Rex Royale

by Jack Erickson

The weekend before Memorial Day, Shasta County Sheriff divers recover two decomposed bodies from Lake Britton, a peaceful vacation resort near Mt. Shasta. The first body is that of Rex Royale, a charismatic Las Vegas casino mogul who is building a controversial Indian casino on Lake Britton.The second body is that of an itinerant woman with no apparent connection to Royale. A San Francisco Chronicle reporter, Tyler Bonnard, who discovered Royale’s body, links up with freelance writer Hannah Bergren to report on the crimes. Hannah is a young widow raising preteen daughters. She wrote high-profile business stories about Royale and had an affair with him that ended days before he disappeared. Hannah kept their affair secret and fears that, if it is exposed, it will damage her reputation in the community and severely impact her daughters’ social standing with friends at their middle school. As Tyler and Hannah investigate the double murder, they uncover mysterious arsons, other missing women, and infiltrate a shady clan of rogue backwoodsmen living in a remote hunting lodge. In a violent climax, Hannah and Tyler discover that the crimes are connected to decades-old murders covered up by one of Burney’s most respected citizens.

337 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 20, 2012

About the author

My interest in fiction, especially mysteries, started when I was about ten years old and read my first Hardy Boys books, "Secret of the Old Clock," I think the title was. I saved up from mowing lawns and running errands to buy every title I could. They were only $1.00 each, but when you're only making 25 cents an hour, it takes time to save those nickels and dimes.

And then I discovered shelves of exciting books at my hometown Andrew Carnegie Memorial library just two blocks away from our middle class home in the Midwest. By that time I was reading "The Saturday Evening Post," "Collier's," "Life," "Look," "Time," "Argosy," "True," "Photoplay," that my parents subscribed to and others I can't remember. Needless to say, I skimmed through them all, and devoured short stories by John O'Hara, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, Herman Wouk, and Earl Stanley Gardner.

I believe my early interest in reading was a major factor in liking school. Writing term papers was no big deal, and we all know how important that is at university. I enjoyed the many choices available with a liberal arts education and sampled liberally from science, history, languages, art history, literature, and political science.

Those wide ranging interests are probably a factor in the careers I chose, including Russian specialist in U.S. government, legislative aide and speechwriter in U.S. Senate, free-lance writer, former publisher (Red Brick Press) and author of several craft brewing books in the early days of the industry. My most recent career was in financial services from which I recently retired to travel and write.

I've been writing fiction, mostly mysteries and romantic suspense, and have several projects that will be published in the next few months.

I'm always fascinated how people become readers and writers. I'd love to hear your stories how writing chose you.

Reviews

[Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The serenity of far Northern California’s Lake Britton (near the small town of Burney) is shaken by the discovery of two corpses in the lake by fishermen just before the Memorial Day weekend. Even though the bodies are discovered early in the book the first two chapters have the languid feel of “A River Runs Through It”.

Once the sheriff’s investigation begins the pace quickens and violence ensues. Small town social dynamics are fully on display. We meet the denizens of the Blue Tattoo bar and the secretive hunting lodge/firing range whose patrons’ love of guns is seemingly the strongest emotion in their lives. These characters evoked the feeling of “Deliverance” and the rest of the book has that gritty, scary feeling that no one is safe until the murders are solved.

We see the story unfold through journalists Tyler Bonnard and Hannah Bergren. Thrust together by necessity the development of their professional and then personal relationship follows a tension filled path.

Questions abound in the story and are finally resolved in a violent confrontation brought on by the journalistic curiosity of Hannah Bergren that reveals a closely guarded secret long harboured by a respected local citizen.

Rex Royale isn’t a perfect read but the juxtaposition of bucolic Burney and the violence lurking just beneath the surface of a small town provide the canvas for an intriguing mystery.

[Tripip · Rating 1 out of 5]

Investigative reporter, Tyler Bonnar, has the unfortunate luck of discovering the body of a casino mogul in the river by his summer home.

This is the first book for me by this author and I found it a slog to get through. While this story is a murder mystery, I found most of the read meandered through Tyler’s daily life. Tyler fishing with his friend, Sanjay. Tyler visiting with his kid, Randy. Tyler and his romantic interest, Hannah, a free lance reporter, holidaying with their respective children. While Tyler and Hannah band together to ask questions re the 2 dead bodies discovered in the river, it doesn’t seem to lead anywhere. The ah-ha moment comes rather suddenly and seemingly without any investigation leadup.

For those who are sensitive to animal involvement, there is a rather gruesome and bloody scene with a raccoon that seemed rather gratuitous.

This read was not for me.

I received a free copy from Nethgalley. This is my unbiased review.

[KerryO · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mystery about the discovery of two bodies in Lake Britton, a vacation enclave in Shasta County, California, brings together Tyler Bonnard, a San Francisco Chronicle reporter, and Hannah Bergren, a freelance reporter with a mysterious link to one of the dead bodies. This is tight and well-written suspense featuring many distinct characters found in small town, off the beaten track communities. Tyler’s problems with his ex-wife and Hannah’s past reveal interesting details about their personalities. If you enjoy mysteries, this is a definite read. I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed are my own.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rex Royale by Jack Erickson.
When the decomposed body of a charismatic Las Vegas casino mogul is recovered from a northern California lake resort, a reporter and free lance writer investigate. They discover the community’s dark secrets; missing women, arsons, police corruption, and rogue backwoodsmen in a remote hunting lodge. A startling discovery reveals a decades old murder committed by one of the community's leaders.
I really enjoyed this book. Tyler Harriet and Hannah were my favourite characters. Lots of action. I couldn't put it down. 5*.

[RonMele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, fun read! I’m new to this author but enjoy his writing style. The book has plenty of action and plot lines to keep you interested and guessing who the “bad guy” is. I thought I had it figured out but NO…and no spoiler here. Definitely recommend this one.