St. Augustine, FL — Looking for a thrilling and funny read? St. Augustine author John J. Jessop has just released his fifth comedy murder mystery entitled, HOLY CRAP.
It’s a whodunit and readers have been waiting for the launch of the book so that they can continue the hilarious story …
After a career in drug and biopharmaceutical development John redirected his knowledge and expertise to writing the perfect murder mystery, from dark to award-winning humor. His wild imagination has created some truly original and unique mystery plots. Among his books are two Firebird Book Award winners, THE REALTOR’S CURSE (set in St. Augustine, 1st place Humor and Mystery), A FISHY TALE (1st place Humor). This new book, HOLY CRAP, is the fifth in the Dr. Jason Longfellow, PI and nurse wife Chelsea series. He’s an inept PI, but fortunately she’s the real deal. The PI thing was Jason’s idea, but their PI firm is named ‘Chelsea Longfellow, PI and Associate’.
Author John J. Jessop
John and his wife live in St. Augustine, Florida. He enjoys writing, walks on the beach, driving his Subaru WRX, and taking naps. His favorite authors are Robert B. Parker and Janet Evanovich. His heroes are Steve Martin, Gene Wilder, Dan Ackroyd, Bill Murray, and Mel Brooks. Studies have shown that laughter is the best medicine, and there is no doctor’s prescription required for John’s books. Stop by the Ximenez-Fatio House on May 2 to meet John at his book launch/signing.
HOLY CRAP brief synopsis:
The private eye duo of Dr. Jason Longfellow, PI and his nurse wife Chelsea are a hilarious hot mess. In HOLY CRAP, Chelsea moves the family to the safety of the small city of Intoxication Junction where they open ‘Chelsea Longfellow, PI, and Associate’; he’s an inept PI, while she’s the real deal. Chelsea sets up the PI office in their home so they can be there for their daughters. She even registers their daughters in a private Christian school. What could possibly go wrong? A woman hires the PI duo to investigate the brutal murder of her husband, an accountant that works for the school. The headmaster may be a local crime boss. When the headmaster threatens Chelsea’s oldest daughter, Chelsea stuffs him headfirst into his own trash can. A doctor from a local drug company illegally sells a new cure for alcoholism and a super anabolic steroid to families at the school. The girls’ basketball team resembles Russian Olympic female weightlifters. The headmaster is a suspect as the downtown killer. Jason suspects an escaped gorilla. Will mama bear Chelsea catch the killer? Will she strangle her husband?And why would anyone name a book HOLY CRAP? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
Author John J Jessop, Ph.D., pharmacology, worked in pharmaceutical and medical biotechnology development. An avid reader of mysteries, in retirement he has redirected his knowledge and experience toward writing the perfect murder mystery with a twist. The medical mystery series examines the humorous side of what can go wrong with medical biotech when scientists play around with our DNA, immune system and cells.
“It’s all about creativity and imagination. I started my career as a scientist (pharmacologist) doing basic medical research. In that profession you use your knowledge, creativity, and imagination to design experiments to answer a specific question,” Jessop explains. “Each experiment comes from your mind, you are the only one in the entire world doing that experiment the way you planned it, so it’s pure creativity, which really gets my juices flowing.”
“Writing fiction is similar in that it is very creative. The stories and characters come from your imagination only, and anything you create in your own mind you can put down on paper and into a book.”
The first book in his medical murder mystery series, PLEASURIA: TAKE AS DIRECTED, staged in the pharmaceutical industry, is published by Koehler Books, whose senior editor said the book made him laugh out loud. This book includes a drug side effect that will knock your socks off, and then kill you.
His second book in this series, MURDER BY ROAD TRIP, launched in November 2020. He co-wrote the book with his daughter. It is very loosely based on a 7,600 mile cross-country road trip they took together in 2016.
Jessop’s third book in the series, THE REALTOR’S CURSE, is based in St. Augustine, Florida. He won first place in the mystery and humor categories at the Firebird Book Awards in 2022. In this one, the book characters buy a beachfront condo and end up investigating multiple murders and chasing a killer around St. Augustine!
“I chose murder mysteries because I have been an avid reader of the genre my entire life. I love to try to figure out whodunnit before the author’s reveal in the book,” Jessop said.
“I settled on humorous murder mysteries for now because while I wanted to provide readers with an intriguing mystery, we all need a good laugh with the world being such a mess. Studies have shown that laughter really is the best medicine. I have also incorporated a little bit of pharmacology into the plot of each book to make each story unique.”
Jessop’s heroes are Steve Martin, Dan Ackroyd, Bill Murray, Mel Brooks and Monty Python.
His favorite authors are Robert B. Parker and Janet Evanovich.
Learn more about John J. Jessop’s book on his website, https://johnjjessop.com/
His books can be purchased on Amazon,Barnes and Noble, and ordered in bookstores everywhere.
