John David Duke Jr

9:56

The Continuation of The Adventures of Sigegard Ainsworth, a pastiche of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. An excerpt: “Our journey was slowed considerably by the thaws and storms of June. New grasses covered over many sinkholes in that vast, abandoned land, but by the grace of Sofia, we completed the trek in only a number […]…

1
The Icon of St. Sofia, Chapter 4 8:44

4 years тому8:44

8:44

The Continuation of The Adventures of Sigegard Ainsworth, a pastiche of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. Chapter Four: In which the thief is revealed as a friend of Tsar Ivan, and the ruby reveals its power to heal. An Excerpt “With my eyes, I swear it,” said Fyodor. “Andrey Shemyaka appeared in the marketplace, and […]…

1
The Icon of St. Sofia, Chapter 3 8:39

5 years тому8:39

8:39

The Continuation of The Adventures of Sigegard Ainsworth, a pastiche of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. Chapter Three: In which the sacrilege of the desecration of Sofia’s grave is committed by a graverobber, a deacon standing secret guard rescues the pendant, and then is murdered in the abbey that very night. An excerpt: When it […]…

1
The Icon of St. Sofia, Chapter 2 9:00

5 years тому9:00

9:00

1
The Icon of St. Sofia, Chapter 1 9:30

5 years тому9:30

9:30

1
Sigegard Ainsworth, Chapter 10 11:36

5 years тому11:36

11:36

A mystery serial presented as a contemporary homage to Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. Chapter Ten: In which we make our narrow escape from our prospective murderers. An excerpt: “Do you have your pistol, my dear John?” he asked, looking at me. I patted my right pocket. “Good man,” he said. I objected. “It is […]…

1
Sigegard Ainsworth, Chapter 9 9:30

6 years тому9:30

9:30

A mystery serial presented as a contemporary homage to Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. Chapter Nine: In which we reason our way through our shock, finding truth in fiction, and also finding a sinister self-evident truth about the murderers of Mrs. Ciminelli. An excerpt: “Liars and thieves,” Sige said. “And now murderers. That world is […]…

1
Sigegard Ainsworth, Chapter 8 7:53

6 years тому7:53

7:53

A mystery serial presented as a contemporary homage to Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. Chapter Eight: In which I inadvertently discover Sige’s conscience after Mrs. Ciminelli dies. An excerpt: “What are you talking about?” I said. “Your client is dead! I mean, now what?” “The doctor has also already vaporized.” “Vaporized?” I said. “How do […]…

1
Sigegard Ainsworth, Chapter 7 11:07

6 years тому11:07

11:07

A mystery serial presented as a contemporary homage to Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. Chapter Seven: In which I encounter Johnny Law and we thereby learn that Sige has a formal relationship with state law enforcement. An excerpt: In a lovely baritone, and full of the plenipotentiary authority of the law itself, he intoned a […]…

1
Sigegard Ainsworth, Chapter 5 7:27

6 years тому7:27

7:27

A mystery serial presented as an homage to Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. Chapter Five in which I commit myself to becoming Sige’s amanuensis and sidekick and we discover a shared loathing of craft beers. An excerpt: “By all means, eat,” he said. “It’s just that…” I hesitated. “It’s just that I’ve been eating a […]…

1
Sigegard Ainsworth, Chapter 4 8:13

6 years тому8:13

8:13

A mystery serial presented as an homage to Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. Chapter Four: In which Sige relates the details of the case involving a late-middle aged woman who is more clever than her antagonists, and is even clever enough to know she needs the help of a singular private detective. An Excerpt: “I […]…

1
Sigegard Ainsworth, Chapter 3 11:37

6 years тому11:37

11:37

A mystery serial presented as an homage to Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. Chapter Three: In which my friend explains to me how he took up his vocation and tells me his name. An Excerpt “So,” I said. “A private detective, but not a Seamus. Are you in the line of Sherlock Holmes?[1]” “Pff,” Sige […]…

1
Sigegard Ainsworth, Chapter 2 7:36

6 years тому7:36

7:36

A mystery serial presented as an homage to Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. Chapter Two: In which we make the acquaintance of my friend Sige, who has taken up the vocation of private detective in the morose corner of the world known as Western New York. Excerpt I said. “Your hosts have good taste in […]…

1
The Adventures of Sigegard Ainsworth, Chapter 1 9:18

6 years тому9:18

9:18

A mystery serial presented as an homage to Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. Chapter One: In which we meet my singular friend Sige who lives not too far from me, as I met him while introducing myself door-to-door. Excerpt: In my mind, it seems incumbent—I’m at a loss for any other way to express it—what […]…

1
Grayson’s 10:18

7 years тому10:18

10:18

An Excerpt: Sherri hung up the phone. “John Cyril is coming here!” “You don’t say…” said Tom. “Do you need to go home to change into your poodle skirt?” Sherri gave Tom another dirty look. “You’re just jealous he went to college and became a doctor.” “Shucks,” said Tom, “anybody can go to college. It […]…

1
A Cord of Three Rotten Strands 8:19

7 years тому8:19

8:19

Please consider becoming a patron. An excerpt: She giggled and threw a pillow at him as he left the room. She sat up and began to dress, looking into the mirror as she did. “You’re a beautiful girl,” she heard her father say. “Such a beautiful girl.” But then Mom left him, and he didn’t […]

1
The Gift Registry 7:43

7 years тому7:43

7:43

Please consider becoming a patron An Excerpt “I can’t afford it,” he said. About eight years later, both mothers-in-law came together over lunch to jubilate over the accomplishment of a nest egg so that Diane could start nesting. “Is it a boy?” Diane’s mother asked. “Is it a girl?” Jack’s mother asked. “It’s a grandbaby!” […]…

1
The Prostate Son 8:42

7 years тому8:42

8:42

Please consider becoming a patron. An excerpt: Dad shuffled out of the house, grabbing his jacket as he went out the door, started the car, and Mom hustled after him. They drove away into a light gray afternoon. Then it was a drive to a urologist. Then it was a drive to Roswell Park Cancer […]

1
Still the Eyes of Our Own People 10:56

7 years тому10:56

10:56

Please consider becoming a patron. An Excerpt In the main hall of the History Museum hung an oversized copy of Evelyn De Morgan’s Helen of Troy. Every man entering paused before the painting to remember, then proceeded to the exhibition areas of the museum to begin drinking and singing and forgetting. They did this forgetting […]…

1
The Roar of Rushing Waters 12:58

7 years тому12:58

12:58

Please consider becoming a patron. An excerpt: He lifted his eyes up from the path, turning his body so that the roar of the rushing waters was to his right, far below him, now louder than the applauding trees. Up he meant to climb, but he was looking for the lightning-struck stump. A generation ago […]…

1
The Gun Cabinet Is in The Basement 8:31

7 years тому8:31

8:31

Please consider becoming a patron. An excerpt: Reanna says to Charles, Jr., who is trying to eat his beef stew, “They’ve both been so different since Stephanie moved to Colorado.” The storm rumbles and grumbles in the basement, and then a sharp crack: the unmistakable sound of the action of a shotgun being opened and […]…

1
Francois Repents 9:28

7 years тому9:28

9:28

Please consider becoming a patron. An excerpt: Odd ducks sometimes find safe waters when all the swans get their tails shot off. Francois landed in Information Technology just as it was becoming a demand, while manufacturing and labor opportunities were becoming scarce. With the extra money he had, even as a young man, he bought […]…

1
Sergeant Jinx Lucks Out 15:48

7 years тому15:48

15:48

Please consider becoming a patron. An Excerpt: “Let’s move out,” said Reynolds. “If we walk straight east, we’re bound to hit the Tigris, and from there we can get our bearings.” “If we can find some shoal water, we can cross over to some higher ground and get out of this infernal swamp,” said Jenkins. […]…

1
Spinosis Ventrem 15:41

7 years тому15:41

15:41

Please consider becoming a patron An excerpt: Carla sniffed the spray as the breeze brought it from gentle breakers, tickling her nose with a curl of her own hair, which, on occasion, she caught in her teeth, playing with her hair even as the toddler played with the sea. The sand beneath the towel was […]…

1
The Demolition of a Mother, Part 2 12:22

8 years тому12:22

12:22

Please consider becoming a patron. An Excerpt There, in the lamplight of his narrow above-ground hole, air-conditioned cool, but still damp, like the earth itself, without any television or radio, he sipped at his vodka, reminiscing, watching a water bug and a silverfish route themselves amicably to a common goal found somewhere behind the wall. […]…

1
The Demolition of a Mother, Part 1 10:30

8 years тому10:30

10:30

Please consider becoming a patron. An excerpt “Odd,” she said to herself aloud. “It’s February. Why is Willie outside riding his bicycle?” She looked out the window again. “Oh no,” she said. Her heart had corrected her mistake before her mind had allowed. “Oh dear God, no.” She dropped her potato into the sink and […]…

1
The Primal Flower, Chapter 8 18:04

8 years тому18:04

18:04

Please consider becoming a patron Eventually… An excerpt: I waited for Lily’s father to return home. “Rescue must die soon,” I blurted out, “but I do not know how to put him to his end.” “Mercy will dictate,” said Lily’s father. “Mercy always dictates. How do you know your dog is sick to death?” “Your […]…

1
The Unwelcome Thrust of Progress (Part 3) 19:39

8 years тому19:39

19:39

Please consider becoming a patron. Cornered in the Office “You’re frightening me,” the Android Assistant 2100 said. “Put that thing away!” “Ha,” said Robert. “You should have seen the look on that hick’s face when I shot a glass jar sitting on a fence behind him. Oh, don’t be frightened: I rested my arm on […]…

1
The Primal Flower, Chapter 7 13:14

8 years тому13:14

13:14

Please consider becoming a Patron Chapter 7 An excerpt: “This city belongs to your king,” he said. “And you belong to him. A corporation, you recall, protects a man from liability. You have no need for such protection—” at this, he smiled brightly, “—because your king protects you from liability.” Lily’s uncle smiled brightly, chuckling. […]…

1
The Unwelcome Thrust of Progress (Part 2) 10:38

8 years тому10:38