Blog Tour: The Third Estate by D.R. Berlin #suspense #thriller #giveaway #interview #rabtbooktours @DRBerlinAuthor @RABTBookTours

Secrets of the Manor

Suspense Thriller

Date Published: December 26, 2024

In a busy outdoor market, in broad daylight, an apparently ordinary woman is gunned down by a professional assassin. Twelve years later, the killer is back with a new target – and a mysteriously sinister employer…

What secrets could a father leave behind?

A gripping, high-stakes thriller that seamlessly blends espionage, mystery, and intense suspense, The Third Estate: Secrets of the Manor will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Sophie Allard, a promising jet pilot cadet at a prestigious military academy, finds her world shattered when she’s summoned to the Commander’s office with devastating news—her estranged father has died in a mysterious lab explosion at their family estate.

What begins as a routine investigation soon spirals into something far more dangerous.

As Sophie delves deeper into the secrets surrounding her father’s death, she uncovers hidden truths that threaten not only her career but her life. Unraveling a web of deception and betrayal, Sophie discovers that her father’s involvement with a powerful and shadowy organization—the Third Estate—could hold the key to both her survival and her downfall.

With an assassin hunting her every step and the enigmatic Grey Lady pulling the strings behind the scenes, Sophie must navigate a perilous landscape of secrets, lies, and danger.

This fast-paced thriller is perfect for fans of complex conspiracies, strong female protagonists, and unpredictable twists. If you love novels that combine action, suspense, and mystery, The Third Estate is your next must-read.

Will Sophie uncover the truth—before it’s too late?

Interview

Is There a Message in Your Novel That You Want Readers to Grasp?

Have you every ventured forward, full steam ahead, armed with the “facts”, believing you were correct, only to find out you were completely wrong? If there are 10 “facts” that are the absolute truth, and you know four of them, do you see the whole picture? Would having four different “facts” lead you in a completely different direction? That is the essence of this book.

The characters believe to the core of their souls that they know the truth and act accordingly, often jeopardizing their careers and lives on those facts -- facts that can be manipulated, facts that can be half-truths, facts that can be false.

What if you were leaving your house to go to work and tripped over your cat, delaying you five minutes to refill your cup of coffee before you leave? You arrive at the intersection you pass by everyday only to witness a fatal accident? Five minutes earlier and it would be you on the stretcher heading to the morgue.

Every decision we make - what time to get up, take the short cup or the long way, Chinese or pizza for lunch, leave the house five minutes earlier – affects the outcome of our day. Little details, until they’re not. You can lead the perfect life, follow every rule, walk the straight and narrow, until one single decision derails your plans. This single decision will nudge you further and further off your path.

This book highlights how one decision, one moment in time can change everything, and that time is precious, limited, and should not be wasted.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

It took me about a year to finish my first draft. When I first started, I had placed clues and descriptions early in the novel in anticipation for the great reveal at the end. I researched several topics and left specific details, like the color of the smoke and the smell of the fire. Later in the novel, at the time of the reveal, I was baffled with why I wrote it the way I did. I had to go back and re-research my clues to find the answers. Lesson learned. Document the answers of the clues when I write them. During one of my many revisions, I realized that I needed an addition character, not currently in the book, to notice a specific detail and comment on it. I had to go back to the beginning and add in this character in the appropriate chapters for the character to notice the important detail at the end. The most important change from earlier drafts was that, in the end, in a believable situation, Sophie must find a way to save herself. You will just have to read the novel to find out how!

How many books have you written and which is your favorite?

The Third Estate Secrets of the Manor is my debut novel, and therefore, as of right now, is my favorite.

If You had the chance to cast your main character from Hollywood today, who would you pick and why?

Lovac would definitely be Keanu Reeves, because he is an amazing actor and even better human being. Sophie would be a younger version of Gal Gadot. Probably a talented, but unknown fresh face in Hollywood, or maybe Zendaya, if she’s not busy.

When did you begin writing?

I minored in Writing in college and The Third Estate Secrets of the Manor has been swimming in my head for years. Now that Mom’s Taxi is officially closed and my presence is no longer needed in the stands on the soccer or football fields, I have the time to devote to realizing my dream. Since the first day I started to outline the story, the words have flooded the pages like a tsunami, and haven’t stopped. This book is the first in a series. I chased a dream and now am a self-published author. I set my goals high and work every day to achieve them.

How long did it take to complete your first book?

It took my one year to write the first draft, and a few years to edit it. When the story grew, improved, and took its final shape, my motivation exploded to pull it across the finish line and get it published. I tried querying agents, with no luck. One took the time to suggest improvements. Her suggestions were very helpful and I'm grateful. I researched other avenues, and decided to self-publish with the help of Outskirts Press to format and distribute for me. Now, I'm a self-published author with control over my own destiny.

Did you have an author who inspired you to become a writer?

Not really. Stories swirl in my mind all the time. When I watch a movie, I try to guess the next line or scene. Sometimes, my reaction is obvious, and my husband leans over to me and asks, “Lazy writing?” and I laugh. I guess I use that phrase a lot.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

In Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein exclaims "It's alive!" That’s how I feel after creating a new character or finishing a scene. I want to bring the page “alive” with vivid imagery and intriguing characters that jump off the page. I want the reader to feel like they are standing next to the characters and experiences the excitement, disappointment, fear, or joy right along with them.

Describe your latest book in 4 words.

Page turning amazing thriller

Can you share a little bit about your current work or what is in the future for your writing?

The next installment of the series follows Lovac and Sophie two years later. Unlikely alliances will form, lines crossed, friendships challenged, and destinies changed forever. How far would you go to uncover the truth? How much would you risk? You’ll just have to stay tuned and check out the next epic adventure.

About the Author

D.R. Berlin is an award-winning author, U.S. Army veteran, and General Surgeon with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Writing minor from MIT. A graduate of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, her career in high-pressure environments fuels the pulse-pounding suspense and authentic detail in The Third Estate: Secrets of the Manor. Berlin combines her scientific expertise and love of storytelling to deliver a gripping, intricate thriller that keeps readers on edge. Drafted as the unofficial photographer of her children’s sports teams, she has been affectionally dubbed the “Mamarazzi.”

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