I love sharing giant covers for Sue’s books, so you can get that up close and personal looks at all the details.
The first book in the series, Wings Of Mayhem is free. Go ahead. Grab a copy. You will see why I am so hooked on this series and these characters. Always check for the ‘0’.
GUEST POST BY SUE COLETTA
Sherry asked me another question that other readers might wonder about.
“I am writing my review and saw the list of all the consultants and sites in the front of the book. It is obvious you do tons of research, and I am interested in how you came to be so enthralled with Native American culture.”
It’s sort of a convoluted story, but I’ll try to simplify things.My brother and I grew up in a three-bedroom gambrel built by my maternal grandfather. In fact, my bedroom used to be my mother’s childhood bedroom. Unfortunately, my grandparents on both sides died before I was born, except for my maternal grandmother, who died when I was four.
This house held hidden secrets. In the walls, in the floors, and in the side attic.
Because of my grandparents passing, no one commented on the construction of the house, nor did they explain why the backs of our closets had hidden doorways that led to tunnels behind the walls or why trapdoors led to a secret staircase. To access the hidden passageways, you had to crawl or hunch. My brother and I thought they were the coolest forts. Neither of us had any idea why they existed, nor did it matter. Kids don’t care about the why or how something materialized. They just take the win.
Fast forward a few years. In the third grade my art teacher—back then we had one teacher for all creative activities—planned to put on a school play about the Pilgrims “discovering” America. She asked each student to choose a role, “Indian” or Pilgrim. I chose the former.
Side note: Please excuse the usage of “Indian” rather than more acceptable terms of Native American, First Nations, American Indian, First Peoples, or Indigenous. I use it here for accuracy. That’s the term my misguided teacher used.
Also of note:
- Back then, all teachers whitewashed America’s dirty little secrets and instead taught a skewed version of history.
- “Indians” were portrayed as the villains of the school play.
For this role, I needed a costume, which Mom made from a bedsheet. A cute little dress edged in fringe. The material couldn’t stay white, of course, so she brewed up several pots of tea to create the perfect dye to mimic tanned animal hides. While we dyed my dress, she told me all about my grandfather and our Native roots. She also said I was spitting image of his sister, my Great Aunt Hat.
Anyway, because I lost my mother so early in life, important parts of our conversation have faded. I’ve pieced together that I’m most likely Algonquin, since my grandfather hailed from Maine, but I’ve never been able to pinpoint the exact clan affiliation. Native American bloodlines are notoriously difficult to trace. They weren’t included in the census bureau because the white population didn’t consider them human, as disgraceful as that sounds. As an aside, Little Rain was one of my relatives, the name I gave Maggie in my Mayhem Series. It fits her so well.
On my father’s side, others have traced his line back to the Mayflower. Evidently, my paternal line consists of the very colonists who murdered Native Americans. So, basically, I’m a walking contradiction. 😉
From as far back as I can remember, I’ve always had a Native heart and soul. When my mother told me about our heritage, life made sense. And so did those secret passageways in our walls. My grandfather built hiding places into our home to protect family and friends from those who wished them harm, like an underground railroad. He had good reason to, as Native people were driven off their ancestral land at an alarming rate. Even today, few New England states have a robust Indigenous community.
Incidentally, at the school play, I wore that tea-dyed, fringed dress with pride. I also gave the teacher a piece of mind for portraying my People like they were the enemy. Needless to say, Mom had a lot of explaining to do afterward. The principal wasn’t pleased with my outburst. LOL Never once did Mom blame me, though. Instead, she taught me to take pride in my Native heritage.
So, to answer your question, yes, I do a ton of research for my Mayhem Series. Not only for accuracy but for me, personally. Through that research I fell in love with Diné culture and traditions, and the spirituality speaks to my soul. As Shawnee learns about her heritage, I learn about mine.
Thanks for another great question, Sherry. <3
Truly fascinating Sue. I want to thank you so much for sharing ‘the good, the bad, and the ugly’. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of you giving your teacher a history lesson. I love picturing you, in your fringed dress, righting a wrong. Unfortunately and unbelievably, in the 21st century here in Florida, they are trying to ‘turn back time.’ It’s true, ‘history repeats itself’…over and over and over again.
MY REVIEW
It’s 9:30 am on a Monday morning and Mr Mayhem and Shawnee are racing through the forest. Shawnee struggles to keep up with the frantic pace Mr Mayhem has set, slapping branches aside, doing her best to keep up. Why is Poe sending out an alarm?
Where is Shicheii? Shicheii is her grandfather, her only living relative. She will die for him.
And that is the opening for Merciless Mayhem.
Sue Coletta and the Mayhem gang have been working tirelessly to protect nature and all the animals that inhabit our world, and this time Orcas and dolphins are the target of the Killzme Corporation. They present themselves as conservationists, but use those who care about saving the animals for nefarious purposes, without their knowledge. That really ticked me off! Sue Coletta’s subject matter and writing does get all my emotions firing.
The blurb and introduction inside the book made me want to share…well, almost everything, but I figure you will read that anyway, so let’s just get right down to my thoughts.
Sue Coletta does a lot of research and I love an author that strives to make their novels authentic, as realistic as possible. She does that very well.
I won’t go into all the updates for how we came to be where we are. I will leave that for you to find out for yourself, but Sue Coletta does include them in the story. I believe you may be able to read each book as a standalone, but starting in the beginning gives so much depth and meaning into the characters, I recommend beginning with Wings Of Mayhem, Book I.
The Killzme Corporation was the largest animal trafficking ring in the US and they had put a bounty on Mr Mayhem and Shawnee. They will use anyone they care about to get their hands on them.
I love their role playing, as they do their investigating, and they had me bursting out in laughter. The visuals Sue created in my mind are amazing.
Mr Mayhem’s nickname for Shawnee, Cautious Cat, is a misnomer. She can be impulsive, acting without thought of the consequences, putting herself in peril when those she loves are in danger. Mr Mayhem is her mentor and works with her to create a center of calm, giving herself time to anticipate the results of her actions. It’s a work in progress. 🙂
I am speechless when Shawnee launches her attack, around 617 on my ereader. She is a badass warrior and a character sure to capture any thriller lover’s heart, like mine.
Shawnee is in a committed relationship with Levaughn, but we don’t hear much about him. We meet up with some old friends and are introduced to some new ones.
Her interactions with Poe are always fun. They are like two kids struggling through sibling rivalry and Shawnee comes out with the short end of the stick. Lots of smiles to be had, but when push comes to shove, Poe will be there for her.
I love an author that makes me want to do my own research and Sue Coletta is one of those authors. Her chapters begin with Native American sayings that make me think. The Sea Shepherd is mentioned and I remember watching the TV show. They put themselves in danger to stop the slaughter of whales by the Japanese.
Chapter 47 took me to a place I have been waiting to go. I thought it had to come and I am eager to see where Sue will take it in the next book. That being said, I feel it is too important to share and I WANT you to find it out for yourself. Will this go where I want, where I feel it has to, where I feel fate has meant it to be? Have I made you curious?
The Orcas and dolphins may be safe, for the moment…BUT… brace yourself. The next stop is Yellowstone, where Killzme has planned a mass slaughter of bears, wolves and lynxes.
I am always eager to see what Sue will come up with next in this series, but now she has made me even more curious with this snippet at the very end of the novel:
Once my grandfather vanished inside, I swiveled toward my mentor. “He’s definitely hiding somethin’.”
“Oh, yes. Yes, he is. The question is, what?”
“Aw man, Shicheii. What did you do?”
Sue Coletta left me smiling. Thanks, Sue, Mr Mayhem and Shawnee! Oh, and our feathered friends.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Merciless Mayhem by Sue Coletta.
GOODREADS BLURB
Shawnee and Mayhem continue to wreak havoc on the Killzme Corporation—the largest animal trafficking ring in the country—by killing one poacher at a time. The stakes grow increasingly higher when the nefarious group retaliates by putting a bounty on their heads.
Meanwhile, the traffickers set their sights on capturing Orca for profit and pleasure.
With a ticking clock and no place left to hide, Shawnee and Mayhem alternate between undercover surveillance and clandestine battles to save their loved ones and the Innocent Ones from Killzme’s evil plans. Skills are tested. Tenuous alliances are formed. Not everyone will make it out alive.
Set in a world of cultural wonder, environmental threats, and looming danger, this heart-stopping eco-thriller will have you glued to the page from the first sentence to the last.
- Genre: Ecothriller, Fiction, Mystery, Native American Literature, Suspense, Thriller. Vigilante Justice
- 436 pages, Kindle Edition
- Published October 17, 2023 by Crow Talons Press
- Series: The Mayhem Series, #8
ABOUT SUE COLETTA
Sue Coletta is an active member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Feedspot and Expertido.org named her Murder Blog as one of the “Top 100 Crime Blogs on the Net” (Murder Blog sits at #5) for four years in a row. And recently, she appeared on an Emmy award-winning true crime show.
Sue also blogs at the Kill Zone, a multi-award-winning writing blog, and writes two serial killer thriller series (Tirgearr Publishing) and narrative nonfiction/true crime for Globe Pequot, trade division of Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group.
For readers, she has the Crime Lover’s Lounge, where members will be the first to know about free giveaways, contests, and have inside access to deleted scenes (if available). As an added bonus, members get to play in the lounge. Your secret code will unlock the virtual door.
BONUS: When you join Sue’s community you’ll receive two free killer reads!
Sue lives in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire with her husband, and begins each by feeding all the wildlife in her yard. Her favorite “pets” are a murder of crows who live free but come when called by name.
Learn more about Sue and her books at: https://suecoletta.com
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MY REVIEWS FOR SUE COLETTA
- Marred (Grafton County Series)
- Cleaved (Grafton County Series)
- Scathed (Grafton County Series)
- Racked (Grafton County Series)
- Haloed (Grafton County Series)
- Wings of Mayhem (The Mayhem Series)
- Blessed Mayhem (The Mayhem Series)
- Silent Mayhem (The Mayhem Series)
- I Am Mayhem (The Mayhem Series)
- Unnatural Mahem (The Mayhem Series)
- Restless Mayhem (The Mayhem Series)
- Tracing Mayhem (The Mayhem Series)
- Hacked (Special Forces: Operation Alpha Kindle Worlds Novella)
- Fractured Lives (Brotherhood Protectors Kindle Worlds Novella)
- True Crime – Pretty Evil New England
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