Smoke and Mirrors: A Ray Elkins Thriller

by Aaron Stander, X .

Sheriff Ray Elkins returns in this haunting crime thriller.On the 4th of July, what should have been a quiet night explodes into horror when two bodies are found brutally murdered in the dunes of a remote beach. A couple, naked and vulnerable, lies dead, sparking a complex investigation that dives deep into the darker corners of human nature.
The victims' identities lead the investigation down a path filled with drugs, secrets, and a past that refuses to stay buried. Ray and his team come face to face with a culture of poverty, addiction, and fragmented family bonds that explodes both lives and beloved landscapes.

297 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 21, 2024

About the author

Aaron Stander spent most of his adult years in the Detroit area, where he taught English and trained writing teachers. In 2000 he and his wife left college teaching positions and moved permanently to their cottage near Traverse City. Aaron is the author ten mysteries set in northwest lower Michigan. He is also the author of numerous articles, stories, poems, and reviews, and the host of Michigan Writers on the Air on Interlochen Public Radio. When not writing or thinking about writing, Aaron spends a lot of time kayaking along the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.

Reviews

[Mary L. Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Winner from Aaron Stander

I love this series. I have to admit it’s partly because I get to figuratively visit my beloved northern Michigan. But I also appreciate the character development and the plots. I was delighted when this new book came out, and look forward to the next one.

[Leah Parker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good, but

It was an interesting mystery and a fast read, however it seemed a little wandering. Things were known in the end, but things were scattered around. I look forward to his next book.

[tom blessing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read.

If you like rural thrillers, you'll love this series. Smoke and Mirrors ties up loose ends from a previous novel and the relationships of the main characters grow. Recommended.

[Betty Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Exciting Book!

As always this Series has been so exciting. I have read all but one book and that one is next! Love Aaron Stander novel! Keep writing Me Stander!

[Adam Mahler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

I love sue and ray. The cases they work always bring out the best in each other. Which is good for the community they serve.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second mystery I have finished today. Maybe I am getting jaded, but I didn't find this Ray Elikins story as compelling as previous books in this series.

In this book, I am starting to get what I call the James Bond/Dirk Pitt vibe. If you have read or watched any of the Bond/Pitt stuff, you know they are like the Energizer bunny. They take a licking, but keep on ticking. I realize that an author is trying to condense possible scenarios that could occur in the career of a police officer, but when so many things happen to a couple of characters in such a short space of the story's timeline, it feels unrealistic. On top of that, they recover or move on from bad stuff in a very short time. Even with the counseling available, most characters are like Teflon. It all just slides off. I do expect this from Bond/Pitt, but the history of this series has always been more down to earth, so it is a turn, in my opinion, in the wrong direction.