A Fishy Tale (Paperback or Softback)

Winner of the International Firebird Book Awards: 1st Place in the Humor category

A Fishy Tale's ability to cross lines of discovery while leading with laughter makes the story engrossing, unpredictable, and fun as the search for a murder suspect embraces a community in turmoil. The unexpected blend of boating and fishing experience, murder mystery, and wry inspections of marriage and watery circumstances, with the humor overlay, works very well. These elements create a compelling story that should entertain even readers who do not normally choose comedy or murder mysteries. -- Midwest Book Review

When a couple of brothers pull a ninety-pound fish out of a Virginia lake, they know that something strange is 'goin' on.' Jason and Chelsea Longfellow, amateur PIs, dive into the mystery of what might connect the soggy body of a businessman, several missing fishermen, and a medical biotech company. John J. Jessop propels 'A Fishy Tale' with the speed of a Nitro Z21 Bass Boat toward its shocking conclusion. -- Henry G. Brinton, Author, Windows of the Heavens.

Dr. Jason Longfellow, PI and amateur sleuth, and nurse wife Chelsea leave the hustle and bustle of Northern Virginia behind when Chelsea inherits a fortune. She convinces Jason to move the family to a wilderness lake, with the plan to set up their own PI agency, Chelsea Longfellow, PI, and Associate. Her inheritance, her company.

So much for the peaceful life. Someone, or something, is killing fishermen at night. Folks are scared; fishing tournaments are being cancelled and local businesses suffering. The killer must be stopped. Clues pile up. Someone is illegally dumping barrels of waste into the lake under the cover of night. Striped bass are increasing in size at an alarming rate. Then the young wife of the CEO of a local drug company hires the two PIs to find her missing husband. Desperate to catch the killer, Chelsea decides to use her husband/associate as live bait. Jason is not on board with this idea.

It's mystery, mayhem, murder, and merriment on a mountain lake. Will Chelsea's plan work? Will Jason use his hard head to come up with a better plan? Will Chelsea really demote her husband to Junior PI for disobeying her orders? Studies have shown that it's not a good idea to take life too seriously, and laughter really is the best medicine.

John J Jessop, Ph.D., pharmacology, worked in the drug and biopharmaceutical industry for 40 years (FDA and industry). This sounds highly technical, and boring. In real life, John has a vivid imagination, is addicted to creativity, enjoys reading, and a good long nap. In retirement he redirected his knowledge and expertise to writing the perfect murder mystery.

John and his wife live in St. Augustine, Florida. His favorite things are writing, walks on the beach, driving his Subaru WRX on curvy roads (note: there aren’t any in Florida), visiting with daughters, binge-reading murder mystery series, and taking naps.

About the Author Website: johnjjessop.comJohn J Jessop, Ph.D., pharmacology, worked in the drug and biopharmaceutical industry for 40 years (FDA and industry). This sounds highly technical, and boring. In real life, John has a vivid imagination, is addicted to creativity, enjoys reading, and a good long nap.In retirement John redirected his knowledge and expertise to writing the perfect murder mystery. He started as an indie author, publishing two dark murder mysteries, the Guardian Angel Series: FBI Agent Cooper pursues a serial killer/terrorist and an elusive cult leader.Then John switched to humor, creating Medical Biotech Murder Mysteries, wacky mysteries with imaginative plots involving gene therapy, vaccines gone awry, unusual drug side effects, and more.Dr. Jason Longfellow is a bored FDA drug reviewer and part-time dysfunctional PI, whose nurse wife Chelsea solves most of his cases while struggling to keep him alive. PLEASURIA: Take as Directed (published by Koehler Books) includes an effective antidepressant with a unique side effect that will knock your socks off and can be lethal. In Murder by Road Trip: Jason and family drive cross country for a job interview at a biotech company. The mystery, why someone wants to steal Jason's teeth (co-written with John's daughter, Jacqueline). In The Realtor's Curse: Jason and Chelsea travel to St. Augustine, Florida to buy a beachfront condo. Things go south quickly, with raging realtors, condos of death, and killer mosquitoes. 2022 Firebird Book Awards first place winner for both mystery and humor. John and his wife live in St. Augustine, Florida. His favorite things are writing, walks on the beach, driving his Subaru WRX on curvy roads (note: there aren't any in Florida), visiting with daughters, binge-watching murder mysteries, and taking naps.His favorite authors are Robert B. Parker and J.A. Jance. His heroes are Steve Martin, Gene Wilder, Dan Ackroyd, Bill Murray, and Mel Brooks. Studies have shown that it's healthier if you don't take life too seriously.