Crime Fiction Stories for Dads
Tom Stone and Jake Sharpe are detectives who not only hunt down the bad guy but also protect their families.
The Tom Stone Detective Stories are thoughtful gifts for Father’s Day, birthdays, Christmas or just a special way to say “thanks, Dad.”
Detective Tom Stone and Jake Sharpe aren’t the perfect dads as we see in the novella and two novels that form the Tom Stone detective stories, where the duo stationed in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley end up chasing a small-time drug dealer who can’t shake the mob. But they care about their families and those who don’t have one.
Scroll down to enjoy samplings from each of the stories.
BOOK 1 — TOM STONE NITTY GRITTY CHRISTMAS Available on Amazon Kobo Barnes&Noble iTunes
EXCERPT TOM STONE NITTY GRITTY CHRISTMAS – CHAPTER ONE
Available on Amazon Kindle for only 99 cents.
Tom Stone Meets 6 yr old Andrew while handing out presents on Christmas Eve
Stone is divorced from his CFO wife and yet befriends a boy in a foster care group home who has no family.
A yell and scream pierced the crowd and the boy, Andrew, broke free from one of the adults and bolted toward the door.
Stone turned and in one stride caught the boy by his collar. “Hey, let’s settle down.” He knelt and looked the boy in the eye. “I want to help you. I’m a cop, you know.” He smiled. “I might have to make you have fun.”
The boy stopped, furrowed his eyebrows and touched Stone’s cheek. “You’re scratchy.”
Stone smiled. “So you’ve got an opinion, too, huh?”
Jake caught Stone’s eye with a surprised look and gave him a thumbs-up.
One of the adults came and took Andrew’s hand and led him back to his seat. The boy flailed his arms for a moment as though to prove he was still out of control. He looked up at Stone as he was being taken back to his seat. His eyes appeared both brown and green and seemed to plead for help and understanding, despite the angry arms and legs churning.
Boys were streaming up to Santa, giggling and giving the man in the red suit high five’s and then moved to get their presents. Jake motioned for Stone to come forward and help. Stone then made his way to the Christmas tree and handed out presents, but Andrew continued squirming and struggling against the staff member. Finally he went limp like he was resigned to being confined. Andrew remained at the table while the last of the boys were moving through the line. Stone set one present aside.
After everyone had gone through, except Andrew, Stone took the present and handed it to the staff member. “This is for him.”
Book 2 Tom Stone Sweltering Summer Nights — available on Amazon
EXCERPT FROM TOM STONE SWELTERING SUMMER NIGHTS – CHAPTER 26
Stone spends plenty of time caring for his two teenage daughters, knowing that he has to trust them to make good choices. This excerpt comes after Stone catches his daughter in a marijuana dispensary.
Stone paused and considered what was really bothering him. “Meagan. I know that a little drinking and smoking pot doesn’t seem like a big deal. I’ve seen it creep on people and it does become a big deal. It gets them off track and their lives are ruined. I mean, what should I do as a dad? It’s not an easy choice. I could just shrug my shoulders and not worry about anything, not worry about you or worry about Carly. But we wouldn’t have a relationship that way.
“It’s inside a healthy parent to want to care and I’m trying to strike a balance. I know that I shouldn’t get overbearing. But if I care too little then I’m off in my world and you’re off in yours. I don’t want that, either. So it’s easy to mess up. I mean, real easy. For me, though, this was a no-brainer. I don’t want drinking and getting high to become a routine part of your life. You mean too much to me.”
Meagan listened, seemed to think about her dad’s passion, and relented. “Okay, Dad. I get it. I don’t like it. But I get it. You’re trying to keep me safe.”
“Trying. Without making you too angry.”
“Yeah, well. I can’t guarantee that I always want to go along with the program.”
“Understood.” Stone nodded as a bite of ice cream slipped off his spoon and onto the floor. Silver lapped it up like a frog zapping a bug.
“But all of this is your way of saying that you want the best for me, right?” Meagan sounded resigned.
Stone nodded.
“Yippee.” Meagan’s matter-of-fact tone was ripe with sarcasm. “Okay. You don’t want me smoking pot or getting drunk?”
“Right?”
“Should I ask if that’s something you did in high school?”
“I had my moments. Like you’ve had yours. But they were only moments. And on one occasion I came home after having too much to drink and stumbled through the screen door in Grandpa’s house. Ripped a big hole in it and fell on my face in the entryway.”
Meagan laughed.
“Grandpa didn’t say anything except ‘Get to bed.’ He told me later that he was both amused and saddened when he watched me crawl up the stairs. Said he had a weak, sick feeling as he realized he had no control in my decision-making. Even though I was hung over, he still got me up at six a.m. the next morning to help build a retaining wall in the yard.”
“So you’re not trying to control me?”
“No. I’m trying to guide you.”
“Honestly, Dad. Don’t worry. Look. I’m sorry I got you so upset. I just feel like I’m smart enough to handle myself.”
“I’m sure you are. But experience gives a different perspective. Let’s agree on this, Meagan. I’ll give you freedom to make your choices. Drugs of all kinds are off limits. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“And if you have questions or concerns then come and ask me. I’ll treat you fairly. I love you and I want the best for you.”
Meagan nodded. “Sounds fair, Dad. Have fun tonight.”
“Thanks. I’m not going to stay out all night,” said Stone.
“Oh, and one more thing.”
“What’s that, kiddo?”
“Since you’re going out with Alisha, try not to get shot again.”
“Oh come on, it was just a graze.” Stone rolled his eyes.
Meagan smiled. “By the way, I really don’t mind watching Andrew. He’s a bit strange sometimes but I like him.”
EXCERPT FROM TOM STONE DAY OF THE DEAD CHAPTER 30 – LATE JUNE / EARLY JULY 2018 RELEASE
This excerpt focuses on a father and daughter who cared for a relative who had an abusive father and mother.
A man stood behind her on a stepstool with a screwdriver, looking closely at a window frame. He turned around and spoke softly. “Can’t beat the prices or quality.” He laid a hand gently on her shoulder. “Hey, she’ll be okay.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Leonna patted him, smiled, and then turned back to the detectives. “It’s a shame, isn’t it?”
“It is,” Stone agreed.
“Sara has overcome so much and now this. Ending up in the hospital again. She say anything to you?”
“No, she wouldn’t talk,” said Stone. “I was hoping you could fill us in.”
“I didn’t know where she was for the past few days. And then she shows up here, all beat up. Looked terrible. I drove her to the emergency room and she was holding her sides, saying Angel had beat the hell out of her. They admitted her right away.” Leonna paused. “Broken ribs, internal bleeding. She’s not doing good and they’re just keeping her comfortable.”
“What kind of man does that to someone?” said Leonna’s father, Robert Alvarez. “So sad.”
“Angel’s no better than what Sara had with her own parents.” Leonna took a deep breath. “An abusive father, drinking and drugs. Her mom and dad were always fighting.”
Robert set his screwdriver aside. “I hated my brother-in-law. I tried to get help for my sister soon after Sara was born, but it didn’t work. While growing up, she’d live with us for weeks at a time. Moving in when things got terrible and then moving back out when it got better.”
Stone first met Robert, Sara’s uncle, a couple of years earlier. Stone and Jake were investigating Angel and came across Sara at her apartment. She panicked and ran into the street where she was struck by a car. Robert was sitting dutifully with her when Stone visited her for questioning in the hospital.
“It’s a mystery why in God’s universe that some people like Sara are afflicted with abuse,” said Robert. “Just can’t escape it.”
ABOUT DETECTIVE TOM STONE — INFLUENCED BY HIS GRANDFATHER
Tom Stone is a modern-day detective serving in Los Angeles and yet he embodies the spirit of his grandfather who set an example that pursuing good is the right thing to do.
The gift of reading lasts beyond the book and we hope that you enjoy each of the Tom Stone stories since they show the importance of family and the tragic consequences when family life flies out of control.
Tom Stone Detective Stories Blog 