The River Rat Murders

by Frank L. Gertcher

The River Rat Murders presents the first part of the diary of Caroline Case, a Wabash Valley Madame, during Prohibition. After the murder of her friend Alec in 1921, Caroline becomes an amateur but extremely resourceful detective. She and her mysterious new friend, Hannibal Jones, her "girls" and an odd assortment of local characters solve five murders. They get no help from the authorities, who are on the take from gangsters who control the booze trade in the Valley.
Caroline, Hannibal and their friends call themselves "The River Rat Detective Agency." As they solve the murders, they become involved in the war between Al Capone and the North Side gang over control of the booze trade. There are shootouts, kidnappings and daring rescues.
Over time (1921-1928), Caroline evolves from humble beginnings into a sophisticated, liberated woman. She accumulates wealth from investments in speakeasies, roadhouses and upscale salons. She uses her money to help her friends and to invest in legitimate businesses. After the fifth murder and an attempt on her life, she and Hannibal escape to their first adventure outside of the Valley.
In 1928, just before the crash of the stock market, Caroline and Hannibal solve a sixth murder, this time at a high-end resort in Florida. This murder relates back to murders in the Valley and to Al Capone, who has his vacation house at 93 Palm Island, Miami Beach, Florida. At the end of the story, Capone lifts the bounty on Caroline, and she and Hannibal are off to new adventures.
In this second Wind Grass Hill murder-mystery, Frank L. Gertcher lets Caroline Case tell her own story of booze, gang wars, love and adventure. Although fiction, Caroline's story rings true to the fascinating history and colorful characters who lived, loved and died in the bawdy towns along the Wabash River during the heyday of Prohibition. More murder mysteries will follow, as Caroline and Hannibal continue their adventures!

262 pages, Hardcover

Published September 13, 2019

About the author

My wife Linda and I travel the world doing research for my books. Our home is in the lovely Shell Point Retirement Community near Fort Myers, Florida. I was born in Clinton, Vermillion County, Indiana. For many years, my father and I fished and trapped on the Wabash River for a major portion of our family income. My teenage years were spent on a farm in Sullivan County. As an adult, my degrees include a BS in Electrical Engineering, an MS in Engineering Management, an MBA and a PhD in Economics. I served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force. I had another 22-year career as a scientist and engineer, building weapon systems for the Department of Defense. My publications include six books and a number of papers in scientific journals. I traveled to and lived in many places around the world, but I am still a Hoosier at heart.

Reviews

[Lauren Domeier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this book after meeting Frank on a recent book tour! I was extremely impressed with not only his passion for his writing, but the story itself. Looking forward to reading another.

[Clint Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I could write like Gertcher. The River Rat Murders is a very enjoyable read. The story is set in rural Indiana during prohibition. There are competing gangs trying to control the local alcohol supplies, leading to threats, murders, kidnappings, corrupt politicians, and blackmail. The protagonists weave their way through these multiple problems while gaining respect and then love for each other.

[Fran Burdsall · Rating 3 out of 5]

In spite of maybe half a dozen murders in bawdy prohibition Indiana, this book was so mild and naïve that I just couldn't warm up to the bland heroine and her sweet cohorts. There are gangsters and prostitutes, heroes and villains, and oh my!

[Amie Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A client of mine recommended it as an easy read with a good suspense/mystery/whodunnit feel. I like that, and it was a good book. Starting the second book in the series now. I wish people wouldn’t be so critical on new/small authors, give them a chance! You will more than likely enjoy it, if suspense is in your wheelhouse.

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I met the author at a bookstore and liked him, so I bought his book. I did not like the book, however.

My first objection was the formatted setting. The book purports to be a diary. This is fine, being a well-established literary form. As you read the book, however, many parts just don't sound like a diary. Narrative sounds like standard narrative. The book would have flowed better if the diary angle had just been dropped, or if genuine diary-like entries has been inserted into a reminiscence format as backup.

The next objection was the insertion of factual details of new (for the time) products. This is done to make it sound authentic for the period. Yes, the author has done some period research, but it sounds the same way that someone sounds when they point out all the features of some new thing they have... pretentious. Weaving facts into a narrative so that they seem natural is a true talent. The author needs to work on this.

All this aside, the book has a coherent plot, and the story rolls along well. It is easy to read, and would have been an excellent story, but for the things mention above, which, for me, were a significant distraction.

[John Schorg · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've never thought it would be possible to say that a book dealing with prostitution, murder, and bootlegging could be called genteel, but this comes very close. All sorts of unsavory people and activities are dealt with in a manner designed to avoid as much moral ambiguity as possible, starting with a heroine who just happens to run a whorehouse. It also must be mentioned that the same heroine constantly interrupts the flow of dialogue with deep thoughts that are painfully obvious at first, then become annoyingly redundant on the 50th iteration.

[Sharon Claxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The River Rat Murders. I could not put it down and read it in one sitting. Caroline Case the liberated "Madam" living in the 1920's was a well thought out character, and it was exciting to read her adventures. I am looking forward to reading more books in Wind Grass Hill Series.

[John McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unlikely team of detectives come together to solve a group of murders in prohibition days. Well done and very entertaining!!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting historical fiction, fun read, enjoyed the characters. Will read the next one.

[Diana Modica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I met the author at a local bookstore and was excited to read his book - after reading fifty pages, I knew it wasn't for me. I did not finish it.

[Texas Bookworms]

The story is back in the bootlegging days when a woman in her late 20's help solve murders that is in her town that is corrupted by police and gangs.