Storm Across My Cherished Bamboo Bridge

Killer-Gangster Turns His Life Around

Fifteen-year-old Meiling has always sensed that her Dad, Douglas, has been keeping a secret which can shed light on why she grew up without a mother.  Now that he controls the largest laundry-supply business in the Northeast, USA, Douglas’ dark past as a feared gangster in Hong Kong is forcing him to face a future that clouds his relationship with his daughter.  There’s a new woman in her father’s life; will she come between Douglas and Meiling?  

“A story of enduring love, betrayal, and ultimately forgiveness, heartfeltly narrated.”   Tessie Abes

“An inspirational story that will not disappoint the reader.  It exudes the pursuit of high principle and purpose, easy to sympathize with. I have read Gene’s other books with much interest.”  Felix Alberto

“Enthralling & captivating work!  In its simplicity, author was able to refine a heartwarming story leading to a familial yearning.  Home to a dynamic plot, I would definitely recommend it.”  Christine Alexandra Carvajal    

“Thought provoking and relatable. Read how the characters use their tragedies to move their lives forward, yet never forget.  Anyone can benefit from reading this book.”  Victor T. Closa

“I love love stories and happy with happy endings. Gene’s novel has them both.  It is truly an enjoyable read.  Great job, Gene!”   Roberto M. Collantes

“Rich & spicy story of family love; even its secondary characters can ripen into enduring stories of their own.” Dinah M. Libang

Gene P. Del Carmen has written short stories for illustrated comics & television scripts in Manila, Philippines. Recently retired as a corporate accountant, he now works as a realtor in New Jersey where he lives with his wife, Arielita. He also holds an MA in Theology. This is his 1st novel and 4th book.

Cover design by: Olivia G. Mestidio

Story 1: The Delights of Sean Jr.

Sean Jr. had a tough life—as his mother told him, he had the ‘forbidden illness’: lusting for men. His uncle took him in, yet Sean lived a criminal lifestyle ingrained in the family business. Thug life meant trouble was Sean’s middle name; the drugs and jail did not help much either.

Now Sean had two loving parents. Yet his uncle was in conflict, wanting to protect Sean from the evils of their family’s work while disapproving of his player lifestyle. Meanwhile, the body count from their criminal exploits continued to rise.

The Assignment

Emerging from the ashes of a stagnant long-term relationship, Dr. Savannah Dawson finds the adrenaline rush of the emergency room has dulled to a monotonous routine. It’s her best friend Lacey who nudges her out of her comfort zone, convincing her to take a leap into the unknown with a new job in Barcelona. However, Savannah soon discovers she’s signed up for more than she anticipated, finding herself entwined in a century-old family coca business that demands she apply her sharp wits and judgment beyond the ER.

Tomas Rey IV, a man who holds the title of the decade’s most eligible bachelor, becomes her most challenging puzzle: a man who might just fulfill her dreams or plunge her into a nightmare. With the aid of serendipity and a loyal group of friends, Savannah navigates the complexities of a new country, a foreign lifestyle, and a covert role she’s intent on keeping under wraps. As she adjusts to this unexpected chapter, she hopes to stay beneath the radar, all while the stakes grow ever higher.

The Black-Eyed Baby

How far can one go to conceal evil?

Detective Mansfield has seen a lot in his years in the police force, but he’s never had to stare into the eyes of a dead baby before.

He now wishes he never had to…

Days after an unidentified woman is found murdered and dumped behind an IHOP, police connect her murder to the death of a young thug named Rocco Maxen and discover her infant son dead inside her home.

Jane Doe is Nicole Hensen, a young woman who was fired mere days ago from a big corporation for not showing up for work.

But why do her colleagues claim they never had any dealings with her, and why would her employers rather fire her than look into her strange disappearance?

As Mansfield and his partner, Landers, delve into the sinister business of one of the richest and oldest families in the city, they find themselves blindsided by the darkness and secrets buried beneath its crushing wealth.

When it comes right down to it, the poor and the rich have one thing in common…

They would both do anything for money.

The Hidden Burglar

When Bobby, a burglar-for-hire, enters the extravagant home of the Moody family to retrieve an envelope for a client, he has no way of knowing what awaits on the floor above him.

A triple homicide committed while he and his aging driver, Archer, are invading the home sets off an investigation that leads detective Dave Mansfield down a road where more than one adulterous relationship and secrets from the past come to light.

Nothing in his career could have prepared him for his journey when he discovers one of the victim’s connections to vampire lore.

The Murder of Adonis

When a Russian prostitute is found murdered in a Toronto hotel room, detectives John Finchley and Winston Mackenzie begin their investigation. What at first appears to be a simple case of a drug overdose soon spirals into something much darker. They realize that they have unwittingly entered a web of lies, deceit, and betrayal.

The detectives must deal with a scandal, police corruption, a dangerous narcotic, an evil cosmetics corporation, and an international conspiracy. Both men have sworn to serve justice, but this case pushes them to the limit both professionally and personally. It brings them to a confrontation with the face of evil, and with their own tragic pasts.

The Other World: My Kansas City of Sorrows

Step into the seedy underbelly of the Missouri River casinos, where the glitz and glamour of the flashing neon lights belies a darker truth. In this gripping novel, follow the rise and fall of the notorious Pendergast family and their legacy of underground gambling rings. But amidst the hustle and bustle of the casino scene, the city is plagued by a terrifying serial rapist, striking fear into the hearts of its residents. As the police struggle to solve the case, a determined black cop begins to unravel a web of corruption and deceit, racing against time to uncover the truth behind the gambling ring and catch the elusive predator. Can he bring justice to a city on the brink? Find out in this thrilling tale of crime and intrigue.

The Skin Game

Private detective Samantha O’Malley takes center stage in Chicago’s high-stakes crime scene as she’s enlisted to unravel the mysterious murders of three esteemed businessmen on Michigan Avenue. With the police department drawing blanks and the chief’s reluctant nod, Samantha dives into a murky web of secrets. Yet, as she edges closer to the truth, she finds the chief thwarting her every move. Is it fear or a desperate bid to bury truths too dangerous to unearth? Amidst the chaos, Samantha’s heart wavers as Andy Courson, her cherished love, awaits her choice. Will it be the chase for justice or the promise of love? The Skin Game is a pulsating thriller that races through deceit and love, ensuring readers are hooked till the last page.

“Taunt and terrifying. Samantha O’Malley will join fictional Sam Spade, Phillip Marlowe, and Lew Archer. Chicago has its own great detective, and I can’t wait for the next case.”

– Joe O’Conner, Los Angeles writer.

“The detailed writing put me right in the story. Chilling!”

 – Laureen Diephof, news reporter for USA and South County newspapers.

“A thriller!”

– John Laughlin, actor and producer.

Those Amazing Mafia Wives

It was in the 1950s that mafia boss, Don Amato Rizoso, determined it was time to enter the lucrative human trafficking business. Five dedicated Rizoso mafia wives stepped up to work tirelessly for one desperate purpose: to rescue innocent girls their cutthroat husbands were trafficking in for modern day sale.

While, operating in a netherworld teeming with greed and corruption, the wives officially opened business after their daring rescue of multiple sex slaves from a mafia-owned opium den. As they adjusted to their life of vigilante justice, they faced near rescue misses, they helped set-up a daring underground railroad, and they took down the notorious Cocaine Queen. Amidst betrayal, mass slaughter, forbidden love, and a son whose secret threatened his life, they learned that fighting for what they believed in was anything but easy. Nevertheless, those amazing mafia wives worked doggedly to take down a family empire built on the bodies of children – even if it meant their own lives.

Through It All

Dive into the intertwining lives of two resilient women in Through it All, set against the backdrop of a small-town tapestry. Bonnie, weathered by life’s tempests, navigates through a maze of loss, abuse, shattered dreams, and a justice system that falls short. Amidst the storm of family secrets and societal judgments, her life is a testament to enduring hope.

On the other hand, Carly, a budding writer, embarks on a journey from rejection to acceptance and love, with the arrival of Detective Thorne Davenport, who aids in unveiling her roots. Her aspiration to pen down stories finds a purpose when she crosses paths with Bonnie, whose narrative is a poignant blend of life’s bitter and sweet.

Through it All unveils a compelling narrative of resilience, unexpected camaraderie, and the silent echoes of the past shaping the present, as Bonnie and Carly discover the redemptive power of sharing one’s story amidst life’s relentless trials.

Trouble Rumbles at Dawn

Welcome to the tranquil yet precarious town of Indigo Flats, nestled in the vast expanse of west Texas. Its peaceful façade shatters when a prominent businessman is brutally murdered, unearthing a cache of guns and drugs that send shockwaves through the region, putting the feared Mexican Ortega Cartel on high alert. However, the stakes intensify exponentially when a second murder rocks the town—a member of the cartel’s own family falls victim, igniting a relentless race against time for determined Detective Sharon Case.

With the relentless cartel crossing the border into Indigo Flats, Detective Case finds herself thrust into a perilous battle on multiple fronts. She must navigate the treacherous landscape of solving the murders while combating the vicious intruders and scrambling to safeguard her own family. As the clock ticks relentlessly, the line between right and wrong blurs, forcing Detective Case to make harrowing choices to uphold justice and protect all that she holds dear.

Unthinkable

Brady Johnson was looking forward to a peaceful retirement on a Northern Minnesota lake and in his St. Petersburg, Florida condo after decades of fighting Mexican drug cartels. He tried to forget the past, but the many bitter enemies he made in his years with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in San Antonio Texas, did not retire, did not forget, and did not give up their burning thirst for revenge. They caught up to Brady in Florida.

Years earlier his wife’s rape and death at the hands of a cartel triggered a murderous rampage against all drug dealers, and when the same cartel murders a new-found love interest in Tampa Bay, it ignites the same rage that drove him over the edge the first time.

He finds himself teamed up with two women – a Mexican National former DEA agent, and a Native Canadian, both of whom had survived cartel assassination attempts – and when they venture into Mexico after the traffickers, they uncover a joint cartel/Muslim terrorist plot to inflict a series of horrific attacks on the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Attacks that would effectively destroy all three countries.

When the cartels realize that they, too will be destroyed by the Jihadist offensive, they renege on the partnership they had forged with the Muslims and eventually join forces with Brady’s small group. But, in trying to prevent the terrorist attacks, the trio uncover another, more sinister plot against the United States unfolding in Northern New York and Ontario. Their quest comes to a shocking conclusion in the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River.