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Shelby Alexander #1
Serenity
Do You Love Thrillers? The New Shelby Alexander Thriller Series Is Here! Don't Forget To Breathe...
A woman dies in his arms...a drug dealer offers him $10,000...a gunman is determined to kill him. And then everything goes to hell.
Shelby Alexander is an aging ex-boxer and retired fixer, whose activities often flirted with the wrong side of the law. Looking for a little peace and a slower pace of life, he moved to Serenity, the small Michigan town where he grew up. But trouble follows men like Shelby, and he finds himself embroiled in an underworld of drugs and violence that may prove to be his undoing. The first book in the new Shelby Alexander Thriller Series, Serenity is an action-packed read with a lovingly rendered cast, witty dialogue, and a main character who doesn't know when to quit.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2016
2189 people are currently reading
1655 people want to read
About the author
Craig A. Hart
127 books330 followersCraig A. Hart is a writer of thrillers. In a past life, he was also director for Northern Illinois Radio Information Service, a broadcast outreach that brought daily news and information to the visually impaired.
In 2015, Kindle Press published his literary novel BECOMING MOON. NPR affiliate Northern Public Radio featured BECOMING MOON in their Winter Book Series, and it won Best Novel of Summer 2015 from Pinnacle Awards. He is also the author of the historical mystery NIGHT AT KEY WEST, which is based on true events.
In 2016, he publishing SERENITY, the first book in the popular Shelby Alexander Thriller Series. Serenity alone has been downloaded over 400,000 times by eager readers.
In 2022, he launched the Maxwell Barnes Adventure Thriller Series, co-written with S.J. Varengo. The award-winning first book in that series, MAYAN SHADOWS, was published on May 11, 2022. Two more books follow in that series: MAYAN THUNDER and MAYAN TEMPEST.
A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Craig lives in Iowa City, Iowa with his wife, sons, insane dog, and anti-social cat.
In 2015, Kindle Press published his literary novel BECOMING MOON. NPR affiliate Northern Public Radio featured BECOMING MOON in their Winter Book Series, and it won Best Novel of Summer 2015 from Pinnacle Awards. He is also the author of the historical mystery NIGHT AT KEY WEST, which is based on true events.
In 2016, he publishing SERENITY, the first book in the popular Shelby Alexander Thriller Series. Serenity alone has been downloaded over 400,000 times by eager readers.
In 2022, he launched the Maxwell Barnes Adventure Thriller Series, co-written with S.J. Varengo. The award-winning first book in that series, MAYAN SHADOWS, was published on May 11, 2022. Two more books follow in that series: MAYAN THUNDER and MAYAN TEMPEST.
A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Craig lives in Iowa City, Iowa with his wife, sons, insane dog, and anti-social cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 313 reviews
February 4, 2017
Serenity turns out to be anything but serene for Shelby Alexander.
This is the first book in The Shelby Alexander Thriller Series and I can’t wait for the next! Shelby is an ex-boxer and a former fixer, who has retired to his old hometown of Serenity, Michigan. All he wants is a little peace and what he gets is a young woman who dies in his arms and a drug war in his backyard between the local Ellis family who have always been in trouble with the law and a new group trying to take over from Detroit.
This thriller takes off right from the start. It is extremely fast paced and full of action for its short length. In between the bullets flying, you get to know Shelby and a great cast of memorable secondary characters. Shelby has a bartender girlfriend, Carly, who is 30 years younger and the same age as his daughter. He has a long-time friend, Jerry “Mack” McIntyre, who is a retired Detroit policeman. Jerry’s wife, Gloria is best friends with Shelby’s ex-wife, Helen. The Ellis clan is savage and the local sheriff is questionable.
Craig A. Hart has written a debut to this series that satisfies on every level! Action packed, a cast of characters that are colorful and three dimensional, a unique setting, and a protagonist that I want to continue to follow.
Thank you very much Mr. Hart for allowing me to read an eARC of this book for free for an honest review! I can’t wait for more from Shelby!
This is the first book in The Shelby Alexander Thriller Series and I can’t wait for the next! Shelby is an ex-boxer and a former fixer, who has retired to his old hometown of Serenity, Michigan. All he wants is a little peace and what he gets is a young woman who dies in his arms and a drug war in his backyard between the local Ellis family who have always been in trouble with the law and a new group trying to take over from Detroit.
This thriller takes off right from the start. It is extremely fast paced and full of action for its short length. In between the bullets flying, you get to know Shelby and a great cast of memorable secondary characters. Shelby has a bartender girlfriend, Carly, who is 30 years younger and the same age as his daughter. He has a long-time friend, Jerry “Mack” McIntyre, who is a retired Detroit policeman. Jerry’s wife, Gloria is best friends with Shelby’s ex-wife, Helen. The Ellis clan is savage and the local sheriff is questionable.
Craig A. Hart has written a debut to this series that satisfies on every level! Action packed, a cast of characters that are colorful and three dimensional, a unique setting, and a protagonist that I want to continue to follow.
Thank you very much Mr. Hart for allowing me to read an eARC of this book for free for an honest review! I can’t wait for more from Shelby!
February 7, 2017
Shelby, an ex-boxer, is looking out his window and sees a pile of rags however they aren’t rags they are a woman. He brings her into the house and she dies in her arms. Turns out she is the sister of a well-known drug dealing family and they end up offering him $10,000 to find out who killed her, they believe it is part of a drug turf war. His cop friend comes to stay with him and together they investigate what is going on.
There is a new sheriff in town and he doesn’t care what two ‘old men’ have to say and in turn, they end up getting into all sorts of situations….of course with drug dealers there has to be gunfire involved! To add to the problems Shelby has a very young girlfriend who he is trying to hide everything from.
We are following Shelby as he tries to get to the bottom of everything and watching two ageing men getting up to all sorts of things that you would normally see as reserved for the younger protagonist. I really enjoyed that they were, in fact, older characters. Made me think of the film Tough Guys, yes I know it is about older gangsters but had the same feel to it, two older men trying to recapture their youth. They dig into everything and uncover things they didn’t expect, plot twists and turns at every possible occasion.
I loved the pace of this book. It was fantastic how not only was there the main story but there was a love interest, friendship and family issues to make the character realistic. The story kept me gripped, I actually felt pained to put it down if I had to and I mean only if it was a MUST would I stop reading. This is a great first book in a series and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series when it is published.
I give this book a 4 star rating, and completely recommend it!
Reviewed by Lisa on www.whisperingstories.com
There is a new sheriff in town and he doesn’t care what two ‘old men’ have to say and in turn, they end up getting into all sorts of situations….of course with drug dealers there has to be gunfire involved! To add to the problems Shelby has a very young girlfriend who he is trying to hide everything from.
We are following Shelby as he tries to get to the bottom of everything and watching two ageing men getting up to all sorts of things that you would normally see as reserved for the younger protagonist. I really enjoyed that they were, in fact, older characters. Made me think of the film Tough Guys, yes I know it is about older gangsters but had the same feel to it, two older men trying to recapture their youth. They dig into everything and uncover things they didn’t expect, plot twists and turns at every possible occasion.
I loved the pace of this book. It was fantastic how not only was there the main story but there was a love interest, friendship and family issues to make the character realistic. The story kept me gripped, I actually felt pained to put it down if I had to and I mean only if it was a MUST would I stop reading. This is a great first book in a series and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series when it is published.
I give this book a 4 star rating, and completely recommend it!
Reviewed by Lisa on www.whisperingstories.com
September 5, 2025
A very enjoyable read that had me on the edge of my seat several times. It’s rather amazing Mr Alexander is still alive with the situations he throws himself into. Serenity has a disturbing underbelly and Shelby seems to constantly find himself right in the middle of it. Looking forward to continuing this series.
November 30, 2016
I received a free copy of "Serenity" from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline of "Serenity" and enjoyed the characters as they came and went. There are still some unanswered questions remaining that will hopefully be answered in the next installment. However, the story is good enough to stand on its own.
Shelby Alexander, a former boxer, PI, and retired "normal guy" lives by himself in upper Michigan. He's divorced and has a 30 year-old daughter who takes a special interest in having her dad contact the ex-wife to see if they can get back together again. Her reason for pestering him is answered at the end. However, Shelby's quite content with the life he has - especially his sex life with the town's bartender, Carly, who is his daughters age. They are a hoot together and their conversations are witty and sarcastic - readers will laugh during some of them.
When a young girl is found dead on his property, Shelby sets out to find her murderer. The head of the local drug dealer family offers him $10k to find out who murdered the girl - his sister. Shelby solicits the help of his long-time friend, Mack, a retired Detroit Policer Officer, who joins in the investigation. There's a new sheriff in town, but he's evasive or never around, a new drug czar is moving into the area and attempting a coup of the local family, local people begin dying, and then Shelby and Mack become hostages. This is when everything become clear to both the readers and Shelby. Now, they have to do whatever they can to stay alive and escape their tormenters.
What I like about the story is that the main protagonist isn't a former Special Forces guy or spy with specialized skills or powers. At 60 yrs old, Shelby is likeable, gets drunk often, has a great sex life, enjoys fishing, and owns a Jeep.- all the requirements for living in quiet Northern Michigan.
Highly recommended. Looking forward to the next installment. Great job Mr. Hart!
John Podlaski, author
"Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel" and "When Can I Stop Running?"
I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline of "Serenity" and enjoyed the characters as they came and went. There are still some unanswered questions remaining that will hopefully be answered in the next installment. However, the story is good enough to stand on its own.
Shelby Alexander, a former boxer, PI, and retired "normal guy" lives by himself in upper Michigan. He's divorced and has a 30 year-old daughter who takes a special interest in having her dad contact the ex-wife to see if they can get back together again. Her reason for pestering him is answered at the end. However, Shelby's quite content with the life he has - especially his sex life with the town's bartender, Carly, who is his daughters age. They are a hoot together and their conversations are witty and sarcastic - readers will laugh during some of them.
When a young girl is found dead on his property, Shelby sets out to find her murderer. The head of the local drug dealer family offers him $10k to find out who murdered the girl - his sister. Shelby solicits the help of his long-time friend, Mack, a retired Detroit Policer Officer, who joins in the investigation. There's a new sheriff in town, but he's evasive or never around, a new drug czar is moving into the area and attempting a coup of the local family, local people begin dying, and then Shelby and Mack become hostages. This is when everything become clear to both the readers and Shelby. Now, they have to do whatever they can to stay alive and escape their tormenters.
What I like about the story is that the main protagonist isn't a former Special Forces guy or spy with specialized skills or powers. At 60 yrs old, Shelby is likeable, gets drunk often, has a great sex life, enjoys fishing, and owns a Jeep.- all the requirements for living in quiet Northern Michigan.
Highly recommended. Looking forward to the next installment. Great job Mr. Hart!
John Podlaski, author
"Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel" and "When Can I Stop Running?"
August 14, 2017
Shelby Alexander is dragged into a murder mystery after a local girl is found on his property. After accepting payment from the local gang leader, relative of the girl found on his property, he is dragged into a turf war.
I liked Shelby Alexander. He is older than the average male protagonist and I liked how his age is portrayed, especially through his relationship with a bartender who is the same age as his daughter. I also liked his good friend Mack, and I kinda wanted to know how his relationship with Gloria was resolved after he left Serenity.
I loved the humour of the characters and the random little tidbits involved in the books, especially the maple syrup tapping and fishing in ice. It was really interesting and I feel like I learnt something.
However, my major complaint about this book is that I feel like it's more of a sequel book rather than the first in the series. It's written almost as if you already know all the characters and I found it a bit difficult to remember all of the characters, especially the Ellis's.
I liked Shelby Alexander. He is older than the average male protagonist and I liked how his age is portrayed, especially through his relationship with a bartender who is the same age as his daughter. I also liked his good friend Mack, and I kinda wanted to know how his relationship with Gloria was resolved after he left Serenity.
I loved the humour of the characters and the random little tidbits involved in the books, especially the maple syrup tapping and fishing in ice. It was really interesting and I feel like I learnt something.
However, my major complaint about this book is that I feel like it's more of a sequel book rather than the first in the series. It's written almost as if you already know all the characters and I found it a bit difficult to remember all of the characters, especially the Ellis's.
April 2, 2017
"Serenity" opens with a woman lying in the snow like a pile of old rags, quite the morning surprise for Alexander Shelby, a 60-year-old former boxer and "fixer" who finds Jenny Ellis dying on his property. She dies before anyone can get her to talk - not that the local law enforcement would have questioned her, anyway. Jenny was "mental." She wandered off, got lost, and froze to death. Case closed.
Not for Jenny's brother Harlan, one of many Ellis family members, who are at once a fixture of the community and a sort of community menace. Harlan offers Shelby $10,000 to play private eye and find out what really happened to Jenny.
Harlan: “You got a reputation, Alexander.”
“I have more than one. Which are you talking about?”
Harlan: “It’s said you can fix things, that you got connections."
Shelby Alexander wants out of that business, but his skills are in demand, and there's no turning his back on a plea for help from someone who's lost a loved one to violence and murder.
The Ellis family is iconic: "ALL OF SERENITY KNEW HARPER Ellis ran drugs. The sheriff knew it as well. But no one could prove it and not many people wanted to. It wasn't that they enjoyed having meth flood the area, but no one wanted to mess with the Ellis family."
If that sounds like Appalachia, guess what: meth, and opiate addiction, is everywhere.
"There had been an Ellis in the area for as long as anyone could remember. As oral history told it, they'd come with the first trappers and settlers. There were stories about the ferocity of the Ellis clan and the abominations they committed back in the early days, crimes against the Indians and other settlers before there was any law to tell them otherwise. They had done what they wanted. And by the time the law showed up, the Ellis family was a force to be reckoned with. Some had gone to jail, a couple were killed in shootouts, at least one more in an ambush, but the rest had survived and adjusted their evil deeds to operate out of sight of the law, a nod to the changing times."
Sadly, the local Law Enforcement sounds like LE everywhere, rural or small town or big city. Meth in the Midwest. Human trafficking, drug trafficking, killing innocents to silence them - it sounds like a cliche, but it's based on an ugly truth.
When I first read this novel last fall, I was agitated and annoyed by the same-old, same-old sad story My sister, in November 1975, at almost 19, was murdered. Not only did the police department do a swift cover-up, but someone in LE is said to be the perp. "Everyone" knows it's no use trying to get anyone arrested when the police themselves have tampered with witnesses and files. After watching "Breaking Bad" (best TV series of the decade), I'd had my fill of seeing the violence and ruined lives behind drug trafficking. And yet... it's in my own back yard. So, yeah, why would I read another story that reminds me of this old baggage? Well, for all the murder victims and villains in fiction, the protagonist generally finds out whodunnit AND proves it AND gets the perp sentenced in a court of law. So, there's that. And I'm a book critic, so authors and publishers ask me to read and review books, and sometimes the hook is stonger than my intention to say no way, not another thriller.
The hook, here, is the 60-year-old former boxer who moved back to the nice, quiet area he grew up in, a town called Serenity, which is a sign right there that he's gonna find trouble here, or as one of the Ellis men knows, trouble will find him.
Shelby gets shot at by a would-be assassin who can't hit a target. Bullets continue to fly and more people die before Shelby "fixes" the problem. And solves the mystery of whodunnit.
Hart's novel is compelling, and even if it should seem like the same old, same old, it's like Willa Cather said: "There are only two or three human stories, and they go on repeating themselves as fiercely as if they had never happened before."
Even my sister's story repeated itself. Less than a year after her murder, a journalism major (same town, about the same age) was murdered, and all these years later, both cases are as cold as the bodies left like roadside trash. (See: Iowa Cold Cases, a site created and run by Jody Ewing as an unpaid volunteer. Like Shelby Alexander, Jody can't say no when others turn to her for help. Unlike Shelby, Jody isn't getting paid.)
If you love whodunnits and crime fiction, "Serenity" will not disappoint. Even if you avoid the genre (that would be me!), you may find yourself unable to resist.
Not for Jenny's brother Harlan, one of many Ellis family members, who are at once a fixture of the community and a sort of community menace. Harlan offers Shelby $10,000 to play private eye and find out what really happened to Jenny.
Harlan: “You got a reputation, Alexander.”
“I have more than one. Which are you talking about?”
Harlan: “It’s said you can fix things, that you got connections."
Shelby Alexander wants out of that business, but his skills are in demand, and there's no turning his back on a plea for help from someone who's lost a loved one to violence and murder.
The Ellis family is iconic: "ALL OF SERENITY KNEW HARPER Ellis ran drugs. The sheriff knew it as well. But no one could prove it and not many people wanted to. It wasn't that they enjoyed having meth flood the area, but no one wanted to mess with the Ellis family."
If that sounds like Appalachia, guess what: meth, and opiate addiction, is everywhere.
"There had been an Ellis in the area for as long as anyone could remember. As oral history told it, they'd come with the first trappers and settlers. There were stories about the ferocity of the Ellis clan and the abominations they committed back in the early days, crimes against the Indians and other settlers before there was any law to tell them otherwise. They had done what they wanted. And by the time the law showed up, the Ellis family was a force to be reckoned with. Some had gone to jail, a couple were killed in shootouts, at least one more in an ambush, but the rest had survived and adjusted their evil deeds to operate out of sight of the law, a nod to the changing times."
Sadly, the local Law Enforcement sounds like LE everywhere, rural or small town or big city. Meth in the Midwest. Human trafficking, drug trafficking, killing innocents to silence them - it sounds like a cliche, but it's based on an ugly truth.
When I first read this novel last fall, I was agitated and annoyed by the same-old, same-old sad story My sister, in November 1975, at almost 19, was murdered. Not only did the police department do a swift cover-up, but someone in LE is said to be the perp. "Everyone" knows it's no use trying to get anyone arrested when the police themselves have tampered with witnesses and files. After watching "Breaking Bad" (best TV series of the decade), I'd had my fill of seeing the violence and ruined lives behind drug trafficking. And yet... it's in my own back yard. So, yeah, why would I read another story that reminds me of this old baggage? Well, for all the murder victims and villains in fiction, the protagonist generally finds out whodunnit AND proves it AND gets the perp sentenced in a court of law. So, there's that. And I'm a book critic, so authors and publishers ask me to read and review books, and sometimes the hook is stonger than my intention to say no way, not another thriller.
The hook, here, is the 60-year-old former boxer who moved back to the nice, quiet area he grew up in, a town called Serenity, which is a sign right there that he's gonna find trouble here, or as one of the Ellis men knows, trouble will find him.
Shelby gets shot at by a would-be assassin who can't hit a target. Bullets continue to fly and more people die before Shelby "fixes" the problem. And solves the mystery of whodunnit.
Hart's novel is compelling, and even if it should seem like the same old, same old, it's like Willa Cather said: "There are only two or three human stories, and they go on repeating themselves as fiercely as if they had never happened before."
Even my sister's story repeated itself. Less than a year after her murder, a journalism major (same town, about the same age) was murdered, and all these years later, both cases are as cold as the bodies left like roadside trash. (See: Iowa Cold Cases, a site created and run by Jody Ewing as an unpaid volunteer. Like Shelby Alexander, Jody can't say no when others turn to her for help. Unlike Shelby, Jody isn't getting paid.)
If you love whodunnits and crime fiction, "Serenity" will not disappoint. Even if you avoid the genre (that would be me!), you may find yourself unable to resist.
December 31, 2016
Usually, when I read a book by a new author, I can come up with several similar stories. Not Craig Hart's Serenity (CreateSpace 2016). It's unique. Shelby Alexander is a retired fighter, about sixty, living alone on a farm in the backwater town of Serenity, Michigan. He has a bartender girlfriend the age of his daughter and a past filled with secrets he doesn't share. He has a daughter who worries about him, an ex-wife who hates him and a faux-job that could loosely be categorized as a fixer. Does that sound like anything you've ever read? In this first novel of the Shelby Alexander series, Shelby is hired by a local family to look into the death of their daughter. The official reason is she froze to death, but Shelby quickly finds she has been slugged in the head and raped. Whether either of those contributed to her death is unknown because the sheriff won't share any details. That doesn't stop Shelby. He has other ways to untangle this mystery.
Throughout the story, readers enjoy tantalizing stories about rural America such as collecting maple syrup directly from the trees, fishing in hidden ponds through holes in the ice, and a life lived not reporting to anyone but himself. This is all told with a quiet sense of humor and a thick layer of hubris.
"It seemed unfair the closer you got to running out of time, the faster it seemed to go. There ought to be some way to tap the brakes."
"One minute you were sure all you needed in life to be fulfilled was this tiny version of yourself [Shelby is referring to an infant]. And the next you completely understood why parents murdered their children."
"Stupidity and courage were not the same thing."
Well recommended to mystery and thriller lovers alike.
Throughout the story, readers enjoy tantalizing stories about rural America such as collecting maple syrup directly from the trees, fishing in hidden ponds through holes in the ice, and a life lived not reporting to anyone but himself. This is all told with a quiet sense of humor and a thick layer of hubris.
"It seemed unfair the closer you got to running out of time, the faster it seemed to go. There ought to be some way to tap the brakes."
"One minute you were sure all you needed in life to be fulfilled was this tiny version of yourself [Shelby is referring to an infant]. And the next you completely understood why parents murdered their children."
"Stupidity and courage were not the same thing."
Well recommended to mystery and thriller lovers alike.
October 24, 2016
Serenity is my kind of book: short, brisk, and just a flat-out enjoyable read. Shelby Alexander is an ex-cop (amongst other things) who has retired to the small town of Serenity, Michigan. It doesn’t take long for trouble to rear its ugly head, and Shelby finds himself knee-deep in criminals, corrupt lawman, and murder. The story moves at a quick pace and doesn’t bog itself down in unnecessary detail or backstory. If I have one small criticism, it’s that Shelby’s girlfriend didn’t seem to add anything to the story, but there’s a good chance she’ll have a larger role in the books to come. A solid 4 stars!
November 14, 2016
The Shelby Alexander Thriller Series Book #1
Meet ex professional boxer and fixer Shelby Alexander. Divorced many years ago, recently he has been back in contact with his now 30 year-old daughter Leslie. He loves reconnecting to her, at the same time is happy she’s not living close by. She is fussing, making him feel his almost sixty years, but despite his age he reckons he’s still in good shape. At least his much younger girlfriend thinks so. Shelby is once again living in his hometown Serenity in the Michigan countryside, where the nights are pitch dark and the speed of life is peaceful. Apart from the Ellis family of course!
The Ellis family are criminals; “the often hated, always feared Ellis-clan … a force to be reckoned with.” Somehow they act as if the law doesn’t apply to them, but this is about to change as the newly appointed Sheriff Wilkes of Serenity is determined to stop their drugs trafficking once and for all. Shelby has managed to stay away from the Ellis family, but not for much longer. On a cold, snowy night, he notices someone outside. It turns out to be mentally handicapped Jenny Ellis. As she freezes to death on Shelby’s doorstep, little does he know that soon his life will also be in danger.
The next day the patron of the Ellis family pays Shelby a visit, asking him to investigate the death of Jenny. Would you believe it that the one innocent member of the Ellis family was used for drugs transport? The perfect person – in the sick minds of the Ellis clan – to be used as a drugs carrier, since Jenny never would have been searched? Shelby has no other choice than accept the job, knowing only too well that he once again will find himself on the “outskirts of the law.” To make matters more complicated, a rival drugs gang moved into the area, taking over the drugs business.
Will the death of poor Jenny turn the once quiet peaceful town of Serenity into a battlefield of drugs gangs and criminals? What about Shelby, is he capable to handle these hard-core criminals on his own? He has a girlfriend, the 30-year younger Carly of whom his daughter Leslie has no idea yet. Perhaps there’s also personal danger involved. It seems that Leslie is desperate for her father to contact her mother. Shelby hasn’t done so in ages, and, fully aware of the fact that he eventually will give in to his daughter, has no intention of meeting her demands right now.
Shelby has barely started investigating the suspicious death of Jenny when the man who hired him is found dead. He was the only member of the Ellis family you could reason with. What does this mean for Shelby? Can he go on searching for Jenny’s killer or will he be subjected to the Ellis madness? They mistrust him and Shelby feels he’s walking on ice. He knows only too well what could happen to him as he has been beaten up by the Ellis brothers before. By the way, you should know, the Ellis’ brothers favourite thing to hold is a shotgun..
Could it get any worse for Shelby? Yes it can because when he’s out fishing he stumbles onto a drugs exchange and witnesses a murder. Shelby is hiding out, desperate not to become the next victim, but then Carly decides to send him some texts. His phone beeps give him away and Shelby has to run for his life. From now on the pace of this thrilling novel is speeding up, as Shelby realizes these are hard-core criminals with no scruples whatsoever. Will he get to the bottom of this? He’s a loner and has to deal with both criminal factions, not to mention Sheriff Wilkes who is keeping a suspicious eye on him.
Craig Hart’s crime debut is a captivating and fast paced thriller with a likeable protagonist who gets involved in bad situations. It’s easy to sympathize with Shelby, although he’s not always good-humoured and has but a few scruples. He needed to leave the dangerous life he was leading, to find himself again in the quietness of Michigan’s countryside, where the dark nights match his sense of loneliness. Now Shelby has found his place and is breathing freely again, he’s settling down in Serenity, but yet again he is a magnet to criminals, surrounded by madmen and in constant danger. I look forward to reading more about Shelby Alexander.
Read the review on my website: http://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/serenit...
Meet ex professional boxer and fixer Shelby Alexander. Divorced many years ago, recently he has been back in contact with his now 30 year-old daughter Leslie. He loves reconnecting to her, at the same time is happy she’s not living close by. She is fussing, making him feel his almost sixty years, but despite his age he reckons he’s still in good shape. At least his much younger girlfriend thinks so. Shelby is once again living in his hometown Serenity in the Michigan countryside, where the nights are pitch dark and the speed of life is peaceful. Apart from the Ellis family of course!
The Ellis family are criminals; “the often hated, always feared Ellis-clan … a force to be reckoned with.” Somehow they act as if the law doesn’t apply to them, but this is about to change as the newly appointed Sheriff Wilkes of Serenity is determined to stop their drugs trafficking once and for all. Shelby has managed to stay away from the Ellis family, but not for much longer. On a cold, snowy night, he notices someone outside. It turns out to be mentally handicapped Jenny Ellis. As she freezes to death on Shelby’s doorstep, little does he know that soon his life will also be in danger.
The next day the patron of the Ellis family pays Shelby a visit, asking him to investigate the death of Jenny. Would you believe it that the one innocent member of the Ellis family was used for drugs transport? The perfect person – in the sick minds of the Ellis clan – to be used as a drugs carrier, since Jenny never would have been searched? Shelby has no other choice than accept the job, knowing only too well that he once again will find himself on the “outskirts of the law.” To make matters more complicated, a rival drugs gang moved into the area, taking over the drugs business.
Will the death of poor Jenny turn the once quiet peaceful town of Serenity into a battlefield of drugs gangs and criminals? What about Shelby, is he capable to handle these hard-core criminals on his own? He has a girlfriend, the 30-year younger Carly of whom his daughter Leslie has no idea yet. Perhaps there’s also personal danger involved. It seems that Leslie is desperate for her father to contact her mother. Shelby hasn’t done so in ages, and, fully aware of the fact that he eventually will give in to his daughter, has no intention of meeting her demands right now.
Shelby has barely started investigating the suspicious death of Jenny when the man who hired him is found dead. He was the only member of the Ellis family you could reason with. What does this mean for Shelby? Can he go on searching for Jenny’s killer or will he be subjected to the Ellis madness? They mistrust him and Shelby feels he’s walking on ice. He knows only too well what could happen to him as he has been beaten up by the Ellis brothers before. By the way, you should know, the Ellis’ brothers favourite thing to hold is a shotgun..
Could it get any worse for Shelby? Yes it can because when he’s out fishing he stumbles onto a drugs exchange and witnesses a murder. Shelby is hiding out, desperate not to become the next victim, but then Carly decides to send him some texts. His phone beeps give him away and Shelby has to run for his life. From now on the pace of this thrilling novel is speeding up, as Shelby realizes these are hard-core criminals with no scruples whatsoever. Will he get to the bottom of this? He’s a loner and has to deal with both criminal factions, not to mention Sheriff Wilkes who is keeping a suspicious eye on him.
Craig Hart’s crime debut is a captivating and fast paced thriller with a likeable protagonist who gets involved in bad situations. It’s easy to sympathize with Shelby, although he’s not always good-humoured and has but a few scruples. He needed to leave the dangerous life he was leading, to find himself again in the quietness of Michigan’s countryside, where the dark nights match his sense of loneliness. Now Shelby has found his place and is breathing freely again, he’s settling down in Serenity, but yet again he is a magnet to criminals, surrounded by madmen and in constant danger. I look forward to reading more about Shelby Alexander.
Read the review on my website: http://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/serenit...
January 10, 2017
This great thriller grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go.
It starts with the 60-year-old former boxer, Alexander Shelby, finding a woman lying in the snow on his property. She died before she could tell anyone what happened but since she was considered "mental" the police wouldn't have questioned her anyway. It looked like she got lost and froze to death. But her brother, Harlan Ellis, didn't think so. He hired Shelby to find out what really happened, paying him $10,000.
Everyone feared the Ellis family, staying away from them because they took the law into their own hands. They were the biggest meth dealers in the area, so they had a lot of enemies and a lot to protect. The new sheriff is determined to stop drug trafficking, so the Ellis family's life is going to change. Add to that another drug dealer moving in and nobody's life is safe.
When Shelby gets shot at, and others die he knows there's more to Jenny's death than they first thought.
This fantastic story is full of action and had me surprised at the end when I learned who killed who. I love that in a story. I liked that Shelby was a more mature man than most you see in stories today. He struggled with getting older, but he was in excellent shape because of his previous boxing career. The one thing I wasn't crazy about was that his girlfriend was 30 years younger than him. I'm sure that is every man's dream but the pressure for him to perform had to have been enormous.
I did get this book from Craig Hart but I'm reviewing it on my own as I do with everything I read. Not because I was asked to.
The plot, characters, and dialogue are terrific. I recommend Serenity to thriller fans.
It starts with the 60-year-old former boxer, Alexander Shelby, finding a woman lying in the snow on his property. She died before she could tell anyone what happened but since she was considered "mental" the police wouldn't have questioned her anyway. It looked like she got lost and froze to death. But her brother, Harlan Ellis, didn't think so. He hired Shelby to find out what really happened, paying him $10,000.
Everyone feared the Ellis family, staying away from them because they took the law into their own hands. They were the biggest meth dealers in the area, so they had a lot of enemies and a lot to protect. The new sheriff is determined to stop drug trafficking, so the Ellis family's life is going to change. Add to that another drug dealer moving in and nobody's life is safe.
When Shelby gets shot at, and others die he knows there's more to Jenny's death than they first thought.
This fantastic story is full of action and had me surprised at the end when I learned who killed who. I love that in a story. I liked that Shelby was a more mature man than most you see in stories today. He struggled with getting older, but he was in excellent shape because of his previous boxing career. The one thing I wasn't crazy about was that his girlfriend was 30 years younger than him. I'm sure that is every man's dream but the pressure for him to perform had to have been enormous.
I did get this book from Craig Hart but I'm reviewing it on my own as I do with everything I read. Not because I was asked to.
The plot, characters, and dialogue are terrific. I recommend Serenity to thriller fans.
January 30, 2017
This book would make an excellent movie. It is fast-paced, there’s a bit of sex, a bit of drinking, and lots of violence. Combine that with wonderfully developed characters and some witty dialogue, and it’s perfect for the big screen.
Not only do you get lots of action and a mystery, but there are real connections between the characters. Shelby who is in his 60’s, and has not had a good relationship with his daughter, has to deal with her now wanting him talk to his ex-wife of many years.
Plus Shelby has a new girlfriend who is actually his daughter’s age. While some might find that pathetic, or even creepy, I really enjoyed the relationship between Shelby and his girlfriend. I think she adds some spunk to the book, and definitely keeps Shelby feeling younger, and loved.
There is also a great male bond between Shelby and a former cop, Mack. Mack is the type of friend who you want to have your back, especially when you’re on the hunt for ruthless meth dealers. Mack is also that friend who will get always drunk with you, and you can talk to about anything. Everyone needs at least one friend like that.
A wonderful book all around, and I’m looking forward to the next one in the Shelby Alexander Thriller series.
Not only do you get lots of action and a mystery, but there are real connections between the characters. Shelby who is in his 60’s, and has not had a good relationship with his daughter, has to deal with her now wanting him talk to his ex-wife of many years.
Plus Shelby has a new girlfriend who is actually his daughter’s age. While some might find that pathetic, or even creepy, I really enjoyed the relationship between Shelby and his girlfriend. I think she adds some spunk to the book, and definitely keeps Shelby feeling younger, and loved.
There is also a great male bond between Shelby and a former cop, Mack. Mack is the type of friend who you want to have your back, especially when you’re on the hunt for ruthless meth dealers. Mack is also that friend who will get always drunk with you, and you can talk to about anything. Everyone needs at least one friend like that.
A wonderful book all around, and I’m looking forward to the next one in the Shelby Alexander Thriller series.
January 1, 2017
A very well written book with loveable characters, especially Shelby, Carly and Mack. The storyline progresses at a good pace and the action is well spread out.
February 7, 2017
Review to follow
Want to read
November 30, 2017💝 FREE on Amazon today (11/30/2017)! 💝
April 9, 2018
One of the best thrillers I’ve read so far! With all the gritty and some gruesome scenes there’s always a touch of humour and wittiness I love in a book! Recommend it, oh yes!!!
July 1, 2017
I got this from the author. He was featured in one of the newsletters that I signed up for. The newsletter said to just email Mr. Hart if I was interested to review his book. And I did and here I am reviewing it. This review just took a while to come out because I only got the chance to read the book last month.
This is the first of a series. And of course, my first to read a book by this author. Shelby Alexander is obviously the main character in this story. He is a retired boxer. This is how, by some unfortunate event, a dead body was found on his yard to be precise, got him started on being a private detective. Serenity is the name of the town which to me is a contradiction. It is in no way serene. First a dead body, then a turf war between two drug-dealing cartels. What's serene in that?
I think I stumbled on a gem. Craig A. Hart is a good find. I was fortunate that I listened to my instincts to sign up to review this book because this was such a suspenseful read. I felt sorry for Shelby being a greenhorn in private investigation and be constantly shot at. He only just started and it seemed like people are out to terminate him. Not a good omen for a starting PI, right? Not to mention, he did not on his own volition decide to be a PI. He was approached to dig and ask around to find the killer of the dead boy and how it ended up on his property. What's more, he is now in close contact with very shady characters. The very same people who trusted him to find the people responsible for the death of their sister. Yes, the dead body in his yard was the sister of the major drug-dealing family in Serenity. With the danger he is in becoming more real and deadlier, Shelby used the resources available to him, like his girl friend who works at a bar and a friend who is not from Serenity.
In the end, it turned out a lot of interests are playing this deadly game. Selfish, very deadly and high stakes are involved and Shelby has to outwit the unknown and faceless enemy to stay alive and save those that are caught in the crossfire.
I give this 4/5 one-cup coffee makers. Though, this was kind of melancholy and dark, I enjoyed reading this book. Mr. Hart is shaping up to be one really good mystery writer. And my favorite author's list has a lot of space for more mystery writers since it's my favorite genre. I am looking forward to read Serenity Avenged. Another book of the same author and also part of this series. What other deadly situations will Mr. Alexander get entangled in?
Thank you Mr. Hart for this worthwhile read. Looking forward to reading more of your books, whether in this same genre or not.
There was a hunger inside humanity, a craving for conflict. It was how it pulled itself out of the ooze and rose to rule the planet. It was biology.
- Craig A. Hart, Serenity -
This is the first of a series. And of course, my first to read a book by this author. Shelby Alexander is obviously the main character in this story. He is a retired boxer. This is how, by some unfortunate event, a dead body was found on his yard to be precise, got him started on being a private detective. Serenity is the name of the town which to me is a contradiction. It is in no way serene. First a dead body, then a turf war between two drug-dealing cartels. What's serene in that?
I think I stumbled on a gem. Craig A. Hart is a good find. I was fortunate that I listened to my instincts to sign up to review this book because this was such a suspenseful read. I felt sorry for Shelby being a greenhorn in private investigation and be constantly shot at. He only just started and it seemed like people are out to terminate him. Not a good omen for a starting PI, right? Not to mention, he did not on his own volition decide to be a PI. He was approached to dig and ask around to find the killer of the dead boy and how it ended up on his property. What's more, he is now in close contact with very shady characters. The very same people who trusted him to find the people responsible for the death of their sister. Yes, the dead body in his yard was the sister of the major drug-dealing family in Serenity. With the danger he is in becoming more real and deadlier, Shelby used the resources available to him, like his girl friend who works at a bar and a friend who is not from Serenity.
In the end, it turned out a lot of interests are playing this deadly game. Selfish, very deadly and high stakes are involved and Shelby has to outwit the unknown and faceless enemy to stay alive and save those that are caught in the crossfire.
I give this 4/5 one-cup coffee makers. Though, this was kind of melancholy and dark, I enjoyed reading this book. Mr. Hart is shaping up to be one really good mystery writer. And my favorite author's list has a lot of space for more mystery writers since it's my favorite genre. I am looking forward to read Serenity Avenged. Another book of the same author and also part of this series. What other deadly situations will Mr. Alexander get entangled in?
Thank you Mr. Hart for this worthwhile read. Looking forward to reading more of your books, whether in this same genre or not.
There was a hunger inside humanity, a craving for conflict. It was how it pulled itself out of the ooze and rose to rule the planet. It was biology.
- Craig A. Hart, Serenity -
January 20, 2017
Title – Serenity
Author – Craig Hart
Genre – Thriller
162 Amazon Pages
Rating 5 stars out of 5
Posted 1/20/1017
5/2017
I liked it, I liked it, I liked it.
The Main Characters
Shelby Alexander is a sixty year old ex-boxer and then a 'fixer' who worked for clients of dubious legality.
Carly, his thirty year old girl friend
Leslie, Shelby's nosey, intruding, manipulative, loving daughter.
Mack, Shelby's retired cop and friend
The Ellis clan: Harper, Shepherd and Gannon, the local sexist, onery, violent murderous drug dealers.
Shelby is enjoying his retirement in upper Michigan. He's drinking a little too much beer and coffee and getting a little pudgy but having sex regularly. All to his only daughter's consternation. Wait till Leslie learns she and Carly are the same age. Then one dark night, Shelby finds a local woman lying in the snow outside his barn. He takes her inside and tries to warm her but she dies. He later learns she'd not been lost in the dark but had been attacked.
From there Shelby is drawn into a web of violence, backstabbing and ambushes by unknown killers. Luckily for him, Shelby's past makes him no stranger to violence and death.
The plot is involved and intense but leaves room for humor.
The editing, sentence structure and character development is first class
This story has some of everything I like in a crime story, mild cursing, non-detailed or graphic sex and intelligently written violence.
The action and fight scenes are well detailed and choreographed.
This review was provided in exchange for a free book.
Vigilant Reader Book Reviews.
Author – Craig Hart
Genre – Thriller
162 Amazon Pages
Rating 5 stars out of 5
Posted 1/20/1017
5/2017
I liked it, I liked it, I liked it.
The Main Characters
Shelby Alexander is a sixty year old ex-boxer and then a 'fixer' who worked for clients of dubious legality.
Carly, his thirty year old girl friend
Leslie, Shelby's nosey, intruding, manipulative, loving daughter.
Mack, Shelby's retired cop and friend
The Ellis clan: Harper, Shepherd and Gannon, the local sexist, onery, violent murderous drug dealers.
Shelby is enjoying his retirement in upper Michigan. He's drinking a little too much beer and coffee and getting a little pudgy but having sex regularly. All to his only daughter's consternation. Wait till Leslie learns she and Carly are the same age. Then one dark night, Shelby finds a local woman lying in the snow outside his barn. He takes her inside and tries to warm her but she dies. He later learns she'd not been lost in the dark but had been attacked.
From there Shelby is drawn into a web of violence, backstabbing and ambushes by unknown killers. Luckily for him, Shelby's past makes him no stranger to violence and death.
The plot is involved and intense but leaves room for humor.
The editing, sentence structure and character development is first class
This story has some of everything I like in a crime story, mild cursing, non-detailed or graphic sex and intelligently written violence.
The action and fight scenes are well detailed and choreographed.
This review was provided in exchange for a free book.
Vigilant Reader Book Reviews.
February 6, 2017
I am a big fan of Stuart Woods and Robert Parker. I like a faster pace novel with lots of action to read. Author Craig Hart doesn't disappoint. This is my first novel of his that I have read. Shelby Alexander is a man of action, he can take care of himself! I like that he is an older guy with a lot of background for us to explore which I am hoping will be filled out in future books. I like writing that's to the point. There's a lot of action in this story interspersed with personal details about Shelby, the main character. This writing style held my interest. There is a meddling daughter, an ex-wife, a current girlfriend and a good buddy who is there for all the excitement. Then there's the bad guys! And boy are they bad… I was not bored reading the story. I look forward to the next book in this series.
January 29, 2018
I "read" this story through the audiobook I was lucky to have received from the author.
This is my honest review
Would I listen to Serenity again? Why?
I believe I would. The characters, the story and the narration made for a very pleasant "read".
What did I like best about this story?
The story itself was good. But the way the characters were done was great and Mr Alexander simply rocked.
Which character – as performed by Theo Holland – was my favorite?
Hard to choose one. Theo Holland did a wonderful job with each and every one of the characters. They came alive.
Did I have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I wouldn't say my reaction was extreme, but this book had me smiling more than once.
Any additional comments?
I didn't want it to end.
This is my honest review
Would I listen to Serenity again? Why?
I believe I would. The characters, the story and the narration made for a very pleasant "read".
What did I like best about this story?
The story itself was good. But the way the characters were done was great and Mr Alexander simply rocked.
Which character – as performed by Theo Holland – was my favorite?
Hard to choose one. Theo Holland did a wonderful job with each and every one of the characters. They came alive.
Did I have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I wouldn't say my reaction was extreme, but this book had me smiling more than once.
Any additional comments?
I didn't want it to end.
June 1, 2019
This was a very quick and easy read filled with action. The protagonist is a former professional boxer who is nearing sixty. He returned to his home town, Serenity, Michigan, for his retirement. Normally Serenity is a peaceful small town, but Shelby finds a badly injured developmentally disabled woman on his land who dies of her injuries before an ambulance comes. She is also the sister of the local meth dealers. The action goes on non-stop and there is a goodly amount of humor thrown in for good measure. It is entertaining enough to make you want to read more of the series. Thanks to the author and publisher for an e-Galley for an honest review.
October 20, 2018
Pretty good novel. Shelby Alexander,a 60 something retired boxer, is asked by his neighbor, the head of the Ellis clan, to investigate the death of his daughter. The Ellises, being the local meth dealers, can not expect any help from the law.
Alexander is an interesting character. The back and forth banter between him and his daughter is really pretty entertaining. And the there's the affair he's having with a woman half his age.
The end game, given Alexander's previous occupation, is pretty predictable.
First of a series and not cliffhanger ending. Just a hook to get the reader interested in the next of the series.
Alexander is an interesting character. The back and forth banter between him and his daughter is really pretty entertaining. And the there's the affair he's having with a woman half his age.
The end game, given Alexander's previous occupation, is pretty predictable.
First of a series and not cliffhanger ending. Just a hook to get the reader interested in the next of the series.
March 27, 2018
Great book - I'll read the next one
October 15, 2018
It was like a cheesy Selvester Stallone action movie.
October 16, 2018
This book had potential, I started to like it and then there was just too much guy talk and the dialogue was corny. Read three quarters but couldn’t finish it.
February 4, 2019
Not bad!
The story wasn't at the Ray Donovan level of "fixing", but it was a good read. I would recommend to my fellow readers.
The story wasn't at the Ray Donovan level of "fixing", but it was a good read. I would recommend to my fellow readers.
October 9, 2021
I love a good mystery/suspense and this book filled the bill. There were a couple of intimate scenes with graphic descriptions which could have been toned down or removed. As they are written, I wouldn't recommend this for teenagers but rather for the over 21 age group.
The storyline was unique although you know it is about bad guys distributing drugs from the beginning. I would occasionally get lost on who the bad guy was and where the author was headed with the story. There are some gory descriptions, again for over the 21 age group.
If you enjoy a good mystery or thriller, this would be a good read for you. He keeps you on your toes and turning the next page.
The storyline was unique although you know it is about bad guys distributing drugs from the beginning. I would occasionally get lost on who the bad guy was and where the author was headed with the story. There are some gory descriptions, again for over the 21 age group.
If you enjoy a good mystery or thriller, this would be a good read for you. He keeps you on your toes and turning the next page.
December 21, 2016
‘She died on his floor in front of the woodstove.’
Iowa author Craig A. Hart is both a writer and an editor: he has served as editor-in-chief for The Rusty Nail literary magazine, as manager for Sweatshoppe Media, and director of Northern Illinois Radio Information Service, an outreach that brought daily news and information to the visually impaired. His works have been published in The Orange Room Review, Voices, The Stray Branch, Red Poppy Review, The Mindful Word, Inclement, Right Hand Pointing, 7x20 Magazine, among others. In addition to writing fiction Craig has published self help manuals on writing and critiques of other writers’ works. SERENITY is the initial installment in a series he calls The Shelby Alexander Thriller series.
Craig has a fine grasp on character development, and when launching a series based on a main character (Shelby Alexander) it is even more important that we get to know him quickly and watch his development grow in a first novel of the series. It is therefore reassuring when the opening paragraphs offer a full view as in the following: ‘Shelby Alexander filled his mug with coffee and inhaled the robust aroma of the dark brown liquid. It was far too late to be drinking the stuff, but he silenced the warning in his head by deciding to sleep in tomorrow morning. He wouldn’t, of course. His days of sleeping in had long deserted him, the day his daughter, Leslie, had been born; after months of sleepless nights and early mornings, his body’s natural clock had forever changed. Shelby wondered what Leslie was doing. Newly turned thirty, Leslie was an adult woman more than capable of caring for herself, but Shelby still thought of her as a little girl. He found himself worrying she would fall into bad company or feel hungry or lonely. But times had changed, and more recently, he had noticed the roles shifting. Now she was the one calling to inquire into his welfare: was he eating, sleeping well, taking vitamins, exercising, keeping his medical appointments. Almost sixty, Shelby considered himself in excellent health. He suffered occasionally from arthritis in his hands, a result of his years as a professional boxer, but this rarely impacted his life too dramatically as long as he remained cognizant of how much he was using his hands. His athletic past was likely responsible for his remaining highly active at an age when most of his peers were beginning to feel their age. Shelby could still lift the same weights and run the same distances he had at thirty, although the frequency at which he did these things was lessening. He knew he was on the far side of his prime, as much as he tried not to think about it. Leslie’s constant mother-henning made ignoring his age impossible, and this was probably why he found her concern both annoying and touching. But every time he became frustrated and wanted to tell her to mind her own business, he remembered it wasn’t that long ago Leslie had refused to speak to him at all.’ We know him now and that opens the door to this fast paced thriller, knowing we care about him.
Synopsis – ‘A woman dies in his arms, a drug dealer offers him $10,000 for information regarding his dead sister, a gunman is determined to kill him, the sheriff has him in his sights, and then everything goes to hell in the little town of Serenity, Michigan. Shelby Alexander is an aging ex-boxer and retired fixer, whose activities often flirt with the wrong side of the law. Looking for a little peace and a slower pace of life, he moves to Serenity, the small Michigan town where he grew up. But trouble follows men like Shelby, and he finds himself embroiled in an underworld of drugs and violence that may prove to be his undoing.’
All the ingredients are there, but it is the chef’s hand at mixing them that makes this novel so successful. This is a bite out of Middle America, bursting with flavor and atmosphere. He book is relative short – making for a fine evening’s read. Highly Recommended.
Iowa author Craig A. Hart is both a writer and an editor: he has served as editor-in-chief for The Rusty Nail literary magazine, as manager for Sweatshoppe Media, and director of Northern Illinois Radio Information Service, an outreach that brought daily news and information to the visually impaired. His works have been published in The Orange Room Review, Voices, The Stray Branch, Red Poppy Review, The Mindful Word, Inclement, Right Hand Pointing, 7x20 Magazine, among others. In addition to writing fiction Craig has published self help manuals on writing and critiques of other writers’ works. SERENITY is the initial installment in a series he calls The Shelby Alexander Thriller series.
Craig has a fine grasp on character development, and when launching a series based on a main character (Shelby Alexander) it is even more important that we get to know him quickly and watch his development grow in a first novel of the series. It is therefore reassuring when the opening paragraphs offer a full view as in the following: ‘Shelby Alexander filled his mug with coffee and inhaled the robust aroma of the dark brown liquid. It was far too late to be drinking the stuff, but he silenced the warning in his head by deciding to sleep in tomorrow morning. He wouldn’t, of course. His days of sleeping in had long deserted him, the day his daughter, Leslie, had been born; after months of sleepless nights and early mornings, his body’s natural clock had forever changed. Shelby wondered what Leslie was doing. Newly turned thirty, Leslie was an adult woman more than capable of caring for herself, but Shelby still thought of her as a little girl. He found himself worrying she would fall into bad company or feel hungry or lonely. But times had changed, and more recently, he had noticed the roles shifting. Now she was the one calling to inquire into his welfare: was he eating, sleeping well, taking vitamins, exercising, keeping his medical appointments. Almost sixty, Shelby considered himself in excellent health. He suffered occasionally from arthritis in his hands, a result of his years as a professional boxer, but this rarely impacted his life too dramatically as long as he remained cognizant of how much he was using his hands. His athletic past was likely responsible for his remaining highly active at an age when most of his peers were beginning to feel their age. Shelby could still lift the same weights and run the same distances he had at thirty, although the frequency at which he did these things was lessening. He knew he was on the far side of his prime, as much as he tried not to think about it. Leslie’s constant mother-henning made ignoring his age impossible, and this was probably why he found her concern both annoying and touching. But every time he became frustrated and wanted to tell her to mind her own business, he remembered it wasn’t that long ago Leslie had refused to speak to him at all.’ We know him now and that opens the door to this fast paced thriller, knowing we care about him.
Synopsis – ‘A woman dies in his arms, a drug dealer offers him $10,000 for information regarding his dead sister, a gunman is determined to kill him, the sheriff has him in his sights, and then everything goes to hell in the little town of Serenity, Michigan. Shelby Alexander is an aging ex-boxer and retired fixer, whose activities often flirt with the wrong side of the law. Looking for a little peace and a slower pace of life, he moves to Serenity, the small Michigan town where he grew up. But trouble follows men like Shelby, and he finds himself embroiled in an underworld of drugs and violence that may prove to be his undoing.’
All the ingredients are there, but it is the chef’s hand at mixing them that makes this novel so successful. This is a bite out of Middle America, bursting with flavor and atmosphere. He book is relative short – making for a fine evening’s read. Highly Recommended.
December 28, 2018
Enjoyable series. Okay way to pass the time.
December 23, 2016
It’s been a long time since Shelby Alexander was a prize fighter. In the years since, he’s drifted back to small-town America: the small town of Serenity, to be exact. Divorced from his wife, he enjoys the local pub, the fishing, and the peace of the woods—not to mention the occasional shootouts with the local drug dealers. The Ellis family has been the lynch-pin for trouble in the area since the trouble was running alcohol around the Prohibition, and now they’re facing competition, and they’re desperate. It’s not a good combination, any way you look at it.
Craig A. Hart’s Serenity is a solid action thriller, set in backwoods Michigan where the brutality spatters across pristine wilderness. Shelby makes a credible, relatable anti-hero; aging and trying to ignore it, with trouble with the law in his past and a drinking problem in the present that he doesn’t try very hard to hide. Shelby isn’t the only character worth talking about—the secondary characters are convincing, fun, and detailed. The action is largely credible, and the plot is well-paced, with the insertion of a classic twist to clinch the storyline. The writing was also refreshingly well-edited, making the book a pleasure to read. This story will definitely make fans of classic action very happy—I recommend it.
Reviewed for By Rite of Word reviews.
Craig A. Hart’s Serenity is a solid action thriller, set in backwoods Michigan where the brutality spatters across pristine wilderness. Shelby makes a credible, relatable anti-hero; aging and trying to ignore it, with trouble with the law in his past and a drinking problem in the present that he doesn’t try very hard to hide. Shelby isn’t the only character worth talking about—the secondary characters are convincing, fun, and detailed. The action is largely credible, and the plot is well-paced, with the insertion of a classic twist to clinch the storyline. The writing was also refreshingly well-edited, making the book a pleasure to read. This story will definitely make fans of classic action very happy—I recommend it.
Reviewed for By Rite of Word reviews.
December 4, 2016
MY THOUGHTS: Setting: Serenity, Michigan
Waking up, former boxer and "fixer" finds a woman dying on his lawn. Alexander Shelby, 60 years old's life is about too change. Jenny Ellis dies, she had mental problems and had wandered off. She got lost and basically froze to death before anyone could talk to her. That was the end of that. Not exactly, Shelby gets an offer from Harlin Ellis, the brother of Jenny to investigate why Jenny really died. The Ellis family isn't exactly above board, actually they are all criminals. Could this have something to do with Jenny's' death? Shelby is offered 10,000 dollars. That's nothing to sneeze at. Shelby takes on the offer but he may be in real danger. Shortly after Ellis is found dead. Who is going to be next? He almost gets hit by a bullet and then bullets start flying and people start dying. Something is wrong about the story of Jenny just wandering off and freezing to death. Could the drug dealers that have taken over the drug trade be involved? SO far the author has given a fast paced story with well described characters. You can picture Alexander Shelby being 60, still rather fit from being a boxer, going after this investigation with all he's got. On top of that, he's got a girlfriend, much younger than he is. More power to him. I want to hear more about their personal relationship. The author gives a good crime fiction read to get the reader to figure out who dunnit. The author gives you a mix of characters, cops that don't care and don't know what's going on, drug dealers, killers and then we get loads of action, suspense, and more excitement than maybe you can handle. The author takes a peaceful, quiet, nothing ever happens town of Serenity and turns it into a town where drugs, drug lords and criminals rule the roost. As you read, more and more happens and you find the small town of Serenity isn't the place to be right now. Death lurks around the dark corners. Will Shelby solve the mystery before death finds him? Grab a copy and read well into the night because you wont' want to put down the book until you find the killer.
I received a PDF copy of this book from the author, Craig Hart and voluntarily decided to review it.
Waking up, former boxer and "fixer" finds a woman dying on his lawn. Alexander Shelby, 60 years old's life is about too change. Jenny Ellis dies, she had mental problems and had wandered off. She got lost and basically froze to death before anyone could talk to her. That was the end of that. Not exactly, Shelby gets an offer from Harlin Ellis, the brother of Jenny to investigate why Jenny really died. The Ellis family isn't exactly above board, actually they are all criminals. Could this have something to do with Jenny's' death? Shelby is offered 10,000 dollars. That's nothing to sneeze at. Shelby takes on the offer but he may be in real danger. Shortly after Ellis is found dead. Who is going to be next? He almost gets hit by a bullet and then bullets start flying and people start dying. Something is wrong about the story of Jenny just wandering off and freezing to death. Could the drug dealers that have taken over the drug trade be involved? SO far the author has given a fast paced story with well described characters. You can picture Alexander Shelby being 60, still rather fit from being a boxer, going after this investigation with all he's got. On top of that, he's got a girlfriend, much younger than he is. More power to him. I want to hear more about their personal relationship. The author gives a good crime fiction read to get the reader to figure out who dunnit. The author gives you a mix of characters, cops that don't care and don't know what's going on, drug dealers, killers and then we get loads of action, suspense, and more excitement than maybe you can handle. The author takes a peaceful, quiet, nothing ever happens town of Serenity and turns it into a town where drugs, drug lords and criminals rule the roost. As you read, more and more happens and you find the small town of Serenity isn't the place to be right now. Death lurks around the dark corners. Will Shelby solve the mystery before death finds him? Grab a copy and read well into the night because you wont' want to put down the book until you find the killer.
I received a PDF copy of this book from the author, Craig Hart and voluntarily decided to review it.
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