What readers are saying about Killer Motives:
"Fantastic page-turner!" "Definitely a must-read!" "Keeps you guessing"
Victoria’s life isn’t as perfect as it seems. But with two homicide detectives at her door, it’s about to get a whole lot worse.
Still reeling from the painful discovery that her husband is having an affair, Victoria struggles to process the mind-blowing news that Nick’s lover is dead—murdered on the same evening she’d uncovered the truth. And now two homicide detectives are on her doorstep, waiting to talk to both of them.
Is she now a suspect? And what about Nick? He was acting strangely last night. She’d attributed it to a guilty conscience. The affair, she assumed. But could it be more? Nick wasn’t overtly violent, but anyone could commit murder given the right circumstances. What if the woman had gotten pushy? Demanding? Threatening? How far would Nick go to protect what was his?
As she sets out to clear herself and find the real killer, she’s faced with two terrifying possibilities—either her husband is a murderer or someone is out to get them. Meanwhile, with little hard evidence and no shortage of suspects with ‘killer motives,’ Detectives Jack Stark and Lexi Sanchez are under intense pressure to solve the high-profile murder case that rocks the picturesque village of Tarrytown just as the town is gearing up for the area’s annual Halloween festivities and an influx of tourists.
As Victoria struggles to reconcile her conflicting emotions, she’s soon forced to question everything. Who wanted Angie Hanson dead? Who would want to frame Nick? How far would her husband go to protect his interests? And how far is she willing to go to protect hers?
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Traymore's Killer Motives offers an irresistibly compelling premise, as a married art dealer, reeling from her husband's infidelity, finds herself embroiled in far more disquieting circumstances.
Prose: Traymore's prose is sound and propels the story effectively.
Originality: The setting infuses the story with fresh air. Traymore's integration of the history of the Hudson Valley area, and of details of its artwork, provide an additional layer of interest and novelty.
Character Development/Execution: Though certain character traits lean toward stereotypical, the cast is generally well established on the page. Traymore keeps readers guessing about the culprit until the unexpected conclusion.
Date Submitted: June 06, 2022
A homicide investigation throws a married couple’s relationship into question in Traymore’s debut mystery.
In Sleepy Hollow, New York, Victoria and Nick Mancusio are a wealthy couple who’ve been married for 10 years, recently not so happily. The quiet, affluent neighborhood is rocked when newcomer Angie Hansen is found dead in her new home. It’s quickly revealed that Nick was the realtor who sold her the house and that the two were engaged in an affair. Det. Jack Stark and his partner, Det. Lexi Sanchez, begin to gather potential suspects; was the murderer a jilted wife, a possessive lover, a stalker, or someone seeking revenge? Gossip, distrust, and paranoia spread through the town, and Victoria and Nick choose to take matters into their own hands to clear their names, culminating in an emotional finale. Traymore effectively showcases the characters’ personalities and relationships, mainly through dialogue: “What we have now is an arrangement, not a marriage. Do we have an understanding?” “Sure. Nice move Victoria. You have me right where you’ve always wanted me. By the balls.” As a result, the various players’ decisions and actions remain clear and consistent throughout the narrative even if the description feels minimalistic. The plot explores themes of marriage, trust, and forgiveness, and although the plot feels fairly standard for the genre, it still resolves in a satisfying manner, with all the story threads neatly tied up. The pacing is steady, as well, maintaining a decent level of suspense without ever feeling overwrought or melodramatic.
A by-the-numbers but still engaging procedural whodunit.
In this contemporary page turner set in the historic Hudson River Valley, Victoria Mancusio sets out to find out the truth after discovery of her husband’s painful indiscretion unwittingly places her at a crime scene. Meanwhile, with no shortage of suspects with ‘killer motives,’ Detectives Jack Stark and Lexi Sanchez are under pressure to solve the high-profile murder case that rocks the picturesque village of Tarrytown just as the town is gearing up for the annual Halloween festivities and an influx of tourists. The novel weaves in the history and folklore of the region while also touching on issues of class, gender, and relationship dynamics.
