Title: Dead in the Alley: Murder in the North Country
Author: Sharon Michalove
Genre: Mystery
Book Blurb:
Where do you turn when you’ve lost it all?When Bay Bishop’s husband was found in the alley behind their Northern Michigan restaurant, she lost not only the partner in her dreams of establishing the best fine-dining establishment in the area but the man she thought was the love of her life. Then she finds out how he had betrayed her. Now she’s a suspect.
The detective who shows up on her doorstep turns out to be the high-school boyfriend who broke her heart. Faced with uncomfortable truths and new beginnings, Bay must chart a course to prove her innocence and create a new future, as she also tries to unravel a family secret that may give her the key to who she really is.
The story features a a twisty mystery set in a small city in Northern Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan in wine and cherry growing country, a charming inn, plenty of food, a former bike racer hero, and a lovable Portuguese Water Dog.
SHARON MICHALOVE writes mystery and romantic suspense and is the author of At First Sight and At the Crossroads in the Global Security Unlimited series. Dead in the Alley is her first traditional mystery.
My Review:
In a flash, all Bay has loved and worked for is gone. Can she clear her name and rebuild her life in Northern Michigan? Dead in the Alley is a gripping mystery full of twists and turns I didn’t see coming. The plot is complex with deep-rooted secrets and shady characters. The descriptive narration is compelling which only adds to the suspense. But at the heart of this mystery is Bay, a resilient woman betrayed by her husband and those close to her.
Let’s start with the characters. Bay is a wonderfully complicated main character. Her world is rocked when her husband is murdered in the alley of their restaurant. She has no idea what he’s involved with or how she can escape unscathed. Bay is surrounded by people she thought she knew but didn’t. Her nose for sniffing out the truth makes her the perfect mystery heroine.
The rest of the characters are puzzles all on their own. Who’s dirty and who’s clean made for an intriguing mystery. Each character had their own voice and personality.
The writing is superb with the right balance of suspense, investigation, and action. Dead in the Alley reads like a crime drama on tv. Layers of building the plot through intricate world-building makes Dead in the Alley a mystery a delight to read. Fans of John Sandford will love this book.
My Rating: 5 stars
Buy it Now:
Free to read on Kindle Unlimited!
Author Biography:
Sharon Michalove writes romantic suspense and traditional mystery as well as being a published historian. After growing up in suburban Chicago, she spent most of her life in a medium-sized university town, working as an academic professional as well as teaching history. She was married to a composer and frequently uses her knowledge of music, history, and food to enrich her novels.
Sharon moved back to Chicago in 2017 and started writing fiction seriously in 2018, publishing her first book in 2021. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Chicago-North Romance Writers. Currently, she is president of the Sisters in Crime Chicagoland Chapter and an at-large board member of MWA Midwest. Her Global Security Unlimited series was a finalist for the 2024 Chanticleer International Book Award for Genre Series.
Social Media Links:
Website: http://coffeeandeclairs.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sdmichaloveauthor
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100073761707861
Amazon author page: http://amazon.com/author/sdm_romance_and_more
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2128144.Sharon_D_Michalove?from_search=true&from_srp=true
Reviewed by: Nancy