Detective Oliver Tucker’s dead—murdered—and back as an earth-bound spirit to help his wife, Professor Angela Tucker, crack the most important case of his life—his own. But, this is not a ghost story; it’s a murder case.
Tuck knows why he is back among the living but not one of them—Detective Solve Thyself. Perhaps he was murdered because of his last case—a murder involving a retired mob boss, a local millionaire land developer, a New York hit man, and the local university elite. Or could it be that Bear Braddock, his best friend and partner for more than fifteen years, wants Angela? Tuck knows that everything surrounds Kelly’s Dig where the discovery of Civil War graves may put an end to a multi-million dollar highway project. If it does, who stands to gain the most? Enough to kill?
Using his unique skills, Tuck weaves through half-truths and generations-old lies chasing a madman. And he’s not alone—others, dead and alive—are hunting the same killer. Still nothing can change the truth—it is the living, not the dead, who are most terrifying.
* from Goodreads
Hott Review:
Detective Oliver Tucker is dead and everyone he knows has something to hide. A few days ago, Oliver would’ve said that everyone he knew was an open book but now as he trails behind those he knew and loved he wonders how he missed so many secrets.
His darling wife, Angela, his angel, has relationships, secret meetings, and deliveries that he never knew about. His partner has secret informants, a key to Tuck’s house, and deception brewing in every case. His colleagues who are working his case don’t seem to care about the truth, they only seem care about smearing good peoples’ reputations. The only thing Tuck can now trust is Herc, his dog. Although, Herc has some secrets of his own. Tuck may be dead, but someone is still out for blood.
There’s only one thing for Tuck to do… Solve his murder and clear the names of the innocent before someone else dies…
What a book! I picked up DYING TO KNOW as an afternoon diversion and spent hours devouring, laughing, and crying. I loved the mystery. I adored the characters. DYING TO KNOW is my new favorite book!
If you’re looking for a mystery you’re not going to want to put down – grab this first book in The Dead Detective Casefiles today!
More…
Author: Tj O’Connor
Source: Partners in Crime Tours; Amazon
Publisher & Date: September 24, 2024 by Level Best Books
Genre: PI Detective Mystery, Paranormal
Pages: 329
Grade: A
Ages: 16+
Steam: None
Setting: Winchester, VA; Current Day
Series: THE DEAD DETECTIVE CASEFILES
DYING TO KNOW Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads |
DYING FOR THE PAST Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads |
DYING TO TELL Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads |
Excerpt:
One
Dying is overrated. Murder, on the other hand, is not.
Trust me, after fifteen years as a detective, I know a lot about both. Like death and murder are always complicated, but not always related. You can have death without murder, but not the other way around. That’s what I used to think anyway. I changed my mind after an episode of my recurring nightmare. I’d been having it for years and it always turned out the same. While chasing a bad guy in the dark, he turned and shot me. I was about to die when something always pulled me from the nightmare.
This time, it was Hercule’s hot breath.
My four-year-old black Lab was standing beside my bed alternating between low growls and a tongue-lashing. Both demanded my attention. When my eyes first opened, he lapped at my face and nudged me with his big, wet nose. I forced my eyes open wider and at the same time realized that Angel was not snuggled beside me in bed. She was standing across the room and listening at our bedroom door.
“Angel, did you hear something again?” She always heard things late at night and always felt compelled to share them with me. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, Tuck. Herc can hear it, too. Wake up, will you? What kind of detective are you?”
“The asleep-kind.”
“Just get up. Please?”
Hercule froze, nose down, staring at me as we both heard creaking floorboards in the downstairs hall. I rolled sideways and sat on the side of the bed. Hercule crept away and crouched near the door. For the third time, something interrupted Angel’s sleep. The first two times were just our old house’s creaks and groans, and both failed to wake Hercule out of a stone-cold sleep. Now, after summoning me, he was poised for homeland defense.
I got to my feet and gathered my clothes littered in a strategic path across the room. I nearly toppled over slipping on my jeans and a black tee shirt and did manage to trip over my running shoes.
Angel motioned for Herc to return to the bed. To me she whispered, “Hurry up.”
“Look, if I’m going to get killed tonight, I don’t want to be naked.” I grabbed my 40-caliber Glock from the nightstand and checked the chamber. Then, I retrieved a .38 revolver from our walk-in closet and handed it to Angel. “Just in case.”
“Okay. Be careful.”
“Keep Herc close, babe. If it’s your imagination, stay awake and lose those pjs. If it’s trouble, give me fifteen minutes—then lose them.”
Even in the dark, I could see her eyes roll. “Just be careful.”
At the door, I listened but heard nothing. I winked at Angel and Hercule on the bed and whispered, “I love you—you too, Angel.”
Hercule wagged his tail.
In the hallway, I waited for my eyes to adjust a little more to the darkness. I shifted them to use my peripheral vision, looking for any telltale movement. Still nothing. From the top of the stairs, I could just make out the foyer below and did not see or hear anything. There were no wispy shadows, no running feet, and no creaking floorboards. Yawning, I eased down the stairs with my Glock out in front of me. At the bottom landing, I stopped.
Darkness and the grandfather clock greeted me—it chimed two.
The downstairs was quiet and I checked the front door. It was still locked and there were no signs of splintered wood, broken glass, or other forced entry. The only sound I heard was my own breathing. The only curious sighting was the half-dressed, frumpy guy in the hall mirror who looked tired and irritated.
Maybe Angel would be losing those pjs sooner rather than later.
I started with the kitchen and worked my way around the first floor, searching room by room—all five of them—ending in my den. Nothing. The most dangerous thing I found was Hercule’s squeaky frog that scared the crap out of me when I stepped on it. I felt foolish and decided to head back to bed.
It hit me when I reached to turn off my desk lamp.
The light shouldn’t have been on. I looked around. My briefcase wasn’t in its ritual place on my credenza. It was on my chair and the contents strewn over my desk. Everything was dumped out—my gold detective’s badge and I.D., several files, a notepad, tape recorder, and my .380 backup piece.
No, the Walther wasn’t there—the holster was empty.
“Angel …” I bolted to the stairs and looked up.
Floorboards groaned above me. A door opened in the darkness beyond the landing. Movement—a shadow.
Somewhere above, Angel called, “Tuck.”
There was a flash at the top of the stairs … a shot.
I lunged for the third stair. A figure stepped out of the darkness twelve feet above me.
Another flash.
“Angel!”
***
Excerpt from DYING TO KNOW by Tj O’Connor. Copyright 2014/2024 by Tj O’Connor. Reproduced with permission from Tj O’Connor. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
Tj O’Connor is an award-winning author of mysteries and thrillers. He’s an international security consultant specializing in anti-terrorism, investigations, and threat analysis—life experiences that drive his novels. With his former life as a government agent and years as a consultant, he has lived and worked around the world in places like Greece, Turkey, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, and throughout the Americas—among others. In his spare time, he’s a Harley Davidson pilot, a man-about-dogs (and now cats), and a lover of adventure, cooking, and good spirits (both kinds). He was raised in New York’s Hudson Valley and lives with his wife, Labs, and Maine Coon companions in Virginia where they raised five children who supply a growing tribe of grands.
Websites & Links:
tjoconnor.com
Goodreads
BookBub – @tj37
Amazon Author
Instagram – @tjoconnorauthor
Twitter/X – @Tjoconnorauthor
Facebook – @TjOConnor.Author
YouTube – @tjoconnorauthor3905
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I couldn’t agree with you more! This was such a fun read. I can’t wait to read the next one.