Description: FOREWORD FOR LOVE IS MURDER Before I could read, my parents read to me, so I don't recall a time in my life when I wasn't losing myself in fictional worlds. On Mother's and Daddy's knees, I cultivated a passion for make-believe. I grew up with books as a staple and libraries as a second home. Reading was my favorite pastime as a child, and it became an addictive habit I never outgrew. I can't remember the first romantic suspense novel I read. It might have been Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, or perhaps one of Mary Stewart's classic blends of mystery and romance, or Victoria Holt's sweeping, gothic tales. I read and reread them. They left me enthralled and wanting more...largely because so few authors were writing what we now call romantic suspense. But those who did write in that vein, though few in number, wrote it well and had an enormous impact on my professional future. They entertained me, but I also learned from them and continue to try to live up to the standards they set. Helen MacInnes and Evelyn Anthony come to mind. Charlotte Bron's Jane Eyre . One of the best cornerstone novels of the genre was Ken Follett's Eye of the Needle . On the surface one could say that neither these authors nor their books have anything in common. Not so. They contain terror tinged with romance. Or is it the other way around? That depends upon the writer, but both elements are in their work. Romantic suspense is a combination of genres--and the mix is potent . Mysteries are puzzles that tease and test our minds. We experience an adrenaline rush from the high-stakes plots of thrillers. Romances remind us of the eternal power of love, honor and self-sacrifice. Stories of romantic suspense offer the best of all these. They give readers an exciting and emotional thrill ride that engages the mind, the heart and all the senses. Merging a rocky romance with a fast-paced thriller makes for a story that crackles with electricity. The element of love ratchets up the stakes for the characters. It intensifies their motivations, increases the tension and heightens the suspense. When a person one cares about--lover, spouse, child--is in jeopardy, all else ceases to matter. Failure isn't an option. When what one stands to lose is the person most dear, terror is made manifold. But so are determination and courage. This then is the essence of good storytelling--an individual overcoming incredible odds to save a loved one from peril. This is what makes romantic suspense satisfying on multiple levels. And, lest I begin to sound too lofty, let's face it--danger can be a turn-on. Love Is Murder is an anthology of short stories penned by some of our most popular romantic suspense authors. In addition, the anthology features stories by writers better known for their thrillers, but who often incorporate into their books the relationship layering that is the trademark of traditional romantic suspense. Also included are three stories that were selected from more than sixty blind submissions--D. P. Lyle's vigilante story "Even Steven"; Jim Macomber's domestic abuse tale "Execution Dock"; and William Simon's riveting, high-stakes kidnapping "Spider's Tango." I'm overwhelmed by the quality of all twenty-nine stories and hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did. Inspired by the above-mentioned writers and others, many talented authors today write in this expansive genre that has diversified to include historical settings, the forensic sciences, police procedurals, the military, the justice system, espionage, the supernatural and plots ripped from the headlines. The variety offered by romantic suspense is vast, and so is the array of storytelling talent contained within this anthology. It is with a great deal of pleasure that I introduce these stories written in a genre which might not have a lengthy heritage, but certainly an impressive one. I'm proud to be included. ~ Sandra Brown

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