Elegance and Evil by DK Coutant

ELEGANCE AND EVIL

by DK Coutant

June 2 – 27, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

A Cleo Cooper Mystery

Cleo Cooper left ocean-dipping weekends as a psychology professor in Hawaii to sample life in the high desert of Santa Fe for her sabbatical. With her romantic relationship on the rocks in Hawaii, Cleo falls for Luc, a charming international expert in her field and is tempted to make the change permanent. She enjoys the people, the work, and the sparkling conversations, even if they come with a bite. But, when a wealthy backer of her project is killed, the snarky scientists, artists, and a Saudi ex-pat, who Cleo thought were her new friends, are now at the top of the suspect list. And with a killer on the loose, Cleo finds her life, and her love, in danger.

Praise for Elegance and Evil:

“DK Coutant’s ELEGANCE AND EVIL is a tightly written, fast-paced read that plunges us into the backdrop of a Santa Fe community, so beautifully described, it becomes one of the characters. Celo Cooper is a smart and savvy amateur sleuth who reads people as thoroughly as the research papers she reviews in her world of academia, making her an A-plus crime solver. A cast of quirky characters adds to the book’s charm and had me wondering who to trust until the surprise ending. A big thumbs up!”
~ Cindy Goyette, PSWA award winner and LEFTY finalist author of OBEY ALL LAWS and EARLY TERMINATION of the Probation Case Files Mystery Series.

“Elegance and Evil is crisp, engaging, and subtly atmospheric, blending elements of classic mystery with a modern, conversational tone. DK Coutant crafts a narrative that is both immersive and accessible, using a first-person perspective to draw readers into Cleo’s thoughts and observations.”
~ Morgan Hatch, author of Gone To Ground

“Readers will enjoy the balance between a spicy romance and cunning mystery in Elegance and Evil by DK Coutant.”
~ Joy Ann Ribar, author of The Bay Browning Mysteries and Deep Lakes Cozy Mysteries

“Cleo Cooper is a fascinating character in this taut, twisty mystery that will delight readers. Hopefully, author DK Coutant brings her back very soon.”
~ R.G. Belsky, author of the Clare Carlson mystery series

“When psychologist Cleo Cooper takes a temporary assignment in Santa Fe, volcanic eruptions threaten her Hawaiian home, and her relationship with her boyfriend in Hawaii falls apart. A new love interest emerges, and Cleo soon finds herself at the center of a murder investigation that could change everything. Set against the enchanting backdrop of Santa Fe and filled with quirky, intelligent characters, Elegance and Evil is an entertaining blend of mystery, romance, and suspense.”
~ Stacy Wilder, author of the Liz Adams Mystery series

Read an excerpt:

Chapter 1

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Coming Soon!!

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Author Bio:

DK Coutant graduated from Davidson College with a Psychology degree and initially applied her behavioral training to animals at Sea World, working with dolphins and whales. After a couple of years, she realized that scrubbing fish buckets might get old, and went back to Graduate school to earn a Ph.D. in Psychology, specializing in Cross-Cultural Issues. She began her academic career in Maine. A few years later, she made the jump to Hawaii and worked at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, rising to Department Chair of the Psychology Department. After many happy years in Hawaii, her love for travel led her to make the move out of academics. She accepted positions as a professional geopolitical forecaster with GJ Inc. and Rand Forecasting Initiative. She splits her time between Olympia, WA, Santa Fe, NM, and France, with her husband and an Old English Sheepdog, Beasley. Evil Alice and Borzoi was released by the Wild Rose Press in 2023. Elegance and Evil is the second in the Cleo Cooper Mysteries.

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