Jaime Parker Stickle is a multi-talented creator, known for her work as a novelist, actor, professor, and popular podcast host. Now, Jaime returns to the page with Thomas & Mercer’s Take Hart, the sharp, character‑driven second novel featuring private investigator Corey Tracey‑Lieberman. A PI whose instincts are quick, whose past is complicated, and whose cases never stay clean for long. Stickle’s blend of emotional intelligence, wry humor, and tightly wound mystery structure gives Corey a lived‑in authenticity that makes her feel less like a fictional detective and more like someone you could bump into on a bad day, mid‑case, coffee in hand.
With Take Hart, Stickle expands Corey’s world, deepens her contradictions, and raises the stakes in ways that challenge both her professional grit and her personal blind spots. It’s a sophomore outing that doesn’t just continue a series—it sharpens its identity.
Recently, we had the opportunity to talk with Jaime about crafting Corey’s return, building a second‑book investigation that hits harder, and where this PI might be headed next. So, let’s welcome the multi-talented Jaime Parker Stickle to GVN Interview.
In the Beginning…
GVN: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us, Jaime. As this is our first conversation, let’s begin by discussing your creative beginnings. You have a diverse background in both education and media. What led you to focus on film and television, and who inspired you to pursue not just teaching, but also writing novels and hosting your own podcast?
JPS: Ha – I love this question and have several answers since my 11-year-old loves asking me this all the time! Growing up in the 80s and 90s was so special. There was minor oversight over what we were listening to, watching, reading…if you know you know. I was television obsessed. I was and am a huge fan of Diane Sawyer and the late Peter Jennings – I was so inspired by their storytelling. Their compassion, delivery, writing.
Then of course I was a little-little girl watching “The Golden Girls” and absolutely howling at jokes that should have been over my head. I also thought, for a long time, that I would be a prosecutor – combining performance, storytelling, and doing something impactful…cue the obsession with the entire Law and Order Franchise. Plus, I read everything. Everything. Whenever I was lonely, I went to a bookstore or a library and read a lot of Patricia Cornwell. Her deep dive/investigation and book on Jack the Ripper, “Portrait of a Killer” changed my perspective in so many ways. I knew I could do this and so could my protagonist, Corey.
In “Take Hart” we see Corey take on the role of investigator and storyteller. She’s on the hunt not just for a missing woman with time as the biggest enemy, but she’s also tasked with solving a cold case that happened decades ago. The entire time she’s reporting back to the community, engaging with the neighborhood and putting herself at risk while battling her postpartum panic disorder. All while mothering her growing baby.
“Take Hart”
GVN: So, let’s jump right into your 2nd Corey Tracey‑Lieberman novel, “Take Hart.” What felt different this time (if anything) and how did writing her again deepen or complicate your sense of who she is as a PI?
JPS: Oh, my gosh, so much. Writing book two was an experience I will not forget. Corey was eager. She was talking to me all the time. That may sound strange but think about it like this…they say once you dream in a second language you know you’re fluent. Well, I was dreaming in Corey, so I knew that I was fluent in her language. There, as always, were so many stories in the news I wanted Corey to address, work on, solve. She wanted to as well. She poured herself onto the page. Corey is like that…she gets into your head, and you believe you can solve cases too. Corey has inspired my work in podcasting as well. Writing about the victims in “Take Hart” makes me a better advocate for victims and their communities as a podcaster especially now as we work on season two of The Girl with the Same Name which is my true crime investigative podcast.
Returning to the Character of Corey Tracey‑Lieberman
GVN: Sophomore entries often carry unique pressures and perhaps freedoms. What did you want “Take Hart” to accomplish or explore that “Vicious Cycle” couldn’t?
JPS: I think in a series, like Corey in Los Angeles, there’s a lot of origin story that needs to be told in that first book. The WHY is so important. We needed to learn what drives Corey in book one and that takes a lot of time to set-up. Then in the second book I was able to just jump right into the investigation of a missing woman without any preamble. Of course, new readers to the series can always jump right in without missing a beat, too! In a nutshell, I was able to use those 90k words to write all about the present moment and that is such a gift.
The “Spark” of “Take Hart”
GVN: The investigation in “Take Hart” pushes Corey into new emotional and professional territory. What was the spark for this saga, and how did you engineer its twists?
JPS: Like a good magician, I cannot give all my secrets away, but I can say that engineering the twists is something that I take a lot of pride in. I research and read a lot of news articles on crimes being committed. I read the police reports as often as possible. I take community police academy classes; I interview cops and journalists. And I take every lesson I learned in puzzle solving classes when I was a kid and apply those lessons to the writing. I figure out the twists before I write the book. So, essentially, I write a 120-page screenplay or outline and then I return and flesh it all out. I like to say I write about the human experience and honestly that’s the spark.
Exploring Corey’s Psyche
GVN: Readers meeting Corey for the first time in the 2nd book will see a PI who’s sharp, flawed (aren’t we all), and evolving. What growth—or regression—were you most excited to explore in book two?
JPS: Great question! I wouldn’t label it as regression, necessarily, but I wanted to explore Corey’s growth with her mental health and battle with postpartum panic disorder. The minute she feels like herself, the intrusive thoughts are gone or muted, she believes she’s cured. That’s not exactly how PPPD works, and I was excited to explore that without shame or judgment. We also see Corey grow as a PI. She’s more emboldened in “Take Hart” with her role. She gives herself permission to grow and act and not apologize for it.
Returning Characters
GVN: As one might expect, Corey’s world expands in “Take Hart.” Which returning or new characters surprised you as you wrote, and how do they challenge Corey in ways only a second book allows?
JPS: So many! Detective Lopez shows up with so much real-world humanity that it’s humbling both to Corey and me as the writer. Elsie, Corey’s neighbor, is so ride-or-die for her neighbors and her neighborhood that it honestly chokes me up often when I’m writing. The new neighbors are taunting and mysterious. It’s fun to see what they’re going to do next! And, of course, Evan. He challenges Corey, but also me as a writer because he’s not a bad guy, he’s just a bad fit for Corey.
Trust, Identity, Reinvention
GVN: What thematic threads rose to the surface this time—trust, identity, reinvention—and how do they shape Corey’s choices throughout the investigation?
JPS: Oh my gosh! You read the book. ALL OF THOSE! Trust is hard for Corey who lives in a world of morally grey people (the real world). Even the man she took a vow to trust for a lifetime is not above betraying her, so how does she learn to trust anyone? Identity is something Corey struggles with constantly as a new mom and I think that’s true of most parents…every time she swears she has to rethink if that’s how she wants her child to see her: as a mom who swears. It’s a lot even if it sounds benign; it’s not to a new mom. Every minor indiscretion is criticized, scrutinized, judged. Then of course the theme of reinvention runs throughout with many of the characters including our missing mom, Sonja, who recently moved to Highland Park after her son has left for his gap year before college.
Where to Next
GVN: Thank you again, Jaime, for your kind indulgence. Finally, with two books behind her, Corey feels poised for a long run. What excites you most about where she might go next, both as a detective and as a person?
JPS: Thank you so much for asking this question! I do hope she has a long run. I’m excited to see her role as a detective grow. There’s a story that I’ve been deeply invested in that I’d like to see Corey tackle. This story involves wealth and when there’s money involved that becomes more of a threat to anyone who gets too close. I’d like to see those stakes taken on by Corey. I’m also anxious to find out what her new neighbors are hiding…those secrets feel deeply personal and dark. I have a feeling we won’t be disappointed either. As far as Corey as a person, I’m excited to see her explore these new friendships. She meets a cast of new characters in “Take Hart” and I have a feeling a few will return in really good ways!
Thanks so much for having me!!
With Take Hart, Jaime Parker Stickle continues to shape a detective series that thrives on tension, humanity, and sharp‑edged storytelling. Corey Tracey‑Lieberman’s world feels richer and more lived‑in with every chapter, and today’s conversation only highlights how much care goes into building it. Our thanks to Jaime for sharing her process — and for giving readers a second book that lingers long after the final page. We can’t wait for the next installment in the series.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
