Books by Nathan Birr

Private Investigator Jackson Douglas has gone off the grid in Mexico, a place he notoriously despises, and it seems to have nothing to do with a case. Instead, all evidence suggests he has purposefully disappeared with no interest in being found-or in much of anything at all. Even so, the women in Jackson's life head south of the border to locate him and convince him to come home. As they follow his trail from Tijuana to Ensenada and into the Sonoran Desert, questioning everyone from a poolside bartender to a bullring bookie to a socialite's sister, they discover their worst fears and doubts about Jackson seem to have come true. With varying levels of belief in whether Jackson can be saved, they pursue him to the end . . . while hoping it isn't. As Good As Dead is the fourth short story in The Douglas Files, and bridges the penultimate and final full-length novels in the series.

A weekend ski trip with a trio of beautiful women could be a lot of fun. If they didn't have it in for Jackson. And if one of them wasn't being hunted by killers. Jackson's brother's fiancée, Hillary, has been receiving death threats, likely tied to her career as a defense attorney. Getting away for a relaxing weekend seems prudent until they find evidence that someone is following their group. Hillary refuses to turn back, which puts Jackson on edge, seeing snipers behind ski lifts and questioning the loyalty of his traveling companions. And when a heavy snowstorm strands them all in their palatial cabin with a mysterious stranger, his paranoia seems perfectly apropos. As the night wears on, fears become reality. Killers breach the cabin, forcing the group to use whatever means necessary to fight for their survival. As dawn nears, they hatch a plan to save themselves. But will they escape from danger, or place themselves in its very midst?

Jackson Douglas is only an associate at MTR Investigative Services, and that for all of three weeks. But when a potential client shows up late one Friday, he offers to help. Reggie Cameron is about to open a new restaurant, and his ex-wife's sister, Leila, wants in on the action. Unless Reggie makes her a partner, she plans to tell the world that he stole $25,000 from her stepfather-Reggie's former employer. Reggie insists he didn't do it, but fears Leila will use his past to stereotype him, adding credence to accusations that could ruin him before his new career gets started. Since none of the pros at MTR are available to take the case, Jackson is left to work alone. Hoping to prove Leila is actually the thief, he spends his Saturday tailing her and observes unusual behavior that appears to tie her to a local crime family. Despite the danger, Jackson pushes on, determined to help Reggie for reasons he can't explain. Will he incriminate Leila in time, or will he end up pushing too far?