The Mummy Case (Jim Knighthorse Series #2) [Kindle Edition]

J.R. Rain (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Private investigator Jim Knighthorse (from DARK HORSE) takes on a very, very cold case. When historian Willie Clarke dies of mysteriously of dehydration in the California deserts, ex-football hero Jim Knighthorse is hired to dig a little deeper--and discovers a shocking connection to one of the West's oldest mysteries.

Over a hundred years ago, an unnamed cowboy was murdered in the California desert and, due to freak weather conditions, would become mummified within twenty-four hours. Now known to the world as Sylvester the Mummy and displayed in a creepy curiosity shop, Sylvester and historian Willie Clarke will be forever linked in mystery. That is, unless private investigator Jim Knighthorse can survive long enough to untangle one of the West's greatest unsolved murders.


READING SAMPLE

To the east, high on the high cliff above, something flashed. Instinctively, I turned my body, narrowing myself as a target. Beside me, next to my left elbow, a section of the boulder exploded in a small cloud of dust, pelting me with rock fragments. I dove, rolling.

The report from a rifle followed, echoing throughout the valley.
It kept echoing even as I kept rolling.

* * *

I rolled to the relative safety of the boulders, dirt and sand going up my shorts and into places it had no business going.

Worry about sand in your craw later.

Good idea.

The rocks gave some shelter, but not as much as I would have liked as I was forced to stay low to the ground with my face pressed against the hot earth. I removed my Browning, hoping sand hadn’t gotten lodge in the barrel.

A second shot thunked near my shoes. I jerked my exposed legs in closer as an earsplitting echo followed the shot.

Jesus, that was close.

Blindly, I eased my arm around the boulder, let loose with two shots of my own in the general proximity of the spot I had seen the reflection. The two shots were to give the shooter something to think about. I had seven more to be more careful with.

My return fire seemed to work. The shooting from above stopped, at least for the time being. I lay there behind the boulder, trying to make myself as small as possible—a difficult task at best—alert for any sounds or movement.

And then I saw movement, but not the kind I expected....

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 222 KB
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003XF1FVW
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #13,004 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Mummy Case - a five-star page turner, May 8, 2010

By	Eve Paludan (Flagstaff, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Mummy Case (Jim Knighthorse Series #2) (Kindle Edition)

Ever since I came to Arizona in the late 60s, I've been riveted by tales and legends of mummies in the American Southwest - remember "The Thing" highway billboards? But tales of American mummies are hard to find, so I was especially excited to see that the second Jim Knighthorse mystery novel has a real mummy in it. With snappy, witty dialogue that advances the plot at a fast pace, private detective Jim Knighthorse works a mummy case in order to discover the identity of Sylvester the Mummy, one of Huntington Beach's main attractions, as well as the cause of his death. A two-pronged assignment, he also needs to find out who or what recently killed a historian who was researching the mummy's history.

His girlfriend of eight years, Cindy, a sexy woman with patience and concern about his unhealthy habits, and who also appeared in the first Knighthorse novel, makes a bigger reappearance here. A woman in jeopardy, anti-Darwinists have trashed her lecture hall and thrown quite a scare into her. She's being stalked. (I always like it when the P.I.'s main squeeze is in terrible danger! Danger and romance go together well.)

With never a dull moment in Jim Knighthorse's crazy life, he is still on the trail of whoever brutally killed his mother years before. He was ten years old when it happened, but the cold case might be heating up, thanks to clues in some old photographs that his estranged dad recently handed over.

I read this enthralling book in a single day. It was a satisfying, compelling mystery, several mysteries, in fact, with characters who sparkle and come to life like a movie in your mind, as do the California settings. His Knighthorse novels feel very true to life. I look forward to more mysteries in this series by J.R. Rain, who has also been a Hollywood screenwriter and a real, licensed California P.I.

Five stars for crafting a mystery I could not put down!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even better than the first!, May 2, 2010

By	RJ (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mummy Case (Jim Knighthorse Series #2) (Kindle Edition)

This is my 5th J.R. Rain book in 6 days and I don't even know the guy. He has made my vacation week. I have some how saved the best for last. Read the first Jim Knighthorse first to capture the full flavor of the characters. This is a well written, humorous, and interesting story; Not too serious or overly intellectual. If Rain adds some juicy sex scenes he will over take J.D. Robb in sales and give him a new publishing outlet. He is worth more than a few bucks a book in sales. Read the book, it's bargin if not outright theft! He has earned a fan. I will be following him.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best so far., June 28, 2010

By	Judy A. Benson "nflder" (Missouri) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Mummy Case (Jim Knighthorse Series #2) (Kindle Edition)

This book is even better than, "Dark Horse."
The character developement is wonderful, and the plot much better than I expected. I love the fact that the story and sub-plots take top billing over everything else, and romance is more important than sex.
I can't come up with enough superlatives, but I'll be buying whatever Mr Rain publishes, and hoping he keeps at it.