Fork is a place in Central Illinois with a weed-infested main street, a tavern, a restaurant, murder, romance, humor and tall tales.
Mystery and Dark Humor! From the author of the Nick Bancroft mysteries comes a delicious blend of suspense and deft humor that is sure to delight every mystery reader! Welcome to Fork, a community with a weed-infested street and a snow plow, where men gather at Absalom's Tavern to tell occasionally true tall tales, where the high-minded Historical Society meets across the street at Rosemary's Delmonico Diner to plot against the tavern and its customers, where a variety of characters produce belly laughs with their schemes, were fumbling handyman Daniel Owens courts the beautiful but soiled Rosemary, and were a murderer thinks he's (or was it a she?) going to get away with it. For a change, there is plenty to talk about in Fork, a nowhere prairie town. The unsolved murder of exotic stranger Francesca Evans becomes the main topic until Daniel Owens plows six feet of snow onto the road commissioners' driveway. And then a guy digs up the outhouse on Ezra Brigg's farm and won't say why. Or the time Hester DeWitt, the town's self-appointed conscience, gets drunk on elderberry wine while trying to close the only tavern in town. There are other distractions, like Daniel's courting of sexy Rosemary Allen until he realizes she is the whore who taught him about sex. And John Turner, the stranger who has some kind of power over Rosemary, announces plans to develop the town. After a deputy sheriff is charged with the murder Turner builds a golf course, and Daniel stops trying to resist the lure of Rosemary's body. The town isn't the only fork in the road, everybody's life is about to come to one.
Excerpt
"She's the whore who taught me how to make love."
Bob Liter's AUGUST IS MURDER Nick Bancroft has made somebody upset, very upset. So far they have tried to kill him by torching the building where he lives, by shooting at him and who knows how or when they are going to try again. Nick, a journalist by trade, inherited both his top floor office and his detective agency and has found that he enjoys detective work even more than he does journalism. Bancroft finds himself having no home and possessing only his files, a small cat who lived in the building and came by for supper each day and the clothes he threw on when he realized the building was on fire. The generosity of Otto, tavern owner where Nick spends a lot of his time, comes to Nick's rescue by allowing the newly homeless fellow a place to spend the rest of the night. The day before the fire Bancroft had 'sort of' accepted a new client, Kathleen Cameron who claims to have received death threats. Bancroft, Kathleen, Otto and Maggie, the former secretary of the only other business in the burned-out structure find themselves drawn into an ever stranger, worsening web of intrigue, deceit and murder. Kathleen's husband is murdered, she is accused of the homicide, Maggie seethes with jealousy and Otto first gives up his tavern and then reopens it again. Underlying everything as Bancroft attempts to unravel this harrowing situation is 'The Club.' The machinations of several wealthy, powerful men who are 'the power behind the throne' in Central City, Illinois force both Nick and Kathleen to be evicted from their homes, Otto is threatened with having his tavern razed, Maggie is fired from her job. The situation appears bleak and nearly beyond repair. Writing in the first-person Bob Liter has produced a power packed novel which draws the reader into the story from the opening line and holds their attention right on to the surprising revelation concerning 'The Club,' and the conclusion of the tale. Reminiscent of Ellery Queen twists and turns in tandem with the throat clutch drama of William Manchee's Stan Turner mystery series, writer Liter has produced a mystery thriller of exciting dimensions. The narrative is peopled with fascinating, credible characters who interact with one another in understandable and plausible fashion. Liter's private detective is a gem, no suave, 'got it wrapped up in hours' investigator here. Bancroft is beset with many of the very same foibles as are the readers; it is that quality which make him seem so alive and so likeable. Liter has peopled his narrative with a group of entertaining characters ranging from the lively, nubile Kathleen to the powerful local cartel these are people you feel you almost know. The consternation voiced by Kathleen, Maggie's annoyance and Bancroft's befuddled dealings with the two women is both humorous and acceptable. Nick Bancroft is a tenacious detective, well able to ferret out the truth even as he stumbles in his dealings with attractive women. Writer Liter weaves a deft tale of murder, complicity and downright evil with a skill usually reserved for those who have been at the writing craft for a longer period. AUSGUST IS MURDER is the second in this collection of 5 books was published by Bancroft Mysteries, LLC, and Washington, Illinois resident Liter says books 3, 4 and 5 are also available on Amazon. AUGUST IS MURDER is a gripping narrative which appeals to the lover of good action-packed mystery thrillers.
This cozy murder mystery takes place aboard luxury liner, Queen Elizabeth II, as wealthy couple celebrate their silver wedding anniversary with family and friends.