Explore Thrilling Tales and Timeless Adventures by William D. Hoy
GOTCHEM
Johnny Taggett is a former New York cop turned private detective, navigating a world where the lines between right and wrong blur under the flicker of streetlights. William Hoy’s tale evokes the gritty atmosphere of classic pulp fiction, reminiscent of Dashiell Hammett’s Sam Spade and Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe. Taggett embodies the hard-boiled gumshoe—a chain-smoking, whiskey-drinking detective prowling through the underbelly of a corrupt city, where danger lurks in every shadow and seduction is never far from deceit.
Accompanied by his streetwise partner and pursued by enigmatic figures like the twins Chen and Jie, Taggett hunts for answers amidst a city rife with crime and betrayal. Central to his quest is the unsolved murder of his partner, Murphy, driving him through a maze of mobsters, lowlifes, and femme fatales. With vengeance as his only guide, Johnny battles against a world that’s beyond redemption, seeking not justice, but retribution in a story as raw and relentless as the streets he haunts.
THE
UNDYING
Andre is a man on a relentless quest for justice, driven by the murder of his father. His pursuit takes him deep into the shadows of international intrigue, where danger and deception lurk at every turn. In a Shaolin temple, Andre endures excruciating pain as the Grand Master brands his chest—a moment of agony that symbolizes not just torment but transformation. With every second, his resolve hardens, and the branding iron becomes a seal of his unbreakable will, marking the birth of a new, more powerful version of himself.
Meanwhile, across the Pacific in San Francisco, Andre’s enemies believe he is vulnerable as he lies connected to a web of tubes in a hospital room. But Andre is far from defenseless. Heightened by a mystical encounter with a Native American shaman, his senses are razor-sharp. Unseen and unsuspected, he tracks his enemies’ every move, ready to strike. Tonight, the tables turn, and those who seek to control him will face a force that defies death itself—a hunter transformed by pain and driven by vengeance.
THE KILLING
SOUND
Johnny Taggett is a former New York cop turned private eye, navigating the gritty underbelly of a city that blurs the lines between right and wrong. William Hoy’s tale captures the essence of classic pulp fiction, channeling the sharp-tongued charm of Dashiell Hammett’s Sam Spade and the hard-boiled cynicism of Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe. Taggett is the quintessential tough guy—a chain-smoking, whiskey-drinking detective who stalks through dark alleys and smoky offices, his every move shadowed by danger and deceit.
Taggett is not alone in this maze of corruption. His partner, Chew, and the enigmatic twins, Chen and Jie, are his only allies in a city where mobsters and crooks infest every corner. Hovering in the shadows is Mrs. Foulsworth, a mysterious widow whose intentions are as obscure as her veiled face. With vengeance driving him after the death of his partner, Murphy, Johnny is determined to find the killer, no matter the cost. In a world where justice is elusive and every lead comes with a punch, Taggett isn’t looking for redemption—he’s out to settle the score, one bullet at a time.
THE
USURPER
Usurper tells the compelling story of Antonio Ferretti, a young man in 1890s Trenton, New Jersey, who daringly assumed the identity of a priest, becoming Father Mariano Luca in Denver, Colorado. Lacking any formal training, Antonio struggled to perform his priestly duties, delivering stilted sermons and fumbling through rituals. However, his determination and raw charisma gradually won over the skeptical townspeople and even the local Bishop. Rallying the Italian community, he spearheaded the building of a new church, becoming a beacon of faith despite the rumors and doubts surrounding his authenticity.
Yet, behind the scenes, Antonio wrestled with loneliness and his secret life, which included a forbidden relationship and a child. As the town transformed with the arrival of the railroad, prosperity brought temptation, and tragedy struck, testing the resilience of both priest and flock. When his true identity was finally exposed, it shattered the town’s trust, leaving behind a trail of disillusionment. However, the memory of Father Luca’s impact endured, leading the townspeople to honor him by naming their new church after the man who, despite his deception, had become a true shepherd—a usurper who left a lasting legacy.
