Dig Deep For Murder

Smiley and McBlythe #11

by Bruce Hammack

It was the perfect murder… until the truth refused to stay buried.

With no active murder case to solve, private investigator Steve Smiley is enjoying a week of peace and quiet. Meanwhile, his partner is preoccupied with her latest real estate project. However, their tranquility is short-lived when a dead body is unearthed at the construction site.

Suspicion falls on a young construction worker and brings the project to a standstill. When the boy's lawyer hires them to prove his innocence, Smiley must navigate the complicated dynamics of high school friendships and broken relationships.

Tight-knit loyalty and deception among the teenagers challenge Smiley’s investigative skills. He’ll have to dig deep to uncover the truth and set an innocent young man free while stopping a killer from getting away with murder.

Smiley and McBlythe deliver a page-turning mystery that will keep you up way past your bedtime, all with no graphic violence, sex or foul language.

Genres: Mystery

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 18, 2024

About the author

Drawing from his extensive background in criminal justice, Bruce Hammack writes contemporary, clean read detective and crime mysteries.

When he's not writing his next novel, he enjoys reading classic whodunits, watching film noir movies and traveling to see new places.

Having lived in eighteen cities around the world, he now lives in the Texas hill country with his wife of thirty-plus years.

He is the author of the Star of Justice series, the Smiley and McBlythe Mysteries and the Fen Maguire Mysteries. You can find out about his latest release at https://brucehammack.com/.
Follow him on social media at https://www.facebook.com/BruceHammack...
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/bruce...

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series installment #10 was as enjoyable as the rest. Clean mystery with likable characters.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Dig Deep for Murder” is an entertaining, contemporary, and intriguing mystery/police procedural with an engaging cast of characters. The book can be read as a stand-alone novel. However, I would recommend that reading the book that comes before “Dig Deep for Murder,” which is titled ”A Beach to Die For,” would help the reader become more acquainted with the characters.
As usual, Mr. Hammack’s talent in telling a story through dialogue is evident. Mr. Hammack also utilizes some unique analogies, and there are some interesting uses of phrases that are local to the culture of Texas. There is a little humor and a well-written conclusion that wraps up the story. Also, there is a hint in the ending that there may be more stories to come in the future. It’s not a cliff- hanger.
Because there are more than twenty characters in the book, and I had trouble remembering them all, I took notes when the names and roles were mentioned. That way I could refer to my notes and keep the people straight; I enjoyed the book better that way. It’s not something that is a problem with the author or story; it's just that I have learned to take notes when I read. I also took notes on the locations and looked them up on the internet and on maps. I would not hesitate to recommend the book to family and friends, especially if they like books where there is a lot of socializing.
There are a few grammatical errors that do not detract from the reading. And in some parts of the book there are some places where the author got out of his area of expertise, but because the book is fiction, I’m not sure that this is a serious problem either.
The book is definitely a cozy read, with no excess violence, no inappropriate language, or sexual activity. Also, the detectives operate within the law and cooperate with the police. I appreciate that a good story can be told without having an outlaw vengeance killer who goes after drug cartels and sex traffickers. The last four books I read were based on that theme and it’s getting old. Mr. Hammack’s mysteries are original and unique. I learned something new about Texas by reading this book. I had to look up Texas’ laws on alcohol because of some scenes I read in the book. You have to be 21 to drink alcohol on your own in Texas. Minors can drink in bars with their parents. Yes, it is legal in Texas for minor’s to work (must be 18 to serve alcohol), eat, and dance in establishments that serve alcohol, as long as they are with their legal-aged parents or legal guardian. I’ve never lived in a state that allowed that or ever thought of bringing a minor into a bar, so it was interesting to learn about the social life in Texas. I read an advance reader copy of the book. I volunteered on my own to write this review.
Also, in my Goodreads Year in Books I read 159 books and Bruce Hammack’s book, “Murder on the Wichita,” was the highest rated book by readers. That series of his books, I would also recommend.
Locations/settings in "Dig Deep for Murder": [Texas: Houston, Conroe (Jack’s fictional downtown law office), Lake Conroe, The Woodlands (fictional The McBlythe Building), Rubio’s Bistro (fictional?), Spring city/suburb, Denny’s Restaurant, I-45 ten minutes south of Spring]

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 10 in the Smiley and McBlythe series opens with the two private detectives dealing with separate issues in their live. Steve has switched writing coaches and has found out the guy stole his stories and published them as his own. He is trying to decide what to do about it and his confidence in himself as taken a hit. Meanwhile Heather is working on a huge building development and one of the employees comes across a dead girl.

Heather is very concerned about the young man who found the body. His father is Heather's contractor and she doesn't want to see the young man in trouble. She is also dealing with her new relationship with her boyfriend, Jack, and his daughter. They had broken their engagement but are still dating and she is adjusting to Jack's daughter being in the picture. She is also helping Jack adjust and giving him some ideas on running his law office. It really helps to have read the previous books in this series for some background on the various characters and how they are all involved with each other.

Heather likes to be in control and wants to help Steve with his problem and enlists some help from a person she knows. She has plans for the development she is building and wants to have all the people close to her live in the area in close proximity. She talks Steve into helping in the investigation of dead girl but gets a little irritated with him when he is always a step ahead of her. She is able to use her money and contacts to help with the investigation but Steve is definitely the one with the insights. They include their young friend, Bella, in their investigation. She becomes instrumental in gathering information from some young people who she can relate better to than the others. Heather also involves Jack's daughter hoping to establish a better relationship.

Lots of suspects in this case with some interesting twists and turns. Quite a few complicated relationships between the different characters. Steve and Heather are both strong characters and the author does a good job of showing each one's strengths and weaknesses. Enjoyed this mystery as I have all the others I've read in this series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Joleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always five-stars.

Although not faith driven, this series is nonetheless clean.

Steve Smiley, a 40-something, blind ex-detective with 30-something Heather McBlithe as his partner in their investigating company, solving murders or other cases brought before them because they’re just that good. Steve has a sixth sense, of sorts, that has him "seeing" things others don’t. Heather is savvy on the legal side, has nearly unlimited funds, and assists with research and know-how.

They make the best team.

But the other characters are great additions.

Jack (an attorney) is Heather's ex-fiancé since he found out he has a daughter for which he now has custody. Not a bad thing, just put a complication in their trajectory. Love is definitely there, but his priorities have changed. He also makes a great "sort-of" partner.

Then there's 20-year-old Bella, who, if he has his choice, would be the daughter Steve and his late wife never had. What a marvelous addition to their team whenever she's not with her new husband or parents. So far, every book I’ve read in this series has Bella in it. I’m not sure if she’s in all of them, but I’m always delighted when she calls to visit for a while, getting herself involved in whatever case they’re doing.

The newest addition to their group is Brian, Jack's twelve-year-old daughter. At first, I wasn’t sure about her, but with this episode, I’ve absolutely fallen in love with her. I can see why she and Steve hit it off. He sees her potential and works diligently to make her feel comfortable in this new life she’s been thrust into, including showing her how to dance, unbeknownst to everyone.

Okay there's the background on the main players. But in this story there are many others, including a young man being charged with murder, even though he was the one to find her body. A number of other teens and their parents involved, set up by Bella for auditions to her modeling deal so they can be questioned as part of their contract. This was genius, and gave Steve all the details he needed to learn who the murder actually was. Also genius!

All this is to say this was a fun, clean and can’t-wait-for-the-next-one sort of book.

[Shilo Goodson · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this is the 10th book in the series (11th if you count the prequel), this is the first book in the series that I've read. I enjoyed it enough that I bought the first three books in the series.

Because this is several books into the series, there were some parts that were a bit confusing. I got some characters confused, and I had to figure out how certain characters fit together. I was able to catch on to most of the connections. I think reading the previous books will help a lot. While I enjoyed this book, I wouldn't recommend starting with it. I'd start at the beginning of the series.

Despite being a bit confused at times, I appreciate that the author didn't try to recap the previous books too much. If I'd followed the series from the beginning, I think the level of recap would have felt perfect.

I love murder mysteries, but unfortunately, they can get a bit graphic. I often feel like they are either too violent or they feel too cozy. I'm not sure if that fully makes sense, but fortunately, this book wasn't graphic and it didn't feel too cozy.

This was a clean book. There's no swearing, sexual content, or graphic violence. There were a few scenes that included verbal arguments, threats, and some mild violence. I'd put it at PG when it came to violent content.

For me, this was very close to being a 4.5-star book. I had two main reasons that I didn't rate this book higher. First, there were a few parts that felt a little too far-fetched and convenient. I'm not going to ruin the story, so I'll just say that they involve the interviewing of the murder victim's friends. Second, some of the conversations felt off. I just feel like the dialogue needed some minor polishing.

I got a free ARC of this book through BookSirens, and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cathy R Morgan]

When a dead body is found on Heather's construction site and the young man who discovered it is blamed, neither Steve nor Heather believes in his guilt. Unfortunately he seems to have a motive as well as the ability, and with no other clear suspects, the police seem happy to settle on Clay unless an alternative can be found. Steve and Heather investigate, and amidst the murky waters of high school relationships come up with a more likely suspect - but the solution feels a bit too obvious, and Steve is convinced there's more to the story. Will he be able to uncover the truth?

Another good read in the series, with an intriguing mystery gradually unfolded but also a further installment of Heather's relationship with Jack and his daughter - not to mention a background problem in Steve's author life. The mystery is well done and kept me guessing, and I appreciated the way that their lives are also an important part of the story. I really enjoy the combination, but it does mean that these stories are best read as a series, even though the mysteries themselves are completely standalone. All in all, a good read and I look forward to seeing what Steve and Heather run into next - hopefully with an update on Steve's author troubles...

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 10 in the Smiley and McBlythe series is a great read! I will say that to help keep all the characters straight, reading them in order helps, but each one is a great read on its own.

Smiley has found out that the person that is supposed to be helping him publish his books, is actually taking the books and having them printed with his name as the author! Smiley is assaulted in his own home, he tries to keep that info from quiet, but when the apartment is set on fire, that adds a whole new level to whats going on! Who started the fire and why?

Heather is working on a building development, which is brought to a halt when the body of a young woman is found dead, and buried on the property, and of course the police turn to the person who found the body as being the murderer! But Heather doesn't believe that to be the case, and starts digging into what happened and who may have actually done it! With the help of Bella, they come up with a way to get to the bottom of what happened, why it happened and who did it.

I highly recommend any of the books by Bruce Hammack, as the writing is engaging, well thought out, and most of all, its a clean read, with no sexual activity, clean language etc.


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Daryl P Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cast of characters drive story and solve mystery.

This is the tenth book in the Smiley and McBlythe cannon and I strongly recommend you read them in order so as to not have some spoiled and more deeply appreciate the characters' interplay and backstories. This probably would work as a standalone, but I doubt I would rate it as highly.

You get character driven stories and plots and the cast is handled well with their special skills and powers being deployed in a group effort to solve the main crime. There are a couple of sub-plots and a diversion or two. There are fair clues seeded into the story and suspicion falls widely and with justification. The use of allies to get access to suspects is a good, credible ruse - especially when you're aware of the resources available to Heather McBlythe. There is a satisfying resolution to the main mystery, but some story arcs are left to be completed without feeling like a cliffhanger. Several of the character arcs are further developed and I look forward to reading more about these interesting people.

I received a free advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to the plot of the story, the discovery of a dead high school student with a very obvious suspect. I then discovered this is the tenth book in the series. I give the author credit for making this able to be read as a stand alone story.
The team of Smiley and McBlythe make an interesting combination. Both are ex-police officers working as private investigators, among other things. Some of those other things lead to secondary story lines. Enough back story is given to prevent a feeling of missing critical information, without bogging the current story down. The pacing was steady.
I found it surprising how much Smiley and McBlythe were underestimated by the suspects in the case. Perhaps understandable on the surface, but some of the suspects were also fully aware of their backgrounds and still overlooked their abilities.
This was a serious crime story, and the situations provided suspense or danger throughout. But, there are some character quirks that give just a bit of relief to keep this from feeling too heavy.
I received an advanced copy through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[DJ McCready · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe I might have read all the Smiley and McBlythe series but I certainly relate to this one even better than the others. The plot is complicated enough to keep one reading and the characters are well-developed here despite having appeared in prior books, thus making it possible reading even without having read the prior books.
In this instance, there are secondary school students involved as well as adults and the use of the young woman who had been helped by our sleuths and who appeared in the book about her marriage became crucial in helping solve the crime.
We met Jack's daughter in the book about the wedding but this is the first book that she takes an active role in.
I have read other series by Hammack and will read more of them as they come out but this series makes me relate so much to the subject matter, the personal relationships and even the realism of the situations.



I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[John Presler · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Heather is busy with her latest real estate project, Steve Smiley is relaxing and enjoying some peace and quiet. Heather's project comes to a sudden stop when a body is found while some drainage pipes are being moved deeper. The contractor's son, Cody, was operating the equipment when the body was discovered. He had previously dated the dead girl, April Brewer, so he automatically became the prime suspect. Heather asks Jack to represent Cody while Steve gets busy talking with some of Cody's friends and former class mates to get a better handle on the case.

Who killed April? Why was she killed? Who buried her body in the ground on Heather's project? Can Steve and Heather unravel the mystery and expose the culprit?

Bruce Hammack has another wonderful addition to the Smiley & McBlythe series. With a combination of lies, untold secrets, and other distractions, the mystery will definitely keep the reader engaged clear to the end.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly great book murder mystery needs to include character development and interaction, a touch of humor, and enough twists and turns that I don't guess the guilty party halfway through the book. And it all has to be wrapped up in a clean wrapper unsullied by immoral sexual activities, undue violence, or filthy language. As the Smiley and McBlythe (plus an overweight cat) again got drawn into murder investigation to protect the innocent obvious candidate for the crime, it was a pleasure, too, to find all their other friends like Belle, Jack, and his daughter (whose character is more fully developed) joining into the fray (and adding to the relationship dimensions). Thankful to be on his ARC reader team, I got a free early copy with just a responsibility to write an honest review (which I always try to do anyway).

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the tenth book in the Smiley and McBlythe series, and each book is better than the one preceding it. We have all the regular characters, with each one working on their own projects, which intersect in the murder mystery. I like the way the author intertwines everyone, yet also allows them to come into conflict due to their strong personalities. Each book has its own murder to solve, so this can be read as a standalone, but it would be better to read the series from the beginning to get a better understanding of the characters. There are also some themes that carry over from book to book. A very enjoyable read! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dig Deep for Murder is book 10 in A Smiley and McBlythe Mystery by Bruce Hammack. One of the things I really liked about this book was how it seamlessly moved from book 9 to 10. Heather is busy with the new construction when a body is unearthed. Bucky Franklin published Steve's short stories as his own. This mystery has so much action and surprises that I could not put the book down! Sometimes I forget that Steve is blind and Heather is a multi millionaire and Max the cat is quite the cat. The murderer was a surprise and Bucky will not go down quietly. I can't wait to read book 11 and see what happens next! I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always with this author, you know you’re going to get a really well thought out plot, a writing style that just makes you want to keep reading and a satisfying ending. The next in the Steve Smiley and Heather McBlythe series certainly does all of that, with a good sub plot for Steve. I like the addition of Briann, daughter of Heathers love interest, Jack, she brings a new dynamic to the read. Newly wed Belle is back along with Max the Maine coon cat. An intriguing murder mystery, plenty of suspects, a dash of humour, a really riveting read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Margery · Rating 5 out of 5]

They say troubles come in threes. Well for ex Boston officer Steve has short stories he wants to publish are stolen. His woes continue as the thief threatens Steve, sets his house on fire, Steve does not back down. Being blind has sharpened his listening skills far better than anyone with sight. Then we have Heather, lawyer working her company building new homes struggling with her boyfriend. They were engaged, but had to go back to dating mode. Jack is also a lawyer who has taken on a teen aged boy charged with murder. Which issue takes preference? This book is a mind boggling page turner and Mr. Hammack has done a great job keeping things organized.

[Myra Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another page-turner from a "clean mystery" pro! Hammack comes up with some really creative scenarios for private detectives Smiley and McBlythe to unravel. While the sleuths are searching out clues about the murder, they're also neck-deep in their personal problems. That, for me, is what keeps me coming back to the stories in this series. I do love a good mystery, but if I'm not invested in the private lives of the central characters, then it's just another puzzle to solve. Hammack knows how to weave together the mystery and personal plot lines in a way that keeps me happily engaged with both.

[Sharmani Jayaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Former Houston Homicide detective Steve Smiley tells Heather McBlythe his friend and business partner that someone had Pirated his stories he had written about his previous work. He had trusted Bucky Franklin who had also been a former cop. Then a body of a woman is found buried under a drainage line on Heather's project. Clay her contractors son becomes the prime suspect. Jack, Heather’s boyfriend, Heather and Steve have their work cut-out for them finding evidence to prove his innocence. A exciting read to the finish. I received this ARC copy via booksirans and leave a honest review. I recommend this book to other readers.

[Jeanie Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I haven’t read the other books in this series, I found it easy to dive into this author’s work. The main characters in the story are private detectives named Steve Smiley and Heather McBlythe. They were both very likable and had intriguing situations and complications in their personal lives. For example, Steve’s writing coach and editor has plagiarized and published his stories. Then Heather’s contractor’s son finds a body. I found the mystery and investigation to be enjoyable, and I appreciate that there is no explicit language or disturbing graphic violence. I’m eager to explore more books written by this author.

[Shelly Neinast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Digging for secrets

As always, author Bruce Hammack has over achieved his writing skills. Don't know how he does it, but every new book he writes is just as great and entertaining as the last one.
This book #11 in the series was a little different in solving a homicide that involved high school students instead of adults. It was a refreshing treat, and it was interesting to read how Heather and Steve would solve this case.
It was also nice to read about Bella and Adam's new life and the changes in Heather's new housing project.
Love reading Bruce Hammacks books and look forward to reading more from this author.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dig Deep for Murder by Bruce Hammack is another great book in the series. I love the interaction among the different characters. This is not the first book that I have read in the series and I read them out of order but they can be read as a stand alone. I recently finished the book following this one and I enjoyed filling in the pieces, but it was not necessary. I received an advance reader copy and I always review every book that I read. The plot and characters are well developed and it will have you guessing "whodunit" until the very end. I thoroughly enjoy reading these books. I highly recommend this one. Enjoy.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heather was enjoying her latest real estate project - creating an upmarket village out of an old trailer plot when her construction workers unearth the body of a dead teenager. Clay recognised the victim as his ex-girlfriend and everything seemed to point to young Clay being the murderer.

Another perplexing case for Heather and Steve. This time, there is a lot more at play and getting truths out of teenagers is harder than blood out of stone. As always, an exciting and totally baffling read which somehow seems to end much too soon!

[Brenda]

It was the perfect murder until the truth refused to stay buried. With no active murder case to solve, blind private investigator Steve Smiley is enjoying a week of peace and quiet. Meanwhile, his partner is preoccupied with her latest real estate project. However, their tranquility is short-lived when a dead body is unearthed at the construction site.
This is an interesting book to read. Steve was blind after an accident. His partner, Heather was equally good at investigating.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sunnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A discovery of a body always brings Steve Smiley into action. He is blind, but that doesn't stop him from solving a serious crime. Although Clyde finds the murder victim and it is his former girlfriend, Smiley and McBlythe start investigating to see what they can determine. The mystery is enthralling and you will want to read this one. The characters are interesting and well developed. I already look forward to seeing what is next!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sharon S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another intriguing mystery in the series by Bruce Hammack.
Jack recently found out he had a daughter, Briann. Heather has always said she would never date a man with kids, life has a way of changing things. Steve is a blind former detective and friend and coworker of Heather.
When a young woman’s body is found at the site of one of Heather’s projects, they jump in to investigate the murder.
Will the partners and their friends be able to solve yet another murder and deal with other problems in their lives?
*I received this book as an ARC reader and am leaving my unbiased review.

[Tabby Shiflett · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25-4.5 Stars
Although book ten in a cozy mystery series, this novel is the first I have read from it. It can be read as a stand-alone easily enough, but the writing and characters are so refreshing, I may go back and read the entire set.
5 Stars for including a blind MC, an eclectic but cohesive cast, and for originality.
4 Stars for some informal interview scenes that were a bit farfetched even if enjoyable.
Overall, an enticing and unique cozy that I look forward to continuing.

BookSirens Review Copy

[Terri Swick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read most of the books in the Smiley series and still didn't figure the mystery out. I love these books. They are interesting and have characters that you feel are live. The books are well written and have a smooth flow to them, with no chance to get bored. I will read more books by Bruce Hammock, you should put this on your TBR list.


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Claudia Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite author has written another wonderful cozy. All of the characters are well written. I like the way we encounter past characters and the way the author takes a couple of sentences to tell a bit of backstory without giving away the plot of previous books. This is the seventh book in the series but can be read as a stand alone. Each book is a delight and I’m looking forward to the next one. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher.

[Anne G. Kasaba · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the latest addition to a series I absolutely love! The author never disappoints. This book is well written with an engaging storyline. The mystery is well plotted and complex enough to keep the reader guessing what comes next. The protagonists are multifaceted and the supporting characters, both new and old are well developed. A definite must read!

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.

[Trudie Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having a blind man as the main PI is certainly in interesting twist which works well. The dynamics between the characters is great. I think I would have gotten a lot more out of this book if I had read the previous ones, but that didn’t stop me really enjoying it and wanting to read more. If you like murder mysteries, you will love this one.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.