Memorable Book Characters

Boarding the plane in New Orleans, I was struck fascinated by a couple in front of me. We stood patiently waiting for those ahead of us to stow their pieces of luggage in the overhead bins. The two were gorgeous. Young, apparently, they hit the gym regularly, and they seemed to be in deep love.

Maybe the fact I was returning from the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention 2025 was the reason for the tingling in my spine. I do write noir and mystery. My Daisy Muñiz series installments are cozy mysteries and my most recent unpublished novel, White Lilacs, is a psychological thriller. Maybe I walk around seeing life from a Scorpio Rising perspective. I wonder what the sinister angle is here. What is below the scene that we are being offered?

Enter my novel, Coney Island Siren. Maybe you’ve read it already. The one about the couple and the unfortunate intimate partner violence that ensued. I’m still dealing with the fact that when I started writing it, I thought, nice! They’re on the board walk, sharing fries with sea gulls, enjoying the beautiful sky and sand and then being shocked as to the subject these characters wanted me to write. Do you remember the names of the protagonist and antagonist? Maggie is the protagonist and well, um, I, for the life of me couldn’t remember the antagonist’s name. Of my own book! Released in 2019. But he jumped into mind when I saw that couple. The guy boarding the plane was loving on his lady. Totally engulfing her. I almost didn’t see her for a moment because she looked like he was suffocating her with love in his embrace. Why the need for the lavish public display of adoration? I didn’t get that. I hope that what I thought was not the case and they were in the extreme throws of a honeymoon of sorts. I mean we were in New Orleans. That could explain it.

My character who I later remember is named Frank and he is a memorable character. He represents that person who wears a black hat although he walks around in his showy pristine white cap all the time. A wolf in sheep’s clothing reveals only what he wants to who he wants. Displaying what he thinks others want to see. I’m still chilled as to yesterday’s airport encounter as it reminded me of the disturbingly romantic Coney Island Siren.  

Have you read Coney Island Siren yet? It’s been a while since it was published. If you did, have you left a review on Amazon or Good Reads? Maggie and I and even Frank would be grateful.  If you haven’t read this noir chiller, please do and let me know what you think.