Valerie Wilson Wesley wrote her first mystery, When Death Comes Stealing in 1994. The book introduced readers to Tamara Hayle, a wise and witty African American single mom and ex-cop, who makes her living as a private investigator in Newark, NJ. When Death Comes Stealing was nominated for the Shamus Award by the Private Eye Writers of America as Best First Private Eye Novel. Tamara has since appeared in 5 other mysteries: Devil's Gonna Get Him (1995), Where Evil Sleeps (1996), No Hiding Place (1997), Easier to Kill (1998), and The Devil Riding (2000). All six books have been Blackboard bestsellers, and have been published in Great Britain, France, Germany and Poland.
Click the title of the book below to read an excerpt. The books are listed in the order in which they were written.
WHEN DEATH COMES STEALING
Someone is killing her ex-husband's children and Tamara must find the killer before her own son becomes the next victim.
DEVIL'S GONNA GET HIM
After her wealthy and prominent client is murdered, Tamara works to prove a friend's relative innocent of the crime.
WHERE EVIL SLEEPS
Tamara stumbles onto a murder -- and a sexy acquaintance -- while vacationing in Jamaica.
NO HIDING PLACE
A Newark hoodlum is killed and the police don't feel it's any great loss. The victim's grieving mother begs Tamara to look into the unsolved murder.
EASIER TO KILL
Hired by a popular radio talk-show host to uncover a dangerous stalker, Tamara discovers that her client has a hidden past.
THE DEVIL RIDING
Tamara Hayle is hired by New Jersey's most affluent African-American family to find their rebellious daughter who's run off to Atlantic City where a serial killer prowls the streets.
DYING IN THE DARK
Tamara Hayle's past has come back to haunt her--literally. She's been plagued by terrifying dreams about Celia Jones, an old friend whose walk on the wild side led to a horrible death.
HOW TO PURCHASE Valerie Wilson Wesley's mysteries, novels and children's books can be purchased online at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com.
