What do you think?
Rate this book
When the Smoke Cleared: A Murder Mystery in Malden
There is no greater distinction or responsibility for a law enforcement officer than to be selected to investigate homicides. The same is true for a prosecutor. It is analogous to a call up to the big leagues where the curveballs or slapshots are frequent and more challenging, the lights are brighter, the audience larger and louder, and the scrutiny and demand for perfection can at times be a bit overwhelming.
This story follows an extraordinary murder investigation from the crime scene through to the arrest and into the courtroom. It is narrated by retired Detective Lieutenant Bill Powers, the former commander of the State Police Detective Unit for the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.
“When the smoke from the fire cleared and the water level receded, it was visually evident that a violent struggle, quite possibly a homicide, had preceded the fire. But where was the victim? The waterlogged bloodstains in the function room told us it wasn’t likely they stood up and walked out the door. We were confronted with an unusual dilemma. We not only had to investigate what happened and develop probable cause to make an arrest, but we also had to locate the poor soul who had spilled so much of their blood.”
Walk the path of the investigation with Bill and his team, and then follow in ADA Adrienne Lynch’s footsteps as she guides the trial from opening statements through to the final verdict; a truly unique accounting with a bird’s eye view.
Beyond a police and courtroom procedural, this story is about the personal struggles in the victim’s life and how her death impacted her family’s lives in ways no one could have foreseen. It is a love story that grew from unspeakable tragedy.
Bill Powers writes from the heart because he spent twenty years living the life of a homicide investigator. He went to literally hundreds of death scenes and, while each made its mark, none had more of a personal effect on him than this case.
This story follows an extraordinary murder investigation from the crime scene through to the arrest and into the courtroom. It is narrated by retired Detective Lieutenant Bill Powers, the former commander of the State Police Detective Unit for the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.
“When the smoke from the fire cleared and the water level receded, it was visually evident that a violent struggle, quite possibly a homicide, had preceded the fire. But where was the victim? The waterlogged bloodstains in the function room told us it wasn’t likely they stood up and walked out the door. We were confronted with an unusual dilemma. We not only had to investigate what happened and develop probable cause to make an arrest, but we also had to locate the poor soul who had spilled so much of their blood.”
Walk the path of the investigation with Bill and his team, and then follow in ADA Adrienne Lynch’s footsteps as she guides the trial from opening statements through to the final verdict; a truly unique accounting with a bird’s eye view.
Beyond a police and courtroom procedural, this story is about the personal struggles in the victim’s life and how her death impacted her family’s lives in ways no one could have foreseen. It is a love story that grew from unspeakable tragedy.
Bill Powers writes from the heart because he spent twenty years living the life of a homicide investigator. He went to literally hundreds of death scenes and, while each made its mark, none had more of a personal effect on him than this case.
- GenresNonfiction
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 27, 2022
56 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Bill Powers
2 books24 followersBill Powers has been active in the Massachusetts law enforcement community since he joined the Massachusetts State Police in 1974. Over time he rose through the ranks and was promoted to the rank of Detective Lieutenant. He commanded the State Police Detective Units (SPDU) in both Middlesex and Suffolk Counties, where he had direct oversight and involvement in more than one hundred homicides. His State Police career came full circle when he was named Commandant of the Recruit Training Academy. He retired as the director of the Media Relations Section. Following his retirement, Bill was appointed as an Assistant Professor in the graduate program for forensic sciences at the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM). For the next seven years he lectured on criminal investigation and expert testimony to the graduate students. In addition, he produced training seminars for police investigators covering a wide variety of topics. Following his tenure at the BUSM he returned to the law enforcement profession as the Director of Public Safety at Wentworth Institute in Boston. Bill earned an undergraduate degree from Northeastern University with a major in Criminal Justice and a Juris Doctorate degree from the New England School of Law.
He resides South of Boston with his wife Jane. Their two daughters and their families live nearby. He has been blessed with five remarkable grandchildren who sparkle like bright stars in the night sky.
He resides South of Boston with his wife Jane. Their two daughters and their families live nearby. He has been blessed with five remarkable grandchildren who sparkle like bright stars in the night sky.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 23, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Bill Powers and iRead Book Tours. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.
This is my first book by Bill Powers and will not be my last! His ability to weave together complex characters and true crime procedural is amazing.
The author’s background in law enforcement shines through in how through this book reads. I’m a crime tv junkie and learned a lot about the field. This book is holistic in that the reader is taken from the scene of the crime through the legal system to sentencing.
I enjoyed that the book took us through the legal side while also focusing on the victim’s family and how the trauma impacted them. The attention to detail is fabulous which kept me up all night reading this book because I had to know how It ended. The book is based on a true story, which ironically, I’d not heard of before. The writing is comprehensive and gives the reader an insider’s perspective by providing dialogue from the many teams who work on murder cases – investigative, litigation, and the family. I liked the characters, they are well written and the descriptions add a level of depth that will keep you engaged and wanting more.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves true crime and legal stories with a dash of family saga.
This is my first book by Bill Powers and will not be my last! His ability to weave together complex characters and true crime procedural is amazing.
The author’s background in law enforcement shines through in how through this book reads. I’m a crime tv junkie and learned a lot about the field. This book is holistic in that the reader is taken from the scene of the crime through the legal system to sentencing.
I enjoyed that the book took us through the legal side while also focusing on the victim’s family and how the trauma impacted them. The attention to detail is fabulous which kept me up all night reading this book because I had to know how It ended. The book is based on a true story, which ironically, I’d not heard of before. The writing is comprehensive and gives the reader an insider’s perspective by providing dialogue from the many teams who work on murder cases – investigative, litigation, and the family. I liked the characters, they are well written and the descriptions add a level of depth that will keep you engaged and wanting more.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves true crime and legal stories with a dash of family saga.
January 29, 2023
Great story
I enjoyed the courtroom process described in the story. The epilogue was very good in tying up how the players moved on and Kelly was honored. Highly recommend this story for the adult reader.
I enjoyed the courtroom process described in the story. The epilogue was very good in tying up how the players moved on and Kelly was honored. Highly recommend this story for the adult reader.
March 4, 2023
When the Smoke Cleared follows a real murder investigation from the crime scene through to the arrest and into the courtroom. The author Bill Powers narrates this true crime mystery and is perfectly qualified as he is a retired Detective Lieutenant, the former commander of the State Police Detective Unit for the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.
This is a well written realistic account of how investigations progress and lead to trials. It is law and order in real life told from inside the investigation and court process. The author draws you in with his unique retelling of the investigation process. He takes the reader on a real life journey of what it takes to convict a murderer step by step, to the conviction and beyond, to the family and how it changed their lives. His writing is as good as his policing and detective work as the whole process is very well explained and keeps you engaged.
I love to read true crime mystery books and I found When the Smoke Cleared impossible to put down. It is refreshing to read a crime book with a new view of crime. It is an amazing true story and the writing is excellent with detail, compassion and commitment described throughout. It is definitely well worth reading and I highly recommend it. True crime fans won’t be disappointed.
February 21, 2023
When the Smoke Cleared: A Murder Mystery in Malden is a fascinating and gripping book from talented author, Bill Powers, based on true events. I am true crime buff and was instantly engrossed in reading this book. It was interesting to get a look at the victim’s life, how the events affecting the family, the investigation into the murder, and eventual trial. It covers the crime scene all the way to convictions, as well as update on everyone involved afterwards. I mostly was fascinated by the investigation and getting a glimpse at how the authorities and professionals were able to find a conclusion to the case. It is such a tragic story to read of young life unnecessarily cut short and seeing how it affected so many.
When the Smoke Cleared: A Murder Mystery in Malden will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I believe readers and fans of true crime will most definitely want to pick this one up. I know they will find the process of this investigation to be engaging. I will be on the look out for more books to read by Bill Powers in the future to see what other crimes he will be covering in his upcoming releases, as well as, others he has released in the past.
I received a digital copy of When the Smoke Cleared: A Murder Mystery in Malden from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
When the Smoke Cleared: A Murder Mystery in Malden will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I believe readers and fans of true crime will most definitely want to pick this one up. I know they will find the process of this investigation to be engaging. I will be on the look out for more books to read by Bill Powers in the future to see what other crimes he will be covering in his upcoming releases, as well as, others he has released in the past.
I received a digital copy of When the Smoke Cleared: A Murder Mystery in Malden from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
March 16, 2023
Reading When The Smoke Cleared didn’t take just an hour or two. The suspect wasn’t easy to recognize. The reason for the crime wasn’t either. From when the fire department put out the fire and realized they were standing in a crime scene until the verdict was read in the courtroom also didn’t happen in an episode or two. The author took me through it step by step. I don’t think I’ve ever read a true crime book where there was so much detail and it was so captivating. The way Bill Powers showed me the inner workings of solving the crime, through the trial and finally the sentencing was so thorough and never boring, I didn’t feel an urge to skip ahead. I read it straight through. I wanted every detail.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
November 5, 2022
Exceptional True Crime mystery as told from inside the investigation & court process
The author’s unique perspective & ability to retell the investigation process from first stepping onto the crime scene draws the reader in. Things are not as they first appear.
Weaving the accounts & responses of not only the investigative & litigation teams but also those of the family brings the victim “to life” & adds depth.
I’d recommend this book to all who love true crime stories as well as those pursuing criminal justice degrees or contemplating careers in law.
The author’s unique perspective & ability to retell the investigation process from first stepping onto the crime scene draws the reader in. Things are not as they first appear.
Weaving the accounts & responses of not only the investigative & litigation teams but also those of the family brings the victim “to life” & adds depth.
I’d recommend this book to all who love true crime stories as well as those pursuing criminal justice degrees or contemplating careers in law.
March 8, 2023
Wow! This book is so intensely the best
My very first time reading Mr. Bill Powers' book and I become a fan. Wow! This book is so intensely the best. It's hard to put it down.
I felt like I am inside the courthouse. It felt so real while reading this book. I felt like I am one of the jurors. My favorite character is Adrienne, the attorney. She never gives up to fight justice for Kelly until the last day. The way she prepares everything for the trial is spectacular. The crime without the body and the witness to bring the victim and her family justice is so difficult but with scientific evidence, videos, and people willing to help, justice for Kelly is finally granted.
When Smoke Cleared is one of a kind book to read, it is the best book I have read so far this month. A crime mystery that put you on your chair, bed, Kindle, or book the best experience even in solving a crime. This book is long but it's worth every page.
My very first time reading Mr. Bill Powers' book and I become a fan. Wow! This book is so intensely the best. It's hard to put it down.
I felt like I am inside the courthouse. It felt so real while reading this book. I felt like I am one of the jurors. My favorite character is Adrienne, the attorney. She never gives up to fight justice for Kelly until the last day. The way she prepares everything for the trial is spectacular. The crime without the body and the witness to bring the victim and her family justice is so difficult but with scientific evidence, videos, and people willing to help, justice for Kelly is finally granted.
When Smoke Cleared is one of a kind book to read, it is the best book I have read so far this month. A crime mystery that put you on your chair, bed, Kindle, or book the best experience even in solving a crime. This book is long but it's worth every page.
January 2, 2023
well worth reading
Amazing true story that takes the reader from the crime step-by-step step to the conviction and beyond to the family and how it changed their lives. The legal community coming together to right a terrible wrong to a 14 year old girl who life was cut short by a selfish criminal who couldn’t think beyond saving himself.
Amazing true story that takes the reader from the crime step-by-step step to the conviction and beyond to the family and how it changed their lives. The legal community coming together to right a terrible wrong to a 14 year old girl who life was cut short by a selfish criminal who couldn’t think beyond saving himself.
January 21, 2023
what a pleasant change
Tired of jaded, nearly-criminal, rebellious fictional law-enforcement personnel? Sick of choir-boy, misunderstood defendants, or the opposite, Hitler-esque purely evil demons?Try this narrative of a team of competent, dedicated professionals doing a great job. Refreshing, to say the least.
Tired of jaded, nearly-criminal, rebellious fictional law-enforcement personnel? Sick of choir-boy, misunderstood defendants, or the opposite, Hitler-esque purely evil demons?Try this narrative of a team of competent, dedicated professionals doing a great job. Refreshing, to say the least.
April 14, 2023
I found grammatical errors in this book, which reflects poorly on the editor, as well as on the author. Parts of this book were horribly boring, as when the district attorney called in some detective or chief of police or somebody just as they were leaving for the day to give them her reflections on her job. Not a stunning example of police or courtroom action.
December 30, 2022
Informative
This is a very informative cut and dry read. You will learn quite a bit about the process as you go along through the pages. This would be a good reference book of a case for students who want this type of career!
This is a very informative cut and dry read. You will learn quite a bit about the process as you go along through the pages. This would be a good reference book of a case for students who want this type of career!
August 27, 2023
Fact based retelling of a murder investigation that put so many aspects of the entire process into perspective.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews