Saving Jake: A Jack Dantzler Mystery

by Tom Wallace

Monica Hardin’s badly destroyed body is discovered in the trunk of a car. She had been shot, then acid was poured on her. The bullet that killed Monica is traced to a weapon owned by Detective Jake Thomas, who previously had a relationship with Monica. Police seize Jake’s weapon and determine it had recently been fired. Based on this evidence, Jake is arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Because Jake is a local homicide cop, the Lexington police hand over the case to the Kentucky State Police. Miranda Bailey, a KSP detective, is brought in to investigate. This doesn’t sit well with Jack Dantzler. He has never met Miranda, nor does he know her skills as an investigator. So he decides to run a parallel investigation. He is not about to put Jake’s future in the hands of a stranger.

As Dantzler digs into the case, three more murders occur. Lexington detectives Vee Jefferson and Adrian Love are brought in to work those cases. Dantzler soon comes to believe all four murders are connected. To solve the crimes, he reluctantly joins forces with Miranda, Vee and Adrian.

These are complex cases, but only one thing matters to Dantzler—saving Jake.

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 27, 2026

About the author

Tom Wallace is the author of two previous detective novels, What Matters Blood and The Devil’s Racket, both set in Lexington, Kentucky, where he currently lives. The Heirs of Cain will be his first novel published by Medallion Press. It is the story of a legendary assassin who must track down a former comrade hired to kill the U.S. president and three top Middle East leaders.

Tom spent many years as a successful, award-winning sportswriter/editor in his native Kentucky. He authored five sports-related books, including the highly popular Kentucky Basketball Encyclopedia, an in-depth history of the University of Kentucky’s legendary hoops program. He has contributed articles and columns to numerous national sports magazines, and has also done writing/editing on two national bestsellers by basketball coach Rick Pitino—Success Is A Choice And Lead To Succeed.

Tom is a Vietnam vet, an avid reader, and an admittedly snobbish movie guy. He is also an active member of Mystery Writers of America and the Author’s Guild. Tom’s two artistic icons are Marlon Brando and Leonard Cohen.