Book Review: Murder on the Lake of Fire (Mourning Dove Mysteries, #1) by Mikel J. Wilson

Murder on the Lake of Fire (Mourning Dove Mysteries, #1)
by Mikel J. Wilson
December 1st, 2017
Published by: Acorn Publishing
Publication date:
Genres: LGBTQ+, Mystery, Romance
At twenty-three and with a notorious case under his belt, Emory Rome has already garnered fame as a talented special agent for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. His career is leapfrogging over his colleagues, but the jumping stops when he’s assigned a case he fought to avoid – to investigate an eerie murder in the Smoky Mountain hometown he had abandoned. This mysterious case of a dead teen ice-skater once destined for the pros is just the beginning. In a small town bursting with envious friends and foes, Rome’s own secrets lie just below the surface. The rush to find the murderer before he strikes again pits Rome against artful private investigator, Jeff Woodard. The PI is handsome and smart, seducing Rome and forcing him to confront childhood demons, but Woodard has secrets of his own. He might just be the killer Rome is seeking.

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I have a hard time finding a murder mystery that I can't guess "who did it" early on, but Murder on the Lake of Fire had me guessing and second-guessing the whole way. The author crafted a complex and interesting plot that moved quickly and threw a crazy curveball here and there.

Murder on the Lake of Fire is the first book in the series that will revolve around P.I. Jeff Woodard and Agent Emory Rome. The unusual death of a teenage figure skater brings these two together in more ways than one! There is a dash of romance and the promise of a developing relationship between them in future books. The story is a murder mystery first, and their intimate moment is kept behind closed doors.

I didn't feel a lot of chemistry between Jeff and Emory, but I was intrigued by hints of their backstory which will probably be explored in future books. We learn some things about Emory since the murders take place in his hometown and force him to confront things he'd been trying to avoid. I look forward to learning more about Jeff. I got a feeling his past is going to cause a great deal of trouble.

The story does touch on issues of homophobia and the effect it can have on someone because they have to stay in the closet. But it isn't heavy-handed or preachy.

If you are looking for a well written, fast-paced murder mystery with a little WTF?, then check Murder on the Lake of Fire out.

3.75 "Stop, drop and roll" Sheep

SharonS

About the Author:

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Mystery and science fiction author Mikel J. Wilson received widespread critical praise for his debut novel, Sedona: The Lost Vortex, a science fiction book based on the Northern Arizona town’s legends of energy vortexes and dimensional travel. Wilson now draws on his Southern roots for the Mourning Dove Mysteries, a series of novels featuring bizarre murders in the Smoky Mountains region of Tennessee.

Murder on the Lake of Fire, the first novel in the Mourning Dove Mysteries series, will be available December 1, 2017.

Giveaway:

Tour-wide giveaway (INTL) 

$25 Amazon gift card

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