A Southwest Mississippi native has published a new novel, his second entry of crime/mystery fiction.

Charles R. Rogers, now a resident of College Station, Texas, grew up in the Centreville area, on the Wilkson-Amite County line. He attended Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit, then The University of Southern Mississippi, before living “all over the country,” working in retail and public relations.

“I’ve always enjoyed reading and watching crime fiction novels and stories,” said Rogers. “I watch Law & Order, NCIS, as well as non-fiction shows on TV. It’s always been an interest of mine. I have done journalistic-type writing, public relations all my life. After I retired, I thought I would like to write some fiction, mostly for fun, then later thought it might be publishable. I contacted a publisher and went from there.”

The first book, “The Chambers Files,” took Rogers about two years to write, working on it “off and on,” and he set it in places he’s lived or worked, like Centreville and Kokomo, Mississippi; northern Virginia; Wyoming; etc. 

Rogers’ second book, “The Brazos Valley Files,” takes place almost entirely in the Bryan/College Station area of Texas, where the influx of more than 70,000 college students annually and the increased traffic of weekend games create a unique setting.

“The second book only took about six to eight months to write,” he said. “I was more focused on it, and had an end-goal in mind. It was a fun process.”

In “The Brazos Valley Files,” the author takes on human trafficking, the fentanyl crisis, illegal immigration, financial difficulties for farmers, and challenges faced by veterans trying to get medical benefits. 

“While the book doesn’t really offer solutions to these issues, I believe the way this book introduces and addresses these issues makes it a book anyone, anywhere, will enjoy reading,” Rogers said. “Also, I hope it makes people take a realistic look at how these issues affect our daily lives and how easy it is for everyday people to get ‘sucked in’ by them at times.”

Rogers writes his books in short, easy-to-read chapters, driven by plots of interlinked crimes. “The Chambers Files” has been available since fall 2023, and “Brazos” is now available — both can be found worldwide online in paperback, e-book or audiobook formats.

“It is crime fiction, so people get killed. There’s crime in the book; there’s violence in the book; but it’s not graphic,” said Rogers of “Chambers.” “It’s a wholesome book. Anyone can read it. There’s no bad language in it. There are no graphic depictions of violence. Anyone from a middle schooler to an adult can sit down and read and not find anything offensive. It’s not overtly Christian, but people do pray and talk about God. They embrace their Christian faith, and hopefully portrays some Christian values.”

Rogers is happy to spend part of his retirement years writing about subjects he enjoys reading and learning about himself, and hopes his readers can get a “real feel” for the geographical settings in the novels. He’s not in the business to make money, but would be glad to make back the money he’s invested in his efforts.

No matter what, he’s not through telling stories.

“I enjoy crime fiction, reading and watching it, and I would like to do more writing,” Rogers said.