Keeping a Series Alive, by Amy Bennett
It's hard to believe that just three years ago, the Black
Horse Campground mystery series was just getting its start with the first book,
“End of the Road”. Corrie Black, Rick Sutton, and J.D. Wilder were about to
make their debut into the world and no one knew where their adventures would
take them in future books.
Four books later, I'm still trying to figure out where
they'll be next!
In “End of the Road”, a newcomer to Bonney County arrives in
time to be suspected of murdering a long-time guest at the Black Horse
Campground. Not only does J.D. help solve the mystery, he finds himself being
accepted as a member of the Black Horse—and Bonney County—by Corrie and Rick
and other lifelong residents. Over the course of three books, J.D., and my
readers, have come to know and love life in Bonney and enjoy a relationship
with its most interesting residents.
In the fourth book, “At the Crossroad”, due out soon, J.D. is
firmly established as a resident of Bonney and his fierce sense of protection
and loyalty come into play when he suspects that a killer has walked free for
many years among the community that has become his haven from his former life.
As J.D. feels more at home in Bonney, secrets from his past begin to come to
light and he finds acceptance and peace despite the mysteries he helps to
solve.
Trouble often comes in threes. It's no different at the Black
Horse Campground.
On his first day as detective with the Bonney Police
Department, J.D. Wilder finds three cold case files on his desk—three women who
have disappeared over a fifteen year period at five year intervals. It seems
that no one has ever taken the cases seriously... or even properly investigated
them.
Then J.D. receives a visit from two former colleagues who
inform him that he's about to receive another visitor; a woman from his past
who is in trouble and needs his help. Again. The timing couldn't be worse,
since he's finally about to ask Corrie on a date, but then Corrie also has a
visitor from her past show up... someone who's hoping for a second
chance with her. In the meantime, Sheriff Rick Sutton has his hands full
dodging his ex-wife, Meghan, who insists on discussing personal business with
him... business that has to do with digging up a painful past.
When three bodies are discovered that prove the missing women
were murdered, J.D.'s investigation reveals that all of their visitors have
some connection to the victims. But which one of them killed three women... and
is prepared to kill again?
When trouble comes to Bonney County, Corrie, Rick, and J.D.
band together to protect each other and their community. But can they solve the
mystery before the murderer strikes again?
Excerpt from
Chapter 14
J.D. returned to the Black Horse more wide awake than he had
been in days. Amato's words rang in his ears, while a voice in his head warned
him that if he didn't get some rest, he was going to be completely useless when
the time came to have his wits about him and his energy. Still, a night spent
in mostly inactivity wasn't going to allow him to rest. He went into his cabin
and changed into his running clothes. He needed to release some tension and
energy if he was going to rest at all.
He slipped out of the cabin, casting a glance toward the
campground store. It was almost six thirty a.m. and Corrie's apartment light
was on but the store's lights were still out. He had missed the Friday night
fish fry dinner, but he hoped to be back once she was open and be able to talk
to her more. And get a decent breakfast.
He started out, following the path he'd taken a couple days
earlier. The cool morning air was amazingly refreshing, helping clear his mind
while invigorating and relaxing him at the same time. His breathing eased as
his strides became more purposeful. He was near a breakthrough in the cold
cases. He could feel it. Officer Amato had information that could help reveal
the truth about what happened to the three women. After that... he'd have to
wait and see.
He rounded the curve where he had seen the small cemetery the
last time he had run this path and he slowed to a stop. He had pushed it to the
back of his mind and had all but forgotten about it until this moment. Now was
as good a time as any to pay his respects. His run had already accomplished its
purpose. He knew he'd be able to sleep when he got to his cabin and he'd
probably stroll back to the campground after this. He allowed himself a grin as
he left the path, picking his way through the tall grass and brush to where the
grave sites were.
Unlike most small cemeteries he'd encountered, there was no
fence surrounding this one. In fact, there were only three wooden markers,
crosses, all of them uniform but in different stages of weathering. He stopped
when he got close enough to make out the lettering and suddenly the breath
rushed out of him, leaving him feeling weak and dizzy with shock.
The first marker, the most faded, bore the name Carla
Sandoval. The second, Rosalie Edwards. The third, the one with the least amount
of weathering and the least faded lettering, read Benita Rojas.
Beside the one for Benita Rojas was an open grave. A plain
wooden cross lay nearby. Both looked recent. Only a few days recent.
J.D. stumbled back, afraid that his eyes were playing tricks.
He fumbled for his cell phone and let out an expletive when he realized he'd
left it in his cabin when he changed his clothes. He reached the path and took
off at a dead run back to the Black Horse Campground.
He'd been right; there had been more to the disappearances
than what was common knowledge.
He hated it when he was right.
Author Bio
Amy Bennett's debut mystery novel, “End of the Road”, started
as a National Novel Writing Month project in 2009. It went on to win the 2012 Dark Oak Mystery
Contest and launched the Black Horse Campground mystery series, followed by “No
Lifeguard on Duty” and “No Vacancy”, which have both been awarded the Catholic
Writers Guild Seal of Approval. “At the Cross Road” is the fourth book in the
series.
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