We welcome writer Jean Rabe to SlipperyWords today with an excerpt from. her new book, The Dead of Jerusalem Ridge. We are lucky enough to get an excerpt! Thank you, Jean, for sharing your new book with us.
About the book: Sheriff Piper Blackwell’s three-day vacation with old Army buddies ends in tragedy. At the same time, a vile hate crime along a county road enrages her department. Their forces divided, Piper and her deputies must solve both cases before tensions boil and threaten the rural fabric of Spencer County, Indiana. Only eight months on the job, the young sheriff must weave together clues to uncover both a killer and a secret that could scar her soul.
EXCERPT 5
4 p.m. Saturday
Chief Deputy Oren Rosenberg was thinking about roast beef as he drove. His wife had put one in the crockpot this morning, a nice big sirloin tip, set it on low, and threw in carrots and a packet of onion soup mix. She would make the juice into gravy for mashed potatoes, and it would be ready at five-thirty. Oren was fond of roast, and when his wife cooked one it barely fit in the pot, even though it was for just the two of them. She said that way there would be plenty of leftovers for lunches the following week. His stomach rumbled in anticipation.
Oren got off work in an hour. Maybe they’d have a glass of wine with dinner, watch a movie on that big screen television—sixty-five-inch flat panel ultra HD—they’d bought on sale at the Owensboro Walmart a week ago. Then he’d work on one of his jigsaw puzzles in the den while she read a few chapters of a romance book before they turned in. Saturday evening was not exciting for the Rosenbergs, but it was a comfortable routine he looked forward to. Couldn’t stay up late as he had to work tomorrow, too—his one weekend on this month.
Oren would turn sixty-six next week.
His wife had reminded him of that upcoming milestone over breakfast. He didn’t need the reminder; he damn well knew his own age. One year older than her. They’d attended high school together, but he was in the class ahead and he hadn’t known her back then. They’d met after his military stint, set up on a blind date by a friend. They clicked, going out only four months before getting married. He kept a small photograph from their wedding in his wallet, not a touch of gray in their hair then, and no hint of wrinkles.
He was still taller than six feet. And now with a curly mass of steely hair and skin weathered by his time outdoors, Oren considered himself a young senior citizen, fit, and in better shape than a few of the deputies more than a decade younger. Hell, he even jogged once a week.
She’d probably mention retirement again at dinner.
Or if not tonight, then on his birthday. He hoped she wasn’t planning a party with a big cake. He didn’t want a fuss made.
About the author: My home is filled with dogs and books. Lots of dogs and books. I wear worn out sandals to work every day. I’m a mystery writer living in a tiny Midwestern town that has a gas station, a Dollar General, and a marvelous pizza place with exceedingly slow service. I am always working on a new project or three. I have forty-some books published in the fantasy, science fiction, urban fantasy and mystery genres. But I’m concentrating on mysteries now. In my spare time I dabble in roleplaying games and boardgames. And at every opportunity, I toss tennis balls to my cadre of dogs.
Find The Dead of Jerusalem Ridge here:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Jerusalem-Ridge-Blackwell-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B08B4WGS4B/
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dead-of-jerusalem-ridge-jean-rabe/1137176763
Jean’s web page is: www.jeanrabe.com
Find her on Twitter: @jeanerabe
Last, here is her Amazon Author Page
Jean has a newsletter filled with tidbits about weird news items, pics of her dogs, discussions of upcoming books, reviews of things she’s reading, and writing advice. You can subscribe here.
There’s a tour-wide giveaway! Open to US residents only. There is also an exclusive one for one of Jean’s handmade fused glass pieces. I own three of these pieces and I can personally attest to how pretty they are!
Awesome excerpt.