A THRILLER | COVER REVEAL
By: Karen Katchur
Narrator: Scott Aiello 🎧
8 hrs. and 52 mins
Podium Audio
ISBN: 978-1039416291
Publisher: Podium Publishing
Publication Date: 02/28/2023
Format: Paperback, e-book, audiobook
My Rating: 5 Stars + (ARC)
When a kidnapping goes awry, three desperate characters find themselves trapped inside a remote cabin with a baby and a bag full of money.
Noah is a kidnapper, hired to buy a baby from a human trafficking ring and smuggle her across the Canadian border for a cool half a million dollars. Eve is a teenage runaway, who takes the infant—and the sack full of cash—away from him. Hester is an outcast, living alone in a backwoods cottage, harboring secrets of her own. When their paths cross, it’s anyone’s guess who’ll come out on top.
With the law hot on their trail and the traffickers’ hired guns closing in, this unlikely trio is soon holed up together—and at one another’s throats. They’ll stop at nothing to save their own skins and escape with the loot and child. But which of the greedy three will be the last one standing?
One thing’s for sure: no one will emerge unscathed . . .
Wildly inventive and darkly comic, this new thriller from the bestselling author of River Bodies is perfect for fans of Jane Harper, Jennifer Hillier, Mare of Easttown, and the Coen brothers.
About the Author
Karen Katchur is the Amazon Charts bestselling author of RIVER BODIES and the Northampton County series. She holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and a master’s in education. She lives in eastern Pennsylvania with her husband and two daughters.
CONNECT WITH KAREN
MY REVIEWS
Northampton County Series SPRING GIRLS (Top Books of 2020) COLD WOODS (Top Books of 2019)
Standalones
THE SISTERS OF BLUE MOUNTAIN (2017)
THE SECRETS OF LAKE ROAD (2015)
About Scott
THE NARRATOR
Scott Aiello is an actor/ writer working and living in New York City. His first full-length play, Bernie and Mikey's Trip to the Moon received its world premiere in November of 2018 at 59E59th Street Theaters in NYC. On television, he is best known for his recurring character, Tommy Barkow, on Showtime's Billions.
He has narrated over 100 audiobooks. READ MORE
Exceptional Authors. Standout Books. Elevator Talk.
INTRIGUING QUESTIONS. INQUIRING READERS WANT TO KNOW.
"Behind the Book"
Welcome Karen, we are delighted to have you back with us for your sixth book, THE GREEDY THREE. Let's dive in!
Q. Give us your best ELEVATOR PITCH for THE GREEDY THREE.
KAREN: When a kidnapping goes awry, three desperate characters find themselves trapped inside a remote cabin with a baby and a bag full of money.
Q. DESCRIBE your novel in three words or less.
KAREN: Dark, gritty, humorous
Q. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: I love these characters, especially Hester! Your favorite character to write, and/or most challenging?
KAREN: Hester was my favorite character to write and it’s easy to see why once you’ve read the book. Her common sense is skewed when compared to most people, but somehow, she has a way of making her choices relatable even if they are unhinged. It was so much fun writing in her POV.
Sheriff Laura Pennington was the most challenging character for me to write. It took many drafts and my developmental editor’s keen eye to finally get it right. The sheriff is also the most “normal” character in the multiple POV cast. It seems the quirkier the character, the easier time I had writing them. I have no idea what that says about me.:)
Q. ADAPTATION: For fun, do you have any cast of stars in mind for any of your leading roles for movie or TV series?
KAREN: I have several for Greedy!
Hester: Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon, Octavia Spencer
Noah: Zac Efron, Penn Badgley
Eve: Zendaya, Millie Bobby Brown
Sheriff Laura: Laura Linney, Allison Janney
Hillary: Emily Blunt
Karl: Channing Tatum
Q. WRITING: Do you have a favorite chapter or scene in the novel you enjoyed writing the most?
KAREN: My favorite chapter is the one my editor called “perfection,” where I didn’t have to do any editing!
Q. FAVORITE THING: What is your favorite thing about your new book?
KAREN: I love that the characters are quirky and different from my other books, and it was fun writing them in a dark, comedic way. But if you strip away the language and violence and shenanigans, there is real heart to the story. It’s about so much more than just greed. It’s about grief and loss and needing to fit in. And for one character, it’s about freedom.
Q. UPCOMING: Can you share what you are currently working on or what is next in ten words or less (or more)? Don’t you hate this question when this book has not launched yet. Yes, you deserve a break.
KAREN: I’m working on another crime thriller and that’s all I can say because it’s still in the early stages.
Now, more from the Author. . .
"Behind The Author"
ZODIAC SIGN?
I was born on the cusp between Pisces and Aquarius.
FAVORITE THING ABOUT WHERE YOU RESIDE?
It’s centrally located to everything I love: the beach, mountains, Philadelphia, and New York City. All are within one to two hours driving distance.
FAVORITE FLOWER?
Daisies
DOG/CAT LOVER?
Both!
FAVORITE HOBBY?
Tennis, tennis, tennis
YOUR FAVORITE LIFE LESSON QUOTE?
She believed she could, so she did.
IF YOU WERE GRANTED 3 MONTHS OF UNINTERRUPTED WRITING TIME—WHERE WOULD IT BE?
A coastal seaside cottage
DO YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE WRITING? No, I need it to be quiet.
YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM? (Or would you prefer none of them)?
TikTok
HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN?
Six
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HORROR MOVIE (OR LOVE STORY)?
Favorite horror movie: Halloween
Favorite thriller movie: JAWS.
Favorite RomCom: Bridget Jones’s Diary.
INTROVERT OR EXTROVERT?
Introvert
YOUR MOST PRODUCTIVE TIME OF THE DAY?
Mornings
YOUR GO-TO RECIPE FOR A NIGHT IN?
Takeout!
A FAVORITE SPORT?
Tennis
PIE OR CAKE?
Cake
ICE CREAM: CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA?
Chocolate
JEANS, LEGGINS, YOGA, JOGGERS, OR SWEATS?
Joggers
WINE, MIXED DRINK, BEER OR OTHER?
Wine
IF YOU COULD WRITE ANOTHER GENRE IN ADDITION TO THE CURRENT ONE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Fantasy, something like Kill Bill
FAVORITE CHILDHOOD BOOK?
Old Yeller. It was the first book that made me cry.
NAME SOMETHING YOU FEAR?
Heights
WHAT ARE YOU FREAKISHLY BAD AT?
Singing
IF YOU WERE NOT A WRITER, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR IDEAL CAREER?
Professional tennis player
WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST THING ABOUT YOU?
Where to begin?! :) My offbeat sense of humor.
IF YOU COULD HAVE A TV SERIES OR MOVIE ADAPTED BASED ON ONE OF YOUR BOOKS, WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE?
The Greedy Three
Thank you, Karen, for spending time with us today!
Perfect movie cast picks. 🎬 Fingers crossed. 🤞
Praise for The Greedy Three
“Tense, darkly funny, and deeply entertaining, with quirky characters that are wholly original. Katchur’s clever crime thriller surprised me in all the best ways and kept me riveted till the very last page.”
—Laura McHugh, award-winning author of What’s Done in Darkness
“A darkly funny mystery with a cast of quirky characters, a scintillating premise, and a beating heart. It’s the perfect book for fans of the Coen brothers and Tarantino films.”
—Robyn Harding, bestselling author of The Perfect Family
Praise for Karen Katchur
“Karen Katchur is a master at writing into the dark spaces of our intimate family relationships.”
—Mindy Mejia, author of Everything You Want Me to Be
“I’m entranced by Karen Katchur’s direct, well-crafted prose, artful plotting, and characters that leap from the page.”
—Marissa Stapley, bestselling author of Things to Do When It’s Raining
“Karen Katchur knows how to write and write well about ordinary people stretched to their limits.” —David Bell, bestselling author of The Forgotten Girl
My Review
Astute, riveting, and darkly comic! A cast of quirky, colorful characters and a laugh-out-loud heroine you will root for to the end. I loved Hester!
Karen Katchur (a favorite author) returns following Spring Girls (Northampton County Series) with her latest standalone thriller, THE GREEDY THREE. A razor-sharp clever, and funny crime thriller, prime for the big or small screen.
A criminal plan is in place in the backwoods of upstate New York. Noah Weber waits for his contact. He will pull in half a million dollars if all goes as planned. A sex trafficking ring.
No matter what he's buying for his clients, whether stolen art, banned products, or simply info, the characters are all the same. The girl is close by next to the guy named Shot. She has the baby in her arms.
However, he had never worked with this contact or smuggled a baby across the border. A couple is waiting to pay big dollars for a baby, and he cannot allow anything to go wrong.
Before it hardly begins, all heck breaks loose. The girl gets cut with a knife, a stone is thrown, the girl escapes with the baby and the money. Noah and the guy have it out.
Meanwhile, in a remote stone cottage deep in the woods on a lake with an old canoe and an El Camino lives an older woman, an outcast, named Hester. She has been living here for ten years since her mom passed.
Hester is a force to be reckoned with, eccentric, a loner, and a bad name around town. A badass. She likes putting together puzzles and playing on her iPad. It is raining, and then someone shows up at her door. The electricity has gone out again.
Of course, Hester is equipped with a .22 and knows how to use it. She finds a young woman at her door with a baby. Her head is bleeding, her shirt is torn, and the baby is crying.
They call Hester a crazy old witch, teens egg her house at Halloween, paint dirty words on her canoe, plus more. Hester does not trust the woman, but she invites her in. She is not heartless. She will protect them.
Hester worked in a hospital in housekeeping for many years. Besides cleaning, she learned a thing or two observing nurses and doctors. She knows this young woman is suffering from some psychological shock.
She immediately takes over with clothes, food, and first aid. Hester wants nothing more than to hold a baby and mother it. Her mom forced her to give up her baby when she was very young. Her daughter was adopted and she wants nothing to do with her (due to stalking), etc. Now her daughter has a baby and she has a restraining order against Hester.
Hester knows a thing or two about running away in the night. Eve must be running from a rotten, no-good man. She knows what can happen when a young girl gets mixed up with the wrong man—the broken bones, the cuts, the bruised heart.
The woman says her name is Eve, and the baby is Ivy. Hester is no dummy and assured this is not her real name and sure she is in trouble. The baby is only a few weeks old. She doubts it is even her baby. She knows she is hiding something. Hester is tough as nails and whip-smart.
The couple expecting the baby had some bad luck and needed to replace their lost baby without anyone knowing. They are willing to pay big dollars on the black market. Noah will not let the girl getaway. He will find her.
However, Hester is one step ahead of everyone. She is sharp as a tack and big hearted. She sets out to cover the girl's tracks. "Every good action, even if it's good, is selfish in nature." She even finds the money and moves it for leverage, her insurance policy, and more. The tool shed.
Hester also has to worry about her cousin, Sherriff Laura Pennington of Bordertown. Hester wants more time with the girl and baby, and nothing can change how motivated she is to see this through.
Sherriff Laura is haunted by a fourteen-year-old girl, Kayleigh and carries her photo, still searching for her. She went missing in 2017. It was her pop's last unsolved case and she promised him she would not forget. Today was the fourth anniversary of his death.
Now, this is where it gets funny and a total riot. Hester is off to the country store to buy diapers, formula, and food. But everyone knows her at the market and will not sell her these baby items due to her past. What she does next is award-winning.
Then, of course, the Sherriff, her cousin, comes to the cabin, and she has to hide the girl and the baby. In the meantime, Noah is making his way toward a cabin in the woods, searching for the girl and baby, when he comes in contact with a bear. (funny story here). He must finish what he started.
Now it is Hester, Eve, and Noah. THE GREEDY THREE. Hester will not go down without a fight. Someone is also looking for Noah. Then the FBI. A shootout. Who will survive? Will Hester be able to save the baby? All Hester has ever wanted in this life was a chance to prove what a good mother she would be.
THE GREEDY THREE is one intense, gripping story of suspense! You will laugh and cry on this road to redemption. Dark, gritty, witty, and highly entertaining! The characterizations are sharply drawn, with a keen eye for humor and dialogue. Karen dives deep inside their head.
The characters come alive on the page. I loved the final twist at the end and hope we see more of Laura again.
Many topics are addressed: family, motherhood, sex trafficking, runaways and pregnant teens, kidnapping, and more. Readers will be glued to the pages of this intense rip-roaring suspense. Perfect for fans of Fargo, Mare of Easttown, and the Cohen brothers. If you enjoyed Joshua Moehling's Ben Packard Series And There He Kept Her #1, and upcoming Where the Dead Sleep #2, you will find a lot to like here.
I have been a fan of Karen's for many years and have read all her books. I highly recommend all of them. THE GREEDY THREE may be her best yet.
AUDIOBOOK: I am looking forward to listening to the audiobook by Podium, narrated by the fabulous actor/writer Scott Aiello. Check out his impressive bio.
A special thank you to the author, publisher, and Wunderkind PR for a gifted e-ARC. Also ordered the audiobook and paperback. My Christmas holiday read-what a treat!
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars + ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pub Date: Feb 28, 2023
Author Elevator Q&A Ride with Karen Katchur
River Bodies
"Behind the Book and the Author"
