Writing Dead By My Side was a labor of love. While it is interspersed with many laugh-out-loud moments and is filled with colorful characters, it is a story of loss and a homage to our heroes in blue. Over the course of researching this book, I had the great good fortune to meet and befriend a number of law enforcement officers. While Julia and Tony are figments of my imagination, the courage they display is a true depiction of these dedicated professionals who run toward danger while the rest of us run away.
About The Author:
I first embraced the world of make-believe as a little girl of seven, when my dolls were the characters for my stories. Of course, back then I didn't want to kill them.
As a teenager, I spent every spare moment at my local library. I devoured books. I read instead of doing homework, I read instead of doing chores, and I read instead of sleeping. It was about that time that I first put pen to paper. My tastes were very eclectic. I enjoyed romance and science fiction and mysteries. Think Nancy Drew dating the football hero at a high school on Mars!
My first serious foray into writing stemmed from my love of romance novels. I constantly told my husband that "I could write that." I guess he finally got tired of hearing me say it and told me to do it. I took up the challenge and wrote my first book: Only In My Dreams, a historical romance set in Mexico during the era of Maximilian. It took me ten years to write it. And that's not a typo. I loved writing romance novels and although I had an agent for a time, it was never quite the right fit for me. My daughters are trying to convince me to self-publish the book. I'm thinking about it.
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Book Description: Dead By My Side
Julia Reynolds is a homicide detective with beauty, brains, a smart mouth and a sharp investigative eye. She is the perfect foil for Tony Camarelli, who is handsome, tough, dedicated and thorough. Together they make a great team, trading banter, fighting crime, out to catch the bad guy. It all sounds like a normal day at the office for these two partners. Except for one little detail ... she's dead. Julia and Tony have worked together for twelve years. Their partnership is cut short the day that Julia is killed in the line of duty and Tony is left to pick up the pieces. When Julia's ghost comes back to haunt him, she wreaks havoc on his peace of mind, plays on his nerves and interrupts his love life. It soon becomes clear that she won't leave him alone until he agrees to partner up again. As she did in life, Julia helps Tony with the investigation, but this time she has a new and unique perspective from beyond the grave, and they will need it. The duo is about to face the most challenging case of their careers. A cunning serial killer, who doesn't fit any criminal profile, stalks the young women of Sacramento, daring the local authorities and the FBI to catch him. Hot on the trail of a sadistic monster, they must fight against time while trying to adjust to their new "living" arrangements.
Book Excerpt: Dead By My Side
Chapter 1
Detective Anthony Camarelli brought the barrel of his gun up in a two-handed grip, took careful aim, and put three rounds into the perp in rapid succession. He allowed himself a moment of satisfaction when all three shots hit their mark.
Removing his headphones and goggles, Tony pressed the button to retrieve his target. Julia Reynolds, his partner, peered around him and whistled.
"Not bad, Camarelli. A nice tight grouping. That last round, though, was a little off. But it's tiny. Infinitesimal. Hardly noticeable at all."
He quirked an eyebrow, his only acknowledgement of her observation. He might have reminded her of the numerous medals and trophies for marksmanship currently cluttering his closet, but it would only encourage her. They cleaned their weapons and headed out to the parking lot.
Tim Johnston, a uniform on the night shift, greeted them. "Well, if it isn't the Sacramento Sheriff's Department's finest. Hey, Camarelli, you exercising your trigger finger? Competition's not that far off. Top Gun '06 and '07. This'll be three years running. You do us proud."
"Count on it," Tony replied.
Johnston shot him a mock salute. Tony hadn't even settled into the driver's seat before Julia pulled out her new purchase and traded her sensible shoes for a pair of strappy spiked heels. "You know we're on duty tonight," he said.
She sighed in mock ecstasy as she lifted her foot and placed it on the dash. "Jimmy Choos, baby. They're the best."
Eyeing her tall and leggy body, he marveled at her ability to pretzel herself around in that confined space. She was turning thirty-five tomorrow, yet she still had the lithe body of a woman ten years younger. The chestnut hair caught up in a ponytail and her fresh-scrubbed face added to the image. He admired her slim ankle even as he frowned at the impracticality of her purchase.
"We're still staking out Lopez, right?"
"That's the plan."
Her heavy sigh had him grinning. "Come on, it'll be a blast."
"Boring."
"Hey, I'll be there. We can play truth or dare."
"I repeat. Boring."
"Yeah, CI duty sucks. But with this flu bug out there, all the departments are short-handed. And besides, Lopez knows the guys from Vice. He catches sight of them, he'll bolt. With any luck, this will be our last night and we'll be back on homicide where we belong."
"If Lopez does show up, do not pull that old sweethearts-making-out-in-the-car routine."
"What, you don't like my kisses?"
"Oh zip it, Camarelli. The bad-boy good looks, the dimples, and that toothy grin are lost on me. And what's with the lock of hair falling so artfully onto your forehead? How long did it take you to train it to do that? Just keep your hands to yourself. That's all I'm saying."
"You think I'm good looking?"
"No, I think that's how you picture yourself." She traded her shoes back and quickly changed the subject. "Why do you suppose they call them confidential informants? It's an awfully fancy name for a snitch."
"Jurors tend to get a bad connotation from the word snitch."
Julia laughed. "You saw his mug shot. Lopez is a walking, breathing bad connotation."
Tony pictured Lopez and had to admit she was right. The man was in his early thirties and looked twice that age. Years of drug abuse had definitely left their mark.
Back at the station they each tried to catch up on some last-minute paperwork. Tony looked up and cringed when Leo Barclay came up behind Julia. The detective was always a pain in the ass, but when he and Julia were in the same room, fireworks soon followed. This was no exception.
Leo picked up the shoe box she'd set down on the edge of her desk and snorted a laugh, "This Jimmy guy can't even spell shoe. What an idiot!"
Julia snatched the box out of his hands and sneered, "Choo is the designer's name, numb nuts!"
Leo glared as snickers from other occupants of the room erupted. When his hands balled into fists, idle minds suddenly got busy. "Camarelli, you'd better reign in your bitch before I take her outside and teach her some manners."
Tony's leg blocked her charge as Julia came out of her chair ready to come to blows. "Let it go, Jules."
Tony and Julia both fought back the urge to wipe the smirk off Leo's face as he sauntered out the back of the squad room. Julia shoved at Tony's leg before plopping back in her chair. "Butt out of my business, Camarelli. I can take care of myself."
"Never said you couldn't. With this flu bug out there, I didn't think we could afford to lose another body when you put Barclay in the hospital. Just looking out for my best interests."
Only partly mollified, Julia turned back to her computer. She frowned at the ancient relic as Tony headed for the men's room. The screen froze again. She cursed a blue streak and slapped a hand against the monitor, which promptly went dark. "Are we ever going to catch up to the twenty-first century around here?" she asked of no one in particular.
The sarge chose that moment to stick his head out of his office. "Reynolds, get in here. Where's Camarelli?"
"The can." She quickly slipped on her suit jacket before heading into Tennyson's office. He didn't invite her to sit, so she stood just inside the door.
"OK, listen up. You and Camarelli are still on watch out for the snitch, but you'll be staking out his mom's house tonight. Apparently he's avoiding his apartment. Here's the address."
Julia glanced at the slip of paper. "The town of Hood? That's a quiet little community."
"It's a change of scenery. You can bring Tony up to date. Be safe out there."
Tony had still not made his way out of the head. Impatient to get going, Julia walked down the hall and pushed open the door to the men's room. Tony was bent over the sink, and Leo was just finishing up at the urinal. She looked Barclay up and down and hooked her thumb toward the door, "Shake off Little Leo and get out."
Leo cupped his dick with his right hand and leered at her. "Want some of this action, baby?"
"In your dreams, Barclay. I've seen livelier noodles in my wonton soup."
Tony bit back a laugh. "I hate to break up you lovebirds, but we need to be out of here."
Back at the car, Julia blew out a breath as Tony started the engine. "That man sets my teeth on edge."
"Come on, he's nothing more than a big, bald buffoon - don't let him get to you. Just keep in mind that he's pretty close to retirement, and you won't have to put up with him much longer."
"I've got news for you, he's already retired. The paperwork just hasn't caught up to him." She pulled the scrap of paper Tennyson had scribbled on out of her pocket and handed it to him. "The sarge switched things up on us. We'll be staking out Lopez at his mom's house in Hood."
Detective Anthony Camarelli brought the barrel of his gun up in a two-handed grip, took careful aim, and put three rounds into the perp in rapid succession. He allowed himself a moment of satisfaction when all three shots hit their mark.
Removing his headphones and goggles, Tony pressed the button to retrieve his target. Julia Reynolds, his partner, peered around him and whistled.
"Not bad, Camarelli. A nice tight grouping. That last round, though, was a little off. But it's tiny. Infinitesimal. Hardly noticeable at all."
He quirked an eyebrow, his only acknowledgement of her observation. He might have reminded her of the numerous medals and trophies for marksmanship currently cluttering his closet, but it would only encourage her. They cleaned their weapons and headed out to the parking lot.
Tim Johnston, a uniform on the night shift, greeted them. "Well, if it isn't the Sacramento Sheriff's Department's finest. Hey, Camarelli, you exercising your trigger finger? Competition's not that far off. Top Gun '06 and '07. This'll be three years running. You do us proud."
"Count on it," Tony replied.
Johnston shot him a mock salute. Tony hadn't even settled into the driver's seat before Julia pulled out her new purchase and traded her sensible shoes for a pair of strappy spiked heels. "You know we're on duty tonight," he said.
She sighed in mock ecstasy as she lifted her foot and placed it on the dash. "Jimmy Choos, baby. They're the best."
Eyeing her tall and leggy body, he marveled at her ability to pretzel herself around in that confined space. She was turning thirty-five tomorrow, yet she still had the lithe body of a woman ten years younger. The chestnut hair caught up in a ponytail and her fresh-scrubbed face added to the image. He admired her slim ankle even as he frowned at the impracticality of her purchase.
"We're still staking out Lopez, right?"
"That's the plan."
Her heavy sigh had him grinning. "Come on, it'll be a blast."
"Boring."
"Hey, I'll be there. We can play truth or dare."
"I repeat. Boring."
"Yeah, CI duty sucks. But with this flu bug out there, all the departments are short-handed. And besides, Lopez knows the guys from Vice. He catches sight of them, he'll bolt. With any luck, this will be our last night and we'll be back on homicide where we belong."
"If Lopez does show up, do not pull that old sweethearts-making-out-in-the-car routine."
"What, you don't like my kisses?"
"Oh zip it, Camarelli. The bad-boy good looks, the dimples, and that toothy grin are lost on me. And what's with the lock of hair falling so artfully onto your forehead? How long did it take you to train it to do that? Just keep your hands to yourself. That's all I'm saying."
"You think I'm good looking?"
"No, I think that's how you picture yourself." She traded her shoes back and quickly changed the subject. "Why do you suppose they call them confidential informants? It's an awfully fancy name for a snitch."
"Jurors tend to get a bad connotation from the word snitch."
Julia laughed. "You saw his mug shot. Lopez is a walking, breathing bad connotation."
Tony pictured Lopez and had to admit she was right. The man was in his early thirties and looked twice that age. Years of drug abuse had definitely left their mark.
Back at the station they each tried to catch up on some last-minute paperwork. Tony looked up and cringed when Leo Barclay came up behind Julia. The detective was always a pain in the ass, but when he and Julia were in the same room, fireworks soon followed. This was no exception.
Leo picked up the shoe box she'd set down on the edge of her desk and snorted a laugh, "This Jimmy guy can't even spell shoe. What an idiot!"
Julia snatched the box out of his hands and sneered, "Choo is the designer's name, numb nuts!"
Leo glared as snickers from other occupants of the room erupted. When his hands balled into fists, idle minds suddenly got busy. "Camarelli, you'd better reign in your bitch before I take her outside and teach her some manners."
Tony's leg blocked her charge as Julia came out of her chair ready to come to blows. "Let it go, Jules."
Tony and Julia both fought back the urge to wipe the smirk off Leo's face as he sauntered out the back of the squad room. Julia shoved at Tony's leg before plopping back in her chair. "Butt out of my business, Camarelli. I can take care of myself."
"Never said you couldn't. With this flu bug out there, I didn't think we could afford to lose another body when you put Barclay in the hospital. Just looking out for my best interests."
Only partly mollified, Julia turned back to her computer. She frowned at the ancient relic as Tony headed for the men's room. The screen froze again. She cursed a blue streak and slapped a hand against the monitor, which promptly went dark. "Are we ever going to catch up to the twenty-first century around here?" she asked of no one in particular.
The sarge chose that moment to stick his head out of his office. "Reynolds, get in here. Where's Camarelli?"
"The can." She quickly slipped on her suit jacket before heading into Tennyson's office. He didn't invite her to sit, so she stood just inside the door.
"OK, listen up. You and Camarelli are still on watch out for the snitch, but you'll be staking out his mom's house tonight. Apparently he's avoiding his apartment. Here's the address."
Julia glanced at the slip of paper. "The town of Hood? That's a quiet little community."
"It's a change of scenery. You can bring Tony up to date. Be safe out there."
Tony had still not made his way out of the head. Impatient to get going, Julia walked down the hall and pushed open the door to the men's room. Tony was bent over the sink, and Leo was just finishing up at the urinal. She looked Barclay up and down and hooked her thumb toward the door, "Shake off Little Leo and get out."
Leo cupped his dick with his right hand and leered at her. "Want some of this action, baby?"
"In your dreams, Barclay. I've seen livelier noodles in my wonton soup."
Tony bit back a laugh. "I hate to break up you lovebirds, but we need to be out of here."
Back at the car, Julia blew out a breath as Tony started the engine. "That man sets my teeth on edge."
"Come on, he's nothing more than a big, bald buffoon - don't let him get to you. Just keep in mind that he's pretty close to retirement, and you won't have to put up with him much longer."
"I've got news for you, he's already retired. The paperwork just hasn't caught up to him." She pulled the scrap of paper Tennyson had scribbled on out of her pocket and handed it to him. "The sarge switched things up on us. We'll be staking out Lopez at his mom's house in Hood."
Reviews: Dead By My Side
"Galloway's debut novel is fast paced, unique, intriguing, a great read for lovers of crime fiction. It's my kind of story so I'm in negotiation with her to write the screen play." - Ron Montana, Author/Screenwriter
"Dead By My Side is a real page turner. A sociopath is loose, but will he ever be stopped? The pace is fast. The characters are so well drawn that I felt that I really knew them. Tony, the dreamboat detective, and his lovely partner, Julia, now dead, but as alive as ever in his eyes only, work methodically as a team, and their continual banter is so lifelike, so creatively done. This is a book that has characters I really liked, people I found myself rooting for. If you enjoy a good mystery, then buy Dead By My Side. It has everything - and more - that a good murder mystery should. Take it from me: you will like this book." - Mike Meyer
" ... Honestly, I was not sure if this would be my cup of tea, but I wanted to give it a read since the premise is truly unique in a genre that often lacks uniqueness. The dialogue is really well-written, and moves the story along at a pace that mirrors the subject matter. The characters are really genuine and the pain of losing someone close is brought out well. You won't be disappointed with this!" - Adam Daehnke
* CONTEST GIVEAWAY *
$15 Amazon Gift Card
Contest Dates : July 13 - 27, 2012
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