The Body in Black Lake

by D.L. McKown

The Hawkins family is looking forward to a quiet Thanksgiving weekend. Instead, they get unexpected guests, strangers shooting at them, neighbors going missing, and a blizzard . . . not to mention a dead body found in the black waters of their lake! Harry vows to stay out of it, but when the cops confiscate his guns “as evidence,” he's left with nothing to do over the holiday weekend except investigate murder. Ride along with Liz and Harry as they, once again, help the police with their inquiries.

237 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2026

About the author

D.L. McKown is the author of the Hawkins Family Mysteries series of cozy mysteries, the first of which was a Spring 2024 winner in The Bookfest Awards. His upbringing in the rural counties of southeast Michigan informs the settings for the series, and the many bizarre (often dangerous) incidents over those formative years inspire the plots.

D.L.'s day job is swamped in computer technology, smashing bugs out of code, and daily Zoom calls, so when writing he drops as much of that as possible. He prefers, instead, to focus on family interactions and forcing his characters into face-to-face confrontations. His love of blues music also creeps through on occasion.

Visit D.L. at:
The WWW: www.dlmckown.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/d.l.mckown.mysteries

Reviews

[Estelle Bouldin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed The Body in Black Lake, though it was a bit of a mixed experience for me. The premise is solid—a rural mystery set around a farm and a small community where an encounter with some questionable hunters turns into a missing person case and, eventually, something darker. The setting really works. The author does a great job capturing the rhythm of country life, the personalities of small-town neighbors, and the kind of dry humor that comes out of everyday situations on a farm.

Christie’s voice is witty and observant, and the banter between her and Harry feels natural and often genuinely funny. The side characters are colorful too, from the odd hunting party to the family members who drift in and out of the story. The domestic details—animals, chores, holiday preparations—add a cozy feel that contrasts nicely with the mystery.

That said, the pacing was uneven. Some sections move briskly and are very engaging, but others drag quite a bit. At times the story lingers on conversations or everyday details longer than necessary, which slows the momentum of the mystery. I occasionally found myself wishing the plot would tighten up and move things forward.

Overall, though, it’s an enjoyable read if you like character-driven mysteries with a strong sense of place. The humor and the rural setting kept me reading, even when the pacing lagged. With a little trimming, this could be a really sharp small-town mystery.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a huge Dad crush on Harry. He's loveable, determined, unstoppable, , and a super sleuth that won't quit even when the law tells him to. I loved how Harry knows everyone in their small town, and his relationship with his daughter made my heart burst with love. Liz and Harry were a great duo and I loved how they included Pilar with their shenanigans. Christie ended up being a great big softie. Her and Pilar made up!! Yay. This one kept me guessing whodunit, and in the end they should have been given an award because the person was an aggressive bully to everyone, even his family. Good riddance to rubbish. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest rev

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the funniest mysteries I have read in a while. The story centers around a farming family with 2 kids in college and are home for Thanksgiving. The father, Harry, is such a wonderful character, along with his daughter, Liz. Harry sets out to solve a murder that happened on his land and Liz is pulled in, much to her chagrin. Their conversations set this book apart from just another mystery to a memorable one. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is the first book I have read of this series, and I will be reading the earlier ones. I laughed more with this book than any I can remember and I strongly recommend anyone to read it.

[Steph Mann · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
The book caught my attention with its cover, and I really appreciated the authentic rural farm setting. While I didn’t connect with alot of the characters as they weren't very likeable, some were genuinely charming and had a sense of humour bringing a lighthearted feel that fitted well with it being a cozy mystery, making it an overall pleasant read.
What to expect: snowy weather, cooking, trucks, guns, grumpy police officers, family vibes.

I received a free advanced reader copy and am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

[Just JJ]

Okaaay. This is cute! I just love a little cozy murder mystery and this was giving all the things. A little romance with slight conflict? Check. O Henry whodunnit twists and turns? Check. Annoyed police officers because they get the scoop by a citizen for the umpteenth time? Check. There’s even a cute dog! This really put the cozy in a murder mystery and it was a smashing good time for everyone — except Pete.

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

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free for my honest feedback.

I enjoyed reading The Body in Black Lake. This book was an easy read and had me guessing who committed the murder throughout the entire story. It is comedic, which was unexpected in a story about murder, but it made me want to find out who the killer was. It is easy to see the characters' relationships, and I was able to mentally picture the land's layout.

[Geraldine Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting cozy mystery with some family drama thrown into the mix.
There was comedy too in the form of the dad and his interactions with local detectives. their mutual dislike and disdain was comical.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a comical murder mystery. It's full of misconceptions. The family seems to know who did it multiple times.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Brenda Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. I was enjoying the book up until i could not see it on my kindle any more. I dont know what happened but this is the first book that did this to me.