Research is the backbone of all stories
It's how we make our stories credible.
Since most of book one takes place in New Zealand, a place I spent many months in before I wrote this novel, these two books hold a special place in my heart.
A legal issue popped up when my FBI agent assures star quarterback Chad Tyler that he can tell him anything since he hasn’t read him his Miranda Rights. Only neither Chad nor the FBI are presently in the United States. They are in New Zealand. And the woman was murdered in New Zealand.
So off I go researching whether New Zealand has something like 'Miranda Rights'.
The FBI agent assures him whatever he says is not on record, and points out he hasn't read him his Miranda Rights.
Since the FBI agent is in New Zealand, reading him USA rights wouldn't stand up in a court of law, but then he just wanted to get Chad talking, by making him feel safe.
But it did get me wondering. Does New Zealand have Miranda rights and what do they call them—surly NOT Miranda Rights— for while we like to name things after people, New Zealand seems more forthright.
They actually have three versions of Rights Caution: Different versions for adults, young adults, and children. That actually makes very good sense, given the slow formation of brains for children and young adults.
Adults: Rights Caution:
The following advice should be provided to people who are arrested or detained, or where police want to question someone where there is sufficient evidence to charge that person with an offence:
· You have been arrested/detained for (give reason) [OR]
· I am speaking to you about (give reason)
· You have the right to remain silent.
· You do not have to make any statement.
· Anything you say will be recorded and may be given in evidence in court.
· You have the right to speak with a lawyer without delay and in private before deciding whether to answer any questions.
· Police have a list of lawyers you may speak to for free.
Note: If the advice is given before the suspect is arrested or detained, the advice must be repeated when the suspect is arrested or detained.
Sounds much like ours, right?
Actually, I believe theirs is far more restrictive to their police in practice.
Then I pondered about guns and was happy to discover New Zealand has a far stricter policy there as well.
There is very little likelihood that the New Zealand police will shoot you during an arrest, since patrol officers on standard duty don’t carry guns. Only the Diplomatic Protection Squad and airport officers are armed.
In fact, a New Zealand police commissioner went so far as to say wearing guns would impede an officers job since he would be focused on protecting his gun rather than resolving the situation. He also went on to state protection by a pistol is illusionary.
Just a footnote: New Zealand has one of the lowest homicide rates in the world.
So now you know. The police will not kill you, but the many fabulous adventures you can take in New Zealand might. There’s also active volcanoes and earthquakes to worry about. But a finer group of people, in a more beautiful country, you’ll never meet.
Public Secrets
Book 1 of the AI Sci-Rom Series
By
Liza O’Connor
Blurb
Carla Simon is a best-selling novelist besieged by death threats and lawsuits because her stories keep turning out to be true. She is considered an extraordinary researcher, uncovering facts unknown by field experts.
The truth is far simpler and more disturbing. Carla has a software program that “fixes” her mistakes and rewrites her novels so they are error-proof both in presentation and in content. The result is beautifully written and completely accurate stories about real people and events.
Some of those people want her silenced forever. `But first, she has to survive the assassin who has never failed to deliver on a contract.
Excerpt
Chad: “I can’t believe this. She didn’t know who I was.”
The FBI agent: Luke snorted his disbelief. “Oh, she knew who you were. She knew all your secrets. Secrets that no one would ever want to be revealed. Your sister’s rape by your cousin, her suicide attempts. Your mother’s drinking problem caused by your father’s frequent infidelities. Your gay roommate in college, who crawled into your bed one night when you had both drunk too much.”
***
Chad stared at the agent in shock as he felt his world crumble beneath him. My God! How could she have known those things? They’d been buried so deep within the family shame that no one, not even family members, spoke of them. He forced himself to breathe through the pain that gripped his heart. He’d thought her the woman of his dreams, but instead, she’d been his worst nightmare.
“May I see this book?” he finally asked.
“Sorry, it could be key evidence in your murder trial.”
Chad looked up, reeling from yet another blow. “You think I killed her?”
“She was going to destroy your life. What choice did you have?”
“You’ve got the wrong guy!”
“I haven’t read you your Miranda rights,” Luke pointed out. “You can safely tell me the truth.”
“I didn’t kill her,” he insisted. “I didn’t even know about the book. Surely there must be other suspects besides me.”
“A few hundred, but you make the top. You have the best motive. You might have prevented her from revealing your secrets, whereas everyone else could only act on revenge since their secrets have already been exposed. Secondly, you and your assistant, Davis Grimes, are the only two we’ve found in New Zealand.”
“Well, it wasn’t me, nor did I hire someone to do it. In fact, I thought I might have fallen in love with her.”
“Betrayal is a strong motivator...”
“But I didn’t know her intent until now. I still can’t believe... She seemed so real, so sweet.”
BUY LINKS
PUBLIC SECRETS WILL BE ON SALE
FOR 99 CENTS
Book 1 of the AI series
Free with Kindle Unlimited
About Liza
Liza O’Connor was raised badly by feral cats, left the South/Midwest and wandered off to find nicer people on the east coast. There she worked for the meanest man on Wall Street, while her psychotic husband tried to kill her three times. (So much for finding nicer people.) Then one day she declared enough, got a better job, divorced her husband, and fell in love with her new life where people behaved nicely. But all those bad behaviors have given her lots of fodder for her books. Please buy these books, because otherwise, she’ll become grumpy and write troubled novels instead. They will likely traumatize you.
You have been warned.
Humorous Sci-Fi series
The Gods of Probabilities — In the Multiverses, anything can & does happen. Join the bickering Gods and the sentient beings they oversee.
Surviving Outbound — Earth is doomed, but the odds of surviving outbound isn’t much better.
Surviving Terranue — Welcome to Terranue. Prepare to be baked, pummeled, and frozen. But first, you’ll have to survive the black death growing in the cliffs.
Surviving Sojourn — You know you have reason to worry when a hyper-grown one-year-old is made captain of the ship.
An Extraordinary Young Woman in future Dystopia Earth
Scavenger's Mission -- From Debutante to Street Girl/Scavenger to Sky Ryder. Alisha proves to be the most extraordinary flier ever known.
Scavenger's Mission
will also be on sale Sept 8, 9, 10 for 99 cents
Scavenger Falters -- Alisha is promoted to Colonel in charge of Flight Instruction. Only there is far more than flying required and she falters on the other duties.
Scavanger Vanishes -- Alisha gives up. All she wants is out! The General hates her, the other colonels are abusive. And Logan, the only man she has ever loved betrays her. So she disappears and goes into hiding as a massive manhunt begins, not just by the Corp, but by the President of the America's, who wishes to break her before he kills her.
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