Hello, everyone! My name’s Jenny Dee Pierson and I’m the only daughter of the great J.D. Pierson, renowned insurance detective. Our offices are in the impressive People’s National Bank Building in downtown Tyler, Texas. But things have been hard lately and not just because there’s a depression on.

No, the woeful economic state of the country is just an added complication to our business. My main problem is my father and his inability to keep himself away from the booze. His benders are getting lengthier and more frequent and as long as he’s drunk, he can’t work. And as long as he can’t work, his reputation and pride are on the line. . . and that’s something I just can’t let happen.

My days are spent in our sparse little office at the far end of a terrazzo-floored hallway. Most of the time my father’s coat rack is bare except for the occasional hat I might scavenge from my departed mother’s wardrobe. She’s been gone for years now, but thankfully she taught me enough about how to use a needle and thread that I’ve been able to adjust her old frocks to fit a more modern style. Still, that can’t erase the emptiness left behind for my father and me after we lost her.

Oh, so back to my day. . . since my father hasn’t been able to take on many new cases, there isn’t much work for me in our office. And since the bills still have to be paid, I’ve taken to accepting some odd jobs doing typing for an attorney in our building. But even that isn’t enough most of the time.

Besides tapping away on my Underwood typewriter, I’m forever answering calls from our insurance contacts throughout the state of Texas—and inevitably turning away good business when Dad’s lost in the bottle. At virtually a dime a dozen, I’m going broke handing out excuses for him.

And then there are the calls from Blake Broadmore with Gilead Mutual. My father was Blake’s mentor and more than that, he’s one of Dad’s closest friends. Blake isn’t stupid and try as I might to keep JD’s drunken status from him, he’s quickly figuring things out. And the more he guesses, the more I’m tempted to spill the beans entirely. After all, I haven’t had anyone to confide in about our sorry state of affairs.

But, enough of the woe-is-me tale. The rent is due, the cupboards are bare at home and I know I’ll have to take some action if I’m going to scavenge enough coin to keep us from going hungry and getting booted out on our ear. I’ve just gotten a call from a priest at the state prison in Huntsville. My nose is twitching so I’ve decided to follow my father’s advice and see where my intuition leads me. . . and since my name is Jenny Dee, no one has to be the wiser when I use the name J.D. Pierson, right?

The Killer Jack Mystery is the first full-length novel in the brand new “J.D. Pierson” historical mystery series, released April 7, 2020.

A trip to state prison puts Jenny on the trail for a stolen necklace and right into the path of a killer. . .

The lights are just about to go out for good in my father’s PI office when I get an unexpected call from the state penitentiary. My mother’s only brother was sent up for robbery years ago, and now he needs Dad’s help to get his daughter out of trouble. It’s impossible for me to be sure that the pendant around Cousin Betty’s neck is stolen, but one thing’s for sure—she doesn’t want to talk about where it came from. When my cousin gets gunned down walking home and the necklace disappears, I realize I’m not only looking for a thief . . . I’m dealing with a murderer.

Can I track down the identity of a man named Jack in time, or will he disappear into the shadows, only to kill again?

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Meet the author
C.H. SESSUMS is a pen name for USA Today Bestselling Author Olivia Hardin. While Olivia writes all manner of romance, C.H. scribbles out cozy mysteries set in her beloved state of Texas. Whether exploring urban legends from all over the lone star state or solving capers set in far off times, mystery meets history in all of her stories.

In real life, C.H. lives in gorgeous East Texas with her hubby and their two rescue dogs. Every weekend all four of them pile up into their bunkhouse to watch classic movies and listen to old-time radio. Connect with her at chsessums.com.

All comments are welcomed.