Booksigning - The Devil Comes Out of the Closet

Susan Murphy-Milano

WCI's Stacy Dittrich had her first booksigning since last week's release of The Devil's Closet, her debut crime novel. Saturday's event was held at the Barnes & Noble in Mansfield, Ohio—Stacy's hometown—where for 15 years she was a deputy for the Richland County Sheriff's Office. As the Mansfield News Journal recently reported, Stacy (pictured with daughter Jordan at yesterday's event) retired earlier this year to write full-time.

Any second thoughts Stacy may have had about her decision were shoved aside this past spring, when Stacy's agent received a call from the Academy Award-winning producer of the movie The Devil Wears Prada (based on the novel of the same title). Hollywood is interested in a screen adaptation of The Devil's Closet, which is first in the series of CeeCee Gallagher thrillers. The protagonist was patterned after Stacy, who was a detective specializing in sex crimes.

What this means for readers is that Stacy's novel smacks of the kind of authenticity that comes from pages written by someone who's actually carried a badge and gun and fought crime on the streets—a good gal who understands duty and knows how to take down the bad guys without having to unholster her duty weapon. Like Stacy, I come from a family of law enforcement, so I can vouch for Friday's review from our Sex-crimes Prosecutor that Stacy "captured the essence of what someone on the front lines of crime is really like."

You don't want to miss this book, the first in a series. Stacy's next CeeCee novel, Mary Jane's Grave, is scheduled for publication in 2009. Her first hardcover true-crime book will hit shelves following Murder Behind the Badge, another true-crime title expected within a year.

Stacy's next signing for The Devil's Closet will be on Saturday, October the 11th, at the Barnes & Noble in Westlake, Ohio. If you're in the area, stop by from 2:00 to 4:00 that afternoon for an autographed copy. But get there early. According to one of the fans who attended yesterday's signing in Mansfield, "lines were out the door." The 200 copies the store had in stock sold out very quickly.

"For a debut novel," B&N store manager Rich Krizan said, "it was a great success—one of our best."

Krizan was quick to add that a new shipment is expected this week and that the author will be stopping by the store to sign copies for those who didn't get one yesterday.

If you make it to the Westlake signing on the 11th, send your photo with Stacy to womenincrimeink@yahoo.com and we'll post it, like this pic from yesterday's signing, with fan Jo Ann Krausman. Thanks to Jo Ann for sending this in, and congrats, Stacy!

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Introducing CeeCee Gallagher . . . A Detective You Must Meet

by Robin Sax

I know you may find this hard to believe, but as a prosecutor there are very few mysteries that really knock my socks off. As a matter of fact, I generally loathe reading crime novels—they make me crazy with their pages laced with inaccuracies, distorted reality, and misconceptions. And there is nothing worse, in my opinion, than spoiling my future jury pools with bad or—even worse—wrong information that so many folks soak up in today’s paperbacks.

It is for this reason that I don’t watch Law and Order, CSI, The Closer, or other crime shows. I will say there has been improvement over the years but if I see one more show where the D.A. is an unethical, evidence-hiding, win-at-all-costs jerk, I may puke.

That’s just not how it is. Most cops, prosecutors, judges, and even defense attorneys are simply doing the best job they can with the facts and the cases before them. Prosecutors and police officers are real people with real feelings, cares, worries, and passions, just like defense lawyers and defendants.

And no one, in my opinion, has captured the essence of what someone on the front lines of crime is really like better than Stacy Dittrich has in her heroine Cee Cee Gallagher, whose first appearance is in The Devil’s Closet, which Dorchester Publishing releases this month. (View trailer here.)

Cee Cee Gallagher is a detective at the top of her game. She knows the ins and outs of suspects, crimes, and police work. No matter what the challenge is, Cee Cee not only comes through, but does it with flying colors. But even more impressive than Dittrich’s accuracy is her ability to describe what goes on behind the scenes in police life and investigations.

Drawing from her own professional background and personal experience, Dittrich skillfully explores what it’s like to be a woman and a police officer, raised in a law enforcement family, and dealing with the issues that all women (no matter their field or career) deal with all the time—career pressures, love, family, and fidelity.

Part high crime, part love story, this book was rarely out of my sight from the moment I picked it up until I finished it (less than 24 hours later). Anyone who picks up The Devil’s Closet will want to dive into the next book in the series, Mary Jane’s Grave. It will be out on the stands in June 2009—so long a wait, but so worth it.

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Stacy Dittrich on Nancy Grace!

WCI contributor Stacy Dittrich appears on Nancy Grace tonight to discuss today's crime stories. As with her first appearance on the show in April, Stacy will be commenting as a law enforcement consultant. Officially, our policewoman-turned-novelist retired from the Richland County Sheriff's Office in Ohio just yesterday.

"I was sworn in as an auxiliary," she explained to WCI, "so I still get to carry a badge and gun. Whew."

Nowadays her fingers will be on the keyboard more than her crime-fighting arsenal as Stacy embarks on a career as a full-time writer. "This was what I worked so hard for and finally made it," she said. "I'm loving this stay-at-home stuff--except I've been busier than I've ever been in my whole life." She's not kidding. Stacy just returned from BookExpo in Los Angeles. Two of her crime novels are scheduled for publication in the next year, the first in October. And she also has a contract for her first hardcover true-crime book. A memoir is in the works as well.

This past spring, Stacy's agent received a call from the Academy Award-winning producer of the movie The Devil Wears Prada. Hollywood is interested in a screen adaptation of Stacy's debut novel. The Devil's Closet is first in the CeeCee Gallagher detective series. The protagonist was patterned after Stacy, who was a detective specializing in sex crimes.

Stacy's hometown newspaper has chronicled the adventures of their local girl made good. Click here for a link to the story in today's Mansfield News Journal, which includes current news on Women in Crime Ink.

Make sure to tune in to Nancy Grace tonight to catch Stacy Dittrich in her first TV appearance since retirement.

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