The Silver Necklace

“A fascinating glimpse into complex characters on both right and wrong sides of the law, by author and retired judge Jack Billings, who undoubtedly has seen both up-close.”

                Randi Bjornstad, career journalist, founder, Eugene Scene, e-magazine

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Police always encounter people they never forget. For Megan O’Brian, one was Chad Mitchell, a scared, mistreated little boy she encountered while working as a juvenile corrections officer. She always wondered what happened to him. Then they met again.

By then a sheriff’s detective, O’Brian was lead investigator for the disappearance of talented Cassie Edwards, who failed to return home from her regular bus trip to and from a piano lesson after her 15th birthday party. She wore as always her favorite gift, a beautiful and unusual necklace, given to her by her grandmother.

The trail goes frustratingly cold as O’Brian and fellow investigators, Cal Underwood and Herman Jackson, search in vain for clues to her whereabouts and her fate, until a deer poacher finds Cassie’s body in a remote area.

But finding her killer eludes them, until O’Brian has a sudden, middle-of-the-night realization: a photograph Jackson had taken of recovered stolen property in another case. One of those photos shows an unusual necklace, identical to the one Cassie wore in a picture from her birthday party.

Did Cassie’s killer take the necklace as a trophy? How did it get into a trove of stolen property? Did the killer try to get rid of it? Or was it stolen from the killer? And who were they looking for?

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         “Well-developed characters, engaging story, professional police work. A good read.”

                                Kurt Wuest, Lane County Sheriff’s Detective (ret.)

“Untreated autism, methamphetamine addiction, interstate fencing of stolen property propel this story of murder and apprehension to a conclusion.”

                                Chuck Tilby, Captain, Eugene Police Department (ret.)

“Billings’ writing evokes Michael Connelly. A bus system’s operation is cleverly woven into the plot.”

                Mark Pangborn, General Manager, Lane Transit District (ret.)

The Alliance

Some say I am a hero. Some say I am a vigilante. But little do they know I am neither. I will never sacrifice you for the greater good. I will never sacrifice everyone else for you. I will burn everything and everyone to the ground for what I want. I am the devil, I am evil incarnate. And I certainly am not someone who does good.

It’s all because one man took away everything from me. He took my parents, my life, and my childhood. For that, there is nothing I won’t do to repay the favour. A life for a life. My revenge means more to me than anything. And if I have to use your son to achieve my goal, I will. I will watch your life burn before you, and I will enjoy every second of it. And best of all, you will never see me coming.

Tales From Jamaica

This book sheds light on important issues of the time, delving into the brutality of humanity and the consequences of violence in society. Readers will find the issues raised in this book both alarming and thought-provoking. The author examines the dark side of the human race and how some individuals are forever bent on mayhem and destruction.

However, the book also shows that even the most difficult adversity can be overcome with a little cooperation. The author highlights the power of collaboration and the need to root out bad influences before they become too strong to control.

Through powerful storytelling, the book highlights the harsh reality of Shakespeare’s famous words, that the “evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.” The author provides insights into the merciless actions of those without sympathy for their fellow human beings.

In conclusion, this book urges readers not to sit back and watch as the ears of wheat and tears of humanity grow together until the day of harvest. Instead, the author advocates for immediate action to root out the bad influences in society and promote positive change. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the darker side of human nature and how we can work together to overcome it.

The Wake

The characters in this book are inspired by a mix of people I’ve encountered – some from my local community, and others from personal and professional experiences.

My aim is to bring a smile to your face as you follow their amusing adventures.

Even in life’s tougher moments, this collection offers a lighthearted perspective, inviting readers to find humor amid the challenges.

Did Her Aunt Know

In the quiet calm of a North Warwickshire village between the wars, young Ida Mumford flourishes despite the whispers and rumours that swirl around her. Undeterred by scandal, she embraces life with zest, leaving home for the bustling city of Birmingham. Amidst the challenges and excitement of her new life, Ida makes a shocking discovery. A story of resilience, roguery, and revelation.

The Istanbul Gambit

Severely traumatised, Dr. Hafez Yilmaz has left war-torn Eritrea to work at a charity-run clinic for refugees in Sicily. He is just about holding his demons at bay when a child is brought in, her life hanging by a thread. She has been trafficked and left to die in a ditch.

Convinced that the local police are not doing enough to trace the traffickers, Hafez sets out to investigate. His life in grave danger, he ends up hiding in Scotland where he befriends a local girl, Yasmin Cilic, and encounters her brother, Orhan, a sinister figure with links to organised crime.

At Orhan’s nightclub, Hafez overhears a conversation about children being trafficked into Scotland, and once again decides to investigate on his own – a decision that will have terrifying consequences for himself, and for Yasmin who will be abducted by her brother and held captive at a derelict warehouse on the outskirts of Istanbul. She witnesses a gun battle between Turkish police and her captors, leaving five people, including a police officer, dead. She escapes but is left to struggle for survival in the backstreets of Istanbul, alone, destitute and in great danger.

Once again, Commander Kadir Demercol and former Superintendent John Arbuthnot confront the dangerous task of resolving a case of murder and trafficking stretching Scotland to Istanbul. A case that will put their quick-thinking, courageous wives at risk.