The Missing Sniper

by Earl Staggs

Adam Kingston uses his psychic gift to assist law enforcement agencies solve crimes. In THE MISSING SNIPER, he travels to Florida to help a young sheriff stop a killer who tried to assassinate a politician and threatens to try again. Adam quickly learns the sheriff is not telling him everything and finds himself involved in much more than he bargained for. To figure it all out, Adam needs the help of a legendary singer, an old Army blanket, and a mischievous two-year-old with busy fingers. A short story featuring the main character from MEMORY OF A MURDER by Earl Staggs.

40 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 17, 2012

About the author

Derringer Award winning author Earl Staggs has seen many of his short stories published in magazines and anthologies. He served as Managing Editor of Futures Mystery Magazine and as President of the Short Mystery Fiction Society. His novel Memory of a Murder earned thirteen Five Star reviews online at Amazon and B&N. His column “Write Tight” appears in Apollo’s Lyre and he is a contributing member of Make Mine Mystery and Murderous Musings. He also hosts a Workshop for the Muse Online Writers Conference and is a frequent speaker at conferences and writers groups.

Reviews

[Tana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earl Staggs writing is excellent; he has written a short mystery tale that you get swept into right in the beginning. Sometimes I find when reading short novels you feel like you’re missing something or details get left out. But Earl Staggs writing was not lacking a thing, his character development is great and you get to know the main characters and his writing flowed well and before you know it your on the last page.

We meet Adam Kingston who has a psychic gift and uses it to help police to solve crimes. He receives a phone call from Sheriff Dillon Corbin who needs his help trying to find the sniper who tried to assignate their State Senator.

This story is faced paced and you see the mystery unfold right in front of you. It was a fantastic read and I defiantly would recommend it to anyone who loves mysteries.

[Peter Boysen · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was younger, I devoured the mysteries of Agatha Christie. My favorites were the ones in which Miss Marple gently worked her way to the solution, lifting lie after lie out of the way. I also enjoyed, though, the way that Hercule Poirot saw so quickly through the puzzles around him, flying to a solution so quickly that those around him were bedazzled -- a literary descendant of Poe's Dupin.

If you enjoy Hercule Poirot, you'll enjoy Adam in this short story. The mystery is not difficult to figure out -- you'll likely identify the villain as soon as you meet him -- but the supremely confident Adam, with his constant need for coffee, will remind you of Poirot's constant attention to his mustaches. Adam's semi-emo condescension toward Dillon will remind you of the way Poirot treats Inspector Japp, his friend Hastings, and anyone else he deals with.

My personal taste is more toward the flawed detective -- James Lee Burke is a big favorite of mine right now. But in the tradition of the quasi-first-person mystery, that takes you through some gentle twists and turns to an outcome, "The Missing Sniper" is a fine addition.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right up front, I want to say that I was comped the book in exchange for this review. My honest opinion of the book has only one bad thing to say - it was a couple hundred pages short. There was good characterization, with well-developed people involved. I would like to read more from this guy! Bring it on, Mr. Staggs! I like Adam and see much potential in this shortie. It's a very quick, smooth read. We want more!

[Kevintipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to his gift, Adam Kingston knew he would get a phone call. Who was calling, why he would be called, he didn’t know. But, he knew it would be a call about someone dying somewhere and he would be involved. Hard to sleep when you know something is going to happen. Hard to sleep when you know for absolute certainty just enough to be worried.

The phone call finally comes by way of Sheriff Dillon Corbin of Mendes County, Florida. Adam is on a master list of Law Enforcement consultants and the good Sheriff needs his help. Three weeks ago somebody tried to take out a State Senator. While they know where the shots came from they knew nothing else and have no suspects. The shooter is still out there and may try again if he or she isn’t stopped.

Soon Adam is in Jacksonville, Florida with Sheriff Dillon working the case. The target, Senator Willy Thornton, has plenty of enemies because of his politics and the way he lives his life. Business rivals, spouses of the women he has seduced and many others have good reason to want him dead. Good thing Adam has a bit of ability with extra sensory perception and can pick up a few images along the way as he helps with the case.

Released from Untreed Reads last January this is the short story that ultimately gave rise to Earl Staggs' powerfully good novel Memory of A Murder. This cozy style type read is full of twists and turns and on that will keep you very entertained as it moves through the pages.

The Missing Sniper
Earl Staggs
http://earlwstaggs.wordpress.com/
Untreed Reads
http://tinyurl.com/7nxafun
January 2012
E-book
$1.50

It should be noted as I have mentioned before Earl and I are members of a local writer’s group. Because of Earl’s ongoing willingness to drive me and put up with my slowly worsening mobility issues and needs, I am still able to sporadically attend. Beyond that, I consider Earl to be a good friend and mentor. However, I did not ever provide any assistance through the group or have any input at all on this story as it was first published years ago before I joined the local writers group. Earl supplied this story quite some time ago for possible review.


Kevin R. Tipple ©2012
Book Reviews and More... http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

a very short book. more like a short story.