All Carson Reno Mystery Series Books are standalone novels. It is not necessary to read them in any particular order.
Crime DOES pay – especially crime that has the support of our legal system.
Carson’s investigative work for Attorney Jack Logan runs smack into the path of the largest law firm in West Tennessee. Trying to stay out of their path only succeeds in putting Carson in the crosshairs of lawyers who want him out of the way.
Power struggles, infidelity, organized crime and eventually murder all appear to be somehow linked to this powerful law firm – McCabe, McCabe, Clark, and Lewis.
This is a story of the small versus the large in a little West Tennessee community that has no idea of the crime and corruption that lay underneath their quiet daily lives.
Join Carson as he takes on the fight of his career when he challenges ‘the Illegals.’
By Larry Alexander
A small town in the 1960’s must deal with some big-time crime. Written and delivered in the fashion of Sam Spade and Phillip Marlowe, the author magically transports the reader back in time – a time that should be simpler, but isn’t. A tough Private Detective uses his muscle and humor to sort through clues and resolve a complicated murder. This is a Classic Carson Reno Mystery with all the usual characters and compelling conversations for the reader. Light illustrations help tell the story and complete the reader’s transition back in time.
All Carson Reno, Mystery Series Books, are standalone novels. It is not necessary to read them in any particular order.
The witness protection program had simply not worked as promised. He and his wife had been relocated to a one-horse hick town in West Tennessee, with a promise to start life over – on the right side of the law, this time.
His factory job lasted less than a year. A strike and major labor dispute had cost him his job – and his running around with other women had cost him his wife. He never intended for any of this to happen, but it seemed he was meeting failure at every turn. He had made that difficult move from the underworld to the real world with all good intentions of making it stick – it wasn’t working. Things were dragging him back, and he was finding it too easy to drift into the dark side of life once again.
He knew that if he crossed back over, all chances and opportunities for a life in the real world were over – his one chance gone forever. While he resisted, it just didn’t seem to matter – circumstances were taking him back – he couldn’t stop himself.
He started by renewing some old contacts, asking the right questions and finally by offering his services for hire. It didn’t take long for things to happen, and contract offers coming his way.
They started with a call from Anthony ‘Tony’ Scarsetti. He had worked for Tony in the past, and he believed they held a mutual respect for each other – him for his skills and Tony for his leadership. Tony was a rival of Steve Carrollton, and their competition for the vices in Memphis and on Beale Street was well known. Evidently, Carrollton had been temporarily sidelined – but his operations continued. Tony was looking for some professional help to make his temporary situation a permanent one.
Once again in his life, things were looking up, and he was feeling good about himself – being useful. His skills were needed, and he would again be a contributor. His little house on Mullins Avenue, in this hick town of Humboldt, would also be useful. Quiet, out of the main activity in Memphis, and allowing him to operate under the radar. Besides, the government had bought it, why not put it to good use?
He would start by sharpening the skills that had once made him successful. After all, failure was not an option in this business – only death. Hours in the local forests and woods would give him the privacy required – he had the perfect set-up and the perfect location. Nobody local to challenge him, and besides, if someone did – he was still the best at what he did. Everybody knew that.
All Carson Reno, Mystery Series Books, are standalone novels. It is not necessary to read them in any particular order.
An ex-Memphis cop and a friend of Carson is in trouble – but what kind of trouble?
While trying to answer that question, Carson finds more questions – and all with no answers.
What Carson also finds is trouble coming from all directions. The Mafia, the Teamsters Union, an unhappy sheriff, and some very rough characters are all looking for his friend, and Carson is in the middle of this mess.
An apparently senseless murder only complicates Carson’s problems, which makes getting to the truth more difficult.
Kindle Customer
1941 Plymouth Pick-up!
Reelfoot by Gerald Darnell is my first Carson Reno mystery. I loved it! I found the style of writing mixed in with the little black and white pictures captivating, like the 1941 Plymouth Pick-up truck. I have been to Memphis and other areas in the south and found the descriptions so real. Also, I like learning when I read and Darnell mixes local history into the story. I definitely will be reading more Carson Reno mysteries.
All Carson Reno, Mystery Series Books, are standalone novels. It is not necessary to read them in any particular order.
The year is 1962 and Carson Reno, once again, gets himself into situations that would be better left alone. A Memphis client hires Carson to prove infidelity, but instead, he finds corruption and murder going all the way to the top of Memphis politics. A Jack Logan client investigation takes him back to Humboldt looking into automobile fraud, which lands him smack in the middle of a murder. Not just any murder, but the murder of a local beauty queen – one who seemed to have too many enemies for a girl her age.
lissa barnes
I love his stories about my hometown Humboldt Tennessee. When I read the books I feel like I’m back at home. Please keep writing about Humboldt and other books.
I would recommend his books to any book lovers as I am myself. Please write more I can’t get enough of them.
All Carson Reno Mystery Series Books are standalone novels. It is not necessary to read them in any particular order.
It’s a New Year, and it has gotten off to a very bad start for Carson.
Several prominent citizens and business leaders from Humboldt are dying in some strange and bizarre accidents. Carson becomes involved when an insurance company hires him to investigate.
What happens next is even more strange and bizarre for this little town in West Tennessee.
The clues are everywhere, but none of them make any sense. It may be that the ‘last man standing’ is responsible for these accidents – but why?
Follow Carson as he works on one of his wildest adventures ever in ‘Dead Men Don’t Remember.’
Viv Drewa
Another Carson Reno investigation that you will love!
Carson Reno starts the New Year with a case in Humboldt where prominent businessmen are being murdered or commit suicide. You will be taken on a remarkable journey as Reno investigates these cases until he finally gets the bad guy!
Darnell’s characters are amazing! They are believable to the point that, along with the storyline, pull you into the investigation.
I highly recommend “Dead Men Don’t Remember” to everyone!
All Carson Reno Mystery Series Books are standalone novels. It is not necessary to read them in any particular order.
The racial problems of 1962 have found their way to the small West Tennessee town of Humboldt. A white woman has been brutally murdered, and one of Carson’s childhood friends has been accused of the crime. Carson’s friend is a colored man who once worked for his grandfather, but the accusations and problems extend beyond the crime and to the heart of this small community.
Carson finds a divided town; a town divided along the lines of race and the interference of outside groups, which makes this division even wider.
Challenged with defending his friend, Carson must find a solution before the two sides collide, which would definitely have devastating results.
Join Carson, as he faces one of his toughest challenges in ‘the Crossing.’
Cathy Mankin
I’m sold on this author’s books
This book has got my interest; well written, so keep writing and I’ll keep reading about them. I highly recommend this book and the author. I am a fan now. Definitely a good read. 🙂
It’s 1962, and the Mafia has discovered some new tricks in getting their drugs from Colombia to the streets of America.
Their plans are working perfectly until an unfortunate boating accident puts the FBI back on their trail.
Carson’s friend, Elizabeth Teague, has a large amount of cash hidden in her luggage and this cash belongs to the Mafia. They want it back.
Protecting his friend and sorting through the details, Carson finds himself in the middle of a conspiracy that has roots in Humboldt. He also finds a murder with too many suspects.
From the Everglades to Puerto Rico, to Memphis, to Humboldt, to Key West – join Carson as he tries to separate the good guys from the bad guys in
‘the Everglades.’
Great book…
Thomas E. Buzard
Wonderful book. Love this writer. Well written mystery…..I only read GP rated books, and this one fits that rating…Thanks, Gerald…Please keep up the great work…
All Carson Reno, Mystery Series Books, are standalone novels. It is not necessary to read them in any particular order.
An ex-Memphis cop and a friend of Carson is in trouble – but what kind of trouble?
While trying to answer that question, Carson finds more questions – and all with no answers.
What Carson also finds is trouble coming from all directions. The Mafia, the Teamsters Union, an unhappy sheriff and some very rough characters are all looking for his friend, and Carson is in the middle of this mess.
An apparently senseless murder only complicates Carson’s problems, which makes getting to the truth more difficult.
Insomniac Reads
A Fresh YA Mystery!
Carson is in the middle of all kinds of trouble as he grapples with a senseless murder.
This is the first Gerald Darnell book I have ever read. With the kiddies out of school for the summer, I have been looking for creative YA books and this definitely made the list.
Reelfoot would appeal to mystery fans and probably any young adult who burns through Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys!
All Carson Reno, Mystery Series Books, are standalone novels. It is not necessary to read them in any particular order.
The year is 1962 and Carson Reno, once again, gets himself into situations that would be better left alone. A Memphis client hires Carson to prove infidelity, but instead, he finds corruption and murder going all the way to the top of Memphis politics. A Jack Logan client investigation takes him back to Humboldt looking into automobile fraud, which lands him smack in the middle of a murder. Not just any murder, but the murder of a local beauty queen – one who seemed to have too many enemies for a girl her age.
Another book by Darnell that I couldn’t put down!
I became a fan of Gerald W. Darnell’s Carson Reno Mysteries after I read the first book!
His characters are believable and interesting to follow in his books.
“The Price of Beauty in Strawberry Land” has twists and turns that keep you wanting more. It is a book I had trouble to put down because I had to know what was going to happen next.
I encourage everyone to read this, and the other books, by Gerald W. Darnell.
All Carson Reno Mystery Series Books are standalone novels. It is not necessary to read them in any particular order.
Carson’s feud with a local crime reporter continues, and then suddenly the husband of his client is brutally murdered – a husband he’s been hired to investigate. Mysterious characters weave a web of blackmail and suspense while leaving Carson with more clients than he can handle.
The Memphis police have warned Carson to back off, but an employee of a friend is missing from a murder scene and he’s determined to find her and the killer.
Follow Carson to New Orleans, Humboldt, Memphis and Florida where he chases numerous suspects trying to track down a missing person and the killer he’s been hired to find.
Enjoy this unusual adventure for Carson Reno, as he struggles to solve the case of
‘Murder and More’.
Mr. Richard Lw Bunning
Darnell Keeps the 60s Breathing With a Little Help from Private Detective Carson Reno
A detective mystery set in the 1960s with an authentic feel of the 1960s. The book could so easily have been written then rather than in 2015. The read is nicely scattered with illustrative pictures from the period, which I can see adding a lot to the reading experience of those born later. I felt that I could be reading a period Mickey Spillane novel; the script felt that authentic. I’d even say that there are more than a few similarities between Mike Hammer and Carson Reno— well at least as how I remember the character. Then again, possibly Reno is a more James Garner in the Rockford Files TV series. Okay, that was very 1970s scripted, but the Rockford character could have been slotted seamlessly into any ’50s/60s detective series. So then, for me, Carson Reno is possibly best described as a blend of Mike Hammer and Jim Rockford.
The writing has a sharp journalistic economy, never burying us in irrelevances and keeping a brisk pace. Some of the bit players are easy to confuse, but that problem is relieved by the index of characters. This is the first Darnell book I’ve read. Love it. I can see this series of books on every paperback turntable in front of every ’60s newspaper store. The mass market paperback days are, generally speaking, history, but that shouldn’t limit the availability and popularity of Darnell’s Carson Reno. This book is an object lesson in how to get that old paperback buzz into the e-market. For those still addicted to traditional paper, the lovers of the smell and feel of ‘pulp’, for those that still have or are discovering vinyl records and classic cars, the hands-on version looks just as 60s slick. The period will always be culturally cool and so will Carson, with bourbon and coke and an after-dinner cigar.
This is a mystery detective novel, not a voyeuristic trip through violence and death, as so many modern genre books are. A read that may seriously damage your place in time.