RJ Franklin is the sleuth in the “RJ Franklin” mysteries. One of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions. So, let’s get to know RJ.

What is your full name?
Robert James Franklin Jr., but everyone calls me RJ.

How old are you?
33

What is your profession?
I’m a police detective with the St. Joseph Indiana Police Department. I also teach a course at Mary and Jesus Catholic University or MAC-U to the locals.

Do you have a significant other?
I do now.

What is their name and profession?
A few months ago, while working on a case, I met Paris Williams. Paris sings in the choir at my church, but since she sings and attends the 8am service (not one I typically attend), we hadn’t met. I got acquainted with her while investigating the murder of the church’s choir director. However, I suspect if we hadn’t met during the investigation, my godmother, Mama B, would have arranged a meeting. Paris owns two beauty shops and styles Mama B’s hair.

Do you have any children?
No.

Do you have any siblings?
I have one sister.

Are your parents nearby?
Both of my parents are dead, but my godmother, Mama B, lives close by and I spend as much time with her as I can.

Who is your best friend?
My partner, Harley Wickfield IV. Our backgrounds are very different, but we have grown very close while working together.

Do you have any pets?
No, but I bought my girlfriend a Standard Poodle Puppy for her birthday, and I’ve grown quite attached to her.

What town do you live in?
I live in St. Joseph, Indiana which is in the Northwestern corner of the state.

Would you say you live in a small town or a big city?
St. Joseph is a medium sized city. It has approximately 250,000 people, several colleges and an airport. It’s about 90 miles east of Chicago, it’s close to a big city If I want more excitement.

Type of dwelling and do you own or rent?
I own a townhouse which is located near the St. Thomas River. It was a foreclosure and I got a great deal, which is the only way I was able to afford it on a cop’s salary.

What is your favorite spot in your home?
I think my favorite spot is my garage. I keep my dad’s old car and my woodworking tools.

Favorite meal and dessert?
My godmother loves to cook and she makes the best fried pork chops with collard greens and fried corn. For dessert, I love her sweet potato pie.

Do you have any hobbies?
I enjoy woodworking and have carved out a small area in the garage. I find it helps me think and when I can’t sleep it’s great to be able to pull out my tools and get creative.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
Vacation? I don’t have much time for vacations but some day I’d love to go to Bermuda. I hear it’s beautiful.

What music do you listen to?
I love jazz.

Do you have a favorite book?
I love mysteries, although I struggle when it comes to reading police procedurals. They get it wrong so often that I find it frustrating. However, Paris introduced me to the Nero Wolfe detective series by Rex Stout. I’d have to say those are current favorites.

What is your idea of a really fun time?
Before the accident that ruined my knee, I enjoyed playing basketball. Now, I enjoy attending MACU football games.

If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
*** The Real Life of a St. Joseph Police Detective ***

Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
As a cop, I get paid to catch bad guys, so I’m a professional. However, more often than not, my godmother, Mama B, can figure out whodunit just by sitting on her front porch and talking to someone. She’s an excellent judge of character.

In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
Since my car accident, I’ve struggled with insomnia, so my days start pretty early. Usually, I give up on trying to sleep around 3 or 4 am. Then, I get dressed and head into the precinct. There’s a great bakery nearby and I get donuts (yeah, it might be a cliché, but Adamo’s makes the best donuts in town). I’m usually at my desk by 5. I spend a lot of time doing paper work. If I’m on an active investigation, then Harley and I may be out tracking down suspects and performing interviews. I try to swing by one of my girlfriend’s shops in the afternoon where we can take a trip to River Bend Chocolate Factory for tea.

Afterwards, it’s back to the precinct for more paperwork. At the end of the day, I might swing by my godmother’s house. She almost always has cooked something amazing and she never fails to send me home with a plate or some Tupperware. If it’s one of the nights that I have to teach, then I head to MAC-U where I teach law students about the practical side of law. Then, it’s home where I review my lesson plan or grade projects before I lay down and try to snag a few hours of sleep.

Steal Away is the third book in the “RJ Franklin” traditional mystery series, released October 13, 2020.

Marti Alexander and her dog, Callie, are trained Search and Rescue experts who volunteer their services to the local police. When she receives a message to look for a missing person near the St. Thomas River, she doesn’t think twice about it. After a body is discovered, Detective RJ Franklin quickly identifies the victim as Marti’s ex-husband. He also discovers that Marti has motive, opportunity and means. Despite a mountain of evidence to the contrary, RJ doesn’t believe she is the murderer. It’s up to Detective RJ Franklin to sift through the clues to discover Whodunit.

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About the author
V. M. (Valerie) Burns was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana. She lives in Eastern Tennessee with her poodles. V.M. Burns is also the Agatha Award nominated author of The Plot is Murder, the first book in the Mystery Bookshop Mystery series; and the Dog Club Mystery series. Visit her website at vmburns.com.

All comments are welcomed.