stay up to date
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 release
-
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.
-
-
September 10, 2026
this month’s feature:
with Corey lynn fayman, jeri westerson, & martin roy hill
Researching and Writing Historical Mysteries and Thrillers
JOIN US
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14th at 11:30AM
TIERRASANTA BRANCH LIBRARY
4985 LACUENTA DRIVE, SAN DIEGO, CA 92124
Writing historical novels involves more than a good plot idea. In addition to compelling storytelling, it requires meticulous research, and a narrative voice that conveys an authentic sense of place and period. This panel will discuss how the historical fiction writer should approach his or her craft, including:
• How to do historical research for your chosen era
• How to convey a sense of time and place to your reader
• How to find your voice
• Character development (era-sensitive personality & motivation)
• Integrating history into plot and best practices for using historical events
Panelists:
Corey Lynn Fayman's career includes work as a musician, songwriter, sound designer, multimedia developer and college professor. He is the author of the award-winning Rolly Waters mystery series, two historical mysteries—The Esmeralda Goodbye and The Deadly Stingaree. He holds a B.A. in English, with a specialization in creative writing and poetry from UCLA, and an M.A. in Educational Technology from San Diego State University.
Jeri Westerson has published over 40 novels, including a Tudor mystery series, a Sherlockian pastiche, and a Medieval Noir series that was received 13 award nominations. She has served as president of the Southern California Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, president and vice president for two chapters of Sisters in Crime (Orange County and Los Angeles), she’s a member of the Curious Collectors: a scion of the LA Sherlockian Society, the West Coast Holmes Hounds, and was a founding member of the SoCal chapter of the Historical Novel Society.
Martin Roy Hill is the author of the Peter Brandt mysteries, two WWII spy thrillers—Codename: Parsifal and The Last Saboteur and DUTY: Suspense and Mystery Stories from the Cold War and Beyond. His Peter Brandt mystery, The Fourth Rising, was named Best Mystery of 2020 by the Best Independent Books Awards, 2020 Best Crime Thriller by the American Fiction Awards, and the 2020 Clue Award for Best Suspense Thriller by the Chanticleer International Book Awards. Codename: Parsifal was named Best Military Thriller of 2024 by BestThrillers.com.
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. Panelists will have books available for sale and signing afterward. 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.
TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY Click here to register for the Zoom event:
https://sistersincrime-org.zoom.us/j/3614149991?omn=95947911294
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.
-
![]()
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.
-
![]()
JOIN US
The San Diego Chapter of Sisters in Crime offers a diverse, welcoming, and supportive community of writers and readers of crime fiction.
-
![]()
FEATURED MEMBER
ADAM ROACH
