A Final Crossing - Murder on the SS Badger

Searing/McMillan #6

by Richard L. Baldwin

An MSU professor gets involved in an eco-terrorist movement. She sees the error of her ways and envisions a plan to get out of the network and begin a new life. Unfortunately, the others in the terrorist group see her as an informant and a threat. The drama culminates on the S.S. Badger as it crosses from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, to Ludington, Michigan. Lou and Manistee Chief of Police, Mickey McFadden work to bring justice to the peaceful shores of Lake Michigan.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

233 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2004

About the author

A resident of Haslett, MI - Rich Baldwin has published more than 20 books, including two children’s books, a set of religious vignettes, several skits and the "AARP Magazine - Swim Suit Edition", under his own company – Buttonwood Press.

He is also a public speaker, addressing groups on the topic of “"How to Self Publish Your Own Book"” Prior to becoming a published author, he enjoyed a long and exciting career in special education, serving as a teacher, college professor and spending 20 years at the Michigan Department of Education where he was a consultant, supervisor and State Director of Special Education from 1990-97.

Rich was born in Kalamazoo,MI; raised in Grand Haven, MI; and has graduate and post graduate degrees from Western Michigan University as well as a doctorate from Kansas University.

Rich loves to spend time with his fans, and likes nothing better than meeting people when he is at book-signings and making appearances on promotional tours.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this today. Loved it! I'm usually not much for mysteries or crime dramas, but what I loved was all the familiar settings. Places I've been like Ludington, Pentwater, Grand Haven, Manitowoc, Lansing, Colorado, etc. And specifically the Badger boat. I could so easily picture many of the scenes in the book having been to these settings. That made the book come alive to me. I started reading this two weeks before our this year's trip to Ludington, continued reading during the trip, even enjoying a cruise on the Badger and snapping a shot of a certain stateroom's door # mentioned in the book while on it, and just finished reading today, just shy of a month after starting.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and the fact there was not was shred of PG-13 material or language in it! I would love to see a sequel to it of some kind.



6-17-14: Just ordered this book via Amazon. Going to be fun to read a fictional book with the setting being the same boat we sailed on last summer and are planning to again next month!

[Steve Johgart · Rating 2 out of 5]

A brilliant but mild-mannered and pathologically sociophobic MSU ecology professor is convinced in a short conversation with three people she doesn't know to join their cabal and participate in a string of destructive eco-terrorist actions. Only if you've ridden the SS Badger and love the Lake Michigan coastline, and enjoy reading a book to see how many inexplicably terrible decisions, improbable coincidences, and ridiculous plot twists can be packed into a short novel, is this the book for you. This book desperately needed expert editorial guidance and a lot more subtlety - I wanted it to be good, given the setting and having bought it on the SS Badger, but it was disappointingly unconvincing.

[Dinah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Probably the worst book I've ever read. Ridiculous plot. One dimensional characters. Laughable dialog. Don't know how a book like this ven gets published.

[Keith & · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Story Appreciated by this Badger-sailor

The Badger and locations were all very familiar to me, which added to an exciting and well-thought-out mystery plot.
Only drawback was the overly-rapid, "summary" way the conclusion was written. Otherwise, I would have given it the fifth star. By the way, I read some of the book while crossing Lake Michigan on the Badger herself recently!

[Gary Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Choppy but a Good Trip

This book interested me as an occasional passenger on the Badger familiar with all of the locations in the story, which are described accurately. The eBook has a number of formatting errors, such as words run together or broken apart and awkward paragraphs, but the story is well constructed and engaging.

[Roger Smitter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baldwin gives us Michiganders a good story, especially for those of us who grew up in Western Michigan.
There are plenty of characters and as we read, we get the opportunity to pick out who was the killer. The book does a very good job of re-building that kind of fiction.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was disappointed with the ending. So much detail all along and not so much at the end. Almost like the author was hurrying to finish the book. I did enjoy it though because I've been to the places mentioned in the book and ridden the S.S. Badger.

[Aubrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the build up. However, I felt like we were working our way off Everest and all of a sudden we rock slid down to the base with how it concluded. Good winter read, a great Michigan enthusiasts read.

[Caryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little choppy like Lake Michigan waters. . . Like the author lost interest and rushed to a finish. But enjoyable character development-- and worth reading more of his stories.

[Pam Ela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not well written but the mention of places in the area was interesting as we were touring around the area as I read it

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the setting! Brought back great memories of being a frequent sailor on the SS Badger.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brent thought it was a little hokey but easy to read and finished it in one day. That alone was an accomplishment!

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the west Michigan shore setting

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like so many books I read, I didn't care for the ending. Lately I've been trying to figure out the difference between literature and writing. This book helped to clarify it for me a bit - Nothing the least bit complicated about it, no interesting unexpected twists, no social commentary, just a story.

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up while crossing Lake Michigan on the SS Badger. Kind of fun to read because of that, but the dialog was atrocious, and there were so many leaps of logic that did not ring true in the least.

[D.L. Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being from Michgan myself, I love the way Richard L Baldwin stages his stories in our lovely state. I really like the character Louis Searing and will need to read more.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice to see come local areas mentioned.

[Doris Devarowing · Rating 5 out of 5]

great murder mystery story

[Jay Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild plot but well written and enjoyable book set accurately in Michigan

[Andi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not well written or believable, and zero character development, but fun local color

[Gaston G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting story by a local author.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love supporting local Great Lakes authors. It just didn't gel for me.