Jerold Last

Bloody Delta Dawn by Jerold Last

By Mystery Reads Curator Leave a Comment

Motorcycle gangs, corrupt cops, kidnapped dogs, drug dealers, and the unique geography and history of California’s Sacramento River Delta area, where the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers flow into San Francisco Bay, are all woven into the plot of this suspenseful thriller.

Targeted Age Group:: Adult, Young adult

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
Mainly several plot ideas I'd had for some time just waiting to use when the time was right and a fascination with the locale, which is close to where we live, used for the setting. The Delta area is a part of California not particularly well known to tourists and to people living in the southern half of the state, with a rich history and a very different feeling than the beaches of the Los Angeles and San Diego coastal areas, the urban sprawl of the San Francisco Bay area, or the Sierra mountains.

A Train To Nowhere by Jerold Last

By Mystery Reads Curator Leave a Comment

In a fast-paced story of spies and murder, private detective Roger Bowman investigates the violent death of a Paraguayan agent in Cheltenham, England. The victim was stabbed while sitting in an empty railroad car on a siding in the local railroad station. Roger’s investigation initially takes him to Australia and Malaysia, but it soon becomes apparent that the answers he is seeking will be found back in Great Britain. Following the trail of clues, he meets an attractive agent with an agenda, as well as several additional spies of various nationalities with their own agendas. From a recent review on Amazon Kindle: “an intriguing mystery novel with a true international flavor” and “a fun afternoon read that feels like an exotic vacation enjoyed from the comfort of your favorite recliner”. Available in e-book and paperback formats and free from Kindle Unlimited.

Targeted Age Group:: Adult, YA

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
The Roger and Suzanne series introduces readers to interesting places the author has visited or lived in. I spent a couple of weeks visiting Cheltenham in 2020 and thought then of what a good location it would be for a mystery novel. So the locale was part of the inspiration. I've visited Sydney, Australia, as well as Kuala Lampur and Penang, Malaysia, as a tourist and for business, so those locales fit nicely into the story as it evolved.

The Origin Of Murder by Jerold Last

By Mystery Reads Curator Leave a Comment

Roger and Suzanne take a vacation cruise through the Galapagos Islands, 600 miles west of Ecuador. Suzanne finds a dead body floating with a couple of bullet holes in its back floating in the Pacific Ocean and we’re off to solve another deadly mystery. Among the suspects is a treacherous travel agent with an eye-opening secret, a cheerful couple of bird watchers from Germany, a happy honeymooning couple, two sensual sisters from San Francisco, two recent retirees from Australia working through their bucket list, and two middle-aged Montevideo residents seeing the wonders of the world while they can. Lurking in the background behind the scenes is a mysterious Ecuadorian general. One reviewer says, “A fast-paced, exciting mystery I didn’t want to set aside till finished… A great continuation of the series!”

Targeted Age Group:: Adult

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
Rediscovering my wife’s journal from our own tour of the Galapagos Islands a few years ago. It gave me most of the background material I needed to write this novel.

The Deadly Dog Show by Jerold Last

By Mystery Reads Curator Leave a Comment

Private detective Roger Bowman is hired to impersonate a wealthy sponsor showing a champion German Shorthaired Pointer named Juliet at dog shows in California. His undercover assignment is to ferret out whether some of the winners are cheating. Before long, bodies of murdered judges start popping up at dog show venues and Roger’s wife Suzanne is being stalked by a mysterious admirer. With Juliet’s help, Roger and his fellow detective, professional dog handler Bruce, find a key clue. The trail leads from San Francisco to West Texas. Reviewers love the whodunit mystery and the inside information about how dog shows work.

Targeted Age Group:: Adult

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
My wife breeds and shows German Shorthaired Pointers. I write mystery novels. The stars converged and we decided it was time to have my series characters solve a series of murders at dog shows.