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Dwayne Morrow Mystery #5
Isolation
Is there anything more unsettling than the inability to trust your own senses? Dwayne Morrow is about to find out…
Recent events in West Virginia have left Dwayne in a fragile state of mind. His recollections of those final hours are blurry at best, and while he knows what he wants to believe, he’s bound by a promise not to investigate any further. Despite the patience and support from friends and family, he finds himself hobbled by despair, unable to fully confide in anyone.
When Boggs Investigations is invited to join a trial mystery weekend on a private island in Lake Erie, Dwayne is pressured by his boss to rejoin the living and participate in what is supposed to be an exercise in teamwork.
But the island has a haunted history, and for Dwayne, the line quickly blurs between what is real and what isn’t. Time is running out, and Dwayne must decide whether the real danger is to his friends or to his own sanity.
Isolation is the fifth heart-stopping adventure in the Dwayne Morrow Mystery series.
Recent events in West Virginia have left Dwayne in a fragile state of mind. His recollections of those final hours are blurry at best, and while he knows what he wants to believe, he’s bound by a promise not to investigate any further. Despite the patience and support from friends and family, he finds himself hobbled by despair, unable to fully confide in anyone.
When Boggs Investigations is invited to join a trial mystery weekend on a private island in Lake Erie, Dwayne is pressured by his boss to rejoin the living and participate in what is supposed to be an exercise in teamwork.
But the island has a haunted history, and for Dwayne, the line quickly blurs between what is real and what isn’t. Time is running out, and Dwayne must decide whether the real danger is to his friends or to his own sanity.
Isolation is the fifth heart-stopping adventure in the Dwayne Morrow Mystery series.
- GenresMystery
Unknown Binding
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56 people want to read
About the author
Darin Miller
17 books405 followersDarin Miller was born in Portsmouth but currently resides in Grove City, both of which are located in Ohio. While he has worked in Information Technology for three decades, he has not solved a single, solitary crime to date. He is the BookFest award-winning author of the Ohio-based Dwayne Morrow Mystery series, as well as an unrelated short story collection, Broken Bits and Bobs, and a standalone psychological horror thriller, Equilibrium. With equal parts action, humor, suspense and mystery, the Dwayne Morrow series features characters you’re sure to love—and in some cases, loathe.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 13, 2024
Dwayne struggles to cope in the aftermath of the West Virginia tragedy (Book #4 Diversion). Though the details remain hazy, he carries the weight of that fateful night. He harbors a secret, but a promise binds him to silence. Friends and family show support, yet Dwayne grieves alone, torn between honoring his word and unburdening himself to Melanie. The path forward is unclear. Then, when Boggs Investigations receives an invitation to a team-building mystery weekend on a private island, Dwayne is wary. His boss insists he attend the event on the remote Lake Erie isle or he will have to close the Columbus branch of Boggs Investigations, leaving Dwayne no choice. The island is steeped in chilling history and legend, making it the perfect backdrop for a haunting story. As the weekend unfolds, the line between reality and nightmare quickly blurs for Dwayne. Unexplained events leave him (and everyone with him) questioning his sanity. Is the danger real or imagined? Is someone - or something - out to destroy the group? Time is running out to unravel the mysteries. Dwayne must trust his instincts to save his friends...and himself.
The series reunites us with our favorite characters while also introducing captivating new figures that draw us deeper into the tale. The manor's mysterious owner raises eyebrows. The murder mystery participants pique our curiosity. And one loathsome, drunken lout earns nothing but contempt. We get more hilarious and shocking moments with Loretta that will have you laughing out loud one minute and wide-eyed the next, while at times rooting for her as much as Dwayne. The scenes between Dwayne and Melanie will leave you wondering if they can move past the damage or if he'll stick his foot in his mouth yet again. Each vivid character comes to life through believable dialogue that makes you feel transported right into the scene. With its mix of familiar faces and intriguing new personalities, this book promises an adventure you won't want to miss.
The descriptions and details revealed in this book showed the author's unwavering attention to crafting a vivid, immersive setting. Through masterful world-building and meticulously chosen details, Darin Miller succeeds in transporting the reader into the story's universe. Even as the action and adventure intensify, the rich descriptions continue unabated, conjuring cinematic visions that play out like a film in the reader's mind. The details are never excessive, yet provide sufficient depth and texture to envision each scene unfolding from start to finish. This balance allows the reader to fully inhabit the world on the page. The atmospherics envelop the audience completely, drawing us into the narrative through skillful use of sensory details and evocative language.
Isolation is the 5th book in the Dwayne Morrow Mysteries series and proves to be another great read by Darin Miller. After reading Diversion (Book #4), Isolation takes on a whole new mood as well as a new mystery, new twists and turns, and an ending that will make you beyond curious long after you close the book. It takes an expert writer to write a mystery story within a mystery story, and include a legend/ backstory that also includes a mystery but it takes a masterful storyteller to be able to tie up any and all loose ends, in which Darin Miller succeeded remarkably.
The series reunites us with our favorite characters while also introducing captivating new figures that draw us deeper into the tale. The manor's mysterious owner raises eyebrows. The murder mystery participants pique our curiosity. And one loathsome, drunken lout earns nothing but contempt. We get more hilarious and shocking moments with Loretta that will have you laughing out loud one minute and wide-eyed the next, while at times rooting for her as much as Dwayne. The scenes between Dwayne and Melanie will leave you wondering if they can move past the damage or if he'll stick his foot in his mouth yet again. Each vivid character comes to life through believable dialogue that makes you feel transported right into the scene. With its mix of familiar faces and intriguing new personalities, this book promises an adventure you won't want to miss.
The descriptions and details revealed in this book showed the author's unwavering attention to crafting a vivid, immersive setting. Through masterful world-building and meticulously chosen details, Darin Miller succeeds in transporting the reader into the story's universe. Even as the action and adventure intensify, the rich descriptions continue unabated, conjuring cinematic visions that play out like a film in the reader's mind. The details are never excessive, yet provide sufficient depth and texture to envision each scene unfolding from start to finish. This balance allows the reader to fully inhabit the world on the page. The atmospherics envelop the audience completely, drawing us into the narrative through skillful use of sensory details and evocative language.
Isolation is the 5th book in the Dwayne Morrow Mysteries series and proves to be another great read by Darin Miller. After reading Diversion (Book #4), Isolation takes on a whole new mood as well as a new mystery, new twists and turns, and an ending that will make you beyond curious long after you close the book. It takes an expert writer to write a mystery story within a mystery story, and include a legend/ backstory that also includes a mystery but it takes a masterful storyteller to be able to tie up any and all loose ends, in which Darin Miller succeeded remarkably.
October 14, 2024
Was it Loretta in the kitchen with the whiskey bottle or Melanie in the bedroom with the laptop? Dwayne Morrow, a not-so-seasoned private investigator with a knack for bumbling his way through unraveling the most intricate cases, has done it again! He finds himself on a secluded island with the Boggs investigation team for what he prays is an innocuous mystery Clue-like weekend. But Dwayne should know nothing is as it seems when it comes to any of Doug’s ideas. This case was no different, but it sure was explosive! As bodies begin to pile up and the island becomes a powder keg of suspicion and finger-pointing, Dwayne must use all his skills, or lack thereof, to decide if those bodies are good and truly dead or just on hiatus until the “mystery” is solved. To do that, he has to know what the mystery is, but no one on the island is too sure about that either.
Mr. Miller skillfully weaves together a cast of characters that feels surprising until you learn that they each have their own secrets and motives for being on the island for the weekend. The nonsensical layout of players makes it difficult to decide who can be trusted to be at their side and who should be voted off the island…ahem, bye Leroy!
Dwayne wants to prove to Doug that he’s ready to work again after the death of his sister and to Melanie that he has put the past behind him, even if he can’t tell her everything yet. He makes promises he can’t keep but generally becomes self-aware again after living in a cloud of grief. His sharp wit is on point as he navigates the treacherous waters of the island, but he’s helped along by equally well-developed characters who add depth to the story.
Isolation was a well-done 'locked room' mystery that's a must-read for fans of the Dwayne Morrow series and any fan who loves unraveling all the clues to find the culprit. It is a well-crafted tale that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Mr. Miller skillfully weaves together a cast of characters that feels surprising until you learn that they each have their own secrets and motives for being on the island for the weekend. The nonsensical layout of players makes it difficult to decide who can be trusted to be at their side and who should be voted off the island…ahem, bye Leroy!
Dwayne wants to prove to Doug that he’s ready to work again after the death of his sister and to Melanie that he has put the past behind him, even if he can’t tell her everything yet. He makes promises he can’t keep but generally becomes self-aware again after living in a cloud of grief. His sharp wit is on point as he navigates the treacherous waters of the island, but he’s helped along by equally well-developed characters who add depth to the story.
Isolation was a well-done 'locked room' mystery that's a must-read for fans of the Dwayne Morrow series and any fan who loves unraveling all the clues to find the culprit. It is a well-crafted tale that will keep you guessing until the very end.
August 9, 2025
Isolation is Book #5 in the Dwayne Morrow Mystery series. Our bumbling hero, Dwayne, is recuperating from the aftermath of the West Virginia tragedy (Book #4 Diversion), nurturing his wounds, both physical and emotional. His on-going relationship with his best friend’s widow is fractured, as well. His entire world has him feeling completely crumbled.
To lure Dwayne back to work (and because his contract makes him financially responsible), his boss Doug Boggs tries a different tactic, that of a team-building excursion on a remote, private island in Lake Erie.
It’s an experimental “escape room” weekend on Marble Toe Island, which exudes history and mystery in a beautiful but possibly haunted mansion. Doug may be less concerned about the secrets the old building harbors than with the fact that it’s totally free.
Along with his boss and his boss’s mother Loretta, Dwayne brings his girlfriend Melanie and trusty (but annoying) sidekick Brady, who also brings a date.
The entire weekend’s events has the reader questioning whether it’s real or if Dwayne has succumbed to the pressures of all of his previous adventures. Even Dwayne himself is wondering if he’s “lost it”.
Only one way to find out - - if you dare!
To lure Dwayne back to work (and because his contract makes him financially responsible), his boss Doug Boggs tries a different tactic, that of a team-building excursion on a remote, private island in Lake Erie.
It’s an experimental “escape room” weekend on Marble Toe Island, which exudes history and mystery in a beautiful but possibly haunted mansion. Doug may be less concerned about the secrets the old building harbors than with the fact that it’s totally free.
Along with his boss and his boss’s mother Loretta, Dwayne brings his girlfriend Melanie and trusty (but annoying) sidekick Brady, who also brings a date.
The entire weekend’s events has the reader questioning whether it’s real or if Dwayne has succumbed to the pressures of all of his previous adventures. Even Dwayne himself is wondering if he’s “lost it”.
Only one way to find out - - if you dare!
September 28, 2023
Dwayne and his high school friend sets out once again to solve a big mystery, but this time it is planned. A mystery island getaway on Marble Toe Island in Lake Erie. This time it was a team building excursion, and they definitely needed that. Dwayne, Doug ( Dwayne’s boss) Doug extravagant mother and there other friends , and a few strangers are left on the island to find clues and solve the mystery of hidden family treasure, what they find has everyone questioning what is staged and what is real. When people die, do they really die? When they learn of the island’s history, they have to pull together to distinguish truth from myth. The characters are awesome…we’ll most of them. And they had me laughing, worried, wondering, and some had me saying…what the heck!? I really enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end
March 13, 2025
Another 5* read for me in the Dwayne Morrow Mystery series.
If you're a fan of escape rooms or those murder mystery dinners, Isolation, Book 5 in the Dwayne Morrow series, is for you. As always, I was entertained throughout. There's just something about Dwayne Morrow that makes him relatable. He's far from perfect, stumbles upon a lot of his good luck (not to mention some of the bad), and the way he speaks to the reader as if he's sharing his thoughts with you as he experiences them is just refreshing and fun.
In fact, that's one of the things I particularly like about Miller's writing style is that when his main character is narrating, it feels more like he's sitting there in front of the reader, talking TO him/her about his latest adventure, making us laugh or cringe or roll our eyes or whatever the scene calls for.
So again, yes, I definitely recommend this series.
If you're a fan of escape rooms or those murder mystery dinners, Isolation, Book 5 in the Dwayne Morrow series, is for you. As always, I was entertained throughout. There's just something about Dwayne Morrow that makes him relatable. He's far from perfect, stumbles upon a lot of his good luck (not to mention some of the bad), and the way he speaks to the reader as if he's sharing his thoughts with you as he experiences them is just refreshing and fun.
In fact, that's one of the things I particularly like about Miller's writing style is that when his main character is narrating, it feels more like he's sitting there in front of the reader, talking TO him/her about his latest adventure, making us laugh or cringe or roll our eyes or whatever the scene calls for.
So again, yes, I definitely recommend this series.
January 22, 2025
Team building on an island in Lake Erie. What could go wrong? Plenty when you have a cast of characters like Doug Boggs, his mother Loretta, Dwayne. Melanie, Brady and his new girlfriend, Dusty. All characters introduced in previous Dwayne Morrow Mysteries with the exception of Dusty. I loved the interaction of the characters as they set out to solve the intended mystery but end up in the middle of a mystery themselves. There is suspense mixed with humor and excitement. The writing is superb and a page-turner written by a master storyteller.
October 15, 2023
I liked the twist of this one. Instead of getting involved in solving a crime that was stumbled upon, there was some team building incentive. Even though no one died during this event, I still don't think I want to meet Dwayne.
October 17, 2023
These books keep getting better! And not just because my name is in this one :) Of course there is the suspense of mystery, but there’s also character growth and dang it’s fun to watch! Read? Watch? Whatever! If you’ve started this series keep going, I can’t wait for the next one!
July 12, 2024
i enjoyed it. each book gets better & better. dwayne is such a lovable dork
March 27, 2025
Great read
This series is a fun mystery series to read! Poor Dwayne just gets himself in such weird predicaments!
Highly recommend this book!
This series is a fun mystery series to read! Poor Dwayne just gets himself in such weird predicaments!
Highly recommend this book!
October 30, 2025
Book review:
Isolation by Darin Miller Writes - The Dwayne Morrow Mysteries and More
The best things I love about this series are the one liners that make me laugh out loud, plus the characters and their personalities. 😏 There is a mention of an alpha granny, a Mickey mouse mystery weekend and lastly Gilligan's Island. Lol. As I was reading, I began to also think of a Scooby Doo episode, then I was doubled over with laughter when it actually gets mentioned several chapters later. Great minds think alike Darin, that's kinda scary. 🤣 Overall though, this is a captivating series and my favorite one so far. I can't wait to see where all the gang goes from here. 5 stars 🤩
Isolation by Darin Miller Writes - The Dwayne Morrow Mysteries and More
The best things I love about this series are the one liners that make me laugh out loud, plus the characters and their personalities. 😏 There is a mention of an alpha granny, a Mickey mouse mystery weekend and lastly Gilligan's Island. Lol. As I was reading, I began to also think of a Scooby Doo episode, then I was doubled over with laughter when it actually gets mentioned several chapters later. Great minds think alike Darin, that's kinda scary. 🤣 Overall though, this is a captivating series and my favorite one so far. I can't wait to see where all the gang goes from here. 5 stars 🤩
May 26, 2023
great as always
Book #5 in the Dwayne Morrow Mysteries series did not disappoint. Dwayne and his interesting crew bumbled their way through this story just like before with humor and twists along the way. Dwayne was funnier than ever sometimes deliberately and sometimes not.
I recommend definitely reading all the series if you like humorous mysteries!
Book #5 in the Dwayne Morrow Mysteries series did not disappoint. Dwayne and his interesting crew bumbled their way through this story just like before with humor and twists along the way. Dwayne was funnier than ever sometimes deliberately and sometimes not.
I recommend definitely reading all the series if you like humorous mysteries!
July 26, 2023
Another wonderful book from the amazing story weaver/teller Darin Miller. I’ve read the first five Dwayne Morrow mysteries and each one is spell-binding and unique while building on the events from the previous ones. In Isolation, I guessed wrong so many times as to what was really happening..a mystery until the end when all the clues made sense.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews