Welcome! I’m Duke Southard, an author, retired educator, and lecturer.
I have published seven novels, a commissioned history, and an anthology of
award-winning short stories and essays.
Please check out my blog where I write about true crime and a wide ranging variety of literary and everyday subjects.
My Programs
My programs are offered free of charge to any schools, public libraries, and educational/community groups.
Free Book
Grab a free copy of my book, The Week from Heaven and Hell
My Books
View a list of my published books, including Tainted Justice.
Recent Posts
Stacey Burns Conspiracies
Was Stacey Burns involved in some nefarious network of police corruption or "key club" or drug culture in the small town of Wolfeboro? I don't believe it but many others who obviously know more than I do believe it. Was her connection to Police Commissioner Lowrey...
Cracks in the Wall -NOW AVAILABLE!
Cracks in the Wall is now available on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback and in other e-book formats. Here is the information from the original publication announcement. You will want to read this book! Parker Havenot, a former Philadelphia homicide detective,...
Life goes on?
For my own sanity, I have to keep telling myself that the reason I am not hearing anything about the progress on the murder of Stacey Burns is because I am out here in Arizona. What other reason could there be for not hearing anything? It can't possibly be that after...
At the printer!
My new novel, Cracks in the Wall, was sent off to the printer today. Expected availability date is not determined yet but will likely be in early to mid-July. Here's the advanced notice of publication. RELEASE DATE-July 7, 2016 Parker Havenot, a former...
Committing an injustice
"A policeman seldom finds what he's already convinced can't be found." As has happened a few times recently, my reading inspires a blog post. The above thought comes out of the head of Inspector Ian Rutledge in Charles Todd's Search the Dark. The thought is followed...
Hopelessly naïve?
My last post regarding being civil and kind probably painted me as hopelessly naïve and unrealistic, at least to some who read my blog. So, I guess there is a need to clarify the two most important points in that post. First, being civil and kind to other human beings...
Kind words and civility
Never miss a chance to say a kind word. This thought has been expressed in many different ways by many famous people but it seems that the world is badly in need of being reminded that being kind does not indicate weakness. Several years ago, I was invited to the...
#400-Why did Stacey have to die?
This is the 400th post on this blog since I began it a couple of years ago. A rough estimate would place more than 80% of my posts as dealing with the murder of Stacey Burns. One can't help but wonder if I'm doing any good with these regular observations. However,...
Upcoming release
Here is a brief synopsis of my new novel, Cracks in the Wall, which is in the final stages of design and proofreading before publication. Watch this blog for the upcoming exact release date. Parker Havenot, a former Philadelphia homicide detective, faces...
Two sad anniversaries
Well, May 10 has come and gone, signifying seven years of waiting for some degree of justice to be served in the murder of Stacey Burns. What are the odds that nothing is ever going to happen to her killer? If I were a betting person, I would, with a great deal of...
Cold case? Again?
Once again, a correspondent mentions in a response comment to one of my posts that the Stacy Burns murder case had been declared a cold case. If anyone out there in Wolfeboro or anywhere else has this from an official source, I and many others, I'm sure, would like to...
A sense of right and wrong
Does everyone have a sense of right and wrong? Is the ability to differentiate between moral and immoral behavior built into all of us? Odd Thomas, one of my absolute favorite fictional characters created by Dean Koontz, states the case like this. "We are born with...