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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 18 January 2019
Maren Morris starts 2nd album with uplifting "GIRL" single

By KRISTIN M. HALL ers, at this year's Grammy Dance/Electronic songs
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Awards on Feb. 10, and chart with "The Middle."
Maren Morris knew the Morris was also nominated "To be in major categories
importance of selecting for best pop duo/group is a huge win," Morris said
the first single she released collaboration. of the recognition for "The
from her much-anticipated Morris said inspiration for Middle." ''I think it broke so
second record, but as soon the song came from a let- many genre barriers and
as she heard the demo of ter she was trying to write to put my name and voice
"GIRL," she knew this was a female friend after they out to an audience that
the song she wanted to were struggling to keep hadn't heard it yet."
lead off the album. their friendship on track. She's also nominated for
"It felt like such a timely song "The day that we wrote best country duo perfor-
for now," said the 28-year- 'GIRL,' I was starting to write mance and best coun-
old Morris of the song she's this letter to her," Morris try song for "Dear Hate,"
releasing Thursday that said. "Why are we compet- a duet with Vince Gill re-
touches on overcoming ing against one another? Is In this May 31, 2016, file photo, singer Maren Morris poses in leased after the Las Vegas
self-doubt and the pressure it ourselves? Is it this indus- Nashville, Tenn. mass shooting, and a best
of comparison in a world of try? Is it the world?" Associated Press country solo performance
impossible standards. After an hour of trying to nomination for "Mona Lisas
Morris wrote the song with compose her thoughts, she Lynn. After a run through single and Grammy-win- and Mad Hatters," a cover
Grammy-winning producer realized something. "I don't the United States, the tour ning song "My Church," from an Elton John tribute
Greg Kurstin (Adele, Sia, think I am writing this to her," will hit cities in Germany, from her 2016 debut al- album. "All the songs that
Kelly Clarkson) and Sarah Morris said. "I am writing this Ireland, the Netherlands bum, "Hero," and caps a I am nominated for were
Aarons, who co-wrote the to myself." and the United Kingdom. huge year for the Texas- major career risks," Morris
Top 5 hit "The Middle" fea- The song is also the title of "Essentially it's an excuse for born singer-songwriter. Last said. "Not like career-end-
turing Morris, Zedd and her new headlining world me to hang out with them year, she married fellow ing risks, but scary decisions
Grey. "The Middle" is nomi- tour kicking off March 9 in all the time," Morris said. singer Ryan Hurd, toured because it's out of people's
nated for record of the Chicago with an all-female The new song comes al- the globe opening for Niall comfort zone for a country
year and song of the year, lineup including openers most three years since she Horan and spent 33 weeks artist to collaborate with an
which goes to songwrit- Cassadee Pope and Rae- released her breakthrough on the top of Billboard's Hot EDM DJ."q

Real and emotional prisons flow through 'No Mercy'

By OLINE H. COGDILL bury, Massachusetts. But cause she cannot officially
"No Mercy" (Minotaur), by the past always lurks be- investigate either case.
Joanna Schaffhausen hind her, and she is now Their shared history bound
Prisons come in various on involuntary leave after them together but "No Mer-
forms, as Joanna Schaff- shooting a murderer. Her cy" finds Ellery and Reed
hausen shows in her sec- story continues to be fod- drawing closer together.
ond outstanding novel, der for movies, TV shows, Schaffhausen takes advan-
"No Mercy." There are the articles and mail from those tage of her second novel
mortar-and-brick prisons in who revere her for surviv- to delve deeper into Ellery,
which criminals are housed, ing another predator and realistically showing how
such as the serial killer who those who criticize her for her past continues to con-
kidnapped and tortured El- surviving. Temporarily liv- trol her life. She will forever
lery Hathaway. And there ing in Boston, she sees a be known as "the girl who
are mental prisons where court-appointed psychia- got away." She has no real
survivors of violent crimes, trist who has her attending friends and doesn't date so
such as Ellery, are relegat- group therapy with other she will never have to ex-
ed against their will be- victims of violent crimes in plain her past. Her closest
cause of memories or fear the hope of getting her job companion is Bump, her
that their attacker is free or back. loving basset hound. Ellery
will be released. Trying to keep her prob- wants justice for herself and
Real and emotional prisons lems from the group, Ellery other crime victims, yet is
flow through "No Mercy." becomes intrigued with fully aware that she and
Ellery at age 14 was kid- the stories of two members. others in her situation will
napped and tortured by Wendy Mendoza wants El- never be the same.
serial killer Francis Coben, lery to try to find who raped "No Mercy" illustrates an in-
now in prison. She was the her eight months ago, es- creased skill at storytelling
only victim to survive Co- pecially since the police that Schaffhausen showed
ben because she was res- investigation has stalled. As in her excellent 2017 debut,
cued by FBI profiler Reed she looks into the attack on "The Vanishing Season,"
Markham. Emotionally, Wendy, Ellery becomes in- the 2016 winner of the First
Ellery is still locked in that terested in the background Crime Novel Competition
closet, fearful, as if those 15 of Myra Gallagher whose by Minotaur Books and the
years have never passed. 4-year-old son died in an Mystery Writers of America's
Ellery changed her name, arson fire more than 20 First Crime Novel Award.
reinvented herself and es- years before, leaving her A long-running series This cover image released by Minotaur shows "No Mercy," a
tablished a solid career as badly burned. with Ellery will be most mystery by Joanna Schaffhausen.
a police officer in Wood- Ellery asks Reed for help be- welcomed.q Associated Press