Summer is the heroine of a series of stories and stageplays which I have been writing since 2003. She is a junior at a university in the United States, somewhat modeled after Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), where I used to teach. Unlike WPI, her school seems to have a large number of murders and other crimes, beyond what campus security can handle. Enter Summer, who runs a detective agency out of her dorm room.
Summer is pursuing an individualized major, with an emphasis on law psychology, with other appropriate electives.
Summer's stories are primarily inspired by the audio adventures of two great fictional detectives: Nick Danger, Third Eye created by The Firesign Theatre and Guy Noir, Private Eye created by Garrison Keillor. Both of them poke fun at detective stories while mixing mystery with comedy. But I have liberally copied from paid homage to many other sources, which I leave as "Easter eggs" for my readers.
Summer, naturally, is a big fan of Nick and Guy, as well as of Sam Spade, Philip Marlowe, and other hard-boiled private eyes from stories and film noir movies. She narrates her adventures into her trusty pocket recorder, then uses this audio in her podcasts. After all, the other detectives narrate their adventures, so why not her?
In a nod to Nick Danger, every story starts with Summer narrating in her room, then being interrupted by a wrong number. After that, someone calls or walks in, and the game is afoot!
Susan "Scooter" Capriati is a freshman at the same university. She is Summer's assistant, and accompanies her on most cases.
Harry Deighton is a graduate student in physics, and Scooter's boyfriend. He is younger than a typical grad student, having skipped several grades.
President Queeg is the head of the university. He is a retired admiral, who sometimes has trouble remembering that a university is not the same as the Navy.
"Honest Mike" Boothroyd runs Honest Mike's Electronics, which supplies many of the gadgets Summer uses. Together, Mike and Harry fulfill the same function as James Bond's Q Branch.
Professor Ipcress was Summer's first client. She has never been involved with any crimes, but uses Summer's detective skills to find missing things, such as her contact lenses and computer files.
Marjorie Morgenstern is President Queeg's secretary. She is loyal to and protective of her boss. Which is lucky for him,, since others have trouble dealing with his eccentricities.
Inspector Thomas Doppler of the Campus Police. Initially suspicious, he comes to value Summer and Scooter's help. He has a flirtatious relationship with Marjorie.
Professor Daniel "Steely Dan" Outre', a metallurgist.
Professor Bethe, a physicist.
Click on the Stories and Plays links above.