Irene Hannon’s new book,
Trapped (Revell Books), tells the story of a runaway teen and what unfolds
as her half-sister and a private investigator seek to find answers.
Q: This book is the second in your Private Justice series. What
can readers expect from this installment?
Lots of
edge-of-the seat excitement! This villain is v-e-r-y scary. Honestly, even
though I wrote the book, he creeped me out. Trapped
is definitely not a story you want to start late at night or when you’re home
alone! In addition, readers will meet a swoon-worthy hero and a heroine with an
intriguing past.
Q: Can you tell us where you found inspiration for this book?
As for
inspiration—that was an easy question to answer for Vanished, the first book in the series, because I can remember the
exact moment it struck. That doesn’t happen with most of my books, though. In
general, my ideas are triggered by a snippet of conversation I overhear, an
article I read, a situation I witness. But I can tell you that once I delved
into the world of runaways, lots of ideas came to mind. I can also tell you
that this villain surprised me. I thought I had him pegged, but about five
chapters in I discovered a shocking secret about him. I literally stopped
typing, stared at the screen and thought, “You did what?!” So I’m often inspired as I write, too.
Q: What sort of research do you typically do for a book?
I’m a stickler
for research, so I dig into every topic covered in a book. For Trapped, those included runaways,
homeless shelters, PIs and the ATF, among many others. Often I spend an hour
searching for information that becomes a line or two in the book. I also have a
whole network of sources I go to for firsthand information, especially in law
enforcement. And those efforts pay off. My books have been recognized for their
accuracy and authenticity by both readers and experts. One of my most
gratifying comments on the research front came from a former commander of the
FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team (featured in Against
All Odds), who’d heard about the book from a colleague and emailed to tell
me I’d gotten it right, down to the very radio call signals operators use
during a mission.
Q: How was this book different from previous projects?
Every book is
unique because I tackle different subject matter in each one. In Vanished, the first book in the series,
I dealt with pediatric surgery, nonprofit organizations, newspaper reporting
and some serious ethical questions. This book delves into a world I knew
nothing about—runaways, homelessness, and some serious psychological issues.
But the one thing that remains consistent from book to book is a compelling
romance—plus some lighthearted banter to break up the heavier stuff!
Q: What future plans do you have for the Private Justice series?
The series will conclude next year
with Deceived, Connor’s story. Connor
is a former Secret Service agent, so he has an interesting backstory. The
heroine is a widow who thinks she sees her dead son on a mall escalator and
goes to the PI firm for help. Suffice it to say, this story takes some very
interesting—and dangerous—twists and turns!