Following 2024’s GUMSHOE LUCK, the bestselling author of KILLING SUKI FLOOD introduces his 10th Mortimer Angel mystery. That makes five pairs of Gumshoes. Given Mort’s height (76 inches), those gumshoes are probably size 13.

Mort’s PI boss, Maude “Ma” Clary, dispatches him to Elko, Nevada, to assess taking on the case of a disgruntled wife who is more interested in revenge than alimony.

Two hours from Elko, a full bladder urges Mort to pull into a highway rest stop with only one other vehicle. A bruiser tells him to move on as the toilets are closed. Mort’s 16 years as a former IRS “wallet wringer” and his acquired martial arts skills transform the bruiser into a beggar. Aila West tears out of the restroom wearing only a thong --- and, on one wrist, handcuffs that cover more flesh than the thong.

"GUMSHOE AFTER MIDNIGHT is a ribald mystery with a message: 'Jealousy is a disease. It does nothing but destroy.' The reader gets an investigation body slam, then a sucker-punch finale."

Mort’s credibility calculator keeps getting an equation of three when adding two plus two. Something seems wrong with the information he receives; each major lead is misdirection. Why would professional thugs hound Aila just to locate her movie star fraternal twin sister, Heather, who has been AWOL for two weeks? “Bad guys coming out our ears. Lot of stray mayhem and violence.” Whack-a-mole one goon, and two more pop up.

Tornado-like plot twists lead Mort and Aila to Eureka, Montana, “a one-horse town without a horse.” More bad guys come calling, and the tornado does its Chubby Checker twist thing. The thugs learn not to mess with Mort. After the denouement settles things, Mort returns to Reno. His late wife, Lucy, “speaks” a simple phrase: “Go now!” Readers, prepare for a shock.

Although any of the 10 Gumshoe novels can be considered a stand-alone, read the Shamus Award-nominated series launch, GUMSHOE, to understand what makes Mort’s clock tick. Rob Leininger indicates that the series is rated R, for risqué. Many consider it sensual and sexy, in a romantic sense. “Naked, close, sexy, no actual sex. ‘I’d like that too.’”

GUMSHOE AFTER MIDNIGHT is a ribald mystery with a message: “Jealousy is a disease. It does nothing but destroy.” The reader gets an investigation body slam, then a sucker-punch finale.

Author’s note: “I make less than $3.00 an hour writing these novels. A good (five-star) review on Amazon would help me get up to $4.00 per hour. Good thing it’s a work of love. Thank you.”

Few readers realize how little authors earn. Please help them by reviewing their books and, for Mort, purchase the entire series. Consider buying Gumshoe novels as gifts instead of wine. A book is less expensive, intoxicating and can be enjoyed by many.