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Smiley and McBlythe #5
Murder In the Dunes
A detective’s perfect vacation: sun, sand, surf… and murder.
When blind PI Steve Smiley visits his friend and writing mentor, Kate Bridges, he anticipates an idyllic South Padre Island getaway. The island’s magic spell is broken when Kate is accosted by her abusive ex-husband. Two days later, his body is found in the dunes, and she becomes the prime suspect.
With the police in a hurry to close the case and Kate arrested for the murder, Steve sets out to find the real killer. His investigation leads him into the dangerous world of dirty cops and the Mexican cartel—a world where there are no rules.
In a last ditch effort to prove Kate's innocence, Steve lays a trap for the murderer. Can he outwit the devious opponent, or will the next blood spilled in the sand be his?
When blind PI Steve Smiley visits his friend and writing mentor, Kate Bridges, he anticipates an idyllic South Padre Island getaway. The island’s magic spell is broken when Kate is accosted by her abusive ex-husband. Two days later, his body is found in the dunes, and she becomes the prime suspect.
With the police in a hurry to close the case and Kate arrested for the murder, Steve sets out to find the real killer. His investigation leads him into the dangerous world of dirty cops and the Mexican cartel—a world where there are no rules.
In a last ditch effort to prove Kate's innocence, Steve lays a trap for the murderer. Can he outwit the devious opponent, or will the next blood spilled in the sand be his?
270 pages, ebook
First published September 8, 2021
217 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
About the author
Bruce Hammack
49 books422 followersDrawing from his extensive background in criminal justice, Bruce Hammack writes contemporary, clean read detective and crime mysteries.
When he's not writing his next novel, he enjoys reading classic whodunits, watching film noir movies and traveling to see new places.
Having lived in eighteen cities around the world, he now lives in the Texas hill country with his wife of thirty-plus years.
He is the author of the Star of Justice series, the Smiley and McBlythe Mysteries and the Fen Maguire Mysteries. You can find out about his latest release at https://brucehammack.com/.
Follow him on social media at https://www.facebook.com/BruceHammack...
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/bruce...
When he's not writing his next novel, he enjoys reading classic whodunits, watching film noir movies and traveling to see new places.
Having lived in eighteen cities around the world, he now lives in the Texas hill country with his wife of thirty-plus years.
He is the author of the Star of Justice series, the Smiley and McBlythe Mysteries and the Fen Maguire Mysteries. You can find out about his latest release at https://brucehammack.com/.
Follow him on social media at https://www.facebook.com/BruceHammack...
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/bruce...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
February 28, 2022
I love the premise of this series. The characters are not saccharine sweet and the mystery surrounding the stories characters is well written and enjoyably difficult enough to keep me interested but not so difficult to cause you to give up on the book.
Steve, a blind former homicide cop teams up with Heather a former lawyer to solve this murder.
I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.
Steve, a blind former homicide cop teams up with Heather a former lawyer to solve this murder.
I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.
March 12, 2025
Enjoyable cozy mystery. 4th in a series.
January 26, 2025
Padre Island. Smiley is visiting his writing mentor, while McBlythe has a business deal to arrange. But its not long before they are al involved in a murder.
An entertaining modern mystery
An entertaining modern mystery
January 3, 2024
Steve is visiting his friend Kate, who he met in Pistols and Poinsettias, and their visit goes sideways when her abusive ex-husband is found murdered in the dunes near her apartment complex. Another solid mystery that progresses the protagonists' personal lives and motivations a bit further.
September 7, 2021
Bruce Hammack can really write mysteries! Wow, this one starts out with a bang and just keeps on going. The mystery completely left me in the dark! There were some possible culprits but I didn't get it right! This full-length novel will keep you on the edge of your seat and definitely is a must read for all mystery lovers. Highly recommend!
I received a complimentary copy from the author. All thoughts are my own.
November 15, 2023
The Smiley and McBlythe Mystery Series:
Exercise Is Murder, prequel - An interesting and immersing introduction to Steve Smiley and Heather McBlythe
and their beginnings. Recommend reading this first. 4*
Jingle Bells, Rifle Shells, 1 - Interesting and immersing easy read with a steady pace, good story lines, good characters and good values made this a hard to put down read. Recommend reading the prequel, Exercise is Murder first. 5*
Murder In The Dunes, #4 - Difficult to put down with its steady pace, easy to read writing style and good characters and story lines. 5*
Murder Down The Line, #6 - This is an enjoyable, entertaining series. I like the main characters, the well thought out story lines, and the processes to solve the crimes. Two crimes and a surprise made for a hard to put down read but the pages flew by rapidly. Source: BookSirens. 5*
A Beach to Die For, #8 - While still an interesting story, it was missing something. I had a hard time, here and there, keeping my interest in the story. Good characters and story lines, but an average read. Source: BookSirens. 3*
Mistletoe, Malice And Murder, #9 - Interesting but too easy to figure out the murderer. Good story lines with humor and good characters. Source: BookSirens. 4*
The Smiley and McBlythe Mystery Series end.
Exercise Is Murder, prequel - An interesting and immersing introduction to Steve Smiley and Heather McBlythe
and their beginnings. Recommend reading this first. 4*
Jingle Bells, Rifle Shells, 1 - Interesting and immersing easy read with a steady pace, good story lines, good characters and good values made this a hard to put down read. Recommend reading the prequel, Exercise is Murder first. 5*
Murder In The Dunes, #4 - Difficult to put down with its steady pace, easy to read writing style and good characters and story lines. 5*
Murder Down The Line, #6 - This is an enjoyable, entertaining series. I like the main characters, the well thought out story lines, and the processes to solve the crimes. Two crimes and a surprise made for a hard to put down read but the pages flew by rapidly. Source: BookSirens. 5*
A Beach to Die For, #8 - While still an interesting story, it was missing something. I had a hard time, here and there, keeping my interest in the story. Good characters and story lines, but an average read. Source: BookSirens. 3*
Mistletoe, Malice And Murder, #9 - Interesting but too easy to figure out the murderer. Good story lines with humor and good characters. Source: BookSirens. 4*
The Smiley and McBlythe Mystery Series end.
July 4, 2024
Another terrific Bruce Hammack mystery.
I love when this author takes me someplace tropical and I can enjoy beach locales. This time we went to a place that sounded like it was a Caribbean island, but in fact it was at the farthest end of Texas called South Padre Island along the gulf coast. Now, I thought my husband and I had travelled as far as we could go south in Texas, but apparently not. So I had to look it up and check out winter rates since NE Tennessee winters can be awfully cold. I love the beach.
This episode had a murder about three or so chapters into the book. The rest of the time Steve Smiley and his business partner, Heather McBlythe investigated. Steve's writing editor and coach (Kate) was the prime suspect, so everything possible to cast doubt on her guilt was unearthed.
We also see some interesting dynamics between Heather and her boyfriend Jack. Personally, I was a bit miffed at him, but sometimes I could see his point because Heather is a true work-aholic and wasn’t considering his feelings often.
All the way through this story you know it wasn’t Kate, but nearly everyone seemed guilty. To be honest, as is often the case in the Smiley/McBlythe mysteries, I’m shocked at not only who-done-it, but how Steve figures it all out.
Loved it.
I love when this author takes me someplace tropical and I can enjoy beach locales. This time we went to a place that sounded like it was a Caribbean island, but in fact it was at the farthest end of Texas called South Padre Island along the gulf coast. Now, I thought my husband and I had travelled as far as we could go south in Texas, but apparently not. So I had to look it up and check out winter rates since NE Tennessee winters can be awfully cold. I love the beach.
This episode had a murder about three or so chapters into the book. The rest of the time Steve Smiley and his business partner, Heather McBlythe investigated. Steve's writing editor and coach (Kate) was the prime suspect, so everything possible to cast doubt on her guilt was unearthed.
We also see some interesting dynamics between Heather and her boyfriend Jack. Personally, I was a bit miffed at him, but sometimes I could see his point because Heather is a true work-aholic and wasn’t considering his feelings often.
All the way through this story you know it wasn’t Kate, but nearly everyone seemed guilty. To be honest, as is often the case in the Smiley/McBlythe mysteries, I’m shocked at not only who-done-it, but how Steve figures it all out.
Loved it.
September 29, 2022
This series is really good and the author does a pretty good job with believable dialogue. The tension between two of the main characters seemed forced and more than a little juvenile, however. Since when does a workable relationship mean you have to drop all other plans to do something together because one person decides they want to do something at the last minute? Grow up!
The basic story revolves around the fortuitous presence of a battered woman accidentally running into her ex-husband and someone using that to frame her for his murder. Something about the way all that unfolded seemed rather fishy to me, beyond Detective Ramos’ single-minded obsession with her as the only suspect. Things just kept not adding up. New details were added over time and additional twists made things interesting, but in the end I was not at all surprised by the final solution because I had been getting pretty suspicious for quite some time.
This might be the best of three I’ve read so far, but I’ve only read #1, #5, and this one (#7), so I’ll have to go hunt down the others. I definitely want to read the rest.
The basic story revolves around the fortuitous presence of a battered woman accidentally running into her ex-husband and someone using that to frame her for his murder. Something about the way all that unfolded seemed rather fishy to me, beyond Detective Ramos’ single-minded obsession with her as the only suspect. Things just kept not adding up. New details were added over time and additional twists made things interesting, but in the end I was not at all surprised by the final solution because I had been getting pretty suspicious for quite some time.
This might be the best of three I’ve read so far, but I’ve only read #1, #5, and this one (#7), so I’ll have to go hunt down the others. I definitely want to read the rest.
July 2, 2024
I've really been enjoying Bruce Hammack's Fen Maguire mysteries but I'm quite new to his Smiley and McBlythe books. I read the prologue and then this, number 5. I would like to read books 1-4, although I don't feel I've really missed anything that spoiled my enjoyment of this book. I find this author's characters clearly defined and interesting, the stories intriguing with unexpected plot twists the pull the reader in. Steve Smiley, ex homicide detective who lost his wife, his sight and his job in one mugging attack, and his helper and partner Heather McBlythe take a vacation on an island with Heather's boyfriend and Steve's writing coach when an unexpected turn of events has them investigating a murder. I love how the author has Steve using his heightened senses in ways that surprise even Heather, and cause her to jokingly call him "Omnipotent". Bruce Hammack's books are advertised as Clean reads. I don't read them for that reason particularly but I find I don't miss the swearing and details of sex scenes one finds in so many other books at all. Just well written, well crafted stories
February 18, 2022
Steve Smiley is on holiday with his business partner, Heather McBlythe, her partner Jack and staying with Steve’s writing mentor Kate Bridges. Heather, an astute business lawyer, has got a sniff of a good property deal and is also hoping to make it a romantic getaway. But a couple of dead bodies put a stop to those plans, or at least makes it very awkward, particularly as one of the bodies is Kates ex husband.
This is the seventh book in this series which pairs up Steve and Heather as Private Investigators, due in part to Steve’s habit of coming across dead bodies. They make a really good team, both being ex police officers and skilled detectives. Its very well written, with a real ring of authenticity, some really good twists and turns, and an enjoyable who dunnit. You know that nothing is really as it seems, but it plays out really well. Very satisfying read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is the seventh book in this series which pairs up Steve and Heather as Private Investigators, due in part to Steve’s habit of coming across dead bodies. They make a really good team, both being ex police officers and skilled detectives. Its very well written, with a real ring of authenticity, some really good twists and turns, and an enjoyable who dunnit. You know that nothing is really as it seems, but it plays out really well. Very satisfying read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 28, 2024
It's supposed to be a vacation. If you know Heather, her vacations are full of work and searching for the next great investment opportunity. Could this trash her love life?
The combination blows up in Steve and Heather's face when there is a murder right outside their apartment building while on vacation. Unfortunately they get pulled into the mystery and have to solve it to save their friend. There are a lot of clues, but plenty of dead ends that suggest several people are the guilty party. As Heather notes:
"That's Steve's style. He doesn't tell all he knows until he's ready to spring the trap."
Come along for the ride on this crime mystery as Steve and Heather unravel the clues and work for justice for all.
The combination blows up in Steve and Heather's face when there is a murder right outside their apartment building while on vacation. Unfortunately they get pulled into the mystery and have to solve it to save their friend. There are a lot of clues, but plenty of dead ends that suggest several people are the guilty party. As Heather notes:
"That's Steve's style. He doesn't tell all he knows until he's ready to spring the trap."
Come along for the ride on this crime mystery as Steve and Heather unravel the clues and work for justice for all.
July 2, 2024
Have enjoy reading any of the books in the Smiley and McBlythe series. This one certainly did not let me down.
Having one of the partners being blind and getting to approach the scene and explaining using the other senses adds a great deal to how things develop.
The way one chapter draws you into the next, I couldn't stop reading and finished in one afternoon. Some outcomes are predictable although I am sure the ending will come as a surprise to most.
Having one of the partners being blind and getting to approach the scene and explaining using the other senses adds a great deal to how things develop.
The way one chapter draws you into the next, I couldn't stop reading and finished in one afternoon. Some outcomes are predictable although I am sure the ending will come as a surprise to most.
March 5, 2022
I enjoyed this mystery. Unfortunately, it is the 5th in the series (or 7th?) and this the first one I've read. I felt like I had been dropped in the middle of the lives of the main characters (i.e., Steve Smiley & Heather McBlythe, partners in a private investigation firm). I would have liked to know more of their back stories
From the introduction:
"When blind PI Steve Smiley visits his friend and writing mentor, Kate Bridges, he anticipates an idyllic South Padre Island getaway. The island’s magic spell is broken when Kate is accosted by her abusive ex-husband. Two days later, his body is found in the dunes, and she becomes the prime suspect."
Heather is an attorney as is her (perhaps) love interest Jack, another attorney, who has traveled with Steve & Heather on what he assumes is a romantic vacation. But Heather is also an entrepreneur who loves doing deals, buying and selling real estate, and clearly has a difficult time making a romantic connection. She has heard that the apartment building where they are staying (and where Kate lives) might be for sale.
But the murder of Kate's ex-husband takes over their vacation to clear Kate, so Steve and Heather are totally involved in trying find the actual killer.
I was so impressed by the way Heather helps Steve compensate for his blindness. But Steve is eerily perceptive on his own having developed his other senses and clearly is the brains behind solving mysteries. He reminded me of Nero Wolfe sitting in the apartment while directing the others in obtaining evidence.
There was a major twist in the end of the story that completely surprised me. I would like to read this series in order to learn more about all the interrelationships of the characters.
I was fortunate to receive an Advanced Review Copy from Book Sirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.
From the introduction:
"When blind PI Steve Smiley visits his friend and writing mentor, Kate Bridges, he anticipates an idyllic South Padre Island getaway. The island’s magic spell is broken when Kate is accosted by her abusive ex-husband. Two days later, his body is found in the dunes, and she becomes the prime suspect."
Heather is an attorney as is her (perhaps) love interest Jack, another attorney, who has traveled with Steve & Heather on what he assumes is a romantic vacation. But Heather is also an entrepreneur who loves doing deals, buying and selling real estate, and clearly has a difficult time making a romantic connection. She has heard that the apartment building where they are staying (and where Kate lives) might be for sale.
But the murder of Kate's ex-husband takes over their vacation to clear Kate, so Steve and Heather are totally involved in trying find the actual killer.
I was so impressed by the way Heather helps Steve compensate for his blindness. But Steve is eerily perceptive on his own having developed his other senses and clearly is the brains behind solving mysteries. He reminded me of Nero Wolfe sitting in the apartment while directing the others in obtaining evidence.
There was a major twist in the end of the story that completely surprised me. I would like to read this series in order to learn more about all the interrelationships of the characters.
I was fortunate to receive an Advanced Review Copy from Book Sirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 27, 2023
Outstanding
The last thing you want when you go away to rest are deaf bodies showing up! Not restful at all. Joy was an opportunistic interesting character. Steve was the most interesting character with depth that I've read in awhile. I marveled at him and his complex personality and mind. This was a great one that kept me guessing until the end.
The last thing you want when you go away to rest are deaf bodies showing up! Not restful at all. Joy was an opportunistic interesting character. Steve was the most interesting character with depth that I've read in awhile. I marveled at him and his complex personality and mind. This was a great one that kept me guessing until the end.
December 23, 2025
I thought I had read pretty much every one of Bruce Hammack's books and was delighted that I still had this one to enjoy. Great read, as always, and as always, I totally did not guess who the perp was!
Fantastic, waiting impatiently for more from this amazing author!
Fantastic, waiting impatiently for more from this amazing author!
May 24, 2022
Great Book!
I loved this book. It is fast paced and full of adventures at the beach. The twists and turns kept coming.
I loved this book. It is fast paced and full of adventures at the beach. The twists and turns kept coming.
June 11, 2022
I LOVED this book. The characters are real, the plot is engaging and the pace is just right. More! More! More!
June 17, 2022
Murder in the Dunes
I really enjoyed reading this story. Ex police officers and wealthy people. Not an easy mix. Especially when murder is involved but this writer makes it happen.
I really enjoyed reading this story. Ex police officers and wealthy people. Not an easy mix. Especially when murder is involved but this writer makes it happen.
June 30, 2022
I liked the premise of this book, but the characters never left me feeling empathetic with them. I rate this one 3 stars.
August 29, 2022
Good. I always enjoy a Smiley and Heather story.
March 11, 2023
Great
I just love Heather and Steve. I love their working relations their personal relationship. This is a great series and this one really surprised me with the ending.
I just love Heather and Steve. I love their working relations their personal relationship. This is a great series and this one really surprised me with the ending.
April 27, 2023
Great read, brought back memories of Texas.
June 4, 2024
Definitely did not disappoint. Intriguing twists and turns throughout. Ready to start the next one.
June 30, 2024
who killed Ricardo and why??? Mistaken identity??? The cartel??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.
August 11, 2024
Another fun quick read! I could much more easily picture the scenery in this story, even though I'm familiar with the other settings being from Texas myself. I would like to say I figured it out early on, but it didn't click for me until shortly before the big reveal. Can't wait to see where Steve and Heather end up next!
March 22, 2025
Another great story with favorite characters. Loved the beach setting and the atmosphere. Can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Thank you for a wonderful page turner!
June 26, 2025
Great story and great twist at the end.
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July 3, 2024FREE today (June 30, 2024) on Amazon.
September 7, 2023
Getting better and better. Keep up your good work.
September 21, 2021
Another great caper in this series. I always look forward to my advanced reader copy and this one did not disappoint.
There are so many threads to follow, and definitely lots of action. Super investigator Steve Smiley is a wonder to watch as he uses his alternate senses to figure out what really happened.
His cohort, Heather McBlythe is a real dynamo and she is teaming up with Steve to be a co-investigator.
A great read.
There are so many threads to follow, and definitely lots of action. Super investigator Steve Smiley is a wonder to watch as he uses his alternate senses to figure out what really happened.
His cohort, Heather McBlythe is a real dynamo and she is teaming up with Steve to be a co-investigator.
A great read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews