Underneath the Fireflies by Marianne Scott | Book Review ~ Author Post on Book Setting ~ Book Raffle (2-Winners)
A book blog tour from iRead Book Tours.
Thank you to the author, publisher, & Lauren at iRead for providing me with the information for this tour. 
Book Details
Underneath the Fireflies by Marianne Scott
Published by Crowe Creations on January 16, 2023
Genres: Adult Fiction 18+, Murder Mystery, Suspense, Mystery, Thriller
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 296
Source: iRead Book Tours, Received from the author or publisher for review.No matter where Grace Walker goes, her extra sensory power goes with her. She’s an empath and sees things—terrible things. After a tragic accident at the place where she works, she decides to take a mental-health break on a remote West Coast island. But she no sooner gets to Galliano Island when a vision of the murder of an Indigenous woman draws her into a disturbing and threatening dilemma.
How does she tell the authorities she witnessed a murder—in a vision? As Grace, her parents, and her want-to-be boyfriend investigate, trying to find evidence, the killer becomes aware that Grace is about to expose him. Now Grace has become the victim, but her gift of sight compels her to solve the crime and bring the killer to justice.
Content Rating: PG-13 – Colloquial expressions in dialogue
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Purchase Links for Underneath the Fireflies
Amazon-OneLink for all countries BookShop/IndieBound
Underneath the FirefliesShop on Amazon
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My thoughts on Underneath the Fireflies
Underneath the Fireflies is a must-read for fans of mystery and suspense novels. The protagonist, Grace Walker, is an empath who sees terrible things and decides to take a mental-health break on a remote West Coast island after a tragic accident at work. However, her psychic ability leads her to witness the murder of an Indigenous woman on Galliano Island, and she faces a dilemma of how to tell the authorities she witnessed the murder in a vision.
The book is well-written, and the plot is full of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged until the very end. The investigation is intense, with Grace, her parents, and her want-to-be boyfriend trying to find evidence to prove her vision. However, the killer becomes aware that Grace is about to expose him, and she is put in danger.
The book deals with compelling themes such as mental health, Indigenous issues, and justice. Marianne Scott does an excellent job of bringing these themes to light and showing their impact on the characters and the story.
Overall, Underneath the Fireflies is a gripping mystery novel with a unique premise that includes psychic powers, an Indigenous victim, and a killer on the loose on Galliano Island. It is a must-read for anyone who loves a good mystery and is interested in exploring important social issues through literature.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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I love to read books through my Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscription.
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About Marianne Scott
Marianne Scott is the Canadian author of four mystery thrillers and is currently finishing an edit on her fourth novel, a murder mystery. She has a BA and a Diploma in Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, CA. She studied creative writing through Conestoga College and Humber College. She enjoys writing workshops such as those offered by Brian Henry, publisher of the blog, Quick Brown Fox, and One Lit Place, a writers’ hub by creator/editor Jenna Kalinsky.
She has an author’s website and blog is the president of The Cambridge Writers’ Collective and is a member of the Guelph Genre Writers. In September of 2018, she completed a fourth-year course in Writing Fiction at the University of Guelph under the expert teaching of Lawrence Hill. Her novels, Finding Ruby Draker and Shadows in the Aftermath are self-published. She is actively seeking representation to break into the traditional publishing world with her third and fourth novels.
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Guest Post
Setting is Part of a Story
I treat setting almost as a character in my stories. I’ve done a bit of traveling and one of my favourite vacation spots is France. Provence and the French Riviera has an essence and charm that inspires awe because of its beautiful landscape, while at the same time lending mystery and intrigue in its medieval villages. For me, there’s always a creepy edge to old buildings, especially churches. What is notable in the French Riviera is that it is a playground for the rich, intermingled with thieves and criminals that prey on privileged wealth.
A story doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The place and location in which a story takes places is as important as the plot and characters. I don’t know how other authors choose their settings, but I anchor my stories in Southern France, particularly on the magnificent state-owned estate of a once wealthy banking family, the Rothchild’s, who died out leaving no heirs to reap the benefits of the affluence left behind.
For a writer, this is an irresistible opportunity to invent interesting residents and repopulate with estate with a non-typical kind of family. I fictionalized this setting turning it into a safehouse for the Draker clan, survivors whose identities were changed after failed attempts on their lives by a psychopathic killer. Having lost their entire families, the new estate residents banded together to stop a notorious villain from claiming more victims. This bad guy is an ex-CIA manager become a serial revenge killer.
Saint Jean Cap Ferrat is a real place in France, a paradise setting which I use to juxtapose the ugliness of the situation my characters find themselves in. It’s ironic how living in luxury in the splendid French Riviera landscape clashes with the perilous situation my characters find themselves.
My novel, Reinhardt, also borrows from my experience in Provence. My protagonist goes through several identity changes to hide from the notorious Felix, his nemesis, a relentless and vengeful psychopath. In this story, my setting is based on a B&B in Figanieres, a wine growing area of Provence. The twist is bittersweet as happiness is ripped from him. It leads to yet another name change and a surprising change of fortune.
A writer should never underestimate the power that setting lends to their story. A writer has great opportunities to enhance their story with appealing settings that capture a readers wish to travel along with the story.
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Purchase Underneath the Fireflies online from a local bookstore.
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Easy Amazon Links
Amazon-OneLink for all countries
If the above link does not take you to your country, here are a few more:
Please send me a note if your country isn’t listed and you would like to purchase using my links. Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount out of their share.
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Giveaway!
Win paperback copies of both UNDERNEATH THE FIREFLIES and REINHARDT (2 winners) (USA only) (ends May 19)
Please visit more tour stops for extra chances to win!
Official Tour Page for Underneath the Fireflies
Watch for my review of Reinhardt on May 11, 2023
UNDERNEATH THE FIREFLIES Book Tour Giveaway
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Book Title: Underneath the Fireflies by Marianne Scott
Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 496 pages
Genre: Murder Mystery / Thriller
Publisher: Crowe Creations
Release date: January 2023
Tour dates: April 17 to May 12, 2023
Content Rating: PG-13 – Colloquial expressions in dialogue.
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I’m always looking for good Canadian authors, so this is one I am going to check out. The guest post on setting was very interesting. I have added this to my Amazon list. Great post, Gina.
Thanks Carla!