Happy New Year to everyone. Hopefully, you had time off with family and friends over the holidays. We had our usual Christmas Eve dinner at my in-laws. And Kim, Dakota, the dogs, and I enjoyed Christmas Day at home. And we had our normal quiet New Year’s Eve. We did play miniature golf on New Year’s Day, the weather being almost spring-like. And yes, I was victorious on the putting greens!
Dakota had ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) eye surgery last week to correct her poor vision. An alternative to LASIK. All went great, and she now has better than 20/20 vision in both eyes, which should last her at least 20 years. She loves that she no longer needs contacts or glasses. Below is the surgeon, Doctor Kim, who was great to work with.
It was a great year of events for me, with sales exceeding those of last year. My final winner of the $10 Amazon Gift Card for stopping by my table was Ralea. Here are a few random photos from the final few events of the year.
As I mentioned last month, new pricing is in effect for all books purchased through my website Book Store. This has been necessary as my costs continue to rise, like most everything else going on in the world these days. To offset those increasing costs, I’m offering a 10% discount on any order through the Book Store. This will be good for the next three months. When checking out, enter the discount code: Hunter. I’ve also added an option to pick up the order at my house for anyone who lives in the Denver metro area, to save on shipping costs. Select the Free Westminster Colorado Pickup option when ordering, and I’ll contact you when the order is ready and where I live.
One order I received through the store right after Christmas was from Angela, who had bought my book Tracking A Shadow at the October Mollie McGees event for her daughter, Abigail, as a present. Abigail had been reading Tracking A Shadow and loved the book, so her mother ordered the rest of the series as a birthday present. They didn’t live too far away, so I offered to deliver it to their home. When I arrived with the books, they hadn’t mentioned to Abigail that I was stopping by with more books. When I walked in the door and told Abigail who I was, she was shocked and speechless, looking at me, wondering if I was really the author of the book she’d been reading. When I assured her I was the author, she came over and hugged me, still not saying a word. Her father commented that I should be honored, for she never hugged him anymore. It was a special moment, and her mother took a picture of us, which I’m sharing below. It was one of those memorable moments that make all the hard work of writing these books worthwhile.
Tomorrow, January 13th, is release day for book 11 in the Jarvis Mann PI series. Mayhem in Music City will be available on eBook, paperback, and Kindle Unlimited through the Amazon Store. The eBook is priced at $3.99 for a limited time, a $3 savings. If you pre-ordered the eBook, it will be delivered automatically to your Kindle on the 13th. The paperback on Amazon is $19.99 plus shipping. If you’re interested in a signed paperback, I now have them in my possession for immediate shipping. You can order them at the Book Store for $20 plus $7 shipping. And I have a special Coupon Code: Mayhem, which will save you 20%. This discount is only available when ordering the paperback of Mayhem in Music City, and no other items in my online Book Store.
Reviews for Mayhem in Music City have started coming in, including an Editorial Review from Readers’ Favorite.
In Mayhem in Music City by R. Weir, Sam, a former Army lieutenant and close friend of Jarvis, was called on by Gage, the manager of the security team for the famous country music duo, Rule of Law. Gage had a job as a bodyguard for Sam to protect KC, the female singer of the duo, while Gage kept an eye on Boone. Gage had a meeting about a critical issue with someone, but was found badly beaten. Sam called Jarvis Mann, a private detective; she needed him to get answers to what happened to Gage and why. While Gage was in the ICU, Jarvis had to keep an eye on Boone, who was prepared to trust him only because Sam trusted him. KC and Boone had only one more album to release to fulfill their record deal. In public, they appear to be a happy married couple, but behind the scenes, things look very different. Will Jarvis find the truth behind everything that has happened?
Mayhem in Music City: Jarvis Mann Detective Book 11 by R. Weir is an excellent thriller. It grabbed my attention from the start and kept it throughout. The plot was fast-paced and full of action, which never stopped. Every time I thought I knew what would happen next, a turn derailed me. I could not put the book down and turned the pages as fast as I could. It was easy to lose myself in Jarvis’s investigation with the detailed descriptions. The characters were genuine and relatable. With their backgrounds, it was easy to get to know them, and I liked that they were not flawless. The story is well-planned and has all the elements for an outstanding read. I enjoyed this book and could not have wished for a better ending. Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers’ Favorite
Here are a couple more early reviews from my ARC readers:
Once again I was completely immersed in another Jarvis Mann investigation. I was five pages into reading and like an addict, I craved more page turning that took me late into the night. If you’re a fan of the Jarvis Mann, private investigator series, this book will soon be a favorite. Jarvis is headed to Nashville to help a friend who needs his investigative skills on a complex security detail for a country music duo. The duo, Rule of Law, receive threats and hire a team of security experts. When one of the experts is attacked and rendered unconscious, Jarvis has questions. His questions lead to a murder and then a quest to find the murderer. In typical Jarvis fashion, the more he digs, the more he uncovers. He has his hands full with a dysfunctional country music family, a crazed music fan, a mob boss, a no name government agency (maybe), two pissed off detectives and his own nightmares. But… I love Jarvis because he has his sense of humor, his famous one liners, and roaming eyes for the ladies. I think the plot was predictable but there was a lot of action in the story line. I predict we will see another story in the near future. If you have never read a Jarvis Mann book you won’t be lost. You can start with this book. Then you will become an addict like me! -Charlene
Mayhem in Music City by R. Weir is the 11th book in the Jarvis Mann series, and after following Jarvis since his first case (The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card), I can honestly say I never get tired of his attitude, his antics, or his razor-sharp sense of humor. This time around, Jarvis heads to Nashville to help a friend with a complicated security detail for a country music duo called Rule of Law. The duo has been receiving threats and hires a team of security experts—but when one of those experts is brutally attacked, Jarvis immediately starts asking questions. In classic Jarvis Mann fashion, the deeper he digs, the messier things get. He finds himself juggling the dysfunctional country music family, a zealous Rule of Law fan, the mob, the government, the local detectives, and his own recurring nightmares. It’s a lot—and it’s wildly entertaining. Weir’s descriptions are perfect–from Nashville locations to the fear and anxiety of a vivid, recurring nightmare. The author pulled me into the troubled country-western singers’ chaotic life as well as into Jarvis’ haunted mind. Jarvis Mann remains one of my favorite series protagonists. I love his sense of humor, his infamous one-liners, and his attempts at being a “ladies’ man.” The plot here is straightforward, but packed with action, making Mayhem in Music City a true page-turner. This book is non-stop from start to finish. – Julie
As a bonus, with the release of the new book, I’m giving away a free eBook version of Lethal Blues, book 9 in the Jarvis Mann PI series. The story that brought Jarvis out of retirement. It will be free starting today, January 12th, through the 16th. The eBook can be downloaded from Amazon. Don’t miss out on this great story, as you’ll see from the reviews below. If you’re interested in a signed paperback, they are available for immediate shipping (US) in my Book Store for $20 plus $7 shipping. And you can use the Coupon Code: Hunter to get 10% off.
Here are a few reviews of Lethal Blues:
I really enjoy reading Jarvis Mann Hardboiled Detective novels! They keep getting better and this is the best one yet! Jarvis is an interesting character and he is good guy who is always there for his friends! It’s interesting how some of his old friends were important to this novel. Be ready for an enjoyable read! – BobLStLouis
Lethal Blues will take on a gripping journey through the seedy underbelly of a corrupt, crime-filled city. Jarvis Mann is a seasoned private investigator with a cynical outlook on life, typical of the hardboiled detective archetype. His character is tough, flawed, and always willing to break a few rules for the right price. This story reveals a complex series of twists and turns, keeping you hooked with each new revelation – Hannah
I was honored to learn Justice For The Forgotten won another big award. The 2025 Global Book Award Silver Medal Winner for Best Mystery-Crime Fiction. The book is available on Amazon in eBook, paperback, and Kindle Unlimited. I also have signed paperbacks ready to ship from my Book Store.
I hope you’ve been watching and listening to my vodcast, Bringing Life To Characters, where I interview different authors about 3 times a month. I have a long list already lined up for 2026. For January, I’ll be interviewing Jeffery H. Haskell, Tricia Copeland, and John DeDakis. You can find all past and future shows on my YouTube Channel.
I had the pleasure of being interviewed last week, along with authors Kristine Jensen and Kim Lengling, by Alex Lewczuk and Merryn Hobson, about our Global Book Award winning books. I hope you’ll give it a listen by going to this link.
My Author Spotlight Feature returns this month, with Author Lynessa Layne. Lynessa loves to write about beautiful people doing bad things while mixing crime and suspense with romance. She is best known for her award-winning Don’t Close Your Eyes Series, a long-running series featuring the same characters as they dive deeper and deeper into the criminal underworld as they try to escape in a crime syndicate in the name of forbidden love. Her series has recently undergone a glow-up and is now rebranded to the Nightshade Series. To date, Lynessa is a five-time Silver Falchion Award finalist and a two-time Silver Falchion Award winner for Best Suspense Novel and Best Book. She’s authored over twenty novels and short stories, written for Mystery and Suspense Magazine, has worked as a professional book formatter, and holds a certification in copyediting. When Lynessa wasn’t working as the sample girl at the grocery store and playing a food wench during seasons at the Texas Renaissance Festival, she was nose-deep in R.L. Stine, Lois Duncan, and Mary Higgins Clark novels. Her private passions included playing Barbies, penning angsty poetry, and creating music videos in her mind while recording mix tapes and CDs. Though still obsessed with music, she’s grateful for Spotify playlists and exchanged Barbies and poetry for penning novels. She’s married to a retired Naval officer. Together, they host and organize the TropiCon Book Expo & Writing Convention. To learn more about Lynessa and sign up for her newsletter, visit Lynessa’s linktree.
A reminder, if you’re in a book club, I’d love to come talk with your members about writing and my books. If you live on the Front Range of Colorado, I would be thrilled to attend one of your meetings. I’ll even bring paperbacks of my books to purchase. If you’re outside the Colorado Front Range, I’d be happy to chat with your club via video. All of this at no cost. Reply to the newsletter or send me an email, and we can work out the details.
This month, I have more Book Funnel links to download free, discounted, or Kindle Unlimited eBooks.
Fall Winter Reads 86 free ebooks to download via this link until Jan 31st.
Giveaway with crime, thrillers, mystery and suspense has 78 free eBooks to download via this link until Jan 13th (Tomorrow!).
2026 All-Year Crossover Promo (Thriller/Horror/Sci-fi) with 64 free eBooks to download via this link until Jan 1st 2027.
Thrilling Crime Stories – Newsletter swap with 109 free eBooks to download via this link until Feb 15th.
Cold – Winter -Reads with 102 free eBooks to download via this link until Jan 31st.
Giveaway with crime, thrillers, mystery and suspense with 43 free eBooks to download via this link until Feb 7th.
Detective Crime Mystery sales promo with 22 great books to check out via this link until Feb 14th.
I will wrap up with one more push to purchase my new release, Mayhem in Music City. You can get the eBook, paperback or read it on Kindle Unlimited starting January 13th. Or order a signed paperback from my online Book Store, to be mailed out immediately. And download the free eBook promo of Lethal Blues from Amazon. The eBook is free through January 16th.
Until next month, stay safe, happy, and healthy!!
R. Weir