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
Agent for Justice-Photo
FINALIST- 2014 New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards- Banquet on November 21 to announce winners in Albuquerque. Second year in a row- Last year, A Favor Returned was a finalist. (Didn't win )-:)
Looking Back, Moving Forward
Looking forward to the great panel discussion coming up on Monday at the Joyner Library in Green Valley, AZ from 1-2:30 p.m. "Looking Back, Moving Forward" will feature authors Denise Roessle (left rear in photo) Ethel Lee Miller (right rear) and Duke Southard giving...
“I know who killed Stacey Burns” (Reprise)
Months(seems like years) ago, I posted a statement on this blog. It could have been attributed to any number of people then and the same holds true today. The NH Attorney General's office has hinted at it; the police have said it; the family has said it; Stacey's...
Murder Scenarios
Several months ago, I mentioned on this blog that the first draft of my book about the Stacey Burns murder case will include five (there could be six) different murder scenarios. Each of them has a different perpetrator and I believe that any one of them is plausible....
NM/AZ Book Awards
Agent for Justice (2nd edition) just named as a finalist in two fiction categories in the New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards. Last year, A Favor Returned was a finalist. (didn't win(-:) Winners will be announced on November 21 at the annual banquet in Albuquerque, NM....
Death of a son-What would you do?
What if you were invited back to the 30th reunion of your son's graduation class at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York? Instant acceptance, right? What if your son, just eight years out of the military academy and on his way to a great...
The laughing murderer
What individual or group do you think is most likely being laughed at by the murderer of Stacey Burns? Is five years (plus) time enough to say that it is quite possible that this killer will never see the inside of a courtroom, let alone the inside of a jail, or...
Momentum continues/falters
For those who have asked (and there are several) the momentum toward completing the new novel featuring Parker and Josie Havenot, Gordon Tibideau, and others from Agent for Justice continues. The first draft is on track for completion by the end of November with...
A Revolutionary Idea!
My past post on this blog reached over 530 people (without being boosted). How about if one out of ten of those people called Scott Gilbert at the New Hampshire State Police Department and asked him just two things: 1. Is what the retired police officer allegedly...
Is This True? They’ve Quit?
Because many readers of this blog do not always see all of the replies, I am quoting one from Jim Vittum below. I have no reason to question its authenticity but the content is extremely unnerving. What do you think? If what this "retired MCU (which I assume stands...
“Ponied up the money”
Here is another quote from the article in the New Hampshire Business Review of March 3, 2009. This quote is a reference to the shooting death of a Hooksett man in 1985. "That case is no different from others we have. The reason that one got solved is because the...
Getting Away With Murder
The murderer of Stacey Burns has to believe that he/she has gotten away with committing that horrendous crime. My readers are likely becoming weary of my harping on this subject but the frustration keeps me coming back to it. Could this be the reason? On March 3,...