What do you think?
Rate this book
Derek Mason Mystery #1
Fingering the Family Jewels
Book 1 of the Derek Mason Fingering the Family Jewels
Derek Mason arrives in Charlotte, North Carolina for the funeral of his Aunt Walterene. He encounters the family who sent him away because he revealed he was gay. His mother and Uncle Vernon want him out of town because of Vernon’s senate campaign. His sister and Aunt Ruby urge him to stay. His cousin Mark denies their past relationship. Derek uncovers mysteries in the death of a family gardener, possibly at the hands of a young Vernon. Secrets and lies unravel as Derek digs into the family history with the help of hunky reporter Daniel.
Derek Mason arrives in Charlotte, North Carolina for the funeral of his Aunt Walterene. He encounters the family who sent him away because he revealed he was gay. His mother and Uncle Vernon want him out of town because of Vernon’s senate campaign. His sister and Aunt Ruby urge him to stay. His cousin Mark denies their past relationship. Derek uncovers mysteries in the death of a family gardener, possibly at the hands of a young Vernon. Secrets and lies unravel as Derek digs into the family history with the help of hunky reporter Daniel.
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 15, 2004
59 people want to read
About the author
Greg Lilly
11 books31 followersGreg Lilly grew up in Bristol, Virginia then lived in Charlotte, North Carolina. The rich storytelling tradition of the South captivated him and he began writing. He first turned to creating short stories after plot lines and characters emerged from the technical manuals he wrote for a large family-owned corporation. His first novel, Fingering the Family Jewels – a Derek Mason Mystery, grew from those Charlotte experiences.
To escape the city and find a slower pace, he relocated to Sedona, Arizona for several years. During that time, his novels Devil's Bridge and Under a Copper Moon chronicled adventures of the high desert—present and past.
Scalping the Red Rocks is the next novel in the Derek Mason Mystery series and unites the Derek Mason characters with the lead characters of Devil's Bridge.
Greg’s non-fiction book is Sunsets & Semicolons – a Field Guide to the Writer’s Life. In the book, he shares his experiences and techniques – things that worked, not in academia or in New York City, but in the real world of freelancing and query letters and book signings. He has presented workshops and served on panels at the College of William & Mary's Christopher Wren Association, the Virginia Festival of the Book, the Virginia Writers Club, the World Bank in Washington D.C., Malice Domestic, Bouchercon, and the Sedona Arts Center in Sedona, Arizona. The kernel of the book came from requests for his workshop handouts and notes.
His latest novel, Stray, follows a son searching for his womanizer father who left almost 30 years before, a daughter grasping for her distant mother, and the shadows cast on them by the Lost Colony of Roanoke and Virginia’s witch trials.
Greg is a freelance writer, magazine editor, as well as a former Arts & Culture commissioner for the City of Sedona, Arizona, for the Williamsburg Area Arts Commission, and for the Abingdon Arts Commission. He serves on the Virginia Commission for the Arts’ Advisory Panel. Today, he writes and lives in the historic town of Abingdon in Southwestern Virginia.
His next book is a historical True Crime from Arcadia Publishing's The History Press scheduled for release in the summer of 2024.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 30, 2016
I guess it wasn't really for me... too much soap-opera and I found the characters to be pretty shallow.
May 30, 2022
Two and a half stars: The writing style is pleasant for the most part. But I found the "hero" Derek too annoying, immature and self-centered to really feel connected with what was going on. For instance, he comes cross country to a funeral and stays with his aunt who just suffered the loss, and whom he hardly ever sees but loves, then goes out for a one-night-stand with a man he just met. (Plus he was constantly described as smoking. Another turn-off.)
The mystery was ok in itself. I think the author would do well to retire Derek and use his talents to create stories around a more appealing character. Then I might try another one of his books. I don't plan to spend another 200 pages with Derek.
The mystery was ok in itself. I think the author would do well to retire Derek and use his talents to create stories around a more appealing character. Then I might try another one of his books. I don't plan to spend another 200 pages with Derek.
November 10, 2022
This was a fun read with a good plot. Lots of suspense and also a dose of humour.
June 13, 2007
As posted in [http://www.amazon.com]:
I bought this book because it's a mystery. Of course, I was thinking mystery like Jessica Fletcher or Michael Nava's Henry Rios. It was nothing like that. Of course, I do realize that one doesn't need to be a P.I. or an investigative lawyer to solve mysteries. That's what made this book enjoyable.
Derek flew in from San Francisco to Charlotte, NC, for Aunt Walterine's funeral. It's been 8 years since he's been in Charlotte. He was banished from his well-to-do family, after he came out, by his mother, whom he coined Gladys the [...].
Well, grief wasn't the only thing in store for Derek's return. He ran into his cousin, Mark, whom he had his first experience. Mark claimed to be a family man but can't keep his hands off of Derek. Derek bumped into Daniel, whom he went out for a drink and had a small conversation. It turned out that Daniel was a reporter and he published the information from Derek. The information is hurting his Uncle Vernon's campaign for a political office. To some family members, Derek couldn't have come at such a wrong time.
Meanwhile, Derek has uncovered a secret when he came across Aunt Walterine's diaries. A former gardner of the family was lynched. Derek is determined to find out who was involved and why. In his investigation, Derek doesn't just uncover a secret but secrets. Just how many secrets are in the family's closet, that's for you to read and find out.
Greg Lilly certainly made the characters as Southern and lively as they can be. It sure made me miss North Carolina as my partner is from there.
I couldn't not put down this book to read another day. I read about halfway. I put it down to watch a TV show before retiring for the night. Not even 10 minutes passed by that I turned off the TV and resumed reading. Yeah, I went to bed late but it was worth it.
I bought this book because it's a mystery. Of course, I was thinking mystery like Jessica Fletcher or Michael Nava's Henry Rios. It was nothing like that. Of course, I do realize that one doesn't need to be a P.I. or an investigative lawyer to solve mysteries. That's what made this book enjoyable.
Derek flew in from San Francisco to Charlotte, NC, for Aunt Walterine's funeral. It's been 8 years since he's been in Charlotte. He was banished from his well-to-do family, after he came out, by his mother, whom he coined Gladys the [...].
Well, grief wasn't the only thing in store for Derek's return. He ran into his cousin, Mark, whom he had his first experience. Mark claimed to be a family man but can't keep his hands off of Derek. Derek bumped into Daniel, whom he went out for a drink and had a small conversation. It turned out that Daniel was a reporter and he published the information from Derek. The information is hurting his Uncle Vernon's campaign for a political office. To some family members, Derek couldn't have come at such a wrong time.
Meanwhile, Derek has uncovered a secret when he came across Aunt Walterine's diaries. A former gardner of the family was lynched. Derek is determined to find out who was involved and why. In his investigation, Derek doesn't just uncover a secret but secrets. Just how many secrets are in the family's closet, that's for you to read and find out.
Greg Lilly certainly made the characters as Southern and lively as they can be. It sure made me miss North Carolina as my partner is from there.
I couldn't not put down this book to read another day. I read about halfway. I put it down to watch a TV show before retiring for the night. Not even 10 minutes passed by that I turned off the TV and resumed reading. Yeah, I went to bed late but it was worth it.
March 4, 2014
Derek Mason is living a happy and satisfying life in San Francisco until he gets a call from his mother telling him of the death of his beloved aunt. His Aunt Walterina along with her partner were always there for him, giving him unconditional love and acceptance especially when he dared to come out. Derek comes from affluent family in Charlotte, North Carolina and siblings who are many years old, a cold and distant mother, and a loving but ineffectual father.After talking to his roommate, Derek de ides to return to his hometown, to be there for Ruby, Walterine's partner and to see his sister Valerie ( who was always supportive), and his wayward brother and father. Derek refers to his mother as Bitch Gladiis, and a more cruel mother you'll never find. Also we discover that Derik's first love that happen to be his cousin Mark, political intrigue, and family secrets.This is a good read and highly recommended .
January 14, 2012
Hmmm, I was under the impression there would be more of a romantic involvement in this book, but that wasn’t the case. This is a pretty good mystery that happens to feature a gay leading character who bounces between an old fling and a new fling with minimal action occurring “on screen”. I was more than a little surprised by the outcome of the mystery itself and won’t go into any spoilers. Let’s just say the author also left one pretty big turn of events for the very end that I didn’t see coming at all. Enjoyable:)
January 5, 2012
I love a good mystery, and Greg Lilly delivers in this novel. I loved the emotion this story carried. Who doesn't have an issue or two in their own family? Fingering the Family Jewels highlights some family dysfunctions and weaves it seamlessly into the story line.
October 28, 2013
What a great story, I couldn't stop reading. I loved the characters and story line. I was biting my nails when Derek was trapped in the basement and the lights went out (I'm pretty sure I didn't scream, but I can't be sure). I cannot wait to see what else this author has written.
March 7, 2008
A nifty little mystery with a gay lead character.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews