Wealthy Southron Craige Ingram, Private Investigator, ex SEAL, protagonist in the mystery-thrillers series. Where the unexpected creeps a hair's breath away in night-shaded haints and haunts and blood-drenched betrayal.
Compelling tales of intrigue, deception and redemption that leads wealthy Navy ex SEAL/ part-time private investigator Craige Ingram in search of the connection between seemingly random murders and a banking conspiracy. Working with the local homicide investigator, who happens to be a former SEAL buddy, Ingram attempts to protect one very captivating widow before another person dies. Craige, Trustee of Ardochy Manor and the estate of eccentric dowager Theosia Ambarella McGiffern, uncovers blackmail, larcenous rip-offs, and a psychotic killer motivated by pure pleasure. The instincts and skills Ingram and his buddy acquired as Navy SEALS are tested to their to their limits.
Excerpt
Death is seldom dignified. As a Private Investigator, Craige sometimes overlooked how personal the refined craft of killing could get. He yawned, stretched, scratched his day-old, reddish beard and stared out across the yard toward the splash of the river against his dock. River fog so pea-soup thick he couldn't see the curve of the river toward Silver Bluff Point. It blanketed the yard, beading the screens of his dogtrot-sleeping porch with shimmering droplets. During the annual Board of Directors banquet, CEO Llewyn Royce Sedgewicke died in front of God and all his fair-weather associates. He foundered like a tuxedoed, beached whale across the head table. His obese carcass shoveled gold-embossed plates, silver, floral centerpieces and assorted Waterford crystal into a tangled heap. He left a bigger mess behind. It blind-sided a lot of people, including Craige. The death certificate said heart attack. It wasn't.
Professional Reviews
Wendy Thomas, USReview
Vault of Secrets is a fast-paced, quick-witted tale of murder and deception that will keep you guessing until the end. If the beginning of a story is supposed to have a hook, this story has one of the most exciting in-your-face openings in quite some time.
During the annual board of director's banquet, a CEO dies of what looks like an apparent heart attack. The death and subsequent investigation lead to murders and ultimately a bank conspiracy. Craige Ingram, a part-time private investigator who is also a retired Navy SEAL is called in on the case by his high school buddy and fellow SEAL, Graysen MacGerald, who now works the homicide division for the police department. Together, they try to solve the crime.
Craige, a cross between Chuck Norris and James Bond, works his way through a deceptive world of high finance. MacKinney does a great job of defining and maintaining Craige's character who comes from a deeply southern background and was raised by his Grandmother. A frazzled sweet gum twig in the corner of her mouth, she'd call again, "...day's not waitin'...chores to git done."
Besides being southern (How's my favorite Georgia peach?), Craige also has surprising world knowledge and is not afraid to voice his definite opinions. "Cabernet Sauvignon, special selection," Craige said, "Cabernet grapes make some fine wine, but for my money, Sauvignons belong in salad dressing. Never one of my favorites."
It is touches like these--one character hums his favorite Disney song while parking his car--that make Hawk credible, believable, and one you feel compelled to know.
The dialog is quick and snappy adding to the story which is fast paced with lots of action. The plethora of detective details, information on SEALs, as well as, an insight to the banking world makes Vault of Secrets an enjoyable read. Look forward to more from this author.
Wendy Thomas, US Review
Barbara Casey Ageny
Vault of Secrets is a gripping classic thriller that deftly blends intrigue and deception that leads retired Navy SEAL/part-time private investigator Craige Ingram in search of the connection between seemingly random murders and a banking conspiracy...high-level corruption and greed filled with colorful characters ranging from filthy rich, high society "hob-nobs" to penniless "bag ladies."
Working with the local homicide investigator, who just happens to be a former Navy buddy, Craige Ingram's attempts to protect a captivating widow who must make heartrending decisions in an attempt to save her son and herself. Thwarted by a psychotic killer whose motivation is based on pure pleasure, Ingram must hunt the hunter as death skulks ever closer. The instincts and skills Ingram and his buddy acquired as Navy SEALS are tested to their limits.
Hawk MacKinney, author of Moccasin Trace, once again wraps his unique southern flavor around a blood-curdling, page-turning story through the Vault of Secrets, the first in his Craige Ingram Mystery Series. Without question, this author knows the horrendous reality of crime. He draws upon his own experiences as a retired Navy commander to weave a wonderfully engaging novel that combines well-crafted characters with page-gripping action from beginning to end, leaving the reader wide-eyed with fright and breathless with anticipation for more. A highly recommend read filled with the pitfalls of power at the top...the ending will surprise you.
Barbara Casey
Author: Shyla’s Initiative, The Coach's Wife, The House of Kane, Just Like Family and Cadence of Gypsies
President, The Barbara Casey Agency
Arcadia News
A psychotic killer motivated on the pure pleasure, a lonely widow trying to make honest decisions for her son and herself; a wealthy private investigator determined to solve the case before anyone else dies, all come together in this exciting story. A compelling tale of intrigue, murder, deception and redemption...the author follows former Navy SEAL Craige Ingramme, as he searches for the connection between seemingly random murders and a bank conspiracy. Working with the local homicide investigator, the well-covered trail of the killer leads the men on a wild goose chase that tests their instincts and the skills they acquired as Navy SEALS.
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