Superior Deception

Lake Superior Mysteries #2

by Matthew Williams

Small-town reporter Vince Marshall has a plan to be a better dad wean himself from his cell phone and a 24/7 work mentality and spend more time with his toddler. But when his daughter discovers the local judge swinging from a noose at the playground and Vince's friend becomes a murder suspect, that plan unravels. With toddler in tow, Vince knocks heads with a coworker out for his beat and a mayor with questionable motives while chasing clues left by a senile grave robber. Meanwhile, arson, vandalism, domestic violence, and a contested election have the normally staid residents of Apostle Bay, a quaint harbor town on the southern shore of Lake Superior, at odds. Add Vince's wife Deb to the mix, leading a contentious protest at City Hall, and Vince finds his life once again out of control. Restoring order and saving his friend will require following a trail of deception to the solution of a 150-year-old mystery.

264 pages, Hardcover

First published December 24, 2007

About the author

Matthew^^^^Williams

Matthew Williams lives in Marquette, Michigan. He was an award-winning newspaper reporter, columnist, and author of the popular "Tot Tales," a weekly column about fatherhood. His fiction and nonfiction writing regularly appears in regional and national publications.

Reviews

[Candi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic mystery type of book...enjoyable, easy read, if somewhat predictable. Three stars for being just what you expect of a good mystery.

[Tbfrank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely executed mystery involving greed, larceny, missing money, betrayal, and murder with political overtones and economic implications for a county-seat on Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Full of engaging chracters from a precocious toddler to a host of elderly volunteer grandmothers, a heavy-handed patrolman to a capable police chief, and a gruff newspaper editor in his encore career with an ambitious young reporter out to make a name for herself. The settings are realistic, the pace quick enough, the action scenes handled well, and the conclusion just right for the narrative in hand.

[Peg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a little more predictable than the first. I’ve been becoming frustrated with this character as he puts friends and family at risk in his attempt to get the story. As someone who grew up in the upper peninsula I understand the concept of leaving a sleeping child in the car while you run a “quick errand“. That doesn’t still make it incredibly stupid. Hopefully I’ll get through the third in the series without Getting totally irritated

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The continuing saga of Vince Marshall newspaper reporter who just seems to fall into trouble. This time the victim is a judge. I enjoyed the twists and turns and was certain several times I had it figured out, only to be wrong. I especially liked the location the story takes place, having grown up in Michigan.

[Kathy Schouten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast reading, cozy mystery that takes place in a small town on Lake Superior, enjoyable characters and a decent mystery.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. Great twists and turns. A very fast paced quick read

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read set on Lake Superior w/endearing characters and a good mystery.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting to the truth

Is a very good book. Really like the story line and no foul language. A good bunch of characters. Everyone who likes mysteries will enjoy this.