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Author with Johnston County roots releases novel
from January 2020
by Johnston Now
Kimothy Monroe, a part-time Major in the Red Springs Police Department and a former resident of Wilson’s Mills, recently released “Monster Eyes,” a novel based on one of his most memorable cases.
He describes it as “a lightweight, amateurstyle psychological thriller that ultimately leads to the brutal death of two women in a small town.”
Monroe was born in Brooklyn before moving to Wilson’s Mills as an adolescent. He’s the grandson of Theodore and Merida Durant, who owned Durant Grocery store on what is now called Durant Road. He graduated from Smithfield-Selma High School, Johnston Community College and North Carolina Central University and began his career in law enforcement in Smithfield in 1983 under Chief Joseph N. Pearce.
He moved on to Selma, where he served under Chief Charles “Buckwheat” Hicks. Later, he worked as a state alcohol law enforcement agent before working for more than 20 years in Laurinburg, where he retired as interim police chief.
“(My) passion has always been the people,” he said of his career in law enforcement. “(I enjoy) helping people and helping those who for whatever reason don’t have the power or the resources to help themselves.”
It was one case in particular that served as the inspiration for the book.
“About 13 years ago I was involved in a murder and the case took so many turns and twists,” Monroe told The (Lumberton) Robesonian in a recent interview. “It became very compelling to me how the case unfolded. It was a very interesting case. The people involved were interesting, and a lot of lives were entwined. A lot of lives were shattered.” Some of the names and places in the book have been changed to respect those involved, but it’s based largely on the actual events of the investigation. “Monster Eyes is not only a crime story, but a story of love, family, betrayal, trust, and even touches on mental illness,” he said.
The book is available on Amazon, and Monroe will host a book signing on Sunday, January 26, at 3 p.m. at Wilson’s Mills Town Hall.
