Deadly Spirits (Mac McClellan – 4) by E. Michael Helms
When PI Mac McClellan’s girlfriend convinces him to join the Palmetto Paranormal Society, he becomes embroiled in a case of whooodunnit. The society president, while investigating an old hotel, is found dead at the foot of the stairwell, his neck broken. The man’s secretary and current squeeze stands horrified beside his body. Authorities rule the death an accident. Mac has doubts—no one heard the man tumbling down the stairs. Then the secretary dies in an apparent suicide. Two deaths in two paranormal investigations, and not a peep out of either victim. Mac suspects there’s more going on than a vengeful spirit.
Amazon Barnes and Noble Goodreads
Author’s Bio
Michael Helms grew up in Panama City, FL, on the beautiful coast of the Florida Panhandle. He played football and excelled in baseball as a catcher. Turning down a scholarship offer from the local Junior college, he joined the Marines after high school graduation. He served as a rifleman during some of the heaviest fighting of the Vietnam War until wounded three times in one day. Helms discounts it as “waking up on the wrong side of the foxhole.”
His memoir of the war, The Proud Bastards,has been called “As powerful and compelling a battlefield memoir as any ever written … a modern military classic,” and remains in print after 26 years.
The Private War of Corporal Henson, a semi-autobiographical fictional sequel to The Proud Bastards, was published in August 2014.
A long-time Civil War buff, Book One of Helms’ two-volume historical saga, Of Blood and Brothers, was released September 2013. Book Two followed in March 2014.
Seeking a respite from writing about war, Helms decided to give mysteries a try. The first novel of his Mac McClellan Mystery series, Deadly Catch, was published in November 2013 and was named Library Journal’s Debut Mystery of the Month. The second Mac McClellan Mystery, Deadly Ruse, premiered in November 2014. It won the 2015 RONE AWARD for “Best Mystery.” Deadly Dunes was released in March 2016 by Camel Press. Deadly Spirits will launch January 15, 2017.
With his wife, Karen, Helms now lives in the Upstate region of South Carolina in the shadow of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. He enjoys playing guitar, hiking, camping, fishing, canoeing, and is an avid birdwatcher. He continues to listen as Mac McClellan dictates his latest adventures in his mystery series.
My Review
5 Stars
Mac McClellan has been drug to a meeting of the Palmetto Paranormal Society. By his girlfriend Kate. He feels silly walking around an attic full of cobwebs. But when the president of the society is discovered dead, at the bottom of the stairs of a broken neck, things get interesting. Mac wonders how he could have fallen without anyone else hearing him. But then the secretary dies of a suicide and Mac knows something is happening. The more he digs the more dirt he discovers and when he becomes the target of the killer he knows that he is getting close to solving this case.
Mac is a charmer and you can tell that he goes with Kate just to amuse her. Thankfully a dead body catches his attention. There are so many levels of dirt to dig through, thankfully Mac has Kate, Henry, and Deputy Dakota to help him out.
This is a great mystery, I didn’t know the who or why of the murderer until the end. I did have a couple guesses that were completely wrong. And then there was lots of action and of course a big reveal during a hurricane. Talk about delivering the killer with a bang.
I love Mr. Helm’s mysteries. The Mac McClellan mysteries are wonderful, easy to get into, and filled with lots to keep you on the edge of your seat. Make sure to check them out.
I received Deadly Spirits from the publisher for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
jbronderbookreviews 