Southernmost Exposure (A Bric Wahl Mystery)

From the Author Pick six! Enter the next and the final chapter of Bric Wahl's story. Bric's getting older, and like Stevie Nicks sang, "I'm getting older too. I've lived my life vicariously through Bric's adventures, (as many of you have) for over a decade, and it's time for both of us to take a little breather. Since finishing Everybody's Bar,I've had a few health issues, and I figured I had better start writing shorter books. Last year I collaborated with one of Tina's childhood school chums, Lori Kus, and, with her amazing illustrations, wrote two delightful kids'books, We Wish To Fish, Sun Sand, Surf and the Salty Sea, and produced one more, The Great Dog Possum. I got We Wish to Fish translated into Spanish, French, Portuguese and German. They were popular with friends, family, and loyal readers. We didn't sell millions, but it was still fun. Let's do more.For the second time in two years I'm excited to be a runner-up in the annual Key West Whodunit Mystery Writing Competition, first with Everybody's Bar in 2019 and now with Southernmost Exposure. It's a great honor. Thank you. Now I'm an award-winning author an award winning chef, and in resort marketing. Two more awards and I make Ace. Two more awards and a dollar, and I can buy a cup of coffee.Like always, I would like to recognize a few people. I'm remiss if I don't take note of my new publisher, Absolutely Amazing E Books and Shirrel Rhodes, co-founder of Mystery Writers Key West and the successor for many years to the late and famous Stan Lee at Marvel Comics. Hats off to my new Audible.com narrator Ross Pipkin. Ross is a Key West local and knows all the haunts, local places, and most important the idiomatic lingo of this crazy rock. As always, thanks to Bill Black, a real treasure hunter, who reviews my treasure hunting segments and helps keep it accurate. A nod to my old airline buddy Mark"Caretaker" Strussenberg, who reviews everything that locks and loads, making sure a seventh-century pirate isn't shooting enemies with an AK-47. Of course,I can't do this without the love and support of my wife Tina, and the editing skill of Lisa Owens, also a lifelong friend.As I complete book #6, my beloved keys, and for that matter the whole world are in the grips of the first pandemic in a hundred years. The keys are closed to tourism and so many of my friends who live literally hand to mouth, paycheck to paycheck, are in dire straits. Unlike a hurricane, where a personal disaster merely forces people to move to better opportunities, either temporarily or forever. This is global and there's nowhere to run to. My heart goes out to my friends. Why not include corona virus in the book? As devastating as this is today,the saying "This too shall pass" has never been more true. Hopefully, when this novel is shared decades from now, the immediacy of this disaster will be but a footnote in history.In closing,with sadness, I say goodbye to John Stuempfig. John was a fishing buddy, great friend, and inspiration for my character "Rumpy" who he personally named. We spent many an afternoon near Marvin Key, downing boat drinks and soaking in the bathtub warm waters while munching Key West Pink shrimp. He always got me over fish and was the basis for many a fishing story. I portrayed him as accurately as possible in all the books and he always enjoyed reading about himself.Tragically, John had only finished a few chapters of Everybody's Bar when he left us. I dedicate this book to John. Sail on, pal.See you on the flip side, Product Description When Russell Bricklin “Bric” Wahl’s real identity is revealed by a newspaper reporter, he becomes the target of many past enemies, and jumps at the opportunity to go treasure hunting with an old friend in the Caribbean. The project is funded with the financial help of a mob boss in search of some of the most valuable gold coins ever discovered. With his son joining the expedition as a professional diver, Brody finds love an