The Usual Suspects

Some faces stay with you—even after the story ends. Meet the characters behind the stories.

A collection of characters from the Noir & Nonsense stories.

Slow to learn. Fast to act.

Appears in: Bostwick Blues

‍ ‍Pike

Rough-edged and living for the adrenaline rush.

Appears in: Bostwick Blues

Nobody leaves unchanged.

Appears in: Bostwick Blues

Drawn to trouble he pretends not to enjoy.

Wealth didn’t teach her manners. Life just might.

Ex-con back in stir. Dangerous anywhere.

Lives in a world where trouble never asks permission.

Hot. Hot-tempered with a 12-gauge answer.

An artist without restraint—or a conscience.

Steps in when survival needs a professional.

Saloon keeper. Sees everything. Forgets nothing.

Keeps the paperwork clean in a dirty business.

Appears in: The Substitute

Not afraid to ask questions nobody wants answered.

Appears in: Cocaine Nights

Looking for daddy’s approval at the end of a needle.

Appears in: Cocaine Nights

Doesn’t raise his voice. Doesn’t have to.

Appears in: Alligator Tears

Carries more than he shows.

Appears in: Alligator Tears

Sees more than he says.

Appears in: Alligator Tears

Never met a bad idea he couldn't investigate.

Knows everyone's business—and enjoys sharing it.

Silent witness to one very unusual night.

Stole from the wrong man. Regretted it too late.

Appears in: Paper Trail

Preys on the people who prey on the city.

Appears in: Paper Trail

A wise guy with one very inconvenient fear.

Appears in: Paper Trail

Beautiful. Intelligent. Impossible to read.

Appears in: Paper Trail

A mob lawyer with something to hide.

Appears in: Paper Trail

The one person Max could never leave behind.

Appears in: Paper Trail

If you want the full story—

Explore the collected short stories