Mystery author taps into career as investigator

After more than two decades of working fraud cases for the government, Marilyn Jax knows a thing or two about how a lengthy investigation unfolds.

Real estate fraud, franchise fraud, environment cleanup fraud — she’s seen it all.

Jax has used her career’s work as an investigator to launch the next chapter in her life as an acclaimed mystery novelist.

Following the success for her most recent book “Sapphire Trails,” an award-winning mystery set in Bigfork and Whitefish, Jax returns to the Flathead this weekend to debut her latest novel “Never in Ink.”

The new book — the fourth in the series — follows her lead characters from Miami to Europe as they look to crack another sophisticated criminal scheme.

Since its release, the novel has won six national and international book awards, including first place in the International Beverly Hills Book Awards competition.

“It’s a fun book to read,” Jax told the Pilot. “There’s danger at every corner.”

Jax says she never writes about real cases she worked on as an investigator, but often pulls from that skill set when writing.

“Everything I learned, from traits to look for in truthfulness, to taking an investigation from start to completion, those come through in my writing,” she said.

Jax even teaches a course called “Liar, Liar” on how to detect if someone is lying.

“They can’t look you straight in the eye when responding, they’re fidgeting, they touch their face, there’s a bit of uncomfortableness,” she said. “All of these things might indicated someone is lying.”

She also teaches a Mystery Writers’ Workshop that helps aspiring writers learn the components of mystery writing.

Jax became intrigued with writing at a young age, first attracted to the Nancy Drew mystery series.

“I would buy the books and immediately inhale it,” she said. “That stayed with me.”

“I always wanted to be an investigator and write mysteries. This is a second career for me.”

Originally from Minnesota, Jax now lives between the Midwest and the Caribbean, while also frequently spending time in the Flathead.

“Every summer I spend some time out here,” she said. “I love Bigfork, Wood’s Bay and Whitefish.”

Jax will be at the Bigfork Festival of the Arts this weekend to talk about “Never in Ink” and sign copies of her books. The festival takes place Aug. 1-2, from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. both days in downtown Bigfork.