FFB Review: The Last Call: A Bill Travis Mystery by George Wier

Earlier this week, the horrible news that Texas author George Wier had passed was posted to Facebook. I was stunned as I had no idea that he was fighting cancer. George was a very talented author and I am a big fan. He was also a cyber friend who occasionally reached out to me as Sandi fought her own battle and far more often after she passed as he tried to make sure I was sticking around and not having stupid thoughts. I suspect he deliberately did not tell me he was fighting cancer these past months so as to not upset me. I wish he had told me, but I get why he did not. The news has been very hard to take. I still have a number of books of his to read in the old eBook TBR pile and it is going to take quite some time before I can even think about trying to do so.

On this final Friday in July 2021 when the world seems mad on so many levels, I offer you my review from many years ago of the first book in this series, THE LAST CALL. George made it a permanently free read in eBook format several years ago, ignoring the naysayers who said not to do that sort of thing, and it did very well for him. If you have not read him, you really should.

 

Bill Travis first saw the beautiful woman while he was driving in heavy traffic on the loop near downtown Austin. The beautiful reddish blonde in the red roadster didn’t seem to mind that Bill Travis was staring at her. For a few minutes they played a cat and mouse game passing each other in the heavy morning traffic. After a smile his way and a couple of quick moves on her part in the stop and go traffic, she was gone down the interstate and out of his life. That left the nearly 40 year old Bill Travis with only one option---head to work as if nothing had happened at all. 

That is until a short time later, as his first client of the day, she walks into his office. 

Julie Simmons may have flirted and then cut him off in traffic, but she has bigger issues then being a sexy and rude flirt. She has crossed Archie Carpin, a North Texan Liquor Baron and legendary figure with a violent family lineage dating back to the 20’s in Texas. This is one family that you leave very well alone if you have any brains at all. Julie was desperate and took two million dollars and ran. Of course, Archie Carpin very much wants his money back.

 

Bill Travis, a man that helps well off people with their money problems can’t help falling for her in every way possible.  Even if there is far more to her story and he knows it from the very start.  The beautiful woman wasn’t kidding when she said her name was trouble. He just didn’t care. He should have as she was not lying about that much at least.

 

On the run and trying to stay alive on a trail that takes them from Austin to North Texas and back again, Texas author George Wier crafts an intriguing tale full of twists and turns. Populated with complex main and secondary characters, plenty of clues, and plenty of action this recently released novel first in a planned series is a good one. Even seasoned mystery readers will be surprised by some of the twists the complex case takes while imparting some legendary Texas history.

 

 

The Last Call: A Bill Travis Mystery

Gorge Wier

http://www.georgewier.com/

Flagstone Books

2011

eBook (also available in print and audio formats 

 

Material supplied by the author in exchange for my objective review.

 

Kevin R. Tipple © 2011, 2021

Review: Mexico Fever: A Bill Travis Mystery by George Wier

It has been awhile since the events of Desperate Crimes and as Mexico Fever opens it is not long before the peace and quiet of Bill Travis’ world is broken. Walt Cannon is missing somewhere in Mexico. He’s a retired Texas Ranger and saved a few folks over the years including a Governor of Texas, Richard Sawyer, and our family man and reluctant hero, Bill Travis. While Sawyer has been out of his office for the last 4 years, he wants to see Bill Travis at his home down in River Oaks in Houston. When a Governor of Texas asks to see you, you go see him.

Governor Sawyer may be dying and a shadow of his former self, but his mind is still sharp. He knows that their mutual friend, Walt Cannon, is missing down in the state of Yucatan in Mexico. He even knowns exactly where Cannon was conducting business before he vanished. Governor Sawyer should know as he sent Cannon down there to track down and deal with a former religious leader that these days is arming rebels and seeking to overthrow the Mexican government. Some of his followers acting on his behalf executed a family on the Texas side of the border near Eagle Pass and Sawyer wanted Cannon to get him.

It was over two months ago that Cannon went down there chasing the elusive figure known as “Sunlight” and he has not been heard from since. Sawyer wants Travis to go down after Cannon and get him back home where he belongs. The last personal request of a dying man who feels responsible would be difficult to refuse as it is, but Travis also owes Cannon so going is never the question.  A debt has come due.

Explaining it to Julie and leaving her and the kids behind is going to be hard. Dealing with looking for Cannon, the local politics, a guerrilla movement, and more in Mexico Fever is going to be very hard.

Mexico Fever is the twelfth in the Bill Travis Mystery Series that began many years ago in The Last Call. While the family continues to grow and long running characters continue to evolve in the series, the hallmarks of action and adventure are as strong as ever in this read. Also present are the frequent and often humorous observations about Texas, Texans, the weather, and the human race in general.

While the series began with The Last Call and readers that have been onboard since the beginning will get more out of this read, those folks new to the world of Bill Travis could easily start here. There are references to several earlier events as we play catch up with folks we have seen before, but those references would not destroy earlier reads in the series. As always there is a hint of pulp adventure to the read. Events and actions slide dangerously close to the edge and may push the ability to suspend disbelief for some readers.

That same thing could be said about almost of the books in this fun and engrossing series. Those readers who want everything to be totally logical and realistic might find Mexico Fever a bit of a challenge since the author does not play by those rules. This read is another engrossing tale in a long rail of great reads by prolific author George Weir. 

Mexico Fever: A Bill Travis Mystery

George Wier

http://www.billtravismysteries.com

Flagstone Books

May 2016

ASIN: B01FYEU48E

eBook (paperback available)

160 Pages

$4.99

According to Amazon, I picked this up back last August to read and review. I believe I did it by way of the Author’s free read promotion.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2018

Review: Desperate Crimes: A Bill Travis Mystery by George Wier

For Bill Travis everything revolves around family. His eight-year-old daughter, Jennifer, is supposed to give a piano recital on Saturday. Unfortunately, her piano teacher, Todd Landry, has gone missing. Jennifer is very upset and worried and she wants daddy to find him. Normally, Bill Travis gets involved in things to be paid so he can pay for things like piano lessons.

Money is important, but it is not everything. His daughter’s happiness means more than just about anything else does. His little girl is heartbroken and her tears are a powerful thing. He agrees to look for Todd Landry despite the fact that he has a really bad feeling about things.

He also knows who to call for help and does so. He calls Hank Sterling, a good friend who is also a freelance investigator. As it happens, Hank is already on the case of the missing Todd Landry. He is also very concerned though he has very different reasons for why he is worried. 

Bill and Hank team up and take eight-year-old Jennifer with them on the road to search for the missing Todd Landry. They as well as Jennifer’s pet ferret, Morgan Freeman, hit the road headed to Elysium, eighty miles west of Austin, Texas as they follow their first lead. They will all spend a lot of time in the car together working a case that is complicated and not easily solved.

Desperate Crimes is the 11^th book in the Bill Travis Mystery Series that began with The Last Call. Personal relationships, humor, and observations about the Lone Star State have been hallmarks of this running series. They are very much present here with characters that continue to evolve, references to past books, and more. A mystery that is far more complicated than it first appears is also present in this latest read.

If you are new to the series by Texas author George Wier, you could easily start here. While there are a few references to earlier books, they are not so detailed as to ruin previous reads in the series. Those readers that have read the preceding books will enjoy this one a bit more as the Travis family continues to add members and age. Part of the fun of this series is to see what is now going on with the family. Either way, Desperate Crimes: A Bill Travis Mystery is another solidly good read in a very good series.

Desperate Crimes: A Bill Travis Mystery

George Wier

http://www.billtravismysteries.com

Flagstone Books

March 2016

ASIN: B01DHM1EUM

eBook (paperback available)

131 Pages

$4.99

According to Amazon, I picked this up back last July to read and review. I believe I did it by way of the Author’s free read promotion.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2017

How to Write Fiction Stories Creative Writing Lesson Tips 1 with George Wier (YouTube)

How to Write Fiction Stories Creative Writing Lesson Tips 1 with George Wier (YouTube)

Review: "Capitol Offense--A Bill Travis Mystery" by George Wier

Norman Howell sits in the Ellis Unit in Huntsville, Texas awaiting his execution date.  About a decade ago he killed the couple that ran a small gas station, took 158 bucks and a case of beer and fled with the whole thing recorded by a hidden VCR. Bill Travis has come to the prison unit with a simple request. All Bill Travis wants, beyond a quick get in and out of the prision, is for Howell to sign some paperwork on a trust account.

Instead, he gets told bits and pieces about Howell’s role in a dark period of Texas history back in the 80’s when somebody blew up Vietnamese fishing boats along the Texas coast. Howell does not go into much detail but he does mention the name Dick Sawyer. The same Dick Sawyer who sits in the governor’s mansion as the duly elected governor of the great state of Texas and who might have paid to have those boats blown up.

That gets Bill Travis a little interested and he starts poking around. Before long, Travis is running for his life across Texas is wanted for murder, and folks are dead in his wake. Throw   in plenty of Texas history, the legendary Marfa Lights, modern day politics involving the succession movement, and lots of other stuff and you have quit a cauldron of mystery and intrigue.

Capitol Offense - A Bill Travis Mystery is the second book of the series and again author George Wier sets yet another breakneck pace across Texas. For a guy who is supposed to be a glorified accountant, Bill Travis manages to get very well known on both sides of the law and have quite the adventures. This second read in the series is another good one and continues to build on the solid foundation evidenced in The Last Call.


Having established the main character of Bill Travis quite well, this book focuses more on the world around him, the odds against him, and how those in power control others. At its core, this book is more adventure than mystery but there are plenty of twist and turns to keep mystery readers and others happy and turning pages. The result is a solid second novel in a series that is mighty good on all levels.

Capitol Offense - A Bill Travis Mystery

George Wier

Flagstone Books

November 26, 2011

E-Book

$0.99

Material supplied by the author in exchange for my objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple © 2012