Morgan's Landing by Linda Griffin
Growing up in San Diego, California, Linda Griffin developed a passion for the printed word with her very first Dick and Jane reader. As soon as she figured out that somebody must create those words, she knew she wanted to be a “book maker” when she grew up. She didn’t wait, though–she wrote her first story, “Judy and the Fairies,” when she was six. Her love of books also led her to an MLS degree from UCLA and a career as a reference and collection development librarian at the San Diego Public Library. Retirement allowed her to put writing front and center. She has had stories published in numerous journals as well as ten titles released by the Wild Rose Press, and has produced seven of them as audiobooks, including Morgan’s Landing.
Morgan’s Landing Blurb
Where is Julie Morgan? In the small town of Morgan’s Landing, fourteen-year-old Julie Morgan disappears on her way to school after a spat with her twin sister. Detective Jim Brady uncovers a few suspects—Is it fired school janitor Bear Wayans, paroled sex offender Raymond Ochner, Julie’s computer teacher David Hartwell…or his own teenage son Colin? Jim can’t believe his son could be involved, but his wife is convinced the boy is hiding something. He needs to find Julie before the worst happens—and keep the peace at home.
This is a spotlight on “Morgan’s Landing” by Linda Griffin
Inspiration to write Morgan’s Landing…
I’ve long been intrigued by missing persons stories, real and fictional, so it was inevitable that I would write one of my own. When I wrote Morgan’s Landingthough, I was less interested in the solution to the mystery than in how a small town detective would go about trying to find it and how the townspeople would react and speculate.
What can readers expect from this book?
Morgan’s Landingis a stand-alone book, but there is the potential for more cases featuring Detective Jim Brady. Although the suspense continues throughout the story, the focus is more on the characters’ struggles and relationships. How much can you trust those close to you?
Linda’s favourite scene from Morgan’s Landing…
Heather was taking a math test when Mr. Scarlett, the vice principal, called her out in the hall to ask if she knew where Julie was. He was unusually stern.
“She has Phys Ed this period,” Heather said. Shouldn’t he know that?
“She’s not in class,” Mr. Scarlett said. “She wasn’t in Computer Applications first period, either. Your mother says she didn’t stay home sick.”
“No, she left before I did,” Heather said. She was mystified, and as the situation sank in, she experienced the first shudder of real fear. Julie liked school, and she would never cut classes. Their parents would kill them if they even thought of such a thing. They were not overly strict, but they were firm in their expectations that their daughters would always do the right thing.
She dug her cell phone, silenced during class, out of her purse, and dialed her sister’s number. It rang four times and went to voicemail. “It’s me,” she said. “Where are you? Call when you get this.”
Read more about Author Linda Griffin’s writing and publication journey here:
