Mac McClellan is a retired Marine enjoying an uncomplicated lifestyle with girlfriend Kate Bell in the Florida panhandle. While on a date with Mac, Kate sees Wes Harrison, a former boyfriend who’s been dead twelve years. Mac wants to be supportive but is not sure how to help her.
When Kate introduces Mac to long-time family friend, Frank Hightower of Hightower Investigations, Mac receives a proposition to work for Frank while taking courses to earn his PI license. Frank offers to be Mac’s sponsor and pay for his courses in exchange for work on the Harrison case. It doesn’t take Mac long to decide this might be a good deal for him.
As Mac’s investigation delves into Harrison’s background, Kate finds a cache of diamonds among some old items of Harrison’s and suspects that he might be trying to find her. The stakes rise when Kate’s car is tampered with and someone takes a shot at Mac on a dark night in front of his trailer. The trail of clues lead Mac from uncovering diamond smuggling to drug dealers to murder before leading to the Palmetto Royale Casino & Resort. Not realizing that his cover has been blown, Mac books a room at the resort, thus putting his life on the line as he attempts to solve the case before someone else dies.
Deadly Ruse is the second book in the Mac McClellan Mystery series. Characters are believable and very likable. Even the bad guys have complicated pasts, which adds to the interest level in the book and helps to counterbalance the somewhat predictable ending. While a bit slow in parts, the action overall is moves quickly.
FTC Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by its publisher.
Thanks much, Terry!