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Mystery and crime novelists the likes of Mickey Spillane and Agatha Christie were names lining Linda Kavanagh’s bookshelves as a young reader.
As an English major at Queens College, City University of New York, Kavanagh envisioned the day she’d put her very own gumshoe to the case.
“I’ve always dreamed about actually writing a book that I could actually feel and see,” she said.
After three years of setting herself to a consistent schedule of writing, Kavanagh recently produced her first mystery novel entitled, “Lana Taylor Private Eye.”
The story follows a 30-year-old New York City Police Officer, Lana Taylor, who strikes off on her own to run a private investigation business. She is confronted with a major investigation regarding a missing 17-year-old girl named Jeni Stafford.
Taylor’s journey takes her across the country to an unknown Arizona town with unfamiliar faces -- faces she’s not sure she can trust: a strapping town sheriff, a mysterious mining operator, a perceptive Native American and a hushed townfolk – the young PI is determined to find the missing daughter, but what clues should she follow? And whose warnings should she heed?
“It has mystery, it has intrigue, it has a little romance, it has interesting characters and I think it has a really good plot that all comes together at the end that’s very exciting,” Kavanagh said.
Self-published and clocking in at just over 300 pages, Kavanagh looked to her close friends and family for support when putting the finishing touches to her book. As its first reader and editor, Kavanagh’s husband, John, was quite surprised when his wife first asked him to read it.
“It was funny because John didn’t even know. So, one day, I said to him, ‘Would you like to read my novel?’ He said, ‘What novel?’’’ Kavanagh recalled.
Her husband happily agreed to read it, along with Kavanagh’s siblings and children, who all gave her the green light to publish.
“They all have really varied tastes in reading, so I thought if they could all enjoy it, then it would be a book for everybody,” she said, who commissioned Stephen Farley Design to create the book’s eye-catching cover.
Despite her prior role serving six- and-a-half years as mayor of Fountain Hills, Kavanagh makes one thing clear about her book:
“There’s no politics in this book,” she said. “I wanted people to be comfortable reading it, no matter who they are.”
Early in life, Kavanagh worked in the importing business, writing brochures and proofreading information. Following her tenure as mayor, Kavanagh joined as a board member for the local animal rescue, Fearless Kitty Rescue and is an active member of many community organizations.
When asked if a second book is in the works, Kavanagh said, “Eventually, it will be another adventure of Lana Taylor. It’s all in my head. It’s just not out yet.”
“Lana Taylor Private Eye” is available for $14.99 on Barnes & Noble and Amazon. It can also be purchased as an eBook on Amazon.com.
