Tom Logan Mystery Archives - Author Tony Piazza

The Ghost of Kate Morgan Haunts the Del Coronado and My Latest Novel! By Tony Piazza

October 30, 2015 By tonypiazza 8 Comments

In a recent radio interview I mentioned the fact that as part of my research for a novel I try to visit the locations that I write about. I walk about the area making notes and taking pictures for latter reference when I begin the manuscript. This was the case for my recent mystery “Murder Is Such Sweet Revenge.” Upon my first visit to the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego I came under its’ spell, so when I was seeking out the perfect setting for my murder mystery it instantly came to mind.

‘The Del’ (El Cabana in the novel)- photo by author.

‘The Del’ is an interesting place. Its’ unique Victorian architecture- somewhat out of place in an area known for Early California/ Spanish structures- and elegant ambiance lends to its’ attraction as a location for use in literature and movies. L. Frank Baum used elements of the hotel in his Oz stories, and who could forget Marilyn Monroe in her white swimsuit tossing a beach ball from its’ pristine beachfront in Billy Wilder’s “Some Like It Hot.”

Marilyn on location at ‘The Del’ for “Some Like It Hot.”

Another attraction of ‘The Del’- and one I used as a sub-plot in “Murder Is Such Sweet Revenge”- is the supernatural goings on, in, and around room 302. As the story goes, on Thanksgiving Day 1892 an alone and depressed Kate Morgan checked into room 302 of the Del Coronado in anticipation of a male lover who was to join her. After five days had passed without his arrival, she supposedly took her own life by a bullet delivered from a handgun she’d purchased earlier in San Diego.

Door to the haunted Room 302 (today 3327)

I say supposedly because there were some inconsistencies noted by the Coroner. One very important one is that the bullet removed from her head didn’t match the caliber of her weapon.

Inside courtyard of ‘The Del’ – photo by author

Another Del Coronado photo- by author

Kate Morgan was described in the press reports of the time, as “the Beautiful Stranger.” She was young- 24 at the time of her death, with a pale and sickly appearance. Estranged from her husband, and thought to be traveling alone, some witnesses swore that they saw a woman of her description arguing with a man on a train en-route to her destination.

Kate Morgan circa 1886

Today guests of ‘The Del’ feel her presence in the hotel, especially in room 302. Visitors have experienced objects moving on their own, unexplained flickering lights, unusual sounds and scents, dramatic temperature changes, and disembodied voices coming from everywhere and nowhere.

Hotel lobby of Del Coronado

The Crown Room (Royal Room in the novel)

These ghostly goings on intrigued me, and was why I included them in my latest mystery novel, “Murder Is Such Sweet Revenge.” If you want to feel more of the thrill, the book is available for purchase on the Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites as print, e-book, and audio.

Del Coronado as it would’ve appeared at time of novel (1930s)

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Tony Piazza (Courtesy of Charlotte Alexander)

Tony Piazza is author of the 1930s Hollywood murder mystery novel, “Anything Short of Murder,” which had its roots on the TCM fan website. His second novel, “The Curse of the Crimson Dragon” was published next in early 2012, and in November of 2013 his second Tom Logan Mystery, “A Murder Amongst Angels was released.” In July of 2015 his latest Logan mystery, “Murder Is Such Sweet Revenge” was made available for purchase, and has since been an instant bestseller. All are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites. He was an actor/extra during the 1970s and worked with such legends as Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, and Karl Malden. His non-fiction e-book “Bullitt Points” is an in depth look at the making of “Bullitt” from a person who was there. Look for it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites, or at the link posted below. All profits go to the Boys Republic charity: www.bullittpoints.com.

Tony Piazza is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and SLO NightWriters.

NEW!

The novels that started it all. The first and second novel in the Tom Logan mystery series have become audio books- read by actor James Romick, and is available on Audible, Amazon, and I-tunes.

NEW!

The NEW Tom Logan mystery, “Murder is Such Sweet Revenge” is available in print, e-book, AND NOW audio book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites. For audio- Audible, Amazon, and I-tunes.

Also:

My earlier bestselling novels, “The Curse of the Crimson Dragon” and “Anything Short of Murder” now joins “A Murder Amongst Angels” and “Murder is Such Sweet Revenge” on Amazon’s Kindle at a new, low price of $2.99. Now you can have hours of adventure, thrills, mystery, and romance for the price of a cup of coffee- and just as stimulating! Look for it on Amazon. Print versions have also been reduced.

Also: The new Tom Logan mystery thriller, A Murder Amongst Angels .

Find them all on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever fine books are sold. Also available for $2.99 on Kindle.

Murder is Such Sweet Revenge- Haunted Hotel and Honeymoon Murders

July 22, 2015 By tonypiazza Leave a Comment

Video by Dave Watson, Davlin Studios, U.K. Voice provided by S.Michael Leier.

Who says honeymoons aren’t dangerous? This one was murder!

Private investigator Tom Logan and his girlfriend Rita finally tie the knot, choosing a turn-of-the-century beach resort on Coronado Island as their ideal honeymoon escape. Unfortunately what begins as a romantic getaway, ends suddenly with murder. A bestselling author is brutally killed on the night of a mystery writers’ convention, and Logan is forced to postpone their plans when drawn reluctantly into the case. During the course of the investigation, Logan meets an odd assortment of suspects that include: a soon-to-be ex-wife seeking monetary compensation, a jealous husband whose wife may be having an affair with the author, the writer’s male secretary who’s subservience to his boss was wearing thin, a lady mystery author with an agenda all her own, and a pair of publishers whom the writer accuses of plagiarism. A famous actor who plays a detective on the screen also makes a surprise appearance, as does a hotel ghost who just refuses to check out. Matching wits with a vengeful killer is what Logan does best, and he does exactly that in Murder is Such Sweet Revenge.

Available now on Amazon in print, e-book, and audio (Audible, I-tunes, and Amazon). Link below to Amazon page.

Link to Amazon page

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Tony Piazza (Courtesy of Charlotte Alexander)

Tony Piazza is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and SLO NightWriters.

NEW!

The novels that started it all. The first and second novel in the Tom Logan mystery series have become audio books- read by actor James Romick, and is available on Audible, Amazon, and I-tunes.

NEW!

The NEW Tom Logan mystery, “Murder is Such Sweet Revenge” is available in print, e-book, AND NOW audio book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites. For audio- Audible, Amazon, and I-tunes.

Also:

Also: The new Tom Logan mystery thriller, A Murder Amongst Angels .

Find them all on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever fine books are sold. Also available for $2.99 on Kindle.

A Murder Amongst Angels

September 24, 2014 By tonypiazza Leave a Comment

Sexy, platinum blonde movie siren, Gertrude Hurd had it all-fame, men, and riches. But now she was dead. A fallen angel, whose broken body and tarnished halo was lying on a hillside behind her beach front cafe. It’s 1931, and private detective Tom Logan is back, once again immersed in a perplexing mystery, that has him racing against time to track down a merciless killer. As the body count grows, so do the suspects, as his investigation soon has him bucking against corrupt city officials, the mob, and the Hollywood studio system. Packed with mystery, action, romance, humor, and characters you won’t easily forget, this fantastic sequel delivers everything promised from the first novel and more. A Murder Amongst Angels is an nostalgic, hard-boiled detective mystery that takes readers back to the era of Chandler and Hammett, while creating a niche all its own.

A Murder Amongst Angels: A New Tom Logan Mystery

July 17, 2013 By tonypiazza 2 Comments

Finally available! The sequel to the bestselling mystery novel, “Anything Short of Murder.”

This time Logan tackles a case based partly upon a real Hollywoodland mystery which occurred in November of 1935!

This Angel Had a Tarnished Halo!

Sexy, platinum blonde movie siren, Gertrude Hurd had it all- fame, men, and riches. But now she was dead. A fallen angel, whose broken body and tarnished halo was lying on a hillside behind her beach front café. It’s 1931, and private detective Tom Logan is back, once again immersed in a perplexing mystery, that has him racing against time to track down a merciless killer. As the body count grows, so do the suspects, as his investigation soon has him bucking against corrupt city officials, the mob, and the Hollywood studio system. Packed with mystery, action, romance, humor, and characters you won’t easily forget, this fantastic sequel delivers everything promised from the first novel and more. A Murder Amongst Angels is an nostalgic, hard-boiled detective mystery that takes readers back to the era of Chandler and Hammett, while creating a niche all its own.

Available by following link below to Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Murder-Amongst-Angels-Tony-Piazza/dp/1482344386/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374084257&sr=1-7&keywords=tony+piazza

Locations of Film, Television, and Soon, My Novel- Part 4. By Tony Piazza

October 31, 2012 By tonypiazza 16 Comments

PART FOUR

A continuation of my visit to film and television locations in the Los Angeles area as a means to “walk the walk” of my novel’s characters and bring realism to my storytelling. This week, The Union Station.

Union Station with William Holden (1950)

Union Station isn’t in my next book for a very good reason- it wasn’t opened until 1939. The sequel to Anything Short of Murder ( let’s call it Tom Logan’s adventure #2) is set in 1931, one year after my reader’s first introduction to this hardboiled Hollywood detective. Union Station’s predecessor however, La Grande Station will play a major role in the conclusion of the novel. La Grande was the main passenger terminal in Los Angeles for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe until the opening of Union Station. The final years of La Grande Station was spent in a dismal state after the Long Beach earthquake of 1933. The station occupied an area located at 2^nd Street and Santa Fe Ave., and after the completion of the new station was demolished.

Exterior of Union Station

In 1926 a measure was put on the ballot in Los Angeles which offered an option to consolidate the different railroad terminals or construct a network of elevated railways. The former won, and Union Station was born.

Sign outside of Union Station

The location chosen for Union Station was in the heart of the original Chinatown, and a narrow vote of 51 to 48 percent permitted the demolishing of a large part of this section to build the station. Its official address today is 800 North Alameda Street, across from what was the original center of Los Angeles, the pueblo, referred today as Olvera Street.

Looking west towards entrance

The architects John and Donald Parkinson who’d also designed Los Angeles City Hall were partially responsible for Union Station’s design. They were assisted by Jan van der Linden and other supporting architects that combined Dutch Colonial Revival, Streamline Moderne, and Mission Revival to give the station its’ unique look.

Closer look at detailing on ceiling of waiting area

The interior walls are divided into two parts; the upper originally early acoustic tile is now being replaced with cork, and the lower travertine marble. The floor is terra cotta with a strip of marble that runs down the center.

Waiting area looking east. Restaurant is in foreground.

There are two gardens of either side of the waiting room, and attached to the main building on the south side is a restaurant (now closed) that was the last of the Fred Harvey Restaurant chain and designed by famed southwestern architect Mary Colter.

Fountain in garden north of waiting area.

In 1980 Union Station was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Harvey Restaurant, Union Station postcard (courtesy Harvey House Fan site)

Wing off from the waiting area used in Scarecrow courtroom scene in the film, The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Although smaller than the other Union Stations, this Los Angeles cousin stands tall amongst the tall palms of Southern California having been seen by countless millions on film and television over the years. Here are just a few:

Them! with James Whitmore & James Arness

FEATURES

Union Station (1950) with William Holden and Nancy Olson.

Southside 1-1000 (1950) with Don Defore and Andrea King.

Them! (1954) with James Whitmore and Joan Weldon.

The Hustler (1961) with Paul Newman and Piper Laurie

Silver Streak (1976) with Gene Wilder and Jill Clayburg

Blade Runner (1982) with Harrison Ford and Sean Young

Star Trek: First Contact (1996) with Patrick Stewart and Alice Krige

Pearl Harbor (2001) with Ben Affleck and Kate Beckinsale

The Dark Knight Rises (2012) with Christian Bale and Anne Hathaway

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

TELEVISION

Quantum Leap (1989) with Scott Bakula

24 (2001) with Kiefer Sutherland

Alias (2006) with Jennifer Garner

NCIS: Los Angeles (2009) with Chris O’Donnell

Castle (2009) with Nathan Fillion

Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

Every corner you turn in Los Angeles gives you this feeling of déjà vu, and no more so than this historic station which was a pleasure to visit and share with you today.

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Look for the new Tom Logan mystery coming in 2013

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Tony Piazza is author of the 1930s Hollywood murder mystery novel, “Anything Short of Murder,” which had its roots on the TCM fan website. His next novel, “The Curse of the Crimson Dragon” was released early 2012 and is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites. He was an actor/extra during the 1970s and worked with such legends as Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, and Karl Malden. His non-fiction e-book “Bullitt Points” is an in depth look at the making of “Bullitt” from a person who was there. Look for it where fine books are sold, or at the link posted below. All profits go to the Boys Republic charity: www.bullittpoints.com.