Ep15 of Elaine’s Literary Salon: Meet Tom Milani, author of the newly released novel, “Places that are Gone”

“In this dark, twisted tale of sex, drugs, and murder, in the book, Tom compellingly exposes the intrigue behind every locked door, our secret desires and fears, the what-ifs, and the meandering paths we take to find the truth,” explains I.S. Berry, an Edgar Award-winning author of The Peacock and the Sparrow, of Tom Milani’s new novel, “The Places that are Gone.”

About the book: For Bennett Wilder, every day is the same-head to work, do his job, and come home to his increasingly distant wife. As a man who values routine, Bennett surprises even himself when he picks up Liz Messina, a pretty hitchhiker, on his morning commute. As he quickly learns, she’s got a young child, a dark past, and a debt that needs to be repaid-or else. Even though he knows it’s risky, he decides to take a chance and help Liz out. But when her trouble turns out to run even deeper than he realizes, Bennett and Liz find themselves facing off against dangerous drug dealers and fighting for their lives. Bound by bloodshed and facing a road full of wrong turns ahead, Bennett calls on an old friend with ties to a past he would rather leave hidden, as he and Liz try to decide how far they’ll go to turn the tables on their pursuers-and, if they’re lucky, save their own lives. Click here to buy the book.

About the author: Tom’s short fiction has appeared online in Black Cat Weekly and Urban Pigs Press, as well as in several anthologies, most recently Janie’s Got a Gun: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Aerosmith, Mickey Finn: 21st Century Noir volume 5, In Too Deep: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Music of Genesis, and Sleuths Just Wanna Have Fun: Private Eyes in the Materialistic Eighties. Derringer finalist “Barracuda Backfire” was published in 2024 as Book 4 of Michael Bracken’s Chop Shop series of novellas. His first novel, Places That Are Gone, was released in May 2025 by Unnerving. He is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Authors Guild. Tom lives in Old Town Alexandria with his wife, glass sculptor Alison Sigethy. Click here to learn more about Tom: tommilani.com.

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Elaine’s Literary Salon

About Elaine’s: Elaine’s modern Mediterranean cuisine is based on exquisite food found in Alexandria, Egypt. The unique style is best described as Middle Eastern with French, Greek, and Italian influences. Elaine’s is located at 208 Queen Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. The 1880 building, the previous home of Bilbo Baggins for 38 years, has been completely renovated with a new look and feel. The restaurant is located in the heart of Old Town’s Historic District within sight of the Potomac River. Founders Park, The Torpedo Factory Art Center, and Old Town Alexandria Waterfront are only blocks away. Elaine’s is named after the owner’s grandmother. When the owner was twelve years old in Cairo, Egypt, she promised her grandmother that one day she would own a res