Sneak Peek: Sink or Swim

Today we have a sneak peek of the mystery novel by Stacy Juba: Sink or Swim.

After competing on a reality show and returning to her normal life, Cassidy Novak discovers she has attracted a stalker. She struggles to focus on her health club job, but as her former competitors get knocked off one-by-one, Cassidy refuses to play by the stalker’s bizarre rules. She’s also being shadowed by photographer Zach Gallagher, who has been assigned to capture her personal moments for the local newspaper. She wants to trust the mysterious Zach, yet fears he may not be what he seems. When the stalker forces a showdown, Cassidy must once again walk the plank…this time for her life.

This book is available as an eBook, paperback, and audiobook from Amazon, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and Barnes & Noble.

Here is an excerpt from Sink or Swim

“As you can see, you’re a big hit.” Lynn waved toward the guests murmuring and sneaking glances from round tables festooned with drinks and appetizers. “You’ll sign autographs in here and our staff will be sure to keep the line orderly.”

Good to know, but Cassidy half-wished she’d jumped out of the limo a few miles back at Castle Island, a spacious urban park and her favorite spot in Boston. She loved walking or jogging around Castle Island and the peaceful Pleasure Bay, enjoying views of the ferries and vessels passing in the harbor, the low airplanes descending toward Logan International Airport, and the tourists milling about the historic Fort Independence. She’d give anything for a hotdog and ice cream at Sullivan’s, the popular family-run restaurant that serviced visitors. Alas, she’d get no relaxation today.

As Lynn conferred with a co-worker, Cassidy turned to her own personal news team. “Boy, does this beat the Atlantic Devil in the luxury department,” she muttered.

“No kidding.” Alison scrawled into her wire-bound notebook. With her sleek helmet of blonde locks and designer wardrobe, she looked more like a TV anchorwoman than a small-town newspaper reporter.

Zach Gallagher, her photographer, pulled his Nikon digital camera out of a padded bag and removed the felt Stetson from his wavy black hair. “I wouldn’t mind taking a trip on this baby myself.” His flash blinked, triggering a half-dozen cameras from other parts of the ballroom.

“Cassidy! Cassidy!” An acne-scarred young man rushed over to them. Lank greasy blond strands hung ragged past his shoulders, limp as a used mop, and a torn tee-shirt with Cassidy’s blurred likeness fell to the waist of his ripped jeans.

He cupped a camera to his heart. “Please, could I pose for one picture with you? I know this is a huge favor, but I can’t stay that long.”

Lynn gave her a subtle nod. “Yeah, sure,” Cassidy said.

She positioned herself beside the kid and Lynn snapped the photo with a cheerful “cheese.”

His lip trembling, the kid stared at Cassidy. “You don’t know what this means to me. You should have won. Reggie was a loser.”

How could he say that? Reggie was dead. There were more important things than winning. Like living.


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