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Qualicum Beach author Sydney Preston releases third in mystery series

Books set in reimagined version of Qualicum Beach
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Sydney Preston finished her third mystery book. (Kevin Forsyth photo)

Author Sydney Preston has released her third murder mystery in a series set in a fictionalized version of Qualicum Beach.

Deadly Direction, set in ‘Britannia Bay’, begins with the murder of TV show director Berens Nygaard on Halloween night. Detectives Ray Rossini and Jimmy Tan are faced with solving the tiny town’s third homicide in two years.

“Unlike a lot a murder mysteries, these are pretty normal guys,” Preston said. “They have families, they’re happily married.”

She said her main characters are different than the typical murder mystery detective — often written as drunks and loners.

“The books are clean. Anyone in a family could read it,” Preston said. “There’s very few swear words, only when necessary.”

Deadly Direction, published by Friesen Press, follows Tone Dead (2020) and Too Late for Redemption (2018).

READ MORE: Qualicum Beach author finishes children’s trilogy

The murders in the series are not related, but there is one common thread that ties together the three victims, according to Preston.

“They sort of deserve it. And in fact, in my second book, the killer gets away with it. And one woman was really upset,” she said with a laugh. “‘You can’t have that’. Well, in true life that happens.”

The book includes a few local landmarks, such as ‘Heritage Gardens’ (Milner Gardens) and ‘Bayside Foods’ (Quality Foods).

There will be an official book launch at 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26 at the Qualicum Beach Library (660 Primrose St).

Preston said she is already working on a fourth book, which will feature a prominent local car show.

She has lived and travelled around the world, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Rome, London and Japan.

Before writing mystery novels, Preston worked as a flight attendant, advertising copywriter, TV production assistant, ESL teacher, copy editor and webmaster.

More information on Preston’s novels and where to purchase them can be found at sydneypreston.com.