About Colin Nelson

Colin T. Nelson worked for 40 years as a prosecutor and criminal defense lawyer in Minneapolis. He tried everything from speeding tickets to first degree murder. His writing about the courtroom and the legal system give the reader a "back door" view of what goes on, what's funny, and what's a good story. He has also traveled extensively and includes those locations in his mysteries. Some are set in Southeast Asia, Ecuador,Peru, and South Africa. Readers get a suspenseful tale while learning about new places on the planet. Colin is married, has two adult children, and plays the saxophone in various bands.

The Special Way Robert Mueller Works

robert muellerNormally, police investigate crimes (at the local level) or the FBI (at the national level).  But there are times when a prosecutor handles the investigation.  Robert Mueller is investigating the Trump administration.  But he has a special way of working.  Here’s how Robert Mueller does it.

How is it like normal police work?

  1.  Like police work, a special

Author Anne Lamott Tells the Truth

Author, teacher, and really funny woman, Anne Lamott has always inspired my writing.  She’s written several booksanne lamott herself, but her most well-known book is, Bird by Bird.  It’s a book about both writing and life.  I know—there are probably more books on self-discovery than there are people interested in really discovering themselves.  But this one’s different.

Anne weaves …

Death, Jeronimo Yanez, and a Not Guilty Verdict

In St. Paul, Minnesota the end of a tragic event has finally happened.  A police officer,jeronimo yanez Jeronimo Yanez, shot and killed Philando Castile in a traffic stop in a suburb of St. Paul.  It triggered protests, questions, and crying.  It forced a searing look at the interactions between police and citizens.  Statistics show that the chances of anyone …

What’s Wrong with the Bill Cosby Jury?

bill cosbyAs I’m sure you’re all aware, after years of lurid headlines in the media, Bill Cosby was accused and tried on several criminal counts of sexual assault.  His trial is approaching the 10th day in Pennsylvania—with the jury unable to come to a decision.  I worked for over 30 years as a criminal lawyer and tried over 100 …

Will the Feds Arrest You for Medical Marijuana?

medical marijuanaImagine if you’re living in Oregon or Colorado and using marijuana under your doctor’s care.  Along comes the U.S. Department of Justice to arrest for violating federal laws prohibiting marijuana possession.  Sound crazy?  In the near future, the feds may arrest you for possessing medical marijuana.

The new Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, has been joined by others in …

Act Now to Buy “The Inca Code”

the inca codeMy new book, The Inca Code, is officially published this Friday, June 9!  the inca code

When investigator, Pete Chandler, gets a call for help from an old friend and colleague at the U.S. Export/Import Bank in South America, Pete drops everything to go.  Before he can get there, the friend dies in a freak accident—he falls from a tourist …