Detective Thompson here with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department, California. I’ve been asked to talk about my role in the mystery novel, A Deadly Combo.

When I got the call about a possible homicide at the Golden Hills Winery trailerfest event, old emotions resurfaced. My wife, Helen, and I had talked about owning a vintage trailer, but since she passed away from cancer, that dream died with her. Besides, I’d heard owning one of those tin cans is a major money suck. Considering my salary, that’s one investment I can’t afford. I’ve been at my job for a long time and management keeps asking if I’ll be retiring soon. But I don’t have any hobbies. I’d rather keep working.

That summer was a scorcher. My partner and I showed up at the crime scene in our usual attire—dress shirts and tie. Short sleeves in hot weather. We liked to look professional, to command respect. The body was inside a long green trailer—a Westwood, I found out. Too big for my taste. Wouldn’t want to tow that beast anywhere. The vic was laying in a puddle of brown liquid. Exposed electrical wires snaked from the body, outside to an outlet. Didn’t take a genius to see what happened. The body was already starting to smell. Flies buzzed my face. I craved a cigarette. Instead, I popped a fresh Cinna-Pix in my mouth and took photos with my phone, trying not to gag. Then wrote what I observed in my notebook. Despite a wave of nausea, excitement brewed in my gut. The thrill of the hunt. I stepped away from the corpse and looked around, wondering if the perp was there watching me. I’m coming after you, whoever you are.

Just then, a woman shows up. She was bending over, about to pick up a gold drink cup—you know, the shiny metallic kind? I told her not to touch it and she almost jumped out of her skin. It was all I could do to keep a straight face. I felt one corner of my lip twitch. I’ve been told by my poker buddies it’s my tell. Anyway, that gold cup was evidence. She had a bit of an attitude. Feisty. Reminded me of Helen. Helen wouldn’t back down in a fight. But unlike my blonde Helen who had a sweet tooth, this woman was brunette and trim. Athletic for her age. I figured she musta been ten years younger than me. So maybe fifty-ish? Turns out her name was Raquel Nelson and her twin sister, Bridget, had discovered the body.

A Deadly Combo, A Rocky Nelson Boxing Mystery Book #1
Genre: Amateur Sleuth
Release: March 2023
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

What do boxing and vintage trailers have in common? Meet Raquel AKA Rocky Nelson, a retired single woman with an attitude and love for boxing.

Sisters Rocky and Bridget are enjoying each other’s company at a vintage trailerfest until they stumble over a corpse. The dead guy is none other than the local trailer restorer Bridget was overheard threatening to kill. Mounting evidence leads police to focus on Bridget as a person of interest. Desperate to prove her sister innocent of murder, Rocky dons her own deerstalker cap and goes sleuthing until she runs into police detective Thompson who warns her off his case in no uncertain terms. But Rocky is tenacious if not stubborn. Combined with a 78-year-old father who becomes her sidekick, Rocky uses her courage and skills learned in boxing lessons to protect her family and keep from becoming the killer’s next victim.

Meet the author
Karen A. Phillips lives in northern California and writes humorous, fun, action-packed mysteries. She has several short stories published in various anthologies. Her characters are engaging and fearless. “A Deadly Combo” is her first full-length novel featuring an amateur sleuth who boxes. Karen is a proud member of Sisters In Crime and Willamette Writers.

. . . and yes, she does take boxing lessons. Visit her at KarenAPhillips.com.

All comments are welcomed.