Plugged Nickel

Jake Hatch #1

by Robert Wright Campbell

The night was pitch black, filled with driving rain when the California Zephyr jolted to a stop on a desolate stretch outside McCook, Nebraska. Somebody pulled the emergency brake, catapulting Jake Hatch out of the train --- and onto a severed corpse. He stumbled over the trousered bottom half. Someone else found the torso, neatly divided at the belt.

It was Hatch's job to piece together the truth. All he had to go on was a book of sonnets and a money clip in one pocket, and three cigarette butts and a lipsticked handkerchief in the other. And a plugged nickel, now hidden in his own pocket, leading him to a criminal mastermind, a case of espionage, and an almost perfect murder.

Genres: Mystery

176 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 1988

About the author

A screenwriter who turned to writing novels. Many of his earlier books were published as by R. Wright Campbell but later works were credited to Robert W. Campbell or simply Robert Campbell. He also published one book as F.G. Clinton. For more, see his obituary in the Los Angeles Times.

Reviews

[Lee Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little about about a railroad detective and a murder mystery on the Amtrak Zephyr. Full of more twists and turns than a roller coaster, it’s an entertaining read.

Highly recommended

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short-lived series--only two books about a railroad detective. Set in the 1980s, but really harking back to the 1930s, the character seems out of place--but what the hey? Campbell was an entertaining writer, and well worth a read for mystery fans.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not really a mystery fan but this one was a fun read.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

RR detective, modern setting with retro flavor

[Jim Hager · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the railroad setting - it was described well