Friday, July 20, 2018

People Who Are Rich by Saralyn Richard


My guest blogger today is mystery and children’s book author, Saralyn Richard, a writer who teaches on the side. Some of her poems and essays have won awards and contests from the time she was in high school. Her children’s picture book, Naughty Nana, has reached thousands of children worldwide.



“There are people who have money and people who are rich.”
Coco Chanel

Like most people, I’ve always had a certain fascination with the rich and famous. Not all of the rich and famous. Just the ultra-rich and ultra-famous. When I was younger and more naive, I lumped all people with money into a single group, like people of a certain race, religion, or philosophical bent.

            Later I realized all people with money didn’t necessarily consider themselves rich, and they really didn’t consider themselves happy. How much money did it take to be rich, to be happy? And what about the source of the money? Was it better to inherit it, marry into it, earn it, or acquire it by nefarious means, as long as one wasn’t caught?

            Some years ago I attended a birthday party that was a weekend retreat at a country mansion in horse country. As I partook of the elaborate meals, the rich music, the refined atmosphere, I imagined what might happen if one of the party guests turned up dead. How would everyone behave, and which ones might be suspects?

            How far would privilege and power go to protect a person from being investigated for murder? How would greed play with grief during a murder investigation?

            I decided there was an intriguing story there, and that became the basis for Murder in the One Percent. The mystery pulls back the curtain on how the wealthy live, love, and treat one another.


            Clothes, furs, jewelry, furnishings, artwork, horses, cars, private airplanes, and other material possessions serve as important details of the setting, as well as constant reminders of just how far outside the norm these characters are.

 It would take a perceptive detective to brush the dazzle from his eyes enough to investigate and solve a murder in this milieu. Especially when the suspects appear to close ranks on him, and even more especially when the former President of the United States applies pressure.

            What happens when a billionaire dies? Is his funeral any grander? Are his mourners any louder? Is his absence felt any more because of his great wealth?
            Whether you’re in, whether you aspire to, or whether you’re just plain curious about the top one percent, you’ll gain insights from Murder in the One Percent. I know I did.

Murder in the One Percent, ©2018 Black Opal Books, pulls back the curtain on the privileged and powerful rich. Set on a gentleman’s farm in Pennsylvania and in the tony areas of New York, the book shows what happens when someone comes to a party with murder in his heart and poison in his pocket.
A member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, Saralyn is writing the sequel to Murder in the One Percent. Her website is www.saralynrichard.com.


Comments welcome! 


16 comments:

  1. What an intriguing premise. Doesn't everyone want to know the story behind the façade? Money is the hook, but murder is the endgame. Bravo!

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    1. Thanks, Daniella. Money colors everything, except when it doesn't.

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  2. When I was a teen my family would gather around the tv and watch the show, The Rich and Famous. I loved your idea for the book and it’s intriguing characters. The concept of the story is original and I truly enjoyed reading it! Looking forward to more investigations from detective Parrot. You know how much I love that name:)

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    1. Thanks for reading and reviewing Murder in the One Percent. I'm glad the glam appealed to you in the same way it did to me.

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  3. I read this book and loved it, especially the play on Poirot v. Parrott! Indeed, it's a modern version of a Christie mystery. I just wish I had this excellent piece before I read the book. Moreover, it's so interesting to discover where other authors get their ideas. You never know when one comes along! BTW, I reviewed this book on my blog. Congrats to the author!
    r/Steve

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    1. Thank you, Steven, for your perspicacious reading of Murder in the One Percent, and thanks for your review, as well. I'm 100% grateful.

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  4. Thank you, Jacqueline, for hosting me today. It's a delight and an honor to "visit" with your readers about Murder in the One Percent.

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  5. I am curious to know how you liked working with Black Opal? Was this your first book with them? I particularly like the book cover. Was that your inspiration, or the publisher's.

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    1. Hi, Sharon. Murder in the One Percent is my first book with Black Opal, and I've found everyone there to be very professional and knowledgeable. I'm delighted that you like the book's cover. It is in a just-for-fun cover contest this month at https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/, and I would greatly appreciate your vote for it. Please follow me on Facebook or Twitter, and I'll be glad to answer any and all of your questions. https://www.facebook.com/Palmcirclepress/
      https://twitter.com/SaralynRichard

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  6. I loved the book and the tantalizing tidbits about Parrott's personal life .Will we meet his fiancee in the next book?

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    1. Thank you, Zoe. Yes, Tonya plays a significant role in the sequel to Murder in the One Percent---underway now. (She's tickled that you asked about her.)

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  7. Your murder among the rich and famous certainly strikes a chord with me--though I am a firmly-entrenched member of the hoy-poloy! Best wishes for continued success.

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    1. Thanks, Susan. There's something for everyone in Murder in the One Percent!

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  8. Amazing where our ideas come from LOL!
    Love the premise
    Good luck and God's blessings
    PamT

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    1. I appreciate your comment, Pam. Wishing you the best, too.

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