True Crime Thursday – PageTurner and Pig Butchering

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Public domain photo

by Debbie Burke

Scams that prey on writers’ hopes and dreams have been around for decades. Here at TKZ, we often talk about the barrage of emails, text messages, and phone calls from high-pressure con artists that promise your book is guaranteed to be a NYT bestseller AND a blockbuster film AND a streaming series…if only you pay them fees that range from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Between 2017 to 2024, an estimated 800 unwary, trusting writers paid more than $44 million to a particularly successful enterprise called PageTurner, Press and Media LLC with offices in Chula Vista, California.

In January 2025, three principals of PageTurner were indicted by the US Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California, with investigation assistance from the FBI and US Postal Inspectors.

Gemma Traya Austin, 58, of Chula Vista, Michael Cris Traya Sordilla, 32, the Philippines, and Bryan Navales Torosa, 34, the Philippines, were arrested and charged with multiple counts of Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments. Potential penalties are 20 years in prison and fines up to $500,000 or twice the amount laundered.

All three defendants pled not guilty.

Additionally, PageTurner’s website has been shut down.

Back in 2023, the Authors Guild issued warnings based on numerous complaints made by writers who had paid PageTurner large amounts of money but received no value.

Since 2018, watchdog Victoria Strauss and Writer Beware had also been following complaints by victims. She tracked down various company names connected with PageTurner, including Innocentrix Philippines, “an umbrella group for a bumper crop of scams.”

“Pig-butchering” is a scam where victims are pressured to pay increasing fees as the scammers pass victims around among various related entities. Each additional entity requires more money for their supposed service. They claim to be liaisons with film producers and studios, or marketing specialists, or contacts to develop screenplays or “treatments” for film, etc.

Fraudsters fatten up their victims with repeated, escalating demands for payment before “butchering” them for a final big score.

In one horrific case, an author was pressured into spending more than $600,000 for bogus screen treatments, marketing, and PR programs.

The website of a Philippine beauty pageant includes this paragraph about one of the accused:

Michael Cris Traya Sordilla, commonly known as Mike Sordilla, serves as the current chairman of the Hiyas ng Pilipinas organization. A distinguished judge for numerous local and national pageants, Mike Sordilla is also a respected philanthropist, businessman, and socialite. Under his leadership, the organization has reached new heights, establishing itself as one of the most anticipated and celebrated pageant competitions in the country.

The “respected philanthropist” and his two cohorts have remained in custody since December 2024 because they’re considered flight risks. 

Adding insult to injury, a phony law firm is now soliciting victims of PageTurner to represent them for a $1200 free. This notice appears on Writer Beware:

SCAM ALERT: Authors are reporting calls from “US Literary Law Firm” offering “representation” for PageTurner victims for a fee of $1,200. This offer is fraudulent: there is no such law firm.

Because of the large dollar amounts and complexity of evidence in the PageTurner case, court dates have been delayed several times with the most recent update ordering a hearing on August 29, 2025.

If you or any writer you know has been victimized by PageTurner, the FBI issued this request:

If you believe you are a victim of the PageTurner scam, please contact the FBI at AuthorFraud@fbi.gov.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

Writers are especially vulnerable to scams by con artists who use hopes and dreams as psychological weapons to take advantage of them. When anyone solicits you out of the blue with lofty promises about the fame and success they can deliver for your book, the best practice is to hang up, block the number, and delete emails and texts.

The only promise you can count on from them is that they will financially butcher you.

~~~

Con artists, scammers, and fraudsters are among bad guys and bad gals featured in Debbie Burke’s new writing craft book, The Villain’s Journey-How to Create Villains Readers Love to Hate.

Sales links:

Amazon

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Apple Books

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Franistans, Fornasteins, And The Occasional Blithwhap

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By John Gilstrap

During my 35 years as a firefighter and safety engineer, I conducted a great deal of training to professionals whose products and services I did not fully understand. That lack of understanding could become a problem only if I let that happen because let’s face it: the safety and reporting requirements for a degreaser are largely the same whether you’re degreasing razor blades or gun barrels.

To streamline the teaching process, I created the generic franistans and fornasteins to serve my purposes as I needed them. The two items were always incompatible. If it was an electrical safety class, they’d be of different voltages (or different continents), if they were bits of fire apparatus, the threads wouldn’t line up. And in a hazmat class, god forbid that you store franistan chloride next fornastein sulfate, lest you create a cloud of methyl-ethyl badsh*t.

As an aside, a blithwhap is any item that is not a hammer yet is used as a hammer.

It occurs to me that franistans and fornasteins form the basis of a great deal of science fiction and fantasy. Just because a thing or a planet or a people aren’t real doesn’t mean that they can’t be assigned characteristics that make them real. That’s what this fiction gig is all about. In the case of fantasy in particular, it’s a personal bugaboo of mine that if I cannot pronounce a word in my head, I cannot read the story, and as a result, I know I’m being ejected from a lot of really good storytelling.

Want to know what you got wrong?

I was at a party the other night when the hostess told me how much her husband loves my books, but how he makes notes on details that I get wrong. “He won’t share them if you won’t ask for them, though.”

Hell shall freeze over. And here’s why: 1) her husband is a good friend and he’s got a fully functioning voice box with which he could ask me himself if he wanted to share his insights; 2) the book is already out and the damage already done; and 3) I probably won’t care.

<cue organ chord>

It’s not that I won’t care care, but that the areas of this friend’s expertise are very high-tech, and I will therefore always get things wrong, and the mistakes are of a nature that only he and a dozen other people on the planet would notice. This is the wondrous element of fiction: it’s mostly made up.

If your story needs a bajillion millimeter bombinator to launch a thousand-ton projectile to Mars from Bikini Atoll, I say go for it, but be very careful of the point of view from which you report the launch. If it’s from the POV of a kid on the playground, it’s probably just a big loud rocket ship. If it’s from the POV of launch control, well, you’ve got some serious explaining to do. Start with the chemistry and physics. At its heart, though, the bombinator is just a cousin of the franistan.

I set Burned Bridges, the first in my new Irene River thriller series, in Jenkins County, West Virginia, which might as well be Franistania, West Virginia. Set in the Eastern Panhandle, Jenkins County physically resembles the actual Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties that define the Panhandle, but it’s got an entirely different political structure. It’s a fictional nonfiction place.

We all know that guns will get you in trouble when you write about them. The average mystery fan is probably fine knowing that Detective Jones is carrying a pistol. The average thriller fan will want to know that he’s carrying a Glock. My fans will know that he’s carrying a chambered Glock 19 in a Kydex holster on his right side with two spare 17-round magazines on his left.

The point here is to write for the audience you most care about, and accept that someone will always be a little disappointed.

Intermission! Let’s All
Go To The Movies!

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A Brief Intermission | Bruceb Consulting

By PJ Parrish

This was a good week. Found out my dog Archie doesn’t need $800 in dental work. My physical therapy is working wonders on my bad back. And best, I finally got some traction on a short story that I agreed to do for an anthology. In honor of all this, I think I deserve a break. Actually, I admit it. I just ran out of time this week to do a good thoughtful post on writing. So I hope you will give me a hard pass this week. I have a really good post in the works on backstory…I promise.

In meantime, let’s have some fun. I have been bingeing of late on old Turner Classic movies. In the wee wee hours last night it was Joan Crawford in a A Woman’s Face, a twisty noir wherein Joan plays a horribly disfigured woman who will do anything to get her beauty back, including blackmail to pay for a plastic surgeon. Does she start a new life or return to her dark past? A risky part for Joan, who fought hard to star in this remake when Garbo turned it down. Juicy stuff!

Anyway, this movie reminded me of a little quiz I saw in The Atlantic. I had to admit, I had trouble figuring out my answers. So I thought I’d ask you guys. Go get some Sno-caps and fill in the blanks:

1) Worst well-regarded film
2) Most overhyped film (note that this is slightly different from above; the first measures the absolute badness level, while the second measures the delta between reputation and actual quality)
3) Worst film to win a best picture Oscar
4) Most disappointing film (ie should have been good but wasn’t)
5) Worst movie, full stop. (Must have been a major motion picture release–no direct-to-video, or film festival torture tactics, please)
6) Worst movie with good direction (ie terrible script, awful acting, producer interference, etc)
7) Biggest unknown treasure

Here’s my picks:
1. Unforgiven (sorry, Clint)

Cleopatra (1963) - Turner Classic Movies
2. Cleopatra (Just re-watched this on TCM recently. Even stentorious Richard Burton couldn’t save this toga dog)


3. Vintage version: The Greatest Show on Earth (Jimmy Stewart as Buttons, the murdering clown!) Modern version: Crash (a total wreck)
4. Godfather III (no contest. I will die on this hill)

Staying Alive | Rotten Tomatoes
5. Staying Alive (John Travolta as a loincloth-clad Broadway gypsy; a crass sequel attempt to cash in on Saturday Night Fever)
6. 2001. I have watched this a million times and still can’t figure out what the hell is going on at the end.

Harvey's Hellhole: Cinema Paradiso — Crooked Marquee
7. Cinema Paradiso (Okay, so it’s not unknown. It won best foreign film but it’s still my fave “little” movie. I also have a soft spot for Downhill Racer (Robert Redford going against type as a bastard Olympic skier.)

What say you? And thanks for letting me take it easy today. And now….HERE’S JOAN!

Bring Your Setting to Life

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All summer in New England, the heat and humidity has been brutal. There’s a big difference between 90 degrees in dry heat and 90 with humidity so high the heat index rises to triple digits, the air so soupy and thick, even people without breathing problems still struggle to breathe.

We can’t help but complain about how miserable it is. Talking about the weather isn’t pleasant chitchat around here. It’s a serious subject discussed year-round.

Characters from New England will absolutely mention the weather—snow, ice, heat, or humidity—at one point or another. The topic is ingrained in us from birth. If the character never mentioned, or at least thought about, the weather in New England, they would lose all credibility.

Now, I’m not suggesting we include long, boring conversations about the weather. If you choose to include a line or two of dialogue, make it memorable…

“Man, this heat. I feel like a racehorse in last place.”

Or better yet, show us their sweat while exerting energy or their faces numbing from an arctic chill.

Even the shingles sagged, too drained from the heat and humidity to hang on.

Be clear about the weather without telling the reader.

After I weeded my garden yesterday, I rung out my hair, every pore of my body open and crying, sweat stinging my eyes, salt niggling my tastebuds.

The setting should become a character in and of itself. Make the reader experience it as if they were there.

Floridians might scurry to board up windows before a hurricane. Californians might whip up an evacuation plan when wildfires are near. Or maybe, these characters are old pros who aren’t fazed by hurricanes or wildfires and wait till the last minute to prepare. That would tell us a lot about them.

The setting can convey mood, tone, or characterization. It can also become a constant obstacle for the main character as it actively participates in the story.

Heavy downpours are wet and loud and can interfere with one’s ability to hear. What if a secondary character tries to warn the hero via text? Chances are they won’t be able to hear the notification.

What if the electric grid can’t handle the overload of air conditioners? A blackout is rife with possibilities.

What if the full moon brightens the wooded landscape too much? It’s more difficult to hide in the light.

Tips to describe the setting:

Sensory Details: Don’t only include visual elements. Vivid descriptions use all five senses to bring the setting to life. Every character interprets the setting differently. One might revel in a star-filled sky, where the other can’t see past the army of mosquitos.

Dynamic Changes: Depending on where you choose to set your story, the setting can evolve over time. Environmental changes, mood, or plot events all impact the setting.

Emotional Connection: A well-developed setting can evoke strong emotions in the characters and readers, like New Englanders this summer.

Symbolism: The setting can also have a symbolic meaning that might reflect and/or contrast with the theme(s) or characters. Hiding symbolism within the plot is also a ton of fun.

Take your time when deciding where to set your story. If you’re unfamiliar with the area, take a trip or find a local. Social media is an excellent resource for this. A local will be able to tell you about the community, weather, landmarks, and add rich, visceral details that you can’t find anywhere else.

Where does your WIP take place? How do you incorporate setting into the plot?

Competent and Forgettable Fiction

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by James Scott Bell
@jamesscottbell

We have a first page for critique today, with a twist. Read on to find out what it is,

Chapter One

The first scream barely made it through the hotel’s thick glass windows. But the second one cut through like a blade. Jack Rainer froze mid-step in the hallway of the Bellamy Grand, a five-star fortress in downtown Chicago. Rain hammered the city like it wanted to wash the whole thing away. Jack tilted his head. Third floor. Same as him. Room 314—just ahead.

He slipped his hand inside his jacket and felt the cold steel of the Glock. Habit. He hadn’t carried it in years, but tonight something told him to bring it. Instinct, maybe. Or guilt.

Another crash. Glass. A woman’s voice, shrill and panicked, yelling something unintelligible. Jack moved fast now, heart kicking into gear. He reached the door and pressed his ear against it. Silence. Too much silence.

He knocked twice, sharp and hard.

“Hotel security,” he lied.

Nothing.

He glanced up and down the hall, then used the heel of his boot to break the latch. The door slammed open.

The suite was trashed. Blood on the floor. A single high heel by the window. And a man’s body slumped in the chair, head tilted at an impossible angle.

Jack muttered, “Welcome back.”

***

JSB: I’ll let the proverbial cat out of the bag right now. The above was generated by ChatGPT, to the prompt: Write a 200 word opening page to a thriller.

I just wanted to see what it came up. My overall impression is this is a cliché-ridden, implausible scenario with nothing in the style to set it apart.

First cliché: Naming the character Jack. We have more than enough Jacks. Jack is no longer nimble in the thriller world.

Second cliché: cold steel. How many times have we seen that? Not as many as Chat, which has “read” every book on the planet.

Implausibility: If this is a “five-star fortress” hotel, a kick isn’t going to break any latch or slam the door open.

I pointed this out to Chat. It responded:

Great point—and you’re absolutely right to question that. A “five-star fortress” hotel would likely have solid, reinforced doors, especially for privacy and security. Kicking one in would not only be implausible for a lone individual, it would also make a huge racket—drawing attention and making the act feel more like an action movie than a grounded thriller.

To keep it realistic and suspenseful, we can revise that part. For example, Jack could use a hotel passkey he lifted from a distracted staffer earlier, or maybe he knows an old trick from his past life that lets him manipulate a door latch in seconds—something subtle and skill-based rather than brute force.

Well, at least it takes helpful criticism (it’s probably already sucked up last week’s post).

The writing itself is competent. That’s not a virtue. Marian Lizzi, editor-in-chief at Perigee Books (an imprint of Penguin Group USA) once wrote about reasons a submitted book gets turned down by a publishing company. Among them was the following:

Not remarkable/surprising/ unputdownable enough. This one is the most difficult to articulate – and yet in many ways it’s the most important hurdle to clear. Does the proposal get people excited? Will sales reps and buyers be eager to read it – and then eager to talk it up themselves?  

As my first boss used to warn us green editorial assistants two decades ago, the type of submission that’s the toughest to spot – and the most essential to avoid — is the one that is “skillful, competent, literate, and ultimately forgettable.”

That’s what we’re flooded with these days—competent and forgettable fiction. Not the kind that has readers going Ah at the end, but Meh. This does not create what we authors desire most—repeat readers who become super fans.

I won’t go into further detail on how I would change today’s submission from our “brave (new world) author.” I’ll leave that to you. Does this pass our “I would turn the page” test? What would you suggest to improve it?

What We Do

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If and when the apocalypse finally happens and I survive, I’m gonna be the most pissed-off human left on the earth. I can’t stand for my hair to be long, and I have to shave every day. The stubble under my neck drives me crazy, and all the Road Warrior gangs better steer clear.

I finally found a real barbershop. Not a hair salon, stylist center, hair spa, or hair stylist. It’s an old-school barbershop with hair on the floor, slightly uncomfortable chairs, and the smell of Barbicide or Pinaud, with an undertone of cigars and pipe smoke.

A rack of magazines sits beside the door, ranging from shooting sports, hunting, cars, or anything with Texas in the title.

The two barbers who’ve retired from either law enforcement or the military. How do I know? Their own haircuts, tattoos, and the subject matter they discuss. I haven’t asked, though.

Most of the time I simply walk in and one of them is available, scissors in hand and lightly clicking as if waiting for a head.

Today was different. Both chairs were occupied, and I was in a hurry. A lively discussion about wild hogs bounced back and forth between the barbers and one customer who was draped and seated.

A redheaded gentleman sat beside a mom concentrating on her phone, waiting for her son’s fancy haircut to be finished. Beside him, a bent man with hair whiter than my own listened to the exchange, hands on the head of his cane and smiling as if he knew a secret.

Barber One stepped back to judge the length of his young project’s sideburns. “Well, I believe we can’t kill enough hogs. I hear there are nearly three million of them in the state.”

Feral hogs are so destructive to crops and land, it’s estimated they cost Texans between $400 to $500 million dollars each year. They’re dangerous to humans and animals, destroy habitat, and carry communicative diseases that can be passed on to livestock.

Redhead chuckled. “About half of them are rooting up my pasture.”

“I heard Constable Rick killed one off his porch the other morning,” I said.

Barber One shook his head. “Well, that leaves two million, nine hundred ninety-nine more.”

Barber Two paused, thinking. “How many piglets can a feral sow have at a time?”

“Six to twelve,” I recalled. “Usually six, I’ve heard, but I don’t know anyone who goes out and counts them.”

“Well, then we’re back up to three million and five by now, as fast as those things reproduce.”

The discussion continued until it was my time in the chair. He shook out the drape and clipped it around my neck.

“What are we doing for you today?”

“Short. No skin showing.”

“Got it.”

The youngster stepped down from Barber One’s chair, to be replaced by the white-haired man who creaked his way to the chair and settled in. I met the elderly gentleman’s eyes and he nodded a hello.

The barber wrapped his neck. “How are we cutting today, sir?”

“Make it look good, like it’s not a fresh cut.”

“Trying to make an impression?”

“I have a lot of people coming to visit.”

“Birthday. Anniversary?”

“Funeral.”

“Sorry to hear. Hope it wasn’t someone close.”

“About as close as it can be. It’s me.”

I raised an eyebrow, waiting for the punchline.

The elderly man smiled. “I’m dying.”

Barber Two chuckled. “Aren’t we all.”

I closed my eyes, listening.

“No. Really. The doctors released me a few days ago after I was in the hospital for several weeks. Said my kidneys are failing and there’s nothing else they can do. Sent me home with hospice.” He sighed. “I have a kidney infection now, and they figure I won’t see Monday.”

My barber paused. “Well, doctors don’t know everything.”

“They don’t, but I know how I feel.” He chuckled and I cracked an eye open again. He was honestly cheerful, and I still thought he was setting us up.

“But it’s okay. I’ve done it all. I was married to a wonderful woman who’s already up there waiting for me. My daughters are successful businesswomen and moms, and my son’ll come to his senses one of these days. Maybe this’ll straighten him out.

“I’ve traveled the world, vacationed in every state. Hunting and fished here in the U.S., shot big game in Africa, caught marlin from blue water and sailed on a big three-masted schooner.”

The shop was silent. Even their scissors weren’t clicking.

“I’ve driven good cars, eaten fine food, though I still think home fried chicken is best, and watched good people do great things.”

Barber One started to speak, but had to stop and clear his throat. “So you figure you needed a haircut.”

“Wanted to take one last thing off my list.” The gentleman’s smile was as wide as a four-lane highway. “I have most everything else taken care of. Gave my guns away to son-in-laws and good friends who’re still young enough to use them.

“I just wish I could hunt quail one more time. I miss that most, following dogs on a chilly morning. I wonder if quail and dogs will be in heaven.” He paused, veering off again. “No matter. You know, I’m looking forward to seeing my mama again.”

A few minutes later, Barber Two gave my shoulder a pat and spun me around to face the big mirror on the wall. “All finished.”

Apparently, my instructions weren’t clear enough. My hair looked as if I’d just joined the military. “Well, thanks.”

I stepped outside to consider my new head and what I’d heard. It was a lot to absorb, and I was still standing there when the old gentleman came outside.

He gave me that same wide grin and I couldn’t help but smile, too. “I know you.”

“You do?”

“Yep, I’ve been reading your newspaper columns for years, and most of your books, though that spooky one was a little much. Reading this last few years has been all I can do, so your stories have help passed the time.”

We stood there for a second before I held out my hand. “Thanks for reading my work.”

He nodded. “Not much to say, is there?” He shifted his cane and paused. “I’d rather have a hug, if it’s all the same to you.”

There in front of the barbershop, we hugged, and I let him be the one to step back. He winked. “Good luck.”

I patted his shoulder. “At least you got a better haircut than this one.”

“That’s what I was thinking,” he said and walked slowly away.

On the way home, other similar conversations came to mind, and that’s the purpose of this discussion. As writers, we’re entertainers, and our work is impactful in more ways than we expect. More than once I’ve heard my brother from another mother, John Gilstrap, say we’re entertainers, and that’s the God’s honest truth.

During a signing at the Barnes and Noble in Garland, Texas, about five years ago, a woman asked me to sign a stack of books bearing my name. “I have your new one here, but these others belonged to my husband.”

For once I knew when to keep my mouth shut, so I waited.

“He died a month ago from cancer, and your books helped him get through the chemo and these last months. He made me promise to buy everything you write, because he was such a big fan.”

Eyes stinging, I stepped around the signing table, and we stood there with our arms around each other long enough for a couple of other fans to tear up. My allergies must have been acting up, because my eyes watered for a long time after that.

Not getting too deep into a friend’s life, but a woman I’ve known for several years also gave my earlier books to her son who was suffering from cancer. He had a rough time of it, and at the end, she and his young wife read aloud to him when he could no longer focus. I had the honor of talking with him on the phone from across the country and had to clear my voice several times. We visited until his strength went that day and he was gone not long after that.

Don’t underestimate your work. It will impact others, and you probably won’t even know about it.

 

Reader Friday-The Awesome Power of Words

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I borrowed some words from Steve Laube for today’s post.

His post is entitled The Power of a Single Word, and it captivated me immediately.

It made me think of all the times in my life when just one word either made a huge difference in the path I was on, or it didn’t because I dismissed it or I wasn’t paying attention.

Below are some excerpts from his post:

 

“According to various sources, there are about one million words in the English language. Approximately 750,000 of them are technical or scientific. That leaves us with 250,000 words with which to communicate. I doubt any of us know all of them or use them.

Interestingly, in his works, Shakespeare used about 29,000 different words, 12,000 of them only once. The King James Bible has 12,100 different individual words. In our normal life, we use only around 10,000 words to communicate our ideas, our emotions, and our understanding of truth.

You [we] are gifted with words, both spoken and written.

I find that when I’m angry, my vocabulary expands like a thesaurus; and I use that articulation like the sharp edge of a blade. Never to kill but to fillet. To carve enough pieces to leave my victim bloody and helpless. There is no pride in this skill. In fact, it is my greatest weakness. Nay, it is my greatest humiliation.

What if I–what if you–used that skill with words to bind wounds?
To give hope to the hopeless.
To give breath to the drowning.
To catch falling tears and turn them into refreshing joy.
To laugh a little, cry a little, love a lot, and pray even more.

You [we] are word warriors. Called to something unique and special.

Never let the machinations of this publishing industry cause you to deviate from your calling. Never.”

* * *

Thank you for allowing me to share your words today, Mr. Laube.

TKZers, can you think of one word, just one, in your past which made a difference–either positive or negative–to you?

For me–amongst many others–the word TRY stands out in my memory.

Comments welcome.

 

Paskekrims, Nordic Noir, and Why Cold-Blooded Crime is So Hot

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Let’s start with a weird one.

Every Easter, Norwegians curl up with a murder mystery—yes, it’s a thing. It’s called Paskekrims (Easter Crime), and it’s become a cultural phenomenon that helps explain the broader global fascination with what we now call Nordic Noir.

Nordic Noir is one of the most distinctive and powerful genres in modern crime fiction. It’s bleak. It’s brooding. And it’s booming.

At its core, Nordic Noir is a subgenre of crime fiction rooted in the Scandinavian region—primarily Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. It’s defined by a cold, moody atmosphere, morally complex characters, stark landscapes, and a tendency to tackle tough social issues. And readers (and viewers) can’t seem to get enough of it.

These stories often feature detectives who are brilliant but broken. They drink too much. They carry baggage. And they stumble through layers of societal decay while trying to solve some pretty grisly crimes.

Unlike the fast-paced, high-gloss thrillers of the American tradition, Nordic Noir takes its time. It broods. It simmers. It invites readers into a grim world where the answers aren’t easy and justice is rarely clean.

So, what makes this genre so addictive?

It’s not just the murders—although Nordic Noir rarely skimps on body count. It’s the mood, the psychology, and the haunting realism. These stories feel like they could actually happen, and maybe already did.

If you’ve read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, you’ve tasted the genre. Larsson helped ignite the global boom in Nordic Noir with his Millennium trilogy. But he wasn’t the first—and he won’t be the last.

Let’s rewind. The roots of Nordic Noir go back to the 1960s, when Swedish couple Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö wrote a ten-book series featuring detective Martin Beck. Their work combined police procedural storytelling with pointed critiques of the Scandinavian welfare state. It was slow-burning, socially conscious, and incredibly influential.

From there, the torch passed to Henning Mankell. His Kurt Wallander novels cemented the genre’s tone—gritty, introspective, and unflinchingly honest about human flaws. Mankell sold over 40 million books worldwide and inspired a hit British TV series starring Kenneth Branagh.

Then came Jo Nesbø. The Norwegian rocker-turned-writer gave us Harry Hole, a deeply damaged detective with a nose for murder and a streak of self-destruction a mile wide. Nesbø’s books are dark, violent, smart, and among the most commercially successful crime novels in the world.

Other heavy hitters include:

  • Camilla Läckberg – Known for her Fjällbacka series, blending domestic drama with psychological suspense.
  • Arnaldur Indriðason – Icelandic master of mood, famed for his melancholic Inspector Erlendur
  • Yrsa Sigurðardóttir – Iceland again, combining crime with a touch of horror.
  • Jussi Adler-Olsen – Danish author of the Department Q series, known for its humor and depth.
  • Åsa Larsson, Tove Alsterdal, and a growing chorus of new voices bringing even more nuance and variety to the genre.

The settings matter almost as much as the characters. Long, dark winters. Snow-covered forests. Isolated cabins. Stark urban backdrops. The geography of Scandinavia becomes a character in itself—one that seeps into the bones of the story.

And then there’s Paskekrims—which literally translates to “Easter Crime.”

Since the 1920s, Norwegians have been reading murder mysteries during Easter break. Publishers release special “Easter Thrillers” just for the occasion, often advertised on milk cartons, buses, and chocolate egg wrappers. It’s a country-wide obsession that shows just how culturally embedded crime fiction is in Nordic life.

So why is Nordic Noir so popular beyond Scandinavia? Three reasons.

First, it’s authentic. These stories aren’t sugarcoated or over-produced—they reflect real social anxieties, from immigration and inequality to misogyny and corruption.

Second, it’s cerebral. The puzzles are dense, the motives complex, and the moral lines fuzzy. Readers get to engage their brains, not just their guts.

Third, it’s emotional. Despite their stoicism, these characters bleed—inside and out. And their quiet suffering makes them deeply relatable, even as they chase monsters through the snow.

From a reader demographic standpoint, Nordic Noir draws a global audience. It’s especially popular among readers aged 30 to 65 who enjoy character-driven crime fiction with psychological depth. Women make up a large portion of the readership, particularly for authors like Läckberg and Sigurðardóttir.

And it’s not just books. Nordic Noir has exploded on screen, too. Think The Bridge, Borgen, Trapped, Wallander, Deadwind, Snabba Cash, and The Killing. These series have reached international audiences through streaming platforms like Netflix and HBO, often adapted into American or British versions.

As crime writers, there’s a lot we can learn from Nordic Noir. You don’t need a ton of action if you’ve got atmosphere and character. You don’t need a tidy ending if you’ve earned emotional truth. And sometimes, the most terrifying villain isn’t the killer—it’s the society that lets it all happen.

Looking ahead, Nordic Noir isn’t going anywhere. New voices are emerging, and old ones are evolving. The genre is diversifying, tackling fresh issues like environmental collapse, tech dystopias, and generational trauma—all with that trademark Scandinavian chill.

There’s even crossover with other genres now—crime blended with sci-fi, climate fiction, and historical mystery. The cold, it seems, has legs.

So if you’re a crime writer looking to expand your style, sharpen your realism, or deepen your emotional range, study the Nordics. Read them. Watch them. Analyze how they use silence, setting, and character wounds to elevate what could otherwise be just another dead body in the snow.

And hey, maybe next Easter, you’ll find yourself curled up with a Paskekrims of your own.

Kill Zoners — Who out there is into Nordic Noir? Any suggestions as to other NN authors and books? Comments?

The Latest in Marketing Ploys

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The Latest in Marketing Ploys
Terry Odell

I’m sure we’ve all seen requests to feature our books hitting our inboxes, often several a day. Until recently, they’ve been straightforward, like this one:

I’m a content creator (not a marketer) who helps authors bring their books to life through cinematic trailers—whether it’s fantasy, romance, thriller, or memoir.
I’ve had the chance to read your book, and it truly resonated with me.
New release or backlist, a powerful visual hook can instantly boost engagement and reach.
I’ve created trailers that connect deeply with readers and stand out across platforms.
Happy to send a few samples so you can see the quality firsthand.
Let’s chat and explore how we can make your story unforgettable.

Note that it says “read your book.” No mention of which one. Sometimes they do pick a book from our publication list, sometimes, like the one above, they just say “a book.”

Others want to “help you sell” your book. They go on to tell you where they’ll promote it, and how many followers or subscribers they’ll reach.

If I’m in a snarky mood, sometimes, I’ll reply with a “You want to feature my book? Go ahead. You have my permission” as if I didn’t realize (gasp) that I had to pay for the service. These all end up trashed.

Most recently, I got one via the Author’s Guild that starts out “Dear Great Author.”
Yeah, right. I’m going to hire you when you don’t know who I am. Not.

My website says “I’d love to hear from you,” and I do try to respond. When this email hit my inbox, it seemed legit.

Hi Terry,
I came across your book CRUISING UNDERCOVER and after reading the synopsis, it truly caught my attention.
I’m a big book lover and was curious to ask, what inspired you to write it?

I answered his question (it came from and was signed by a person’s name, not a company), and got this response (copied and pasted; typos are his)

Yes sure its enjoyable
You can feel it in the book — that it came from somewhere deep.
It’s not just a story. It feels like a message that needed to be heard.
If you don’t mind me asking, did you write it more for yourself, or for someone else to finally get it?

Still sounded enough like a reader to offer another answer, albeit a brief one. And then … the real reason he sent the message:

This is actually the kind of work I do. I help authors like you give their book more life after it’s published — so more readers actually feel what you wrote.
There are a few simple ways to do that:
I can help you get Goodreads reviews (which link to Amazon)
Create a short, powerful book trailer
Improve your Amazon listing so it stands out
Build your social media or help you launch the book properly
Even make you a clean author website or help with email marketing
You don’t need everything — just whatever feels right to you.
Would any of that help right now?

Off to the trash with you!

That one was initiated by a person, with some generic but potentially believable comments about the book/my writing. But lately, things have taken a different turn. These solicitors are using AI to make it sound as though they’ve actually read the book, and they’re pulling people in. Are they scammers? Or just misleading the people they’re targeting? Or is there a difference?

I’ve had my share of these, and they’re increasing.

There was this one:

Subject line: Truly Inspired By Your Work.
Hello there,
I hope this message finds you well. I recently came across your work while doing some research, and I have to say—it immediately drew me in. Your story resonated with me on a deep level, and I truly admire the incredible effort and creativity behind it.
I’d love to know—what first inspired you to start writing? Also, are there any upcoming releases or current projects you’re excited about? I’m really looking forward to following your journey and staying connected to your work.
Thank you for sharing your voice with the world.
Julian Creativity

The signature and the lack of a specific book reference were enough for me to send this straight to trash.

One of the groups I belong to has a thread of people reporting how their no-longer-active Instagram accounts have been scraped for solicitations. Others are getting emails that are up front about their goal—get you to pay for their services, but they are getting far more personal.

Some examples from friends willing to share:

I just finished reading about The Smiling Dog Café and felt like I’d stepped into something quietly magical one of those rare places where story, heart, and healing intersect. The blend of grounded human grief and otherworldly comfort, paired with canine intuition and coffee that stirs memory, is a truly special formula. This is the kind of book that readers discover and share because it speaks to something deep, universal, and comforting.

I’m Elijah, a book marketer specializing in indie authors who tell stories with soul. I’d love to help amplify the reach of The Smiling Dog Café through a campaign that honors its tenderness while putting it in front of the exact readers who will embrace it.

The recipient did pay for this service, and did get some reviews, but he reported “Several reviews followed quickly, all of them sounding like they were written by AI, and from reviewers with only one or two reviews under their belt.”

Another friend shared this with me:

Reading Return to Hoffman Grove felt like stepping into the messy, tender terrain of old friendships, unspoken regrets, and the quiet bravery it takes to begin again. You’ve written more than a romance. This is a deeply human story of emotional reckoning, healing, and the powerful grip of the past.

What stood out to me most is how honestly you portray the layers between Cinda and Brody. Their bond is more than romantic; it’s threaded with loyalty, betrayal, and the kind of childhood closeness that never quite lets go. The way you let their tension simmer beneath every interaction makes their slow reconciliation all the more rewarding. And Cinda’s emotional arc, especially her instinct to go it alone, even when she’s surrounded by people who care feels true to life and beautifully nuanced.

But Return to Hoffman Grove isn’t just about relationships. You weave in mystery and quiet suspense with a deft hand. The house fire, the mounting threats, and Brody’s unraveling career all add urgency and depth without ever distracting from the emotional core. It’s that balance of plot and heart, of past and present that makes this story so compelling.

This was followed with a plug for the sender’s company, with the offer of a ‘snapshot’ of what they could provide, which turned out to be quotes for 3 levels of service, ranging from $150 to $400 on Goodreads Listopia lists.

My friend didn’t bother responding.

What about you, TKZers? Any of you being hit by these AI generated marketing ploys as well as the ‘old-fashioned ones? Do you respond? Have you tried any with good results?

New! Find me at Substack with Writings and Wanderings

Danger Abroad

When breaking family ties is the only option.

Madison Westfield has information that could short-circuit her politician father’s campaign for governor. But he’s family. Although he was a father more in word than deed, she changes her identity and leaves the country rather than blow the whistle.

Blackthorne, Inc. taps Security and Investigations staffer, Logan Bolt, to track down Madison Westfield. When he finds her in the Faroe Islands, her story doesn’t match the one her father told Blackthorne. The investigation assignment quickly switches to personal protection for Madison.

Soon, they’re involved with a drug ring and a kidnapping attempt. Will working together put them in more danger? Can a budding relationship survive the dangers they encounter?

Available now.

Like bang for your buck? I have a new Triple-D Ranch bundle. All four novels for one low price. One stop shopping here.

Terry Odell is an award-winning author of Mystery and Romantic Suspense, although she prefers to think of them all as “Mysteries with Relationships.”

Strawberries, Raspberries, and Book Marketing

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by Debbie Burke

July is the height of berry season in Montana.

With so much bounty ripening at the same time, it’s sometimes hard to remember how long it takes for plants to grow and mature to produce an abundance of succulent, sweet, juicy fruit.

You plant a bed of new strawberry starts and, for a couple of years, not much happens. The plants expend most of their energy sending out runners that turn into more plants. Runners go in all directions, sometimes sprawling beyond the raised bed, hanging  in midair. Those need to be coaxed back to root in the soil. Then about the third year, blossoms appear, followed by pea-size but deliciously sweet berries. By the end of summer, berries are larger, sometimes approaching golf-ball size and bursting with juice.

Raspberry canes are similar. For the first few years, they’re busy growing underground runners that pop through the dirt to become new canes. The new canes are often rebellious, refusing to stay in the designated area where you want them. Instead, they shoot up in the nearby lawn and get mowed down. About the third year, a few berries appear. Then the fourth year, suddenly you can’t keep up. You’re picking raspberries every day, eating handfuls, giving them away, and filling freezer bags to make jam later.

What does this have to do with books and marketing?

We writers may take years to write a book. For so long, nothing visible happens. Our words go out like runners that pop up in unexpected places.

Sometimes, like the rebellious volunteer raspberry canes in the lawn, they get mowed down, and we must start over. We have to coax them into the borders of the book, cultivate them, and wait. And cultivate and wait. And cultivate and wait.

Marketing is similar: send out runners, cultivate, and wait.

In Kay’s terrific post yesterday, she mentions endurance.

Writing is a long game. Those who lack the endurance and who give up will never taste the fruits of their labors.

My new book launched this past weekend. The Villain’s Journey-How to Create Villains Readers Love to Hate took about two years from conception to publication.

During that time, along with writing the book, I was sending out runners to gauge market interest among various groups like the Authors Guild, International Thriller Writers, Kill Zone followers, my mailing list, etc.

Through more than three decades, I’ve made writing friends via conferences, classes, and online connections. I’ve taught workshops in person and on Zoom, developing more contacts and editing clients. I’ve written guest posts for other blogs.

Some of the runners I sent out hung in midair and never took root. Others bore incredible fruit.

Back in January, I gave a talk to the Authors of the Flathead that was an overview of The Villain’s Journey. That resulted in an invitation to present a day-long workshop (for a nice fee!) at their upcoming conference in October. Another invitation to teach came from the Montana Writers Rodeo conference for 2026.

TKZ’s community came through in a big way. Jim Bell offered me early encouragement about The Villain’s Journey concept and has given me a wonderful endorsement (shown in Amazon’s Editorial Reviews). 

Steve Hooley and Dale Smith kept nudging me in the nicest way possible. Kay DiBianca asked me to guest post on her blog. Sue Coletta provided a chapter on serial killers. Jim and John Gilstrap added words of wisdom that are included in VJ.

TKZ followers reached out to me, supported the book idea, and a number of them became beta readers.

I’ve never met any of these people face to face, yet I consider them good friends.

One author I did meet in person is Christopher Vogler at a Florida writing conference. Chris’s classic bestselling book The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers maps the Hero’s Journey and gave me the framework and foundation. My book is the flip side, focused on the villain. We had a memorable conversation, and I sent him an ARC (advanced reading copy). A few weeks later, he sent me his blurb for The Villain’s Journey (shown in Amazon’s Editorial Reviews).

I almost fell off my chair.

Several years ago, I zoomed with the Arizona Mystery Writers about self-editing. They learned about VJ, reached out, and invited me back to talk about the book. Preorders came from them, as well as an invitation to speak to the Tucson Sisters in Crime chapter.

Two years ago, I spoke at Montana Writers Rodeo in Helena and picked up several editing clients. Yesterday an email arrived from a woman whose first page I’d critiqued there. She’d read the VJ ARC on BookSirens and explained the problems she’d had writing her first mystery. She wrote, “Thank you for writing this book. It was serendipity that I learned about it and got a chance to read it. It has given me a new spark to rewrite my mystery. I now have a clearer understanding of what I’ve been missing in my story.”

Gave me chills.

On Amazon, The Villain’s Journey is flagged as “#1 New Release” in Literary Criticism Reference. Not a blockbuster category but still gratifying to see.

I’m far from the world’s best marketer and can’t afford a pro to do it for me. No social media, infrequent newsletters, few ads. I don’t follow many of the conventional routes recommended by successful authors. If I did, there’s no question I’d sell more books.

The detours I’ve taken into teaching and freelance editing are personally rewarding. They also earn more than my books, even with nine published thrillers.

Like strawberries starts and raspberry canes, we writers plant our words. They take a long time to root and become established.  We send out more runners, keep cultivating, and wait, and send out runners, keep cultivating, and wait.

Today I’m celebrating a bountiful harvest and it’s deliciously sweet.

~~~

The Villain’s Journey-How to Create Villains Readers Love to Hate is for sale at

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Apple

Kobo

The paperback goes on sale in a few weeks.