Murder in Palm Beach: The Homicide That Never Died

by Bob Brink

Accused of murder he did not commit...
An interesting story of miscarriage of justice wrapped around courts, the judicial system and the incarceration system. This story revolves around Mitt Hecher, a family man accused and imprisoned for a murder he did not commit and how he eventually turns his sentence around through the help of many people who believe in him, especially his wife, son and mother. Among new activities he instigates with the help of the officials within the prison such as karate lessons. As a Canadian, I wasn't sure if some offered activities would actually be an acceptable exercise in the system. However, the action and response to such a request obviously made a difference to the inmates and their attitudes, not to mention its value in preparing long-term residents for their upcoming freedom. Will the loss of his very ill wife deter Hecher from trying to redeem himself and also from fighting for the truth to come out? Will he ever know who the real killer was? I found I really enjoyed reading this book regardless of the anger it generated with falsehoods and blocked hearings which should have been heard and acted upon. But truth sometimes really does come out and provide the reader with a feeling of good over evil.

The Last Goodbye by Alfred M. Albers

Published by Infinity Publishing

Mystery, history, deceit and magic; wonderful blend of suspense 
 Alfred M. Albers has a unique talent when he tells a story; he puts the reader into the book by detailing so clearly it is as though you are watching a movie...or actually going along with his characters. Where it may seem to some readers that the detail is, well, detailed, I think most will agree it puts a different perspective on everything from history to mystery. The author keeps us grounded in the story in a way I haven't often seen.

While we see nearly everything going on in the background it does connect us with the main story. Perhaps it is related to the attention to detail a magician must have, and the story after all is featuring John Michaels, world-renowned magician as the main character, and his wife, Stella. This is the fourth book in the John Michaels series. This particular magician works with the police in solving not just a probable crime committed on a fellow magician, but similarly in a series of murders that appear to be mob-related. In the first instance, was the death an accident or a murder? In the second instance, were any of the deaths related to the first?

With sleight of pen, the author misdirects the reader as easily as a magician misdirects an audience. Who is killing off local magicians and why? What has started this series of murders? How did it begin? Was it professional jealousy, gambling wars, infighting? There are mysteries and murders galore. Lies and deceit to go with them. The action builds throughout, with twists and turns that take the breath away and pull us along with them. History, mystery, misdirection, magic, lies and secrets, I was not happy to have to put the book down occasionally to attend to my household chores. I wanted to read from start to finish in one go. I love the John Michaels series.