Fortunately, homicide detective Jack Petersen is on the scene.

Readers have followed the affable Jack through four novels and now have one more installment in the series to sink their teeth into with last month's release of Killing Affair.

For local author David Wickes, it's a good feeling to know the 14 bookstores where he does regular signings had waiting lists for the new book.

"It's very rewarding," he told the Champion.

Interacting with his readers -- young and old, long-time and new -- has always been important to Wickes, and Milton fans will have an opportunity to do just that later this month.

Wickes will appear at the Coles store in Milton Mall Saturday, May 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to chat with readers and sign books.

In Killing Affair, Jack comes across the smartest killer of his career thus far.

"This guy is very brilliant -- serial killers can be -- and devious and Jack has an awful time tracking him down," Wickes said, explaining he doesn't want to say too much about the story for fear of giving something away.

A few sub-plots weave in and out of the main storyline, including that of a vivacious TV reporter who's out to seduce the happily-married Jack.

In this installment, Wickes said he gives readers insight into what made this latest killer the man he is -- sometimes the author doesn't always do.

Killing Affair isn't for the particularly sensitive reader, with some gore and strong language, but Wickes explained he's toned it down since his first novel, Killing Time.

He explained one woman said she wanted to send Wickes' debut novel to her three grown sons to read, but wasn't going to because of one particular word she took offense to.

That stuck in Wickes' mind, and when he didn't include the word in his second book, he realized it wasn't missed.

But, he said, some coarse language remains to keep the books realistic.

"It would be silly to have a serial killer stub his toe and say, 'Oh, darn,'" he said.

Perhaps surprisingly to some of his fans, Wickes said he can't stomach scary movies. He can read bone-chilling books -- and write his own -- but movies seem to be different somehow.

Wickes was distinguished as a bestselling author last year. Killing Time was re-printed, and he's now sold more than 4,000 copies of the book, surpassing the 3,500 benchmark for the honour.

Never one to rest on his laurels -- or rest, period -- Wickes is already working on the sixth Jack Petersen book. While the previous novels have been set in the United States, the next one will take place in Canada.

Research has always been a big part of what Wickes does, with Wickes' contacts in various police forces invaluable.

"You can do what you want with the story, but when it comes to police and hospital procedures, you have to be accurate," he said.

The crossing of borders requires a whole new set of research, since, obviously, there are differences between the police services in the U.S. and Canada.

But it's a challenge Wickes said he's ready for. He's already spoken with a homicide detective in Halton Regional Police and a police officer from the Milton detachment.

Wickes said he's not sure what will happen beyond the sixth book.

"I'm beginning to wonder just how much more books are in me," he said. "If I was younger in life, I'd have a different approach."

But it's not time to slow down yet. Plans are already in the works for a cross-Canada tour next year.

"I'll see how the Canada thing goes," he said.

Stephanie Hounsell can be reached at sthiessen@miltoncanadianchampion.com.