A New Prospect

By Wayne Zurl

Sam Jenkins never thought about being a fish out of water during the twenty years he spent solving crimes in New York. But things change, and after retiring to Tennessee, he gets that feeling. Jenkins becomes a cop again and is thrown headlong into a murder investigation and a steaming kettle of fish, down-home style. The victim, Cecil Lovejoy, couldn't have deserved it more. His death was the inexorable result of years misspent and appears to be no great loss, except the prime suspect is Sam's personal friend. Jenkins' abilities are attacked when Lovejoy's influential widow urges politicians to reassign the case to state investigators. Feeling like "a pork chop at a bar mitzvah" in his new workplace, Sam suspects something isn't kosher when the family tries to force him out of the picture. In true Jenkins style, Sam turns common police practice on its ear to insure an innocent man doesn't fall prey to an imperfect system and the guilty party receives appropriate justice. A NEW PROSPECT takes the reader through a New South resolutely clinging to its past and traditional way of keeping family business strictly within the family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Black Rose Writing
• Release date: Sep 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301417773

Wayne Zurl

Wayne Zurl grew up on Long Island and retired after twenty years with the Suffolk County Police Department, one of the largest municipal law enforcement agencies in New York and the nation. For thirteen of those years he served as a section commander supervising investigators. He is a graduate of SUNY, Empire State College and served on active duty in the US Army during the Vietnam War and later in the reserves. Zurl left New York to live in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee with his wife, Barbara.Twenty-seven (27) of his Sam Jenkins novelette mysteries have been published as eBooks and many produced as audio books. Nine (9) of his full-length novels have been traditionally published.Zurl has won Eric Hoffer and Indie Book Awards, and was named a finalist for a Montaigne Medal and First Horizon Book Award. He is an active member of International Thriller Writers.For more information on Wayne’s Sam Jenkins mystery series see www.waynezurlbooks.net. You may read excerpts, reviews and endorsements, interviews, coming events, and see photos of the area where the stories take place.

Reviews for A New Prospect

[sheila1957 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book and finished it in less than a day. I wanted to know who dunnit. I thought it was someone else until Sam said he figured it out then I knew I was wrong.I like Sam and his crew. They make a good team which they need as too many others seem to be working against them. I enjoyed the story. I had fun reading this one.

[vesper1931 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sam Jenkins, retired New York detective applies and is offered the position of Chief at the Prospect Police Department. The first day on the job comes the first dead body.
An enjoyable mystery, well-written though I could have done without the vernacular. There were times I had to re-read the sentence to understand what was said.

[darcia_10 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a perfect beginning to the Sam Jenkins mystery series. We get to know Sam professionally, as he works to solve a murder, and also personally, through his relationships with friends and the wife he adores. The plot moves at a good pace, and is written in the form of a whodunit so readers can follow along with Sam and try to solve the murder. I really enjoyed Sam Jenkin's character. He's older, experienced, and sure of himself without coming off as cocky. He's the 'average guy' hero everyone wants to see succeed.Wayne Zurl is a retired cop, and his experience adds a level of realism not always found in crime novels and mysteries. I was often struck by the little details and insight into what goes on behind the scenes in a criminal investigation.This is a fun read, filled with mystery, tangled relationships, believable characters, and a sprinkling of humor.

[jaidisshaw · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A New Prospect by Wayne Zurl is a suspenseful, well-written mystery. Retired police officer Sam Jenkins decides that he is starting to get bored with the retired life and decides to take a job as the new Police Chief in a little town called Prospect. In a small town where everyone knows each other and the crime rate is almost null, what’s the worst that could happen?Sam quickly starts to question his decision when a homicide rattles the small town. He has the intelligence and experience to investigate the case but when people in high places yank the case from him, Sam makes it his mission to show everyone that he still has what it takes. But when one of Sam’s close friends is arrested for the murder, he has to step up his game to prove his friend’s innocence and find the person who is responsible.Wayne Zurl does an amazing job of bringing the characters and story to life. The speech patterns were so well-written that it didn’t seem like reading at all, just a natural conversation between the characters and myself. If you are looking for an intriguing police mystery, I highly recommend A New Prospect.

[communitybookstop · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was great it combined humor, mystery, southern people and over all you get to meet all the people within the town. When Cecil Lovejoy is killed they are over run by possible suspects. They have the women he swindled into doing things they may not have, they also have family members who keep telling the police to butt out. Jenkin's wonders what everyone is hiding and who's complaining about them trying to catch a murder. In the end I didn't even have the suspect right. I loved this book definitely worth purchasing, you won't be disappointed in the least. This author is very skilled in his writing and telling of a murder mystery story, along with adding the southern slang.I received this book via Pump Up Your Book Promotions for a honest and fair review.

[kittycrochettwo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Are you a fan of small town mysteries set in the south? If so then your in for a real treat because Wayne Zurl gives us just that! This one is set in the tiny town of Prospect, TN. Sam Jenkins had been retired from his job as a New York police detective for 14 years when he decides to apply for the job of Police Chief in Prospect, after the former chief was forced into an early retirement for uhh hum illegal activities. Who would have ever guessed that one the first day of Sam's job a murder would take place, I mean after all murder never happens in Prospect!!!Turns out during a car show, Sam and his partner for the day are called to a local car show to take care of a disorderly drunk. The drunk turns out to be Cecil Lovejoy one of the towns most prominent citizens, whom most people really didn't like. Later in the day they are called back to the car show because of a murder, and guess what the murder victim is none other than Cecil. Sam decides because of his former experience with the NYPD his office will take care of the murder investigation but soon it become obvious that Cecil's family wants him off the case; but Sam doesn't let that stop him from trying to solve the case!I loved this one! When a book starts out with someone having a life altering experience in the Walmart you just know its going to be a good read! This is one of those books that really grabbed me from the first pages and held me through out. I actually read it in one sitting. The writing is smooth and really captures the flavor of the south, I could even hear the southern dialogue in my head while reading! I love the laid back style of Sam Jenkins, not to mention his often sarcastic sense of humor.The character of Sam seems to fit perfectly into his new role, and the secondary characters in his little department are great! I also love when an author includes a dog in the story and for this one we have Sam's little Scottish Terrier Bitsey.Its easy for me to see why this book was an Indie award winner, and for anyone who loves a good mystery, set in a small town with a southern flavor, this book is going to be right up your alley!

[celticlady53 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A New Prospect by Wayne Zurl is a great mystery/detective novel featuring Sam Jenkins, a retired New York City cop, and his wife Kate. They retired to Prospect, a small town in Tennessee awhile back and Sam has decided to work again as the Police Chief of this relatively small and quiet town. He thinks that this will be a job that will be great for a retired person to spend some time at. He is wrong as he soon finds himself embroiled in the murder of a prominent man. While trying to investigate this murder he is thwarted by small town politics, from the mayor, to the father in law of the murdered victim, to the murdered man's family. What ensues is a great who dun-nit. It will have you thinking until the end. I hope to see a series of this small town of Prospect and its inhabitants. I recommend it for the mystery lover.

[reviewsbymolly · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love suspenseful murder mysteries. There is just something about the rush of trying to solve the puzzle right along side the characters, that really sets my heart to pumping. LOVE the feeling. With Wayne Zurl, we get that heart pumping, fun, fast paced murder mystery in a small town.Sam Jenkins. Now THAT is a detective who is going places! I had so much fun interacting with this small town Southern Yankee. After being retired for 14 years, Sam decides to jump back into the saddle, and take on the roll of Police Chief in Prospect, Tennessee. What he wasn't countin' on was a homicide to take place instantly. All points bulletin out for the killer. Sam Jenkins was a man on a mission, and when he was that mission, he got the job done! With fun loving characters, not to mention some MAJOR southern drawl (I could just hear the way the characters were pronouncing the words!), a lot of mystery and a detective determined to right the wrongs, this novel was fantastic. It truly had me turning the pages late into the night, and picturing myself right in the middle of good ol' Prospect. I highly recommend this to all suspense, murder mystery lovers. Five stars and flying colors, my hats are off to a fantastic author who is going on the top of my recommendation list. I can't wait to go back and read the other Sam Jenkins novel, as well as looking forward to many more (hint, hint, Wayne!) Sam Jenkins novels in the future.

[madmoosemama · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A New Prospect is a new Sam Jenkins murder mystery series.Sam Jenkins is a retired cop from New York, however, after the local sheriff in Prospect, Tennessee is arrested for gun smuggling, Sam decides its time to get back to work. After applying for the job, the mayor, Ronnie Shield, accepts Sam's proposal and his new job begins. After introducing himself to his new staff and shoving his way past annoying secretaries, we come to learn the grit that makes Sam Jenkins who he is.When Cecil Lovejoy, rich, arrogant and down right rude, is murdered, there is little love loss between the town and his murder. However, its up to Sam to find out the truth behind his death. When Sam's best friend becomes the number one suspect and Cecil's widow, Pearl, puts the pressure on Sam and his division, she goes outside his jurisdiction and uses her political influence to machinate his case. Feeling his way through all the antagonists in the case, Sam must use all his knowledge to make sure he doesn't punish the wrong person. With time ticking and pressure building, will Sam find his man or woman, before the justice system fails and the real culprit gets away?I was quite impressed with the character of Sam, I liked his gritty, no-nonsense approach to his dealings with people and situations. I liked his friendly, comedic nature but was quite unimpressed with his thoughts on the "good-looking" women he comes in contact with. Though he is "happily" married, it doesn't stop his thoughts from straying, and, in my honest opinion, this is cheating. I found these passages disgusting to read, and unworthy of a character such as, Sam Jenkins.I loved the intrigue and twists and turns involved, wrapping everything full circle and the plot didn't leave you with more questions than answers. I also found the back stories to be an integral part of the story, they gave insight into Sam's character that is needed to add more ambiance to Sam's presence. I didn't like the southern twang that some of the characters had, I don't know why authors feel the need to write this into their stories, accents seldom work when your reading them. I think its enough to know that a character has a thick southern accent and leave the reader to "hear" it for themselves.A New Prospect is a great mystery read from debut author, Wayne Zurl and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a fast-paced, gripping, often comedic approach to a down-home southern murder.