“East Bay Murders,” by Tanya Chalupa. Independently published, 2020. Paperback, 246 pp., ISBN: 9781710996470, $15.99.
In her third book and first work of fiction, Tanya Chalupa once again focuses on the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento County. “Because of the work I did in legislation and running federally funded programs, I know Northern California, almost like the back of my hand, although now I rotate between Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia,” the author notes.
It was while she was working in Albany, Calif., Police Department with Lt. Bill “Elvis” Palmini, that DNA conclusively confirmed Charles Junior Jackson as the killer in the shocking Albany Vila murder case. Ms. Chalupa accompanied Lt. Palmini, who at the time was the investigating officer, to meet with Alameda County Senior Deputy D.A. Rock Harmon, regarding the case. During the course of her writing, Mr. Harmon provided Ms. Chalupa with guidance on the workings of the prosecutor’s office.