Carson Reno Mystery Series

The year is 1962 and Carson Reno, once again, gets himself into situations that would be better left alone. A Memphis client hires Carson to prove infidelity, but instead he finds corruption and murder going all the way to the top of Memphis politics. A Jack Logan client investigation takes him back to Humboldt looking into automobile fraud, which lands him smack in the middle of a murder.  Not just any murder, but the murder of a local beauty queen – one who seemed to have too many enemies for a girl her age.

One of Humboldt’s well-known horse breeders is brutally murdered, then left to burn in his barn along with his prized stallions.  A Jack Logan client has been accused of the murder and Carson has been called in to investigate. However, getting to the truth is proving to be a real challenge. It seems no one, not even the accused, is capable of telling the truth. Greed, lust, infidelity, half-truths and the Memphis Mafia all seem to be involved – somehow.  Sorting out the pieces and finding the real murderer, will be a monumental task. Carson becomes involved in the web of lies and faces one of his biggest challenges, as he tries to solve the case of Horse Tales.

The racial problems of 1962 have found their way to the small West Tennessee town of Humboldt.  A white woman has been brutally murdered, and one of Carson’s childhood friends has been accused of the crime.  Carson’s friend is a colored man who once worked for his grandfather, but the accusations and problems extend beyond the crime and to the heart of this small community. Carson finds a divided town; a town divided along the lines of race and the interference of outside groups, which makes this division even wider. Challenged with defending his friend, Carson must find a solution before the two sides collide, which would definitely have devastating results. Join Carson, as he faces one of his toughest challenges in ‘the Crossing’.

It’s 1962 and the Mafia has discovered some new tricks in getting their drugs from Colombia to the streets of America. Their plans are working perfectly until an unfortunate boating accident puts the FBI back on their trail. Carson’s friend, Elizabeth Teague, has a large amount of cash hidden in her luggage and this cash belongs to the Mafia.  They want it back. Protecting his friend and sorting through the details, Carson finds himself in the middle of a conspiracy that has roots in Humboldt.  He also finds a murder with too many suspects.   From the Everglades, to Puerto Rico, to Memphis, to Humboldt, to Key West - join Carson as he tries to separate the good guys from the bad guys in                                 ‘the Everglades’.

Carson’s closest friends are enjoying a Caribbean cruise vacation, when one of the cruise guests turns up missing.  Missing is one of Humboldt’s well-known and prominent attorneys, and foul play is suspected.  Mary Ellen Maxwell might have unknowingly witnessed the crime and needs Carson’s protection. Something is seriously wrong – the Mafia has become the target of an unknown adversary and they are scared.  Bad guys are turning up dead and the missing attorney could be a part of it – after all, he was heavily involved in defending the Memphis Mafia. To make matters worse, the Memphis Mafia’s kingpin is also seeking Carson’s protection from this unknown threat.  The bad guys are killing each other, and by protecting a friend, Carson has put himself in the middle of an underworld war. Join Carson as he tries to find the ‘Killer Among Us’

The year is 1962 and this small west Tennessee town has been turned upside down by a labor strike at its main manufacturing plant – Wayne Knitting.  It seems that as a result of the strike, some very serious underworld crime problems have surfaced. A small town sheriff and small town Chief of Police have their hands full dealing with the strike when the worst happens – one of the principal figures surrounding the labor and underworld crime issues is murdered. Carson Reno is very familiar with Humboldt – he grew up and went to high school there. But, Carson has a very successful private investigation business in Memphis and no desire or reason to get involved.  However, circumstances pull him into the turmoil and into a situation that grows more dangerous everyday.  By trying to not become involved, he becomes deeply involved and ultimately the prime suspect for the -               Murder in Humboldt.

Crime DOES pay – especially crime that has the support of our legal system. Carson’s investigative work for Attorney Jack Logan runs smack into the path of the largest law firm in West Tennessee. Trying to stay out of their path only succeeds in putting Carson in the crosshairs of lawyers who want him out of the way. Power struggles, infidelity, organized crime and eventually murder all appear to be somehow linked to this powerful law firm – McCabe, McCabe, Clark and Lewis. This is a story of the small versus the large in a little West Tennessee community that has no idea of the crime and corruption that lay underneath their quiet daily lives. Join Carson as he takes on the fight of his career when he challenges ‘the Illegals’.

In 1962 the quiet, and seemingly innocent, activities at the Humboldt Motel in this small West Tennessee town went unnoticed and unchallenged.  Besides, a little booze, a little gambling and maybe an occasional ‘lady of the evening’ never hurt anyone, right? Then one fall night after a football game, things began to come apart.  It seemed that everything was not how it should be, or at least, how it appeared. Unfaithful housewives, a football coach fixing game scores, a crooked private detective and eventually a murder, would bring exposure to ‘SUnset 4’. And that was something its operators didn’t want. Carson isn’t involved in the investigation, but it seems everyone thinks he is.  Protecting a friend, he tries hard to ignore things that are simply not right.  Finally, he follows instinct and tackles the innocent and the guilty in ‘SUnset 4’.

It’s a New Year and it has gotten off to a very bad start for Carson. Several prominent citizens and business leaders from Humboldt are dying in some strange and bizarre accidents. Carson becomes involved when an insurance company hires him to investigate. What happens next is even more strange and bizarre for this little town in West Tennessee. The clues are everywhere, but none of them make any sense. It may be that the ‘last man standing’ is responsible for these accidents – but why? Follow Carson as he works on one his wildest adventures ever in ‘Dead Men Don’t Remember’.

An ex-Memphis cop and a friend of Carson is in trouble – but what kind of trouble? While trying to answer that question, Carson finds more questions - and all with no answers. What Carson also finds is trouble coming from all directions. The Mafia, the Teamsters Union, an unhappy sheriff and some very rough characters are all looking for his friend, and Carson is in the middle of this mess. An apparently senseless murder only complicates Carson’s problems, which makes getting to the truth more difficult. Things are not what they seem in Carson Reno’s adventure at ‘Reelfoot’

Someone is brutally murdering people in Memphis, and for unknown reasons, the killer wants Carson involved. They’re not just killing people; they’re removing the victim’s fingers and leaving strange clues everywhere. Carson becomes involved when the killer sends him severed thumbs - each wrapped in bloodstained paper containing Bible scripture. Clues are everywhere, but none of them make any sense and aren’t connected - yet. Old names surface and the mystery gets stranger and darker as Carson tries to solve the ‘Fingerprint Murders’. All thumbs are fingers, but not all fingers are thumbs.”                 Liz

All Carson Reno Mystery Series Books are standalone novels. It is not necessary to read them in any particular order. A famous author is murdered, Carson is at the scene of the crime and considered a prime suspect – but he doesn't remember anything! Missing manuscripts, a missing diary and strange stories from the past bring an unusual group of characters together in this tangled web of deceit, blackmail and murder. The mystery travels from Memphis to New Orleans, while Carson works to prove his innocence – without success. Come along for the ride and follow the clues to a strange and unforgettable ending in the adventure called: Murder My Darling

Carson’s client is suspected of two murders, and desperately needs his help. After a night of drinking she wakes up in a hotel room with a dead man, but claims no memory of the previous night’s events. However, a gun found in the hotel room was used for another murder – used to kill a lawyer at the local Drive Inn Theater. Then…things get worse! The murder gun belongs to his client’s husband and has her fingerprints all over it.  The dead lawyer was blackmailing her and witnesses saw her at both murder scenes. Interesting and dangerous characters surface, and somehow events from World War Two are playing a part in the mystery. To prove his client innocent, Carson must unravel a complex blackmail scheme and explain a few murders. Follow Carson as he chases clues trying to solve this old fashion murder mystery. A mystery that has everyone looking the wrong way. This is an unusual case for Carson – a case of Justifiable Homicide.

 Is this the end of Carson Reno? Has he finally reached the end of the road - his ‘Dead End’? Is this Carson’s last adventure? While trying to protect a client for Jack Logan, Carson finds himself in the middle of a family feud – a deadly feud with skeletons AND bodies hidden in all the family closets. Murder, blackmail, infidelity, counterfeit money and, of course, the Mafia send Carson in search of a client that doesn’t want to be found.  In fact, finding the client could turn out to be the worst solution for Carson Reno and his friends. Join Carson as he follows clues and stumbles down a road of mystery. A road with a bad ending – a ‘Dead Ending’! 

Carson’s feud with a local crime reporter continues, and then suddenly the husband of his client is brutally murdered - a husband he’s been hired to investigate. Mysterious characters weave a web of blackmail and suspense, while leaving Carson with more clients than he can handle. The Memphis police have warned Carson to back off, but an employee of a friend is missing from a murder scene and he’s determined to find her and the killer. Follow Carson to New Orleans, Humboldt, Memphis and Florida where he chases numerous suspects trying to track down a missing person and the killer he’s been hired to find. Enjoy this unusual adventure for Carson Reno, as he struggles to solve the case of ‘Murder and More’.

All Carson Reno Mystery Series Books are standalone novels. It is not necessary to read them in any particular order. It's spring 1962 and a Sergeant with the Memphis Police Department is found dead only hours before his scheduled testimony before a grand jury. Was it suicide or was it murder? What was he going to testify about? A handwritten note left by the Sergeant and addressed to the District Attorney disappears. What was in the note? Was it a suicide note with information regarding his pending testimony or something else? A woman claiming to have information related to his planned testimony comes forward and seeks protection. Carson is hired to look into the matter and provide protection to the mysterious woman, but protection from whom? The situation gets out of hand quickly, and Carson finds himself in trouble with most everybody involved. A dark cloud hangs over the truth, as he tries to determine the 'good-guys' from the 'bad-guys' from the 'bad good - guys'. This old fashion crime story takes Carson Reno and his crew on a complicated adventure, where it seems that no one is looking for a solution. Join our Cast of Characters and come along to help Carson find the clues and discover the truth, while he tries to understand why everyone has a serious:

Revised with a new format and new illustrations, these are 3 early novels from Gerald Darnell's Carson Reno Mystery Series. 'Horse Tales' 'SUnset 4' and 'the Everglades' are offered as one complete book. Enjoy 511 pages of vintage Carson Reno as he and his usual characters take you across the US and to an occasional foreign country. Each novel is complete with many new color illustrations added for the reader's enjoyment.

Murder, Mystery and Mayhem in the 1960's from the Carson Reno Mystery Series. 3 complete novels, revised with a new format and new illustrations. 'the Crossing' 'the Illegals' and 'Dead Men Don't Remember' are offered as one complete book. Enjoy over 650 pages of vintage Carson Reno as he and his usual characters take you across the US and to an occasional foreign country fighting crime and chasing 'the bad guys'. A great way to enjoy classic mysteries set in the 1960's. PG rated, each novel is complete, offering many new color illustrations added for the reader's enjoyment.

Revised with a new format and new illustrations, these are the first 3 novels from Gerald Darnell's Carson Reno Mystery Series. 'Murder in Humboldt', 'The Price of Beauty in Strawberry Land' and 'Killer Among Us' are offered as one complete book. Follow Carson from the beginning and the introduction of characters that continue through the entire series. Each novel is complete with many new color illustrations added for the reader's enjoyment. Over 500 pages.

All Carson Reno Mystery Series Books are standalone novels. It is not necessary to read them in any particular order. A man has disappeared while duck hunting and things surrounding his disappearance are troubling. Carson has been hired by an insurance company to resolve a $1.5 million dollar life insurance claim, but things get quickly complicated. Bodies appear, and it seems that these deaths might be connected to the missing hunter – but how? Facts reveal that the missing man's job as an independent truck driver is linked to his disappearance, and perhaps to the mysterious murders. Carson's investigation unearths some very unusual characters, along with a wife who appears to be interested in everything but finding her missing husband. Conflicts with the Memphis police are getting in the way of the investigation, and the urgency is escalated when another body is discovered. This case has more twists than a large bag of pretzels, and just when it seems to be going in the right direction – it changes. Join our Cast of Characters and come along to help Carson find the clues, search for the truth and try to solve the case of The Innocent Stranger