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Review: "Deadly Stillwater" by Roger Stelljes (part of the Mac McRyan mystery series)

5/8/2013

2 Comments

 
I downloaded this book for free on Kindle, and was pleasantly surprised.  (As of this writing, it's still available for free on Kindle - click the picture or link below:)
Deadly Stillwater
This mystery-thriller was fast-paced, if predictible.  Although I could see many of the plot twists coming, there were a lot of turns that kept the story moving at a good pace and kept me interested. 

The main protagonist is a Twin Cities cop named Mac McRyan.  (Even after reading the book, I'm not sure where the Twin Cities are, other than somewhere in the midwest bordering multiple states.)  McRyan is pretty much perfect.  Young, rugged, Hollywood good-looking, and law-school smart.  His perfection is his downfall as a protagonist.  It's hard to relate to him.  He never gives up on a case, which is what makes him such a great detective, of course.

The case begins when a famous and well-off lawyer's daughter is kidnapped in broad daylight.  From the start, the kidnapping looks like a professional job, with little evidence left behind.  When the Police Chief's daughter is also kidnapped, McRyan and "the boys" know they are dealing with a personal vendetta. 

The FBI is called in to run the investigation, but the local cops stay on the case.  Each possible clue turns into a dead end or an intentional red herring.  The kidnappers have planned well and considered every scenario.  They bury the kidnapped girls in a grave with limited air, setting a short deadline for McRyan to solve the crime and save the girls.  

Despite their meticulous planning, it appears the kidnappers have underestimated McRyan, who sees potential connections and evidence where others do not.  Will McRyan get to the girls before they die?  Will he catch the kidnappers before they escape?

The story follows both the kidnappers and the cops set on catching them.  The book was written well enough to keep those two storylines separate yet intertwined.

There are hints throughout the book of McRyan's personal and professional past, which worked to get me interested in reading the prior books in the series - "First Case" and "The St. Paul Conspiracy" (or get all three in the box set for a low price - see below). 

I would recommend this book as a decent, well-paced mytery.  It was a quick and easy read for fans of crime and mystery books.
Deadly Stillwater First Case (McRyan Mystery Series Prequel) The St. Paul Conspiracy (McRyan Mystery Series) First Deadly Conspiracy - Box Set (McRyan Mystery Series)
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2 Comments
Maxine Gomez
11/19/2014 02:49:55 am

The Twin Cities are St. Paul and Minneapolis.I assume you are not from or live in the U.S.?

Reply
Katrina R link
11/23/2023 08:19:45 pm

Lovely blog yyou have

Reply



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    Author

    Blythe Leszkay is a successful and experienced criminal attorney, criminal law professor, and consultant to writers and filmmakers.  See About Me.  This blog is intended to answer common criminal law questions, dispel misconceptions, and explain misunderstood criminal law concepts.  It is also a place to discuss any crime or law related topics of interest.  Contact me for a free initial consultation on your film or writing project.

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