by Dean L. Hovey
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GENRE: Mystery
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BLURB:
When human remains are found at the Vore Buffalo Jump, the short-staffed local sheriff’s department requests assistance from Park Service Investigators Doug and Jill Fletcher.
ATV tracks lead the investigators to the victim’s boots and a hunting blind constructed on the edge of the Black Hills National Forest. With more questions than answers the Fletchers find themselves pulled into the community dynamics of tiny Aladdin (population 15) where the café and general store are the hub of information for the county.
The surprising identification of the victim only opens more questions about him, and his connection to the location of his murder. When the Fletchers follow up on the few leads provided by John Doe’s identification, they unwittingly open a can of worms.
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EXCERPT
Having not considered what she would say when the phone was answered, Peggy stated what came to her mind. “I’m looking at a dead body. Could you send someone over to fetch it?”
“Is the body human?”
Peggy cocked her head to examine details that became clearer as he eyes adjusted to the shadows behind the building. “It appears so.”
“You can’t tell?” The dispatcher asked.
“It’s complicated. It’s kind of tangled in some brush partway up a hill.”
“Do you need an ambulance?”
“No, this soul is well past the ambulance stage.”
“Where are you, ma’am?”
“I’m standing behind the Vore Buffalo Jump Museum building.”
“Where exactly is that?”
“It’s along the interstate, between the Beulah and Aladdin exits.”
“I’ll dispatch a deputy to your location. The nearest officer is in Hulett, so it might take him the better part of a half hour to get there if he’s through with lunch.”
“There’s no rush. Whoever this is, isn’t going anywhere.”
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Authors note
When I started writing, I thought mysteries had to be dark, bloody, and gripped. You know, the kind of books that keep you awake at night. So, I wrote, “Where Evil Hides”, which met all of those criteria. I gave the first copy to my parents. My mother told me she read it, then spent two nights checking the windows and doors every hour. Following that, I had a conversation with a friend who expressed surprise at my dark topics and writing. “I thought your writing would be more like you. Why did you choose to go so far out of your comfort zone?” A church secretary asked my wife, “How can you sleep with your back to him?”
Those comments made me reflect on what I was writing. Indeed, I was FAR outside of my comfort zone, and writing those books was exhausting because they sucked all the emotional energy from me. After two “gripping books” I wrote “Unforgettable”, which was a cold case. I found it less personally disturbing, and my readers commented about how they loved the warm, caring protagonist I’d created. Shortly after that, I read “On Writing” by Stephen King. In that book, he said that the plot was a tool to reveal the characters, who are why the readers like or dislike a book. Coupled with feedback from several readers, I rethought my approach to writing and now write softer books, still with deep twisting plots, but with characters that engage the readers. As one reviewer wrote on Amazon, “Dean creates characters I’d like to invite over for a beer and discussion.” I think that’s about the nicest compliment I’ve ever received.
Armed with that knowledge and a few books under my belt, I undertook a new series that features a US Park Service investigator. Doug Fletcher started with the investigation of a murder in Walnut Canyon National Monument. From there, he moves to National Park Service locations across the country. I’ve enjoyed taking him to locations I’ve visited in the past, like The Everglades (Gator Bait), The Black Hills (Devils Fall and The Last Rodeo) and the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (Down River). Since then, my wife and I have visited several additional Parks including Volcanoes National Park (Peril in Paradise) and most recently, a return trip to the Black Hills (Western Justice).
I write daily, with the characters dragging me out of bed, saying they’ve got things for me to record. A reader asked if I ever have writer’s block. I responded that I suffer from writer’s diarrhea, with more ideas than I can handle, flowing faster than my fingers can record them. Doug and Jill Fletcher are particularly insistent on my recording of their thoughts. Although I have a book outline, I find that the dialogue between the characters takes me places I’d never intended the book to go. That said, they improved the book and added colour to it.
My readers, and I, have come to love the Fletchers. I’m often approached by readers who comment that they love those characters and worry about them. One guy bought me a cup of coffee and said he’d finished “Washed Away”, only to spend half the night worrying about where the characters were going next. He told me he’d turned the lights on at 2AM and had a discussion with himself, reminding him that he was worrying about people who only existed “in Dean Hovey’s head.”
Here's the “Western Justice” blurb:
When human remains are found at the Vore Buffalo Jump, the short-staffed local sheriff’s department requests assistance from Park Service Investigators Doug and Jill Fletcher. ATV tracks lead the investigators to the victim’s boots and a hunting blind constructed on the edge of the Black Hills National Forest. With more questions than answers the Fletchers find themselves pulled into the community dynamics of tiny Aladdin (population 15) where the café and general store are the hub of information for the county.
The surprising identification of the victim only opens more questions about him, and his connection to the location of his murder. When the Fletchers follow up on the few leads provided by John Doe’s identification, they unwittingly open a can of worms.
Excerpt:
Drawing a sharp breath, the director of the Vore Buffalo Jump Historic site reached into her back pocket for her cell phone. Punching 911 into the keypad, she waited two rings before the dispatcher answered. “Crook County emergency services. How can I assist you?”
Having not considered what she was going to say when the phone was answered, Peggy stated what came to her mind. “I’m looking at a dead body. Could you send someone over to fetch it?”
“Is the body human?”
Peggy cocked her head to examine details that became clearer as he eyes adjusted to the shadows behind the museum building. “It appears so.”
“You can’t tell?” The dispatcher asked.
“It’s complicated. It’s kind of tangled in some brush partway up a hill.”
“Do you need an ambulance?”
“No, this soul is well past the ambulance stage.”
“Where are you, ma’am?”
“I’m standing behind the Vore Buffalo Jump Museum building.”
“Where exactly is that?”
“It’s along the interstate, between the Beulah and Aladdin exits.”
“I’ll dispatch a deputy to your location. The nearest officer is in Hulett, so it might take him the better part of a half hour to get there, if he’s through with lunch.”
“There’s no rush. Whoever this is, isn’t going anywhere.”
Editorial review snippets:
Another great book that I couldn't put down. The dialog between Jill and Doug is so much fun and the mystery is always interesting leaving me anxiously waiting for the next book! – Linda J.
The pace is riveting, and grabs you from the start. You will greatly enjoy your experience with these two best friends. Highly recommended. – Greg P.
Another great story, how many different stories do you have saved in your head Dean??? Thanks, I enjoyed reading this one as much as I have all the others. – Kathy W-B.
Where to find “Western Justice” and my other books
Books We Love author page: https://bookswelove.net/hovey-dean/
On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/.../Dean-L.-Hovey/author/B00J78JMLY
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Dean’s award-winning* Pine County series follows sheriff’s deputies Floyd Swenson and Pam Ryan through this police procedural series.
Dean’s Whistling Pines books are humorous cozy mysteries centered on the residents of the Whistling Pines senior residence. The protagonist is Peter Rogers, the Whistling Pines recreation director.
In Dean’s latest series his protagonist, a retired Minnesota policeman, is drafted into service as a National Park Service Investigator after a murder at a National Monument.
* “Family Trees:
A Pine County Mystery” won the 2018 NEMBA award for best fiction.
https://bookswelove.net/hovey-dean/
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00J78JMLY/about
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER
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3 Comments
Thanks for hosting this stop on my virtual book tour! If you fans have any questions or comments, I'll be checking in and responding throughout the day..
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for featuring this book and author.
ReplyDeleteSounds good and I look forward to reading this.
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