BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--NOIR DETECTIVE FICTION AUTHOR R. WEIR'S TWO PROTAGONISTS CHAT OVER BEERS

Award-winning author R Weir lives in Colorado where he enjoys the outdoors with his wife, daughter, and dog. Both his Divine Devils and Jarvis Mann Private Eye series explore the gritty underworld of crime, suspense, and mystery where no evil stands a chance against his written word! Today he allows us to eavesdrop on a conversation between the main characters from his two series. Learn more about him and his books at his website.

A Divine Chat Over a Beer

I was wiping down the counter at my Denver bar on this quiet middle of the week, hoping for more customers, when low and behold I got my wish. Walking in was a stout good-looking man dressed casually, taking a seat on the other side of the counter.

 

“A beer please…whatever you have on tap,” he said with a tired deep tone.

 

I grabbed a frosty mug from the cooler and filled it to the brim, sitting the frothy liquid before him. He took a long sip, the foam sticking to the upper part of his wrap around goatee at first, before dissipating. The bald dark-skinned man releasing a tension-filled sigh confirming he enjoyed the taste.

 

“A tough day?” I asked while tossing a bowl of pretzels within his reach.

 

“You have no idea,” he replied after another long drink.

 

I’d heard many fascinating stories in my recent years behind the bar, and I was interested in his. “Bartenders are great listeners.”

 

The man grabbed a couple of pretzels, swallowing them. “I was chasing down a criminal who had injured a woman during a burglary. Damned if I just missed grabbing him.”

 

“Are you a cop?” I inquired, curious about the man’s profession.

 

“A former US Marshal…now working privately.”

 

“Former, you say. Any particular reason you no longer work for the Feds?”

 

Wrinkles formed on his forehead, anger in his tone. “A kid I was guarding was murdered. His father was a US Senator, and I was blamed.” He took another drink of his beer, the liquid level below half. “Even though he was killed by an assassin from long range.”

 

“That sucks. I’ve learned the hard way when working cases that those in power often step on those who aren’t.”

 

The man’s eyes locked onto mine. “You work in the business?”

 

“Private eye, at one time. I retired—mostly—to own and run this place.” I held up my hand and waved all around me. “Thanks to two bullets, I found this life to be easier on my soul and body. But occasionally I still dabble in the business.”

 

The man nodded. “I understand. I’d love to find a quieter life, but I can’t stop until I track down the killer. In the meantime, I chase down bad guys for our clients. It’s rough sometimes but I have team members to help.”

 

“Sounds interesting. By the way, I’m Jarvis, formerly Jarvis Mann PI.” I extended my hand.

 

Reaching across, the man shook my hand with a grip of steel. “I’m Hunter Divine, now working freelance as a troubleshooter.” Hunter smiled and reached into his pocket, handing me a card. “If you’re ever interested in getting back into the game, I’m always looking for good help.”

 

I looked down at the card reading it, his business name and logo revealing. Leading me to wonder what the hell this man delved into when it came to his work. It appeared he was a troubleshooter who lived on the edge.

 

“The Divine Devils,” I stated with surprise. “Is that some type of inside joke?”

 

Hunter finished his beer. “Not at all. It’s what we call ourselves. We’re willing to move heaven and hell to get the job done.”

 

I glanced down at the card again and tucked it in my back pocket for future reference. With a name like The Divine Devils, I didn’t imagine many wanted to mess with this man and his team. I grabbed his empty mug and filled it again, then got one of my own.

 

“This one is on the house,” I said, holding up my beer. “Here’s to you and your Divine Devils and hoping I never get on your bad side!”

 

Hunter laughed, followed with a hearty “Amen”.

 

“Maybe I should tell you the story about my case of The Front Range Butcher,” I declared, a cold shiver running down my spine at the gruesome memory.

 

“That was you?” Hunter replied, his interest piqued. “Spill the beans. I’d love to hear everything about that sick serial killer.”

 

“Where do I begin…”

 

A story I happily shared, the two of us chatting the evening away, bonding over the challenging and dangerous cases we’d both survived.

 

The Case of the Invisible Souls

A Jarvis Mann Detective Mystery, Book 6

 

With Christmas a few weeks away…Happy these last few months had been quiet, Private Detective Jarvis Mann decides to take on an interesting case. A homeless veteran knocks on his door with a story. Several of his homeless companions have been bribed, then taxied away never to return.

Taking pause to the man’s story at first, Jarvis digs deeper, learning of plans to clear out the homeless. When the man is attacked and seriously injured, Jarvis goes undercover, learning more about life on the streets than he ever knew, becoming one of the Invisible Souls in search of an answer.

 

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#TRAVEL TO LONDON WITH GUEST AUTHOR TRACY L. WARD

Charles Dickens Museum

A former journalist and graduate from Humber College's School for Writers, Tracy L. Ward has been hard at work developing her favourite protagonist, Peter Ainsley, and chronicling his adventures as a morgue surgeon in Victorian England. Learn more about Tracy and her books at her website. 

Lost in London: Setting the Scene

When I set out to write my Victorian morgue mystery series, Marshall House Mysteries, there was only one city in the world that could do it justice: London. With its cobblestone alleys, gas-lit streets and fog ridden nights, London has long been a setting for writers of the mysterious and supernatural. It seemed only fitting that Dr. Peter Ainsley, a morgue surgeon tracking down all manner of criminals, using the burgeoning science of forensics, should work and live there.

Today London is a frantic city with a web of criss-crossing transit systems including buses, river taxis and the famous tube. Each day an army of commuters file into the city from far flung suburbs, further contributing to the hustle and bustle of city life. Its skyline is a mixture of buildings old and new with a few notable landmarks like Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the architectural marvel of St. Mary Axe.

Despite a number of modern conventions that would hint otherwise, London still holds a lot of charm of yesteryear. There are a few hidden gems not so easily found by the everyday tourist, but if you are an unrepentant history fiend like I am, these places are non-negotiable when it comes to your sightseeing list.

If you are tickled by dark Victorian tales and enjoy the look and feel of old burial grounds, then Highgate Cemetery is a must. Filled with stone architecture and accents only the death-obsessed Victorians could provide, this off-the-beaten-path tourist site will have you constantly reaching for your camera. The Victorians enjoyed elaborate funerals and often equated their cost with how much their family loved the deceased in life. Nowhere is this more evident that at Highgate, one of London’s Magnificent Seven, a group of seven historical cemeteries scattered throughout the various neighbourhoods of the city. The east side of the cemetery is open every day for free-ranging, but the west side is only available via tours which must be pre-booked.

Another five-star site is the Old Operating Theatre & Herb Garret, an attic space once reserved for medical students who would gather along the amphitheatre style railings to oversee the dissection of a human cadaver. These lectures were performed as a supplement to the medical training students would receive in the hospitals and were quite rare after Britain outlawed the use of purchased bodies (procured from destitute families or nefarious entrepreneurs like Scotland’s famous Burke and Hare). The theatre was also where medical student could oversee surgical procedures facilitated by the large skylight overhead to ensure maximum light.

This is a small museum, but it sure does pack a punch. On display is a variety of Victorian obstetric tools (ouch!), nursing implements, scientific oddities and an assortment of ‘natural’ remedies. The space is high above a historic church and the only way to get there is by a narrow, winding staircase with rope railing. It’s a tight squeeze complete with rickety wooden stairs constructed at a very steep incline, which only further adds to the atmosphere of the place. Unfortunately, there is no wheelchair access.

Another site that greatly contributed to my research was the Charles Dickens Museum in Camden Borough. Already a well-known author by the time he moved his family there, the building is the only one remaining of Dickens’ London houses. The museum is displayed as it would have been during Dickens’ residence and includes his desk and a number of handwritten notes pertaining to his books. This museum offered me great insight into a typical layout of a Georgian terrace home including a kitchen in the basement and the layout of servants rooms (Dickens was fortunate enough to have two or three household helpers). When describing a room in my novels I often use my memories and photographs of this museum to guide me, though sometimes I deviate slightly, but that’s okay. I use Dickens’ home as a starting point and imagine from there.

As an author, I am very fortunate to have chosen a city with so many links to its past that continue to delight visitors today. Visiting these places gave me a real insight into the architecture, street layout and culture of London, one of the oldest cities in the world.

Prayers for the Dying

Dr. Peter Ainsley knew it was only a matter of time before London claims another murder victim, but this time the body is discovered tied to a lamppost four doors down from the house Ainsley shares with his sister and their bedridden father. The day the body is discovered, a maid of their house and Ainsley’s lover, Julia Kemp, fails to return home from errands in the city.

Convinced the body found in Belgravia and Julia’s disappearance are related, Ainsley follows leads that point him to an infamous bookman, Thaddeus Calvin, known as much for manipulating boxing outcomes as he is for his violent temper. Fiercely protected by the neighbourhood he extorts, Thaddeus is like a ghost, so deeply feared even Scotland Yard is unable to charge him for his crimes.

When another young woman’s body, a housemaid like Julia, is discovered floating in the river, Ainsley hastens his desperate search to discover Julia’s whereabouts before she, too, becomes just another murder victim found in the Thames. 

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BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--AUTHOR CLEA SIMON

Clea Simon is the author of seventeen mysteries in the Theda Krakow, Dulcie Schwartz, and Pru Marlowe pet noir series. The latter two are ongoing and include her most recent books. Learn more about Clea and her books at her website. 

What a winter! Up here in Massachusetts, we’re all going stir-crazy with the cold and the record-breaking snow. I know I’m crazy to get out. But my kitty, Musetta, is not. While she may have a more luxurious coat than I do (mine’s pink down, so yes, I do look like a marshmallow), my tuxedo medium-hair beauty is definitely a house cat – and that’s the way we like it.

You see, I’m a big proponent of keeping kitties indoors. There are just too many dangers out there for domestic beasts: coyotes (even in the suburbs,) hawks, fisher cats (which aren’t cats at all, but nasty weasel-y things with huge jaws,) and aggressive dogs, not to mention cars and the occasional evil human. Besides, it’s only natural for your kitty to hunt, and wouldn’t you rather your pet “hunt” a toy than a songbird?

“But doesn’t your cat get bored?” I get that question all the time. The answer is no, partly because I don’t let her get bored. In fact, I think part of the deal we make when we take in a cat is to keep her or him entertained and exercised. That keeps her healthy and trim and out of trouble (for the most part.) The key is to keep in mind that cats are hunters – obligate carnivores – so they’re evolutionarily designed for short bursts of intense energy. Now, originally, those might have been for chasing gazelle on the veldt. But in the house, that means two or three play sessions a day. The rest of the time can be spent napping  – and dreaming of that long-ago veldt!

So how to keep kitty amused? That’s simple! I’m a total sucker for every new toy that comes on the market – if it has catnip, so much the better. Our current favorites are the rattling fur mice made by Zanies. A friend brought one over and now we’re addicted! (We buy them in bulk, which is useful because Musetta tends to disembowel them pretty quickly.) But in truth, the best and longest lasting toys are the ones you can make yourself: a bunched-up ball of foil or a wine cork. As long as you can throw it, and she can bat it around, you’re all set up for hours of fun – and a healthy, happy indoor cat.

If only my own cabin fever were so easily resolved!

Kittens Can Kill

The dead don’t keep pets. So when animal behaviorist expert Pru Marlowe gets a call about a kitten, she doesn’t expect to find the cuddly creature playing beside the cooling body of prominent Beauville lawyer David Canaday. Heart attack? His three adult daughters angrily blame drug interactions, feline allergies—and each other. And begin to feud over their father, his considerable estate, and that cute ball of fluff. While the cause of death is pending, each sister has an axe to grind—with arguments that escalate when David’s partner reads out the will. Pru’s special sensitivity to animals, which caused her to flee the cacophony of Manhattan for the quiet Berkshires, adds further problems. The local vet is overwhelmed as the animal hospital's money runs out. There’s a needy Sheltie and some invasive squirrels, too. But the dead man’s kitten, his former partner, and his troublesome family keep drawing “wild-girl” animal psychic Pru back in. Despite the wry observations of her trusty tabby Wallis, now the wrongfully accused kitten’s guardian, and the grudging compliance of her cop lover, this may be one time when Pru can’t solve the mystery or save the kitten she wants to believe is innocent. A single witness knows the truth about that bright spring morning. How far can Pru investigate without risking her own hidden tale?

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