Chris Culver

02/26/2026

Hello,
I’m very happy to finally share that the newest Homer Watson novel, Deemed Accidental, is officially out in the world. I had hoped to post this earlier, but I wanted to approve a proof copy of the paperback before I sent anything out. That proof copy got lost in the mail, apparently, and took several weeks to arrive. I finally got it, and it looks good.

This book combines a lot of different things I’m interested in. It’s about housing and the ways governmental bureaucracy can be manipulated to cover up crimes.

It’s a really good mystery, and I’m delighted with it. If you’ve followed Homer for a while, you’re going to like this one.

You can find Deemed Accidental at the following links:

My Direct store [get a $3 discount on the eBook until March 2]
https://store.chrisculver.com/products/deemed-accidental-ebook

Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/Deemed-Accidental-Homer-Watson-Book-ebook/dp/B0GNNTZKQT

Amazon US - Paperback:
https://www.amazon.com/Deemed-Accidental-Homer-Watson-Culver/dp/196353803X

Barnes & Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deemed-accidental-chris-culver/1149491564?ean=2940184967103

[It’s available outside the US at Amazon UK, Australia, etc., as well. I will NOT carry paperbacks in my own store. You’ll have to purchase from Amazon. Sorry!]

I also wanted to give you a quick update on what I’m working on next.
My original plan was to dive straight into another Homer Watson book. But as I outlined the story and started pulling on the threads, it became clear that the case belonged somewhere else. The voice, the setting, and the kind of pressure the story needed all pointed toward Joe Court instead.

So I’ve shifted gears and am currently writing Joe Court #14. If all goes as planned, it should be out this summer.

As always, thank you for reading, for recommending the books to others, and for sticking with these characters as they evolve. I don’t take that lightly, and I hope Deemed Accidental keeps you up a little later than you meant to stay awake.

12/11/2025

I’m late to post this because I’ve been out of town unexpectedly, but I’m excited to share that In the Company of Wolves, my newest Joe Court novel, is now available.

This story takes place shortly after The Man in the Fire and drops Joe into a quagmire she didn’t seem coming. The book meshes small-town politics with a murder investigation and some of the best villains I’ve written. I love this book. If you like hard-boiled mysteries with relentless pacing and a heroine who refuses to back down, you’re going to like it, too.

Thank you for reading, supporting my work, and letting me keep writing these stories. I can’t wait to hear what you think of Joe’s newest case.

You can find paperback and eBook versions on Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.com/Company-Wolves-Joe-Court-Book-ebook/dp/B0FTGNRMCL

You can find eBook versions on Barnes and Noble here:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-company-of-wolves-chris-culver/1148431514?ean=2940184395647

And you find eBook versions at my store here:

https://store.chrisculver.com/products/in-the-company-of-wolves-ebook

11/20/2025

There are two things going in this post. First, you’re going to get an amusing anecdote. Then you’re going to get a update about 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴, book #13 in my Joe Court series. The release date is coming up sooner you probably think.

I’m writing this in mid-November, that magical time of year when my phone reminds me—over and over—that I can look back on my year with a video montage of pictures. This year's highlight reel was just dozens of photos of my dog. Most aren't even very good pictures.

Algorithms are going to do what algorithms are going to do, so I figured it liked the dog and thought this was a great way to generate interest. Then I looked through my pictures, and the evidence was conclusive: I’ve documented every trip Frodo and I have taken to the park, but I forgot to take pictures of my wife of 20 years. Or my children. Or anyone else. For a year.

Oops.

It’s kind of funny, but mostly kind of tragic. I’m telling you this story because it illustrates something important. I get a lot of questions about my characters, none more so than Joe Court. People want her to be happy long-term [and she will be], but they also ask whether she’ll ever have a partner.

The short answer, without revealing too much: maybe, but it’s never going to be a focus of the books. If you’re looking for sweeping love stories or candlelit dinners, I’m not your best bet to provide them. I can promise mysteries that involve dogs, but I can’t be trusted with people—even those I care about.

And here’s the big news about book #13. My goal in 2025 was to publish 3 books. 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴, book #3 in my Homer Watson series, came out on March 20th. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦, book #12 in my Joe Court series came out on September 30th. Since then, I’ve been working 16 hour days to finish up 𝘐𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴.

Now, it’s done, and I can go back to taking pictures of my dog.

It’s coming out on December 8th, 2025, and it’s brilliant. Since my oldest son was born, I’ve had at least one child near my desk every day while I work. Now, they’re all in school for at least 7 hours a day. For those who don’t have kids—or whose kids are older—this means I could work without interruption for the first time in 12 years. It shows in the prose. I’m really delighted with this book, and I hope you will be, too.

You can find more information—including pre-order information—about 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 at the following links:

My Direct Store: https://store.chrisculver.com/products/in-the-company-of-wolves-ebook

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Company-Wolves-Joe-Court-Book-ebook/dp/B0FTGNRMCL

Barnes & Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-company-of-wolves-chris-culver/1148431514?ean=2940184395647

Paperbacks will be available at Amazon on release day.

10/02/2025

I'm late to post this, which is really on brand for me at this point in my career. The said, The Man in the Fire is now available at my store, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon!

This case opens on Halloween. A man is found murdered inside a burning building. With Detective Joe Court's department gutted and political opportunists circling, Joe has to find her way through a maze of arsons, lies, and prejudices. Despite setbacks, Joe does what she does best: follows the evidence, fights those standing in her way, and pushes until people talk or make mistakes. I think this is a great book, and I love how it turned out. It has a lot of twists and hopefully a few surprises.

You can get books at my store here:
[eBook]�
https://store.chrisculver.com/products/the-man-in-the-fire-ebook

At Amazon:

[eBook]
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FRB3FFB2
[Paperback]�
https://www.amazon.com/Man-Fire-Chris-Culver/dp/1963538013

Or at Barnes and Noble:��
[eBook]�
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1148305269?ean=2940184426082

Also, and I don't have too much to share about it yet, but
book #13 is coming...eventually!

Joe’s world is shifting—some of it good, some of it not—and the ground under her feet isn’t the same as it was a few books ago. She’s closer to several of the things she’s been chasing, and she’s also recognizing a few of those goals need to change. Her friendships are growing deeper, and her relationships with loved ones grow stronger and more complex. The villains are closer to home and stronger than they’ve ever been. I don’t have a release date yet. Consider this a teaser and a promise: I’m on it, and it’s going to be good.

Thank you, truly, for reading.
Chris

09/18/2025

🔥 New Release Alert! 🔥

I’m thrilled to share that The Man in the Fire—the newest novel in my Joe Court series—is now available for preorder! Release day is September 30th.

It’s a great book. St. Augustine is in flames. A local businessman is murdered. Joe fights through prejudice, corruption, and arson to uncover the truth. This book has it all.

This book took me a while to write. Life sometimes throws you curveballs, and you’ve just got to work through things. In my case, that means I’ve got two wonderful boys growing up healthy and well, and a business that takes a lot of time. Hopefully, Book #13 won’t take me quite as long to write.

If you’ve been waiting for Joe’s next case, the wait is almost over. The book will be released on September 30th. If you pre-order, you’ll get it on the day of release.

I’ve got paperbacks on order, but I’m not sure when they’ll arrive. They *should* be available on Amazon on September 30th. I’m still waiting for my proof copies to make sure they look okay, but I suspect they’ll be just fine.

You can pre-order the eBook at my store here:
https://store.chrisculver.com/products/the-man-in-the-fire-ebook

Or at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FRB3FFB2

Or at Barnes & Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1148305269?ean=2940184426082

07/15/2025

Years ago, when I was still a naive young writer, I saw an interview with a famous writer who remarked that it was difficult to write two books a year.

I remember few details from the interview, but I remember that statement because I wondered why two books a year was such a challenge. Back then, I could write two books in about four months. In fact, there were stretches in my career when I wrote seven books per year. I released some as Chris Culver, while others came out under other names. [I can’t share those names because I’m still under non-disclosure agreements.]

Now that I’m older and I’ve got kids, dogs, a spouse, a mortgage, and all the aches and pains that come with middle age, two books a year sounds like a pretty reasonable pace.

I say all that to explain that I’m still working on book #12 in my Joe Court series. I had hoped to be done by now, but I ran into an unexpected challenge: I hated my first draft. Objectively, it wasn’t terrible, but I knew I could do better. So I threw out the draft and restarted. I’m about 40% done with a new draft, and it’s coming along well. I’m pleased with how it’s turning out, and I think you guys will be, too. It’ll be a good book with good twists.

Because book #12 is late, I have to push back my entire schedule. I had hoped to release two Joe Court novels this year, but I’m not sure that I’ll be able to do that. My goal is still to write two Joe Court novels this year, but I’ll have to push the publication of the second from December 2025 to early 2026.

So that’s where I am. The books are going to be worth the wait, I promise. Joe Court and St. Augustine have big changes ahead of them, some of which are long overdue. I think you’ll like the direction things are heading.

Anyway, that’s what I’ve got, and that’s what I’m working on. I’ll post updates as I can.

01/10/2025

I'm not such a fan of the snow, but Frodo's having a great time.

On a related note, if you order paperbacks from my store, I'm getting them out, but expect delays due to the weather. Our beleaguered postal carriers are doing the best they can in trucks that often lack heat.

12/21/2024

It’s the holidays, so it’s about time I posted an update here.

I’ve got a couple of things going on and a few pieces of news to share.

First, I’m just about done with the third Homer Watson novel. I’m editing it now before turning it over to my editorial team. I have to coordinate the schedules of several professionals, but once I work out dates with them, I’ll put up a pre-order and share the cover. I always think every book I write is a good one, and this one’s no exception. I really enjoy Homer Watson. He’s calm and steady and occasionally funny. He’s got a complicated life, but he doesn’t have the drama some other characters do. At times, it’s nice to read about a steady, normal person who just does his best for his kids, family, and community.

When I plotted that book, I knew Joe Court would make a cameo appearance, but I didn’t expect her to make as much of an appearance as she did. It was fun writing about her from Homer’s perspective. It reminded me of all those things I most like about her. So that was a lot of fun.

Second, speaking of Joe, I’m hoping to write and release two Joe Court novels in 2025. I’ve got parts of the plots for both finished, but I’ll start digging into them shortly. Joe’s such a good character that I can almost put her in just about any situation, and she’ll make for a good story. I’m excited about those.

Third, we’re working on audiobooks! Audible just listed the third Joe Court novel—The Boys in the Church. I’m lucky to work with a fiercely talented voice actor who brings the books to life. If you haven’t heard them, and you like audiobooks, Natalie does a great job. In the coming weeks, I’ll place the first three audiobooks on my direct store and allow readers to purchase them from me directly and listen to them on the BookFunnel app, but that’s still a few weeks away. [I have to work on some contract things before I can release them myself.] In the meantime, if you’re interested in a great audiobook, you can check out The Boys in the Church here:

https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Boys-in-the-Church-Audiobook/B0DQRH19CF

[I will note that Audible determines all pricing on audiobooks in their store. I have no say in their pricing at all.]

Finally, it’s the holidays, and I hope you’re able to spend time with loved ones and get to enjoy all the best things in life.

All the best,

Chris

Check out this great listen on Audible.com. They made their choice years ago. They buried the truth… amongst other things. But evil only begets evil. The monster they created is here, and he’s on the hunt… Detective Mary Joe Court’s home is her sanctuary. It’s the o...

08/26/2024

I've been told it's National Dog Day, so I'm posting a picture of Frodo, my 5-month-old Chesapeake Bay retriever. He's sweet and energetic and continually reminds me that there's always time to play. He's a wonderful member of my family. If you've got a dog, post a picture!

06/18/2024

Hey all,

I just wanted to post something quick for those who like audio books. The Girl in the Motel, the first book in my Joe Court series, has long been available as an audio book. It has a fabulous narrator and is just a great audio book.

The second book in the series—The Girl in the Woods—is now available on Audible and Amazon. Natalie Duke, the narrator, once more did an amazing job bringing the story to life. I couldn’t be more thrilled.

It’s going to take a while, but I’m making a concerted effort to create audio versions of every book in my Joe Court series. I’m hoping to get The Boys in the Church out sometime late 2024. After that, we’ll continue chugging along with a new audio book every few months as my team is able to record and edit them.

Sound good? I hope so.

You can see The Girl in the Woods on Audible here:

https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Girl-in-the-Woods-Audiobook/B0D6ZWYH6G

Hope you’re well,
Chris

PS. One thing I’d note is that I have no control over pricing on audio books, so I can’t offer discounts. Sorry!

Check out this great listen on Audible.com. Detective Mary Joe Court returns in the second novel in New York Times' bestselling author Chris Culver’s gripping Joe Court series. A volunteer found the body while searching the Missouri backwoods for a pair of missing teenagers. The victim was m...

05/01/2024

Hello!

I’m thrilled to announce the release of my latest Joe Court novel—The Girl in the Tent. My goal as a writer is to improve with every single book I write. In other words, I want every book I write to be the best book I’ve ever written. I’m usually pretty excited by the things I write, but this book…there’s something about it. It has an intensity about it that I rarely match.

I can’t wait to hear what you think.

[Edited: paperbacks are currently available on Amazon.]

If you’re interested, you can read the synopsis and order the book at the following sites:

Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Tent-Joe-Court-Book-ebook/dp/B0CVB4RLGN

Barnes and Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-girl-in-the-tent-chris-culver/1144848122?ean=2940186063834

Kobo
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-girl-in-the-tent

Chris Culver’s Store
https://store.chrisculver.com/products/the-girl-in-the-tent-ebook

It’s always an exciting day when I launch a book. If you pick up a copy, I hope you love it.

Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, I hope you’re well.

All the best,
Chris