Black Water

Mitch Mitchell #2

by Doug Allyn

A drowned man is a dead man...so how did this one disappear?

Meet Michelle "Mitch" Mitchell— tough, young single mom and a gutsy deepwater diver. As a favor to her hometown sheriff, Mitch has agreed to an ugly job; diving in the black waters of Michigan's Huron Harbor.

Mitch descends into the murky darkness of the Odawa River to find Jimmy Calderon, who ran his car off a rain-slicked road. The car is there, but Jimmy isn't. The police call it an "unfortunate accident," but Mitch thinks there's a lot more to it. She may getting in over her head, but she knows the answers lie deep under the deadly...

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller

217 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1996

About the author

Doug Allyn is the author of two previous novels, Motown Underground and The Cheerio Killings, featuring a Detroit police detective as well as the first Mitch Mitchell mystery, Icewater Mansions. A number of his short stories have won national awards, including the 1994 Edgar Award for Best Short Story. His "day job" is a night one; Allyn is a professional musician who travels with his wife, Eve, singer and bass player, and their rock band around the Midwest. The author lives in Montrose, Michigan.

Reviews

[Julie Ditton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read and enjoyed the first book of this series a few years ago when I found it on a list of mysteries with strong female protagonists. I finally got back to Michelle “Mitch” Mitchell and this book did not disappoint. When she can’t get a bank loan for roof repairs at her restaurant, she thinks that she has problems. But her troubles are just beginning. When she befriends the brother of a missing man and they start looking into his supposedly accidental death, her financial woes are suddenly even more complicated and so is her love life. I enjoyed this book and wish that the author had written more than just three novels in t series.

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

BLACK WATER (Suspense-Michigan-Cont) – G+
Allyn, Doug – 2nd in series
Thomas Dunne Books, 1996- Hardcover
Mitch Mitchell's restaurant needs serious repair and obtaining a loan is doubtful. She accepts a dive job checking out a car which has gown into the lake, but the car is empty. When she decides to help the brother of the missing driver, it puts her in water deeper than the lake in which she dives.
*** I discovered Allyn last year from his excellent book "The Burning of Rachael Hayes," and promptly ordered his backlist. Allyn is a wonderful writer who knows how to create interesting characters you'd like to know, a sense of place you'd like to visit, dialogue you can hear and a plot in which you become involved. I particularly appreciate that he doesn't fall into the stereotypical small-town police chief, and included a well-done twist at the end. I will admit that this book was not quite as good as "Icewater Mansions," the first in the Mitch Mitchell series, but that's being really picky.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mitch needs money for a new roof but she is not a good financial risk for a bank loan. She takes a dive job in black water where she cannot see anything. She dives to find a car that left the road and went into the river but it is empty. The missing man's brother shows up and wants Mitch's help looking for him. The man was troubled and looking for his real father. There is a connection to a prominent local family and soon Mitch's business is in trouble due to her involvement. The truth is putting them in danger.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked up this book just because I'm running out of Clancy, Flynn, Bell, Brown etc. Didn't expect much so was pleasantly surprised when I got hooked. Will probably look for more "Mitch". Strong female lead!

[Andy Plonka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not too excited about this series so this will probably be the only one I'll read, despite the fact it is set in my home state.