Two Authors Visit Island To Promote Mystery Thrillers
By Eric Fish

Michigan residents Kelly Nichols (left) and Kris Montee, better known as P.J. Parrish, display their latest book, "A Thousand Bones," July 3 at The Island Bookstore.

Michigan authors Kris Montee and Kelly Nichols, sisters who co-write under the pen name P.J. Parrish, were at The Island Bookstore Tuesday, July 3, to promote their latest book, "A Thousand Bones," and other titles in their popular series featuring police officers Joe Frye and Louis Kincaid.

"They're all mystery thrillers," Ms. Montee said. "They lean a little bit more toward thriller than mystery."

"A Thousand Bones" takes place in a fictional town on Michigan's Leelanau Peninsula, where Miami detective Frye recollects a series of murders she investigated while a rookie on the local police force.

The Detroit natives became authors after completing other careers.

Ms. Montee was a journalist for about 30 years, mostly with the South Florida Sun- Sentinel. Ms. Nichols reared her children and worked in the casino business.

When writing, Ms. Nichols handles much of the murder and gore in the books, while Ms. Montee focuses on character development. They credit their teamwork to ego suppression and good wine.

"It's the best," Ms. Montee said. "We are extremely lucky to be able to do this for a living. It's tough for authors. It's tough to break into the business, its tough to stay in the business. We're really grateful and extremely lucky."