A Wicked Welcome to Kimberly G. Giarratano! *giveaway*

by Posted on

by Julie, fighting pollen in Somerville

As an executive director I’ve worked with many, many non-profits over the years. I’ve never worked with a better group of volunteers than the folks who serve on the Sisters in Crime board. Kimberly G. Giarratano is one of those volunteers. She is the chapter liaison, and works closely with the fifty plus chapters of the organization–not a small job. She’s also an amazing writer. I loved her first Billie Levine mystery, and can’t wait to dive into Devil in Profile, which was released today. Help me welcome Kim back to the Wickeds.

Hello, wicked readers! Glorious Tuesday, isn’t it?

Today is the publication day for Devil in Profile, the second book in my Billie Levine series. For the uninitiated, Billie Levine is a 24-year-old private eye from New Jersey. Like the state that raised her (and me), she is tenacious, snarky, and well-meaning, if not a little brash. She has a heart of gold with a Sopranos accent.

In this sequel, Billie is working as a process server for an investigative firm. While delivering documents, she stumbles upon the elderly corpse of an art collector with ties to Nazi Germany. What follows next for Billie is a run-in with international art thieves hell-bent on revenge.

The story was inspired by an article in The Atlantic (March 2018) called “The Persistent Crime of Nazi-looted Art” by Sophie Gilbert. In this particular piece, Sophie chronicles the 2010 investigation into Cornelius Gurlitt, an elderly man living in Munich. Cornelius was the son of Hildebrand Gurlitt, one of Adolph Hitler’s art collectors (collector being a generous term; Hitler plundered art and his minions seized priceless works from Jewish collections and museums). After Cornelius was caught on a Swiss train with a suspicious amount of cash, German officials began digging into his finances. Turned out, the man had over 1,500 pieces of lost art from greats such as Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Marc Chagall. Names as iconic and recognizable today as they were in the 1930s. Cornelius had inherited his father’s “collection” and would periodically sell off pieces to sustain his living.

I found Cornelius Gurlitt’s story ripe for picking. I then imagined him as an old man living in North Jersey, a hoarder, clinging to art while retreating from the world. Hence, the character of Karl Sauer was born.

Oftentimes we think of World War Two as being so long ago, and yet the consequences of its day reverberate into 2024. The United States is currently contending with book bans and censorship. Hitler condemned modern art, calling it degenerate, and claimed the art wasn’t suitable for children. He would put it on display so German citizens could condemn the works for themselves. If this doesn’t sound familiar, we’re not listening.

The Gurlitt story reminded me of the William Faulkner quote: “The past is never dead, it’s not even past.” History shapes the present.

When writing a series, I sometimes worry I’ll run out of ideas. After all, how many off-track shenanigans can Billie get herself in and out of? (Turns out, a lot) But there’s so much inspiration to be mined in real-life events. I should have enough supply for twenty books (readers willing).

Is there a real-life story that you think would make for excellent crime fiction fodder? Please let me know in the comments.

ALSO, I’d love to send a copy of Devil in Profile to a lucky winner. And if you haven’t read (Book 1) Death of a Dancing Queen, don’t sweat it. I can send you a Kindle copy of that as well.

Devil in Profile: A Billie Levine Mystery (Book 2)

Unlicensed P.I. Billie Levine is trying to bank some extra cash, so she picks up hours working as a process server for another investigative firm. Mindless and mostly 9 to 5, Billie is content to simply hand over court documents until during a routine stakeout, she stumbles upon the corpse of an elderly man, an art collector with ties to Nazi Germany.

Compared to Billie, the dead man has it easy. Billie is feeling on edge lately. Maybe it’s because her father is insisting his estranged kids come to his wedding in Sedona, or that David is making plans to move out, or that a smug teaching assistant is getting underfoot on her latest case.

Although, it’s possible she could use the help when the cops zero in on Billie’s boyfriend, Aaron, and his connections to an international art ring. Turns out, Aaron’s stint in Israel has left him with more than just a thick scar across his neck. The woman he screwed over wants revenge, and she’s determined to leverage Billie’s murder case to get it.

With the detectives focused on Aaron, Billie sets her sights on stopping a killer who is tying up loose ends — Billie being one of them.

About the Author:

Kimberly Giarratano is an author of mysteries for teens and adults. Her debut novel, Grunge Gods and Graveyards, won the 2015 Silver Falchion Award for Best YA at Killer Nashville. A former librarian, she is currently an instructor at a SUNY Orange County and the chapter liaison for Sisters in Crime. Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, Kim and her husband moved to the Poconos to raise their three kids amid black bears and wild turkeys. While she doesn’t miss the Jersey traffic, she does miss a good bagel and lox.

You can find her at www.kimberlyggiarratano.com

Unknown's avatar

Published by J.A. Hennrikus

One woman, three names, many books. As Julia Henry I wrote the Garden Squad series for Kensington. As J.A. Hennrikus I wrote the Theater Cop series, and as Julianne Holmes I wrote the Clock Shop series. I've been an arts administrator for my entire career, mostly in the performing arts. Currently I'm the ED of Sisters in Crime, a wonderful organization that promotes and supports crime writers. www.sistersincrime.org Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram! @JHAuthors

34 Thoughts

  1. Welcome, Kim! What great inspiration for your new book, which sounds like an amazing read.

    Not exactly a crime story, but I once ran past a phone ringing in the leaves at the side of the road. This one turned out to be that of a road worker who had dropped it there an hour before and then moved on. But, being me, I later spun it into a threatening event in a book!

    Like

  2. Hi, Kim! Congratulations on the new release. It sounds amazing.

    Ideas are definitely all around us. Every news report, every overheard conversation, every book or TV show sparks rounds of “what if…”

    Like

  3. I was watching some episodes of “Disappeared ” yesterday, where people are abducted or simply disappear into thin air, and families are still searching for them. A few of them disappeared under nefarious conditions and I was thinking what good books could be written about their bodies being found eventually, sleuths unraveling what really happened to them.

    Like

  4. Bigfoot hunters! Squatchers. Any of these guys that go out into the woods looking for crytids on weekends. I’m thinking they gotta disappear every once in a while…you know, under suspicious circumstances. I hope not, but seriously, all that howlin’ and tree knocking’ must attract some unwanted attention…

    Like

  6. Haven’t read book 1 yet since you are a new author to me. Book looks like a good read and would like to try your books 📚 imprint format.

    Like

    1. You can read them out of order. The world won’t end. Their sister reads if that makes sense.

      Like

  7. Stories of the code breakers in World War II come to mind. Especially a story set about 20 years after the war, when they had adapted to their life but still can’t talk about what they did during the war. This story (both the real life inspiration and your story) sound fascinating. Congratulations on your new release!

    Like

  8. I haven’t read any of your books but plan to search them out. Loved your comment about the US and book bans…Linda Toohey

    Like

  9. This sounds so interesting! I really find the WW2 era fascinating, and the looting most definitely inspires all kinds of stories. As far as real life, I think you can make an ominous mystery out of anything. I remember someone making a comment once, and my twisted mind went to “is she going to try to kill her husband for his benefits?” Might be reading too many mysteries, if there’s such a thing.

    Like

  10. This wonderful post resonates with me since there are so many real stories out there.
    An uncle who disappeared years ago and left his entire family. Who knows what happened?
    Your novel sounds captivating and intriguing.

    Like

  11. A family had a painting hanging on their dining room wall for years and years. No one took much notice since it was part of the decor. The painting had great value although no one was aware of it at the time. Whether or not it was deliberate the couple had this in their possession and it took off from there with authorities etc. Devil in Profile would be a treasure to enjoy.

    Like

  12. can’t say i have a story that i think would be a good plot. I do enjoy reading books that have some link to true events.

    Like

  13. Here in Pensacola, we have a lighthouse that has a reputation for being haunted that would be a good subject for a story.

    Like

  14. Congratulations, Kim!

    I hear you about WW2. There is so much that happened back then that is reverberating, still happening, or happening again today.

    Like

  15. Woot! Fellow Jersey girl! How did I miss you first book. Well, fortunately, that’s easy to remedy, off to Amazon.

    Real life events? Hum. I seem to be drawn to killers. First time, I was eight or nine and playing on the banks of the Passaic River (no fences then ) when I spotted an old man (see my age – he was probably in his 30s). He sat beside me. We talked for a while and then it was time for me to go home. End of story, until later than night when the town police force showed up. We watched from an upstairs window while the “old man” was dragged off in handcuffs. Turns out he’s murdered three people. Second time, I was at my cousin’s in upstate New York. We were playing a game and running through the woods. I heard someone behind me, but no one was there. Spooked me enough send my younger cousins home ahead of me. I followed behind to make sure the youngest didn’t decide to wander back into the woods. That’s when I stepped on a board and a nail went into my foot. A man came from behind and told me to run. He didn’t have to tell me twice. I figured he was the one who’d been shadowing us. Turns out he was an escaped convict serving time for murder. When they caught him he confessed he’d been following some loud kids for cover and he should have taken the hurt one for hostage.

    Like

  16. Sadly, nothing comes to mind, but your book sounds wonderful. Definitely adding to my TBR list. Thanks!

    Like

  17. Fires being set in empty houses and apartments. That is all that I can come up with tonight. Thanks for sharing. God bless you.

    Like

  18. You are a new author to me. Your book sounds like a book I would really enjoy reading.

    Like

Comments are closed.