The Wayward Path by Mark Love
Mark Love lived for many years in the metropolitan Detroit area, where crime and corruption are always prevalent. A former freelance reporter, Love honed his writing skills covering features and hard news. He is the multi-award-winning author of the Jamie Richmond mysteries (with Inkspell Publishing) Devious, Vanishing Act, Fleeing Beauty, Stealing Haven and Chasing Favors. Love also writes the Jefferson Chene mystery series (with The Wild Rose Press) WHY 319? Your Turn to Die and The Wayward Path.
His first standalone mystery “Rules of Desperation” was published in 2024.
Love’s latest work is the novella “Part-Time Criminal“.
Mark Love resides in west Michigan with his wife, Kim. He enjoys a variety of music, books, travel, cooking and exploring the great outdoors.
A little bit about Author Mark Love…
I’ve always been an avid reader and hoped that someday I could write stories that could be engaging tales. In college I took a creative writing course and received encouraging feedback from the professor. After selling a few short stories, I had the opportunity to work as a freelance reporter for a local newspaper. That helped tremendously sharpen my writing skills. I learned quickly how to grab a reader’s attention and draw them into the article or feature. It was time to focus on writing novels. After a few false starts, I seriously got to work 15 years ago.
This is Author Mark Love’s writing and publication journey in his own words…
Inspiration to start writing…
Many year ago, I happened to meet American Novelist Elmore Leonard at a book signing. When he learned of my interest in writing, we talked for half an hour. Leonard shared a secret formula. “If you can get the dialogue right, everything else will flow.” He stressed the importance of matching dialogue with when the story takes place. I write contemporary mysteries. I strive to capture the style of conversations that occur around me. Mysteries are my favorite genre.
The Wayward Path Blurb
Charity Gray was an intelligent, inquisitive teen who disappeared fifteen years ago. When her body is discovered, it should be a typical cold case. Before the Detroit police can get started, the FBI commandeers the investigation, with a prime suspect in mind: retired mobster Leo Agonasti.
When Agonasti slips through their grasp, he reaches out to Sergeant Jefferson Chene. Their unusual friendship draws Chene into the thick of the case. Burdened with two reluctant FBI agents, Chene is working against the clock and the feds to find the real killer.
Chene senses they are getting close to the answers. Will he be able to solve the murder and clear the old mobster of this heinous crime before time runs out?
Mark’s favourite scene from The Wayward Path…
Here’s a scene from the book.
My left arm felt funny. A glance at my weapon confirmed it was empty. I pulled the fresh clip from the shoulder holster and managed to load it. I fumbled my left hand in place and racked the slide, sending a fresh shell into the pipe. Bringing the gun up, I pushed off the tree and got to my feet.
The gunslinger was slowly advancing in my direction. With the angle he was taking, the tree wouldn’t do me any good. He lowered his left hand and shoved the gun into a pocket of his jacket. An evil grin crossed his face.
“Don’t need that one anymore. Now it’s just down to you and me. You’re screwed. You are just so stupid that you don’t realize it yet.”
My gun was pointed at his core. He was only fifteen feet away. “Doubt I could miss from here.”
He rapped knuckles against his chest. “Body armor.”
I didn’t move.
“Latest and greatest, so they say. Can stop a shot from an elephant gun.”
“You’re assuming I’ll shoot for center mass.”
“Of course. That’s what they teach you boy scouts.” He started to bring his right hand up to bear on me. “This shit is state of the art. There’s nothing…”
Tilting my weapon slightly, I fired twice, striking him in the forehead. He flopped backward on the ground. I walked over and kicked his gun underneath the Pontiac’s rear wheels.
“Never was a boy scout.”
Mark’s works…
I have three novels in the Jefferson Chene series that were published with The Wild Rose Press. Â
Those include “Why 319?”Â
https://www.amazon.com/dp/150921450X
https://books.apple.com/us/book/why-319/id1222126642
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/why-319-2
Why 319? by Mark Love, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)
“Your Turn to Die”
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MPPYY31/
https://books.apple.com/us/book/your-turn-to-die/id1449415728
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/your-turn-to-die-1
Your Turn to Die by Mark Love, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)
https://www.audible.com/pd/B07PYYZKDJ
And “The Wayward Path”
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B114JLCD
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wayward-path-mark-love/1141467645?ean=9781509242191
https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-wayward-path/id6442843627
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-wayward-path
Connect with Author Mark Love
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B009P7HVZQ
https://www.facebook.com/MarkLoveAuthor
Loved the excerpt, Mark. Great work!
Loved the excerpt, Mark. Great work! Detroit is such a great city for writing fodder! You hooked me with your site!