The Shadow of the Raven

A young girl’s lifeless body lies beneath the Owl’s Head Mountain walking bridge, her violet eyes closed forever. Eight-year-old Anna Saulstice, an autistic child who found solace in nature’s embrace, has met an untimely end, her death sending shockwaves through the close-knit community. Inspector Gabriel Duforêt and Lieutenant Maxine Leblanc suspect foul play and embark on a relentless pursuit of justice.

Anna, an optimistic and adventurous spirit, cherished the whimsical treehouses built for the local children by two enigmatic men from overseas. She possessed an uncanny knowledge of medicinal plants, even concocting her own herbal remedies.

The investigation leads Duforêt and Leblanc on a breathtaking journey through Quebec’s picturesque landscapes. They encounter Anna’s eccentric mother, her neglectful father, the mysterious triplet women residing across the lake, and a cast of characters who may hold the key to unravelling the truth. But as the detectives close in on a suspect, a startling revelation emerges: Anna’s death wasn’t an accident. And one of the ravens who watched over her is missing.

To solve this perplexing puzzle, Duforêt and Leblanc must not only uncover Anna’s true cause of death but also locate the missing raven, a silent witness to the tragedy. The clock is ticking as they race to bring Anna’s killer to justice and ensure the missing raven’s safe return.

Finding Alfie: A Sandringham Mystery

Sandringham, 1933. The idyllic royal estate is rocked by a chilling discovery: a lifeless body in a gamekeeper’s cottage. A desperate father and son vanish, sparking a frantic manhunt. Yet, the trail fades, leaving behind a haunting mystery that echoes through the decades.

Eighty years later, an elderly woman’s fading memories ignite a spark of hope. With her grandson listening by her side, he embarks on a quest to unravel the truth, breathing new life into a long-forgotten case.

Settling Accounts

Two daughters of a prominent Swedish politician head to Alanya on the Turkish Riviera for a holiday, accompanied by the elder daughter’s boyfriend. In the picturesque resort, they befriend a charming young man who takes a special interest in the younger sister. But idyllic vacations never last. The elder sister and her boyfriend mysteriously vanish, and days later, their bodies are discovered.

The murder of a politician’s daughter and her partner shocks the nation, but the crime goes unsolved for years. That is, until the younger sister comes face-to-face with the killer. Meanwhile, their father – a well-known Swedish figure – refuses to wait for justice. Investigators Klaudia Jassem and Erik Lindberg are drawn into a complex case that unfolds into not just a double, but a quadruple murder.

Blending political intrigue, social commentary on contemporary Sweden, and a gripping romantic subplot, this thriller will captivate readers from start to finish. How far would you go to protect your family? With twists that linger long after the final page, this novel promises to ignite discussion and leave a lasting impression.

Family

If only AVM Derek Fullerton had made a different decision thirty odd years ago, if only he had given the assistance and the resources that he could have back then, his whole world would not now be on the verge of collapsing on top of him.

The Bosnian war left scars on many, but Nick, a peacekeeping soldier, held on to the one event that changed him forever. For the next thirty years he and the MP who tried to help him in his darkest moment, would be committed to finding the man who so horribly stole his future and bring him to justice, but they had no idea of the recoil that would follow their success.

Now fate had brought them all uncomfortably back together, the men who survived war, on both sides, the secrets they kept, and now their children and one grandchild were in fear for their lives, they would all have to work together to save everyone that mattered to them.

No Croaking Allowed

David O’Driscoll, a prominent detective with an impeccable reputation in an otherwise sleepy little town, finds himself deeply immersed in the daunting task of attempting to piece together a violent cold murder case which surfaced twenty years ago. All the while, he is attempting to piece together his personal life, which has significantly veered off the steady, rock-solid rails that he was so reliant upon.

Join him on his wild, fast-moving journey to build a team of specialized experts who band together to seek new clues to the mystery and bring justice to the criminal who they believe is responsible for the heinous act. The team must deal with and overcome bureaucratic obstacles that challenge their resolve and beliefs in the system from which they operate.

Similarly, David must consider the possibility that he might find the best advice to solve the problems of his shattered personal life if he can only find the courage to reach out to those whose proven loyalty has become so immensely invaluable.

This page-turner is at times funny, sad, infuriating, exciting, and most of all thought-provoking. Once the reader picks it up, it is very difficult to put it back down.

On the Treadmill

A young Jeffrey Jones dips his toe into the murky legal waters of mid-sixties Wiltshire, pitting his wits against the formidable police prosecutors of his day. In later life, a well-established Jeffrey takes under his wing the victim of one of his criminal clients, introducing him to his world. The young man progresses from student to graduate, and finally to Jeffrey’s assistant, embarking on a dizzying series of legal adventures.

The Beginning

The Beginning unfolds across two picturesque settings—rural Tuscany and the canals of England. This captivating story centres on an English woman who unknowingly becomes entangled with a man hiding a dangerous secret. He is a wanted criminal on the run from the Metropolitan Police, masquerading as his twin brother, who remains blissfully unaware of his sibling’s nefarious activities. As the narrative weaves between these two locales, the woman’s journey of discovery and the criminal’s deception promise a thrilling and suspenseful read.

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

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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?

                                                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

         “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 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

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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?

                                                ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

         “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.)