To the other writers who blurbed my book, thank y’all so much for taking the time to read my little book. It’s a damn good feeling to see something I wrote get the kinda praise it did from writers I’ve looked up to for so long. Hope I get to return the favor one day.

To all my family and friends who have believed in and supported this dream. There are too many of you for me to list but just know this book doesn’t exist without y’all.

Finally, to Dawn, nobody has loved me, supported me, believed in me, and given me as much creative space as you have. Every single word in this book belongs to you. You read it before anyone, gave me the confidence to send it out, and made me cut that dick joke that went a little too far. It was the right call. Thank you for sacrificing all those early morning cuddles so I could get up and write. I love you more!

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About the Author

MARK WESTMORELAND is a Georgia native who lives in Oklahoma with his wife and two dogs. He’s a full-time Dawgs fan with a sideline as a writer. Sippin’ bourbon and watching Burt Reynolds are two of his favorite pastimes. A Violent Gospel is his debut novella. You can find him hanging out on Twitter @ItsMarkY’all.

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Preview from Blood Like Rain by Albert Tucher

Here is a preview from Blood Like Rain, a Big Island mystery by Albert Tucher, published by Shotgun Honey, an imprint of Down & Out Books.

Click here for a complete catalog of titles available from Down & Out Books and its divisions and imprints.

1

He would have to tell Lucy.

That was Coutinho’s first thought. Right behind it a mix of pity and guilt rushed in. The guilt had to do with not feeling pity first, for the tall redhead on the floor of her apartment. Eleanor had always annoyed him enough to make him feel noble for putting up with her. She was his wife’s best friend, much as the relationship mystified him.

But Eleanor didn’t deserve this. Who did?

He had twenty-five years in with the Hawaii County Police, fifteen in uniform and ten as a detective. He thought he had seen blood, but this was something new.

Kim looked at him.

“I’m thinking we have a head start on this one.”

“Two head starts,” said Coutinho. “This is one.”

He nodded at the diary he held in his gloved hands. He hadn’t figured Eleanor for a diarist, but now he was going to have to dig into details she had never meant anyone to know. He always disliked that part of an investigation, even when the victim was a stranger.

“The other being the boyfriend,” said Kim.