Jack of Hearts Read online

  Jack pulled her over to the coach, reached inside, and pulled out a set of Mickey Mouse ears. Two words were stitched into the back: Just Engaged. “Here’s why I wanted to hold off on you getting a hat.”

  Alice kissed him again.

  “And I have another present for you when we get back home. I’m buying you a gun and teaching you how to shoot.”

  “Really?”

  “We’re going to be partners, right?”

  Alice nodded and kissed him again. “Alice Stratton. Mrs. Alice Stratton—even better.” She giggled.

  Jack rubbed the back of his neck and bit his lip. “Yeah. Sorry about that.”

  “About what?”

  “Well, I figured that you were going to take my last name.”

  “Of course. I’m honored. Do you not want me to?”

  “No, no—I do. I love you being Mrs. Stratton. It’s going to take some getting used to, but it’s great.” Jack felt a smirk forming, and he tried to hold it back.

  “Then what’s the matter?” She pointed at his cheek. “Your dimple is showing. You’re up to something.”

  “Is that my tell? My dimple?”

  “That’s one of them.” Alice waggled a finger, but she was still grinning, and the fireworks made the green in her eyes sparkle. “Now what could be bad about my being Mrs. Alice Stratton?”

  “It’s your full name that could be a little problem.” His dimple deepened.

  “My full name?”

  “Once you marry me, you’ll be Mrs. Alice Samantha Stratton.”

  “Alice Samantha—” Her jaw dropped. “My initials spell A.S.S.! Jack Stratton! That is not funny.” She swatted his arm.

  Jack laughed and pulled her close.

  The End

  The Detective Jack Stratton Mystery-Thriller Series

  The Detective Jack Stratton Mystery-Thriller Series, authored by Wall Street Journal bestselling writer Christopher Greyson, has over 5,000 five-star reviews and over one million readers and counting. If you’d love to read another page-turning thriller with mystery, humor, and a dash of romance, pick up the next book in the highly acclaimed series today.

  And Then She Was GONE

  A hometown hero with a heart of gold, Jack Stratton was raised in a whorehouse by his prostitute mother. Jack seemed determined to become another statistic, but now his life has taken a turn for the better. Determined to escape his past, he’s headed for a career in law enforcement. When his foster mother asks him to look into a girl’s disappearance, Jack quickly gets drawn into a baffling mystery. As Jack digs deeper, everyone becomes a suspect—including himself. Caught between the criminals and the cops, can Jack discover the truth in time to save the girl? Or will he become the next victim?

  GIRL JACKED

  Guilt has driven a wedge between Jack and the family he loves. When Jack, now a police officer, hears the news that his foster sister Michelle is missing, it cuts straight to his core. The police think she just took off, but Jack knows Michelle would never leave her loved ones behind—like he did. Forced to confront the demons from his past, Jack must take action, find Michelle, and bring her home... or die trying.

  JACK KNIFED

  Constant nightmares have forced Jack to seek answers about his rough childhood and the dark secrets hidden there. The mystery surrounding Jack’s birth father leads Jack to investigate the twenty-seven-year-old murder case in Hope Falls.

  JACKS ARE WILD

  When Jack’s sexy old flame disappears, no one thinks it’s suspicious except Jack and one unbalanced witness. Jack feels in his gut that something is wrong. He knows that Marisa has a past, and if it ever caught up with her—it would be deadly. The trail leads him into all sorts of trouble—landing him smack in the middle of an all-out mob war between the Italian Mafia and the Japanese Yakuza.

  JACK AND THE GIANT KILLER

  Rogue hero Jack Stratton is back in another action-packed, thrilling adventure. While recovering from a gunshot wound, Jack gets a seemingly harmless private investigation job—locate the owner of a lost dog—Jack begrudgingly assists. Little does he know it will place him directly in the crosshairs of a merciless serial killer.

  DATA JACK

  In this digital age of hackers, spyware, and cyber terrorism-data is more valuable than gold. Thieves plan to steal the keys to the digital kingdom and with this much money at stake, they’ll kill for it. Can Jack and Alice (aka Replacement) stop the pack of ruthless criminals before they can Data Jack?

  JACK OF HEARTS

  When his mother and the members of her neighbourhood book club ask him to catch the “Orange Blossom Cove Bandit,” a small-time thief who’s stealing garden gnomes and peace of mind from their quiet retirement community, how can Jack refuse? The peculiar mystery proves to be more than it appears, and things take a deadly turn. Now, Jack finds it’s up to him to stop a crazed killer, save his parents, and win the hand of the girl he loves-but if he survives, will it be Jack who ends up with a broken heart?

  JACK FROST

  Jack has a new assignment: to investigate the suspicious death of a soundman on the hit TV show Planet Survival. Jack goes undercover as a security agent where the show is filming on nearby Mount Minuit. Soon trapped on the treacherous peak by a blizzard, a mysterious killer continues to stalk the cast and crew of Planet Survival. What started out as a game is now a deadly competition for survival. As the temperature drops and the body count rises, what will get them first? The mountain or the killer?

  ___________________________

  Hear your favorite characters

  come to life in audio versions of

  the Detective Jack Stratton

  Mystery-Thriller Series!

  Audio Books now available on Audible!

  Listen Now

  ___________________________

  Novels featuring Jack Stratton in order:

  AND THEN SHE WAS GONE

  GIRL JACKED

  JACK KNIFED

  JACKS ARE WILD

  JACK AND THE GIANT KILLER

  DATA JACK

  JACK OF HEARTS

  JACK FROST

  Epic Fantasy

  PURE OF HEART

  Orphaned and alone, rogue-teen Dean Walker has learned how to take care of himself on the rough city streets. Unjustly wanted by the police, he takes refuge within the shadows of the city. When Dean stumbles upon an old man being mugged, he tries to help—only to discover that the victim is anything but helpless and far more than he appears. Together with three friends, he sets out on an epic quest where only the pure of heart will prevail.

  Psychological Thriller

  THE GIRL WHO LIVED

  Ten years ago, four people were brutally murdered. One girl lived. As the anniversary of the murders approaches, Faith Winters is released from the psychiatric hospital and yanked back to the last spot on earth she wants to be—her hometown where the slayings took place. Wracked by the lingering echoes of survivor’s guilt, Faith spirals into a black hole of alcoholism and wanton self-destruction. Finding no solace at the bottom of a bottle, Faith decides to track down her sister’s killer—and then discovers that she’s the one being hunted.

  INTRODUCING

  THE ADVENTURES OF FINN AND ANNIE

  A SPECIAL COLLECTION OF MYSTERIES

  EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHRISTOPHER GREYSON’S LOYAL READERS

  Finnian Church chased his boyhood dream of following in his father’s law-enforcing footsteps by way of the United States Armed Forces. As soon as he finished his tour of duty, Finn planned to report to the police academy. But the winds of war have a way of changing a man’s plans. Finn returned home a decorated war hero, but without a leg. Disillusioned but undaunted, it wasn’t long before he discovered a way to keep his ambitions alive and earn a living as an insurance investigator.

  Finn finds himself in need of a videographer to document the accident scenes. Into his orderly business and simple life walks Annie Summers. A lovely free spirit and single mother of two, Annie h
as a physical challenge of her own—she’s been completely deaf since childhood.

  Finn and Annie find themselves tested and growing in ways they never imagined. Join this unlikely duo as they investigate their way through murder, arson, theft, embezzlement, and maybe even love, seeking to distinguish between truth and lies, scammers and victims.

  This FREE special collection of mysteries by Wall Street Journal bestselling author CHRISTOPHER GREYSON is available EXCLUSIVELY to loyal readers.

  Get your FREE first installment ONLY at ChristopherGreyson.com.

  Become a Preferred Reader to enjoy additional FREE Adventures of Finn and Annie, advanced notifications of book releases, and more.

  Don’t miss out, visit ChristopherGreyson.com and JOIN TODAY!

  ___________________________

  You could win a brand new

  HD KINDLE FIRE TABLET

  when you go to

  ChristopherGreyson.com

  Enter as many times as you’d like.

  No purchase necessary.

  It’s just my way of thanking my loyal readers.

  ___________________________

  Looking for a mystery series mixed with romantic suspense? Be sure to check out Katherine Greyson’s bestselling series:

  EVERYONE KEEPS SECRETS

  ___________________________

  Acknowledgments

  I would like to thank all the wonderful readers out there. It is you who make the literary world what it is today—a place of dreams filled with tales of adventure! To all of you who have taken Jack and Replacement under your wings and spread the word via social media (Facebook and Twitter) and who have taken the time to go back and write a great review, I say THANK YOU! Your efforts keep the characters alive and give me the encouragement and time to keep writing. I can’t thank YOU enough.

  Word of mouth is crucial for any author to succeed. If you enjoyed the series, please consider leaving a review at Amazon, even if it is only a line or two; it would make all the difference and I would appreciate it very much.

  I would also like to thank my amazing wife for standing beside me every step of the way on this journey. My thanks also go out to Laura and Christopher: my two awesome kids, my dear mother, my family, my wonderful team; Maia McViney, Maia Sepp, my fantastic editors—David Gatewood of Lone Trout Editing, Faith Williams of The Atwater Group, Charlie Wilson of Landmark Editorial, and my writing coach Ann Kroeker, my consultant Dianne Jones, and the unbelievably helpful beta readers!

  About the Author

  My name is Christopher Greyson, and I am a storyteller.

  Since I was a little boy, I have dreamt of what mystery was around the next corner, or what quest lay over the hill. If I couldn’t find an adventure, one usually found me, and now I weave those tales into my stories. I am blessed to have written the bestselling Detective Jack Stratton Mystery-Thriller Series. The collection includes And Then She Was Gone, Girl Jacked, Jack Knifed, Jacks Are Wild, Jack and the Giant Killer, Data Jack, Jack of Hearts, and Jack Frost, with Jack of Diamonds due later this year. I have also penned the bestselling psychological thriller, The Girl Who Lived, and a special collection of mysteries, The Adventures of Finn and Annie.

  My background is an eclectic mix of degrees in theatre, communications, and computer science. Currently I reside in Massachusetts with my lovely wife and two fantastic children. My wife, Katherine Greyson, who is my chief content editor, is an author of her own romance series, Everyone Keeps Secrets.

  My love for tales of mystery and adventure began with my grandfather, a decorated World War I hero. I will never forget being introduced to his friend, a WWI pilot who flew across the skies at the same time as the feared, legendary Red Baron. My love of reading and storytelling eventually led me to write Pure of Heart, a young adult fantasy that I released in 2014.

  I love to hear from my readers. Please visit ChristopherGreyson.com, where you can become a preferred reader and enjoy additional FREE Adventures of Finn and Annie, advanced notifications of book releases and more! Thank you for reading my novels. I hope my stories have brightened your day.

  Sincerely,

  JACK OF HEARTS

  Copyright © Greyson Media 2017

  978-1-68399-071-0

  1-68399-071-4

  The right of Christopher Greyson to be identified as author of this Work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and didn’t purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Find out more about the author and upcoming books online at www.ChristopherGreyson.com.

  EBOOK EDITION: 1.0 - 22-06-18

  ISBN: 978-1-68399-071-0