Dead Head

Dakota Mystery #8

by M.K. Coker

It all comes to a head... In a quiet roadside ditch in Eda County, South Dakota, prairie roses have sprung up along with constructions cones—and a fractured old skull. Settling into her first year as elected sheriff, Karen Okerlund Mehaffey wants nothing more than a quiet little murder with no press, no mess, while she tackles the more difficult question of whether to purchase a new official vehicle or hire a new deputy. Her detective-uncle, Marek Okerlund, has his own hands full with an unexpectedly recalcitrant daughter. School is almost out... but the last day comes sooner for some, as girls go missing, one by one. As the old case and the new intertwine, with twists that turn frighteningly personal, Karen and Marek rush to unravel the skull's past to save the girls' future. DEAD HEAD is a character-driven police procedural. Eighth in series. Word 96,000. Occasional profanity. Minimal gore.

344 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 25, 2019

About the author

M.K. Coker grew up on a river bluff in southeastern South Dakota. Part of the Dakota diaspora, the author has lived in half a dozen states, including New Mexico, but returns to the prairie at every opportunity.

Reviews

[J.J. Rusz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of M.K. Coker’s series of mysteries set in South Dakota. But that enthusiasm doesn’t extend to “Dead Head,” a brutal tale with a plot so contrived and far-fetched that I checked for an author’s note at the end of the book just to be sure it wasn’t based upon real events. While Coker’s skill as a writer kept me moving forward among a seemingly endless cast of victims, suspects, and supporting characters, the overall plot (and its resolution) left me cold.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

As far as I can tell, this is the last of M.K. Coker's Dakota Mysteries. I will definitely miss Eda County, Karen, Marek, Eyre and the rest of the characters.

I really like that each book in the series is written around a theme.

(Great news! Her website has a cover reveal for another tirle due out later this year!)

[Mike Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner!

I love reading of the lifestyles of small midwest towns and their evolution from the European immigrants who settled them. This author does a superb job of conveying a real life experience of those who populate these locales and the struggles they face.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reunions in Reunion!

Another fantastic book. 👏 I can hardly wait to sit down and pick up where I left off. The characters are wonderful and some horrendous, packed into a well-paced police procedural.
Please keep writing this series as I freaky feel like I know these people! 😀🙏

[Patrizia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adoro questa serie! Peccato che non ci sia segno di un seguito: i libri precedenti sono tutti usciti a marzo...
In questo libro un cold case e una serie di sparizioni di ragazze si intrecciano, come al solito, alle vicende personali della protagonista e di alcuni coprotagonisti. La storia mi ha proprio preso e alla fine avevo capito parte della soluzione prima dei "nostri eroi".