After finishing Tainted Justice (Book 4, Kelly Reed Series) I gave Kelly a rest while I penned a new series of novellas featuring private investigator DeShawn Mills: Deception’s Game, Race to Judgment, and Honor Thy Father.

Though I was writing a new series with a new protagonist, I was still including Kelly and her partner, Lori Bishop, as crossover characters, even if just to lend DeShawn a helping hand for a scene or two.

And whenever I took a break from penning the novellas, I scribbled out a few short stories about Kelly. The first, Justice for Thee, I submitted to Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine.

Having finished Honor Thy Father, I’m now giving DeShawn a rest and getting back to penning the next Kelly Reed novel.

My story idea and early plotline:

Kelly is hired to investigate a man’s bizarre and untimely death—a man with no criminal history, no substance abuse, no shady business dealings, and no known enemies. And wouldn’t you know, on the other side of town lives a man with the same name, who’s the same age, has a similar appearance, and similar occupation. This other man isn’t well-liked and has a questionable reputation. While Kelly investigates the man’s death, a debutant assassin is watching her.