I gotta tell you, I’m excited about these new Tommy Valentine, PI, adventures–“Beach Body,” “Waimea Wiseguys,” “Monkey Punch” and Portland Weird.” There’s something about the Tommy and Babs characters that sets the muse moving.

In this third story, the Penns Grove Private Investigators head back to Long Beach Island to investigate the curious death of a Barnegat Light man, washed up on the sand at Beach Haven. Our latest Kindle-only tale includes the usual on-location dining hints, a mad swipe at the Philly Mafia, and a humorous and fun description of liquor and life in West Jersey.

“Waimea Wiseguys” is up next, and is expected to be available after our visit to Kauai in January. The remaining two will round out the first season of episodes in the Tommy Valentine series, and will be included in the first season’s anthology, tentatively entitled Monkey Business. You should see the book cover! The anthology will be available in paperback and Kindle versions sometime next spring.

Here’s an excerpt of “Beach Body.”

“She’s the computer of the house, and the brains between the two of us, because most of the time I’m simply the brawn, the fist in the gym bag so to speak, the mallet in the croquet kit, not that I play but you get the point…”

The second in the series, “Jersey Tomato,” is available September 5.