Coming soon: Black Lion

A brief excerpt from “Black Lion,” the sixth “Accidental Detective” novel, coming this September! Join the adventure as Isaac Shepherd and Dionne Robertson initiate the final battle with the greatest psychopath they’ve ever encountered!
Available in paperback or ebook format on Amazon Sept. 20th!
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“Good evening, Mr. Lýkos,” Shepherd said clearly in a ringing tone, “Would you care for a game of chess?”
Lýkos and Moran both froze, the backs of their necks displaying equal amounts of tense muscles and taut tendons stretching the skin.
Releasing their hands, the two men turned slowly in a parody of a romantic Broadway dance number.
Moran’s jaw hit the floor like a broken promise.
Lýkos swallowed, working the shock out of his mouth, “Mr…Mr. Shepherd. I was under the impression you were still in Virginia. In fact, I had word that you were being questioned by Philadelphia police representatives today.”
“I possess many magical powers,” Shepherd responded breezily, “For example, I mastered the mystic art of being in two places at once…sometimes even three.”
“I see,” Lýkos said slowly, voice deliberate, “Your brother took your place. Silly of me to have allowed the swap to go unnoticed.”
“Well, don’t be too hard on yourself,” Shepherd replied genially, ignoring the stares of the people Lýkos had been talking to, “After all, my brothers are alive. If you hadn’t murdered yours, you’d be able to practice the same type of magic that I do.”
“Mr. Moran, you’re forgetting your manners,” Robertson said, adopting a more sedate manner than she had previously exhibited, “I thought you always greeted a lady?”
Moran looked as though she’d just shoved a lemon studded with rusty nails into his rectum, but he swallowed and nodded, “Good evening.”
“Lovely to see you again,” Robertson smiled delicately, “Speaking as a fellow athlete, I must compliment on you on your physique. You’ve clearly maintained a good training regimen. I would enjoy discussing training techniques. Perhaps we could even have a sparring match before long? Compare our respective styles and levels of combat?”
Lýkos blinked.
Shepherd was pleased to see his adversary was still struggling to get his feet back under him.
“James,” Lýkos finally said, “Perhaps you and Chief…it is Chief, isn’t it, Ms. Robertson?”
“Yes, thank you,” Robertson said, meeting those cold, lizard-like eyes evenly, If Isaac can handle staring into the eyes of evil, I sure as hell can!
“Well, as I was saying,” Lýkos began again, “James, I do believe you and Chief Robertson here could certainly gain a great deal of experience from such a bout. I think the chief would find your extensive hand-to-hand combat experience an eye-opening moment of personal education, don’t you?”
“And what of our personal combat, Mr. Lýkos?” Shepherd gestured most pleasantly to a board, “We were sadly forced to leave our last game unfinished. May I challenge you to a rematch?”
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“The Accidental Detective” and “Black Lion” are copyright Nathanael Miller, all rights reserved.