From the Author
My seventh Mark Manning mystery, "Bitch Slap," marks the end of a series that has seen our hero grapple not only with unexplained death, but with a sequence of life-altering events -- coming out as a gay may, committing to his partner, flirting with infidelity, "inheriting" a child, then adjusting again to the empty nest. For this last installment, I wanted to up the stakes and challenge the security Manning has felt in his core beliefs and his self-image, which can sometimes be smug. The stage is set for this struggle in the book's first line of dialogue. By the end of the novel, Manning learns the most important lesson of his life, and in doing so, he becomes more human -- if a bit less heroic. Seasoned mystery readers will discover that "Bitch Slap" is a most unconventional whodunit, with a plot that takes a neck-snapping turn at an unexpected moment. So fasten your seat belts, and enjoy the ride.