THE VELVET KNIFE written by Maureen Johnson

Maureen Johnson’s 6th Stevie Bell mystery, THE VELVET HAMMER, begins with a personal drama. Stevie, who seems to find murder mysteries wherever she goes, begins in a rough emotional place. She’s broken up with her cheating boyfriend, tells her parents she’s not coming home for Christmas, and has no real place to go. One of her best mates, Nate, has been gifted an apartment in NYC with a deadline to finish his novel. Introduced early in the story is Blue, a 1976 teen who’s seduced into joining a band of pranksters only to realize she’s trapped in a cult. Johnson covers a lot of ground, introduces many characters with her usual wit and readers are left to puzzle out how these past and present chapters relate. Both stories of this novel pick up steam as a death occurs in the present and Blue finds herself in a life-death situation. Of course, Stevie’s off to sleuthing and the plots converge and the book’s end takes place with a stunning breakneck speed, leaving Johnson’s fans already hungry for the next. Emily Ellet reads the audio with appreciation for all Johnson has created. Find out more in the Purchase link below.