Complex Kid

by Mary Anne Edwards

Can a mother’s love be enough to save her special needs son who confessed to a brutal murder?

Chief Charlie McClung investigates the brutal murder of Jason Sparrow, the recreation supervisor for a special needs day center. One of the clients, Ryan Kemper, confesses to the murder.

Even though he’s found in the dead man’s office holding a bloody baseball bat, no one believes him. But with no evidence to prove otherwise, McClung has no other choice but to bring in the young man.

As McClung searches for the truth, he undercovers the victim’s sordid lifestyle. The suspects pile up, but all have valid alibis. How many layers will McClung have to dig through to prove Ryan is innocent? Or is he?

If you like mysteries without the gratuitous violence, language, and sex, you’ll love Complex Kid, a fast-paced police procedural with numerous twists and turns.

Kindle Edition

First published April 11, 2022

About the author

Mary Anne, a native of Mercedes, Texas, has spent most of her life in Georgia. Her admiration for mystery authors like Agatha Christie, Anne Perry, Caroline Graham, and Elizabeth Peters led her to finally heed the voices in her head and pen her own series of traditional mysteries featuring Detective Charlie McClung.

Mary Anne feels life should be lived to its fullest whether you’re 10 or 100. She's always up for a ride on a shopping cart and dances with youthful exuberance. The main female protagonist in the Charlie McClung Mysteries is a vivid reflection of the author's vibrant spirit.

Mary Anne and her husband, along with their ill-tempered tuxedo cat Gertrude, call Canton, GA, home.

Reviews

[Judy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was one of the fortunate readers to have received an ARC of this book and although am not required to, I am delighted to provide my honest opinion. The first thing you need to know is there are never spoilers in my reviews; that being said, you can read this as a stand-alone but you'll certainly want to go back and read the others if this is your first Sheriff McClung mystery. The characters are fun and easy to visualize in this whodunit which takes place in a care center for people with different life challenges. Any number of people could have done the deed to a seemingly full of himself casanova-type jerk who clearly had issues with those (almost everyone) he interacted with as he winds up in a situation that he likely never imagined! If you've read any of the previous books you'll love the way the characters developed and are included in subsequent stories, woven in seamlessly with their presence in the stories being completely natural and unforced. So many people had a bone to pick with the victim, but to find out more you need to read the book. One-click now! Go ahead and take a chance on this one, you won't be sorry.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chief Charlie is on the job once again, this time he’s dealing with a Special Needs situation. If anyone can get to the bottom, it’s Charlie. Fast paced, intriguing action. Fantastic.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complex Kid is a tantalizing murder mystery that will have you turning the pages faster to see just who killed Jason in his office at Haven Place. As the list keeps growing and situations keep turning, only one thing we know for sure. Is Jason is dead.....

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complex Kid is another excellent addition to the Charlie McClung Mysteries series. This book grabbed my attention from beginning to end, and I couldn't put it down. There are so many plot twists and turns that kept me glued to the pages. I wasn't sure who the murderer was because there were so many people who wanted this person gone for a plethora of different reasons. I like that Sergeant Thayer is coming into his own, and proving how valuable he is to Charlie and the department. The characters are well developed, the story flowed, and gave insight into why people do the things they do. Mary Anne Edwards is a phenomenal author, and I highly recommend this book and series!

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who killed Jason Sparrow and why??? A foot rub sounds good after this story!!! Who is the one with problems??? I enjoyed this story and recommend the book.