The Rotting Whale

A Hugo Sandoval Eco-Mystery

by Jann Eyrich

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Pub Date Sep 26 2023 | Archive Date Sep 25 2023

Sibylline Press

General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers | Outdoors & Nature

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Description

When the natural world and the build world collide, the earth needs a good building inspector…

In this first case in the new Hugo Sandoval Eco-Mystery series, an old-school San Francisco building inspector must reluctantly venture outside his beloved city and find his sea legs before he can solve the mystery of how a 90-ton blue whale became stranded, twice, in a remote inlet off the North Coast.

Set on the turbulent Mendocino Coast against the backdrop of a failing fishing fleet and illegal cannabis grows, Sandoval encounters roadblocks and lies as he grapples with the connection between a red tag posted on the historic Chicken Cove ranch and the decomposing marine mammal at the foot of its cliffs.

Debilitated by more than a few idiosyncrasies, reluctant media darling Hugo Sandoval is a people’s hero, fighting the good fight in a modern era where development and climate change butt heads – and where each requested permit attempts to eclipse the old San Francisco Sandoval loves.

When the natural world and the build world collide, the earth needs a good building inspector…

In this first case in the new Hugo Sandoval Eco-Mystery series, an old-school San Francisco building...

Advance Praise

"In The Rotting Whale, Jann Eyrich artfully merges the realms of mystery and environmentalism to create an enthralling new genre: the eco-mystery. Eyrich’s prose is rich, painting vivid images of both the natural and urban landscapes that serve as the backdrop for Hugo Sandoval’s adventure. Readers will find themselves captivated by the offbeat hero as he ventures from the familiar streets of San Francisco to the rugged Mendocino Coast to unravel the enigma of a stranded blue whale.

The Rotting Whale is also a tale of personal growth; Eyrich delves into the complexities of Hugo’s relationships with his daughter, ex-wife, and a motley crew of secondary characters. These vibrant personalities, each with their own quirks, lend depth to the story, complementing the central mystery and providing support to Hugo as he navigates the mystery.

The Rotting Whale seamlessly blends the intrigue of a classic mystery with a thought-provoking environmental theme. Jann Eyrich’s eloquent writing style draws readers into the heart of San Francisco and the noir ambiance of a city on the brink of change. Readers of Dashiell Hammett’s Thin Man Series and Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache Series should head to their favorite bookstore immediately." —D.D. Black, author of The Shadow of Pike Place, A Thomas Austin Crime Thriller

"Jann Eyrich has given us Hugo Sandoval, a San Francisco building inspector as a new kind of detective -- he sees everything. A blue whale washes up on the beach in Mendocino and sets off a string of events that includes murder, extortion, mayhem--and a love story. Or two. Page-turning, dripping with atmosphere, a full cast of quirky supporting characters, and a bid to save the planet in a necessary new genre: the eco-mystery." -Julia Park Tracey, author of the Veronika Layne: Hot Off the Press series

Marketing Plan

2023 Marketing Plan: The Rotting Whale

Publication Date: Sept 12

Publicity campaign to mystery reader market introducing the eco-mystery series and Hugo Sandoval
Website promotion www.hugomysteries.com featuring character profiles, sightings, updates, excerpts, trivia, and San Francisco waterfront and building news
Social Media Campaign (Bookstagrammer, BookTok, BookTubers) and supporting advertising, all featuring Hugo Sandoval
Marine Science Centers events and promotions (Noyo Center for Marine Science in Fort Bragg, Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito)
San Francisco-based waterfront walk meeting at Red’s Java House (ending in bookstore) during book launch week
Marine Science Centers Ticket Giveaways promotion for bookstore customers
Bookstore mini-events: Sonoma and Marin Counties
Co-op display funding available for bookstore display of titles
Shelf Talkers available for stores
Inclusion in CALIBA 2023 Holiday Catalog as featured title
Featured at CALIBA 2023 Fall Trade Show
Author Excerpts and Essays on: nature versus built environment, whales, water issues, eco-mystery as a new category arising from evidence of climate change
Giveaways on Goodreads and Instagram
Book Reviews on Mystery sites (criminalelement.com, et al)
Mystery Book Clubs Outreach
Library Market outreach, ad in Library Journal
Trade Advertising in Publishers Weekly, Shelf Awareness, and with California Independent Booksellers Association
Trade Reviews pursued in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Shelf Awareness
Galleys Available for sales force, major media, regional media, social media influencers, influential authors, booksellers and librarians; digital galleys also available for download through Edelweiss and NetGalley