What looks to be a suicide turns into a complicated murder. Detective Charlie McClung delves into the shadowy twists and turns of this mysterious death and along the way, meets the woman of his dreams. Can they fall in love before they fall prey to a killer on the loose?
Detective Charlie McClung no longer finds his job fulfilling and has given up finding that “someone” his granny promised he would find. So he leaves behind the big city and his close-knit family and takes a job in a small town police department in Georgia, resigned to live a quiet life in solitude.
Things change when he meets Marian Selby while investigating the mysterious death of her best friend. But Marian swore never to love again after the death of her husband 11 years ago. What seems to be a simple suicide turns into a tangled web of deceit, corruption, and complicated shadows.
Can the two of them come to grips with their feelings for each other before the killer closes in on them?
Excerpt
The intruder turned on the hall light. A thin solid sliver of light burst underneath the bedroom door but was eclipsed by moving shadows as someone tried to open the door.
This is it. A surprising calm descended on Marian. It reminded her of when she had the lead in one of the Hometown Player productions. She was nervous to the point of fainting but once she stepped onto the stage all fear was gone. But this wasn’t make believe. This was to do or die. And she didn’t want to die.
She pulled open a dresser drawer to steady her hands as she aimed the 9mm belly high toward the door. Finger on the trigger, she was ready to kill. The .38 was next to her foot ready for back up.
The jiggling door knob became quiet. Next was the sound of someone trying to pick the lock. The knob twisted and the door eased open and then stopped with just a small slice of light cutting through the darken bedroom.
Marian heard panting on the other side. Then a huge shadow blocked the light that had spilled through the crack of the opened door. Suddenly the shadow was gone and light again flowed into the bedroom. Marian’s mind raced. Maybe they changed their mind. Maybe they went away. She began to relax when nothing happened. There were no sounds, no more shadows. All was at peace.
The door flew open as the intruder kicked it open. Bits of sheet rock flew into the air as the door knob smashed violently into the wall.
Time stood still as Marian stared at the black heaving silhouette. Its dark malevolent shape reminded her of an angry grizzly bear. She saw the intruder’s arm swing up. The outstretched hand was holding a gun. It swung side to side searching the room for its prey.
One of her mother’s odd quotes popped into her brain. You can’t run for a frog. It made sense finally. She couldn’t wait for a savior. She pulled the trigger twice. The first bullet hit the doorframe. Slivers of wood exploded into the air. Marian knew the second one struck its target. The inhuman figure snarled in pain. An agonizing scream hung in the air as the intruder staggered backward.
Professional Reviews
Wonderful beginning to a new series, Well written Who-Dunnit
Tired of the stress in a big city police job, and having ended his latest attempt at romance, Detective Charlie McClung takes a position in a much smaller community. He is the "new guy" at the police station and the only one who is not from the area. This story takes place before digital cameras and cell phones.
Marian Selby is a young, retired widow who is satisfied with her life, even though she has few close friends.
She has suffered loss, including the deaths of her parents and her pilot husband, and is afraid to open her heart to any relationship that could possibly end in that much pain again. She does not even want a pet.
She is home, minding her own business, when she hears a loud noice, perhaps a gunshot, followed by screaming.
All the noise is coming from next door, the home of one of her dear friends. Before she can get outside, a crowd has formed and the police are on the scene. Being frantic, Marian pushes towards the police banner and ambulance.
She discovers it is indeed her dear friend Dianne who is being taken away.
A detective is canvassing the crowd, asking if anyone heard or saw anything that could be useful in the investigation. Marian speaks to him and invites him back to her house after he has spoken with the others.
Marian is an avid reader and amateur sleuth. She also wants to know if he learned anything after speaking to everyone else. This meeting is not for romance, but from the start we notice an energy that seems to be calling these two together. Sadly, when he does arrive and calls the hospital for an update, we learn Dianne has died.
A well written mystery with enough characters holding secrets that we are not sure until very near the end who the best suspects are. Along with the mystery and the budding romance between McClung and Marian, there is a foodie element to this book. Something for everyone. I also liked the secondary characters and hope we meet them again in future books in this series.
Mystery and love!
This book has so much going for it I loved it from cover to cover. There was murder, romance, suspense, and put together for one great read. Charlie thought he was done being a detective, but life had other plans. He leaves everything he has known in a big city and even his family who is as close as they come for a chance in a town that is the opposite of everything he has known. Of course murder and crime happen everywhere, so Charlie begins his investigation where he meets Marian. Well from then on, there are sparks, although Marian and Charlie may fight them, each for their own reasons, but after all there is a crime to solve. I loved the way that you are drawn into the mystery and you are trying to solve the mystery right along with Charlie. I actually found myself trying to figure it out when I wasn't reading, thinking over the clues. This is a great read on a cold autumn or winter night. Loved it!
Compelling and touching!
Brilliant Disguise is a well executed detective story with all of the necessary elements, details, and clues to make for an enjoyable book. The characters are developed enough to give great mental images through their thoughts, dialogue, and actions. You get a sense of their heart too. Part of the book's appeal is the addition of just enough romance to the story. For me the setting was amazingly familiar and believable too. I learned to genuinely like Charlie and Marian, so I look forward to reading the next Charlie McClung Mystery.
All Carson Reno Mystery Series Books are standalone novels. It is not necessary to read them in any particular order.
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