Book 1 in the GearLock Series

Do you like the hard-boiled mysteries of Raymond Chandler? Do you like the whimsy of Terry Pratchett? How about the swords and swagger of Xena? Well, this has a little bit of all of that. It even has an emerging element of steampunk.

Hey all my friends and fans, I’m so excited to share with you the release of my first book of a brand-new series: The GearLock Series.

This is so much fun, I’ve been waiting to let you all know about it for some time now. And best part is, if you want to help spread the word and leave reviews, you might be able to get a copy before its released (details to follow).

Big Trouble In Spur Central

In the gritty human city of Spur Central, trouble is brewing. It always is.

The entire Cosmos is about to ratchet its Great Gears and pit all sentient animals against each other in a long-awaited war to see who gets to ascend to the next realm. None of that matters to Dick hu’Mar, a private investigator that’s too good for his own good. When he and his sour-faced partner, an ugly stinking cat, get hired by two dames in dire need of a mystery solved, they find themselves plunged into the politics and danger of this pre-steampunk world, where highly leathered brawn beats against brains every day.

With little time: love, life, and money, (most especially money) are on the hook, and hu’Mar must solve the case, if he can, and avoid getting killed in the process.

Is This Book For You?

As you know, I strive to provide clean fiction to all my readers. For that purpose, any explicit material is mild, but don’t let that fool you into thinking this book is weak sauce. Dick hu’Mar is one tough detective, and the cast of characters in this series are about as raw and rotten as they come.

In this book, I make no excuses for showing my characters at their worst. After all, a good hard-boiled novel needs a little bit of grit. And grit we get, with a world where nearly every animal is sentient, and willing to war over a common prize, a prize that has dire implications for those who attain it, and those who miss out.

If you’re ready for a truly unique tale, full of mystery, mayhem, and fantasy, give this book a try. It is the first in what I expect will be a 6-book series, where I’ll try to release the next installment every year. Don’t miss out on this!

Release Date

This book is expected to be released March 2, 2026. There are plans to have it available in print, ebook, and audiobook. You can pre-order Now at Amazon.com by following the link:

Or at Barns and Noble:

Or any other book seller you prefer.

If you are a book reviewer with over 100 subscribers, you may qualify to receive a free copy before the official release. If you think you qualify, fill out my contact page, and let me know how you’d be able to promote the book.