Twelve Times Zero

by Howard Browne

"Twelve Times Zero" by Howard Browne is a science fiction novel written in the early 1950s. The story revolves around a murder case involving Paul Cordell, who is accused of killing his wife, Juanita, and her employer, Professor Gilmore. The narrative intricately weaves together elements of mystery and the supernatural, raising questions about Cordell's sanity and the existence of a mysterious blonde woman. At the start of the novel, Paul Cordell is being interrogated by Detective Lieutenant Kirk as he grapples with the aftermath of the brutal murders he has supposedly committed. The scene introduces Cordell as a man in deep distress, claiming to have witnessed a supernatural figure—a beautiful blonde woman in a ball of blue fire—commit the crimes. Throughout the opening chapters, Kirk attempts to extract a confession from Cordell while the bizarre elements of his story and the evidence against him unfold, hinting at a complex web of emotional turmoil, jealousy, and possibly extraterrestrial intrigue. The tension mounts as more characters enter the scene, including a woman named Naia North, hinting that there is much more at stake in this chilling tale than mere murder.