Epidemic

Tom Kendall, a down to earth private detective, is asked to investigate the death of a young newspaper reporter. The evidence shows quite clearly that it was an accident: a simple, dreadful accident. That is the finding of the coroner and the local police. Furthermore, there were two witnesses. They saw the whole thing. But was it an accident, or was it something more sinister?

Against a backdrop of a viral epidemic slowly spreading from Central America, a simple case soon places Kendall up against one of the largest drug companies in the country. Detective Tom Kendall is not some superhero sporting rippling muscles, but a very human man, who is pestered to eat more healthily and exercise more - just the same as most of the rest of us. He is likable for just that reason. His case starts as an accident that might not have been an accident, but this is just the beginning. Kendall uncovers a far bigger crime - a crime that has caused enormous suffering to thousands of innocent people.

The plot is carefully thought out in every detail, and the author is to be commended for his story.

The death of Richard Dawson, a Miami Herald reporter, doesn't seem too significant; especially when the police and the coroner, influenced by two eye witness testimonies conclude that it was little more than a tragic accident. But Dawson's mother and brother are not convinced so they call in private detective Tom Kendall to investigate; somewhat reluctantly. Kendall's investigation draws him so a series of photographs and a large pharmaceutical company. An epidemic is raging in Central America which originated from a place in Costa Rica named Punta Rojas. The truth is far bigger and more complicated than Kendall and his faithful secretary Mollie could ever have envisaged.

Available on Amazon.com


About John Holt

Born in 1943 in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire. He currently live in Essex with his wife, Margaret, and his daughter Elizabeth. For many years he was a Chartered Surveyor, until he retired in 2008. He had always wanted to write a novel but could never think of a good enough plot.

His first novel, The Kammersee Affair, written in 2008. was inspired by a holiday in Austria. They were staying in Grundlsee. The next lake, Toplitzsee, was used by the Germans during the war to test rockets, and torpedoes. There were rumours of gold hidden in that lake. Despite extensive searches the gold was never found. In his book, however, it is found, but only in the next lake, Kammersee. The books that followed, The Mackenzie File, The Marinski Affair, and Epidemic, all feature Tom Kendall, a down to earth private detective, and were originally published by Raider Publishing in New York.
His fifth book, A Killing In The City, another featuring Tom Kendall, was originally published by Night Publishing. In August 2012 he decided to go down the self published route, and formed his own publishing brand PHOENIX. All five books have now been re-issued under that logo. He is currently working on two other novels featuring Tom Kendall, a "What If" novel regarding the assassination of Lincoln, and he has made a tentative start on an Adventure novel.

He can be reached on twitter: https://twitter.com/johnholtauthor