A BLEAK PROSPECT awarded 98 out of 100 possible points.

Jul 26, 2018 by Wayne Zurl

Storytelleralley.com is a site that lists and endorses juried books by independent authors and writers traditionally published by small presses. Recently they reviewed A BLEAK PROSPECT (Sam Jenkins mystery #8) and awarded it 98 out of a possible 100 points. Please take a look at what they said about the book…
Published by Melange Books, LLC in April 2018.

Cover Design Score: 10
The cover for this book is good. The darkness it totally appropriate to its genre and adds effect to the ‘darkness’ of the subject matter.
The background is good, and the girl is placed well as the obvious ‘next’ victim. The run in her stocking highlights the sadness of the situation.
The typography is good and lends itself well to the cover of a mystery. I believe it will appeal to anyone looking for a book in this genre.

Book Blurb Score: 10
Blurb is good for this book. It pulled me right in. It shares just enough of the story to make the reader want to know more without giving away too much.

Formatting Score: 10
This book is well formatted.
Front matter is placed correctly.
Body of text is good size. Margins are good.
Chapter headings are good. Spacing is good.

Grammar & Spelling Score: 8
Grammar and spelling are good in this book. I found no serious mistakes.
Some writers and publishers still observe the old rules for conjunctions at the beginning of sentences being a no-no, so I’ve listed them for reference below:

Author’s Note: The many items listed were all contained within dialogue. I’ve deleted the specific lines because not many people will care to read them all, and it’s my contention that rarely do real people use perfect grammar or sentence structure while speaking. I only write ’em as I hear ’em. However, I left the message above, because it was an issue that the critic stated in his/her critique. If you wish to see exactly what was mentioned, you may at

http://www.storytelleralley.com/bleak-prospect-sam-jenkins-mystery-8

Sentence structure issue:
Chapter One: “ The last previous body showed up a hundred yards east…” Sentence doesn’t need both words “last previous”. One or the other would suffice since they both mean the same thing in this instance.
Author’s note: Oops.

Plot & Structure Score: 10
Plot and structure are good in this story. The plot keeps you riveted all the way through, and it’s structured so that each new chapter brings just a little more information to the table. Holds the readers attention very well.
I love how the story uses technology to help solve the crime. For instance, when they used the victims cellphone to call the killers cellphone (using his false-name ID), to prove it belonged to the killer in the first place.

Character Development Score: 10
The character development in this story is good. The characters interact well together and even though there are constantly new characters being introduced during the course of the investigation, it’s never hard to keep up with each one.
I love the description of character “Leary”. “Whenever Leary and his boys showed up, you smelled two things: his cigar and a rat.”

Originality Score: 10
At first I thought it might be reminiscent of the “Jack the Ripper” story, but it does have its own originality in spite of the initial similarities in the description.
Good, original mystery and a surprising (and pleasing) amount of humor throughout the book.

Pacing Score: 10
The pacing in this book is great, right from the beginning, and it’s fast paced all the way to the end. Good ending.

Use of Language Score: 10
Vivid. Scenes are so well described you could almost be there. The use of language is great in this book. Uses the language of the day and is easy to understand.

Overall Readability Score: 10
Overall readability of this book is great. It’s a page turner! Hard to put down. You find yourself re-arranging your day so that you can come back to this book.

This book received a critic’s score of 98 out of 100 possible points.
http://www.storytelleralley.com/bleak-prospect-sam-jenkins-mystery-8

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NIGHT OWL REVIEWS sounds off about HONOR AMONG THIEVES

Jun 4, 2017 by Wayne Zurl

“HONOR AMONG THIEVES pulls you right into the concept of how your life can change in a split second…This is a story not only filled with drama but sprinkled with comedy. The reader is entertained throughout.”

Check out HONOR AMONG THIEVES at Amazon, Read an excerpt and see what other reviewers are saying. If you’ve read the book, please leave a review. I’d appreciate it and Amazon loves them.

https://www.amazon.com/Honor-Among-Thieves-Jenkins-Mystery-ebook/dp/B06XB5XBPM/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

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A new review for A LEPRECHAUN’S LAMENT written on March 25, 2016 for a book originally published on St, Patrick’s Day, 2012.

Jul 29, 2016 by Wayne Zurl

All the work, all the typing, all the times when I woke up at 3:45 in the morning thinking of something I should have written or something I absolutely need to add to a chapter, and all the tedious self-editing which causes me to hate the very sight or thought of the novel I just finished and am ready to send off to the publisher, becomes worth all the effort when I get a review written by someone who knows what they’re looking at.

New York clothier, Sy Syms, always said, “Give me an educated consumer any time.” Sy meant that a customer with good knowledge of the merchandise would recognize his product as something special. This Amazon customer knows what makes a good book and flatters me with his/her thoughts on A LEPRECHAUN’S LAMENT.

Thank you Tracy Shew, whoever you are, for reading my book and taking the time to post this review.

Absolutely superb!
I’m definitely not a fan of [the] detective genre. This novel sucked me in because of the cover and the intriguing concept – A murder victim who doesn’t exist? Who is he? Perhaps a real leprechaun? And, it was near St. Patrick’s Day so I thought, “What the heck.”

I was groused in by page one. This was the real stuff. Although set in a near-contemporary Tennessee town, the dialog plays like a 1940s NYC detective film. I appreciated the different characters, painted vividly by the interplay and Sam Jenkins’ observations. This was especially true for the female characters, who he found attractive in different ways. The social atmosphere was spot-on for second- and third-generation immigrants in the south, something which (when it is presented in other books) is generally arbitrary or overplayed: everything becomes “Oyrish” and we have no idea why. Here, the result was not too unsubtle, and the social structure was entirely relevant to the plot, especially since the setting was small-town [America] rather than “Little Dublin.”

The best aspect of this book is the incredible authenticity of police work. Sam Jenkins has a “job,” which in no way resembles what we’ve become accustomed to in the movies and TV. Dirty Harry doesn’t have a “job.” Dirty Harry has a freakin’ big handgun and a tag line. Instead of driving speeding cars through pedestrian-filled streets and blowing bad guys to smithereens, Sam spends most of his time on telephones or pressing palms with loathsome officials like the Mayor, while wondering how late he’s going to have to work and thinking of his next meal and what type of alcohol he’ll have. These details and the glimpses into what “real” police life is like (fueled by Wayne Zurl’s experience as a cop) are remarkably refreshing. If more detective/cop books were like this, I would seek [out] this genre more frequently.

The tradeoff is, of course, that some readers might [want to] “GET TO THE CAR CHASES!” But for me, the authenticity is much better. And when the action comes – as you know it will – the stakes and consequences are much, much higher. Parts of the book made me feel as if someone had grabbed and twisted my guts.

The reason it all works is because Zurl understands two crucial elements of great novel writing, and excuse me if I get a bit “bookish.” He knows about the “reveal,” which means what information to give the reader, when, and exactly how. This is an absolutely indispensable element for detective genre. And the reveal given here is not arbitrary, which means that information is not held back “just because.” (Think of Dobbie the House Elf in J.K. Rowling: “Mustn’t tell! Mustn’t tell!”) All of the reveals are logical and work within the plot. The other element, related to this, is deep structure, which has to do with the order of events in the plot. Here, too, everything is logical and natural – no arbitrary love interest brought in just because some formula calls for it. The structure, like any detective or mystery novel, works at two levels: What the narrator knows and what the reader knows. At key points, Zurl reveals things to the reader, or at least starts a suspicion, which leads to suspense. The deep structure keeps pages turning in anticipation.

A final bookish point of something which shined for me was the simple use of language. There were some witty turns of phrases throughout. Sam, of all the characters, considers his wit to be his charm. Especially in the first half, where the prose is more dialog-driven, this shows splendidly. Later, however, when the mood of the book changes, Zurl shows his muscles in description. The ability to shift prose as gears change shows a rare command of language.

In terms of its craft, one of the best books I’ve read in years. For me, a delightful read well worth the effort.
Tracy Shew, verified Amazon customer

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A GROUND HOG DAY INTERVIEW AT SMASHWORDS

Feb 4, 2016 by Wayne Zurl

Learn more about Sam Jenkins and me at this latest interview with the folks at SMASHWORDS.

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A Few Kind Words for FROM NEW YORK TO THE SMOKIES

Nov 29, 2015 by Wayne Zurl

Masterful plots, penetrating psychology, rich background and intriguing, diverse characters –let’s face it – this series is addictive. You read one, you want more.
Wayne Zurl is a wonderful writer, whose books should not be missed! Five stars!
Ilil R. Arbel, author & researcher

Every story in this collection will hold your attention and y’all will be learning jes’ how them in the mountains of Tennessee chat! Great writing, well edited, exhilarating stories.
Nancy L. Silk, author & reviewer

Wayne Zurl writes detective novels with authority. His writing style is in-depth character development, vivid scene settings, and weaving just the right twists and turns to keep his readers captivated.
[The main character] Chief Jenkins reminds me of Robert B. Parker’s ‘Chief Jesse Stone’.
Any of Wayne Zurl’s novels could easily be turned into blockbuster feature films or ‘made-for-television’ movies. FIVE STARS.
Michael Phelps, author & private investigator

The stories, written in the first person, are funny, deep, sad – every aspect of human life is covered – and I thoroughly enjoyed every one.
Diana M. Hockley, author

Sam Jenkins Mystery Series fans are in for a special treat with From New York To The Smokies, an anthology that spans four decades of Sam’s life and career.
This anthology collection is perfect for readers who have not had a chance to meet the charming main character, Sam Jenkins. Sam is a sarcastic guy who has no problem saying exactly what he’s thinking: his quick wit, sense of humor, friendly banter and sweet flirty side keeps the reader laughing out loud as every story unfolds.
Zurl has a knack for weaving intriguing mystery / police procedural tales with a witty mixture of humor, intrigue, drama and suspense. He utilizes his prior extensive knowledge and experience of police procedure to create a series that diehard mystery / detective fans will crave to read.
So take it from a Sam Jenkins groupie and read From New York To The Smokies. I guarantee that once you read the collection, you will get hooked on all of the Sam Jenkins Mystery series. It is simply an addicting whodunit mystery series that will turn mystery fans into Sam Jenkins fans!
Kathleen Anderson, book reviewer

Zurl is a natural born storyteller! He recounts these crime-solving tales with such ease, you’ll actually feel like your mind is being smoothly caressed. With memorable characters and vivid detail, these are the kind of stories you’d love to hear conveyed around an evening’s campfire.
There are a few seriously laugh-out-loud moments at our hero’s witty and clever sarcasm…a charming and delightful character.
Kat McCarthy, author, blogger, reviewer

…detailed stories with fascinating characters…fast-paced and enjoyable. Don’t miss these.
Marianne Spitzer, author

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Readers’ Favorite awards FROM NEW YORK TO THE SMOKIES 5 stars

Nov 24, 2015 by Wayne Zurl

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers’ Favorite

From New York to the Smokies…is a neatly packaged [anthology]…It gave me… insight into [Sam Jenkins] and his [early] life and made me want to read the full length novels. Each [novelette] is written in a masterful way…a little mystery of its own. There is plenty of action…enough to give you a taste of what the main novels will be like…Wayne Zurl is an excellent writer and I now want to read his other books.

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