Pismo Beach Sniper by Topper Jones
About Author Topper Jones…
Writing as Topper Jones, award-winning author Christopher G. Jones crafts fast-paced detective fiction blending a dash of romance, relentless action, and unforgettable characters. His Thad Hanlon & Bri de la Guerra Mystery Series has earned Readers’ Favorite Five-Star reviews and the Literary Titan Gold Book Award.
A former consultant and university professor, Topper brings a sharp eye for detail to his intricate plots and compelling characters. He is a member of The Private Eye Writers of America and the International Thriller Writers, and an affiliate member of the Mystery Writers of America.
Topper now lives in the southwestern desert to be near family, but whenever the surf is up, he’ll make the 450-mile trek back to his native California coast for a little “water therapy.”
This is a spotlight on “Pismo Beach Sniper” by Topper Jones
Pismo Beach Sniper Blurb
When sniper fire erupts at the Central Coast Surf Trials at Pismo Beach, private investigator Thad Hanlon is thrust into every parent’s worst nightmare. His eleven-year-old son and two teammates are shot while surfing—one critically injured—plunging the contest into chaos and terrorizing the tight-knit Five Cities beach community.
The shooter disappears, torching his hideout, leaving only questions in his wake. Random attack—or the first move in a deadly game? Why target young surfers? And is the marksman finished…or just getting started?
Urged by desperate parents, Hanlon and his sharp-witted partner, Bri de la Guerra, race to protect the kids as they train for the upcoming West Coast Championships. But as the detective duo close in on the sniper, they uncover a chilling truth: the surf team isn’t his ultimate target—and the nightmare is far from over.
What Readers can expect from Pismo Beach Sniper
Pismo Beach Sniper is a fast-paced private eye mystery set along California’s breathtaking Central Coast, where danger strikes close to home. When private investigator Thad Hanlon’s son and his surfing teammates become targets of a ruthless sniper, Thad and his partner, Bri de la Guerra, must unravel a deadly mystery before more lives are lost. Blending suspense, authentic characters, and moments of humor, the novel explores the bonds of family, the strength of community, environmental stewardship, and the courage to protect what matters most. Readers can expect a PG-style experience, with tastefully handled violence, mild language, and a sweet romantic thread.
Pismo Beach SniperPurchase Links
An excerpt from Pismo Beach Sniper…
I was sitting under a beach canopy in the spectator section of the California Central Coast Surf Trials, watching the first heat of the semifinals, when I heard the sonic crack of a large firearm. Something long-range like the scoped high-precision rifle my business partner, Bri, uses to qualify at the Five Cities Shoot’n Center.
“What was that?” my son’s surf coach asked. Gev Burian was sitting on my left. “Sounded like it came from behind us.”
Bri de la Guerra, on my right, stood to check things out. “Cityside, yeah. I’m thinking .30 cal. Maybe three-oh-eight.”
I swiveled to scan the low-rise buildings of downtown Pismo—the seafood cafes, souvenir shops, and beach rentals.
“Yellow’s down!” Coach Gev shouted. He handed me his binoculars. “The kid’s slumped sideways off his board.”
There was a second sonic crack. I watched Yellow’s board splinter into pieces. Chunks of the foam core ringed the downed contestant as he struggled to keep his head above water.
Red jersey, closest to Yellow, dropped prone and paddled with fury toward him. Just as he was about to grab Yellow’s arm, I heard shot three. There was a splash near the tail of Red’s board. Red turned turtle.
Shot four took out Red’s middle fin. Shots five and six took out the two outer fins. Red let go of his board and sank out of view.
That left the eleven-year-old in the light blue jersey as the only contender sitting on the water.
My son, Zael, was in full competition mode, hyper-focused on The One Thing—a wave with his name on it. He had no clue what had happened to Red and Yellow.
I popped out of my beach chair, sprinted from our shade canopy to the shoreline, and screamed as I waded in. “Duck…”
