Pappa Date: August 31, 2024. Somewhere in Winchester, Virginia.
Previously on The Pappa Files … we talked about my new book contracts and my new thriller, The Whisper Legacy, coming in February 2025. We also went down memory lane where I talked about my paranormal experiences and love of all things spooky and adventurous. Now, it’s time to start talking about the return of my most favorite series—The Dead Detective Casefiles, returning this fall, 2024.
For my millions of fans, er, hundreds of thousands—no that’s not right either, we’ll just go with “For my fans” you know that my first published book contract was with the witty and dashing Oliver “Tuck” Tucker in what used to be called, The Gumshoe Ghost series. Tuck is a dead detective, or a detective for the dead, as it were. He lives and died in Winchester, Virginia, with his beautiful, brilliant wife, Professor Angela “Angel” Tucker, his old partner, Bear Braddock, and an ensemble cast of good guys, bad guys, and unknowns. Oh, and I can’t forget Hercule (that’s Herk-cule like Christie’s famous Poirot) the black lab.
Anyway … My first Tuck book, Dying to Know, introduced you all to his dilemma. A nasty one, too. He’s dead. Well, not in chapter one, but soon thereafter. Tuck returns to not only find his killer, but to help the victims of other historical murders along the way. In Dying to Know, there are several, and with time and patience—and the help of his grouchy, omnipotent, and ever-snarky spirit mentor, Doc Gilley—Tuck learns to apply his trade as a crack homicide detective using his new skills as a spirit. Dying to Know takes on a Civil War gravesite and lingering spirits seeking justice.
In the second installment, Dying For The Past, Tuck takes on World War II gangsters and spies, trying to find a mysterious journal before evil-doers get it first and continue a coverup started during the war. Tuck learns more about his life, er, death, when yet another spirit ancestor joins his investigation and helps guide him through the decades-old murders and intrigue. There are gangsters and speakeasies, spies and saboteurs—both living and dead, and friends and foes that are often indistinguishable.
Next, Dying to Tell makes Tuck realize how perilous dying is after he stumbles onto William Mendelson—murdered in a hidden vault where Egyptian relics and World War II secrets were once stashed. With the help of his beautiful and brilliant wife, Angel, and Detective Bear Braddock, Tuck must unravel a tale of spies, murderers, and thieves. Of course, he’s aided by a long-lost relative—a spirit of course—Hercule, and his former colleagues from the police task force. The question is—can he find the killers and save Angel from her own perils?
You might also know that Tuck’s last adventure was left hanging—the publisher, Midnight Ink, went out of business. Luckily, with rights back in hand, my brilliant agent, Kimberley, got Tuck and crew back in the detective’s bullpen with Shawn at Level Best Books. LBB is not only republishing Tuck’s first three adventures, but three more as well! All this begins in September/October this year.
Coming in the fall of 2025, Dying With A Secret will bring Tuck back seeking justice on overdue murders and intrigue. I’ll save the big story for down the road, but Tuck will be battling Civil War perils, lost treasure, and secret government paranormal researchers. So stay tuned. All the gang will be there and a new member of Tuck’s spirit-family will join the cast.
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You know the best thing about republishing Tuck’s casefiles? Well, there are lots but there are two that I love the most. First, LBB gave me some brilliant new covers and moniker—The Dead Detective Casefiles. How can you beat that? And second, I get to take Tuck on more adventures that I thought would never see print. It was painful watching Tuck slip from the bookshelves and internet after Midnight Ink went away. Truly painful. Now, though, thanks to Kimberley and Shawn and an update on the story lines, Tuck is ready to go again. Thank God, too, I couldn’t stand for my labs to keep asking about Hercule any longer.
So fans, hang on a few weeks longer. The Dead Detective Casefiles will be back soon. Once the original trilogy returns, the new casefiles will begin to roll out, beginning with Dying With A Secret in 2025.
Thank you all for waiting. Thank you all for your encouragement in bringing Tuck and his gang back. But most of all, thank you Kimberley and Shawn with her LBB folks. I may just make you all characters (don’t worry, I won’t kill you off).
Remember now—
Dying can bring out the best in people.
It can also bring out the worst of secrets.
If you want to know someone’s dirty secrets, kill them.
It works every time.
Until next time, Yasoo, Adieu, Adios, and all that—see ya soon and be safe!
