New mystery novel weaves
Nashville murder investigation
together with life of police reporter
A Nashville police reporter finds himself entangled in the murder investigation he is supposed to be covering – and nearly getting himself killed for his troubles – in a debut mystery novel just published by Bushido Press.
Kill the Quarterback, by Jim Stovall, begins with the murder of Jimmy Chin Lee, a star quarterback for the Vanderbilt Commodores and odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, college football’s highest honor. Lee is found murdered on a hot Saturday in August, two weeks before his senior season is set to begin.
The police are clueless about why the quiet, popular young sports star was shot three times.
The key to the case is Alexis Ming, an exotic, beautiful young woman who had some kind of relationship with Lee. But Ming doesn’t trust the police. Instead, she seeks out Mitch Sawyer, the cynical, hard-boiled police reporter for the Nashville Daily Tribune.
“The character of Mitch Sawyer grows out of the traditions of Raymond Chandler and --,” Stovall said. “He’s a loner, his personal life is in shambles, and after more than two decades of reporting the police beat, he’s seen just about everything.”
But there is something different about Sawyer, Stovall added.
“He’s got a soft side that dates back to his rural Kentucky Methodist upbringing.”
It is this soft side that attracts Ming, who asks him to find out who killed Jimmy Chin Lee and why. Sawyer finds himself in the untenable position of falling for a source and concealing evidence from the police.
As he delves into the world of Jimmy Chin Lee and Alexis Ming, Sawyer finds he is at odds with the chief police investigator on the case, an odd religious cult and a conspiracy that may involve his own newspaper.
Stovall is in his third year of teaching on the UT journalism faculty. Before coming to UT, he was a visiting professor at Emory & Henry College for three years and a professor of journalism at the University of Alabama for 25 years.
He grew up in Nashville, the location of the novel.
Cynthia Mobley, the publisher of Bushido Press, called the novel an excellent debut novel.
“Jim’s writing and pacing are first rate,” she said. “Readers are really going to enjoy this novel."
The book may be purchased through Amazon or ordered directly from Bushido Press..
Additional details about the book and its author can be found at the book’s web site: http://www.killthequarterback.com.
MEDIA ADVISORY
Jim Stovall is available for interviews or personal appearances by calling 865-974-5109 or by emailing him at jgstovall at gmail.com.
To request a copy for review, please contact
Cyn Mobley
Bushido Press
2000 Stock Creek Road
Knoxville, TN 37920
