother. Not to get spoiler-y, but we do get another piece to that puzzle at the end of this story.  I am looking forward to reading more. I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads.

Giveaway: 

$20 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Tour Info: 
Don't forget to check out the other stops on the Book Tour:

November 4:
Mary Castillo – Interview

November 5:
The Book Bag – Review & Excerpt

November 6:
Ink and Paper – Interview & Excerpt

November 8:
Shelf Pleasure – Interview

November 11:
Keep Calm and Blog On – Review

November 12:
Mrs. Mommy Booknerd’s Book Reviews – Interview & Excerpt

November 14:
Tlassy – Review

November 15:
Musings and Ramblings – Review, Interview & Excerpt

November 18:
Melissa’s Mochas, Mysteries and More – Excerpt

November 19:
Chick Lit Plus – Review

November 22:
Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review, Interview & Excerpt

November 25:
Everything Books and Authors – Excerpt

Author Bio:

Growing up in a small town, Larissa Reinhart couldn’t wait to move to an exotic city far from corn fields. After moving around the US and Japan, now she loves to write about rough hewn characters that live near corn fields, particularly sassy women with a penchant for trouble. HIJACK IN ABSTRACT is the third in the Cherry Tucker Mystery Series from Henery Press, following STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW (May 2013) and PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY, a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist. QUICK SKETCH, a Cherry Tucker prequel to PORTRAIT, is in the mystery anthology THE HEARTACHE MOTEL (December 2013). She lives near Atlanta with her minions and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit. Visit her website larissareinhart.com or find her chatting with the Little Read Hens on Facebook.

To connect with the author online:

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