Book 1

Last Dance

Book 2

One Last Goodbye

Book 3

The Last to Remember

Book 4

Until Our Last Embrace

Book 5

For The Last Time

Book 6

Dreams Don't Last

Book 7

Last Fires Burning

Book 8

Glory's Last Victim

Book 9

Last Rites

Oct. 2004

Book 10

Last One Down

February 2005

Book 11

Before the Last Lap

August 2005

Book 12

The First Shall Be Last

June 2007

All books are available at Avalon Books

One Last Goodbye

Billy Bost's plane (DSG Staff Photo / Joyce Lavene)

Cover Story...

Captain Billy Bost is finally laid to rest. It's been forty years since WWII pilot ace Billy Bost lost control of his plane and plunged into Diamond Mountain Lake. After his plane was brought out of the lake, he was given a well-deserved hero's funeral while Sheriff Sharyn Howard sorts out the details of the mysterious case.

Sheriff Sharyn Howard has her hands full when the county commission wants to cut her staff, Colonel John Metzger wants his brother found yesterday, and the Navy wants to be sure she comes up with the right answers to Diamond Springs’ new mystery. Someone shot WWII ace pilot William ‘Billy’ Bost as he dipped his wings to his sweetheart at the end of the war.

The secret has been hidden in Diamond Mountain Lake for almost half a century. Now someone has also killed Tom Metzger, the Pulitzer Prize winning author who was looking for him. Is it possible that the murders are related?

Book Details:

Thomas Bouregy and Co.
Book 2-Avalon Books
ISBN-0-8034-9438-6

Books available here:

Read more on the story in the excerpt below...

The cover design and illustration of "One Last Good-bye" by Tess Anson (DSG)

Sheriff Sharyn Howard fact...

Sheriff Sharyn Howard is a vegetarian.

Sources...

Once again authors Joyce and Jim Lavene have penned a story that will absolutely delight its readers. This is a book that although is part of a series, it can stand-alone as well. Definitely a must get for your collection of Lavene books, each one will have you wanting to read it over and over. This reviewer is definitely looking forward to not only the next book in this series, but also others they write as well.

Tracy Eastgate
Tracy's Book Reviews

Once again I was completely drawn into the life of Sharyn Howard. This excellent mystery had me thinking about it constantly and wondering what might happen next. Bossy military personnel and aged witnesses kept the story twisting and turning throughout the book. The characters are all very real with their own personality quirks, likes and dislikes and I never questioned the fact that these were very real individuals. The conversations and interplay are wonderfully done, and they make one forget that they are reading a story and not witnessing the events firsthand. It isn’t very often that you can read a story and be taken into another person’s world so completely. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I anxiously await the next in the series!

Jeri A. Sax for Midnight Scribe Reviews

Excerpt from "One Last Goodbye"...

Colonel John Metzger was a formidable man. He was built like a tank with a hawk’s beak of a nose and eyes the color and warmth of granite. His chin jutted out, square and cleft, like Superman’s. He wore his full dress uniform with enough medals on his broad chest to blind a driver in the sunlight. A black beret sat on the side of his head with a menacing slant.

“So, this is the Sheriff,” he acknowledged with a long, meaningful stare at her worn black t-shirt and black novelty shorts.

“This area is restricted,” Joe told him, moving to put himself between the man and the sheriff.

“That’s right,” Ernie backed him up. “Off limits to anyone who isn’t sheriff’s department personnel.”

“Don’t play games with me,” the man bellowed. “You were trying to sneak your boss out of the building before I could meet her.” He gave Sharyn another long look. “And seeing her, I can understand why.”

Joe and Ernie stood, protectively, on either side of Sharyn. She stepped out from between them.

“I’m Sheriff Sharyn Howard,” she introduced herself, putting out her hand to the other man.

He took it and squeezed tightly. Sharyn didn’t flinch.

“It’s about time.”

“Even sheriff’s take vacations, Captain Metzger,” she informed him.

“Colonel Metzger,” he told her pointedly. “My brother is missing and I want to know what you’re going to do about it, Sheriff.”

It wouldn’t have been possible to invest any more irritation or lack of respect in his tone. He bit out his words like he was taking off the end of a cheap cigar.

“Well, Colonel,” she answered quietly. “I’m going to go home, take a hot shower, and change clothes. Then I’m going to review the case. If there is something more to do or something more that we find out, we will contact you. Leave your name and the number where you can be reached at the front desk.”

“What?”

“My deputy will show you where that is, Colonel,” she continued, unfazed by his shouting. “If you’ll excuse me.”

Joe nodded, standing his ground while Ernie walked with Sharyn to the end of the corridor that led to the parking lot.

“I always knew a woman wouldn’t have the stomach for working a job like this,” the Colonel sneered.

Sharyn turned back to him. “My deputy will be glad to escort you back to the front of the building, sir. And if you haven’t given a statement, he’ll be glad to take it.”

“I’ve given a statement!”

“Then I suggest you wait to hear from us on this matter, sir. We’ll be in touch. Good night.”

The Colonel was beyond words. He turned on his heel and plowed through the door that led back into the front office like an enraged bull. Joe followed him.

“Wow!” Ernie said, opening the door for her. “That was something!”

“Something?” she demanded. “Is that what you brought me back for?”

Ernie shook his head. “You know me better. I wouldn’t have brought you back to just to deal with that bully. I don’t like the way this whole thing is going, Sheriff. I felt like you needed to be here.”

Sharyn climbed into the patrol car. “You think something’s happened to Mr. Metzger?”

“Maybe.”

She sighed and leaned her head back against the seat while Ernie drove them through the dark streets of Diamond Springs. The mostly clapboard houses that surrounded the lake and lined the streets, huddled together like old ladies at a funeral. The town had seen its ups and downs. Mill closings that crippled the town for years. Boom times that had built some of the stately mansions that graced the hills.

“Get everyone together that’s done anything on the case so far,” she told him. “We’ll meet in an hour at the office.”