PRETTY EVIL NEW ENGLAND Sneak Peek
I’m beyond thrilled to announce the ebook and paperback of Pretty Evil New England are both available for pre-order! All of the research I conducted in 2019. Good thing, too, because 2020 messed with the editing process, paging for the paperback, and the release date due to quarantine restrictions. Nonetheless, it’s finally time for my new book baby to take her first breath. To celebrate the occasion I thought I’d share a special sneak peek of Chapter One: Unknowingly Tempting Fate.
First, a little background. The story behind the story.
While researching the first female serial killer, I stumbled across a footnote about a victim who survived. Though finding a firsthand account of what occurred was a nightmare. I traveled to Harvard University looking for it (4 hour drive). Nope. I traveled to Cape Cod (6 hour drive). Still nothing. For hours I searched through microfiche. No dice. I visited historical societies and spoke with an “expert” on the case. No one ever heard of Amelia Phinney, much less that she’d survived an attack by one of the most notorious female serial killers of New England.
I spent DAYS searching through the Library of Congress. Do you think any of the journalists could provide the full story? Oh, hell no! Each mentioned only a piece of the overall puzzle, which at least confirmed I hadn’t imagined the footnote that led me down this rabbit hole. Little by little over the next week or so I weaved the story together till the full picture emerged — and it blew my mind. Right then, I knew I had to open PRETTY EVIL NEW ENGLAND with Amelia’s story. Hope you enjoy this sneak peek!
Pretty Evil New England
Chapter One: Unknowingly Tempting Fate
In 1887, thirty-six-year-old Amelia Phinney survived the surgery for a uterine ulcer in Cambridge Hospital, a procedure done via cauterization with nitrate of silver—only to come face-to-face with New England’s most prolific female serial killer, whose body count reached well into the double digits. Post-op the following evening, Amelia tossed and turned on the cot in her room, the abdominal pain so severe it prevented her from falling asleep.
A shadowy figure emerged through the golden smolder of a bedside oil lamp. The dark-haired, dark-eyed nurse hovered over her bed with a peculiar intensity. When Amelia met her gaze, the stranger asked how she was feeling. The surgery, although successful, left her in a state of suffering. Amelia pleaded with the portly nurse to summon her doctor.
“There is no need for that.” The nurse’s voice remained soft, caring. “I have something to make you feel better. Here.” She slid her arm under Amelia’s shoulders and raised her far enough off the pillow to sip from the glass pressed to her lips. “Drink this.”
After swallowing a foul-tasting liquid, a numbness branched throughout Amelia’s torso and limbs. Her mouth and throat grew dry and scratchy, her eyelids weighted as she faded into a semi-conscious state. Someone pulled down the bedclothes. The cot creaked and the thin mattress sagged beneath the weight of a person climbing into bed with her.
The nurse cuddled and groped Amelia, stroking her hair, tenderly kissing her cheeks, forehead, and chin; her voice was soft, whispering that soon everything would be all right. Then the stranger rose to her knees. Hovering over Amelia, the nurse flipped Amelia’s eyelids inside-out and leaned in—a determined stare, eye-to-eye.
Was this really happening?
The nurse’s breathing accelerated into a heavy pant. Hot breath pummeled the side of Amelia’s face as though her suffering excited the stranger.
“Come, dear.” The nurse pressed the glass to Amelia’s bottom lip again, urging her to swallow more of the bitter medicine. “Drink just a little more.”
Unwilling to obey, Amelia clamped her mouth closed and rolled her face to the opposite side of her pillow like a petulant toddler refusing to eat vegetables. Wooden clogs pattering down the hall outside the room startled the nurse, and she leaped off the bed and bustled out the door.
The next morning, a trainee named McCutcheon shook Amelia awake. When she opened her eyes her stomach acid sloshed in protest, a queasiness rising to her throat. For several hours she fought through a drug-induced haze. Once she’d regained her faculties, she thought it best not to share the story of the bizarre encounter from the night before. The incident was so crazy it must have been a bad dream; a nightmare brought on by the pain reliever.
Or had a mystical guardian angel saved her life?
It would take fourteen years for her to discover the truth.
On November 1st, 2020 you’ll be able to find Pretty Evil New England anywhere books are sold. Until then, pre-order at the following online retailers and the book will be sent to your device or delivered to your home on release day.
Amazon (all countries, Kindle & paperback)
Barnes & Noble (NOOK & paperback)
Books-A-Million (ebook & paperback)
IndieBound (paperback)
BookShop (paperback pre-order sale)
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Sue Coletta
Sue Coletta is an award-winning crime writer and an active member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Feedspot and Expertido.org named her Murder Blog as “Best 100 Crime Blogs on the Net.” She also blogs on the Kill Zone (Writer's Digest "101 Best Websites for Writers"), Writers Helping Writers, and StoryEmpire. Sue lives with her husband in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Her backlist includes psychological thrillers, the Mayhem Series (books 1-3) and Grafton County Series, and true crime/narrative nonfiction. Now, she exclusively writes eco-thrillers, Mayhem Series (books 4-9 and continuing). Sue's appeared on the Emmy award-winning true crime series, Storm of Suspicion, and three episodes of A Time to Kill on Investigation Discovery. When she's not writing, she loves spending time with her murder of crows, who live free but come when called by name. And nature feeds her soul.
24 Comments
Karen Bernard
This looks interesting. I’ll have to make some time to read it. I look forward to it.
Sue Coletta
Thanks, Karen!
Gwen M Plano
Wow, powerful writing, Sue. All the best to you! I’m heading to Amazon. 😊
Sue Coletta
Thank you, Gwen!!!
John Howell
Best wishes on this book, Sue. The first chapter is amazing. Had me holding my breath
John Howell recently posted…Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Lucy Outside
Sue Coletta
Thank you, John!!!
Mae Clair
Wow, Sue, the amount of research you put into this book is staggering! And what a chilling story to open the book. I’m sure you’re going to knock it out of the ballpark with this one!
Sue Coletta
Thanks, Mae! Yep. As a research junkie anyway, I refused to stop until I found EVERYTHING I was after. Great learning experience, too. I’ve figured out so many tricks to find historical information. All that worked paid off when I sat down to write the book. Next time, though, I’ll be concentrating on one female serial killer instead of five. 😀
Marcia Meara
Good Golly, Ollie!! Even that little bit scared the heck outta me, Sue! This one is gonna be another big hit, I predict! And the cover is fantastic! Creepy as hell! Eeeeep!!
Best of luck to you, after all your hard work. Hope Pretty Evil New England is a HUGE success! :)_
Sue Coletta
Hahaha. Is it horrible that I love to scare readers? Don’t answer that. 😉 Thank you, Marcia!!! From your lips to God’s ears.
Staci Troilo
Dang, Sue! And this is just the beginning. I’m hooked for sure! The work you put into this is evident. I’m so proud of you and excited for you and can’t wait to read this one.
Sue Coletta
Aww, thank you, Staci! Means a lot. <3 *Hopefully* I'll find out about my ARCs soon. Dang 2020!
Staci Troilo
2020 totally sucks.
I sent you an email today (before you emailed me, actually; we must have been on the same wavelength). Not sure if you had time to read it or not. Might want to look for me in spam.
Staci Troilo recently posted…Block: Columns
Sue Coletta
You’re right, Staci. Totally missed it. Just responded. xo
Carolyn McBride
Chilling, disturbing…I WANT MORE! Lol… I’d say all that fact & rumor chasing paid off. It sounds like a great book that I can’t wait to get my hands on!
Carolyn McBride recently posted…Words For Wednesday-Crime Edition
Sue Coletta
Thanks, Carolyn!!! A lot of book is written through the eyes of the killers, which made it a blast to write, but once I pieced together Amelia’s story it seemed like the perfect way to open the book. I can hardly wait for release! I miss my “ladies.” 😀
CS Boyack
Great teaser. All the best with this one. Sounds like you worked your tail off on research.
Sue Coletta
Thanks, Craig! I did, but there’s no better feeling than finding the missing piece of a puzzle. It’s addicting!
Margot Kinberg
Oh, this is fascinating, Sue! Such interesting history, and I’m sure the research was fascinating, too. I was going to read it, anyway, and you’ve just whetted my appetite more. Wishing you much, much success with this.
Sue Coletta
Thank you, Margot! It was such a fun project. Mountains of research, but I’m a research junkie anyway. 😁
Joan Hall
You have me intrigued! Off to Amazon now.
Sue Coletta
Yay! Thank you, Joan! ❤️
Priscilla Bettis
Oh, I love this excerpt! It’s going to be an awesome book!
Priscilla Bettis recently posted…I Sold a Story, Woohoo!
Sue Coletta
Thank you, Priscilla! 🥰 I can hardly wait for release day!