“First I will destroy you, then I will hurt the ones you love, then you’ll beg me for mercy.”

Does opium have an expiration date? Jade Thyme must delve into her mother’s free-spirited past if she wants to prove her father was murdered and hadn’t died from a fentanyl overdose.

Legislative Clerk Adam Younghusband drops on Jade’s desk damning evidence regarding the island’s once feared drug dealer, Oscar Cooper. Immediately Jade and Sage are targets. They hide from an arsonist determined to destroy them. Is it all connected? 1968 clashes with the present as Jade uncovers a deadly secret while trying to stay one step ahead of a murderer hell bent on revenge.

All About Joanna Vander Vlugt

Joanna Vander Vlugt is an author and illustrator. As a teenager, she drew charcoal portraits and wrote mysteries. Some years later, she would draw again.

Joanna became a fitness instructor and personal trainer. During this time, under the pseudonym J.C. Szasz, her short mysteries Egyptian Queen and The Parrot and Wild Mushroom Stuffing were published in the Crime Writers of Canada mystery anthologies.

Her personal essay, No Beatles Reunion was published in the Dropped Threads 3:Beyond the Small Circle anthology.

The Unravelling, her debut novel, was a Canadian Book Club Awards finalist.

She is proud of her podcast JCVArtStudio - From the Dressing Room which discusses writing, books, art and the artist’s journey.

Follow this link to connect with the JCVArtStudio!

Joanna's artwork was also featured in ArtHabens. 

Previous Publications:

My short story The Parrot and Wild Mushroom Stuffing was included in this Crime Writers of Canada anthology.
My pseudonym then was J.C. Szasz
Published in 2007

My personal essay, No Beatles Reunion was published in this anthology.
Pseudonym was J.C. Szasz.
Published in 2006 

My short story Egyptian Queen was published in this Crime Writers of Canada anthology.
Pseudonym of Joanna C. Szasz.
Published in 2006