My 5-Star review in entirety published at Amazon for 'Death on Lake Michigan' by Steven Arnett:

Lots of characters step onto the pages, but, the reader-turned-sleuth is able to hone in on the key players who may have murdered Rich Mallon, a drug dealer, whose body washed up on the shores of Lake Michigan. The story is told in first-person narrative by Michael O’Brien, reporter for the ‘Gull Haven Observer’. A determination to step it up beyond his typical general-interest scoops for a small-town newspaper of little consequence, takes the reader into the mindset of an investigative reporter, as well as that of Lt. George Dirkman of the Lake County sheriff’s office, whom he runs things by.

The author’s easygoing writing style and realistic plot twists throughout the progression of the story to solve a murder, render this novel “crime fiction with conviction.” Why? Although, there are elements of danger and threats, there’s no over-the-top drama. Just persistence in chiseling away at each tidbit of information painstakingly acquired from those reluctant to be forthcoming.

Also interesting, the author infuses the ‘70s in this novel—an era when phone booths still loomed large on the urban landscape. There are references to the Watergate hearing and “Tricky Dick”.

Whether or not you’re surprised in discovering who murdered Rich Mallon, ‘Death on Lake Michigan’ is well worth the plunge.