Join Hard-Boiled Mystery Writer Joe Congel on an archived edition of the Meet the Authors Podcast at Indie Book Source, hosted by Rob and Joan Carter.

Joe Congel grew up in Syracuse, New York, and currently lives in beautiful Charlotte, North Carolina. He got his first break in the world of publishing when he illustrated the humorous book, Housetraining Your VCR, A Help Manual for Humans, published by Grapevine Publications back in the early ’90s.

A few years after Housetraining set the world on fire, Joe decided that he was better suited as a writer rather than as an artist, so he began crafting stories that allowed the reader to use their own imagination to add the visuals to the narrative.

Since he’s enjoyed reading murder mysteries and PI detective stories all his life, he felt he had a pretty good grasp on how to create an engaging character in the world of private detecting.

DEAD IS FOREVER is the first book in the Razzman Mystery Crime Files series, featuring Tony Razzolito, PI. The book is set in Syracuse, New York, and Charlotte, North Carolina, with upcoming books in the series concentrated more in and around the Charlotte area. Joe is uniquely qualified to write about both areas of the country since he lived in Syracuse for 36 years and Charlotte for the last 25 plus years.

When he’s not writing, you will most likely find him spoiling his three grandchildren.

Connect with Joe on his Blog: https://joecongelfictionstories.blogspot.com/

Or email him at jc.razzman@gmail.com

Best Served Cold

Private eye, Tony Razzolito along with Homicide Detectives John Cahill and Lucy Havens are racing the clock to catch a killer that should’ve been behind bars a year ago.

Last year, up-and-coming NASCAR driver, Jarrod Trevino was murdered and left in an alley in the middle of the city. A murder that neither Razzolito nor the cops were able to solve.

A year later, Teddy ‘Sky’ Jones, new rookie sensation for the Charlotte Wildcats basketball team was shot to death and his body left in an alley behind the Spectrum Sports Center.

There are enough similarities between the two murders—both high-profile athletes killed in the same way with the same caliber gun, both left in an alley in Uptown Charlotte—that the city may have a potential serial killer on their hands. Or could it be a copycat killer? Or maybe something else entirely?

The mayor, the CMPD, and the city of Charlotte, all believe the murders are connected. Tony Razzolito disagrees and signs on to help the police discover the truth in this baffling, whodunnit murder mystery.

But first, he and the lead homicide detective need to learn how to play nice. Because their egos keep getting in the way of finding justice for the victim’s families and for a homicide captain who’s feeling the weight of a frustrated city sitting heavily upon her shoulders.

Dead is Forever

Tony Razzolito, AKA the Razzman, is tired of dead-end sales jobs and refuses to get another, despite a huge blowout with his wife. Instead, he decides to pursue his dream of becoming a PI. He just has to figure out how to get started.

Just hours later, Tony receives a phone call from his friend, Detective Joe Humphrey – his wife has been murdered. The devastating news sends Tony’s emotions on a roller coaster ride he didn’t expect. Yes, their marriage had issues, what marriage doesn’t? But now… now he would never have the opportunity to work things out, to make amends, or to say he’s sorry.

Shocked, pissed off and emotionally overwhelmed, he is determined to find the killer and insists on helping Joe with the investigation. When clues to another woman’s death tie the two crimes together, Tony may discover that some secrets about his wife are better left hidden.

Deadly Passion

Two women dead: One a twenty-year-old cold case, the other brutally fresh. Both had their lives cut short and their hearts cut from their body.

PI Tony Razzolito, working for his favorite pro bono client, can’t seem to stop second guessing the results of the police department’s original investigation as he works to put the pieces together to solve the twenty-year-old murder.

And now, as the cops are deep into trying to figure out who committed the new crime, the clues appear to keep leading back to the same suspects from the cold case. And to make matters worse, Tony keeps finding himself stepping on the toes of the seasoned homicide detective who was never able to solve the original murder the first time around.

Dirty Air

Crossing the finish line from the dark side of the track can make it hard to find the winner’s circle.
The adrenaline rush is real. So is the danger.

Stock car or modified. Track or street. One can make you famous… the other can make you dead.

Tony “Razzman” Razzolito is in way over his head as he works to solve the most challenging case of his career. An up-and-coming NASCAR driver is found shot to death in an alley in uptown Charlotte. When the widow of the victim asks Tony and his partner at McHenry Investigative Services to find out why her husband was killed, the Razzman gets a quick education in a sport he knows nothing about.

His investigation soon leads him to the world of illegal street racing where he tangles with a crew led by a maniac that doesn’t like to lose.

Mix in a healthy dose of tension between Tony and a certain Homicide Detective assigned to the case and tempers as well as egos are bound to get in the way.