Synopsis
The world-class Port Huron-Mackinac sailboat race has just finished at Mackinac Island. As soon as the boats dock, the sailors head for the legendary Pink Pony. But the night takes a grisly turn, and Jimmy Lyons is found dead the next morning in the bar, strangled by a string of Christmas tree lights.
Murdo Halverson, a wealthy manufacturer from Detroit and Jimmy’s former partner, is arrested for the murder. It turns out that the free-spending Jimmy was broke. Each of his crew, including Murdo, had a reason to kill him. As did his wife, Jane.
Burr Lafayette, recently divorced and the deposed head of the litigation department of a major Detroit law firm, is recruited to defend Murdo. A man at loose ends, Burr is a brilliant litigator. But he’s not a criminal lawyer, and this looks like a losing case.
This is the first book in the Burr Lafayette mystery series.
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Review
This new mystery series is set on the historic Mackinac Island. It is famous for its fudge and the fact that there are no cars on the island – only bicycles and horse-drawn carriages. However, that doesn’t stop someone from killing Jimmy Lyons, and the answer might surprise you.
Burr Lafayette is on vacation but is roped into helping his aunt’s friend’s son stay out of jail for supposedly killing someone. The evidence is sparse, yet the D.A. decides to prosecute, and the judge lets him. That was just bizarre, but I suppose that is how Burr will unravel the truth while defending his client with assistance from his staff.
I found this an intriguing tale and loved Zeke, the dog. There is also Zeke, the son, but he has a very minor role in this novel. I didn’t realize that this book was set in the past but wondered why there were no cell phones or other modern technology. I think I read in another review that it is supposed to be set in the 1980s, which is very possible.
Burr bumbles along in trying to uncover the true murderer since the police don’t seem to know what they are doing and the judge doesn’t help when Burr wants to seek out other potential killers. Of course, Burr doesn’t even practice criminal law yet decides to stick with it for the money, which he desperately needs since his office was just shut down because of the non-working elevator.
Several scenes cover a sailboat race; you will appreciate the finer details if you understand things like tacking. If not, just enjoy those scenes. The story does flip back and forth in time, which threw me off, but it was flashing back to this race that might have something to do with the murder.
This wasn’t a bad first installment in this series (and I assume there will be more to follow). The characters were interesting, and I found myself engaged in the plot, wondering if Murdo did kill Jimmy or if it was someone else. There were just too many possibilities.
We give this book 3 1/2 paws.
About the Author
Reviewers are calling Charles Cutter a master of the courtroom drama and the next Erle Stanley Gardner, author of the Perry Mason series. Although Mr. Cutter has years of legal experience, he is now a “recovering attorney” writing full-time. In addition to the Burr Lafayette series, he has written literary fiction, screenplays, short stories and a one-act play. He is currently working on the next book in the Burr Lafayette series. He lives in East Lansing, Michigan, with his wife, two dogs, and four cats. He has a leaky sailboat on Little Traverse Bay and a leakier duck boat on Saginaw Bay. His books are available on Amazon and at your local bookstore.
