A little history: This is a great opportunity to thank some truly great mystery writers who led to the creation of my novels. Paramount among them is American crime writer Robert B. Parker. On January 18, 2010, he passed away and more of his original great works were never to be.

There are others I must thank as well. I read all of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes adventures while growing up. As a teenager I visited 221B Baker Street in London, England, and named one of my early rock and roll bands 'Baker Street.' I included a reference to Mr. Holmes in my first novel as a tribute. My youth also embraced many stories by Raymond Chandler, Agatha Christie, and Ian Fleming. I can recall having a frayed copy of a paperback in the back pocket of my tattered jeans many times. Over the years I've read hundreds of murder mysteries and thrillers.

I've always been a creative person and explored many outlets for expression including many years as a guitarist and music teacher in Winnipeg, Manitoba. So, I married and was blessed with three kids (including twins), but due to poor services for our quadriplegic son, Colin, our eldest, I ended up in Mississauga, Ontario, practicing my craft as a private sector City Planner/Urban Design Director. After several subsequent challenging diversions into the unknown including a three-year stint in Buffalo and Williamsville NY, I currently own and manage a small Niagara investment firm in St. Catharines, Ontario (twenty minutes from Niagara Falls). My life began the first chapter in a new and refreshing book, however, when I started writing crime thriller novels a few years ago.

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CHICAGO: THE HARRY SHARPE SERIES:

A battle-worn private investigator in Chicago, Harry carries his own scars, both visible and buried deep. He’s no saint, but he walks with purpose—shining a light into the dark corners of the city where cruelty, corruption, and vengeance fester. He’s seen what evil can do. Lived it. Survived it. And now, with grit, resolve, and a relentless pursuit of justice, he fights to pull others from the abyss he once called home.

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 #1  'PLEASE SAVE TEDDY' - Currently Seeking Literary Agent

It starts with a missing young boy. It ends with murder, corruption—and a target on Harry Sharpe’s back. Private investigator Harry Sharpe thought he was just helping a desperate mother find her son. But when the child’s father turns up dead, Harry is dragged into a deadly web of organized crime, dirty cops, and a shadowy real estate empire with ties to the Governor of Illinois. Armed with little more than his instincts, a stubborn sense of justice, and a fedora that’s seen better days, Harry races to uncover the truth. Because in a city where power covers its tracks with blood, he must solve a harrowing mystery that could cost him—and the people he cares about—everything.  ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BOSTON: THE MACK BARRON SERIES: 

Mackenzie “Mack” Barron was once a decorated Boston detective—until tragedy and addiction nearly destroyed him. Now a private investigator, he tackles cases that push him to the edge of justice and survival. Gritty, emotional, and suspenseful, the Mack Barron series blends high-stakes crime with the resilience of a man who refuses to stay broken.

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#1  'BEFORE YOU BREAK' - Unpublished Completed Novel

'BEFORE YOU BREAK' focuses on former Boston detective Mack Barron, who knows what it means to lose everything. Grief and addiction nearly destroyed him, but now he’s fighting to rebuild his life with the help of his loyal partner, a sharp-witted receptionist, and the woman who refuses to give up on him.

When a wealthy businessman offers Mack $100,000 to investigate the brutal murder of his partner, Mack seizes the chance to prove himself again. But the deeper he digs, the more dangerous the truth becomes. A black pickup stalks his every move. Friends are dragged into the crossfire. And secrets worth millions could cost Mack not only his career, but the woman he loves—and his life.

Taut, emotional, and suspenseful, Before You Break is a crime thriller that blends high-stakes investigation with the raw struggles of a man on the edge—perfect for readers who crave both heart and adrenaline. ***81,900 words***

#2  'NEVER LAUGH AT THE DEVIL' - Rough Draft Complete

'NEVER LAUGH AT THE DEVIL' centers on Jonathan Burke, a mid-thirties financial wizard who is fed up with a life he's convinced is destined for tragedy. He's a bachelor who wants to settle down, but lacks any hope of a decent future while running a Ponzi scheme for an evil Mafia boss and his son. He decides to change his life for the better. The tragic and incredibly challenging consequences of his actions, and the intervention of Mack Barron and his team, are beyond anything he could have predicted in his wildest dreams. ***90,600 words***

#3  'INTO THE VALLEY OF DEATH' - Rough Draft Complete

'INTO THE VALLEY OF DEATH'starts with a terrorist plot involving enormous potential harm to the citizens of the City of Boston and surrounding areas. The dark hostile plan is partially revealed at a crowded late night house party. A man standing out back in the shadows while having a cigarette, overhears three others arguing heatedly about the details of a sinister scheme. When a fight breaks out, the man flees the party only to find out later he has been identified and implicated in a brutal stabbing death that ensued after his departure. That's when he calls Mack Barron. You won't be able to put this book down. ***78,700 words***

#4  'AT THE END OF THE LANE' - Rough Draft Complete

‘AT THE END OF THE LANE’ presents a strange and at times surreal tale. It warps the line between murder mystery and horrorific thriller while combining two story lines into a baffling detective crime novel. Aaron Striker, a contract hitman, (think Philip Carlo's THE ICE MAN) was found decomposing in his living room where he had been savagely beaten and murdered. Elsewhere, private eye, Mack Barron, finds a blood-spattered portfolio held by his first true love, Jamie Lee, at the very instant of her tragic death. Both events ignite a media assault focused on harassing and bringing down the Mafia. The FBI, Boston Homicide, and Mackenzie Investigations, join forces against a corrupt law firm used as a front for the Mob and its deadly illegal activities (think John Grisham's THE FIRM). This riveting novel includes an explosive ending with a double plot twist you’ll never guess. ---Movie potential--- ***75,800 words***

More novels will follow. I hope you enjoy reading my novels as much as I have had the pleasure of designing and writing them for you. Many more exciting stories are planned.

Thank you so much for spending a few moments here. Please come back and visit again for updates.

Feel free to visit my blog for insights into some of my experiences and thoughts. 

--Stephen Winn