Book Number One - Available on Amazon!
All books available on Amazon in Kindle ($3.50) and Paperback ($12.50)
The first book is titled "Derrick of Death". It is the first in the Oilfield Mystery Series. It launched on June 11, 2022. If you can't find it by title, try clicking here: Buy Book
The Sleuth
Charlize , known as Charlie in the industry, is the only female well site manager in Bakersfield. She doesn't let her femininity interfere with or work, or the oilfield keep her from enjoying her bling. Whether she's in high heels and chiffon or steel toed boots and a hard hat, she'll get the well drilled and the criminal behind bars. Her next well will be murder to drill!
The Setting
Bakersfield is the Houston of California. Everyone who's anyone in the California oil patch lives in Bakersfield. Charlie is no exception. Country and Western music lovers also know Bakersfield for the famed "Bakersfield Sound". Join Charlie as she looks for suspects on golf courses and takes clients to dinner at the Crystal Palace.
The Victim
The lovely wife of the Limited Partnership funding the well Charlie is drilling comes to an untimely demise.
The Villian
Could it be the handsome trainer? The sly geologist? The jolly landman? You'll have to read the book to find out..
Only the first in a Series
This book is the first of multiple stories about Charlie and the wells she drills. Who knows? She may be drilling a well in your town soon.
Speaker Opportunities
If you'd like to know more about Charlie, or about the oil industry, use the email on the Contact Me page. It's my passion and I'd love to share a bit about my industry with your group, and answer your questions.
Book Number Two - Available on Amazon!
The Sleuth
Charlize, known as Charlie, is back for another adventure! Her sidekick George joins forces with her boyfriend Ben to drill this second well in the series.
The Setting
Charlie is drilling another Kreyenhagen Shale well, this time in the Kettleman Dome field. Her client isn't just her friend George, but her boyfriend Ben has a joint venture interest in the well. She's never worked for him before, can their relationship survive working together?
The Victim
Ben's boss is a drunk and a bully. Charlie has to put up with his snide remarks and his cronies that he insists on using for this well. Is he the murderer or the victim? Ben's operations manager is a power hungry woman that would like to have Ben for herself, and is jealous of Charlie's relationship with Ben and her knowledge of drilling. Will she kill to be the top dog in her company? To get Ben for herself? It's a recipe for murder!
The Villian
The trouble starts when a crew member of on OPI's well gets kicked into a mixing hopper during a frac job. The "Kick of Death" starts the questions rolling about whodunit and why. When Charlie's well kicks, she's also in danger from the well. She asks for help from her pal George to figure out what's going on. Can they solve the murder or will one of them get kicked to death? Was it Ben's jealous co-worker? The Humbolt cementer out to avenge his friend? The disenchanted wife of Ben's boss? Read the second in this series of "Oilfield Mysteries" to find out!
Buy book 2 on Amazon
Book Number Three-Available on Amazon!
The Sleuth
Charlize, known as Charlie, is back for another adventure! Her sidekick George joins forces with her and her Toolpusher Gary to drill this third well in the series.
The Setting
Charlie is drilling the Monterey Shale this time in the Cat Canyon field in Santa Maria. Her clients own Big Chief Drilling, the company Gary works for. It's owned by two brothers she's never worked for before. There's lots of accidents happening on their rigs. Are they responsible? Charlie is nervous as she's drilling this well in hydrogen sulfide country. She'll need a gas mask and an air pack if there's any accidents on her well!
The Victims
The owners of Big Chief Drilling are Tom and Scott Pond. Scott's wife, Miranda is also involved in the business. There are numerous accidents on their rigs, beginning just after Charlie starts drilling for them. Who's behind it all? Does it have anything to do with the well Charlie is drilling for them? Is someone out to get Big Chief Drilling? Will they get Charlie in the process? Read Breath of Death to find out!
The Villian
Could the owners of Big Chief Drilling be responsible? Is it an over ambitious Toolpusher trying to move up in the company? Could it be one of the rival companies in Santa Maria? Read the third in this series of "Oilfield Mysteries" to find out!
Buy book 3 on Amazon
Book Number Four-To be Released Spring 2025!
The Sleuth
Charlize, known as Charlie, is back for another adventure! She'll be drilling just outside of Bakersfield in this book. The well is giving her hell this time...will this well finally defeat her? She'll have to call on her sidekicks, George and Gary, for help.
The Setting
Charlie is drilling the Diatomite formation this time in the Belridge field. Her client from Pyramid is in the middle of a merger and the in-fighting is causing problems. The driller is inexperienced and the well is having too many problems for the aging seasoned toolpusher to solve. Can Charlie save the well? Once the bodies start falling, she's not so sure....
The Victims
The owners of Pyramid and Red Rock are forming a new company called Red Pyramid. The drilling engineers and drilling superintendents of each company are fighting for power in the new company. Are they willing to kill to get ahead? Read Fishing for Trouble next spring to find out!
The Villian
Are the over ambitious drilling engineers wiling to kill to move up in the company? Or is it the drilling superintendents causing the chaos? Maybe the staff or the families of these folks are involved in the plot? Read the fourth book in this series of "Oilfield Mysteries" next spring to find out!