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Story Collections

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In this prequel novelette to the novels Dies Irae and Elegy in Scarlet, crime consultant Scott Drayco and “the world’s most diminutive defense attorney” Benny Baskin find themselves on the Eastern Shore of Virginia fighting for the innocence of Baskin's client, who's jailed for the murder of his business partner. Against the backdrop of the Wallops Island rocket launch facility, Drayco soon discovers that the motive for the man's murder might just be out of this world.

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Crimetime Press
eBook ISBN:  978-0-9904582-9-6

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The clock is ticking as crime consultant Scott Drayco and "the world's most diminutive defense attorney" Benny Baskin play games with a dangerous killer in order to save an innocent man from going to jail.
Why is the killer texting cryptic poems to Drayco on his cellphone about stolen Egyptian figurines, and what do the messages mean? Was the murder a crime of opportunity or was it planned all along for more sinister reasons? Drayco races around Washington, D.C,. trying to find the answers and avoid becoming a puppet as the killer pulls the strings. 

Crimetime Press
eBook ISBN:  978-1-951752-12-5

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Crimetime Press
Print ISBN:  978-0-6158957-2-7

From the theft of a rare violin that appears to be cursed, to a suspected serial killer who plays mind games with Drayco, to murder and revenge at 20,000 feet, these eight short tales of literary suspense delve into the darkest mysteries of the human soul. See why readers describe Scott Drayco as “not a stereotypical detective” and “an extremely complex character.”

"False Shadows kept me guessing until the very end. I’d recommend this book to experienced mystery readers who enjoy wrestling with skillfully placed hints that don’t easily reveal their secrets." - Long and Short Reviews

"We've had the pleasure of reading these tales and can enthusiastically recommend them." - Omnimystery News

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Five tales featuring brilliant crime consultant Scott Drayco, a former pianist turned FBI agent who uses his music and law enforcement insights to solve cases others don't want to touch. From HEAR NO EVIL, where Drayco has to solve a murder in an empty concert hall in a snowstorm, to FM IS FOR MURDER, where a shock jock gets his comeuppance, these stories show why evil is often a song best left unsung.

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five short tales of crime and suspense about the dark choices people make when their backs are against a wall: a sheriff’s deputy and a nun hold the fate of a meth dealer in their hands; a down-on-his-luck former violinist takes fate into his own, scarred hands; a forensic linguist becomes obsessed with solving the puzzle of a missing Moravian deed that might be the key to murder; a homeless man killed by a hit-and-run finds unusual after-death advocates in a minister and his cat; and a hitman with unusual skills just wants to be left alone, in the Derringer Award winner, "Touch of Death."

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Injustices, big and small, surround each of us every day. But what can one person do? Plenty, in these stories of vengeance and betrayal - whether it's a cheating spouse, a prostitute who's had enough, or a bookkeeper who decides to stick it to "the man." Ten twisted tales of mystery, deceit, family secrets, murder and even some aliens thrown in for good measure will have you cheering for the bad guys to get their just desserts.

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Four short tales of mirth, murder and mayhem: a shopping mall Christmas Elf with revenge on his mind; a young man whose day goes from bad to worse when his car is rear-ended by the mayor's wife, and police find a skeleton in his trunk; a private eye's blackmail case that takes him to a costume party and too many Abraham Lincolns; and little Sammy Spade wreaking havoc at summer camp.

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COMING SOON!

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Con artist Beverly Laborde and police detective Adam Dutton form an unlikely partnership forged out of a shared sense of justice. Using her wiles and tricks of deception and his expertise and diligence, they reluctantly combine their individual strengths in pursuit of the truth. But first, they have to overcome their distrust of each other while fighting their growing—and inconvenient—mutual attraction. Holiday Away features two felonious holiday short stories that explore the darker side of the end-of-the-year festive season.

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