The Good, the Bad and the Murderous

Sid Chance Myseries #2

by Chester D. Campbell

Medicare fraud, drug trafficking, a hired killer, a crooked cop, it's a nightmare scenario PI Sid Chance finds himself in when he takes a tough assignment-prove a young man just out of prison for murder when he was twelve did not commit a new homicide. Everything is thrown upside down when Jaz LeMieux, the wealthy ex-cop working with him on the case, finds herself accused of a despicable crime, and the evidence is damning. When a hit man comes after Sid, all hell breaks loose.

About the Author
 
Chester D. Campbell is the author of seven thrillers and mysteries featuring private investigators in Nashville. This is the second book in his Sid Chance series.
 
Praise for Chester D. Campbell's
 
"A gem of a writer." - Crimespree Magazine
 
"Riveting." - Women on Writing
 
"Unique." - The Best Reviews
 
"Creative imagery." - Blue Iris Journal
 
"Fabulous mysteries." - Midwest Book Review
 
"Excellent." - Front Page Reviews
 
"Intriguing and Entertaining." - The (Nashville) Tennessean
 
"Masterful plotting." - Spinetingler Magazine

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

257 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Chester D. Campbell was born in Nashville, TN in 1925, smack in the midst of the "Roaring Twenties." Though too young for such at the time, he had visions of roaring "off into the wild blue yonder." After more than a year and a half of non-roaring during World War II, he left the service as an Aviation Cadet and studied journalism. His first taste of mysteries came early in his newspaper career when he read two novels by Horace McCoy. Over the next 42 years, he spun words as a reporter, freelance journalist, political speechwriter, advertising copywriter, magazine editor, and public relations pro. He kept his dream of creating mysteries alive and took up novel writing on retirement. He has currently published five Greg McKenzie Mysteries and two books featuring PI Sid Chance. He has added three Post Cold War thrillers and a standalone suspense story . The Greg McKenzie character had his origins in Campbell's Air Force experience. After serving as an intelligence officer in the Korean War, he remained in the Air National Guard, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He and his wife, Sarah, live in Nashville, TN.

Reviews

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the request of Jaz LeMieux, private investigator Sid Chance agrees to help Djuan Burden, who is accused of murder. Djuan’s grandmother is a long time friend of Jaz’s live-in housekeeper, Marie Wallace. Djuan has only been out of jail for about six months and now he is back in jail on a murder charge. His grandmother is convinced that he is innocent and Jaz wants to do everything she can to help a friend of Marie’s.

Jaz is an ex-cop and wealthy business owner but enjoys being a sidekick on Sid’s investigations. When the two visit Djuan’s grandmother, they discover that Djuan went to a small medical equipment store in Nashville’s Green Hills section. The purpose of his visit was to complain about charges on his grandmother’s Medicare account. Djuan’s grandmother, Rachel Ransom, had not paid a lot of attention to the many notices she received from Medicare but when Djuan saw that she had been charged for items such as a power wheelchair he decided to complain. Rachel has never owned a wheel chair and has no need of one. When Djuan went to the equipment store to complain, he found a dead man behind the desk. Frightened that he would be accused of murder because of his prison history, he ran. A witness spotted Djuan leaving the scene of the crime and the police immediately charged him with murder. A crooked cop who had no qualms about planting evidence didn’t help Djuan’s case one bit.

Besides trying to assist Sid in the murder investigation Jaz was also dealing with a problem of her own. Jaz’ company has been accused of racial discrimination. There was no basis for the accusation, but the fact that it had been made brought about a lot of bad publicity for Jaz and her company.

Before Sid can prove that Djuan did not commit murder, Jaz finds that she is in trouble with the police. As the two work together to clear both Djuan and the false accusations against Jaz, it becomes obvious to Sid that there is a professional hit man in town and it would appear the hit man has decided that Sid will be his next victim.

This is a great addition to the Sid Chance series. The problem of Medicare fraud needs to be addressed because so many older people like Djuan’s mother don’t take time to analyze all the information they receive from Medicare so phony charges many times are paid and go unnoticed.

Chester Campbell’s books always make good reads but the Sid Chance series is special.

[Tulay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good people, with good friends wins always.

This is the second book in this series and bought of them very good. Sid and Jazz gets into trouble but they believe in each other, love those characters. Hope in the future there will be more books about their adventurers.

[Steve Edelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

ANOTHER ‘SID CHANCE’ PAGE-TURNER

“The Good, The Bad And The Murderous” is the second in the Sid Chance Mystery Series. Mr. Campbell tells a masterful tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat as Sid and Jaz, an unlikely crime-solving duo, find themselves investigating multiple murders that, at first blush, seem totally unrelated.

This should be on everyone’s ‘quarantine reading list’,

[Robbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure why I started this series with #2, but I plan to go back and read the first one also. This was a good book - I liked the characters and their interaction with each other. I rate this one 4.7 stars.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

After a slow start, the details and action picked up. Sid and his assistant, Jazz LeMieux, make a fun couple of detectives to watch. It is nice to read a clean mystery!

[Kevintipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Good, The Bad and The Murderous: A Sid Chance Thriller is the second book in the series that began with The Surest Poison. As such, while this novel could be read as a stand-alone, there are the occasional references to the earlier book in the series. It is recommended that you read that book prior to this one.

Djuan Burden has been arrested for murder by the Metro Nashville Police Department. It isn’t the first time this has happened and once again his Granny does not think he did it. While Jasmine LeMieux has arranged for defense counsel, she wants Sid’s professional assistance as a private investigator. She also pledges to volunteer her help and is not about to take no for an answer. While Sid doesn’t want the case, he agrees to look into things a little bit and listen to what the grandmother says.

It isn’t long before he is fully involved and not just because he owes powerful business woman Jasmine LeMieux. She has problems of her own and she better start taking them very seriously. As both situations escalate proving the truth of the matters becomes harder and harder.

Readers familiar with author Chester Campbell’s work are sure to like this one. In both the Greg McKenzie Mysteries series and this series, the characters are real, the clues are few, and the suspects are many. Plenty of action and adventure abound with nothing reaching ridiculous levels that would throw readers out of the read. Book two of this series, The Good, The Bad and The Murderous: A Sid Chance Mystery is a tighter faster read than the first and a better book in my opinion.

The Good, The Bad and The Murderous: A Sid Chance Mystery
Chester Campbell
http://www.chesterdcampbell.com/
Night Shadows Press
http://www.nightshadowspress.net
November 2011
ISBN# 978-0984604449
Paperback (also available as an e-book)
264 Pages
$15.00


Material was picked up during the author’s recent free e-book promotion for my use in an objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2013
Mind Slices and Carpathian Shadows, Volume II
Book Reviews and More http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/

[Gloria Feit · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his seventh novel [six have featured p.i. Greg McKenzie], Chester Campbell has brought back for only the second time Sid Chance. Chance is a former member of the Army Special Forces in Vietnam, and had been a National Parks ranger for nineteen years, as well as a small town police chief for ten. He has now set up shop as a private investigator in Nashville, Tennessee, occasionally but ably assisted by his good friend, “Jaz” LeMieux. At Jaz’ behest, and despite Sid’s skepticism, he agrees to look into the arrest of a young man accused of murder. One of the major factors in how convinced the cops are of his guilt is the fact that he had served several years in prison after killing another young man when he was all of twelve years old in the aftermath of a drug deal. The current murder, of which he protests his innocence, and as Sid and Jaz investigate it, appears to have connections to a Medicare fraud set-up. As the investigation proceeds, Sid becomes more and more convinced that the boy is innocent, and that moreover his own personal integrity is at stake, and things heat up. On a more personal level, Jaz herself has been accused of racial harassment of an employee of her company, which morphs into something much more serious as the tale unfolds, and she and Sid believe that they are both being set up. The good, the bad and the murderous indeed.

Jaz is a fascinating character: Now a successful businesswoman, she had served in the Air Force Security Police, and spent a few years as a professional boxer before becoming a patrolwoman with the Metro Nashville police force. This is a well-written and strongly plotted novel, and is a welcome addition to the series. I loved the regular poker group to which Jaz and Sid belong, which they call the Miss Demeanor and Five Felons Poker Club, among whose members are a former Criminal Court Judge and a retired reporter, as well as the tip of the hat from the author to Tim Hallinan and his Bangkok mystery novels, and to Lee Child and his Jack Reacher books.

A very enjoyable read, and one that is recommended.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Djuan Burden, recently released from a prison term for murder, is in the wrong place at the wrong time. He finds himself arrested and again charged with murder. Sid Chance agrees to assist his friend Jaz LeMieux in proving Burden's innocence, although at the outset he believes him guilty. Within the first few chapters, we are sure good will prevail. And, it does. But, how many will die first? As the two friends delve into the investigation and get close to finding out the truth, others fall victim to the killer.
This novel deals with the serious issue of one cop on the take. Yet, it manages to honor, acknowledge and respect the majority of the force -- the ethical, good cops. What makes this novel especially appealing is that it addresses a flawed character and allows good to triumph over evil -- without the pitfall into which many authors fall -- it does not preach.
What the novel does, and does well, is to engage the reader on a variety of levels. The character development is superb. Hard decisions are made by realistic characters. Are these really just characters in a book? They seemed so real to me. In my mind's eye, each character has a face, a body, a voice.
The plot development is equally well done. The plot moves along and keeps one engaged. Finally, an author whose plot and characters are strong enough that they do not require the addition of contrived boiler plate romances or terrifying scenes.
Like a fine wine, a very satisfying read. Sid Chance is definitely worth investigating, be prepared to fall in love with the characters. I did. And, now, I am reading the first Sid Chance novel and awaiting the next.

[Carl Brookins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Campbell’s seventh novel of crime fiction. There are a number of strings to the plot and a sub-plot or two as well. They are all nicely balanced, in that the main crime, murder and Medicare fraud remains at the center of attention. Sid Chance is a private investigator in Tennessee. His occasional assistant is a wealthy ex-cop improbably named Jaz LeMieux. LeMieux has inherited a successful retail travel business. In this story, she’s besieged by erroneous reports of having made damaging racial slurs and as the book develops she shares some risks with her buddy, Sid.
Chance is a former Special Forces veteran, a former Forestry ranger and small town police chief. Now he’s dipping an experienced toe into different waters as he establishes himself as a private investigator. When a young man, fresh out of prison, is arrested for a murder, the case appears to be a slam dunk. But the accused man has a fervent supporter in his grandmother and she appeals to Jaz who turns to Sid. And as Sid remarks, “Do I sense Messers Pro and Bono arriving?”
Things spiral out of control as the motive for the murder becomes much more than originally considered and both Sid and Jaz are targeted. The writing is straightforward and very believable. There’s plenty of detail but it’s rarely more that we need. Characters, setting, plot points are all rational and nicely handled. Readers won’t finish this novel musing over revealed heavy philosophical truths, but they will have a bang-up satisfying time skulking about and sliding through dark tunnels with Sid Chance and Jaz LeMieux.

[Danie Cutter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, very easy to read with the story line keeping you fixated all the way through. Like the characters, the descriptive text and the fact that not everything is straight forward and predictable. I found the ending a bit rushed although again the writing was such that it was a suitable ending without need for lots of explanation or diverging from the previous style of writing.

I enjoyed it immensely.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can always rely on a Chester Campbell story. Believable characters who are not too-stupid-to-live (that is, they do not agree to meet the bad guy in a dark parking garage at 1 AM), and do not make a habit of intentionally alienating the local police force. Readers know they can expect a good plot with few if any expletives, and no excessive violence, and if there is any sex going on, he doesn't tell us.

[Marilynn]

I've enjoyed both Sid Chance mysteries so much I'm going to read Chester Campbell's earlier mysteries. Really surpised he hasn't had more coverage locally.