Review of THE BROKEN SAINT by Mike Markel

BooksForABuck.com, April 2013

Police Detective Karen Seagate struggles with her alcoholism, slimy lawyers, drive-by shooters, and liars when she takes the lead on the murder investigation of an exchange student from the Philippines. The victim, Maricel Salizar, who had a gang-related boyfriend, lived with a professor and his severely dysfunctional family, and her “big sister” (the University’s support program for foreign students) thinks she was a bitch. So there’s plenty to investigate—and it doesn’t bother Seagate at all that everyone lies to her. In her words, “he breathes, he’s a liar.”

Seagate’s partner, Ryan Miner, has always been the voice of hope in their investigations, but he’s shaken when Seagate turns out to be right about Al Gerson, the college professor with whom Maricel lived. Gerson isn’t just a college professor, he’s a Mormon. Miner takes it personally when a fellow Mormon, a bishop, no less, lies to him. Could the lies mean that he’s also a killer?

Author Mike Markel (see more BooksForABuck.com reviews of mysteries by Markel) continues his Detectives Seagate and Miner series with a compelling police mystery. Seagate combines salt-of-the-earth wisdom with a deep cynicism that I found strangely endearing. Miner, with his good looks, unshakable faith, and confidence, is almost too perfect, and his own crisis as he learns that fellow Mormons can lie, even to him, helps humanize him. The mystery itself is first-class, with plenty of suspects, tough police work, and some clever twists. If you haven’t discovered Seagate and Miner, THE BROKEN SAINT will definitely make you a believer.

For a limited time, the eBook version of THE BROKEN SAINT is available exclusively from Amazon's Kindle store. The price is only $3.99.

Reviewed 4/10/13

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Check out the review in the Idaho Statesman.

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