Meet author Mary Dodge Allen

Mary Dodge Allen has received two Royal Palm Literary Awards from the Florida Writer’s Association. She and her husband live in Florida, where she has served as a volunteer with the police department. Her childhood in Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes, sparked her lifelong love of the outdoors. She’s been a counselor and social worker, and she worked as a USPS mail carrier during a college break. Her quirky sense of humor is energized by a passion for coffee and chocolate.

Tell us about your latest book.

Two years to the day after Roxy Silva’s husband was murdered, a freak sinkhole drains a retention pond, exposing the car used in his fatal hit and run. The skeleton of the presumed prime suspect, the car’s owner, is found inside the trunk, thrusting the investigation in a new direction.

Detective Kyle Ransom is determined to find his best friend’s killer, and Roxy is equally determined to help. As a mail carrier, she can remain invisible as she moves around town. Together, Roxy and Kyle uncover a shocking trail of deception and secrets. As they work on the cold case, their relationship heats up. Roxy is plunged into a fight for her life when she’s taken captive, and she must use her wits to survive.

What inspired you to write Hunt for a Hometown Killer?

I grew up in a small town where everyone knew each other, and relationships were close. And yet, sometimes secrets came to light, demonstrating that people aren’t always who they appear to be. I’ve also lived in Florida for many years. Nearly forty years ago, a massive sinkhole opened up less than a mile from where I now live. The sinkhole is now a pond named Lake Rose, in honor of the homeowner.

How would you describe your book in a 30-second blurb?

Small towns can have secrets and skeletons. What happens when a sinkhole uncovers them?

Who is your main character, and how did you choose the name?

The name Roxy has a strong and somewhat quirky sound, and my main character is a strong woman with a few interesting quirks. One of her most interesting quirks is her sharp photographic memory. The support of her family and close friends has helped Roxy to endure many losses in her life, including the shocking hit and run murder of her husband.

What’s your favorite pastime?

My husband and I love to go kayaking. It’s so peaceful, paddling on Florida’s rivers and lakes, and enjoying the beauty of nature. Recently, we spent a half day paddling down the Ocklawaha River, a remote area without cell phone service in the Ocala Forest – the setting for the canoe trip in Hunt for a Hometown Killer.

What’s one unusual fact about you?

The suspenseful and humorous canoe trip chapters were inspired by the many canoe trip getaways I took with my close women friends when I loved in Minnesota. For a few days every summer we’d venture into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness near the Canadian border. We’d portage our backpacks and canoes from lake to lake, and we’d stay at beautiful primitive campsites. Florida’s Ocala Forest has its own primitive beauty… and many more dangers. I enjoyed placing my characters in this challenging wilderness setting, while the killer was on the loose.

What can readers expect from you next?

I am working on a sequel to Hunt for a Hometown Killer. Roxy’s family will grow, and she’ll have more crimes to solve.

Click on this link to buy:

Hunt For A Hometown Killer: A Novel: Allen, Mary Dodge: 9781952369704: Amazon.com: Books

Website: www.marydodgeallen.com