P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series

"Ed Lynskey's new novel PELHAM FELL HERE is a delight. With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This a novel well worth the read and makes me want more." James Crumley, author of THE LAST GOOD KISS PELHAM FELL HERE offers readers Frank Johnson's rich back story, an unusual departure from most of today's private eye series. We learn how the ex-military cop and part-time gunsmith Frank, now back living in his hometown of Pelham, Virginia, gets into the private investigator racket. He discovers somebody has killed his cousin Cody Chapman with a twelve-gauge shotgun blast. Enraged, Frank wants some answers and wants them fast. Was Cody involved in an illegal arms smuggling scheme? The disturbing mystery grows deeper when a pair of murderous deputy sheriffs ambush Frank on the river. After killing them in self-defense, Frank must take it on the lam while he continues his investigation, relying on his wits and smarts. Eventually, he finds a vicious group of Neo-Nazis holed up in a remote mountain castle may be behind Cody's murder. Frank realizes he's outnumbered and outgunned, but it hardly deters him from seeing the fight through to the end. Luckily, a couple of bounty hunter pals, Gerald and his kid brother Chet Peyton, throw in with Frank to even the odds. Events heat up to a frenetic pace until the climatic moment when Frank finds himself entangled in a dogfight for his very life.

Older and wiser, P.I. Frank Johnson, in his fifth outing, has moved to the Washington, D.C. suburbs where he lives with his fiancé Dreema Atkins. Times are lean. No new P.I. cases have rolled Frank's way since his return from Ankara, Turkey. His old boss, the flamboyant and wealthy attorney Robert Gatlin is marrying Frank's last client, Lois Mercedes, and Frank has his reasons for giving Lois a wide berth. Finally, a missing person case comes up when Zani Huang hires Frank to search for her husband Bao. Frank begins his investigation, but things get sticky when he discovers Zani's landlord, Kasper Peres, with a fatal slug in his chest. Then Zani vanishes and with her Frank's alibi when the police decide to charge him for Peres' murder. So, Frank takes it on the lam with his old bounty hunter pal Gerald Peyton to get some answers real fast. They run up against more dead bodies, and a ruthless gang of bank robbers desperate to find a hidden cache of money. Catastrophic changes rock Frank's world before he can reach any sort of a resolution.

When American diplomat Sylvester Mercedes flies into Ankara, Turkey on what is supposed to be a normal business trip, he mysteriously vanishes from his hotel room. With her husband now missing for more than two weeks, prominent socialite Lois Mercedes hires P.I. Frank Johnson to track him down. Frank had spent some of his Army MP days in Ankara 14 years ago, and while he's not at all happy about going back, being nearly broke can be a powerful motivator. But after getting mugged and finding a murder at the same hotel, Frank manages to track the clues to the kidnapping down into the troglodytes' subterranean cities in Cappadocia. And that's when things really get interesting. Frank hates dark, low places, but he can't afford not to go down the maze of tunnels if he's to close out the case, collect his paycheck, and return home alive.

PI Frank Johnson is hired by Mary Taliaferro, a wealthy aristocrat owning a horse estate near Middleburg, Virginia. Mary's teen-age daughter Emily has died in a riding tragedy. The local law enforcement says it's an accident. Mary thinks it's murder. Frank is broke and the money Mary offers is too good to pass up, but his case quickly becomes more complicated when the stable manager is murdered one day after Frank begins his investigation. Frank soon discovers that there is much more going on here, and he is determined to get to the truth, even if it kills him!

After surviving a bad experience in his hometown, P.I. Frank Johnson moves away to Scarab, West Virginia, drawn by the promise of its leisurely days and the lure of its tranquil leafy mountains. Instead, while relaxing, what he finds is a Stinger rocket exploding over his cabin. He's back on the job. His investigation uncovers a local cult known as the Blue Cheer who is a racist group with ugly terrorist plans in mind. As the events heat up, the blood starts to spill, and for Frank it all gets real personal real quick. With the help of his fearless bounty hunter friend Gerald Peyton, he sets out to bring the Blue Cheer to justice any way he can. The bestselling The Blue Cheer, originally published by the notable crime fiction imprint Point Blank, has garnered praise from Robert Wade (Whit Masterson, Wade Miller) at the San Diego Tribune-Union ("an unpredictable story filled with complex characters") to a starred review at Booklist ("top-of-the-line hard-boiled fare"). The Blue Cheer is part of the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series.

  For his next hardboiled outing, P.I. Frank Johnson accepts a pair of new cases just before the 2005 year-end holidays. The reader gets two mysteries for the price of one as he stays busy on both cases. First, he hunts for a missing husband, and second, he looks for the truth behind a city police detective's gunshot death in a remote alley. Frank's hopes for a timely resolution fade when both cases take him down their twisty paths, including a side trip back to his native town of Pelham, Virginia. With his partner, the bounty hunter Gerald Peyton getting his back, Frank chases down the clues leading them to an abandoned rocket manufacturing facility. Blue Flare Rockets is where they run into more trouble than either man has ever confronted before their long, harrowing night inside the facility's razor wire fence is finished.  

For his next hardboiled outing, P.I. Frank Johnson accepts an infidelity case where Webb Lohr believes his wife Danica is having an affair. Then Webb is found murdered in his car at a desolate crossroads. As Frank delves into the twisty investigation, more questions arise. All the while, he also deals with personal problems and handles his other cases. He depends on his long-time business partner Gerald Peyton, his medical examiner wife Dreema, and his brilliant but outspoken attorney Robert Gatlin. Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley wrote of the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series, "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more."

For his next hardboiled outing, P.I. Frank Johnson accepts his first birth-parents search for his gorgeous, 23-year-old client, Nikki Colvin, whose adoptive parents are deceased. She has reason to believe her natural mom and dad live in Frank's hometown of Pelham, Virginia. As he delves into his twisty investigation, more questions arise. All the while, he also deals with personal problems and handles his other cases. He depends on his long-time business partner Gerald Peyton, his medical examiner wife Dreema, and his brilliant but outspoken attorney Robert Gatlin. Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley wrote of the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series, "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more."

For his next hardboiled outing, P.I. Frank Johnson accepts a homicide case when Kitty Lovejoy seeks out his assistance in solving the grisly murder of her husband, Sloane, a retired pharmaceutical chemist. Of course, nothing is simple as it seems on the surface in Frank's world. As he delves deeper into the twisty investigation, more questions arise. All the while, he also deals with his personal problems and handles his other cases. He depends on his long-time business partner Gerald Peyton, his medical examiner wife Dreema, and his brilliant but outspoken attorney Robert Gatlin. Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley wrote of the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series, "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more."

For his next hardboiled outing, P.I. Frank Johnson accepts another missing-person case, this time the gorgeous 19-year-old Clover Digges who has vanished from her home in Middleburg, Virginia. He opens his investigation during the early days of the covid-19 virus pandemic and has to deal with its dangers while on he's on the case. Clover's affluent father Webb Digges is Frank's client who becomes less credible as Frank uncovers more unsavory truths about the Digges family. He depends on his long-time business partner Gerald Peyton, his medical examiner wife Dreema, and his brilliant but outspoken attorney Robert Gatlin. Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley wrote of the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series, "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more."

For his next hardboiled outing, P.I. Frank Johnson accepts a case from a distraught woman who suspects her husband of 10 years is having an affair with his female office manager. Before Frank can launch his investigation, her husband is found murdered in his insurance office.  Frank's client quickly comes under suspicion by the town sheriff. He identifies two other murder suspects, the office manager and a disgruntled insurance customer. As always, he depends on his long-time business partner Gerald Peyton, his medical examiner wife Dreema, and his brilliant but outspoken attorney Robert Gatlin. Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley wrote of the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series, "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more."

For his next hardboiled outing, P.I. Frank Johnson accepts a seemingly bizarre case from Jules Sturgeon who has experienced disturbing dreams about her murder. The next morning Frank finds his new client has been killed in her SUV behind a strip mall. He quickly identifies three murder suspects while he forms a theory the Russian mob is also involved. The events careen along until he clashes with his enemies at an old radio studio on a wind-swept knoll. He depends on his long-time business partner Gerald Peyton, his medical examiner wife Dreema, and his brilliant but outspoken attorney Robert Gatlin. Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley wrote of the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series, "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more."

For his next hardboiled outing, P.I. Frank Johnson accepts a missing person case when Cain Milsap seeks out Frank's assistance to find Milsap's 28-year-old daughter, Brett. Of course, nothing is simple as it seems on the surface in Frank's world. As he delves deeper into the twisty investigation, the more questions arise. All the while, he also deals with his personal problems and handles his other PI cases. He depends on his long-time business partner Gerald Peyton, his medical examiner wife Dreema, and his brilliant but outspoken attorney Robert Gatlin. Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley wrote of the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series: "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more."

For his next hardboiled outing, P.I. Frank Johnson accepts another infidelity case, this time Bunny Weld suspects her loutish husband, Joe Vic Sackett, is having an affair with his younger office manager, Charlie Stottlemyre. Of course, nothing is as it appears on the surface in Frank's world. Simple things become complicated, messy affairs where murder and violence come into play, as he probes deeper into Bunny's case. Frank depends on his long-time business partner Gerald Peyton, his medical examiner wife Dreema, and his brilliant but outspoken attorney Robert Gatlin. Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley wrote of the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series, "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more."               

For his next hardboiled outing, P.I. Frank Johnson accepts the cold case homicide of 18-year-old Noel Fryer, occurring three years ago in his hometown of Pelham, Virginia. She worked at the local jewelry store and died from an apparent home invasion that turned deadly. Hank Fryer, Noel's father, becomes Frank's client. Of course, nothing is as it appears on the surface in his noirish world. Simple things become complicated, messy affairs where mayhem and violence come into play. As he probes deeper into Noel's case, Frank depends on his long-time business partner Gerald Peyton, his medical examiner wife Dreema, and his brilliant but outspoken attorney Robert Gatlin. Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley wrote of the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series, "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more." #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins writes, "Ed Lynskey's P.I. Frank Johnson's books are as hard-bitten and hard-boiled as they come.  The dialogue crackles with such sharpness that you'd swear sparks were jumping off the pages. And P.I. Frank Johnson is a character cut from the Tarantino mold:  tough, wounded, conflicted, and bad-ass."  

For his next hardboiled outing, P.I. Frank Johnson takes up investigating to find the vintage 1977 Music Man StingRay bass guitar stolen from the home of his client, Sybil Gleason. She tells him it's an irreplaceable family heirloom that belonged to her grandfather, a local rockabilly musician. His quest takes him to the town's seedy pawnbroker, Frank's favorite barista, and Sybil's wastrel landlord. A corrupt criminal attorney badgers Frank to dig up the dirt on a rape victim to bolster the accuser's defense.   Frank balks at accepting a rape case, but the attorney doesn't take no for an answer. As he always does, Frank leans on his long-time friend and business partner, Gerald Peyton; his medical examiner wife, Dreema; and his brilliant but outspoken attorney, Robert Gatlin. While juggling these and his other cases, Frank works long hours to reach a satisfactory resolution for each of his clients.   Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley endorsed the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series. "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more."   #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins states, "Ed Lynskey's P.I. Frank Johnson's books are as hard-bitten and hard-boiled as they come. The dialogue crackles with such sharpness that you'd swear sparks were jumping off the pages. And P.I. Frank Johnson is a character cut from the Tarantino mold: tough, wounded, conflicted, and badass."   New York Times bestselling author and Edgar Award-winning author Megan Abbott writes the P.I. Frank Johnson mystery series, which "bears the richest nicotine and bourbon stains of the hardboiled genre, yet also bristles with vitality. The plot sings, the characters are twisty and textured, and the violence is brutal but inevitable. These elements would be more than enough, yet Ed Lynskey offers so much more in the form of a perfectly pitched prose style that swings effortlessly from back-country grit to Appalachian poetry and back again."

For his next hardboiled outing, P.I. Frank Johnson takes up the homicide case of Cedric Barker, the bouncer at Aphrodite's Crib, a local strip club. Engaged to the ex-stripper, Blaze O'Dwyer, Barker is found murdered at their outdoor wedding minutes before they exchange their marriage vows. Of course nothing is as it appears on the surface in Frank's murky noirish crime world. Simple things become complicated and messy affairs, where more violence and mayhem come into play. As Frank probes deeper into Barker's murder, he relies on his long-time friend and business partner, Gerald Peyton, his medical examiner wife, Dreema, and his brilliant but outspoken attorney, Robert Gatlin. The harrowing climactic scene unfolds inside a dark and seedy strip club where more lethal violence erupts. Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley endorsed the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series. "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more." #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins states, "Ed Lynskey's P.I. Frank Johnson's books are as hard-bitten and hard-boiled as they come. The dialogue crackles with such sharpness that you'd swear sparks were jumping off the pages. And P.I. Frank Johnson is a character cut from the Tarantino mold: tough, wounded, conflicted, and badass." New York Times bestselling author and Edgar-winner Megan Abbott writes the P.I. Frank Johnson mystery series "bears the richest nicotine and bourbon stains of the hardboiled genre, yet also bristles with vitality. The plot sings, the characters are twisty and textured, and the violence is brutal but inevitable. All of these elements would be more than enough, yet Ed Lynskey offers so much more in the form of a perfectly pitched prose style that swings effortlessly from back-country grit to Appalachian poetry and back again."

For his next hardboiled outing, P.I. Frank Johnson takes up investigating the violent death of Roz Fleming. A local prostitute, she's been found dead from two headshots behind the local truck stop on a February morning. Roz's older sister, Hallie, incensed and desperate, approaches Frank to investigate Roz's grisly murder. Since the state cops, led by Sergeant Collingsworth, show only feeble interest in resolving "the whore's homicide," Frank agrees to take Hallie's case.   As Frank probes deeper into Roz Fleming's death, he leans on his long-time friend and business partner, Gerald Peyton; his medical examiner wife, Dreema; and his brilliant but outspoken attorney, Robert Gatlin. Frank follows a dark, twisty trail of double-crosses, bloodier homicides, and uglier depravity. The final stage of his pursuit takes him to a ruined mansion on the outskirts of Pelham, where he learns the shocking truth.     Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley endorsed the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series. "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more."   #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins states, "Ed Lynskey's P.I. Frank Johnson's books are as hard-bitten and hard-boiled as they come. The dialogue crackles with such sharpness that you'd swear sparks were jumping off the pages. And P.I. Frank Johnson is a character cut from the Tarantino mold: tough, wounded, conflicted, and badass."   New York Times bestselling author and Edgar Award-winning author Megan Abbott writes the P.I. Frank Johnson mystery series, which "bears the richest nicotine and bourbon stains of the hardboiled genre, yet also bristles with vitality. The plot sings, the characters are twisty and textured, and the violence is brutal but inevitable. These elements would be more than enough, yet Ed Lynskey offers so much more in the form of a perfectly pitched prose style that swings effortlessly from back-country grit to Appalachian poetry and back again."

For his next hardboiled outing, P.I. Frank Johnson accepts the cold case homicide of Grits Wigfall, a 55-year-old Black man, in his hometown of Pelham, Virginia. Grits works as the front counterman at the new auto parts store for his boss, who becomes a homicide suspect. His girlfriend and a local white extremist are also suspects. Frank sets out to solve the murder case in 24 hours. Of course, nothing is as it appears on the surface in his murky noirish crime world.   Simple things become complicated and messy affairs, where more violence and mayhem come into play. As Frank probes deeper into Grits' murder, he relies on his long-time friend and business partner Gerald Peyton, his medical examiner wife Dreema, and his brilliant but outspoken attorney Robert Gatlin. The harrowing climactic scene takes place on a seedy, smoky riverboat casino where Frank refuses to back off until he gets the answers he seeks.   Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley endorsed the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series. "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more."   #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins states, "Ed Lynskey's P.I. Frank Johnson's books are as hard-bitten and hard-boiled as they come. The dialogue crackles with such sharpness that you'd swear sparks were jumping off the pages. And P.I. Frank Johnson is a character cut from the Tarantino mold: tough, wounded, conflicted, and badass."   New York Times bestselling author and Edgar-winner Megan Abbott writes the P.I. Frank Johnson mystery series "bears the richest nicotine and bourbon stains of the hardboiled genre, yet also bristles with vitality. The plot sings, the characters are twisty and textured, and the violence is brutal but inevitable. All of these elements would be more than enough, yet Ed Lynskey offers so much more in the form of a perfectly pitched prose style that swings effortlessly from back-country grit to Appalachian poetry and back again."    

For his next hardboiled outing, P.I. Frank Johnson takes up investigating the violent death of Lark Turnbull. A local prostitute, she has drowned in her motel room bathtub while inebriated. Her twin sister, Nola, has other ideas and suspects foul play is involved. She hires Frank to look into the matter and understand what actually happened to Lark. During August's hot and dry weather, Frank's investigation leads him to confront the seedy underbelly of his native small town of Pelham, Virginia.     As Frank probes deeper into Lark Turnbull's death, he leans on his long-time friend and business partner, Gerald Peyton; his medical examiner wife, Dreema; and his brilliant but outspoken attorney, Robert Gatlin. Frank and Gerald soon battle the evil forces holed up inside of a dilapidated and remote farmhouse. Outnumbered and outgunned, they depend on their quick thinking, resourceful imagination, and steely nerves to even up the odds stacked against them.             Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley endorsed the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series. "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more." #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins states, "Ed Lynskey's P.I. Frank Johnson's books are as hard-bitten and hard-boiled as they come. The dialogue crackles with such sharpness that you'd swear sparks were jumping off the pages. And P.I. Frank Johnson is a character cut from the Tarantino mold: tough, wounded, conflicted, and badass." New York Times bestselling author and Edgar Award-winning author Megan Abbott writes the P.I. Frank Johnson mystery series, which "bears the richest nicotine and bourbon stains of the hardboiled genre, yet also bristles with vitality. The plot sings, the characters are twisty and textured, and the violence is brutal but inevitable. These elements would be more than enough, yet Ed Lynskey offers so much more in the form of a perfectly pitched prose style that swings effortlessly from back-country grit to Appalachian poetry and back again."

For his next hardboiled outing, P.I. Frank Johnson takes up the missing-person case of Knox Yowell, a machinist who operates a metal lathe in a job shop. One August morning, Knox leaves for the corner bodega to buy his cigarettes and never returns home. His distraught wife, Madge Yowell, discovers Frank's business card in Knox's nightstand drawer. However, Frank has no memory of having met or spoken to Knox. The Yowells live in Hingham, a blue-collar suburb 12 miles south of Boston, and Frank has never traveled from his small town of Pelham, Virginia, up north to Boston.   Of course, nothing is as it appears on the surface in Frank's murky, noirish crime world. As Frank probes deeper into Knox Yowell's disappearance, he leans on his long-time friend and business partner, Gerald Peyton; his medical examiner wife, Dreema; and his brilliant but outspoken attorney, Robert Gatlin. The investigation soon compels Frank to reckon with the tragedy of his boyhood, when his parents died in a car accident caused by a drunken motorist. Violence and mayhem rack Frank as he struggles to set things right.       Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley endorsed the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series. "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more."   #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins states, "Ed Lynskey's P.I. Frank Johnson's books are as hard-bitten and hard-boiled as they come. The dialogue crackles with such sharpness that you'd swear sparks were jumping off the pages. And P.I. Frank Johnson is a character cut from the Tarantino mold: tough, wounded, conflicted, and badass."   New York Times bestselling author and Edgar Award-winning author Megan Abbott writes the P.I. Frank Johnson mystery series, which "bears the richest nicotine and bourbon stains of the hardboiled genre, yet also bristles with vitality. The plot sings, the characters are twisty and textured, and the violence is brutal but inevitable. These elements would be more than enough, yet Ed Lynskey offers so much more in the form of a perfectly pitched prose style that swings effortlessly from back-country grit to Appalachian poetry and back again."        

For his next hardboiled outing, P.I. Frank Johnson takes up investigating the mysterious gunshots hitting the windows in Madison Lopat's apartment. The second big case he accepts is running surveillance on Joan Proudfoot's husband, Royce, whom she suspects is having an affair with her younger sister, Mitzi.   As he always does, Frank leans on his long-time friend and business partner, Gerald Peyton; his medical examiner wife, Dreema; and his brilliant but outspoken attorney, Robert Gatlin. While juggling these and his other cases, Frank works long hours to reach a satisfactory resolution for each of his clients.   Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley endorsed the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series. "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more."   #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins states, "Ed Lynskey's P.I. Frank Johnson's books are as hard-bitten and hard-boiled as they come. The dialogue crackles with such sharpness that you'd swear sparks were jumping off the pages. And P.I. Frank Johnson is a character cut from the Tarantino mold: tough, wounded, conflicted, and badass."   New York Times bestselling author and Edgar Award-winning author Megan Abbott writes the P.I. Frank Johnson mystery series, which "bears the richest nicotine and bourbon stains of the hardboiled genre, yet also bristles with vitality. The plot sings, the characters are twisty and textured, and the violence is brutal but inevitable. These elements would be more than enough, yet Ed Lynskey offers so much more in the form of a perfectly pitched prose style that swings effortlessly from back-country grit to Appalachian poetry and back again."

P.I. Frank Johnson accepts several cases of infidelity, which have become his primary source of income. Beth Humphreys hires Frank to follow her cheating husband, Trey. Frank loses sight of Trey's vehicle during a torrential rain, which he reports to the enraged Beth. She decides to give him one more chance. Later, Frank achieves better results for his next clients who also have cheating spouses and is able to bill them for his detective work. Frank also seeks new ways to expand his private investigator services in order to beef up his profits and keep his PI agency afloat. He begins to piece together his late father Homer's violent past, making several profound revelations. As he always has done, Frank turns to his long-time friend and business partner, Gerald Peyton; his medical examiner wife, Dreema; and his brilliant and outspoken attorney, Robert Gatlin.   Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley endorsed the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series. "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more."   #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins states, "Ed Lynskey's P.I. Frank Johnson's books are as hard-bitten and hard-boiled as they come. The dialogue crackles with such sharpness that you'd swear sparks were jumping off the pages. And P.I. Frank Johnson is a character cut from the Tarantino mold: tough, wounded, conflicted, and badass."   New York Times bestselling author and Edgar Award-winning author Megan Abbott writes the P.I. Frank Johnson mystery series, which "bears the richest nicotine and bourbon stains of the hardboiled genre, yet also bristles with vitality. The plot sings, the characters are twisty and textured, and the violence is brutal but inevitable. These elements would be more than enough, yet Ed Lynskey offers so much more in the form of a perfectly pitched prose style that swings effortlessly from back-country grit to Appalachian poetry and back again."

P.I. Frank Johnson investigates an old hit-and-run accident one year later in his next hardboiled outing. Vivian St. John believes her sister Gwen's death while jogging on a remote stretch of Botha Road was premeditated. Vivian hires Frank to investigate Gwen's cold case homicide, his first such case. The scarcity of clues and leads quickly reveals the difficult task he faces.    Frank relies on his long-time friend and business partner, Gerald Peyton; his medical examiner wife, Dreema; and his brilliant but outspoken attorney, Robert Gatlin, as he always does. While juggling these and other cases, Frank works long hours to ensure that each of his clients receives a satisfactory resolution.   Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley endorsed the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series. "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more."   #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins states, "Ed Lynskey's P.I. Frank Johnson's books are as hard-bitten and hard-boiled as they come. The dialogue crackles with such sharpness that you'd swear sparks were jumping off the pages. And P.I. Frank Johnson is a character cut from the Tarantino mold: tough, wounded, conflicted, and badass."   New York Times bestselling author and Edgar Award-winning author Megan Abbott writes the P.I. Frank Johnson mystery series, which "bears the richest nicotine and bourbon stains of the hardboiled genre, yet also bristles with vitality. The plot sings, the characters are twisty and textured, and the violence is brutal but inevitable. These elements would be more than enough, yet Ed Lynskey offers so much more in the form of a perfectly pitched prose style that swings effortlessly from back-country grit to Appalachian poetry and back again."

P.I. Frank Johnson travels to Hogshead Beach, Virginia, a sleazy beach hamlet on the Potomac River. He looks into the murder of his old flame, Vera Freeman, who worked at the plastic bag factory. Her ex, Sal Duckworth, who is Frank's client lives on a dilapidated houseboat. Frank quickly discovers a racist cult, who dislikes persistent and nosy PIs, has been active in the local area. Things get complicated and messy in a hurry as they often do in Frank's world.Frank relies on his long-time friend and business partner, Gerald Peyton; his medical examiner wife, Dreema; and his brilliant but outspoken attorney, Robert Gatlin, as he always does. While juggling this case with his other cases, Frank works long hours to ensure that each of his clients receives a satisfactory resolution.   Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley endorsed the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series. "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more."   #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins states, "Ed Lynskey's P.I. Frank Johnson's books are as hard-bitten and hard-boiled as they come. The dialogue crackles with such sharpness that you'd swear sparks were jumping off the pages. And P.I. Frank Johnson is a character cut from the Tarantino mold: tough, wounded, conflicted, and badass."   New York Times bestselling author and Edgar Award-winning author Megan Abbott writes the P.I. Frank Johnson mystery series, which "bears the richest nicotine and bourbon stains of the hardboiled genre, yet also bristles with vitality. The plot sings, the characters are twisty and textured, and the violence is brutal but inevitable. These elements would be more than enough, yet Ed Lynskey offers so much more in the form of a perfectly pitched prose style that swings effortlessly from back-country grit to Appalachian poetry and back again."

P.I. Frank Johnson accepts another cold case homicide, this time from a former high school classmate named Stevie Palmer. Her husband, Troy, was shot to death ("double Moe Greene Special") on their front porch on an October morning nearly a year ago. The town sheriff has made little progress in investigating Troy's murder, so Stevie seeks Frank's help.   Frank quickly identifies Dash Lemay, Troy's boss and former high school football star, as the primary suspect. However, proving it is more difficult, time-consuming, and risky. As he always does, Frank enlists the help of his long-time friend and business partner, Gerald Peyton; his medical examiner wife, Dreema; and his brilliant and outspoken attorney, Robert Gatlin.   Critically acclaimed crime novelist James Crumley endorsed the P.I. Frank Johnson Mystery Series in 2008. "With a plot as complex as your grandmother's crocheted doilies, Mr. Lynskey creates a portrait of the rural hill country that rings as true as the clank of a Copenhagen can on a PBR can, as does his handle on guns, love, and betrayal. This novel is well worth the read and makes me want more."   #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins states, "Ed Lynskey's P.I. Frank Johnson's books are as hard-bitten and hard-boiled as they come. The dialogue crackles with such sharpness that you'd swear sparks were jumping off the pages. And P.I. Frank Johnson is a character cut from the Tarantino mold: tough, wounded, conflicted, and badass."   New York Times bestselling author and Edgar Award-winning author Megan Abbott writes the P.I. Frank Johnson mystery series, which "bears the richest nicotine and bourbon stains of the hardboiled genre, yet also bristles with vitality. The plot sings, the characters are twisty and textured, and the violence is brutal but inevitable. These elements would be more than enough, yet Ed Lynskey offers so much more in the form of a perfectly pitched prose style that swings effortlessly from back-country grit to Appalachian poetry and back again."