Karin Slaughter resurrects Andrea Oliver in this tense thriller, first encountered in Pieces of Her, but her character has been developed and transformed as she completes her training and becomes a US Marshal here, something her parents, Laura and Gordon, are far from happy about. 4 decades ago, at Longbill Beach in 1982, kind, conscientious and hardworking student, 17 year old Emily Vaughn, heavily pregnant, sets out to attend the Prom, despite being ostracised and a pariah in the local community and a school student body that treat her with utter contempt. Barefoot, in pain, she pushes aside all attempts to deter her from going to the prom from the likes of teacher Dean Wexler, this includes threats and physical violence, was it her secrets that resulted in her being murdered later that night?

This is a cold case with links to Andrea’s imprisoned birth father, the psychopath Clayton Morrow, aka Nicholas Harp, who is up for parole in 6 months, she plans to secretly investigate the cold case in which he is a suspect. Her first assignment as a Marshal is to help protect a judge, Esther Vaughn, Emily’s mother, who has been receiving credible death threats. Her partner and mentor is the experienced Marshal Leonard ‘Catfish’ Bible, whose relationship with his boss and wife, Deputy Chief Cecilia Compton provide some much needed comic moments in what is otherwise an extremely dark narrative that takes us back to the past. This includes Emily embarking on a Columbo like investigation of the night of which she has no memory, in which she was given an acid tab and left to handle the devastating life altering repercussions, with no idea of how she got pregnant or by whom.

In the present, Andrea looks into Emily’s clique of ‘friends’, Clay, Blake, Nardo and Ricky, all revoltingly nasty pieces of work. She and Catfish come across a harrowing young woman’s suicide on a fava bean farm owned by Wexler, running a cult with female ‘volunteers’ that resemble walking corpses. This is a compulsive read, loaded with suspense and tension, that had me gripped from beginning to end. The author does a wonderful job in depicting a green and apprehensive Andrea slowly coming to terms with her new role as a US Marshal, ably trained and supported by Catfish with his rules. This crime thriller will appeal to fans of Karin Slaughter and other crime and mystery readers too.

THE HEROINE ‘S JOURNEY COACHING

REWRITE YOUR STORY, TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE AND BUSINESS

“Your story is your life,” says Peter de Kuster. As human beings, we continually tell ourselves stories — of success or failure; of power or victimhood; stories that endure for an hour, or a day, or an entire lifetime. We have stories about ourselves, our creative business, our customers ; about what we want and what we’re capable of achieving. Yet, while our stories profoundly affect how others see us and we see ourselves, too few of us even recognize that we’re telling stories, or what they are, or that we can change them — and, in turn, transform our very destinies.

Telling ourselves stories provides structure and direction as we navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and helps us interpret our goals and skills. Stories make sense of chaos; they organize our many divergent experiences into a coherent thread; they shape our entire reality. And far too many of our stories, says Peter, are dysfunctional, in need of serious editing. First, he asks you to answer the question, “In which areas of my life is it clear that I cannot achieve my goals with the story I’ve got?” He then shows you how to create new, reality-based stories that inspire you to action, and take you where you want to go both in your work and personal life.

Our capacity to tell stories is one of our profoundest gifts. Peter’s approach to creating deeply engaging stories will give you the tools to wield the power of storytelling and forever change your business and personal life.

Amidst today’s uncertainty, it is more important than ever to rewrite your story and transform your life and work. Dive deep into your unique story and areas for growth with the coaching of Peter de Kuster.

IS THE HEROINE ‘S JOURNEY COACHING FOR YOU?

• You are a professional  who is interested in transform the story you tell yourself about yourself to yourself. The story about your life,  the story about your relations, the story about your work or your story about your happiness.
• You are aware that there are no quick fixes. Learning is a journey that works when you are fully committed to it. Coaching can bring awareness and help you navigate, but in the end it’s you who is in charge of your growth.
• You want to learn more about how to resource yourself, learn about blind spots, and get feedback.
• You are curious and want to engage in online coaching
• You are motivated to work in-between sessions on yourself (e.g. working on homework assignments that will help you develop new storytelling, skills, and behaviors).

WHAT’S YOUR COACHING QUESTION?

The Heroine’s Journey Coaching is all about your development. To make the most out of your sessions, we ask you to prepare topics to work on with Peter. These topics can serve as a starting point for further in-depth exploration with Peter.

These coaching topics typically resonate with the professionals Peter works with:

How can I stay authentic?

What are my values and how do I align these with my life and work?

How can I manage my time and energy better? 

How can I have impact with my stories?

How can I handle pressure better?

About Peter de Kuster

Peter is writer of the series The Heroine’s Journey and Hero’s Journey books, he has an MBA in Marketing,  MBA in Financial Economics and graduated at university in Sociology and Communication Sciences.

PRICING

1  session for EUR   395 (excl. VAT)

3 sessions for EUR 1,095 (excl. VAT)

6 sessions for EUR 1,995 (excl. VAT)

9 sessions for EUR 2,850 (excl. VAT)

FAQ

Who can sign up for The Heroine’s Journey coaching?

Professionals who wish to improve their storytelling skills and mindset.

What language do we speak in the coaching sessions?

English.

Can I buy coaching for my organization?

Yes, you can! We support many organizations around the world with their coaching needs. Please contact us for more information.

Can I bring my own topics?

Yes, for individual coaching you get to choose your own topic.

Are coaching sessions confidential?

Yes. Peter will not share anything that is discussed in the coaching sessions.

How do I sign up?

Send Peter a mail to theherojourneyquestionnaires@gmail.com to start booking your coaching sessions.

How do I pay?

After you send the mail, you will receive an email with a link to pay.

How do I book and reschedule sessions?

Once we’ve received your payment, Peter will contact you and book your coaching sessions. He will also support you with rescheduling sessions if needed.

What is your cancellation policy?

Individual coaching sessions can be postponed up to one week before the session.