Meet Doug Lamplugh: Former Federal Agent, Private Investigator and College Instructor, who has just finished his first novel, MURDER AT MARDI GRAS.

In 1977, I began my law enforcement career in a small town in southeastern Pennsylvania. As a detective, I met many savvy local and federal investigators who became my mentors as I tackled bank frauds, embezzlements, organized crime and murder investigations.

During the era of the “Cocaine Cowboys,” I joined the Drug Enforcement Administration as a Special Agent. My first posting brought me to Gulf Coast city of Mobile, Alabama, the birthplace of Mardi Gras and one of the largest drug destinations at that time. Shipments of tens of thousands of pounds of marijuana and thousands of pounds of cocaine were smuggled by small and large vessels and single and multi-prop airplanes arriving from South America on a regular basis. During this time, I worked closely with many federal agencies and prosecutors and then U.S. Attorney Jeff Sessions (Yes, that Jeff Sessions).

After a twenty-three-year career in the DEA, during which I worked throughout the U.S. and abroad, I accepted an academic position and began a private investigation company.  While teaching, I often told my students stories from the field. They often told me, “You should write a book.”

MURDER AT MARDI GRAS is my first book. It developed in my head over a period of years and as I put it down on paper, I could hear and see the characters. Writing a novel isn’t unlike writing police reports for a complex on-going case – except now I get to decide how the story ends.

I hope y’all enjoy it!