(and some good old-fashioned mountain dulcimer music)
5 star author Ashley Fontaine gives A NEW PROSPECT a few twinkles. Here's part of her review on Goodreads.
This book was right up my alley: mystery, suspense and murder!
Sam Jenkins is a lovable character... Wayne Zurl has crafted a hero that everyone will enjoy... The tough, retired New York cop living in the deep south: what's not to love about that?
if you love the murder/mystery/thriller/suspense genre as much as I do, then A New Prospect is a MUST READ! (5 stars)
Interviewer David Wisehart asks a few questiuons about A MURDER IN KNOXVILLE and my thoughts on eBook publishing at his blog KINDLE AUTHOR
"A smart, intriguing, suspenseful whodunit!"
"A NEW PROSPECT contains as much Yankee charm as MY COUSIN VINNIE, is as suspenseful as THIRTEEN DAYS, and is as dramatic as PRESUMED INNOCENT."
Geri gives Wayne a 3rd degree interrogation. Take a look at the interview:
A New Prospect is a great mystery that kept me guessing for quite some time about the killer. But what really makes this novel great are the characters and the voice of the narrator, Sam Jenkins. Jenkins is a sarcastic guy who tells us exactly what he's thinking ~ and it's so much fun to be inside his head. The language Zurl uses, the way he successfully presents the southern dialect without annoying the reader, and the fun banter that makes up much of the dialog make for a very enjoyable read.
If you like detective stories and mysteries that incorporate lots of humor and realistic interactions between people, I highly recommend this one. I know I'll be reading more in the Sam Jenkins series.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF WAYNE ZURL as recorded at the Book Faery
A NEW PROSPECT gets 5 stars and ""flying colors"" from Molly Edwards
This one is just too good not to post the whole review
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.
A NEW PROSPECT reviewed by Bri Clark, writing as The Belle Of Boise.
If you like a laugh out loud, feel good, murder mystery then this book is for you. Characters are always my weakness and delight. Sam Jenkins is a blend of Yankee charm with a sprinkling of cowboy honor laced with those old detective novels. The story moved well and at times I was stunned at the humor. Being a native of Tennessee I was impressed with the description and language Mr. Zurl used.
I just received one of the most eloquently written reviews I've ever seen from author/blogger Joy Chambers Campbell. She had many good things to say about A NEW PROSPECT and gave it a rating of TRULY AWESOME. Cool, huh? I have no doubt her book(s) are as well written as my review. I think we all should take a look and read her stuff.
Grab a cup of coffee and click on the link to listen to a Blogtalk Radio broadcast.
Barry Eva, a charming host and very British chap, spends time interviewing Wayne.
A review for NEW PROSPECT by Michelle Vasquez of Life In Review.
A New Prospect by Wayne Zurl is a fabulous small town murder mystery and Sam Jenkins is one of my new favorite characters!
I love everything about this book! The setting is great! Small towns are always great for a story, and this town has it’s share of secrets and quirks. There is a whole wonderful cast of characters,
I VERY highly recommend this book! If you love a good murder mystery, this is an excellent one! It’s laugh-out-loud funny at times, ... I was hooked from the very start and could not put it down. I liked Sam immediately and love his sense of humor! I’m definitely going to be looking into the previous Sam Jenkins stories and I sure hope we can look forward to more books from him now that he’s in Prospect!
A NEW PROSPECT receives a 4.5 review from You Gotta Read Reviews
Sam Jenkins has just become a favorite character of mine. I generally have a weakness for cops but Sam is not your ordinary hero.
The character development throughout the book was very strong. By the end of the book, I felt as though Sam were a friend of mine. I really wish there had been more scenes with his interaction with his wife. She was one very funny secondary character.
Brimming with countless suspects, I was trying to figure out the killer from the very beginning. The plot line was phenomenal and I loved that this story put a spin on a situation that wasn't all that it seemed to be. Mr. Zurl presents a situation that we, as a society, are conditioned to accept as an offense, in a different light. I don't want to give away any of the ending but it's a really juicy ending.
If you love a good suspense, I highly recommend you [read] A New Prospect. It's a book that you don't want to miss.
Another good review for A NEW PROSPECT: ...a mysterious, wonderful read. Wayne Zurl has a marvelous imagination and is very creative with details. Leaves you at the end...with a sense of justice, if you believe that some laws should be bent and karma always gets their man.
Stacy Eldridge
Way2Kool Reviews
An interview with Wayne Zurl at Who Hub, an international networking site for creative professionals. http://www.whohub.com/waynezurl
A NEW PROSPECT is a pure breed of its genre - crime fiction.
To say that the beginnings, middles and ends are strong and definitive is an understatement. They cut with precision, clear and clean.
The voice and style read effortless and consistent.
The dialogue accents the style, comes off as natural.
Much of the main character's "way of being", his relationships, both personal, with the town and in relation to the world of the story are dispensed in sober well-humored bits - Wal-Mart morality, Jimmy Stewart's gun, the Charlie Chan kiss good-bye, the dog vs the nails, Agatha, annoying flies and gnats.
Despite being dispensed with laid-back ease, the pace is a quick draw and the plot doesn't step out of sync. The reader has confidence that A NEW PROSPECT is plotted well through and through.
What makes A NEW PROSPECT feel different from other crime fiction is that the main character is domesticated. There are faint traces of Hardboiled Noir fiction mixed with the style and quiet humor of a Western. The title, A NEW PROSPECT, even reads like a Western title.
The best way I can think of to explain its originality is that it has an alarmingly warm welcoming down-to-earth friendly pitch that lends itself to the growing and well retrained sense of impending danger that the genre demands.
I'd say more good things about what I've read but I'm afraid I'll ruin one of the strongest features of the book - it's humility.
About A NEW PROSPECT, the author, Wayne Zurl, and his main character, Sam Jenkins:
Zurl’s spare style quickly captures his hero’s nature, but the characters are also offered in condensed and pithy bites. These descriptions [show] Zurl’s eye for the old style in a modern world.
Jenkins retains his hard-nosed, wise-cracking style of detectives such as Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe. [But] like all remarkable characters, this…tough guy has his sentimental side.
[Zurl’s] experience helped him master writing in an authentic, laid-back, hard-bitten police procedural style.
—US Reviews
Praise for A NEW PROSPECT
A New Prospect" by Wayne Zurl is a recommended read for anyone liking mystery stories with excellent characters. Zurl has set this novel in the perfect place, the mountains of Tennessee. Here we find true-to-life characters, an inside look at the 'good ole' boys' network, still active in many rural counties.
The plot grabs you from the onset and holds you. I found Zurl's dialogue to be realistic as was his descriptions.
Zurl has created an excellent protagonist, especially for us southerners. A New York detective retires and moves to the country. That in itself paints an interesting picture. However, lessons well learned up north come into play, but disrupt the locals way of life.
Zurl uses each character like an artist uses colors and creates a tense story that will keep the reader reading...that's the mark of a great novel.
Robert Lee Carey, Jr. Author of GABBY
ENDORSEMENTS FOR "A NEW PROSPECT":
James Gill
Retired professor of English Literature
University of Tennessee
“Your knowledge of police procedure and lingo is clearly superior…”
“The plot is well developed and the blocking forces to the investigation are credible.”
“I think you have a winner here. You and the chief have a wonderful sense of humor.”
William Greenleaf Editor, ghostwriter, and author of nine novels
“…this is an hilarious police story and you…bring out the conflicts and the suspense in a compelling captivating way. The characters loom large on the page. Sam [Jenkins] is, no doubt, a memorable character of high integrity and true grit. The reader can easily identify with him and will want to see him…hopefully in a whole series of books. Great job!”
.
ENDORSEMENT FOR "SCRAP METAL & MURDER":
J.D. Michael Phelps
Author of David Janssen – My Fugitive and The Execution of Justice
“Zurl has woven an excellent story.”
“I could not stop turning the pages.”
“He is an outstanding author each reader will thoroughly enjoy.”
ENDORSEMENT FOR "BY THE HORNS OF A COW"
Dr. James Hawkins
Author of A Common Virtue.
(Review on Amazon.com)
Wayne Zurl is at it again. One of the most remarkable writers of police adventures on the market today. This book, like all of Zurl’s others, is a blend of police resolve and investigative genius. If you buy any books this year, start with this one—you won’t be disappointed.
Retired police officer, author, and blogger, Kathleen Ryan has posted one of Wayne's short stories, SHOTS FIRED, on her blogspot. Take a look. It's free.
All royalties from any of Wayne's books paid during the 3rd quarter of 2010 will be donated to the National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial Fund in Washington DC. That organization's website may be seen at www.nleomf.org.
