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Introducing booked for murder
a new book club for partners in crime
Do you love a good whodunit, a twisty thriller, a clever cozy mystery—or a true crime story that keeps you turning pages long after bedtime?
Then Booked for Murder is for you!
We’re excited to introduce a new monthly book club for members of Partners in Crime, the San Diego chapter of Sisters in Crime. Each month, we’ll gather via Zoom to discuss a book written by a local San Diego-area author. When possible, authors will attend to answer your questions and give a behind the scenes peek at their work.
Our reading list will span the crime-fiction spectrum, including mysteries, thrillers, cozy mysteries, crime fiction, and true crime. Whether you’re a longtime mystery reader or simply looking for your next great read, Booked for Murder is a chance to discover local authors, share your thoughts, and connect with fellow Partners in Crime members.
The details:
- We’ll meet monthly via Zoom (time & day TBD)
- Books will be written by local authors
- Genres include crime fiction, mysteries, thrillers, cozy mysteries, and true crime
- The club is open to Partners in Crime members. If you're not a member, sign up today on our website: www.sistersincrimesd.com
Interested in joining us? Send an email with your name and email address to sandiegopartnersincrime@gmail.com to be added to the Booked for Murder group.
Come for the books. Stay for the suspects, secrets, twists, and lively conversation!
gET INVOLVED!
We’re always looking for members who’d like to play a larger role in shaping our chapter. We currently have an opening on the Board — if you’re interested, we’d love to hear from you.
Looking for a critique group?
We’re excited to announce that we are forming a critique group for members of Partners in Crime San Diego! We will hold the meetings at 10 a.m. on the 4th Saturday of each month, starting September 26, at the Carlsbad Dove Library, 1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad, 92011. If you have a work in progress, whether it be short stories or full-length novels (screenplays are welcome, too), this may be a good fit for you. We are seeking members who write fiction in the genres of Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, and Horror. Sub-genres are also accepted, such as Historical Mystery, Romantic Suspense etc. If you have a question about the genre fit, please inquire.Members will email work the week before and send constructive feedback via email prior to the meeting. At the meeting, we'll pair off and discuss the comments one-on-one in as much depth as seems appropriate, then swap partners for a 2nd and 3rd critique. Members may also arrange their own Zoom meetings if that’s more convenient.This is a great way for members to obtain beta readers, share writing and publishing information, as well as develop deep connections with other writers. We can accommodate only up to six members, so if you’re interested, please contact Madeleine Goldman at Madeleine@madweekmarketing.com
new releases
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Three bombs. Three targets. One explosive secret.
When the homes of three prominent Black members of Congress are bombed in Washington, D.C., FBI agent Lisa Owens is thrown into a high-profile case with national implications. Still adjusting to life in the Bureau, Lisa can't shake the feeling that she's barely keeping up. She's smart, but does she even belong here?
Lisa's mentor, Bernie Washington, is the one person who sees her potential. But as Lisa digs deeper into the case, she begins to suspect that even Bernie is holding something back. As the investigation points to a hate crime with chilling political implications, pressure mounts from every direction. But in politically divided Washington, the FBI is unraveling under the weight of its own divisions.
A lead is uncovered that takes the team deep into the Blue Ridge Mountains, where a shadowy group is waiting to finish what they started, and where a long-buried tragedy is about to surface. Now, with the clock ticking and the body count rising, Lisa must face her own doubts and confront a history written in blood.
The second electrifying book in the Lisa Owens trilogy-a taut, emotional thriller where the past isn't dead... it's just waiting.
But when his foster brother, Jake, a nomad van-lifer who never met a problem he couldn't run from, returns to town, the distrust, shock, and danger return with him.
After witnessing a convenience store robbery gone wrong, Drew assumes his foster brother has done what he's always done: run. But when cops begin poking around, followed by armed men threatening his family, Drew comes to understand what happened in that convenience store wasn't really random, and that his brother hasn't actually run.
Now, caught between his commitment to keep his growing family safe and his oldest bonds, Drew has to navigate a world he has no knowledge of, a world in which one false step could see his body washed up on one of San Diego's picturesque beaches, or lost forever beneath the waves.
In this shocking, mysterious, and deeply-felt novel, Anthony and Derringer Award-winning author Curtis Ippolito probes what, exactly, makes a family, and how much weight they can put on someone before they begin to sink.
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September 10, 2026
this month’s feature:
Choosing the dark - why i write thrillers
JOIN US
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th, 2026 at 11:30AM
TIERRASANTA BRANCH LIBRARY
4985 LACUENTA DRIVE, SAN DIEGO, CA 92124
JAMES FOLEY
Jim Foley is the author of the Lisa Owens crime thriller series—Treasure Coast, Blue Ridge, and Catalina, the third installment coming in March 2027. His character-driven novels have earned high praise from readers and critics alike. Treasure Coast was a 2025 IngramSpark Editorial Selection and named one of the year’s best novels by BestThrillers.com. It was also picked up for potential television adaptation. An active member of International Thriller Writers, Jim also serves as our president at Partners In Crime.
In this entertaining, candid, and personal presentation, Jim will answer the question "What makes a seemingly normal person look at a postcard perfect scene and think, "Now this would be a great place for a murder." Jim will discuss his new release, the inspiration for his work, and the surprising path that led him to writing thrillers.
If you’ve ever wondered what goes on inside the mind of someone who spends their time plotting crimes, creating killers, and figuring out how to keep readers turning pages long past bedtime, this presentation is for you.
The meeting will commence at 11:30 a.m. with light refreshments and time to mingle and network with fellow members. The presentation begins at noon. Jim will have books available for sale and signing afterward. We hope you will join us for this exclusive event. All are welcome.
Although our meetings are always best in person, this is a hybrid event. To participate remotely, register below. Please note the Zoom portion of the meeting will begin at 12:00 noon Pacific timeTO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY Click here to register for the Zoom event:
https://sistersincrime-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/wyLDvIDbTFWdx6fQLKgCNg
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
Welcome to Sisters in Crime San Diego — the place where crime writers and readers come together to celebrate the art of mystery, suspense, and true crime. From aspiring authors to bestselling pros to passionate fans, everyone has a seat at the table as we learn, share, and grow together.
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ABOUT US
The mission of Sisters in Crime San Diego Chapter is to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of crime writers and engage readers with content that is entertaining and educational.
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JOIN US
The San Diego Chapter of Sisters in Crime offers a diverse, welcoming, and supportive community of writers and readers of crime fiction.
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FEATURED MEMBER
J.A. Jensen
