Welcome, friend! Today I bring you a collaborative post with author Michael Rothrock writing as Jackson Banks and we are chatting about his latest thriller, Alligator River.
Get to know the author: Jackson Banks
Welcome Michael! Tell me and my readers a bit about yourself!
I am a part-time writer and full-time trial lawyer who lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with my family. I write across multiple genres, including thrillers, humor, romance, and non-fiction. When not writing or spending time with my family, I enjoy a variety of outdoor adventure activities and cooking to stay inspired. My dream is to be able to make a full-time living with my writing. My debut thriller novel, Alligator River, released on November 1, 2022.
What inspired you to write this book?
In February 2020, just before the world shut down, I was in North Carolina’s Outer Banks on a business trip, and on the drive there I was listening to a true crime podcast about an unsolved murder. I detoured through the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on the way home and I remember thinking, “This would be a great place to dump a body.” Inspiration struck, and I had the whole novel plotted out in my head by the time I arrived back home.
How long did it take you to write this book, from the first idea to the last edit?
I began writing the book at the end of February 2020 and the last edit was made in December 2021. There were periods where I would stop writing it to work on a short story or an article, or another novel I have been working on, and then I would pick it back up again.
What makes your story unique?
The characters and their motivations are different from what you may find in other thrillers.
Who would enjoy reading your book?
Readers who love good crime fiction and legal thrillers will love this book, as will fans of stories involving serial killers. One reviewer said, “It’s a good read for those that enjoy a solid serial killer plotline with a diverse range of characters, with a similar feel to James Patterson novels.”
What’s something you hope readers would take away from it?
Sometimes the people we think of as the “good guys” aren’t so good.
Do you have a favourite quote or scene in the book that you find yourself going back to?
There’s a scene where the main suspect rejects a plea deal despite his lawyer practically begging him to take it. The lawyer tells the district attorney, “Sometimes these people just need to learn the hard way,” which made me smile whenever I read it as I’ve encountered these situations as a practicing lawyer and had the same thoughts.
What is something you have learned on your author journey so far?
Sometimes your best ideas come when you think you don’t have any. The hardest thing to do as a writer is to stare at blinking cursor in a blank document not knowing what to write about, but if you just start writing often the ideas will come on their own.
What’s the best piece of advice you have received related to writing?
Write the story you want to read. Not only will you be reading it over and over again during the editing process, but the odds are it’s a story others want to read as well.
Alligator River
Thriller, November 2022
Public defender Chase Blanchard has been assigned the biggest case of his career. Jeremy Martin, his new client, is a local fisherman with a troubled past accused of murdering a young tourist in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
As Chase begins to think his client couldn’t possibly be innocent and pushes him to take a plea, Chief Ranger Brandon Maddox begins digging into the murder on his own and finds evidence that could exonerate Martin. Maddox’s trust in the system is betrayed, however, when the lead detective on the case and prosecuting attorney try to bury the exculpatory evidence.
Chase and Maddox begin to suspect a serial killer is at large in the community as more people turn up missing or dead. Unable to trust local authorities, the two form an unlikely alliance to find the real killer before time runs out for the next victim.
Content notes: The book contains profanity. There are also a few scenes that contain graphic violence, and some brief references to sexual assault.
Book Excerpt from
Alligator River
Jeremy Martin stepped off the shrimp trawler and onto the dock in the Wanchese Marina under a hot mid-day sun. His shorts, deck shoes, and long-sleeved UV shirt were stained with grime and fish guts from yet another hard day of shrimping. His hands were calloused and his face was tanned to the color of leather. Jeremy’s disheveled hair was matted to his forehead with sweat.
He was glad the day was over. He planned to go back to his home, shower, and begin a long night of drinking before rising at dawn the next day. Shrimping was hard work, but it was an honest living and he was glad for it.
After fishing his truck keys from his pocket, Jeremy stopped short on the dock and stared ahead to the parking lot at the end of the wooden walkway. He recognized the man in the suit at the top of the stairs, and knew trouble was about to find him yet again. Detective Tunstall had busted him several times in the past for drugs and other minor charges, so Jeremy was no stranger to the situation unfolding in the marina. What was unusual was the two cop cars and four officers flanking the detective.
Jeremy continued walking down the dock, albeit more slowly. There was no other real option unless he wanted to swim clear across the sound to Bodie Island. He put his truck keys back in his pocket as he walked, knowing he wouldn’t be needing them anytime soon.
“Detective,” said Jeremy in a half-greeting, half-question as he got closer.
“Jeremy. You guys got a good haul this morning?” asked Tunstall.
“Not too bad,” replied Jeremy.
The two looked at each other for a few moments. Jeremy glanced around at the uniformed officers, all of whom he knew from growing up. They looked unfriendly and anxious, something Jeremy hadn’t seen in them even when he had been arrested previously.
“What’s all this about, Detective?”
“I think you know,” replied Tunstall.
“Afraid I don’t.”
“You didn’t think you were going to get away with this one, did you?” asked Tunstall. “You really fucked up this time.”
“Fucked up what?” said Jeremy. “I ain’t been doing drugs for a while now. I’m trying to make an honest living for once.”
Tunstall chuckled.
“You taking me in for questioning about something?” asked Jeremy. “If so, I can already tell you I don’t know nothing about nothing.”
“No,” replied Tunstall. “I’m afraid it’s more serious than just a little questioning.”
Tunstall nodded to the closest uniformed officer who removed his handcuffs from his belt and began walking down the steps toward Jeremy on the dock. The other three officers placed their hands on their pistols as a precaution. After what this man had done to that poor woman, none of them were going to take any chances.
“Jeremy Martin,” Tunstall said. “You’re under arrest for the kidnapping and murder of Heather O’Neal—”
“The what?” yelled Jeremy. “Who the fuck is Heather O’Neal?”
Jeremy half-turned his body away from the officer with the handcuffs and backed up a few steps. The officer tensed.
“You have the right to remain silent,” continued Tunstall. “Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney —”
“I know my God damn rights,” shouted Jeremy. “What I want to know is what the fuck is all this about and why the fuck do you think I have anything to do with it?”
“Jeremy, this is going to go a lot easier if you don’t resist,” replied Tunstall. “I suggest you cooperate unless you want these boys to put you down.”
Jeremy’s shoulders sagged. He’d had his ass kicked a few times in fights with the police, but the postures and tenseness on the officers’ faces suggested this time may be more than a scuffle. This time he may catch a bullet instead of a beating. Jeremy relaxed as much as he could and allowed the officer to cuff his hands behind his back.
“Who is Heather O’Neal?” Jeremy asked again.
“What, you didn’t bother to get her name before you killed her?” asked Tunstall.
Jeremy and the officer had reached the asphalt of the parking lot and were walking toward the parked vehicles. Jeremy didn’t notice the news vans and reporters on the other side of the patrol cars and Detective Tunstall’s unmarked Dodge Charger.
“Kill who? I ain’t killed nobody. Who the fuck is Heather O’Neal?”
“The hot blonde thing you tried to pick up at Coastal Provisions,” said Tunstall.
“That uppity bitch? Someone killed her? She probably had it coming,” said Jeremy. This would be the one clip the news camera captured and would replay on the news for days to come. “But, I ain’t killed her! I didn’t do anything to her!”
“You can take it up with the judge,” said Tunstall.
“I want a God damn lawyer,” said Jeremy through gritted teeth.
“That’s the smartest thing you’ve said all day,” said Tunstall. “And, you’ll get one, eventually.”
Tunstall placed his hand on the top of Jeremy’s head and immediately wanted to wash his hands. He pressed down gently while Jeremy contorted to get in the back of the patrol car. Tunstall slammed the door and pounded twice on the top of the roof. The uniformed officer drove away toward Manteo and the detention center where Jeremy would be booked.
The small crowd of local and national news media moved toward Tunstall like a swarm of mosquitos shouting questions at him as he walked back to his Charger.
“No comment,” Tunstall said as he slammed his door shut and started the powerful engine.
Tunstall pulled his cell phone out of his inside jacket pocket as he turned the car out of the marina parking lot and back onto the highway.
The first text message was from the mayor: Great job, Detective!
The second was from Maddox: Bad news. Call me ASAP.
Interested?
Find Alligator River on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books and other retailers.
Thank you for hanging out with us today. Connect with Jackson on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, his website and Goodreads.
If you are an indie author and would like to do a book excerpt, check out my work with me page for details. Check out other book excerpts here.
Cover image: Photo on Unsplash
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