Look and Listen

Biography

I am a Veteran of United States Air Force; Viet Nam, Military Police (Combat Defense Squadron-K-9). I enjoy reading as well as writing. I enjoy travel (by car or rail); museums, history, and fine dining. I love all animals, but especially German shepherd dogs. I retired as Chief Investigator for a prominent Miami (FL) Law firm; specializing in criminal defense, where I investigated two high-profile murder cases and assisted the trial attorney in preparing the case for the defense of our clients. These cases will be subjects of my next two novels. While engaged at the law firm, I co-authored "DAVID JANSSEN-MY FUGITIVE" with ELLIE JANSSEN, first wife of the late Golden Globe winning, Emmy Nominated actor. The biography was published by Lifetime Books, Inc., in Hardcover; March of 1995, ISBN 0-8119-0797-X, and in Trade Paperback in 1995-1996, and 1997. With the moderate success of the book, and the retirement of my boss at the law firm, I chose to make a serious career change; that of being a WRITER. However, in making this decision, I chose to write alone, and about subject matters I know well. Thus, I have created the fictional character, "Detective Mike Walsh". In the "Detective Mike Walsh" debut novel; "THE EXECUTION OF JUSTICE", the young patrol officer is hand-picked for promotion to the elite Robbery and Homicide Division of the Indianapolis Police Department by his original Field Training Officer and friend, Detective Sergeant Jack Lovell. Within three months of his promotion, his marriage begins to suffer, as his beautiful young wife becomes depressed over the long hours he is forced to put in on the job, and the increased dangers he faces pursuing armed robbers and killers. Eight months into the job, his friend-mentor and partner is brutally murdered before his eyes; by automatic weapons gun fire, in the pre-dawn hours of a frigid December morning. A two and one half hour gun battle between police and the barricaded suspects ensues, as Walsh is pinned down by gunfire, just two feet from his partner's body. In the aftermath; his wife leaves him, returning to her parents home in Connecticut. Guilt-ridden over his partner's murder and the failure of his marriage, he turns to booze to ease his deepening depression. Thoughts of suicide creep into his alcohol-soaked brain. Can he survive? Only time will tell. "The Execution of Justice" is based on the murder of my close friend and mentor. The reader will know that "Detective Mike Walsh" survives, as this novel ends with his relocation to Miami, Florida. In "JUSTICE DELAYED" (working title); Mike Walsh becomes the Chief Investigator for a prominent Miami Law firm, specializing in criminal defense. Having concluded the trial of a prominent "Playboy" son of an international business tycoon, with a "Not Guilty" verdict Walsh is approached in his favorite restaurant and lounge by the sister of a woman being held for the murder of her husband, a winning horse racing jockey. The widow is charged with murder, along with her nephew and son-in-law. The Jockey was murdered eight years ago, and 1,200 miles from Miami, in a small western Kentucky town. Can Walsh and his assistant, Rosa Cuello dig up the evidence to keep their clients out of jail? In this novel, references will be made to Walsh attending the trials of his partner's murder, and sees them sentenced to death. "THE EXECUTION OF JUSTICE" was published by BLUE LINE PUBLISHING HOUSE, INC. (a small press) in February, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-578-00727-4. It is currently available at my web site: www.MichaelPhelpsNovels.com; www.amazon.com, www.Barnesand Noble.com, www.Target.com. The Publisher and I are seeking distribution to retail booksellers nationwide. Divorced (for which I am solely to blame), I live in Miami, FL and New York, New York, with my German shepherd dog, Rico der Hunter III.

Inspiration

I enjoy reading as well as writing. Some of the writers I enjoy, and am inspired by are; JANET EVANOVICH, JAMES PATTERSON, JOHN GRISHAM, PATRICIA CORNWELL, SUE GRAFTO, BARBARA PARKER, JUDGE BARBARA LEVINSON, DAVID BALDUCCI, MICHAEL BERISH, the late ED McBAIN and LORENZO CARCATERRA.