Bøker av Stephen Burdick

Detective Jan Larkin's career with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is rife with success. But an elevated level of achievement comes at a high personal price. "Echoes of Janie" begins with Jan summoned by her partner, Detective Seeward Sinclair, to examine a body on the shore behind a condominium in Madeira Beach. Jan's exasperation at having her day off interrupted turns to dismay when the victim turns out to be Janie Ballantine, daughter of District Attorney David Ballantine. Hearing of his daughter's murder devastates Ballantine, disrupting his prosecution of crime boss Colby Rittenhouse. As Jan and Seeward delve further into their investigation, a suspect quickly emerges. Daniel Peck, Janie's boyfriend, can't seem to recall what happened between him and Janie the night she was murdered. Evidence uncovered later points directly to Peck. Although Seeward is certain Peck is the killer, Jan begins to question certain pieces of evidence. Days later, when one of Janie's neighbors reports having seen a stranger milling around the condominium shortly before Janie's murder, the detectives' interest shifts to a bodyguard of Colby Rittenhouse. "The Original Thirteen Murders" has Jan called upon to investigate the discovery of a winter visitor found dead on the beach. No leads or witnesses to the case doesn't help matters. The second murder, a young woman visiting her grandparents, provides Jan with a suspect. Time works against Jan, increasing her frustration, until she learns of similar details of other unsolved murders in the area. Playing a hunch, Jan proposes an unusual scenario that suggests a serial killer might be on the loose. Who the killer might be and where he might strike next is the problem facing her. "Shadow Of Deceit" finds Jan looking into the murder of a retired police lieutenant from Michigan. Digging further into his background, she finds his career has been tainted. An unproven association with organized crime makes her suspicious of his lavish lifestyle. Another search of his condominium uncovers a hidden information disc. The encrypted message on the disc reveals the names of the victim and four other men, their bank accounts in the Cayman Islands, and the amount of money in each account. The murders continue but the reason for the elimination of those named on the disc remains unknown until Jan receives a phone call from an unlikely source. Critical Acclaim for The Jan Larkin Mysteries: "The Jan Larkin Mysteries combines the depth of classic noir with the intrigue of contemporary police procedurals to deliver three gripping novellas right up to the jagged coast of the Florida Gulf. With this latest offering, Stephen Burdick is proving his voice among the ranks of Sunshine Noir authors." -Steph Post, author of Lightwood

Two close calls with death and the lingering guilt he harbors over the injury to Detective David Sizemore compounds Joe Hampton's ongoing attempt to come to terms with the passing of his wife. Persuaded to assume the role of consultant to the homicide division soon has him and Detective Carly Truffant on the trail of a serial killer who mutilates his victims. Uncovering the identity of the killer proves as difficult as understanding why rookie Detective Dani Mc Masters resents him being a part of the team. An unexpected turn of events finds Joe and McMasters trapped and fighting for their lives. Then, his dream of a peaceful getaway is shattered when he finds himself in the middle of an investigation during his visit to a small community on the coast of southwest Florida. The help of a stranger before joining forces with the lead detective doesn't keep him from the prospect of winding up in a watery grave. Upon his return home, Joe helps Detective Truffant trace the origin of human bones uncovered on a local beach. As they dig deeper, they come to realize that the skeleton may have a connection to the disappearance of an aunt that Truffant never knew. Praise for YESTERDAY RISING: "An authentic police voice. It's like going on a ride-along." -Colin Campbell, author of the Jim Grant Thrillers "For fans of TV crime shows, Stephen Burdick's Yesterday Rising is one part Bones, one part Cold Case Files, and one part Criminal Minds." -Tim O'Mara, author of the Raymond Donne series "With Yesterday Rising, Stephen Burdick delivers a riveting read full of colorful characters. Homicide detective Joe Hampton's retirement to Crimson Conch Condominiums has not gone according to plan. The old detective can't resist the pull of being back on the job. And it turns out that sunny Clearwater Beach can be nearly as gritty as the streets of Philadelphia where he once worked." -Joel W. Barrows, author of the Deep Cover thriller series "Yesterday Rising, Stephen Burdick's second set of three novellas featuring retired homicide detective Joe Hampton, is an engaging blend of murder, beautiful Florida settings, well-drawn characters, and challenging whodunits." -Debra H. Goldstein, author of the Sarah Blair mystery series

Homicide detective Joe Hampton and his wife, Joyce, had planned to move to Clearwater Beach, Florida, once he retired from the Philadelphia Police Department. After Joyce unexpectedly passes away, Joe goes ahead with the move. Once he's settled into the Crimson Conch condominiums, his hopes of starting over are realized-until a series of murders upends his plans for a peaceful retirement. The Gray Detective begins with Joe discovering a body in the channel behind the condominiums after a night of Bingo. When Detectives Carly Truffant and David Sizemore arrive to investigate, Joe gives his account of the discovery. Joe is summoned to the police station days later at the request of prime suspect, Gary Burgess, the condo maintenance man. Burgess admits to having sexual encounters with the victim and other female residents and begs Joe for help. Joe's curiosity pushes him to investigate the matter, prompting Truffant to order him not to interfere. After finding Burgess dead by the condo pool after his release, and later learning of another murder, Joe uncovers a secret circle comprised of residents. Their purpose is not only illegal but deadly. Dark Arrival finds Joe acquiring the position of building manager and meeting Victoria Combes, a tough-talking, no-nonsense woman looking for a condo in the Crimson Conch. Still missing his wife, he finds comfort in their friendship though her manner is gruff. When a pair of residents are murdered, Joe encounters Truffant and Sizemore once more. Joe's exemplary career as a homicide detective persuades them to enlist his services. The arrival of Victoria's daughter provides Joe with a welcome diversion from the difficult investigation. Another murder occurs leading Truffant and Sizemore to conclude that a connection to the other murders exists. What isn't apparent is how close Joe is to the killer. Deadly Separation has Truffant struggling with a divorce and Joe agreeing to help her. Trouble arrives when Sizemore calls and tells Joe that Truffant's soon to be ex-husband has been found dead in a Dunedin townhouse. And worse, Truffant is considered the leading suspect. Truffant's troubles worsen when a woman is murdered and evidence proves she had an affair with her husband. Joe gets sidetracked by the arrival of his former neighbors from Philadelphia. When both are murdered, a man named Rogan Cavanaugh enters the picture. Joe discovers that Cavanaugh could be involved in the murder of his friends-plus the death of Truffant's husband's lover-and the mind game between the two begins.