Why the Hell Would I Start a Murder Mystery Serial?
How The Harlow Files was born.
Tomorrow evening, I’m launching a serial murder mystery series called “The Harlow Files. The protagonist is a New Orleans-based journalist named Jackson Harlow who finds himself investigating — and solving — murders.
The first story, titled Case of the Grinning Golly, is about a murdered antique dealer, a city on the verge of collapse, and a journalist willing to burn everything to find the truth.
The victim sold controversial antiques. Someone killed her for it. Or did they? Jackson Harlow stumbles into a conspiracy that reaches into City Hall, into activist networks, into the media itself.
Everyone has motive. Everyone has secrets. And Jackson is about to discover that the person you can trust least might be sitting right next to you.
But, for me, this isn’t just a story—it’s an argument.
The question is: Why write a murder mystery series?
The answer is simple:I love a good murder mystery.
Whether it’s a book, television series, or movie, the mystery genre has always fascinated me even as a child.
Sherlock Holmes. Phillip Marlowe. Hercule Poirot. Sam Spade.
These iconic sleuths have captivated people’s minds for ages. Like millions of people all over the world, I have spent hours upon hours reading (or watching) these stories unfold, eagerly trying to figure out “whodunit.”
I also love to write. For almost a decade, I have used the written form for journalistic purposes, and it remains one of my passions.
I have written many stories exposing government corruption and covering the latest happenings in the culture war.
But, as you probably already know, being immersed in American politics in this era isn’t exactly beneficial for one’s mental health. For years, I’ve lived and breathed politics.
A few months ago, I realized I needed another outlet — a project to work on that wasn’t purely political. I’d always wanted to write fiction from the time I was in elementary school, but I figured it’d be something I would pursue later in life.
But I realized that there isn’t a valid reason for me to wait that long. That’s when The Harlow Files was born.
I’m no John Grisham or James Patterson, but I like to think the characters and stories are unique enough to be entertaining and compelling for my audience.
While politics is not the primary focal point for the series, it does serve as a backdrop — especially in the first case.
In my journalistic career, I’ve watched how narratives get weaponized. How truth gets buried. How power protects itself.
The first case shows how that actually works—not through op-eds or investigative columns, but through a story that makes you feel the machinery of manipulation.”
These stories are not necessarily meant primarily as political statements. For me, it’s important that the story and characters come first. If you’re like me, you probably despise entertainment that seems solely intended to lecture you rather than entertain you.
With The Harlow Files, I believe I have found a balance.
Here is how the release schedule works:
Tomorrow: Episode 1 releases FREE to all subscribers.
Thursday: Episode 2 drops as a bonus for all subscribers.
Weekly: There are eight episodes total, dropping weekly after that.
Why Subscribe to the Paid Tier?
While free subscribers get access to the main story, paid subscribers get the full experience:
Early Access: You get episodes on Thursday instead of waiting until the following Tuesday.
Bonus Intel: Exclusive articles written by Jackson Harlow and scenes from other characters’ points of view.
Quarterly Q&A: A Zoom call with yours truly to discuss the series, the writing process, and more.
I hope you find the stories compelling and fun. I’m having a blast working on it, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on how Jackson’s first case proceeds.
I’ll see y’all tomorrow evening!