Inside Scoop

As promised, I’m sharing an inside scoop each week before the release of GET EVEN, the third novel in my historical fiction series about the Detroit mafia in 1970s and 80s.  GET EVEN: Detroit Thorn Birds Defy Mafia will be released February 19.

Detroit Demise

Detroit, one of the most progressive cities in the country in the 1960’s, literally collapsed after the riots. The books I’m writing reflect upon the troubled years that followed.  I try to share historical events to you via newspaper articles.  My key character Clark Phillips, a young detective in the Detroit police department, is fictional. However, the Chief of Police, William Hart, is real.  Clark is appointed by the chief to head a new crime task force that will focus on taking back control of the city from the mafia.

Mafia Works

Many authors number their book series as Book 1, Book 2, and so on.  I chose the phrase “Mafia Works;” GET EVEN is Mafia Works #3. If you like to read series, be sure to get SAX CLUB and BLIND PIG (http://bit.ly/MafiaWorks1-2), the first two books in this series. In addition to members of the special task force, Clark’s buddies are impacted by the mafia and get involved in the efforts to stop their control.  And, of course as many author’s like to say – “my writing gets better with each book.” Obviously, that means I think this one is the best.  I hope you agree. Even if you don’t, please let me what you think.

Earl Walker Goes Undercover

Earl Walker is one of the members of the special task force I created to tie the real events together in my “Mafia Works” novels.  He and Clark had grown up together on the Southwest side of Detroit and were basketball teammates at Western High School. Earl led the team in scoring and returned to Detroit to join the police force after college. Eventually, he became Clark’s assistant. Earl was busy following up on a tip that a Pistons’ player was point-shaving, due to his debt to the mafia, when Clark had to change his assignment to an extremely dangerous one.  (Note: Many years ago, I taught high school and coached basketball at Western High School – – so I had to make it part of the story.)

Special Assignment

Here’s a preview from GET EVEN, as Clark breaks the news to Earl:

Clark took his time trying to avoid the inevitable. “I read, again, the report from Kimberly, Frank, and Pag on the Curry Brothers…it’s fine. But if we’re ever gonna get the goods on them, more of the same won’t cut it. We need firsthand evidence.”Sensing the forthcoming assignment, Earl leaned back in the chair and stared at the muraled ceiling.

Rubbing his hands together, nervously, Clark spoke slowly. “I hate to put it this way… since you’re the only black person on our team…”

“I know,” Earl cut him off, relieving the pressure from Clark. “I need to go undercover… Can I do one more (game)? I planned to take J. J. tonight.”

 J. J. was one of Nicole Weathersoon’s boys, who just loved Earl and so did Nicole—they were a perfect couple. So it was not going to be an easy time for the two of them, maybe seeing each other every six or eight weeks at a remote site arranged by the FBI. Earl’s assignment would be even more difficult. He had to become entrusted by Richard Carter, better known as Maserati Rick, a drug kingpin from the Eastside who was known to be raking in over a million dollars a week! 

Next Week:

Maserati Rick will be the subject for the inside scoop.  Note to readers: Rick was real.