Bitter Honey

This is the beginning-Chicago, the roaring 20s-a city wide open to gangsters and corruption-where we discover Private Investigator Nick Verriet was not always the devil-may-care roué of later years as featured in The 12 Day of Christmas: Chicago 1934 and Nick Verriet’s Christmas: Chicago 1935. Here, in his first major case, Nick is embroiled in the Capone-era where snooping ensnarls him in the bootlegging and numbers rackets. A mob war is looming and to save his skin he weaves a perilous path squeezed between ‘deadly gangsters, gals, and da usual udder guys.’ The Players: Nick Verriet – Chicago private investigator. He lost everyone who meant anything to him during WWI. Five years later, he’s pieced his life together only to have old wounds reopen when the woman he once loved asks for help.Joe Marcus – Jazz band leader. Formerly Nick’s best friend. He keeps Nick close to appease his guilt. Teri Marcus – Joe’s wife. Nick’s childhood sweetheart until he left to serve his country. Her renewed interest in Nick leaves him fighting against time to find answers crucial to their future together.Boots Handel – Former Detroit mobster who now calls Chi-town home. He makes Nick an offer he can’t refuse when his plans to monopolize the numbers racket go awry. Tom “the Torpedo” Corigliano and Sam the Barber – Boots’ henchmen. They know only one way to settle matters.Gale Storm – Torch singer. When her talent doesn’t improve her future prospects, she depends on her natural assests to get what she wants. Butters – an informer who pays the price when he offers to help.Lieutenant Richard Powers, Jr. – Homicide officer. He gives Nick enough rope to hang himself..Bobby Hewitt – Band member. He discovers leading a band is more than he bargained for.Chuck – Tenor sax player. He swings a little too hot when someone shows an interest in Gale.Albert Hewitt – Mob boss. He doesn’t mind management changes as long as he still gets his cut.Pete Hamm – Retired numbers boss. Nick thinks he’s a sweet old man.

Author Biography

The author, writing as Nicolas D. Charles, is an active member of the Private Eye Writers of America. He holds advanced university degrees in sociology, computer science, and business. His first two historical detective fiction novels featuring Private Investigator, Nick Verriet: The 12 Days of Christmas: Chicago 1934 and Nick Verriet’s Christmas: Chicago 1935, are published by Trails Books, a Big Earth Publishing Co. His former employment background includes positions as free-lance writer, musician, computer programmer, university teacher, research analyst, statistician, music teacher, and business entrepreneur. He has written numerous articles published in professional and trade journals on music and information systems. He is a member of Mensa, a history buff, and a lifelong patron of the arts.