Books by David S. Pederson

by David S. Pederson
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11 books
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Death Comes Darkly

David S. Pederson, 2016
The first in the Heath Barrington series, and, in my opinion, the most Agatha Christie like. The books I read in my youth lacked LBTQ+ representation, and so I chose to create those types of characters. Detective Heath Barrington, along with his boyfriend Alan, are trapped in an old mansion in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin with a group of assorted odd characters in 1947. When one of them is murdered, it’s up to Heath to discover who the murderer is.

DEATH GOES OVERBOARD

David S. Pederson, 2017
I wanted to continue the love story of Heath and Alan, while bringing in some temptation. Most of the action in this mystery takes place on a Lake Michigan Steamer, with Heath and Officer Ryker undercover, tracking a well-known gangster. Though this is a continuation of the Heath and Alan characters, each of my books is a stand-alone story, and they don’t have to be read sequentially.

Death Checks in

David S. Pederson, 2018
Heath and Alan take a vacation to Chicago, where they uncover murder at a grand old hotel. This book really shows how the two of them work together as a team, as it continues to explore the growth of their personal relationship.

Death Takes a Bow

David S Pederson, 2019
Heath and Alan investigate murder at the theater. I had fun with this mystery, showing some of Alan’s superstitions, but also his passions. It’s a enjoyable whodunit with a few twists and turns along the way.

Death Overdue

David S. Pederson, 2020
Heath is blackmailed after someone discovers he’s gay. When the blackmailer turns up dead, Heath becomes a suspect, and it’s up to him to save his own neck and find the real murderer. In this story, we see some of Heath’s flaws which makes him more human, and we’re introduced to his cousin Liz, a strong ally.

Death's Prelude

David S. Pederson, 2021
This is a prequel, of sorts, set in 1937, ten years before the others, and without the character of Alan. Heath sails on the Queen Mary with his aunt to England and investigates murder at a large country estate. I enjoyed writing this, as it shows Heath as a younger man, just beginning to explore love, desire, and first crushes. His aunt Verbina also plays a major role in this one, and she is a fun force to reckon with.

Death Foretold

David S. Pederson, 2021
The murder of a scam fortune teller and spiritualist leads Heath and Alan to danger. This book deals not only with the phony spiritualists that were popular back then, but also the relentless pressure for LGBTQ+ people in the 1940s to stay hidden in the shadows, and the things they had to do to survive and meet others.

Murder on Monte Vista

David S. Pederson, 2022
The first of the Mason Adler mysteries. Mason investigates a murder at his own birthday party. This book takes place in Phoenix, Arizona, in the 1940s. Mason is a mature, single, private detective, older than Heath Barrington, and a little more cynical and experienced. He was a fun character to write and create, along with his friend Walter, a character some people love to hate.

Murder at Union Station

David S. Pederson, 2022
Inspired by the real-life mystery of Winnie Ruth Judd, Mason investigates the murder of a young woman whose body was found in a trunk at Union Station in Phoenix. In this story we learn more about Mason’s friend and neighbor, Lydia, and about life in Phoenix in the 1940s.

Murder at the Oasis

David S. Pederson, 2023
Mason and his buddy Walter take a trip to Palm Springs, where they find murder and intrigue at the Oasis Inn. Chalk full of back story on both Mason and Walter, exploring their troubled childhoods, their early years, some of the unsavory things each of them have done, and how they developed into the men they are.

Puzzles Can Be Deadly

David S. Pederson, 2024
A stand-alone mystery, set in 1950 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with young amateur sleuths Skip and Henry out to solve the crime. It was challenging to some degree to write a book with younger characters, but also fun. Skip and Henry are a new couple, exploring the ins and outs of a relationship, which they must keep hidden, while at the same time investigating mysterious accidents and murder.