Book Review: Shadows in the Fog by Greg Messel


Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from the author,via Pump Up Your Book Book Tours, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it


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I hope you read the book excerpt and Guest Post from Greg earlier today!

the fifth in a series of mysteries set in 1959 San Francisco.

Synopsis: 

The story begins on a stormy morning in February of 1959. The front page of the morning paper is dominated by news of the plane crash which killed rock ’n  roll stars Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Richie Valens. Private Eye Sam Slater is hired to perform what he thinks is a routine two-day job as a favor for a friend. However, it all goes terribly wrong when a young San Francisco policeman is gunned down while sitting in a parked car with Sam.

The murder sets off a chain of events which will pull Sam and his wife and partner, Amelia, into a dangerous web of intrigue in the dark, shadowy alleys and back rooms of San Francisco’s Chinatown. In the winter of 1959, Amelia resigns as a TWA stewardess and is now Sam’s full time partner in the private eye business.

Sam and Amelia inadvertently come in conflict with the San Francisco mob boss after helping a crusading newspaper reporter who is working to expose corruption in Chinatown. Now a mysterious dark car follows the Slaters every where they go. Sam and Amelia discover a hidden world of corrupt cops, gambling parlors, brothels and human trafficking exists right under their noses. At the same time, a rising California politician hires Sam and Amelia to find his daughter who disappeared without a trace three years earlier. The search
is prompted by the sudden appearance of a letter from the woman, who was presumed dead. 

As Sam and Amelia pursue these cases, they discover that all the clues lead them back to Chinatown. The Slaters want to avoid taking on the San Francisco crime lords head-on. However, when Amelia is kidnapped in an alley during the  Chinese New Year’s celebration, Sam plunges himself into danger desperately searching Chinatown to find her before it’s too late. The reader will be drawn into fast moving events which culminate in a harrowing conclusion as Sam Slater races against the clock on a foggy night in
Chinatown.


Dad grabbed this one as soon as it came in, so this is his review!


 Review:

If Greg Messel were a baseball player he would be a stone cold home run hitter. He has hit another one out of the park. “Shadows in the Fog” is one of the best I have ever read. This being the fifth in the Sam Slater mysteries, we find Sam almost killed in the murder of a young police detective. Sam was doing a favor for his old war buddy Vince by helping out this young cop with what the young cop thought was a wandering wife.

The reader follows as Sam and his wife, and partner, Amelia get thrown into dealings with the Chinese mob. Sam and Amelia are also on a case for a very important California Assembly man. These two cases, as usual  in Sam's world, find their way of being close to each other. Sam and Amelia are trying to find the Assembly man’s three year missing adult daughter. Amelia is taken hostage not once, but twice. Greg has a great way of resolving the different tales in ways that somehow turn out great for everyone. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great mystery novel.



About the Author:

Greg Messel has spent most of his adult life interested in writing, including a career in the newspaper business. He won a Wyoming Press Association Award as a columnist and has contributed articles to various magazines. Greg retired from the corporate world and now lives in South Jordan, Utah with his wife of over 40 years, Carol Madsen Messel. They have three adult children who are married and have 11 grandchildren. 

For more news about Messel’s writings and books at www.gregmessel.com, and connect with hom on his TWITTER and FACEBOOK pages! 

Greg has written eight novels., and is currently working on his ninth novel--the sixth in the mystery series--"Cable Car Mystery"--which will be published in late 2015.



Giveaway:

Greg Messel is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions:


By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old. One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter. This giveaway begins December 1 and ends February 13Winner will be contacted via email on Monday, February 1i6. Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

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