Why 319?

by Mark Love

There's a serial killer loose in Metro Detroit, but nobody knows it. Three female victims have been discovered in motel rooms in different suburban cities that surround Motown. These deaths have not captured the media's attention. The only connection is that each body is found in room 319 and the killer leaves the taunting message "Why 319?" on the bathroom mirror, written with the victim's lipstick. The nude bodies have been cleaned and neatly arranged. All personal items are gone.

Now an elite squad of detectives has entered the scene. It's up to them to take over the investigations from the police force and solve the riddle. The detectives know that time is not on their side. If the public learns there is a serial killer at large, will panic set in? Will they be able to figure it out before the killer strikes again?

Genres: Mystery

267 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 4, 2014

About the author

Mark Love lived for many years in the metropolitan Detroit area, where crime and corruption were always prevalent. A former freelance reporter, Love honed his writing skills covering features and hard news.

Love is the author of three Jamie Richmond romance mysteries, "Devious", "Vanishing Act" and "Fleeing Beauty". "Chasing Favors" and the novella "Stealing Haven".

He also writes the Jefferson Chene mystery series, which includes "Why 319?", "Your Turn to Die" and "The Wayward Path".

Love also wrote the novel "Rules of Desperation" which is a standalone mystery/thriller.

His latest work is the novella "Part-Time Criminal" was published in 2025.

Love resides in west Michigan with his wife, Kim. He enjoys a wide variety of music, books, cooking and the great outdoors. Love is currently working on his next novel.

Reviews

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can you guess the killer? This book caught me up in the mystery. I enjoyed it very much and yes a theme for me serial killer books again. I enjoyed it still. It was different from others I have read before. I like when authors can be different from the rest. This book to me was believable. To me, that is what makes them good. *This book was given to me for free at my request from Netgalley and I provided this voluntary review.*

[Eva Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. It keeps you interested all the way to the end. I loved the characters.
I am a Voracious Reader.

[Buttercupp77 · Rating 4 out of 5]

As crime procedurals go, I think this one was very well-executed. The focus of the novel is kept almost entirely on the state police investigators and their investigation. Only occasionally does the focus switch to the killer, and I felt that these were well-handled. In addition, this seems to be the start of a planned series, and it does an excellent job of setting up compelling character arcs that look to continue to develop down the line.

The novel is set in present-day Detroit, which is not a city I'm familiar with. The author name-dropped sites that seem plausible to me, but manages to weave enough description in that I (being wholly unfamiliar with every mentioned neighbourhood) grasped the gist of each area.

The procedural elements of the story seemed largely plausible, with nothing jumping out at me as being conveniently counter to my understanding of law enforcement practises. Having said that, my understanding is largely through the lens of being a fan of crime fiction (in various media formats).

The character development is also well-executed. The novel focuses heavily on Jefferson Chene, so he's the character we learn most about, but his observational skills allow him to be perhaps a bit more dispassionate in assessing the people he encounters, allowing them to be well-developed.

There was one element in Jefferson's decision-making that troubles me as it seems to run counter to the ethics of an ongoing investigation. It was a significant plot-point, which I won't spoil here, but it was jarring to me given that he seems to be an above-board character.

While this is a pretty straight-up procedural, I did wish that more attention was given to the serial killer's motivations. While some theories were posited, the lack of any sort of reveal or even an indicator based in fact bothered me. Of course, my understanding is that this is too often the case in the real world, so it's definitely a realistic element and I am not faulting the author in any way for choosing to leave this element open. I feel that I would have been more satisfied had I gained a better understanding of the killer's psyche is all.

My overall impression of the novel is highly positive and I am definitely interested to read more from this series and this author.

I received a copy of this novel through Voracious Readers Only.

[Nebulous · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intricate, intense and gripping are my top three words for Mark Love's "Why 319?". This book had me hooked from page one and the struggle to put it down was real. Based in Metro Detroit, the central plot involving the death of three women is very realistic. The twists and turns really keep you on your toes and propel you to turn the pages. The procedures and methods of the cases are very methodical and systematic and it was a delight to read. Koz, Laura, Megan, Bloomfield and Jarrett are memorable characters along with the leadership skills of Pappy Cantrell (he has my vote for the best boss ever). Jefferson Chene is one character that I won't be forgetting anytime soon. The cases are unfolded through his eyes and the instances that reveal his humane side really complement the overall plot of the book. By the end of it, one can truly get a glimpse of his head and heart. I look forward to the next book featuring him. A 5 star read, one which will be in my head for a long time.

A thank you to VoraciousReadersOnly for giving me a free review copy via the author.

[M.S. Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A woman is killed in a hotel room. Scrawled across the bathroom mirror in the victim's own lipstick are the words, "Why 319?" Intriguing enough, but when two more victims turn up—same MO, same baffling message—it begins to smell like a serial killer. Detroit detective Jefferson Chene and a handpicked team of experts are assigned to find the answers.

Mark Love writes in a style reminiscent of Dashiell Hammett or Robert Parker, projecting a smoky, dark, cool atmosphere. The Detroit setting is unusual and provocative and his detective Jefferson Chene a brooding man, clearly hefting significant baggage. Which makes the back love story even more tantalizing. Will he let her in? Will he keep her at arm's length?

I hope to see more of not only this tentative romance, but of Jefferson Chene and Detroit in subsequent novels.

[L.B. Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHY 319

Who wouldn’t want Jefferson Chene at the helm when he’s out to get a murderer! Mark Love’s story telling is true to the Chene mystery characters which are great. I already feel I’m with an old friend, and in safe, capable hands. Love has panache in his detailed descriptions are delightful making the people and places feel totally believable.
The story unfolds with a murder and apparently no motive. The stakes rise with another murder and the notion of a serial killer may be on the horizon.
WHY 319 easy to follow, yet has surprising twists along the way. I felt sure I had the suspect nailed at one point though prayed I was wrong. Still believing I had it had it all worked out I quickly gobbled up the rest. What can I say, I was wrong, but isn’t that the beauty of a good mystery?
Highly recommended as a must read.

[Emily Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this from the author at the art festival in Muskegon, MI. Mark was a delight & this book sounded like the perfect beach read. It definitely was! Really clever and everything hung together very well. Very well done, great characters and interesting twist. Only jarring aspect was the Southern dialogue of one of the characters.

I read tons of mysteries like this (my “potato chip” books) and this can stand with most of them. Just finished a Viveca Sten that wasn’t as well-executed. Happy I took the chance!

[Craig Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. This is a very five star book. The plot is realistic with many twists and turns that will leave the reader flipping pages quickly. The procedures necessary for the police to track down a serial killer are complicated and full of drudgery. Jefferson Chene is a strong minded detective with a very human side that is quite endearing. These series of books are well worth reading and will not disappoint.

[Donald Levin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-moving police procedural, Why 319? crackles with authenticity. The author knows his investigative methods, and pulls the reader along at breakneck speed as Jefferson Chene leads a team of detectives in a race to catch a serial killer before the body count rises. The chase is suspenseful, sexy, deadly, and always engaging. Highly recommended.

[Laurie Nic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great vacation read. I was hooked on page 2 and couldn't put it down. There are some surprising twists and turns yet seemed very realistic. It was lovely to read about characters who live and work in the Detroit area.

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the heart of Detroit, a serial killer is on the loose and the only clue has to do with room 319. Can Det. Chene nab the killer before he strikes again? Wow, what an intense mystery. I tend to not like serial killer mysteries but this one is so interesting, so well-written, I was unable to sleep until I reached the end. The plot is complex with false clues and dead ends. The descriptive narration plunges the reader into the mystery. Then there’s the details of the investigation. If you love mysteries and crime fiction, you’ll want to read Why 319?.

Let’s start with the descriptive narration. Every scene is intricately described so the reader knows what’s going on. I need this in a mystery, so the narration lets me visualize everything.

The characters are well-conceived and play an important role in this mystery. Detective Chene is your typical detective, but I like that. He’s methodical, realistic, and good at his job. He’s also the one I’d want on a case if I was murdered. The rest of the characters are mysterious and round out the mystery.

The mystery plot is exactly laid out to make it an immersive reading experience. Mark Love uses classic mystery writing techniques and I was quite impressed. Brilliantly written from start to finish, this is one mystery you need to read. Highly recommend this book!

My Rating: 5+ stars

Reviewed by: Nancy

This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...

[Genevieve Paquette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up on Audible before I knew that you could return books. Listened again tonight at work.

An awkwardly sexist but otherwise serviceable police procedural. It was alright. The narrator's prose voice bothered me. Too much trebel? Vaguely adenoidal? I'm not sure.

The whole WHY 319? thing ended up being a bit silly, though, and very anticlimactic.

[Samantha Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I swear, picking up this book was like falling into an incredibly unique episode of Law and Order SVU. I’m a mystery fan, but usually I know who did it early on. Not this time! It focused on all the details and every snag they hit along the way in the investigation. The characters were unique, the crime was interesting, and I loved the twist at the end. Very fun read. 😊

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

At times quite interesting, a lot of other times a bash of various detective tropes.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detroit has names such as Motor City, Motown, Hockey Town, and for me birth town. I write that as I was born in one of the suburbs of Detroit many years ago now. It is one of the major reasons that when going through the Black Rose Writing catalog I stopped on this book and knew I must read it. The book I’m referencing is Why 319? by author Mark Love. I will do a note to football fans the book has nothing to do with a set of numbers often yelled by a quarterback in the NFL.

Why 319? is set within the mean streets of Detroit and does include some of the suburbs of the city. This setting plays a factor in the book as in large cities police within burbs do not always communicate together and a potential serial killer can go unnoticed for a long period of time. It’s fortunate that the murders catch the attention of the right group of police. They start putting together the settings of how each of the three women are found and realize there is a serial killer lose in Detroit. The question now is will they be able to find the killer before another woman is found dead.

Jefferson Chene is one of those police officers who is involved in the investigation, and in fact outside of his boss is the team leader. The character, like all in the book, is well written and not perfect. They have flaws, can be dark and brooding at times but it fits the harsh reality of what is Metro Detroit.

Mark Love takes his knowledge of Detroit and does use real places in the book to help the reader connect to this city. You get an idea of the bleakness of Detroit but at the same time how people love the city. The main question will be, how will they get this killer off the street.

The book opens with a prologue giving the reader insight into the killers mind. The actions and thoughtful planning being done to determine who will be next is chilling. The cold calculating way in which we are introduced to that mind shows the reader what to expect from the book. As the first chapter begins it’s a crime scene and an investigation begins. It is during this opening not only is the reader introduced to Chene but the title of the book will become apparent. As you continue with the book the police procedural takes place and you will get more than you asked for within the pages.

Author Mark Love delivers a great book that uses the mean streets of Detroit in a great way. Those who know the city may know, or remember, some of the actual places mentioned in the book. Those fans of crime procedurals will enjoy the methodology and techniques used to find the resolution to the murders. The key thing is the book is a great read and do not go thinking you may have an idea who it is as this isn’t TV and a guest star isn’t the guilty person so it will not be obvious. The plot will grip the imagination and so will the joy of reading this great book.

[Elise Abram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Jefferson Chene is on the trail of a serial killer. His only clues are the bodies of the killer’s female victims, all found sprawled on the beds of hotel rooms numbered 319, the cryptic message “Why 319?” written on the bathroom mirror in lipstick. Can Chene and his task force find the killer before they find the next body?

I liked Mark Love’s Why 319? Detective Chene is tough and vulnerable at once. His relationship with partner Meagan is endearing and believable. Love’s prose is easy to read and descriptive. The story is interesting by way of a police procedural in that it doesn’t read like an episode of CSI, but in a good way. In CSI (in most police procedurals on television, in fact), the team always interviews the perpetrator at some point in the investigation. By contrast, Why 319? may be a more realistic glimpse into police investigation, especially when the killer’s agenda is nothing personal with respect to the victim. Undaunted, Chene and his task force slowly collect and piece together the murderer’s puzzle. I wasn’t surprised by the killer’s identity, mind you, but rather, by the story-web Love weaves in order to reveal it.

When reading for review, I often form my opinion of how many gummies (or stars) I will ultimately award the book long before I finish. This opinion always wavers as I read, sometimes several times. For the first 2/3 of Why 319? I was set to give it five stars. Then the narrative changed inorder to give the reader 2 or 3 glimpses into the mind of the killer. As a writer, I understand why Love might want to do this–to show the murderer sweating as the police grow near, taunting and chiding them all the while–but in this case, Love should have resisted as the scenes, though brief, were out of place and unnecessary to Chene’s narrative; Love should have found an alternate route for imparting this information.

That observation aside, I recommend Why 319?, especially to those avid mystery and police procedural junkies. If you are a fan of CSI, Criminal Minds, Stalker, and the like, you will not be disappointed by Why 319?

Note: I was gifted an eCopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Randall Ailes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have met Mark and heard him read an excerpt from this book. He was approachable then as is his book and he did me the honor of offering to trade books so that we might become acquainted with each other's work. I am a psychotherapist and an author of six books so I look at this work through the eyes of both. Mr. Love draws us through the story like a fish on the line in a style that is reminiscent of the approach used in the television show, Law & Order. We follow the mystery through the eyes of Chene (others of Mark's books follow him as well), one of the detectives in "Pappy's" team on the police force. We are on the trail of a serial killer destined to strike again unless the mystery of who, why, when and where, can be solved in time. I found as I read this book that it picked up speed as we approached the finish. The psychological aspects of these characters are believable and remain true to form all the way through out the book. Mr. Love has expertise in police work and following cases and this certainly shows in the book. This is not a character driven book. Some are fleshed out (the physical descriptions are first rate) and are probably added to through other books in this series, much like the popular crime show previously mentioned. Mark's writing is clear and he paints a scene beautifully. Make no mistake, Love knows this vehicle and knows how to drive it.

[Theresa Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Love's gripping murder mystery winds and twists and leads the reader down a maze of dark alleys as a team of hardened detectives pursue a slippery serial killer with a maddening penchant for taunts and teases. Characters are drawn in Dick Tracy colors as sleek detective Jefferson Chene teams up with the brash, sexy Megan under the command of chain smoking, southern style, Captain "Pappy" Cantrell. This novel has all the plot twists, blind corners, romance and action sequences to keep the pages turning.
I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 because of its status as a classic whodunit. While not exactly serious literature, this novel provides some serious fun. I devoured the thing whole in a single afternoon. So will you.

[Lacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers. While I was at first intrigued by this book the characters are what drove me to continue reading. Jefferson has an interesting backstory that was touched on here and there but never delved into like it wasn't responsible for who he became. The story suffered a bit with the "romantic" development between the victim's roommate. I was unhappy with the final "justice" served to the killer. I suspected that at a point it's time end the story but to have such a clever killer in the end confess in an uninterrupted ranting monologue was a bit of a let down.

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway

I found the book to be simple and plainly written that at times I wondered if the author was trying to go for a noir aesthetic. If that were the case, I didn't find the attempt successful. The characters and setting were sparsely described such that none of the characters came off as unique individuals and numerous times I pondered where this novel was taking place.

The mystery was passable, but I felt more time could have been spent developing the killer's viewpoint, and the end wrapped up hastily.

[Mary Bramwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Michael Connelly, you will like Mark Love! Why 319? is a captivating police drama. When it appears a serial killer is on the loose, the state police step in to find the killer, hopefully before another woman loses her life.

Love's deft writing draws you in and never lets you go. Every discovery, every twist, every question makes you feel like part of the action. The characters are well drawn and interesting, the story fast-paced, and the writing excellent.

[VisitSandyland · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Being a fellow Michigander, I wanted to like this book but I couldn’t. It seems like the author was trying way too hard to mention every single city, town, street name and establishment in metro Detroit and use the name of every person he ever met. I think he succeeded but at the expense of the plot and character development. Felt like I have read this book or watched the TV show many times. Sorry for the poor review.

[Lillian Wakulchyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a tight, fast paced read about a serial killer that killed in room 319. I received this from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review. A serial killer is on the loose and the detectives work quickly to solve this puzzle. The unexpected twists made for an interesting read, wasn’t quite sold on the sudden love scenes but oh well. Well written thoigh .

[Laurie Nic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great vacation read. I was hooked on page 2 and couldn't put it down. There are some surprising twists and turns yet seemed very realistic. It was lovely to read about characters who live and work in the Detroit area.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. Likeable characters. Liked the interaction of the characters. Dragged in some places which I scanned over. Such as the romance scenes which did not interest me. But authors feel the need to put as a diversion. Not your usual who-done-it type mystery.

[Sam Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
Interesting read, with well developed characters. Lots of twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages until the killer is finally revealed.

[PattyP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very different perspective of a serial murder. Once you start it, can't put it down.

[Nancy Brutsche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why 319

Wow Mark Love did a great job writing this book.I didn't want to put it down.It was a real page turner and I can't wait to read another book by him