Threshold of Deceit
(2019)(The second book in the Blackwell & Watson Time-Travel Mysteries series)
A novel by Carol Pouliot
On a sunny spring day in 1934, local lothario Frankie Russo is murdered in broad daylight. It seems no one saw anything, but things are not always what they seem in this small New York town.
Tackling the investigation, Detective Steven Blackwell discovers Frankie’s little black book, a coded list of dozens of flings, affairs, and one-night stands−and a solid motive for the widow. Soon, what appeared to be a straight-forward case gets complicated. A witness goes missing, a second body turns up, the victim’s cousin disappears, and an old flame surfaces. Faced with conflicting pieces of evidence, lies, and false alibis, Steven creates a psychological portrait of the killer. He realizes he’s looking for someone wearing a mask. But the killer is not the only one in disguise.
Two months ago, Steven came face-to-face with 21st-century journalist Olivia Watson when time folded over in the house they share−80 years apart. They’ve experimented within the safety of its walls and proven Einstein was right: there is no past, present, or future. All time exists simultaneously. Now, Steven and Olivia test the boundaries of time travel, risking the exposure of their secret. Olivia travels to Steven’s time, where she is embraced by the community, unaware of who she really is. She unwittingly falls in with Steven’s main suspect, an action that threatens her life.
Can Olivia outsmart a killer before becoming the next victim? Can Steven and Olivia solve the case of the poisoned philanderer in time to protect her true identity and their time-travel secret?
Every moment’s a masquerade in Threshold of Deceit, the exciting second installment in The Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mystery series.
How can a police procedural be so much fun? Clever and compelling, this intriguing time-traveling puzzle will keep you guessing, keep you turning pages, and have you applauding the talented Carol Pouliot's juggling skills! Nick & Nora meet Timeless in this entertaining mystery. - Hank Philippi Ryan. Nationally best-selling author of THE MURDER LIST
Plenty of authors create a clever premise, but few create a world so crystal clear that we feel as if we’re a part of it. With a cast of well-crafted characters and a protagonist that charms on every page, Pouliot accomplishes just that in this compelling time-travel mystery that traverses seamlessly between 1934 and the present day.
Judy Penz Sheluk, author of the Glass Dolphin and Marketville Mystery series.
Present-day Olivia Watson and Detective Sergeant Steven Blackwell from 1934 have one thing in common. The house they live in is a time portal, allowing either of them to step forward or back into each other’s era. What is at first an experiment in time travel, however, becomes a more serious matter when Olivia inadvertently becomes involved in the case Steven is investigating – the murder of a known philanderer. With delightful twists and turns, Carol Pouliot serves up a delicious tale that is easily devoured. One hopes it is just the start of a long-running series!
Michelle Cox, author of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series
A charming mystery with an intriguing premise. Can’t wait for the next installment.
Eleanor Kuhns, award-winning author of the Will Rees series and The Shaker Murders
A well written and cleverly plotted mystery with a historical twist.
Bruce Robert Coffin, bestselling author of the Detective Byron Mysteries
Genre: Mystery
Tackling the investigation, Detective Steven Blackwell discovers Frankie’s little black book, a coded list of dozens of flings, affairs, and one-night stands−and a solid motive for the widow. Soon, what appeared to be a straight-forward case gets complicated. A witness goes missing, a second body turns up, the victim’s cousin disappears, and an old flame surfaces. Faced with conflicting pieces of evidence, lies, and false alibis, Steven creates a psychological portrait of the killer. He realizes he’s looking for someone wearing a mask. But the killer is not the only one in disguise.
Two months ago, Steven came face-to-face with 21st-century journalist Olivia Watson when time folded over in the house they share−80 years apart. They’ve experimented within the safety of its walls and proven Einstein was right: there is no past, present, or future. All time exists simultaneously. Now, Steven and Olivia test the boundaries of time travel, risking the exposure of their secret. Olivia travels to Steven’s time, where she is embraced by the community, unaware of who she really is. She unwittingly falls in with Steven’s main suspect, an action that threatens her life.
Can Olivia outsmart a killer before becoming the next victim? Can Steven and Olivia solve the case of the poisoned philanderer in time to protect her true identity and their time-travel secret?
Every moment’s a masquerade in Threshold of Deceit, the exciting second installment in The Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mystery series.
How can a police procedural be so much fun? Clever and compelling, this intriguing time-traveling puzzle will keep you guessing, keep you turning pages, and have you applauding the talented Carol Pouliot's juggling skills! Nick & Nora meet Timeless in this entertaining mystery. - Hank Philippi Ryan. Nationally best-selling author of THE MURDER LIST
Plenty of authors create a clever premise, but few create a world so crystal clear that we feel as if we’re a part of it. With a cast of well-crafted characters and a protagonist that charms on every page, Pouliot accomplishes just that in this compelling time-travel mystery that traverses seamlessly between 1934 and the present day.
Judy Penz Sheluk, author of the Glass Dolphin and Marketville Mystery series.
Present-day Olivia Watson and Detective Sergeant Steven Blackwell from 1934 have one thing in common. The house they live in is a time portal, allowing either of them to step forward or back into each other’s era. What is at first an experiment in time travel, however, becomes a more serious matter when Olivia inadvertently becomes involved in the case Steven is investigating – the murder of a known philanderer. With delightful twists and turns, Carol Pouliot serves up a delicious tale that is easily devoured. One hopes it is just the start of a long-running series!
Michelle Cox, author of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series
A charming mystery with an intriguing premise. Can’t wait for the next installment.
Eleanor Kuhns, award-winning author of the Will Rees series and The Shaker Murders
A well written and cleverly plotted mystery with a historical twist.
Bruce Robert Coffin, bestselling author of the Detective Byron Mysteries
Genre: Mystery
Used availability for Carol Pouliot's Threshold of Deceit