Books

The Rex Begonia Mystery Series

“In the conservatory, with a gun, Colonel Mustard….” Spokane Detective Lizei checks her sarcasm when she sees her boss’s scowl. Chief Detective Rex Begonia is as serious as fireblight in a rose garden about solving a murder in idyllic Manito Park’s greenhouse. It’s a week before the Lilac Parade and the mayor wants the case solved ASAP. Interviews with a cast of characters including zombie-tag players, prickly garden club divas, and city officials fail to point to a suspect. In cappuccino-induced speculations about a motive for murder, Rex Begonia and his cohort Ivy race through the Lilac City’s pre- parade events to find the culprit.
With equal parts suspense, humor and intrigue, author Chris Bieker keeps readers guessing right up to the end about who committed the Murder at Manito!
-Tonie Fitzgerald, Retired WSU Extension and author ofGardening in the Inland Northwest

Murder At Manito

Shortly before the kickoff of Spokane’s string of garden related events, the head gardener of the Lilac City’s prestigious Manito Park is found dead — shot through the hear. The city’s curmudgeonly top detective Rex Begonia and his protégé Ivy Lizei are tasked with solving the crime. Can they weed out the growing list of suspects and crack the case in time for Mayor Sammy Prosciutto to announce his re-election campaign and garner the green vote?

Detective mystery fans who also enjoy the wildlife and flora of the Pacific Northwest will surely find Blood on Bloomsday both exciting and educational. Author Chris Bieker deftly uses wildlife biology and behavior, soil science and plant ecology as pillars of evidence in the multi-agency forensic work of detectives and wildlife officers to solve a murder and wildlife crimes of international significance.
-Woody Myers, Wildlife Biologist

Blood on Bloomsday

The Lilac Bloomsday Race brings worldwide competitors to Spokane to run in one of the largest, annual, timed road races in the world. Despite his better instincts, solitary Detective Rex Begonia gets recruited for the Spokane Police Department’s corporate cup running team. That’s just the beginning of the teamwork as Rex and his partner Ivy Lizei join forces with wildlife officers, tribal police, Border Patrol officers and more to solve a murder and an international smuggling case. Rex finds himself caught up in a double Bloomsday — one in which he runs in the Lilac Bloomsday Race and a second in which he is in a race for his life.

High Stakes at Hoopfest

Within weeks of Spokane hosting the world’s largest three-on-three basketball tournament, reporters disappear, park plants drop dead and campaign managers die. The Lilac City’s top detective team of Rex Begonia and Ivy Lizei face off against a mysterious nemesis that threatens more than just Mayor Prosciutto’s political aspirations and reputation. This time, the mayor’s life is endangered.

Chris Bieker’s combination of clever word play, quirky characters, and local color have created yet another must-read in High Stakes at Hoopfest.

-Janet Newton, Author of the Llangynog Mysteries

Where to Buy:

Local bookstores are a vital part of our communities. Please support your local bookstore by purchasing there whenever possible. If it is not possible, you can find my books in paperback and e-book at Amazon.

In the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area, Auntie’s Bookstore, Jupiter’s Eye Book & Cafe and Wishing Tree Books all carry my books.