"DEAD GAME" An Emily Stone Novel by Jennifer Chase is now Available for Purchase

Turn up the sound and enjoy!

"Dead Game" is now on sale at Amazon! And do not forget Author Jennifer Chase's 1st novel "Compulsion", which is also available at Amazon.

If you know someone that enjoys reading great Thriller Novels then purchase both of the books for them.

Chapter Six Excerpt - Dead Game

Chapter Six
Wednesday 0600 Hours

Five flat screen computers sat on a table in a semicircle configuration, each with a video playing. Upon closer inspection, all computers had the same video performing only at different moments in the action sequence. They kept playing through on an endless loop. The sound was muted, but the violence was clearly evident. It was a man being methodically strangled to death earlier in the evening. Every detail of his extreme anguish, facial muscle twitches, and lack of oxygen was forever imprinted on the video to relive over and over again.

The intense satisfaction of watching the five videos made every nerve tingle with delicious gratification for the man that watched. He was captivated by his clever use of direction as he savored every moment of the performance. He was the most ingenious movie director of all time. No one could compare to him.

Even though he had never stepped foot into a movie studio or on a movie set, he was the brilliant leader of the production that could never be surpassed.

It was death.

It was death by his direction.

He was the future.

He was the innovative leader that didn’t get his hands dirty. He was the new serial killer with a rich voyeuristic style. One day his creations would be shared with the entire world. He reveled in the thought of that glorious day. Until then, he would perfect his talent.

He tipped the crystal decanter and poured himself a healthy serving of brandy, even though it was barely morning. The pure liquid quenched his thirst, but not his hunger for death. He had more money than anyone could ask for, ten times over, but his profound appetite couldn’t be bought with just cold hard cash.

He needed so much more.

Each day that passed proved to be an even greater hardship and he thought that he might not be able to go on, but the video images worked wonders on his psyche boosting his mood and vitality.

There was morning light slowly filtering in through the large picture windows of the vast estate. It was a new day and a new opportunity to reinvent the misery of pain and suffering.

He tapped the keyboard and instantly the sound of the man slowly dying was clear and ominous. It radiated throughout the square footage of the house.

The strained gasping breath.

The unmistakable sound of pain and torture.

The volume rose to such a high level that it caused a distinct vibration through the table and floor, radiating through his hands, feet, and chest. It heightened the experience for the man as he closed his eyes to the orchestra of death.

It was better than sex.

It was better than any drug.

The release he felt deep within his being proved to be wondrous and calming. It was real and there were so many more videos to be assembled for his library. That excited him even more.

All rights reserved. Copyright © 2009 Jennifer Chase

Get your Copy of "DEAD GAME" --Right off the Press Here!

Due to the large amount of e-mails I have been receiving, I have decided to offer the Novel "Dead Game" right here on my blog!

Here's the paperback version button: $13.95 plus 3.99 shipping (US only)

Here's the e-book version button: $4.95

Here is a Chance to Be the First!

While I know not everything in life is a competition, doesn’t it feel great to be first at something once in a while? Maybe you are the first among your group of friends to discover a great musician. Perhaps you are (will be?) the first in your family to finish all of your holiday shopping this year. Here’s another one to consider. Have you ever looked at the page for a newly-released book on Amazon and noticed the small print which reads, “No customer reviews yet. Be the first.”? What a great invitation! And, I have just the book for which you can write that “be the first” review.

"Dead Game" became available on Amazon at the end of last month, and I am so excited for people to get their hands on it and discover what Emily Stone is doing now. While readers of "Compulsion" will recognize some similar components in my new release, since Emily is continuing her efforts to bring the bad guys to justice, they also will find a plot that takes our anonymous investigator in a completely new direction.

I look forward to hearing from all of you after you read "Dead Game". Your feedback is so valuable to me. And, I certainly would appreciate your willingness to share your thoughts about "Dead Game" with others who visit the Amazon website. Be the first … or the second or the third! I know that much of "Compulsion’s" success was based on individual readers sharing it with their friends and family, and I thank you for that! I hope to discover that same word-of-mouth effect with "Dead Game".

In addition to leaving your reviews on the Amazon site and with other online book distributors, I would love to hear from you directly as well. Please email me or leave a comment on this blog. I look forward to reading your opinion!

Support Your Writer’s Body & Spirit

I was thoroughly exhausted, both physically and mentally, after finishing "Dead Game". In some instances, I felt like I WAS Emily Stone fighting serial killers, solving crimes, and executing daring escapes. It’s more important than ever to keep your body and spirit in balance no matter what your daily work or activity. I’ve read several articles recently that address these issues and I’m in complete agreement.

I would like to share these important points to remember.

Your body:

1. Nutrition
It’s so important to give your body the proper nutrition it needs to keep going and to handle all the stresses that come your way – especially when you’re writing a novel. I find that my body craves proteins and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in order for me to stay on schedule and focused. I’m fortunate to live in California where there are always plenty of healthy foods available year round. Keep your diet in a healthy balance of all these important nutrients and you’ll find that your writing will benefit from it as well.

2.Sleep
Ah, sleep wonderful sleep… It has been difficult for me to write during the day and to stay on a regular schedule so that I can sleep at night. I have a tendency to be a night owl and love it, but I found that I wasn’t sleeping enough with that type of schedule. Make sure that you get the proper amount of sleep where you don’t feel like you’re running out of steam halfway through your writing day.

3.Breaks
I can’t emphasize enough that you need to take regular breaks. This has been one of those absolute necessities for me. Get up from your computer and take a walk, even a short one around the block, play with your kids, throw a ball for your dog, anything that will give your body a short break to refocus.

4.Exercise
Writing is one those professions where you are sitting for long periods of time. Exercise has been one of the great things that has helped to give me more energy and I get some of my best ideas when I’m doing it. I begin my day with Yoga. It doesn’t’ get any better than that – relaxation and stretching is a must for me. Two to three times a week I go on a nature walk (with or without my dogs), lift free weights, and when I’m feeling really energetic I work out on boxing bag. I seem to beat up my fictional serial killers and bad guys that way!

Your Spirit:

1. Feeding your muse
I never realized how important this is for a writer. I find that my photography seems to fill this requirement. You need to take time to actually feed your muse, whether it’s with music, journaling, photography or any other creative outlet. Don’t forget to feed your muse!

2.Just Say No
Many of us writers work from home and that poses many opportunities for others to make requests of you. Don’t feel guilty when you just say no.

3.Rewards
Celebrate your accomplishments! Don’t just wait until you’ve completely finished a project. Take some time for yourself after a certain number of chapters or when you’ve finished research or editing. Take these steps in stride and don’t forget to reward yourself.

4.Socialization
Writers are solitary – plain and simple. That’s why it extremely important to take the opportunity to have social activities and make a conscious effort to do so on a regular basis.

Don’t forget to take a moment to support your body and spirit every day. Your writing will thank you ten fold.

Jennifer Chase
Author & Criminologist

Serial Killer in Ohio Pleads Insanity

Last month, I shared a blog post about the arrest of Anthony Sowell in Cleveland, Ohio. Eleven sets of human remains, all African American women, were found on the premises of his property. He is now facing 85 counts in a Cuyahoga County court, ranging from kidnapping to rape to aggravated murder with “mass murder specification.” The prosecutors have decided to pursue the death penalty against Sowell if he is found guilty. However, this week Anthony Sowell pleaded not guilty by reasons of insanity.

If you are a regular viewer of programs like Law and Order and Criminal Minds, like I am, you might reach the conclusion that defense attorneys pull out the “insanity card” at every opportunity. It seems to make a weekly appearance on at least one courtroom drama. The reality, though, is that the insanity plea is entered in less than one percent of all cases that appear in our country’s courtrooms.

More often, attorneys may try to argue an instance of “temporary mental impairment.” While this label is not a legal defense that can clear an accused criminal of charges, it can be accepted as a mitigating factor in determining final punishment.

Of course, Sowell’s attorney is aware of the success rate of the insanity plea and, therefore, must have strong evidence or other reasons to believe that her client really is of a mindset that makes him ineligible to stand and face his crimes.

I am sure that many people would argue that anyone who commits the grisly crimes that Anthony Sowell is accused of doing cannot be right in the head. That is why we so often ask the question, “How could anyone do such a thing?” when seeing such stories on the news. But, the truth is, and forensic psychologist experts will agree, that people with a wide range of mental capabilities and states of health are guilty of murder. In any case, there is a victim to be remembered and a family that is left to grieve.

Partners in Serial Murder

In my new novel, Dead Game, Emily Stone is joined by ex-police detective Rick Lopez to hunt down child abductors, pedophiles, and serial killers. This honorable partnership manages to investigate and track these despicable killers, all in anonymity, and then emailing their findings to the local law enforcement agency in charge of the case. This team is driven to save children from the vile evil that lurks in society.

But what would happen if these partners were evil?

The exact opposite effect would be the similar to the couple in England, Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, who murdered five children between the ages of 10 and 17 during the 1960s. It was discovered that at least four of the victims were sexually assaulted, throats cut, and bodies buried in a rural area of Saddleworth Moor. This serial killing couple escaped the death penalty because at the time England had abolished it with The Murder Act of 1965.

What prompted this serial killer couple to kill children?

Myra Hindley was called “the most evil woman in Britain” and then was declared criminally insane in 1985. Psychologists described her as “a young woman with a tough personality”. She grew up with a mother and alcoholic father who would beat her regularly as a young child. They lived in extremely poor conditions and Hindley was soon sent to live with her grandmother. At age 17, she took up Judo but had difficulty keeping her anger in check, dyed her hair blonde, and then took a job at an engineering company. She was soon fired from and later obtained a typist position at another company where she would meet Ian Brady.

Ian Brady was the son of an unwed waitress and the identity of his father was never accurately known. As a young child, Brady would take pleasure in torturing animals by breaking legs, setting fire to, and decapitating. The brutality escalated and he was soon hurting smaller children than himself. Before he was 18 years old, Brady would steal, brew alcohol, and threatened another boy with a butcher’s knife. His scrapes with the law continued through most of his youth. Then one day he decided that he wanted to better himself and obtained a set of instruction manuals on bookkeeping from the local library and obtained a clerical job at a wholesale chemical distribution company. He was an avid reader and was infatuated with books on Nazi atrocities.

Hindley and Brady met on the job and then regularly took their breaks together. Their relationship soon turned to dating. Brady gave Hindley reading material from the accounts of Nazi atrocities. It ultimately escalated to talk about “committing the perfect murder”. This couple used an effective modus operandi to stalk and murder their innocent prey. Hindley would drive the car followed by Brady on a motorcycle. Brady would motion to Hindley when he saw a perfect victim. Hindley would give the child a ride and then the murder was sealed. Most victims were sexually assaulted with their throats cut. Their reign of terror lasted from July 1963 to October 1965.

What makes people ultimately commit murder?

There is no easy answer to this question because there are so many things that contribute to criminally deviant behavior: psychological and chemical profile, environment, intelligence, and psychopathic behaviors. As a society, it’s difficult to comprehend these types of heinous crimes, especially against children as illustrated in the Hindley and Brady case.

Again, I feel that it’s important for officials in law enforcement and criminal profilers to study ALL cases involving serial crime and murder. There are definitely distinct patterns of behavior that seem to emerge before such crimes are committed more than just the fact that many criminals have been mistreated as children, abused drugs and alcohol, showed aggressive tendencies toward others, had fantasies of murder, and tortured animals.

There are distinct behavior patterns that develop when these types of individuals are young and even before entering school that need to be addressed along with a more thorough eye on young repeat offenders of theft, burglary, and assault. It’s a difficult road to study and profile such violent people before they become serial killers, but I feel that there are solid answers in young offenders that can shed more light into the mind of an adult serial killer.

Jennifer Chase
Author & Criminologist