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Fatal Swing Death on a Par Five: A crime thriller with murder that’s par for the course
When high-tech golf balls turn lethal, Detective Jazmine Ryder must unmask a killer who’s turned the game deadly.
Detective Jaz Ryder is chasing a fresh start in the scenic city of Kelowna. But her hopes for a quiet life are shattered when an explosion rocks the prestigious Pheasant Hollow Golf Course—leaving three golfers gruesomely one blown apart in a sand trap, another decapitated at a ball washer, and a third impaled by a crossbow.
Partnered with golf-obsessed Detective Lars Nielsen, Jaz is thrust into a world of manicured greens, hidden agendas, and cutting-edge tech. As the body count rises—including the prime suspect—she must unravel a plot involving a groundbreaking AI-powered golf ball, a high-stakes tournament, and a scheme worth hundreds of millions. But catching the killer could cost her career—and force her to face the past she thought she’d outrun.
From acclaimed author Lyle Nicholson comes a razor-sharp mystery that fuses cutting-edge tech with old-fashioned greed. Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter, Tess Gerritsen, and Lisa Gardner, Fatal Swing Death on a Par Five delivers a gripping thriller that keeps you guessing to the final stroke.
Detective Jaz Ryder is chasing a fresh start in the scenic city of Kelowna. But her hopes for a quiet life are shattered when an explosion rocks the prestigious Pheasant Hollow Golf Course—leaving three golfers gruesomely one blown apart in a sand trap, another decapitated at a ball washer, and a third impaled by a crossbow.
Partnered with golf-obsessed Detective Lars Nielsen, Jaz is thrust into a world of manicured greens, hidden agendas, and cutting-edge tech. As the body count rises—including the prime suspect—she must unravel a plot involving a groundbreaking AI-powered golf ball, a high-stakes tournament, and a scheme worth hundreds of millions. But catching the killer could cost her career—and force her to face the past she thought she’d outrun.
From acclaimed author Lyle Nicholson comes a razor-sharp mystery that fuses cutting-edge tech with old-fashioned greed. Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter, Tess Gerritsen, and Lisa Gardner, Fatal Swing Death on a Par Five delivers a gripping thriller that keeps you guessing to the final stroke.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2025
7 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Lyle Nicholson
31 books58 followersLyle Nicholson was born in British Columbia Canada. His is the youngest of three sons born to a father who was a cook and mother who was a waitress.
His father, who died when Lyle was 15, was a story teller, something that Lyle adopted at an early age. His life would lead him to travels in Europe, then 5 years in a Monastery. He found he was not a good Monk, as poverty was easy - it was the chastity and obedience that was a stumbling block.
He left the Monastery in 1979, and met and married his wife in 1982. He would spend a few years working for companies, getting fired, starting business's that failed, until he finally started a sales agency that was a success. Lyle retired in 2011.
Retirement didn't work well for Lyle. His mind wanted to explore the regions he's experienced in both meditations and his extensive travels. This has resulted in the publication of one Novella, two Novels, and several free lance articles for magazines in Canada.
Lyle now resides in a small city in Western Canada where he continues to write his thrillers and mysteries with a twist.
His father, who died when Lyle was 15, was a story teller, something that Lyle adopted at an early age. His life would lead him to travels in Europe, then 5 years in a Monastery. He found he was not a good Monk, as poverty was easy - it was the chastity and obedience that was a stumbling block.
He left the Monastery in 1979, and met and married his wife in 1982. He would spend a few years working for companies, getting fired, starting business's that failed, until he finally started a sales agency that was a success. Lyle retired in 2011.
Retirement didn't work well for Lyle. His mind wanted to explore the regions he's experienced in both meditations and his extensive travels. This has resulted in the publication of one Novella, two Novels, and several free lance articles for magazines in Canada.
Lyle now resides in a small city in Western Canada where he continues to write his thrillers and mysteries with a twist.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 18, 2025
A whirlwind just hit town, Detective Jasmine Ryder! What a brilliant start to what I am sure, will be a new series.
From start to finish the pace was fast, fascinating and invigorating! I do love stories that keep you tethered to your seat until the end.
There is a bit of everything in this book, suspense, humour, death, golf and super new characters. Hopefully, we will meet Carlos, Detective Lars Nielsen and the feisty Jasmine many times.
A tip.... don't miss this book you'll regret it if you do. Be careful when you are on the golf course, you never know what will hit you!
From start to finish the pace was fast, fascinating and invigorating! I do love stories that keep you tethered to your seat until the end.
There is a bit of everything in this book, suspense, humour, death, golf and super new characters. Hopefully, we will meet Carlos, Detective Lars Nielsen and the feisty Jasmine many times.
A tip.... don't miss this book you'll regret it if you do. Be careful when you are on the golf course, you never know what will hit you!
September 7, 2025
This is a new series by Lyle. Jasmine Ryder is starting anew to try to distance herself from the taint of her ex-husbands' criminal activities. I like the banter between her and her new partner, Lars, but so far I haven't warmed to her like I did with his previous detective, Bernadette Callaghan.
I have to admit that I absolutely hate golf, so in the end started whizzing through any descriptions about golf. I agree with the person who says "golf spoils a good walk". The actual story was good. I know it isn't completely fair to judge a series on the first book, so I will be happy to read the next in this series, and hopefully the subject matter will be more to my liking.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I have to admit that I absolutely hate golf, so in the end started whizzing through any descriptions about golf. I agree with the person who says "golf spoils a good walk". The actual story was good. I know it isn't completely fair to judge a series on the first book, so I will be happy to read the next in this series, and hopefully the subject matter will be more to my liking.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
June 19, 2025
Wow that was a great read! Clever plot and characters. Love this detective duo, Jaz and Lars, carmaker a great team. I’m a golf fan so was excited to read what turned out to be an exciting story. From the beginning, with such dramatic murders on a golf course to a plot that had twists and turns and an unpredictable but satisfying outcome, I was hooked (excuse the pun). I hope this is the first in a new series as I would certainly be reading more adventures. Highly recommended! I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest review.
June 25, 2025
I liked Bridgette better because I think she is a stronger woman character. Jaz is coming off of a bad marriage. So I expect, in time, she will become stronger as she moves on with her life.
Fatal Swing is a good story with some weird twists and complications. And a sweet dog. I don't golf... I hope the next book has a different setting.
The proof reading definitely needs improvement.
Fatal Swing is a good story with some weird twists and complications. And a sweet dog. I don't golf... I hope the next book has a different setting.
The proof reading definitely needs improvement.
June 17, 2025
Jaz and Lars make a great police duo. But investigation golf club murders is daunting. Discovering the killer will take you to the end and you will be riveted the whole time. Highly Recommended.
June 15, 2025
A well-devised police procedural mystery with some twists and turns which will leave the reader guessing for quite a while. Jaz is a great character trying to overcome the fallback from her ex-husband’s criminal activities, whilst settling into a new city and trying to solve some murders at the local golf course. Her detective partner, Lars, is a good match for Jaz’s methods and I enjoyed their banter. The murders are extremely involved, and I didn’t expect who the instigator was until just before it was announced. This is a great book, and I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews