Praise for Courting Murder
the first Judge Rosswell Carew Mystery by Bill Hopkins
"Here comes the judge-he's stubborn, cranky, a bit sarcastic and completely charming. Bill Hopkins nails the voice! This is a big-time mystery in a small town-and you'll fall in love with the place. Courting Murder is guilty-of being terrific." ~ Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony and Macavity-winner; author of The Other Woman
"Bill Hopkins' debut mystery Courting Murder introduces characters who are truly characters-in the most entertaining sense of the word. Even the judge turns every stereotype you may have about judges on its head. And to think Marble Hill, Bollinger County, MO, is a real place! Hopkins' zany, delightful adventure turns this unsuspecting burg on its head, too." ~ Chris Roerden, author of Agatha winner Don't Murder Your Mystery
"The verdict is in. Courting Murder is a winner! In his entertaining debut mystery, Bill Hopkins transports us to Bollinger County, Missouri, where Judge Rosswell Carew and a cast of colorful characters track down missing bodies, drug dealers, and murderers using their wits and a few extra-large dollops of homespun charm. A fun read!" ~ Alan Orloff, Agatha Award-nominated author of Diamonds for the Dead and the Last Laff Mystery Series
"Courting Murder is a promising series debut by judge-turned-novelist Bill Hopkins. Lively characters, a crafty plot, and an off-the-beaten track setting in Missouri make for a good read. The protagonist-plagued by allergies, illness, and a cantankerous nature-is a humorous departure from the typical macho-man mystery hero. I've got my eye on Courting Murder's Judge Rosswell Carew." ~ Deborah Sharp, author of the Mace Bauer Mysteries
River Mourn by Bill Hopkins
Copyright?2013 by Bill Hopkins
Cover picture by Gregg Hopkins, a photographer and a musician
Cover and interior design by Ellie Searl, Publishista?
Edited by Patricia D. Smith
"Shoshiku" by Shoshana Kertesz ? 2011 Shoshana Kertesz
Foliate Oak Literary Journal, November 2011
www.foliateoak.uamont.edu/archives/november-2011/poetry/shoshiku-by-shoshana-kertesz
All rights reserved
No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Bill Hopkins.
River Mourn is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, dialogue, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.? Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Deadly Writes and the Deadly Writes image and colophon are trademarks of Deadly Writes Publishing, LLC.
Print Book ISBN-13: 978-0989345606
Print Book ISBN-10: 0989345602
Print Book LCCN: 2013938471
www.deadlyduo.com
www.deadlywritespublishing.com
Deadly Writes Publishing, LLC
Marble Hill, MO
Acknowledgments
Thanks to my first readers Christine Gunnin, Sondra Gockel, Carolyn Begley, Dawn Rhodes Lincoln, and Tim Bollinger. And to those folks who patiently answered my questions, including Patricia Winton, Frank Elpers, Terry Rottler, Mark Halacy, Melody Scott, Captain Joe Kent, Marian Hutchings, Charles Hutchings, Michael Strong, Erik Klein, Steve Rahm, Karla Smith Adams, Van Riehl, Mark McKinney, and Ken Steinhoff. Thanks to my talented cousin, Gregg Hopkins for the great cover photograph, Patricia B. Smith for her extraordinary editing, and Ellie Searl for her computer magic.
Thanks to Jill Mabli and Karyn Byler for lending their names. Although they are portrayed here as evil, I assure you that they possess spotless reputations.
None of this would've been possible without my wife, Sharon Woods Hopkins, who is my toughest editor and most honest critic. She's also the best writer I know.
All the mistakes are mine
I love Sainte Genevieve, Missouri. I hope that the kind people there will forgive me for changing some of the geographical details and otherwise taking liberties with their beautiful town and picturesque county..
There are several paths
In the forest
Not one of them
Leads to hidden places
~Shoshana Kertesz