Article and Interview by Elise Cooper
Flight by Laura Griffin is a riveting mystery with very believable characters. She excels at writing characters the readers root for, and her descriptive details of the Texas landscape has readers believing that they are there.
The heroine Miranda Rhoads, the sister of the heroine in the last book, decides to move to Lost Beach Texas after experiencing burn out and a need to destress after her last case went awry. As a forensic photographer she uses those skills to capture the native birds for the Texas Birding Association’s upcoming calendar. Unfortunately, she discovers two bodies in a canoe. Although Miranda wanted to escape the life she led before, she finds herself unable to step away. She has a nose for detail and her insights are spot on. The detective on the case, Joel Breda, convinces her to join the team as their forensic photographer. As more murders turn up the police realize they don’t just have a murderer on their hands, they have a serial killer.
In a short time, both Miranda and Joel find themselves very much attracted to each other; the chemistry between them was great. Working together they find clues that will lead them to the killer. Joel wants to protect her and the community, while Miranda is an intelligent and complex character. The tension is ratcheted up with the heat, humidity, mosquitoes, and all the other factors that come together to make Texas such a unique environment.
Laura Griffin is a master at suspenseful storytelling. Her books never disappoint. The complex mystery has readers on the edge of their seats.
Elise Cooper: Why the setting?
Laura Griffin: I think the Texas coast setting is great for a murder mystery. There is the natural drama of the coast, thunderstorms, and wildlife. Mother Nature is a dramatic piece of the story. Lost Beach is based on Padre Island in Texas. South Padre Island is a beautiful place with a mix of tourism and nature. There are bars, motels, and shops. They have a turtle rescue and a Birding Center. North Padre Island is basically an uninhabited park with sand dunes. The water is clearer, and the sand is whiter.
EC: Why the birds?
LG: I grew up going to the coast. My grandmother was a bird person. Learning about the coast birds from her, I had a lot of fun.
EC: How would you describe Miranda?
LG: She is conflicted. Observant and has an eye for detail. She is a visual person where she cannot get images out of her head. Miranda is also a people person. She has a lot of baggage that makes her anxious. She decides to stay at Lost Beach to escape the emotional upheaval she experienced at her job as a forensic photographer. She has guilt, anger, confusion, and worries about the previous case.
EC: Why the profession of a forensic photographer?
LG: I interviewed an FBI forensic photographer who showed me different photography techniques including taking pictures of fingerprints and shoe prints. From there I did some research to learn more about the profession.
EC: How would you describe Joel?
LG: Tenacious. Determined. Persuasive. Charming. He is also intense, confident, and self-assured. He wants to protect the community as well as Miranda. He sees the economic benefit to a small town but does not always see tourism as good.
EC: What about the relationship?
LG: Her guilt initially gets in the way even though she knows she should move on. Joel and Miranda are very similar. They are smart, independent, and need to learn to trust each other, because of their emotional lockdown. Both are wary of having a relationship and are not looking for a serious one. They need to evolve for it to work.
EC: What about your next books?
LG: In September a story not part of any series will come out, titled Last Seen Alone. An Austin Victim Rights Attorney has a client gone missing. A detective is called in and they work the case together. The next “Texas Murder File” book will be out next Spring. It is also set in Lost Beach and will have as the hero Joel’s brother Owen. There will be an overlap of characters from this book.
EC: THANK YOU!!
