Into the Fire

Roadkill by Barbara E. Brink is the first book in the Double Barrel Mysteries series, a bargain on Kindle right now.

Blake Gunner and his wife Shelby are two very different individuals who make a great couple. She loves to act on stage, quotes Shakespeare, and has good people skills. He's an ace detective at the beginning of this novel but after things go terribly wrong on one of his cases, Blake and Shelby take a trip to Blake's tiny hometown located along Lake Superior on the upper peninsula of Michigan where they stay at the Drunken Sailor Bed & Breakfast in Port Scuttlebutt.

They learn quickly that the proprietor's daughter Alice is running the place with her grouchy father who's walker-bound and that her mother was killed in an unsolved hit-and-run. Before they know it, they've agreed to find out if it was an actual murder and who ended this well-liked woman's life. With Blake's familiarity with the townspeople, his investigative skills, and Shelby's natural curiosity and perceptive abilities, the two of them stir up trouble and raise the awareness of foul play in this lady's death.

The twists in this story prove fascinating as we get to know a homeless man, the librarian, a slimy tiny town politician and his haughty wealthy mother, a nature loving woman, the café owner, and we observe the unusual behavior of two elderly twins.

Blake and Shelby face unexpected danger as they inch closer to solving what really happened to Alice's mom.

Barbara Ellen Brink uses her unique voice to create two strong characters, adds quirky humor, the zing of romance between these two, and pens a good mystery in a quaint setting with all kinds of unexpected zig-zags in the story. Entertaining and a good read.

Father, please continue to bless Barbara in her storytelling skills and meet her needs in all areas of her life. May she continue to honor you in all she does. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.