Deception in the Rainshadows - Softcover

James, Riley St.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0966261224 ISBN 13: 9780966261226

Publisher: Shadowcrest Pub, 1999

Synopsis

Venture into a riddling tale of deceit and murder on a stormy night in the polite and peaceful city of Portland, Oregon with author Riley St. James.

When a prominent married woman is found strangled in a wooded riverpark, her forsaken lover-a successful mystery writer-is swiftly imprisoned for the murder. Writing from within his harsh cell, the tormented author attempts to unravel his tangled web of deceit by penning the story of the scandalous crime.

About this title

About the Author

Riley St. James is an emerging West Coast mystety/supernatural author.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Lieutenant Brian Kierzek made his way to the core of the riverpark where he saw the heavy activity taking place inside a large rectangular area cordoned off by bright yellow police-line barrier tape. The atmosphere was hushed as everyone moved around warily, speaking in lowered voices-strange, but typical behavior whenever a corpse lay in their midst. The death scene, he thought. Slowly approaching the site, he inhaled deeply when he saw the still bulge lying near the edge of the riverwalk, covered with a black body tarp.

Officer Ed Cuyler kept his distance as Kierzek ducked his gangly body underneath the tape. He knew not to crowd the vigilant detective at this moment. He'd learned to leave his boss alone while he adjusted to the realism of the grim discovery. All the activity in the immediate area slowly ceased. Everyone who didn't already know Kierzek's style in treating death had been briefed before he'd arrived. The casual veil of "just another stiff" had to be lifted. Moreover, any gallows humor, a prevalent undercurrent at all crime scenes, would be dealt with harshly if Kierzek got wind of it.

Kierzek steadily pulled the body tarp back, gently laying it on the woman's waist. He turned back and looked into her face, seeing her motionless but distinct features projecting through the gray-white pallor of death. Even now, in the primary stages of rigor mortis, she appeared beautiful and cultured. He instinctively ran his index finger down her stiffening cheek and onto her neck, noticing that she still had some warmth in her body. He looked at his watch, shaking his head as he thought how violently she must have fought for the body to cool this gradually...

Edition details

• Publisher: Shadowcrest Pub
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0966261224
• ISBN 13: 9780966261226
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 402