Bøger af Ron Finch

Partners in crime, living and dead. Having rescued his close friend Dr. Alfred Khryscoff, Detective Joel Franklin returns to the London police station only to be assigned a new task by his volatile boss, Chief Bedgegood. The chief's aunt Celeste has been robbed, and it happened the night of Dr. Harold Plimpton's séance! Fortunately for Joel, Dr. Plimpton, world-renowned Doctor of Thaumaturgy-and Joel's primary suspect-is hosting another séance, this time at the home of one of Celeste's friends. Joel, who has a special gift for speaking to the dead-or essences, as he prefers to call them-smells a fraud. And possibly worse. With the help of his sensible-and very pregnant-wife, Georgie, Joel gets himself invited to Plimpton's inner circle, and what began as the innocent enough Case of the Stolen British Biscuit Box explodes into a tale of dramatic séances, tortured spirits, bloody murder, and elaborate heists, driven by pride, greed, and revenge. Set in the fabulous mansions and glittering society of London's wealthy elites in the late 1930s, One Man Left is the latest installment in the Joel Franklin Mystery series, which began with Lightning at 200 Durham Street. Taking place in Ontario, Canada, with a cast of recurring characters, this paranormal historical whodunit harks back to the Golden Age of detective fiction and will appeal to readers of all ages.

Are you troubled by visions of HELL?Do you hear terrifying VOICES?Do you live your life in FEAR, Not knowing what evil DOOM awaits you?A consultation with DR. SHITZ will set you right.There'll be peaceful NIGHTSand bright DAYS ahead.Make an appointment NOW, seeDR. SHITZ today! Larry Shiltz, Doctor of Thaumaturgy, may not be the most famous man in London, Ontario, but he's about to be. That one little typo in the London Free Press has turned Shiltz to Shitz, and a name like that is hard to forget; suddenly, business is booming. It's the Roaring Twenties; Prohibition, organized crime, and speakeasies are in, and everyone's doing the Charleston. Spiritualism, that antique relic of the Victorian age, is on the way out. But it's about to make a big comeback in a terrifying way when an ill-starred seance at Madame Gelda's unleashes a powerful and dangerous spirit. Bradley Billups, newly departed, is out for revenge; but first, he's going to drive everyone he knows insane, starting with his business partner, Russell Bancroft, and Russell's girlfriend, Cheri, who just happens to be Bradley's sister. In this case, blood is thinner than a glass of cheap malt whisky. But when the deranged poltergeist starts making their lives a living hell, Bradley's mother knows who to call: Dr. Shitz, master medium and speaker for the dead! Is the inimitable Shitz as good a thaumaturgist as he claims to be? His wife, Jane, sure hopes he is because she's planning on cashing in on all the publicity. Dr. Shitz and the Wayward Ghost opens up a world of paranormal adventure populated by gangsters, hucksters, half-crazed scientists, and other colourful characters. Equal parts spine-tingling suspense, action-packed pyrotechnics, murder mystery, and zany, over-the-top humour, it may be unlike anything you've ever read before! A truly original Canadian historical supernatural comedy!

One night late in May, 1937, a terrible tragedy strikes the small Canadian town of Chaseford. As roaring flames consume the house of one of Chaseford's most distinguished families, it seems as if all the town's recently renewed hopes for the future have been reduced to ashes. The plan to build an airport on the edge of town-a symbolic end to the Great Depression-has been put in doubt. People are talking about the arson, and fingers are being pointed. Is Evan Donnelly, the unscrupulous moneylender who seems to be behind so many of Chaseford's troubles, somehow involved? With nothing but rumors to guide him, and no clear motive for the crime, Detective Joel Franklin will have to rely on his unusual gift to contact 'essences'-the personalities of those who have died in tragic and painful circumstances-to solve the mystery. When a destitute family moves into the former home of Sadie Morgan-a woman with piercing eyes who died under mysterious circumstances-a shadowy history comes to light. Sadie's picture still hangs on the wall of 24 Booke Street, casting her baleful gaze on all who come before her. Will Sadie finally get to enjoy her long-awaited revenge, the culmination of a feud that has lasted for centuries? 24 Booke Street is the seventh installment in the Joel Franklin Mystery series, which began with Lightning at 200 Durham Street. Set in the small town of Chaseford in rural Ontario, Canada, this paranormal historical whodunit with a cast of recurring characters harks back to the Golden Age of detective fiction. A real treat for readers of all ages.

The first book, Lightning at 200 Durham Street, took place in 1928 when Joel Franklin was a 17-year-old student. Since that time, Joel has graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a degree in Business Studies. But now, in the winter of 1932-33, the Great Depression is in full swing and the only job available is at his parents' grocery store in his hometown of Chaseford. An innocent afternoon of skating in the country with his friends is rudely interrupted by the grisly discovery of a severed leg, the first of several gruesome remains. Joel and his best friend Jay, building on their previous experience as amateur sleuths, decide to join the Chaseford police as volunteer constables. Led by the crafty Chief Petrovic, and with the assistance of Joel's mysterious friend Walter, the investigation unfolds a chilling tale spanning many years, one that twists and turns through Capone's Chicago, 1920s cocaine parties, and the mind of one very deranged killer. Can the prominent Ontario psychiatrist Dr. Alfred Khryscoff help the investigators pin down their elusive quarry? More importantly, can he help Joel understand himself and his unusual powers? The air is thick with supernatural suspense in this, the second Joel Franklin Mystery, a truly original Canadian historical whodunit series!

It looks like Joel has finally made it: it's the autumn of 1938 and he's been hired as an assistant detective by the London Police Force. The big promotion means a move for Joel, his wife, Georgie, and their young daughter, Annie. But it looks like the Franklins aren't the only ones present at the charming little house on Princess Ave. The house has a dark history, which Joel and Georgie are going to learn about in a most surprising way. Who is the mysterious essence Dora? And what is she trying to tell them? Joel's first case for the LPF is a doozy: an attempted armed robbery at a mom-and-pop grocery store. After questioning a suspiciously resistant witness leads him to a visit with his old friend Dr. Alfred Khryscoff at the Ontario Hospital, Joel and his partner, Det. Reg Cooper, uncover clues leading to a string of violent bank robberies, murders, and assaults, all committed by a gang of ruthless criminals led by a brutal psychopath. But Joel is finding out that being on the LPF isn't like being a constable in the quiet little town of Chaseford. There are office politics to consider, and it's easy to accidentally step on another officer's toes. Joel is making mistakes and learning as he goes with the help of his mentor, Detective Gerald O'Neill, and the head of the tactical unit, Inspector Thomas Simpson. With stakeouts, gun battles, haunted houses, and dramatic chases, the bank robbery case is pushing Detective Joel Franklin to his limits! Who's Crazy?! is the eighth installment in the Joel Franklin Mystery series, which began with Lightning at 200 Durham Street. Set in Ontario, Canada, in the 1930s, this paranormal historical whodunit with a cast of recurring characters harks back to the Golden Age of detective fiction. A real treat for readers of all ages!

It's autumn of 1933 and Georgie's had enough of Joel's nightmares. It's time he talked to Dr. Khryscoff about them. But there doesn't seem to be a lot of time to talk to the eminent Toronto psychiatrist. Chief Petrovic is keeping everyone at the Chaseford police station busy with an investigation of the recent spate of thefts from the local furniture factories. A situation that hasn't been helped by the Great Depression and Mayor Thompson's decision to call in the Army to put down civil unrest. One wrong move and the town could blow like a powder keg. But when Joel's horrible dreams of violence and bloodshed start blending with reality, it's time to take a stand. Is there a serial killer on the loose? Fortunately for Joel, the time he's spent with Dr. Khryscoff has taught him a thing or two about the criminally insane. And he's got Walter and his network of disembodied essences to fall back on in a pinch. He might be a little wet behind the ears, but Joel's a natural when it comes to sleuthing. Will it be enough? Terror on the Way is the third installment in the Joel Franklin Mystery series, following Lightning at 200 Durham Street, and Where's the Rest of the Body? Set in a small town in rural Ontario, Canada, this truly original historical whodunit, with overtones of the supernatural and paranormal, harks back to the Golden Age of detective fiction. A real treat for readers of all ages!

It's 1928, Prohibition has ended, the Great Depression is just around the corner, and The Jazz Singer--the first talking movie--has just been released. But there's trouble in the small Ontario town of Chaseford. At a remote cabin in the woods, seventeen year-old amateur sleuth Joel Franklin and his friends have stumbled across a crime too big for Chief Petrovic and his constables to handle. As the criminal investigation expands to neighboring cities, a wild electrical storm rips through the peaceful little community, unearthing fresh mysteries and leaving destruction in its wake. In this, the first Joel Franklin mystery, early 20th century criminal investigation crackles alongside supernatural intervention in a truly original Canadian historical whodunit.

It's the spring of 1937 and the small Canadian town of Chaseford is in an uproar. Bella Frankel, convicted of the murder of Louise Carter in 1928, has won her appeal and been released from prison. Though unwelcome, Bella claims she was falsely accused and is determined to make her home in Chaseford. Proctor Carter, her fiancé, is more than happy to comply, going so far as to renovate the cabin in the woods where his own sister was found murdered. And Louise Carter's restless spirit isn't happy about it! Everyone in town is talking about the scandal, but one person is doing something about it. How far will a person go to protect the ones they love? As if the local controversy and accusations of police incompetence weren't enough to deal with, an illegal gambling house has been discovered on the outskirts of town. But Chief Petrovic and his constables, Jake, Peter, Jay, and Joel, with the assistance of their informant, Proofie, must proceed carefully with their investigation; the shadowy figure running the establishment is rumored to be a dangerous criminal mastermind and not above resorting to murder to achieve his nefarious ends. Fortunately, Inspector Simpson and his special London Police unit are more than happy to help. The investigation might have gone nowhere if not for Joel's unique ability to contact 'essences'--what others might call ghosts or the spirits of the dead. Joel's afterlife informants turn up several useful leads and a series of revelations unfolds, resulting in a journey across Ontario to the quaint cottage community of Bala and a stratagem to catch the leader of the gambling den gang. With surprising results! I Told You! I'm Innocent! is the sixth installment in the Joel Franklin Mystery series which began with Lightning at 200 Durham Street. Set in the small town of Chaseford in rural Ontario, Canada, this historical whodunit with overtones of the paranormal has a cast of recurring characters and harks back to the Golden Age of detective fiction. A real treat for readers of all ages.

A car isn't the only thing that can be stolen. Who Stole My Car? is set in the winter of 1938-9, with the first rumblings of war in Europe, and begins with a mysterious mansion filled with secret passages and a distressed essence known only as Maude; then, an unusual Egyptian talisman recovered from a patient by Joel's friend, Dr. Khryscoff, leads to a terrifying New Year's Eve prediction. Joel's first independent assignment as a full-fledged detective with the London Police Force involves an aggressively run car theft ring, which is stealing cars from used car lots and private residential driveways. Cracking the ring is going to demand a lot careful planning and research on Joel's part, along with interdepartmental coordination, lengthy stakeouts, and clever interrogations. But the criminal organization behind the thefts turns out to be bigger than Joel realized, and the missing cars prove to be just the tip of the iceberg. With the assistance of the ancient Egyptian amulet, which seems to have some occult impact on his ability to communicate with essences--the lingering personalities of the dead--Joel makes contact with some very angry spirits and uncovers evidence of a new crime related to an old, neglected missing persons report. Along the way, events continue to unfold in the private lives of the Franklin family and their friends. Who Stole My Car? is the ninth installment in the Joel Franklin Mystery series, which began with Lightning at 200 Durham Street. Set in Ontario, Canada, in the 1930s, with a cast of recurring characters, this paranormal historical whodunit harks back to the Golden Age of detective fiction and will appeal to readers of all ages.

Some pasts can't be forgotten. Having completed the mysterious arson murder investigation, Detective Joel Franklin finds himself propelled into a perplexing new assignment: a missing persons case. And the person missing is his own good friend Dr. Alfred Khryscoff, celebrated psychiatrist of the Ontario Hospital-formerly known as the London Asylum for the Insane. Joel's first question is: Is there a madman on the loose? Despite Georgie's reassurances and Annie's charming antics, Alfred's fiancée, Gwen, is going out of her mind with worry. Alfred's been missing for days now, and Joel knows that he must find the doctor quickly to prevent the worst. But Alfred isn't the only one being held prisoner by the crazed kidnapper. Fortunately, spiritual forces are at work beyond the veil of the living, ghostly essences which would like to help. As Joel and Constable Carmichael, with the assistance of Inspector Simpson and his Special Services squad, scour the rugged and beautiful countryside of the Canadian Shield, a terrible and tragic history unfolds, one of gruesome family secrets, bloody betrayal, irrational prejudices, and unsettling supernatural powers. Can the person at the eye of this malevolent maelstrom survive its terrible pull and avoid descending into chaos? Sins of the Past is the eleventh installment in the Joel Franklin Mystery series, which began with Lightning at 200 Durham Street. Set in Ontario, Canada, in the 1930s, with a cast of recurring characters, this paranormal historical whodunit harks back to the Golden Age of detective fiction and will appeal to readers of all ages.