Synopses & Reviews
A Vietnam vet turned P.I., Elvin Suggs knows all about wrong times and places. Time spent in the Green Berets during The Siege of Khe Sanh taught him about the wrong side of 1968. Upon his return to Memphis, Elvins plans explode when his wife demands a divorce. His life in shambles, Elvin turns to Dimond Redding, his best friends widow and Nam vet, now a tenant at the Jewel Arms in St. Louis, Missouri. A random murder outside her door has her ready to move before Elvin arrives. With a ruthless killer on the loose, she says, who will be next? A fresh corpse soon answers her question, and Di insists that Suggs stay in the South that he knows and loves. But, Suggs has changed. Brokenhearted and broke, with more questions than answers, Elvin is determined to salvage his pride and his dreams. Elvin knows all about the wrong places and times. Only this time, hes got nothing to lose. This time, hes on the wrong side of Memphis.
Review
"Get ready to meet some of the most intriguing characters ever. There are secrets and surprises galore to be found among the tenants of the Jewel Arms Apartments--and Claire Applewhite brings them all to life." —Tess Gerritsen, author, The Keepsake
Review
"This is an old-fashioned whodunit, and don’t let the title fool you. It’s set in St. Louis, a hard-scrabble apartment building where all the tenants have dreams and secrets, and some have motive and opportunity. It’s a place I might not want to live, but I sure enjoyed my visit." —Bill McClellan, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Review
"Claire Applewhite’s debut mystery The Wrong Side of Memphis is a polished story wrapped in layers of intrigue, sharpened by unexpected twists, and warmed by heartfelt emotions. A grisly murder in a South St. Louis apartment baffles police and residents alike, and sets in motion an intricate plot that careens to a satisfying ending you’ll never see coming. The characters are compelling, with their human frailties and strengths expertly drawn. You’ll be racing toward the end of this book but wanting it not to end just yet, so you can hang out with the characters a while longer. I’m ready for the next book so I can rejoin Dimond, Elvin, Vanna, and Cobra, who have each other’s backs, even though one of them walks on four legs." —Shirley Kennett, author, the PJ Gray mystery series
Review
"Claire Applewhite creates a story as memorable as the classic Clue board game we all used to play as kids. Reminiscent of the eccentric cast of characters in that murder-mystery game, Applewhite’s characters move from room to room in a South St. Louis apartment building known as the Jewel Arms, leaving murder in their wake and clues that only the most clever of the bunch will discover. If you enjoy an old-fashioned mystery that keeps you guessing to the end, you’ll love The Wrong Side of Memphis." —Julie Compton, author, Tell No Lies
About the Author
Claire Applewhite, award winning mystery writer and Acquisitions Editor for Smoking Gun Publishing, LLC and Sunflower Press, is a graduate of St. Louis University. Her published books include The Wrong Side of Memphis, Crazy For You, St. Louis Hustle, Candy Cadillac and Tennessee Plates. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. She has served as a Past President of the Missouri Writers Guild and Board member of the Midwest Chapter, Mystery Writers of America. Organizational memberships include the St. Louis Metropolitan Press Club, St. Louis Writers Guild, Sisters in Crime, Ozark Writers League and Active member, Mystery Writers of America. Websites: www.claireapplewhite.com, www.clairedunoir.com, www.smokinggunpublishing.com and www.thesunflowerpress.com