The Needed Killing Series: When James F. Crawford retired from the university he didn't expect to become a private investigator. But Provost Rufus George wanted Crawford to investigate a suspicious death—and he wouldn't take no for an answer. Turns out, Crawford has a knack for solving crimes. With his dog and cat as the perfect sounding board, he talks through the specifics of each case—posing questions to Tan and The Black and answering them himself. If you like your mysteries with a side of humor, give the Needed Killing Series a try.Book 4: "Howdy. Find the sword you're looking for?" The policeman eyed me carefully. "Who said anything about a sword?" I pointed behind me at the house with my thumb. "The guys inside found and tagged a bunch of swords right off the bat." I'd stirred up his curiosity and like a good policeman he was going to satisfy it. "Mister, just who the hell are you and what the hell are you doing here?"

The Needed Killing Series: When James F. Crawford retired from the university he didn't expect to become a private investigator. But Provost Rufus George wanted Crawford to investigate a suspicious death—and he wouldn't take no for an answer. Turns out, Crawford has a knack for solving crimes. With his dog and cat as the perfect sounding board, he talks through the specifics of each case—posing questions to Tan and The Black and answering them himself. If you like your mysteries with a side of humor, give the Needed Killing Series a try.Book 3: Crawford had never considered taking his cat to the local folk festival. But when a friend wants The Black for a photo shoot, he obliges. That a snake will be part of the shoot is just the first surprise in store for him and his pets. Snakes, fortune tellers, arsonists, blackmailers . . . this festival will be unlike any other in the history of Jemison County.

The Needed Killing Series: When James F. Crawford retired from the university he didn't expect to become a private investigator. But Provost Rufus George wanted Crawford to investigate a suspicious death—and he wouldn't take no for an answer. Turns out, Crawford has a knack for solving crimes. With his dog and cat as the perfect sounding board, he talks through the specifics of each case—posing questions to Tan and The Black and answering them himself. If you like your mysteries with a side of humor, give the Needed Killing Series a try.Book 2: The director of the University Press was often characterized as a man who needed killing. The Press's authors and employees certainly wouldn't disagree—even Peter the Gray, the office cat, detested him. So when someone puts a bullet through Philip Douglas's head, Crawford has plenty of suspects to consider when he is once again thrust into the role of detective.