Blackbird Road
by James L. Weaver
(Jake Caldwell #3)
Published by: Lakewater Press
Publication date: September 25th 2018
Genres: Adult, Thriller
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With his wedding day fast approaching and his PI boss heading out of town, ex-mob enforcer Jake Caldwell decides to take one more job before a much-needed vacation. But in a matter of days, his client is assassinated and her six-year-old son kidnapped.
With just a few clues, Jake calls on old friends to help track down the person responsible. Only this time his fiancée Maggie, desperate for Jake to leave his violent history behind, can’t guarantee she’ll be there when, or if, he comes home.
But Jake can’t turn his back on those who need him. It’s in his blood.
A perilous plot of lies and secrets unfolds, and Jake encounters criminals more brutal than ever. And when a threat to thousands of innocent lives is uncovered, Jake once again dives back into his past, requesting favors from some unexpected and unsavory contacts.
Jake needs to stay one step ahead of the bad guys if he’s to have any future at all.
The third book in the award-winning JAKE CALDWELL series is an intense, complex, and frantic race against time. Weaver has done it again in this raw and riveting read set in the Ozarks.
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EXCERPT:
“I’ll tell you exactly what cards you and kid poker have. If I’m right, you let me buy you a drink and we talk. If I’m wrong, I’m out of here and I won’t bother you again.”
Keats studied the board while the other players at the table waited with anticipation. “Fine. I fold. Make your call.”
Jake took another peek at the cards on the board and played what little he’d seen of the hand through his head. Keats acted first before the flop and probably raised first, which meant he held decent cards. But, he didn’t like the connected and double suited board. The kid oozed confidence despite how much he tried to hide it.
“You have king queen suited, but not spades,” Jake said to Keats. “The kid has a set of jacks and raised in case you were on a flush or straight draw.”
Keats looked to the other end of the table. “What’d you have, kid?”
“You gotta pay to see ’em, man.” The kid was clueless as to the identity of the man asking the question. Several of the table patrons cringed.
Jake held twenty dollars in chips, dangling them above the pile. The kid’s head bobbed in agreement, Jake dropped the chips and the kid flipped up two jacks. Keats grunted and turned over a king and queen of clubs.
“Damn. Wish I knew how you did that.” Keats told the dealer he’d be back and led the duo outside the poker room. He made his way to an empty table in the corner of the bar while Jake fetched Keats two fingers of their best Scotch and a beer for himself.
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The Bear Parley Workout Music Playlist:
LOL. Do I look like I work out let alone have a playlist for it? How about songs I turn up on the radio when I’m driving around doing Sheriff sh*t?
1. Night Moves by Bob Seger – I didn’t have a ’60 Chevy, but I do remember workin’ on mysteries without any clues back in high school.
2. Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen – Love belting this out in the car when my wife is there and singing her name instead of Wendy in the song. She claims she hates it when I do it, but she always smiles.
3. Photograph by Def Leppard – At least Jake and I agree on something. When we ride together, we can always play Def Leppard and not argue about the music.
4. The Last Resort by The Eagles – It’s a long a** song, but I always loved it. Makes me feel like my history class in high school wasn’t wasted.
5. Beer Can Chicken by Kenny Chesney – Song pretty much nails how I like to spend my weekends. It’s like Friday night workin’ on a three-day weekend, somethin’ in the jar just made for sippin’.
6. When It Rains It Pours by Luke Combs – Kind of a newer song, but when a case is going south, I can dial this one up and it puts a grin on my mug.
7. Glitter in the Air by Pink – Sorry, but I can’t help it and you can have my stupid Man Card if you want to be a d**che. I was stuck watching the Grammy’s with my wife years ago and saw this incredibly beautiful and graceful woman twirling through the air while singing this song. Lord have Mercy.
8. Gonna Get Over You by Sara Bareilles – Another I can’t help it. My daughter listened to this song over and over again until I knew the words to it. Now I can help tappin’ my steering wheel when it comes on.
9. Afternoon Delight by Starland Vocal Band – This one’s an oldie, but I always hope it comes on when my wife and I are together because she promises me a little afternoon delight if I sing it with her. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come on very often.
10. Chicken Fried by the Zac Brown Band – Who doesn’t like a cold beer on a Friday night or a pair of jeans that fit just right?
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Author Bio:
James L Weaver is the Kansas City author of the Jake Caldwell series featuring IAN Thriller of the Year finalist Poor Boy Road, and the IAN Thriller of the Year finalist and New Apple Official Selection sequel Ares Road from Lakewater Press. He makes his home in Olathe, Kansas with his wife of 20 years and two children. His previous publishing credits include a six part story called "The Nuts" and his 5-star rated debut novel Jack & Diane which is available on Amazon.com. Author note: a handful of the raters are actually not related to him.His limited free time is spent writing into the wee hours of the morning, playing parental taxi cab to his kids' sporting endeavors, and binge watching Netflix and Amazon Prime.Current favorite TV shows: The Walking Dead, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Game of Thrones, The Resident and Shameless.Current favorite music artists: Alter Bridge, Rush, Sara Bareilles, HalestormLast best book read: Twisted Prey by John SandfordFavorite comedians: John Caparulo, Kathleen Madigan, Mike Birbiglia, John Mulaney
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