Nick
Bancroft Mystery Series
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE:
Romantic Mystery/Suspense
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IN
THIS "GRIPPING" MYSTERY THRILLER SOMEONE TRIES TO BURN NICK
BANCROFT ALIVE, BEATS HIM SENSELESS, USES HIM FOR TARGET PRACTICE AND
WORST OF ALL HIS BELOVED CHICAGO CUBS DISAPPOINT HIM AGAIN! SOMETIMES
A PI JUST CAN'T CATCH A BREAK! BUT WHEN HIS CLIENT IS A SEXY NUDIST,
NICK BANCROFT WILL PUT UP WITH JUST ABOUT ANYTHING!
When
a sexy nudist hires him to protect her from whoever is threatening
her life, Nick Bancroft becomes the target. Someone tries to burn him
alive, beats the hell out of him and, since that didn't run him off,
uses him for target practice. Meanwhile, two people are murdered,
Nick's true love, Maggie Atley, is more than somewhat perturbed by
his relationship with his client, and a mysterious club seems to hold
the answer. Nick survives an exciting but still losing season by his
beloved Chicago Cubs, a vicious attack by a couple of huge dogs and
eventually puts the finger on the bad guys.
Nick
Bancroft Mysteries, written by Bob Liter
I'm
an ex-newspaper reporter who inherited a run-down, one-man detective
agency. My name is Nick Bancroft. I used to do investigation work
occasionally for a friend Jimmy Jackson, who left me the business and
stuck me with an office on the top floor of an old building in the
wrong end of town.
I
would have refused the inheritance, but I was sick of working where
news had been converted to entertainment. And, besides, Jimmy had
paid six months’ rent in advance for the office with a small
apartment attached. Since I inherited the business I have helped
solve a murder and got some press as a result.
In
a small town like Centrel City, you can find bribery, graft,
kickbacks, political influence peddling, criminal cover-ups, and
sometimes murder. Now when I get involved in a case, there usually is
a story I can sell to the upstate Chicago Times. I didn't expect to
make a living as a private investigator and freelance reporter, but I
was wrong ... sort of. It beats making money for someone else and it
leaves time for my almost favorite sport of bowling and my passion
for the Chicago Cubs.
It’s
all in a day’s work; I can be tough enough when I have to be. On
the other hand, I can be soft for the ladies, especially for an
on-again off-again lover, Maggie Atley. Nothing is ever as it seems
and I don’t quit until I find the answers. My name is Nick
Bancroft.
Murder
by the Book, by Bob Liter
Nick
Bancroft inherits a rundown detective agency and embarks on a new
career as a hard-boiled detective. When date rape drugs show up in
Centrel City, so does reporter Nick Bancroft. The drugs are
discovered at two different murders with sex etiquette books left at
the scenes. Nick is hired by the first victim’s father, Ramsey
Sinclair, to find the killer. A Chicago detective, Miss Faustine, is
also hired by Mr. Sinclair to work “closely” with Bancroft. His
focus is interrupted when he begins a love affair with receptionist,
Maggie Atley, from a neighboring office.
Bancroft
is banking on solving the murders and selling the story to the
Chicago Times. As the case unfolds there is enough danger, drama, and
deception to fill a book. Nick finds few things are as they seem and
in his enthusiasm he becomes the target of a shooter and also the
target of charming Maggie Atley’s affections.
August
is Murder, by Bob Liter
A
sexy nudist hires Nick Bancroft to defend her from threats on her
life; Nick volunteers to provide 24-hour protection. Now, he is the
target and August becomes even hotter when someone tries to burn him
alive. Nick is not one to turn tail and run, especially now with two
murders and Lady Godiva to protect. Nick's true love, second only to
the Cubs and bowling, Maggie Atley, is more than somewhat perturbed
by the arrangement with his beautiful client.
After
weeks of investigation there are still unanswered questions. Who are
the bad guys? What does a mysterious club have to do with the
murders? Can Nick survive another losing season by his beloved
Chicago Cubs? Is this the last inning for Nick and Maggie?
Death
Sting, by Bob Liter
After
an intimate breakfast together, while reading the paper to Maggie,
Nick is baffled by a headline: Female Body Found Covered with Stings:
The Sheriff Calls the Death an Accident. Free-lance reporter and
private detective, Nick Bancroft, doesn’t believe it and is drawn
to the case like a bee to honey. He learns the victim lived in a home
for young unwed mothers who work as waitresses and hookers at a
nightclub.
Murder
suspects include an alcoholic handy man, the man and wife who operate
the home, a nightclub operator and his henchman, and a sheriff's
deputy. Everyone is trying to stop Nick’s investigation, including
federal agents.
Even
when he and his earthy lover Maggie survive being dumped in a deep
lake with weights tied to their ankles, Bancroft is unwavering in his
pursuit of the truth. Will Maggie and Nick’s romance sink or swim
before the case is solved?
Point
of Murder, by Bob Liter
Nick
Bancroft, a former investigative reporter, enjoys a mundane existence
in Centrel City operating a one-man detective agency. He supplements
his pauper’s wages selling news stories to the Chicago Times. In a
small apartment, Nick and his roommate Maggie, share frivolous
romantic lovemaking and the responsibility of feeding a stray cat
that adopted them. On the surface it seems picture-perfect.
The
bed of roses ends abruptly when Nick’s destitute young friend,
Bobby Scalf, is found murdered with a blunt six inch spike in his
head. Nick becomes a suspect when the second murder victim is
discovered in the abandoned building where the boy lived.
While
Nick tries to find out who killed the boy, he uncovers a web of
corruption involving the town council, the school board, the police
chief and the local newspaper publisher. Nick survives several
attempts on his life, and that of his stormy lover, before nailing
the killer and exposing the town's secrets. Solving the town’s
problems may not be enough to solve the problems festering between
Maggie and Nick. Is it really over?
And
the Band Played On, by Bob Liter
Freelance
reporter and sometime private detective, Nick Bancroft, is tough
enough when he has to be. On the other hand, he can be soft for the
ladies. That's how he ends up at an outdoor band concert, with
Maggie, a librarian, divorcee, and his very talented lover. Nick is
front row center to witness the murder of a well-connected private
secretary of an important political figure.
It
doesn't earn him any points with the cops that he is on the scene
before them, and it doesn't earn him any points with certain
influential politicians that he won't get off the case. Not only is
Nick drawn into the dirty details of the crime, someone is trying to
kill him. During the investigation, Maggie and Nick come face to face
with the events surrounding 9-11. Will the final case break their
spirits and crumble their love, or will they emerge stronger and
committed to life together?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt :
August
is Murder, A Nick Bancroft Mystery
The
first time they tried to kill me I was asleep. My office and
apartment were on the third floor of a nearly abandoned building. My
own coughing jarred me awake. I rolled to a sitting position from the
sweat-wet bedding and continued choking on hot, acrid air. The sweat
was no surprise. My air conditioner had quit. But this was more than
August heat in Centrel City, Illinois.
A flip
of the light switch near my bed did nothing to alleviate the
darkness. I went to hands and knees and felt around until I found my
pants and shoes, sat against the bed, squirmed into the jeans. Heat
from the floor threatened to roast my rump.
"Don't
panic, Nick," I said aloud. Should I try to save anything or
just get the hell out? My files, I had to save my case files. I
crawled into the office, stood, and pulled out the top drawer. I felt
my way to the office door and opened it. A swish of even hotter air
swept against my face.
What
about Maggie? She might be in the office on the second floor. It was
well past midnight. Why would she be there? I assured myself she was
not. She was the reason why I now had a stray cat and a cracked
heart. What about the cat? Any cat that came and went when the office
door was locked wouldn't be trapped in that old building.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR
Bio and Links:
Robert T
“Bob” Liter (1923-2008) was born in Hartley, IA to Charles and
Hazel Liter and grew up in Des Moines, IA. His sisters June and
JoAnn, joined the family before the decade was over. Bob was a U.S.
Navy veteran, and was honorably discharged after two tours of duty,
one tour in World War II and the other tour in the Korean War. A
Graduate from Drake University in Des Moines, IA, he earned his
degree in journalism, and married Lillian in 1950.
What
Happened Next
I came
along 9 months later; my name is Martie. I was soon followed by my
sister Jeannie and two brothers, Jeff and Ron.
Later in
Dad's journalism career he worked as a copy editor for the Peoria
Journal Star, Peoria, IL until his retirement. Through the years he
was also a writer. Early in his sideline career he was published in
various True Confession magazines. When Dad retired to take care of
Mom he continued to pursue his passion for writing. Much of his work
has been available since 2002 in EBook format.
First
Five Novels Available On Amazon NOW
It is my
honor to introduce new readers to the Bancroft Mysteries where the
character Nick Bancroft has an uncanny resemblance to my Dad, Bob
Liter with his wit and bodacious gutsy approach to life. Then there
is Nick’s on-again off-again lady, Maggie Atley, who is just like
Mom, Lillian Liter, in the way she deals with a self-proclaimed “male
chauvinist piggy.”
While
Nick solves mysteries in the fictitious, but very real, community of
Central City, IL he still finds time for his love-hate relationship
with bowling, and his avid undying passion for the Chicago Cubs and
Bears.
Website:
http://www.BancroftMysteries.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BancroftMysteries
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/BancroftMyster1
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/bancroftmysteries/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/BancroftMysteries/
Author
Page on Amazon: http://www.bit.ly/BobLiter (This sends a reader to
where all the Buy Links Are)
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GIVEAWAY
INFORMATION
One
randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com
gift card.
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