Right now I’m butt deep in alligators, trying to drain a swamp. What began as a murder investigation of a Brit who was found with a pocketful of Euros has turned into a full-tilt boogie investigation with the usual cast of players from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, my girlfriend Laurie, plus a good cop and a bad cop and some terrible criminals who need to be brought to justice. My author, Doug Sahlin and I are looking for clues at the scene of the crime. Stay tuned for more information on my latest caper, A Pocketful of Euros. If you’d like to find out more about the mysteries I solved while taking these pictures, scan the QR code and you’ll see the stories of the first three mysteries I solved after I got my private investigator’s license.

Respectfully submitted,
Yale Larsson
Private Investigator 

During my time as a cop and  an Army Ranger, I learned the importance of rules. My life is guided by rules. And I live by rules when I investigate. Here are a few of my rules:

• • Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 1: Carry a small notebook and two pens at all times.
  • Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 3: When interrogating a suspect, always answer a suspect’s question with a question.
  • Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 4: Never leave home without a baggie in your pocket. 
  • Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 6: stay awake and be alert when on surveillance.
  • Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 7: Sometimes you need to bluff to get what you need.
  • Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 11: Always keep the lines of communication open.
  • Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 12: He who speaks first loses.
  • Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 17: Assess before you access.
  • Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 21: When in doubt, always err on the side of caution.

To find out more about me and my rules, check out the Yale Larsson Private Investigator series, written by a wordsmith named Doug Sahlin. The books are available in Kindle format or paperback at Amazon. To learn more about the books, click the following link: Yale Larsson Private Investigator Series

To find out how I solved the mystery, click the book cover.

1. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 3: When being interrogated, always answer a question with a question.
2. Yale Larsson P.I. Rule Number 4: Never leave home without a baggie in your pocket.
3. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 6:  Stay awake and be alert when on surveillance.
4. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 11: Always keep the lines of communication open.
5.  Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 12: He who speaks first loses.
6. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule No. 17: Assess before you access.
7. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 21: When in doubt, always err on the side of caution.
8. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 23: Assume nothing.
9. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 27: Never get between two ladies when they disagree.
10. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 36: Never go into any situation unprepared. 
11. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 43: Don’t forget nothin’.
12. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 52: Err on the side of caution.
13. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 56: Always sit with your back to the wall when you’re in public.
14. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule No. 69: Sometimes you need to bluff to get what you need. 
15. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 72: When in Rome, dress like a Roman.
16. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 73 is the same as the Boy Scout Motto: Be Prepared
17. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 82: Expect the best, prepare for the worst.

To see me use these rules to solve a mystery, pick up a copy of my latest mystery.

Here are a few of the rules I live by to be a world class private investigator, and to live to a ripe old age.

1. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 21: When in doubt, always err on the side of paranoia.
2. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 27: Never to get between two ladies when they disagree.
3. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 56: Always sit with your back to the wall when you’re in public.
4. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 73 is the same as the Boy Scout Motto: Be prepared.
5. Yale Larsson Private Investigator Rule Number 69: He who speaks first loses.

To see me use these rules in the heat of action, read a copy of Doug Sahlin’s The Myakka Murders where I solve the mystery of who killed my old man and unceremoniously dumped him in the Myakka River. Can you say, “Gator Bait?”

Ingredients

• 8 ounces fettuccine pasta (Jayson has been feeding me Gluten Free pasta. Says it keeps my trim,)
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 pound medium-sized shrimp, shelled and deveined 
• 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (Jayson swears by Tony’s)
• 1/2 pound Andouille sausage, sliced into 1/4 inch thick circles
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup chicken stock
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (Jayson says it’s best when you buy a block of Parmesan instead of the stuff in the bags)
• 1 teaspoon black pepper (Jayson grinds peppercorns, says it gives the dish better flavor.)
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Minced parsley (Yes, real men eat parsley)

How Jayson Cooks It

Jayson says a true Cajun would cook this meal in a cast iron skillet, which can also double as a lethal weapon.

1. Cook the pasta and set it aside.
2. Heat a skillet over medium high heat. 
3. Add Olive Oil.
4. Season shrimp with Cajun seasoning.
5. Add to skillet when oil is hot.
6. Cook until shrimp turns pink and set aside.
7. Add sausage and onion to skillet.
8. Sauté till the onion is translucent and sausage starts to brown.
9. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds or till garlic is fragrant.
10. Add chicken stock into the skillet and scrape up any brown stuff on the bottom of the pan.
11. Add the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, black pepper and cayenne pepper to the skillet, stir to combine.
12. Simmer on medium heat until the sauce starts to thicken, about 5 minutes. Keep an eye on the mixture because dairy can scorch easily.
13. Add in the cooked pasta and shrimp.Toss to combine.
14. If the sauce is too thick you can thin it out with a little milk. If it’s too thin let it cook down a bit more until you reach the desired texture. Remember to keep stirring while the meal is in the pot.
15. Serve with a sprinkle of parsley. And yes, real men eat parsley.

To learn more about Jayson and me, click the book covers below to read the novels author Doug Sahlin has written about my escapades.

Ingredients

• A couple of ripe avacados
• A jar of Wickles Sandwich Spread (available at most grocery stores)
• Scallions (optional)
• Fresh Chopped Cilantro (Optional)
• Fresh Lime Juice (Optional)
• Tortilla Chips

Preparation

Remove the flesh and stones from the avocados. Add them to a blender, or if you’re real strong, you can mash them with a spoon. When the avocados are buttery smooth, add the Wickles. Add them a teaspoon at a time, blend and taste. Wickles Sandwich Spread is spicy. A little goes a long way. Add chopped scallions to the mixture if desired. Wickles has onions, so the scallions are optional. Chopped Cilantro kicks it up a notch as does a little lime juice.

Serve with a bowl of chips and your favorite beverage. Jayson serves mine with Warsteiner.

To learn more about Jayson and Private Investigator Yale Larsson escapades, click the book covers.

When I get to the park, I find out the body that Janet and Crime Scene Investigator Bill Livingston are examining, is non other than my estranged father, Yale Augustus Larsson, Senior, whom I hadn’t seen the man in twenty years. I was upset, but decided to leave the investigation to the sheriff’s office. Or did I? Stay tuned.

My father’s body washed up on the shore of the Myakka River