In a mystery series that started with The Last Call several years ago, Bill Travis has been known to get involved one way or another in some very strange situations. Often he gets into cases where one can almost hear the Twilight Zone theme music playing in the background. Such is the case here with the Ghost of the Karankawa.

Bill Travis handles money and Evanston Cooper is one of his clients. At least he was until he pulled most of the money awhile back. Now Evanston wants to pay Travis to go from Austin down to the small and isolated town of Anahuac and see Evanston’s sister, Catherine. She thinks a ghost is going around there murdering people. Anahuac is located on the north side of Galveston Bay and, because of the murdering ghost, his sister is threatening to leave town. Evanston is afraid she might come to Austin and he does not want her anywhere around him or any closer to Austin than she is now. To keep her down there he is willing to throw money at the problem by hiring Bill. All Bill Travis has to do for the money is drive down there and calm Evanston’s sister down.

After enlisting Bill’s wife, Julie, into the deal, Bill is forced to agree to do as Evanston asks. Before long and with the kids safely accounted for, Julie, Bill and their dog, Franklin, are taking a road trip south to Anahuac. After all, just because Bill has turned fifty and is contemplating what that means, it does not mean one should ignore a scream in the night, a mummified body, and one heck of a road trip without the kids.

Ghost of the Karankawa: A Bill Travis Mystery is the tenth book in this long running series. As such the characters of Bill Travis, and his wife, Julie as well as other regulars in the series were fleshed out long ago. The focus is on the mystery, Texas history and legends, and things that go bump in them night as they often are in this series. As one expects, author George Wier again strains reader suspension of disbelief at a couple of points, but the read is very well worth it.

The e-book also includes the entertaining short story The Woodsman as it plays a key role in the novel.

Ghost of the Karankawa: A Bill Travis Mystery
George Wier
http://www.billtravismysteries.com
Flagstone Books
November 2014
ASIN: B00PBF0ATK
E-Book (paperback available)
154 Pages
$3.99

Material to read and review was purchased last February by way of funds in my Amazon Associate account.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2016

This fast moving read contains three short stories set in the holiday season. Opening with “No Place To Spend Christmas” where coming through a window in the middle of the night is not the best way to get help. But, that is what he did as he had a definite reason. He needs her help and Alexis Reedy knows some folks to contact. This story was also in the 2009 anthology The Gift of Murder edited by John M. Floyd.

It is the night before Christmas Eve and Hannibal is exhausted as he has been up since 5 am when his day started in Baltimore. Finally back in Washington around midnight, he has taken a wrong turn or two and gone out of his normal way home.  More than a little annoyed and dead dog tired, his reflexes aren’t the best when the man staggers out into the street in front of his car. Hannibal misses him, but will see him again in “Mystery on Capital Street.”

It is supposed to be a quiet evening at home for Hannibal and Cindy. That was until the knock at his door in “A Mom Christmas.” A little girl by the name of Margarita is on the doorstep. Eight or nine years old she tells them that her Mom desperately needs Hannibal’s help and sent her to him. Good choice.

Hannibal Jones Mystery: Christmas Short Stories is fast moving and highly entertaining collection. The three stories here do little to detail the background of the Hannibal Jones character as that is the work of the early novels. Instead, the focus here is on the mysteries as well as the actions of some nefarious folks who don’t take seasonal breaks or believe in the concept of goodwill toward all mankind.

Hannibal Jones Mystery: Christmas Short Stories
Austin S. Camacho
http://www.ascamacho.com
Intrigue Publishing, LLC
http://www.intriguepublishing.com
November 2014
ASIN# B00QAT3GKQ
E-Book
37 Pages
$0.99

Material was picked up early last month to read and review by way of funds in my Amazon Associate account.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2016

A Hannibal Jones short story is a treat and Smoke and Mirrors proves to be no exception. The wildfires in southern California have done a real number on the area. Hannibal Jones knows that after seeing the destruction from the air as his plane headed into San Diego.

What he didn’t know was arson was apparently involved. According to his friend, Mike Weaver, at least one fire was arson and that led to a death which is why he paid for private investigator Hannibal Jones to fly out from Washington. The two men have known each other for years and Weaver had no one else to turn too when local law enforcement turned him down. While Weaver things it was murder, local cops say it was just an accident thanks to shifting winds.

That would not explain why Gina Young died in a fire so intense that there is nothing left of her body. That wind issue would also not explain why Weaver found traces of accelerant in the debris. It also does not explain how her live in housekeeper, Elaine Chavez, escaped a fire that was going before the rest of the neighborhood evacuated.  Nearly 1800 families lost everything in nearly seven counties so Weaver’s questions about one death are being lost in the aftermath.

With Weaver guiding him, Hannibal works the case in Smoke and Mirrors. A case that stretches far and wide with a number of suspects and witnesses. The result is a fast moving short story and another very good tale featuring Hannibal Jones.

Smoke and Mirrors: A Hannibal Jones Mystery Short Story
Austin S. Camacho
http://www.ascamacho.com
http://ascamacho.blogspot.com/
Intrigue Publishing
http://www.intriguepublishing.com
November 2014
ASIN: B00PL1BSIG
E-Book
13 Pages
$0.99

According to Amazon, I “purchased” this read back in November. I don’t know now if I did by way of funds in my Amazon Associate account or I got this by way of a publicized freebie offer by the author.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2016

Amazon Author Page
http://www.amazon.com/Kevin-Tipple/e/B009Q5J8T4/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Reviews and More http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/