James Andrus

As a law-enforcement officer I often read police novels and notice more what's missing than what's on the page. When I started writing this series featuring Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Detective John Stallings ,it was my hope to show police officers as more than just robots that enforce the law. No, you can't go on the job without thinking about your family just like you can't go home without bringing a little bit of the job with you, no matter how hard you try. John stallings is like a detective I know; Honest, ethical and clueless when it comes to relationships.

The investigation of a potential serial killer is an entirely different dynamic than a standard homicide. Not only is there the drive to solve a murder but the pressure to prevent another. The confluence of administration, media, investigation and family can create a pressure cooker few cops can survive. Someone always loses. Sometimes it's the neglected child, sometimes it's the investigation and sometimes it's the spouse who sits at home and wonders why this particular investigation appears to be more important than home life.

As a career law enforcement officer, I rarely watch TV crime shows. This is not an indictment of how well written or acted they may be, but more an odd feeling of how different my life is from the cops on TV. That's why I am so gratified when I get an e-mail from a reader who is a real life cop and gets what I'm trying to say in these series of books.

The next book in the series is due for release in the Fall of 2011. It will follow the investigation of a killer as well as clues to Stallings' missing daughter which emerge during the case.

Thank you for taking the time to check out the books in this short commentary. For more information please visit www.James Andrus books.com. I really appreciate the fan e-mail I've received and make every effort to answer it personally.

Best,

James Andrus