A Detective Bass Collection

Author’s IntroductionThe two novellas and the one novelette included in this collection are some of the first stories in The Detective Bass Mystery series. As you read these through, you will notice that various characters reappear, traveling from one story to another as if they were friendly neighbors. Besides the usual cast of characters: Detective Bass and his partner Macky, Hodgins, Sgt. Phillips, Lucille, and Pinely from forensics, the first novella, The Book Sale Murder, introduces the volunteer cook at the church where the stabbing of an unknown youth occurred. Despite this minor role, Blakely was such a good cook and was so well respected by his fellow church-goers that I included him in the second novella, Murder In A Vacant Lot, hoping that his personality was compelling enough to tackle a more demanding role. I was not disappointed. The range of his emotions: love, passion, and sorrow came to full-light in the vacant lot near where the victim’s body had first been found. Two other characters appeared in Murder In A Vacant Lot, Yvonne Smith and Joe Jones. I thought the caring relationship these two shared was interesting enough to bring them back; thus, they appeared again, this time in The Wounded Murderer. I had intended that this couple play a prominent role in this short who-done-it, which centered on a 9mm pistol from the Korean conflict, but alas, the couple proved to be more elusive and private than I had anticipated. Their appearances became cameos rather than principal characters. I guess these two weren’t the murdering type, but there are so many other original personalities that this novelette remains one of my favorites. I might add that the metalwork sculptress, Jodi Barab, who we met briefly in Murder In A Vacant Lot, was so feisty and strong-willed that she forced herself into this series first full-length novel, The Marble Heist Murders, and not in a minor way. Her determination to remain true to her artistic ideals destined her for a significant role in aiding Detective Bass’s search for the elusive slab of Carrara marble. Of course there are many other memorable characters in this collection of novellas. I hope you enjoy them all. Table of Contents The Book Sale Murder Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Epilogue