Kindle Edition Amazon The official site of Karen Vaughan Category:  Mystery/Suspense Publisher: Friesen Press ISBN-10:  9781460211342 Type: Fiction Pages: 208 Copyright: April 16, 2013 ISBN-13: 1460211342 Quirky and action packed. A rocking good read! KILLER T. FORD IS A SELF-INDULGENT RACE CAR DRIVER WHO NEEDS TO WIN AND GET HIS WAY...IT'S GREAT WHEN HE DOES BUT WHEN HE DOESN'T, HE'S DRIVEN TO KILL Laura and Gerry are newlyweds, honeymooning in Florida; as usual life is not going according to plans and they are racing to solve a murder and stay alive. The bodies are piling up, will it be too late to stop a killer? Excerpt DAYTONA DEAD Prologue --Blood on the Grille The moon was high and a thousand stars appeared in the Florida sky. The sunset had been glorious, a flaming orange glow with pink undertones. Lou had taken up photography as a hobby since moving to the Daytona Beach area. Lou, a Canadian, had been lured to the area by a guy on the Dudes seeking Dudes website. Having broken up with his long time love, Richard, he had been itching to leave Toronto behind, along with a broken heart and ten years of bad memories. His marriage to Laura had died on Speaker’s Corner and it was time to leave the crap and the cold behind, in favour of a warmer climate and palm trees. Ironically, Laura, the ex, had written him a glowing letter of reference for his work visa. He had applied via an online job search engine, and told his internet paramour he was heading to Florida to make a go of his career and a new life south of the Mason Dixon Line. So today after putting in an eight hour shift, he went home and grabbed a shower and changed into beach shorts and a clean T-shirt sporting the slogan Just Grill Me. He had invested in a Digital SLR for taking some great landscape shots to post on Face book. He found that he loved photography and if his life as a chef sputtered, now he had a back-up plan. Before meeting up with his new guy, Gary, he headed off to the beach to take some shots of the area. While Daytona was not the prettiest beach in Florida, Lou found some of the scenery to be rough, yet photo-worthy. He was leaving the beach when he spotted what looked to be a vintage 1940’s Chevy, black as the abyss. The car looked like something out of a film noir gangster flick. Either way the car was a real beauty. He set up a few shots and started shooting. He didn’t stay long as this was encroaching on a seedier part of town where hookers plied their trade and bums wandered around with liquor bottles and another night of brown bagging their hooch and begging before passing out in an alleyway. He was on his tenth picture when a gravelly voice yelled out behind him. “Just what the hell do you think you’re doing, asshole?” Lou jumped back at the sound and turned around to see the meanest looking S.O.B. he had set eyes on, since his father’s last drinking binge a few years earlier. This guy looked huge and a tad ornery, even in the moonlight. “Well boy, what’s wrong? Cat got yer tongue? If ya don’t say something soon, I may just beat it out of you." “Just admiring your car man; it’s a classic.” The big mean dude seemed to warm some at the compliment but reverted to his menacing stance quickly, “Thanks. She is a beauty isn’t she? How long were you skulking around my car? You didn’t touch her did ya?” Lou began to sweat. This guy was getting way too intense over a car. He tried backing away but the bigger man was getting in his face about the whole deal. Finally Lou started to run and the guy backed off. Then he heard the engine start and looked behind him. The car was coming right at him! Holy shit!! What did this asshole want? “It’s just a freaking’ car dude; damn”; Lou was incredulous that this guy was going ape-shit over a set of wheels as nice as they were. He ducked down an alley, around the corner and thought he was safe. Then he heard it again. He looked to his left and the son of a bitch was still coming for him. Lou took a deep breath, and promised himself that if he ever got out of this mess he’d start getting in better shape. ‘Dude you’re barely thirty six and you run like an old man.’ The car was catching up to him, it wasn’t stopping either. For whatever reason this shithead wanted him dead! For the life of him, Lou could not figure out what had gone wrong. He felt the bumper hit the back of his legs sending him flying in the air. He came down with a thud on the hood of the car and his head hit the windshield before he rolled off the car, and was dragged under the front wheels of the car. The car backed up and left the body where it lay; somewhere in Lou’s pocket, a cell phone was ringing. Chapter 1 We were finally married and Daytona bound. The wedding and the reception had gone off without a hitch. No exploding cars or people tossing things at us; not even rice. The only thing I threw was my bouquet. Damned if Janice didn’t catch it. Jeff Gibbons, our friend and personal homicide detective, walked around looking nervous for the rest of the day. My name is now Laura Hamilton-Fitz. I haven’t quite decided whether I want to use the full name professionally or just go by Mrs. Fitz. Lou, who had been our head chef at The Moose Burger Emporium also my ex-husband, left his job at the restaurant to move the Daytona Beach area to catch the tropical breezes and maybe a new man. Ironically that’s where we were heading for our honeymoon, so our paths may cross again. This vacation was proving to be much more than a honeymoon as the previous fall; we had been embroiled in another murder mystery. Gibbons had lovingly referred to our apartment building as a domicile of death. Ethel Peterson had been brutally beaten with a baseball bat and left for dead just because she was in the way of a gold digging sociopathic bitch named Leena also known as Julie. Gerry and I, as well as Leena’s estranged husband Sandford Brown, were also targeted. Talk about a woman scorned; that was the last thing Gerry and I needed while trying to plan our wedding. Enough said on that topic. I was taking in the sights, smells and sounds of Florida beach life. We had thought of driving down to Florida, instead we decided to grab a cheap flight and rented a flashy convertible coupe at the airport. We had just turned onto International Speedway Blvd., US-92, out of Daytona Beach airport and were anxious to find the hotel we would call home for fourteen glorious days. It wasn’t the most glamorous part of the beach. It was run down with the usual derelicts and hookers milling about. I was starting to get hungry for a burger with the works, before we had to show up at the raceway. It was the height of NASCAR racing season and Gerry and I had bought tickets to a few races. All our plans for the day were shot to hell when we heard a sickening thud and our rental stalled. Figuring that it was just a small animal we had hit, it didn’t make sense that the car would stall. “Shit, “was Gerry's first response in situations like this and I did my famous eye roll. All this signified that a lot brown stuff was about to hit the fan. We both got out of the car to see what the hell we had hit. Gerry motioned me to call 9-1-1. After doing so and giving our location I walked around to see our victim. It was a human male about my height. He was lying face down on the asphalt. The Beach Hut Tap and Grill was advertised on the back of his T-Shirt along with some skid marks. “Oh my God, we killed a man!” I was quickly becoming hysterical. I tried to find a paper bag to breathe into as I was hyperventilating badly. If I didn’t find one soon Gerry would have to slap me. But as quickly as the panic hit, it subsided. My logical brain kicked in. It could very well have been an accident but I didn’t even see a guy in front of the car before I heard the thump. Could it be that he was already dead? It seemed impossible that we had hit human road kill, but there it was right in front us. Question or better yet questions were: Who was the poor sucker? How did he get here? Lastly, why would anyone just leave a body in the middle of the road like that? He was in plain sight on the road, surely someone would have noticed. The biggest question on my mind was how to explain this to the police. We didn’t have much time to ponder this thought before the cruisers showed up. They were followed by a crime scene van and a meat wagon. The officer emerging from the driver’s side was a portly sort, by the name of Evans, his partner a female with a ponytail so tight she could give herself a facelift. The male officer stopped to look over the road kill - er body. The female whipped out her note book and started asking questions. The crime scene investigator had taken pictures of the guy and then had rolled him onto his back to take more and search his pockets Out of the corner of my eye I saw the face of my ex-husband Lou. I screamed just before I hit the asphalt. The ID indeed was one of Louis Eduardo Igliati

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous read May 17, 2013
By Marilyn Kubinak
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Karen has brought to life once more Laura and Jerry. I have read all but one of Karens book and I really feel this one and last are so good. She brings her characters alive so I feel I know them. Also I sure would like to meet them. When I find an author that can make me feel I am there with the lead characters, I feel the author has done her job. I hopoe Karen will keep writing about these characters. She also is a very special person and hope one day to meet her. We play a lot on pogo, I hope people will join me in encouraging her to keep writing.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars FIVE GOLD RACECARS May 16, 2013
By Samfreene
Format:Kindle Edition
Daytona Dead: Karen Vaughan

What happens when two newlyweds decide to take a ride and their front bumper happens to hit something? Not thinking that they might have accidentally run someone over or just plain road kill, Laura and Gerry never realized that their honeymoon would take on a new twist. Headed for Daytona, shows, swimming, fun in the sun, hotel romps and much more these two did not realize that someone's past would reenter their present. Stopping to see what they might have hit little did they know it was a body. Hoping that the victim was deceased before they connected with it, Laura calls the police to report the accident and what happens next is right out of a CSI or Law and Order Show but with a comedic twist. Author Karen Vaughan uses her own special brand of humor to sober up these two newlyweds, explain the situation in her own special way and let readers know that Laura and Gerry were in for more than just a night of marital fun. Daytona Dead: This one you really want to read as you take the trip to Florida, visit the many places, join Laura for her night out in jail and meet her two cellmates as they recount their stories, laugh it up and finally well you have to read it to believe it.

Dave Meecham a cop who will do anything to get the goods on people for his friend Duane Ford. When we learn just who was killed we find out it was Laura's ex-husband Lou and the circumstances surrounding his death are still unclear. But, the suspects are about to mount up and the cause of death revealed as poor Laura winds up in jail along with Gerry after being questioned by this police officer and then booked. But, the evidence points in a different direction and the deceased belongings are returned to Laura but what follows will definitely surprise readers as their quiet honeymoon turns out to be anything but that as the players or racers come into view and only one will cross the finish line. Who: remains to be seen!

Laura collects the photos and wants to make copies of them on a CD and then handing them over to the police. But, someone is lurking in the back and tracking more than just her every move. With a hotel staff that is anything but credible, an owner who has no idea just who he hired and several other questionable people, I do hope that Laura finds her way to a safer hotel next time. But, fear not, something will change and she and Gerry are given what they think are complementary tickets to an event and a room at a five star hotel. What happens back at her own hotel will let you know that leaving your valuables in your room while you are away for an extended time period might not be very wise.

As we get to know the players and realize just who is behind what and why we begin to see a pattern forming and wonder just when someone in the police department will get wise to one of their own. Little hints, some snide remarks and you can tell that there is no love lost among some of the officers for Dave Meecham. Just why he is doing what he does you will have to find out for yourself. Certain information or evidence is confidential and cannot be revealed.

Lou Igliati is dead but the photos from his camera reveal information that might catch a killer and put Laura in arms way. Several hotel employees have been eliminated one way or another. One race car driver that is definitely in the thick of things and one police officer that needs to do more than just clean up his act. While the lead detective, Murphy, decides how to utilize Meecham, he learns his real whereabouts but will they finally see the light? What is revealed and their thoughts about him will definitely surprise readers what they do about it you won't believe as the bodies are mounting up and the rise in hit and runs seems to be elevating.

What do you do when you meet your ex-husband's male lover who comes knocking on your hotel door? Telling him what happened, learning more about him and admitting to running into him with her car, relating her thoughts about Meecham and wondering about what Gary, her ex-husband's lover related, the pieces are not quite fitting perfectly into this puzzle for the race to declare a winner or loser. Just how did Laura feel after meeting him? You decide!

Deep inside Meecham just might prove to have some backbone as we learn more about his wife, what hold she might have on her brother, the racecar driver and how she hopes her husband will finally be out of his strangle hold. When the players come into place and the evidence seems to point on one direction author Karen Vaughan throws some curves, road twists and race car moves that only she can pull off. Betrayals, deceit, lies, corruption, identity theft, credit card fraud and much more will be uncovered before someone crosses the finish line. Fast paced, filled with dialogue that keeps the plot flowing, issues that make you wonder just who you can trust in many areas of law enforcement, once again author Karen Vaughan takes readers in the fast lane and brings not only the characters but readers to an explosive and charged ending. One racecar driver that just might have met his match and one PI that let's you know she's a force to be reckoned with. What is next for Laura and is she really going to go for a career change? Only author Karen Vaughan knows what is next for Laura and let's hope that she doesn't fall over, hit, or find anymore-dead bodies. But, why ruin her fun and the chase of going after a killer.

Will Gerry and Laura's honeymoon ever be normal? Is normal in their future? Just who flips on who and what happens you will not believe? Will the police ever get the goods on the person behind the hit and runs and the rest? What about the break-ins and the robberies? What about fraud and identity theft? Daytona Dead: Watch Out: This is one hazardous track!


Review of Daytona Dead by Karen H. Vaughan as reviewed by Timothy Louis Baker
Daytona Dead is very skillfully written and Karen did a marvelous job of weaving the characters within the plot. That continuously keeps the reader thinking that they have enough to go on but not revealing the curves and twists she adds until the time has quite appropriately come for them.
Reading the viewer will automatically think they have the gist of the storyline but not adding enough to spoil for the next little `leak' of information reaches their eyes to feed them more. When it is interesting and the next little twist will occur when they are ready for it to happen.
Knowing this I must think that is how it appeared to Karen at times also using acute sarcastic wit as she wrote Daytona Dead. All things counted up then more added to it all until it was time for more to be counted on again.
The car she used in the story for the murders was exactly as I thought such a car should be from the front cover and what I know about vintage cars.
The characters she portrayed in such eloquent writing skillfully developed into a woven scenario that was apt to each one she described and made come alive with her expertise in writing. Her facts are all vividly right with each step as the chapters fly by.
Karen doesn't miss a stitch in the storyline with everything going on each one at a time or all of them at once as the ending brought me to a summarization of the entire book with twists and curves at the grand finale making the book so much more enjoyable even after it is all over with may make one still want more. Kudos Karen and keep on writing. You are an excellent writer and you deserve all of the positive praise that I can give you and more. May a lot of others review your book Daytona Dead that are more praiseworthy as a reviewer than this particular author Timothy Louis Baker.

Fabulous Read
Karen has brought to life once more Laura and Jerry. I have read all but one of Karens book and I really feel this one and last are so good. She brings her characters alive so I feel I know them. Also I sure would like to meet them. When I find an author that can make me feel I am there with the lead characters, I feel the author has done her job. I hopoe Karen will keep writing about these characters. She also is a very special person and hope one day to meet her. We play a lot on pogo, I hope people will join me in encouraging her to keep writing.