PI Mac McClellan returns in “a haunting mystery with an ingenious plot . . . If you like Robert Crais and Harlan Coben, you’ll surely dig Deadly Spirits.” (Max Everhart, author of the Eli Sharpe Mystery series). When PI Mac McClellan’s girlfriend convinces him to join the Palmetto Paranormal Society, he gets embroiled in a case of whooo-dunnit. On a group trip to investigate an old hotel, the … to investigate an old hotel, the society president takes a fatal fall down some stairs and Mac finds the secretary standing horrified beside the body.
Authorities rule the death an accident, but Mac has his doubts–after all, no one heard the man tumbling down the stairs. Then the secretary dies in an apparent suicide–and once again, no one heard a thing.
Two deaths in two paranormal investigations, and not a peep out of either victim before their demise? Now Mac has to put the pieces together before someone else gives up the ghost in this “roller coaster ride of murder, blackmail and kidnapping, with some evil and not so evil spirits in the mix” (Connie di Marco).
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This is my favorite in the series so far. I think it’s because I’m falling more for these characters with each new book. That and there’s something a bit more mysterious.
Mac McClellan is branching out from private investigations. His girlfriend talks him into joining the Palmetto Paranormal Society. Now he’s ghost hunting. Not one for whimsy, his military background formed him into a no nonsense man, he’s skeptical about things that go bump in the night.
It’s not long before his lark with the paranormal becomes real. The president of the society is found dead under suspicious circumstances and, as Mac does his thing investigating the death, more bodies start piling up.
Since the dead aren’t speaking, Mac investigates the only way he knows how, checking suspects off his list, digging up knew ones (pardon the pun), and stepping on toes. He may not be subtle, but he’ll get his man, or woman.
I really like Mac. I admire his discipline and bravery. Adore his affection for his dog, sneaking him human tidbits even though the dog will thank him with odiferous emissions later. And he’s quite the ladies man. Though he’s not fooled by a pretty cover. He’s just as likely to open a ladies door as to grill her when he suspects something fishy. And he doesn’t stray from his lady love. Mac knows a good thing when he’s got it.
The author gives you a wide variety of suspects and more than one mystery to solve. He puts you in the setting, feeling the humidity of the southern air, smelling the fishy scent of the ocean, and hearing the calls of the soaring gulls. I’m a southern gal and felt right at home. Minus a dead body or two.
There’s also plenty of action. Things get burnt up and bullets fly. SSDD for Mac.
If you’re looking for a fun detective series with a great storyline, look no further.
This is the first book I’ve read by Mr. Helms, and it won’t be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed this quintessential private eye story and the interplay of paranormal that simmers in the background. True to the crime mystery genre, Deadly Spirits contained a hard-edged, wise-cracking PI fond of alcohol, food, beautiful women, and a list of unscrupulous characters linked to crimes and mysterious murders in a small coastal community. Mac McClelland, ex-marine turned Private Investigator, cast witty idioms as often as he casts an eye at women, but Mac’s only love is for his girlfriend, Kate, and his constant canine companion, Henry.
Since Mac joined the Palmetto Paranormal Society at the request of his girlfriend, members start dropping like flies. Murders, Mac sets out to solve, are more intricate than they first appear. During his Investigation, he uncovers blackmail, infidelities, sexual abuse, seduction, and a cold-case mystery reopens with an inkling of the supernatural. Mr. Helms crafts a tightly woven plot with several subplots weaved with twists and turns that leave the reader guessing to the end.
Deadly Spirits takes place in a coastal town that’s dear to my heart, the Florida Panhandle. Written beautifully in the first person POV, Mr. Helm’s prose is so descriptive, the reader will sense balmy, salty breezes, and winged wildlife swooping in and around the coastal community. Mr. Helm’s novel is a gastronomic feast of American fare and alcohol that will make you hungry and crave a beer or two. Dining and drinking is as much a part of the story as the murderous mayhem. I pondered, whether Mac’s meeting with clients and suspects over meals was a modus of acquiring information. Alcohol and a good meal will loosen tight lips.
Deadly Spirits is a fast-paced, page-turner I couldn’t put down. The pacing was perfect for a murder mystery, with just the right action and more twists and turns than the tornado threatening Palmetto County’s shores. The story climax with one surprise after the next, culminating in a shocking conclusion I didn’t see coming. The ending was satisfying, but I question whether Mac is now a true believer In the paranormal? Hmm… perhaps. I highly recommend Mr. Helms book to everyone, and anyone looking for a great Private Eye, whodunit murder mystery. Mr. Helms, thank you for the fantastic read!