New books by Valley authors: children’s book from Stoner-Brito, mystery novel from Bacon

Carlos Goes to College, Carlos Va a la Universidad

Author: Carla Stoner-Brito, Fresno

Description: What is college? Why do people go there? Carlos is very curious and asks his older brother Tony to teach him about college. The book chronicles Carlos’ journey and all that college has to offer. This book is bilingual, English and Spanish. (Lulu, 34 pages.)

Stoner-Brito will give a reading at 11 a.m. on April 20 at Gillis Branch Library, 629 W. Dakota Ave. in Fresno.

Available at lulu.com, $15.20 for paperback, $7 for e-book, carlosgoestocollege.weebly.com.

The Marijuana Murders

Author: Mark S. Bacon, who is a Fresno State journalism graduate

Description: Nostalgia City executive Kate Sorensen finds the body of a mechanic crushed under an automobile hoist in the theme park’s garage. Is it an accident or murder, and how will it impact Kate’s decision to become an adviser for one of two campaigns to legalize marijuana in Arizona?

When the death is ruled a homicide and the DEA stages a surprise raid, park cab driver Lyle Deming is recruited to help solve the murder and find out if the park’s garage is being used to smuggle drugs. The anxiety-ridden ex-cop is soon poking around a Mexican border town looking for a park contractor who might be a drug mule. Or he might be dead.

Meanwhile, Sorensen, a 6-foot-2 former college basketball star, is dragged into a dangerous, high-stakes race to control the legal pot market in Arizona. Amid setbacks and threats, she and Deming sort through interwoven crimes, a tangle of evidence, and dark suspects.

Then there’s another murder.

“The Marijuana Murders” is the third novel in this mystery series set in Nostalgia City, a theme park that recreates a small town from the 1970s. (Black Opal Books, 291 pages.)

Available on Amazon, $3.99 for e-book, baconsmysteries.com.

This story was originally published March 31, 2019 at 4:00 AM with the headline "New books by Valley authors: children’s book from Stoner-Brito, mystery novel from Bacon."