With a genius IQ, a past career as a circus acrobat, and a black belt in karate, criminology professor Dr. Robert Frederickson—better known as "Mongo the Magnificent"—has a decidedly unusual background for a private investigator. He also just so happens to be a dwarf.   Mongo's friend and sensei, Veil Kendry, is pretty magnificent himself. A devoted martial arts instructor and extremely successful abstract artist, Veil single-handedly transformed his shady neighborhood in New York City's Lower East Side into a safe haven from crime and corruption. But when Mongo enters Veil's abandoned apartment and finds a bullet hole, a cryptic oil painting, and an envelope addressed to him containing $10,000, he starts to worry that Veil's reputation as a vigilante has gotten him into the worst sort of trouble.   Determined to find his friend, Mongo attempts to rule out any enemies from Veil's past—details of which Veil has never shared with him. But as he uncovers the shocking truth of Veil's time in the Vietnam War—participating in dangerous CIA missions under the call sign "Archangel"—Mongo soon finds enemies aplenty, ones that will do anything to make sure the past remains a secret . . .   In addition to creating "the most engaging detective in decades," author George C. Chesbro introduces the character of Veil Kendry, who would go on to have his own series (Library Journal).   Two Songs This Archangel Sings is the 5th book in the Mongo Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.  

With a genius IQ, a past career as a circus acrobat, and a black belt in karate, criminology professor Dr. Robert Frederickson—better known as "Mongo the Magnificent"—has a decidedly unusual background for a private investigator. He also just so happens to be a dwarf.   Mongo's days as a professional acrobat are long over, but when he learns his former boss is down on his luck—and the circus has been sold—he heads to Florida to rally his fellow ex-performers to help buy back the spectacle they once called home.   With seductive snake charmer Harper Rhys-Whitney in tow, Mongo sets out to make a deal with the traveling show's mysterious new owners. But when they track down the talented troupe in America's heartland, Mongo and Harper discover something has shifted under the big top: A string of grisly murders dots the circus's route, causing local tabloids to cry "Werewolf!"   Now, if he wants to save his old gig, Mongo will have to get back in the center ring to figure out what's been going bump in the night . . .   The Fear in Yesterday's Rings is the 10th book in the Mongo Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

When he wakes up he remembers nothing, not even his own name. He doesn't know why he's squatting in Central Park or why he carries the human femur that earned him the nickname "Bone." He has no idea what he's done over the past year wandering the streets of Manhattan—or what came before.   Det. Lt. Perry Lightning suspects that Bone is the serial killer who's been brutalizing the city's homeless population. He also suspects Bone is playing games, pretending to have no knowledge of his life or his actions. But despite what the detective thinks, Bone doesn't remember committing those horrific crimes.   With the help of a social worker named Anne and a street performer named Zulu, Bone attempts to discover the truth. But his pursuit of the past is about to take them deep into New York's underground . . . where untold horrors await.

As a Naval intelligence officer stationed in the Middle East, Jade Aden was trusted with secrets that would leave most people shaking in their boots. But after the fallout from an incident during Desert Storm forced her into early retirement, Jade made a new, more pedestrian life for herself and her two children in the picturesque town of Cairn-on-the-Hudson, New York.   Employed as a river keeper, Jade monitors pollution created by weekend boaters and commercial tankers. But  when something strange surfaces in the river, Jade's dangerous past is dredged up once more. She knows the object strapped to a dead sea lion is a mine from a top-secret weapons system supposedly canceled years ago. Because it was highly classified, Jade is forced to feign ignorance, but her silence soon leads to death and destruction.   Determined to do the right thing, Jade must face off against forces willing to kill to protect their own despicable interests.

Rick Peters was one of the CIA's best operatives until the day the dragons—the company's elite covert team—were disbanded. Forced into unwanted retirement, Peters struck out on his own, becoming an assassin. Now, a two-million-dollar payday is on the table if he can take out San Sierran dictator Manuel Salva. Peters intends to make it look like a CIA operation . . . and he has the perfect patsy in mind.   Retired for fifteen years, Alexandra Finway has left covert ops behind to raise a family. But when her former partner—and lover—storms back into her life, she finds herself contemplating getting back in the field. Peters claims the CIA wants two of their former dragons to stop a hit on Salva and remove the contract killer from play, all in the interest of international security.   A patriot at heart, Finway agrees to take on the mission, unaware Peters has drawn her into a dangerous game of cross and double-cross—and few will make it out alive.

With a genius IQ, a past career as a circus acrobat, and a black belt in karate, criminology professor Dr. Robert Frederickson—better known as "Mongo the Magnificent"—has a decidedly unusual background for a private investigator. He also just so happens to be a dwarf.   On the eve of Thanksgiving, a murderous maniac with an ice pick has gripped New York City, killing at random and leaving terror in his wake. But despite the threat of the "Iceman," Mongo is more troubled by the sudden appearance of the neighborhood crazy lady on his doorstep.   Normally, "Mama Spit" is as ornery as they come, but the polished and polite woman before him now bears little resemblance to the creature infamous for spewing vulgarity at everyone she meets. Mama claims a strange man gifted her with a bag of pills just before his untimely death—miracle pills that have made her as normal as the day is long.   Soon Mongo blows the lid off a conspiracy involving experimental drugs, escaped mental patients, and a government cover-up. But if he isn't careful, he could hit his own expiration date . . .   Bleeding in the Eye of a Brainstorm is the 13th book in the Mongo Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

At the age of fifty-eight, author Garth Fugue is adrift. For the last forty years he has poured his soul into twenty-three novels and countless short stories, all filled with murder and mayhem. By delving into the troubled minds of his characters, he has kept his own demons at bay.   Now, Garth is at a crossroads. Despite his floundering literary career, he is attempting to write his magnum opus while simultaneously teaching at a children's psychiatric hospital. As he decides what to write about, Garth must ultimately wrestle with his own beliefs about humanity, morality, and the meaning of it all.   In this insightful novel, George C. Chesbro exposes a fictional writer's tortured mind and, in doing so, divulges the struggles of the real, complicated man best known for penning quirky mysteries and pulpy thrillers. It is an intimate invitation not to be missed.

With a genius IQ, a past career as a circus acrobat, and a black belt in karate, criminology professor Dr. Robert Frederickson—better known as "Mongo the Magnificent"—has a decidedly unusual background for a private investigator. He also just so happens to be a dwarf.   Investigating illegal CIA activities in Haiti leads Mongo and his brother, former NYPD cop Garth Frederickson, to a grisly discovery: five victims of voodoo ritual sacrifice. But that's just the first surprise. Soon they uncover a wildly ambitious assassination plot that not only puts them in the cross hairs but also has the potential to change the fate of the United States forever . . .   Employing his "unlimited imagination" and talent for creating "terrific suspense" in the Mongo mystery series, author George C. Chesbro delivers a climax that pulls out all the stops (Publishers Weekly).   Dream of a Falling Eagle is the 14th book in the Mongo Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

With a genius IQ, a past career as a circus acrobat, and a black belt in karate, criminology professor Dr. Robert Frederickson—better known as "Mongo the Magnificent"—has a decidedly unusual background for a private investigator. He also just so happens to be a dwarf.   When his former big-top boss asks him to find a missing Iranian strongman, Mongo is plunged into a three-ring circus of murder, espionage, and international intrigue. And when Mongo's own brother—police officer Garth Frederickson—gets involved, the detective must fly to Iran, a country on the brink of a revolution. Now he's searching for two missing men, from Tehran to the ancient city of Persepolis, playing a game of a cat-and-mouse with forces far beyond his control. And unlike his days as an acrobat, this time, if he slips up, there's no net . . .   With a fearless sense of fun, author George C. Chesbro continues the adventures of "one of the most appealing creations in the detective world" (Publishers Weekly).   City of Whispering Stone is the 2nd book in the Mongo Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

With a genius IQ, a past career as a circus acrobat, and a black belt in karate, criminology professor Dr. Robert Frederickson—better known as "Mongo the Magnificent"—has a decidedly unusual background for a private investigator. He also just so happens to be a dwarf.   Mongo and his brother, Garth, have left their day jobs as a professor and a cop, respectively, and formed their own PI firm, Frederickson & Frederickson. It's a great reason to celebrate this holiday season, but when their annual tradition of picking up a few letters to Santa from the post office to fulfill the Christmas wishes of needy children reveals a sinister secret, their cheer is replaced with a yearning for justice. As the brothers race to save a little girl from a religious doomsday cult, they'll get up close and personal with a murderous zealot bent on the eradication of all mankind—preferably before the New Year . . .   Second Horseman Out of Eden is the 7th book in the Mongo Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

With a genius IQ, a past career as a circus acrobat, and a black belt in karate, criminology professor Dr. Robert Frederickson—better known as "Mongo the Magnificent"—has a decidedly unusual background for a private investigator. He also just so happens to be a dwarf.   Hired to investigate an audacious theft, Mongo travels to Zurich, Switzerland, where rich philanthropist Emmet P. Neuberger claims terrorist and criminal John "Chant" Sinclair has swindled his charitable organization, the Cornucopia Foundation, out of $10 million. Several agencies, including Interpol, are already on the case, but Neuberger wants a private eye to monitor the situation.   It quickly becomes clear it's much more than a simple case of embezzlement. As the bodies pile up and suspicions turn to Mongo himself, the detective decides to hunt down Chant on his own. But the deeper he digs into this peculiar case, the more he begins to think that Chant may not be the one to blame . . .   This thrilling entry in the Mongo series introduces international assassin Chant, who goes on to star in his own series of adventures from the author who "writes wonderfully strange mystery novels . . . [with] perfectly calculated nail-biting tension" (Boston Sunday Herald).   Dark Chant in a Crimson Key is the 11th book in the Mongo Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.  

With a genius IQ, a past career as a circus acrobat, and a black belt in karate, criminology professor Dr. Robert Frederickson—better known as "Mongo the Magnificent"—has a decidedly unusual background for a private investigator. He also just so happens to be a dwarf.   Mongo and his brother, Garth, are experienced private detectives. So when Garth's wife Mary's strange ex-boyfriend shows up uninvited, they suspect he, the self-proclaimed magician Sacra Silver, is full of mumbo jumbo. But when a series of annoying pranks disrupts their lives, Mongo and Garth have to deal with Sacra's attempts at black magic.   Meanwhile, they're also investigating a death involving a suspicious multinational corporation. Garth's friend, environmental cop Tom Blaine, was found in the Hudson chopped to pieces by a boat propeller—just like the kind on the tanker the victim had seen dumping oil in the river . . .   The two problems couldn't be less alike, but soon Mongo learns the dirty dealings have a connection that could put everyone he loves in danger.   An Incident at Bloodtide is the 12th book in the Mongo Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.