Colonel Drake was forced into civilian life after surviving the downing of a helicopter. Back home in Washington State, he’s picked up his murdered brother’s PI company and working to help support his sister-in-law and niece. He solved his first case and was rewarded with stitches in his head. He’s hoping his second case for Cassandra Chase and her insurance company is easier – arson investigation. Jack Philips has let his parents’ property go wild largely to annoy the HOA president who lives across the street. A fire supposedly started by fourth of July fireworks heavily damage the home and it’s pricey contents. Drake has a hot one on his hands and needs our help to put the pieces together on this arson case. (Then maybe Cassandra will keep hiring him.) Here are the people on his suspect list in the order we met them:

• Jack Phillips, owner of the house and disgruntled claimant
• Commissioner Donna Russell, the Hummer-driving road hog
• Teresa Kamps, HOA president who lives across from Phillips
• Rachel Quinn, the Fire Marshall recently promoted to Code Compliance

Listen and solve here or wherever you get Mysteries to Die For podcast

MEET Larry M. Keeton

Retired Army Officer, County Chief of Staff, and Director of a department that included Code Compliance and Fire Investigations, Larry M. Keeton has plenty of unique characters and situations upon which to base his stories. 51 years of marriage to his watercolorist wife has provided him with ample lessons of dialogue best suited for the printed page. His works have appeared in Mystery Magazine, and Season 7 of Mysteries to Die For, and most recently, the 2024 Derringer Nominated Anthology, Larceny and Last Chances. He thanks Fire Marshal David Lynam and Assistant Fire Marshal Tina Turner for their technical expertise. His website is https://larrykeetonwriter.com.