Minus One: The
Drew Smith Series
About The Book
Minus One the Drew Smith Series prequel takes us
back when the attorney launches his legal career. Before the ink is dry
on his license to practice law Drew Smith finds himself at the center of a
murder mystery. The recent law school graduate works as a hotel concierge
and befriends two bellmen an Arab and a Latino, Medhat and Julio. Like
the three musketeers they bond in a fraternal friendship put to the test when
Medhat is kidnapped after running up a drug tab he can't pay. Rescued by
Drew and Julio, Medhat then becomes the prime suspect in a string of
murders. Driven by their romantic entanglements the attorney is
captivated with a pretty Latina whose father objects to her dating a Black man.
Julio and his Filipina love find themselves expecting, and Medhat’s passion for
blondes gets him snared in a femme fatale's net. Minus One captures Drew
Smith's evolution from youthful indiscretion to a professional burdened with
seriousness of purpose.
About The Author
Norwood Holland is a freelance writer, lawyer, and
author of the Drew Smith legal thriller series based on the capers of an urban
trial attorney. He is a graduate of Howard University School of Law with
a bachelor’s degree in English from Fisk University where he studied under the
renowned Harlem Renaissance author Arna Bontemps. Holland favors D.C.'s
local color in his fiction and currently writes the blog
editorialindependence.com devoted to promoting independent authors among other
things.
He has served in several government agencies including the National Labor Relations Board and a number of Washington’s top national law firms. In the mid 90s Holland began freelancing for the local media. Some of his credits include The Writer Magazine, the Examiner, and Black Literature Magazine. Minus One follows up on the success of Sleepless Nights, the first in the Drew Smith Series.
He has served in several government agencies including the National Labor Relations Board and a number of Washington’s top national law firms. In the mid 90s Holland began freelancing for the local media. Some of his credits include The Writer Magazine, the Examiner, and Black Literature Magazine. Minus One follows up on the success of Sleepless Nights, the first in the Drew Smith Series.
Book Excerpt
Chapter 1
Caught Red-Handed
HE OFFICERS WERE dispatched on a possible domestic
dispute. They didn’t know what to expect when Mrs. Oliphant met the two at the
elevator, one Latino the other African- American, both towering over the blue
haired dowager. Nervous and animated, she spoke as rapidly as she stepped,
guiding them to the apartment door.
“Are you related?” asked the stocky dark haired
Latino. “No. I'm Carol's next door neighbor. There was a fight and I heard the
disturbance,” Mrs. Oliphant sighed and shook her head as though shaking off a
secret annoyance. “Mind you, I don't eavesdrop but I couldn't help hearing—you
know thin walls and vents carry conversations. This is her apartment.”
They stopped in front of the corner apartment at
the end of the hall. “I have the key,” she said. Mrs. Oliphant's tiny trembling
liver spotted hand offered it up between the thumb and forefinger. With a nod
the Latino urged her to open the door. “Hard to make sense of it all,” she continued
her prattle fumbling to get the key in the keyhole, “I could only piece things
together. She's so distraught almost hysterical—it had to be something
traumatic. I gave her a sedative.” She relaxed with the key finally in.
“Did you go in?” the Latino asked. He reached over
her shoulder, turned the knob and pushed the door open. “No, she told me to
call the police.” Mrs. Oliphant followed the two in.
Connect with the Author
No comments:
Post a Comment