battered face. She struggled to her feet, blood oozing from her nose and lips. It was to be the final spousal beating this young woman would endure as she reached into her soul for courage, independence and dignity. Cradled in the comfort of a European Jewish upbringing, Suzanne knew not of such eventual abuse. Was she being punished for some hidden wrongdoing? Now alone with young children, she would embark on a long journey to secure a place for herself in a demanding society. Finding the inner strength of her womanhood, Suzanne would become a successful entrepreneur, realizing the need to bring control into her life. Suzanne develops a prestigious chain of health and beauty spas. Her artistic flair is realized as a form of self-expression and leads her and her partner, Nancy, into an intriguing element of mystery, romance, crime and murder. She is also able to re-discover the only true love of her life from the days of her youth. Together, Suzanne and Stephen try to create their own space in a tumultuous world so that as adults they can experience the love of their lifetime.

Author Bio: As an imaginative only child, I began writing at an early age, often skipping high school classes to attend journalism and creative writing classes with my friend, at his school, Boston University. Self-raising four daughters while establishing a career as an electrologist /esthetician, I owned a large day spa for 32 years. I have written murder/mystery/comedy dinner theater shows that ran for eight years in the Greater Boston area. I taught art to youngsters and adults and visited art museums throughout the world. On one of my trips I was fortunate to visit the Huntington in San Marino, California. I was mesmerized when I saw all the beautiful first editions and numerous art collections. This visit gave me the inspiration to write "Beyond Murder".