Hi, I’m Al DeSantis. Did you ever make plans and then life gets in the way and takes over? Well, that’s what happened to me. I’m not talking about planning to meet up with friends and getting a flat tire on the way. No, I’m talking big time plans.
I was a detective on the New Haven Police Force when my significant other took up with my best friend. She ended up with our house and I took the little money I got out of the deal to invest in a condo in L.A. The plan was to take early retirement in a year and then move out to the land of guacamole pizza. I only had a few months to go when a dealer rammed me on the big I-95 bridge and almost took me out. At that point I had to do something to pull my life out its downward spiral. I threw my badge on the chief’s desk and told him I was blowing town now to head west. It was either that or end up dead. Then I got two calls that changed everything.
The first was from a Mrs. Greenleaf of the Blue Palmetto Detective agency in Savannah. She told me that my father, Big Al, was alive and kicking with a bit of dementia and he’d deeded the agency to me because he had checked into a retirement home. Come on! I hadn’t seen my father since I was eight years old. I didn’t even know that he was alive. So, I told her thanks but no thanks. Then I got the second call telling me the condo I bought in Los Angeles had gone bankrupt. Now I had no girlfriend, no house, and no money. I decided to head south to sell the agency and then shoot out to the land of swimming pools and movie stars. I know what you’re thinking. Good plan, Al. Nope.
I got down to Georgia and Greenleaf was all like, “What took you so long?” Oh yeah, there was also Maxine, this really smart detective at the Blue Palmetto. But get ready for this, Big Al’s had set it up so that even though I owned the agency, Max was the senior detective and my boss. In spite of not minding to get to know her better, I made them understand that I was willing to close out my father’s cases but then I was selling the agency and heading west.
Then I found a dead body on the agency dock. My old man who couldn’t remember that I’m his son, but he remembered a lot about detective work, expected to help me solve the murder. I had a bit of adjusting to do on that one. Later, when he was accused of the murder and went missing, Max and I had to team up to find him. As it turned out Greenleaf, for all her snarkiness, knew more than she was saying. The trail led from the Savannah lowlands all the way to the Okefenokee Swamp. By the time we realized we were dealing with a mystery within a mystery that had roots deep in the past, things got pretty hairy.
Hold on, my phone’s ringing. I’ve got to take this call. . . It’s Dru. She’s telling me to wrap it up. But if you’d like to find out a little more, I’m giving away one print copy of When It’s Time for Leaving. *Just leave a comment below to enter.
You can read more about Al in When It’s Time For Leaving, released October 1, 2019.
When his girlfriend dumps him and a dealer nearly rams him off a bridge, Al DeSantis quits the New Haven Police Department. Just as he plans to head for LA, he finds out the father who left when he was a kid has deeded him the Blue Palmetto Detective Agency in Georgia. Al goes down to Savannah intending to sell fast and go west, but before he can, he discovers an attractive detective named Maxine, a dead body on the dock—and his father, alive, suffering from dementia, and determined to help his “new partner Al” solve the crime. Al has a lot of adjusting to do when his traditional ideas are challenged as he has to act as his father’s caretaker, and finds that Maxine is his superior in the agency that he “owns.” When his father goes missing, Al and Max must team up to save his father–and capture the murderer.
Purchase Link
# # # # # # # # # # #
Meet the author
Ang Pompano has been writing mystery for more than twenty years. His mystery novel, When It’s Time For Leaving will be published on October 1, 2019 by Encircle Publications. His short stories have been published in many award-winning anthologies, including the 2019 Malice Domestic Anthology, Parnell Hall Presents Malice Domestic: Murder Most Edible. His newest story, “Stringer” will appear in Seascape: The Best New England Crime Stories 2019. In addition, he has written many academic pieces including one on teaching detective fiction.
A member of Mystery Writers of America, he is a past recipient of the Helen McCloy/Mystery Writers of America Scholarship for a novel in progress. He has been on the New England Crime Bake Planning Committee for fourteen years and is a long-time board member of Sisters in Crime New England.
He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Annette, an artist, and his two rescue dogs, Quincy and Dexter. To learn more about Ang, visit his website at angpompano.
All comments are welcomed.
*limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends October 6, 2019. Good luck everyone!
Thank you
Thanks for stopping by, Leeza. Good Luck!
Sounds like an interesting read.
Thanks, Sharon. I hope you get a chance to give it a try and let me know.
Poor Al. He’s turned into a real hard luck case. I hope Savannah turns his life around!
Looks like a great read!
Thanks, Judith. Good luck!
I was turned off a bit by the art on the cover (I’m drawn to chick fluff art kind of girl) but then I read the intro and I was hooked! I want to read this book!
Thanks for the feedback, Elizabeth. I love to hear useful comments like that. I hope you like it.
This caught my interest
Thanks, Sandy. Good luck!
Al and his father Bug Al are two characters I really want to follow!
That was Big Al! Clumsy fingers.
Thanks, Christine. And it’s all good with the typo. Big Al does bug is son!
Al definitely has his plate full. I hope Savannah and Maxine treat him better than New Haven ~
Thanks, Celia. And what could possibly go wrong with a move to Savannah! I love it there.
Thanks for this intriguing feature and giveaway.
Thank you, Anne. Good luck!
A captivating story and characters who are fascinating.
Sounds like an intriguing story.
Thanks, Alicia. I hope you like it.
Thanks for the kind words, Ruth!
Looking forward to reading Ang Pompano latest book! He is a great writer and I have enjoyed every story he has written. I believe this book will surpass his last one then I read ‘The Bucket List.’
He is a very talented author. This book When It’s Time For Leaving caught my attention just from the title itself. Can’t wait to read it.
Thank you Ang Pompano for a chance to receive a free copy of your new book!
Julie, I’m glad you enjoyed the stories. I hope you like the book too. Thanks for the kind words!
New to me! Sounds good, Yay! Thanks so much
Thank you Sheryl. I’ve been writing stories for years but this is my first crack at a novel. Good luck in the contest!
New-to-me author!! Sounds like an interesting read. I’m looking forward to giving it a try.
Thanks for the chance to win a print copy.
Thanks for stopping by, Linda. Good luck!
Thanks for stopping by to meet Al, everyone! Good luck to all of you with the contest. And thank you Dru for inviting me. I had a blast!
Love the title and sounds like a winner.
Thank you, Karen. That’s nice of you to say. Good luck in the contest.
Sounds like my type of book, thanks.
Thanks, Kevin. I tried to write a book I’d like to read. I hope it’s one you’d like too. Good luck!
Sounds like Al is going to have some changes on top of those he has already made! What rotten luck so far. I am planning on reading the book to see how it all works out!
Thanks Ang and Dru Ann for today’s blog!
Thank you, Barbara. Al really doesn’t know what he’s in for. But I guess that’s life. Good luck with the drawing.
A new author to me. Book sounds like a great read.
Thanks, Dianne. Good luck with the drawing!
Love the voice! Hope I am the lucky winner. *fingers crossed*
**** WINNER ****
When It’s Time for Leaving is Elizabeth Keith
Congratulations!