Today summer arrived with a wave of blistering heat. But as I write to you now, what's most on my mind is the sheer pride and joy of having watched my son graduate from high school yesterday.
Congratulations, Eli!

It was a busy spring for me and my family, as my children finished another school year and I finished writing the fourth novel in my Karin Schaeffer series. Now that it's off my desk and in my editor's hands, I'm turning my attention back to the last novel I sent her: VANISHING GIRLS, to be published next week on June 26th.

I'm thrilled to be able to report that early reviews have been enthusiastic:

"The plotting and timing of this story is absolutely perfect, and the author does an incredible job keeping the reader's interest and making it completely impossible for readers to solve the mystery. Although I recommend reading the full series to get the 'who's who' down, the building of danger and the 'up in the air' ending makes this a story that die-hard suspense fans will absolutely love."
—Amy Lignor, Suspense Magazine

"Intense and suspenseful, with a strong, vulnerable heroine and an intriguing plot, this one will keep readers guessing. A riveting read."
—Melanie Bates, RT Reviews (read the full review)

"VANISHING GIRLS is about murder, but mainly, it's the story of a haunted woman determined to get to the heart of secrets of a most heinous sort. Three books into the series featuring Karin Schaeffer, author Katia Lief is still exploring the life of a woman shattered by death and still coming to grips with her pain, while providing her readers with cases that are never quite what they seem. Readers of thoughtful mystery will surely enjoy this series."
—Kristin Centorcelli, Criminal Element (read the full review)

A visit to my website will tell you more about the novel.

Upcoming Events

 If you're in New York on Saturday, June 30th, please join me at BookCourt from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at a party to launch Vanishing Girls into the world. I'll be reading and signing books...and yes, there will be wine and food.

BookCourt
163 Court Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

 I'll also be signing at the Mysterious Bookshop on Friday, July 13th from 5:30-7:00 p.m., along with a group of other mystery authors:

Mysterious Bookshop
58 Warren Street
New York, NY 10007

 The next day, on Saturday, July 14th, I'll be participating in a 2:00 p.m. panel discussion at Thrillerfest, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, along with authors Steven James, Karen Harper, C.E. Lawrence, Bruce DeSilva, Larry Light, and Pascal Marco. Come join us for a discussion about Location, Location, Location: Does Setting Matter? (You bet it does.) A signing follows from 5:00-5:30 p.m.:

Grand Hyatt
109 East 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017

 A few days later, I'll be off to England for the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate. It was a lot of fun last year, and I'm looking forward to it again. After that, I'll be in Berlin for a week...and then back home.

I hope your summer will be filled with fun, relaxation, happiness...and needless to say: good books.

All the very best,
Katia

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