New Jersey Noir - Cape May: A Novel (The Jack Colt Murder Mystery Novels, Book Two)

by William Baer

Overview

After solving the assassination case of his beloved uncle, Colt finds himself truly alone, ditched by his girlfriend. However, there's not much respite or time for introspection for him: he's called on again to solve a new murder case, along with a suspiciously related cold case. What follows is another gripping tale in the backdrop of the Garden State's sights and scenes, including its picturesque beaches, casinos, and the rural Pine Barrens. In New Jersey Noir: Cape May-Book Two of his Jack Colt Murder Mystery Novels series-William Baer continues to enchant and spellbind.

PRAISE FOR NEW JERSEY NOIR: CAPE MAY:

In Jack Colt, William Baer gives us a private detective perfectly suited for the Garden State: gritty, charming in spite of himself, sidesplittingly hilarious and incomparably authentic. Baer proves himself the Sinatra of Noir, the Edison of Intrigue, the Springsteen of Suspense-and a rightful heir to Hammett and Chandler. Far more fun than a night out in Atlantic City or a weekend at the Jersey Shore.

- Jacob M. Appel, author of Millard Salter's Last Day

PRAISE FOR WILLIAM BAER:

"New Jersey Noir introduces an ultracool hometown detective from Paterson, set perfectly in his well-detailed locales. The writing is crisp, sarcastic, wryly funny, steeped in New Jersey lore and anecdotes that add great historical and cultural dimensions to its mystery."

- Robin Farrell Edmunds, Foreword Reviews (Five-star review)

"A brilliant debut novel . . . precise prose, perfect pacing, stunning imagery, complex characterization, grand historical and cultural contexts, and a superb sense of place."

- Hollis Seamon, author of Somebody Up There Hates You

"Not since Donna Tartt's The Secret History have I read a novel as mesmerizing, engrossing, and delectable as William Baer's New Jersey Noir. In prose as fast-moving as a bullet, Baer compels the reader to keep flipping pages more and more rapidly. The writing is taut and gut-wrenching."

- Terri Brown-Davidson, author of Marie, Marie, Hold On Tight

"Baer evokes a cinematic chiaroscuro New Jersey-specifically Paterson-its history and politics limned over a baseline of Springsteen, doo-wop, and Whitney Houston."

- Dennis Must, author of Hush Now, Don't Explain

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

William Baer, a recent Guggenheim fellow, is the author of twenty-two books including New Jersey Noir; Times Square and Other Stories; One-and-Twenty Tales; Companion; The Ballad Rode into Town; Formal Salutations: New & Selected Poems; Classic American Films; and The Unfortunates (recipient of the T.S. Eliot Award). A former Fulbright in Portugal, he's also received the Jack Nicholson Screenwriting Award and a Creative Writing Fellowship in fiction from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781773490335
Publisher:	Able Muse Press
Publication date:	01/15/2021
Series:	Jack Colt Series , #2
Pages:	250
Sales rank:	1,043,022
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.57(d)

About the Author

William Baer, a recent Guggenheim fellow, is the author of twenty-two books including NEW JERSEY NOIR: THE JACK COLT MURDER MYSTERY NOVELS, BOOK ONE (Able Muse Press, 2018); NEW JERSEY NOIR-CAPE MAY: THE JACK COLT MURDER MYSTERY NOVELS, BOOK TWO (Able Muse Press, 2021); TIMES SQUARE AND OTHER STORIES (Able Muse Press, 2015); One- and-Twenty Tales; Companion; The Ballad Rode into Town; Formal Salutations: New & Selected Poems; Classic American Films; and The Unfortunates (recipient of the T.S. Eliot Award). A former Fulbright in Portugal, he's also received the Jack Nicholson Screenwriting Award and a Creative Writing Fellowship in fiction from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Table of Contents

I

1. Paterson, New Jersey 5

2. Cape May 8

3. The Waterfront 10

4. Stone Tower 14

5. 18 Marshall Street 17

6. Appendix I 26

7. Stone Tower 28

8. Riverfront Park 31

9. Congress Hall 34

10. The Lobster House 41

11. Reading Beach 45

12. Cinco de Mayo 49

13. The Cove 60

14. Benton Avenue 67

15. The Killing 70

II

16. Shoreline Lanes 75

17. Gingerbread House 80

18. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry 83

19. Field of Dreams 88

20. Campbell Funeral Home 91

21. Atlantic Cape 95

22. Oceanview Lodge 99

23. The Barrens 105

24. Cheesequake 114

25. Somerville 121

26. Fairmount 125

27. Sussex County Courthouse 128

28. 18 Marshall Street 132

29. Stone House 138

30. Appendix II 144

31. Carlito’s 149

32. Borgata 154

33. Explorer 165

34. AtlantiCare 168

III

35. Beach Haven 175

36. Pompton Lakes 180

37. French Hill Inn 185

38. Delaware Water Gap 190

39. U-Store Storage 193

40. Stone Tower 197

41. Appendix III 200

42. Beach Haven 206

43. Antonio’s 210

44. Sunset Pavilion 216

45. Appendix IV 220

46. Memorial 229

47. The Fudge Kitchen 234

Editorial Reviews

★ 11/23/2020

Paterson, N.J., PI Jack Colt has an old and a new murder to solve in Baer’s outstanding sequel to 2018’s New Jersey Noir. Richard O’Brien, a judge at the Cape May County Courthouse, tells Jack that the investigator he recently hired to reexamine the murder 10 years earlier of his daughter Nikki, then 17, was murdered the day before. Coincidentally, the investigator’s name was Edward Colt. “Never heard of him,” says Jack, though he’s definitely curious about the other Colt and what led to his death. Oddly, two days earlier, Edward visited Richard and said he’d just drawn up a will leaving all his money to the judge. Jack, who’s familiar with the Nikki O’Brien case, wonders what the connection might be between it and Edward’s murder. That Nikki had an identical twin adds another layer of intrigue. With a head for crime and his own set of scruples, Jack moves effortlessly through the seamy underbelly of the state he loves. Filled with local Jersey color, sardonic humor, and plenty of Colt lore (about both the gun Colt carries and the company that makes it), this is a can’t-put-it-down thrill ride. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

New Jersey Noir introduces an ultracool hometown detective from Paterson, set perfectly in his well-detailed locales. The writing is crisp, sarcastic, wryly funny, steeped in New Jersey lore and anecdotes that add great historical and cultural dimensions to its mystery.

- Robin Farrell Edmunds, Foreword Reviews (Five-star review)

With a thorough resolution that makes its connections well, New Jersey Noir: Cape May is a clever, curving mystery.

- Delia Stanley, Foreword Reviews

Baer's outstanding sequel to 2018's New Jersey Noir . . . [is filled] with local Jersey color, sardonic humor, and plenty of Colt lore (about both the gun Colt carries and the company that makes it), this is a can't-put-it-down thrill ride.

-Publishers Weekly (Five-star review)

The writing is crisp, sarcastic, wryly funny, steeped in New Jersey lore and anecdotes that add great historical and cultural dimensions to its mystery.

-Robin Farrell Edmunds, Foreword Reviews (Five-star review)

William Baer pulls the reader into a captivating, thought provoking, and multi-layered story of jealousy and rivalry, resentment and hatred; adultery, friendship and love.

-Sandy S., BookBub (Five-star review)

Jack [Colt]'s interesting voice makes you want to spend time with him.

-Vicki Weisfeld, BookBub (Five-star review)

New Jersey Noir is an homage to Hammett, Chandler, McDonald, and other detective fiction writers, and it contains all the requisite characters . . . to make the move to the twenty-first century successfully

-Midge Golberg, Claremont Review of Books

From the Publisher