The Trickster Healer

alley

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

He finally found his prey in a tourist attraction. It took months, working with a couple of dozen patients on his caseload, listening to hundreds of hours of tape. Finally it paid off.

“Dr. Chiron.” Andrew looked up from the bench in the middle of the alley. “What are you doing here?” Andrew’s right hand twitched as if he wanted to reach for the gun in his jacket.

“I knew you’d be here at this moment.” Jacob Chiron pulled the trigger of his semi-automatic three times eliminating another serial killer. Being a psychologist was a good cover for hunting them.

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Review of Mystery Novel, “Two Peas In A Pod” (2025)

two peas

© James Pyles

Seven years ago, at his request, I reviewed author Rick Sulik’s supernatural murder mystery novel Death Unmasked. Seven years is a long time, and I ultimately forgot all about it.

Then I got an email from Sulik asking if I’d be willing to review the book’s sequel Two Peas In A Pod. My memory was jogged and of course, I’ll generally review a book for a free copy. I said “yes.”

I didn’t revisit the first novel or my review so I could approach “Peas” fresh (as opposed to “frozen” – okay, bad joke). Here are my impressions.

First, the stuff I liked.

The novel’s strength is the accuracy of police procedure. That’s no surprise given Sulik’s extensive background in law enforcement. He worked three-and-a-half years with the Houston Police Department, twenty-two years with the Pasadena (suburb of Houston) Police Department, and ten years as a courthouse bailiff with the Gonzales County Sheriff’s Department. That also helps in that the setting of both books is in and around Houston.

I’ve never been near Houston, but I’ll take it on faith that Sulik’s description of the area is accurate and that residents of Houston and Pasadena would be impressed with his rendition. I’ve watched movies and TV shows set in places where I’ve lived and just shook my head at how inaccurately the locations were portrayed. Anyway.

Where the book could have been better.

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The Night The Music Was Murdered

guitars

PHOTO PROMPT © Yvette Prior

Olena came to America from a war-torn country in Europe for a better life. Home was hardly the place to encourage her, but then great music comes from pain.

The last thing she felt in her life was pain. Riding a light-rail home she didn’t know she was in danger until the first stab. He stabbed her six more times before running. Five passengers watched as she bled out.

Templar stood at the statue he made to honor her but that wasn’t enough. Tonight, he would begin his hunt for all the murderers out there who prey on the innocent.

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“Dames, Derringers and Detectives: Moggie Noir” is Available Featuring my Short Story: “Last Wish of a Dead Man”

moggie noir 3

Cover art for “Dames, Derringers and Detectives: Moggie Noir”

My hardboiled detective story “Last Wish of a Dead Man” is now available in the Raconteur Press anthology Dames, Derringers and Detectives: Moggie Noir in paperback and Kindle formats.

The blurb at Amazon says:

In this iteration, Moggie Noir is more than a framework, it’s a mewed.

I feel it is safe to say that we are most inspired by the creative expressions of authors who view genre notes for story calls as a guideline, and who then proceed to stretch the idea like Coney Island saltwater taffy. In this way, we have not been disappointed. The trick is to tug at the theme but still have the recognizable touches that tell the reader this is a noir story rather than a slapstick comedy or big fish story.

So, in this taffy-pulling spirit, we bring you our third Moggie Noir salvo, “Dames, Derringers, and Detectives.” This gritty set of tails will have you rooting for the good guys, hissing at some bad cats, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll see how true love can win in the end.

The publisher said guest editor Rita Beeman adored my story, which is very nice to hear.

In late 1940s San Francisco, private detective Margie Potter has developed a unique reputation in the afterlife. She solves the murders of ghost, sometimes without realizing it. In her first story “The Haunted Detective” featured in The Trench Coat Chronicles, Margie goes up against hardened gangsters to solve the murder of her best friend which occurred years ago and almost ends up as a ghost herself.

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Not Just Another Job

dale bench bike

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

Elizabeth left the dorm room letting her eyes adjust to the daylight past the bicycle and gate. At thirty, it was a stretch for her to play the role of a co-ed at the university, but that’s what it took this time.

She’d been a professional for ten years. This was the first job where she felt anxious. She took a few steps forward and forced down her emotions. She had to treat it like any other contract.

Except it wasn’t just another hit. Somewhere on campus was the man who had killed her sister. She would make him pay.

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“The Haunted Detective’s Cat” is now available in the anthology “Moggie Noir: Alley Cat Alibi”

moggie noir cover

Cover art for the anthology “Moggie Noir: Alley Cat Alibi”

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

It’s finally here. My short story “The Haunted Detective’s Cat” is now featured in the Raconteur Press anthology Moggie Noir: Alley Cat Alibi.

As I mentioned in my previous announcement, a moggie or moggy is:

…an informal British term for a cat, especially one that does not have a pedigree or is otherwise unremarkable.

For this story, I chose to revive my 1940s San Francisco private detective Marguerite “Margie” Potter who you met four years ago (if you were lucky) in my short story “The Haunted Detective.” You can find that tale in the pages of the Celestial Echo Press anthology The Trench Coat Chronicles (still available for your Kindle device at a very reasonable price).

However, as far as Alley Cat Alibi is concerned, here’s the Amazon description:

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Read My SciFi Flash Fiction “Wraiths” at SciFanSat This Saturday

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Promotional art for SciFiSat issue 13, “Betrayal.”

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

My short story/flash fiction piece “Wraiths” has been accepted into the 13th issue of SciFanSat. With the theme “betrayal” and 1,000 words to play with, I started out thus:

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My Short Story “The Haunted Detective’s Cat” Has Been Accepted Into the Anthology “Moggie Noir 2”

moggie noir 2

Proposed cover art for the Raconteur Press anthology “Moggie Noir 2.”

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

Raconteur Press has just accepted my short story “The Haunted Detective’s Cat” for their upcoming anthology “Moggie Noir 2” (title and cover image subject to change).

The basic requirements are “crime noir” and “a cat.” A moggie or moggy is:

…an informal British term for a cat, especially one that does not have a pedigree or is otherwise unremarkable.

My story involves San Francisco Private Detective Marguerite “Margie” Potter set in the summer of 1948. Here’s a small sample:

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Uncle Chun’s Chicken with Oyster Sauce

chicken

PHOTO PROMPT © Mr. Binks

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

“You’re going to love this. Uncle Chun serves the best chicken with oyster sauce.” Mike and his wife had retired and left San Francisco years ago. Now he was helping his daughter Liz move into the City.

“Mikey.” The older man felt a hand on his shoulder and Chun’s voice sounded all too worried. “You and Liz come with me to the back. Hurry, please.”

The two men had known each other for a long time and Mike took Liz’s hand to follow him.

“Daddy, what…?”

They barely made it into the kitchen when the two rival gangs started shooting.

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Visiting Mom

roger

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

Every morning, she opens the window and walks out onto her small balcony. Her apartment is the only one like it.

Every morning, I wait for her to come out and I watch her. I keep my curtains shut so she doesn’t know she’s being spied on. I’m still deciding what to do.

Nineteen years ago, she went to have an abortion. The baby survived and was born, but she was told it wouldn’t live long. She left without another thought.

Should I confront her, tell her I’m the son she abandoned, or use my rifle and kill her now?

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