Reading · Barr Sinister: The Suspenseful World of D.M. Barr

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February Raffle: Win a Copy of Maximum Range - Perfect Shot by J.M. Schneider!

For those who love political thrillers, you’re going to really enjoy Maximum Range - Perfect Shot, the latest release from Hold Fast Publishing. Here’s the blurb:

When the Democratic presidential candidate is shot and wounded while giving a speech only days before the election, everyone is baffled; there’s no nearby location from which the shot could have come. With the FBI and the Secret Service desperate for leads, they call partially retired Agent Kane Logan to the scene. Using his skills as a sniper, he determines the shot originated from atop the Brooklyn Bridge – almost three miles away. Although the shot borders on the impossible, Kane sets out to run down this theory.

He is ordered to partner with Agent Lilly Alexander, a young wunderkind blessed with an almost superhuman photographic memory. At first, Kane resents her presence, but as they pursue leads and enter the worlds of paramilitary gun extremists, drug-induced brainwashing, and political machinations, he grudgingly admits her amazing ability to connect disparate facts—along with her innate talent to read and play people to her advantage—is invaluable to the investigation.

As they make headway, they grow confused by what the evidence suggests but, with the election getting closer, they become even more relentless in their pursuit of the perpetrators, until even their own agency is trying to arrest them. Who are their enemies? Who are their allies? Can they solve this crime in time to ensure the integrity of the upcoming election and avoid the end of American democracy through a possible coup d’etat?

If you’re a Kindle Unlimited reader, you can download the eBook starting February 20th here. To win a paperback copy, send me an email between now and February 28th with the subject line: “Maximum Range-Perfect Shot raffle. “ That’s all there is to it! I’ll pick a winner shortly after the end of the month and will announce that winner in next month’s newsletter. (If you win, I’ll be emailing you for your snail mail address!) Good luck!

NOTE: The winner of January’s raffle was Samantha Dorne, who won a paperback copy of The Baron of Bad Behavior. Congratulations, Sam!

FREE BOOKS!

My gift to you: some links to free books offered by some other mystery, suspense, and romance/romantic suspense authors for you to download.

Here are the links:

Valentine Promo - Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Cozy, Psychological

https://books.bookfunnel.com/heartbreaker/d9fg2p10tq

Free for All Sizzling Reads

https://books.bookfunnel.com/freeforallsizzlingreads/ls99bknzka

What am I Reading?

For my real estate practice: Fanatical Prospecting by Jed Blount

and reviewing Atomic Habits by James Clear

Both are amazing books if you are in sales! By the way, speaking of real estate, does anyone out there know anyone who needs to buy, sell, rent, or invest in a house, condo, co-op, or apartment? I have great referral partners around the country!

Thanks for reading Barr Sinister: The Suspenseful World of D.M. Barr! This post is public so feel free to share it.

What have I been up to?

Editing:

Hi, I started out 2026 editing a police thriller and a cozy set in Japan. I’ve also taken an advanced developmental editing course through the Editorial Freelancers Association, and I have to tell you, they jam so much into their courses that I have to take a day off from my other work each week just to get through the reading assignments. Not only have they shown me some tips I wasn’t aware of, the refresher will definitely improve my writing as I launch into authoring my next fiction book.

If you’re a writer attending Killer Nashville, I’ll be meeting with authors to discuss the manuscript snippets they send me in advance. This looks to be an amazing conference, and I hope to see you there.

New Book Release:

Vacations Can Be Murder: A True Crime Lover’s Travel Guide to the Mid-Atlantic States was released at the end of January. You can order here. I’ve been appearing on podcasts in support of the release. You can hear my interview with the folks at Monstrosity here. My lead-in is Dale Bozzio, lead singer of Missing Persons!

Book Accolades:

I’m excited to announce that I’m a finalist for two awards: The Agatha Award for Non-Fiction, to be handed out at Malice Domestic (April 24-27), and the Chanticleer I & I Award in the Instruction and Insight Category (Awarded April 19), both for Vacations Can Be Murder: A True Crime Lover’s Travel Guide to New England. Fingers crossed, wish me luck…though just being nominated is a dream come true.

Personal Appearances:

None this past month (hey, it’s cold out and I’m hibernating!) but here’s where I’ll be in upcoming weeks and months:

2026 Personal Appearances (subject to change):

February 21: Book Launch for Vacations Can Be Murder: A True Crime Lover’s Travel Guide to the Mid-Atlantic States, Sparkles Bookstore, Sparkill, NY 3pm

February 28: Author Meet & Greet for Vacations Can Be Murder/Mid-Atlantic, Big Red Books, Nyack 1-3pm

March 7: Barnes and Noble Mt. Kisco signing, 1pm

March 11: Barnes and Noble Paramus signing, 6:30pm

March 14: Library Event, John C. Hart Library, Shrub Oak, NY 10:30am - 2:30pm

March 27-29: HVS Writers Retreat, Poughkeepsie

March 31: Library Panel with Mavens of Mayhem, Goshen Library, NY, 5pm

April 11: Sinister Spring Event in Clifton Park (Times, location TBA)

May 2: Mavens of Mayhem Library Panel at Putnam Valley Public Library, 1pm

August 21-24: Killer Nashville, Franklin, TN

October 21-25: Bouchercon, Calgary, Alberta

November 10-14: Author Nation, Las Vegas, NV

I love interacting with readers! If you’d like me to speak at your organization or appear at your book club (in person if in the NY Tristate area, otherwise via Zoom) please contact me at dawnbarclayauthor@gmail.com.

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Do you know someone who needs a good editor? Refer me, and if they use me, you’ll get a referral payment as a thank you! Contact me for more details. You can see information and pricing at http://suggesteddevelopment.com. I edit everything except science fiction, fantasy, poetry, and anything with discriminatory or hateful content. I am also a book coach, if you need accountability, hand-holding, and someone to walk you through the querying process.

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Upcoming releases:

Vacations Can Be Murder Volume 3: A True Crime Lover’s Travel Guide to the Capital Region: release slated for October, 2026.

My next post from Miss Demeanors (www.missdemeanors.com) will run at the end of February. Be sure to check it out here. Miss Demeanors is a great blog that was voted #25 in the Top 400 Mystery/Suspense Blogs list for 2025, so be sure to subscribe!