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Smiley and McBlythe
Smiley and McBlythe
Series ·
16
books · 2019-2024
By
Bruce Hammack
Books in series
#0.6
The Long Fall
2019
Twelve stories is a long fall. Was it suicide? Or was it murder? Private investigator Steve Smiley and his partner, Heather McBlythe, are called to a posh Houston hotel to give their opinion. Steve no longer has his sight, but he still sees red at the scene of a homicide. And this one is definitely red. Four classmates arrived in town for their twentieth high school class reunion. Smiley and McBlythe begin their investigation with Yancy’s widow, then move on to the three classmates. All had motive to kill. The question is ‘how?’ Everyone has an alibi. In the midst of unraveling the mystery, Steve and Heather are blindsided by opposition from a surprising source. Can they unmask the killer and bring justice, or will this long fall prove to be the perfect murder? You’ll love this whodunit because everyone likes a good mystery. Scroll up and get yours now!
#0.7
The Ice House Murder
2019
A murder is committed… A Russian National sits in jail. Someone with deep pockets wants him out. Proclaiming his client’s innocence, a Houston lawyer wants Smiley and McBlythe to find out who committed the murder in the ice house. Although suspicious of the lawyer’s intentions, and the two hundred grand he’s willing to pay, Steve and Heather agree to take the case on one condition: that truth will prevail—even if that means the Russian cooling his heels in jail is guilty. Smiley and McBlythe have ten days to name the killer before the lawyer does things his way. The clock is ticking. The stakes skyrocket when there’s an abduction. Now Steve and Heather only have three days. Can they untangle the lies and deceptions before another murder happens? The race is on to discover who really killed the man in the ice house. You’ll love this mystery because justice is served…ice cold.
#1
Exercise Is Murder
2019
How does a blind man solve a murder? Former Houston homicide detective Steve Smiley is faced with a dilemma. His college roommate, attorney Ned Logan, is found at the bottom of his exercise pool. The cops think it’s an accident. Steve’s instinct tells him it’s not. But how to prove it? He needs eyes…and a driver. Heather McBlythe is starting over, again. She’s hoping she will be able to make it through the Police Academy and start her new life before her father’s minions find her. She meets Steve Smiley, an instructor at the Academy, and he presents an interesting proposition to her. When her father’s long arm of influence gets her kicked out of the Academy, Heather needs a place to hide. Smiley’s unorthodox proposition is the perfect answer. Smiley and McBlythe team up to investigate the murder of Ned Logan. At every turn in the road, they unearth another secret. Who has motive enough for murder? Ned’s wife? His children? The business partner? When the killer takes a shot at Steve, they know they’re getting close. Can they unravel the myriad of secrets before the killer strikes again?
#2
Jingle Bells, Rifle Shells
2019
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells…Rifle Shells? Blind private investigator Steve Smiley and his partner, Heather McBlythe, hear a rifle shot. Hordes of Christmas shoppers scatter. A famous big-game hunter drops to the sidewalk. They grab the beautiful teen who was arguing with the camo-clad man and flee to safety. The girl is Bella, the adopted daughter of the victim and a celebrity in her own right. She shows no emotion over the murder, but plenty of passion accompanies her only request: find her real parents. Smiley and McBlythe agree to try. Strangely, their search intertwines with the murder investigation of Bella’s adopted father again and again—and also uncovers a shocking secret. Like it or not, Smiley and McBlythe must first identify the killer in order to discover the truth about Bella’s adoption. Suspects line up like Santa’s reindeer. An ex-wife, disgruntled former employees and an animal rights activist make up the shortlist of people with motives. Can the determined investigators tie a ribbon on the case? Will Bella have the best Christmas ever—or will death and heartache be the only presents under the tree? You’ll love this page-turning mystery—it has more twists and turns than stripes on a candy cane.
#3
Pistols and Poinsettias
2020
Steve isn’t celebrating Christmas…he’s trying to survive it. Blind PI Steve Smiley loathes Christmas—too many memories. When his partner secures an invitation for them to teach at a mystery writers’ conference in Miami, what promises to be a welcome early December escape turns into a tidal wave of mysteries to solve. Steve and Heather walk into the midst of a raging civil war between two factions of the writers’ group. When they agree to locate a missing author slated to be the next organization president, they find themselves plunged into the midst of the battle. Before they can solve that mystery, another one lands at their feet, along with a dead body. With more than a thousand mystery writers watching, Steve’s reputation is on the line. He and Heather make a plan to unravel the mysteries and expose the murderer. But the killer has a plan too. Steve’s no longer worried about enduring another lonely Christmas…this year he just wants to survive it.
#4
Five Card Murder
2021
An inheritance worth millions. A killer with a list…and Smiley’s on it. A phone call from out of the blue leads blind PI Steve Smiley to become executor of a large Texas estate—one which includes the last undeveloped lakefront property in the state. While the sheriff is hunting for the rancher’s killer, a second death occurs. The ranch foreman is found murdered. Someone is intent on getting their hands on that property. Any of the four siblings could be guilty of one, or both, of the murders. There’s no love lost in the dysfunctional family. But which one wanted the land bad enough to kill for it? Or was it a conspiracy? Steve and his partner Heather are hired to find out who killed the ranch foreman. They unearth a long-buried family secret that could solve the mystery, but will it also lead to more killing? A person desperate not to be discovered attacks Heather. Steve needs to stop the killer or the next funeral could be his.
#5
Murder In the Dunes
2021
A detective’s perfect vacation: sun, sand, surf… and murder. When blind PI Steve Smiley visits his friend and writing mentor, Kate Bridges, he anticipates an idyllic South Padre Island getaway. The island’s magic spell is broken when Kate is accosted by her abusive ex-husband. Two days later, his body is found in the dunes, and she becomes the prime suspect. With the police in a hurry to close the case and Kate arrested for the murder, Steve sets out to find the real killer. His investigation leads him into the dangerous world of dirty cops and the Mexican cartel—a world where there are no rules. In a last ditch effort to prove Kate's innocence, Steve lays a trap for the murderer. Can he outwit the devious opponent, or will the next blood spilled in the sand be his?
#6
The Name Game Murder
2022
One recluse millionaire. One murder… so far. Life between cases is downright boring for blind PI Steve Smiley. When an insurance investigator looking for a missing millionaire is convinced the man is alive, Smiley doesn’t hesitate to join the hunt. With no murder weapon and no body, Smiley suspects the man faked his own death. But the trail of multiple passports turns cold… until a body is found in a burned-out Texas truck. Dental records confirm it’s the missing man. A bullet in his back confirms he was murdered. But why would someone want to kill a video game developer? Then the killer takes a shot at the man’s widow. With both her life and Steve’s reputation on the line, can he stop the killer before he strikes again? Or will this be the one game Steve loses? Smiley and McBlythe mysteries never contain any graphic violence, sex or foul language. Just great whodunits to get the ‘little grey cells’ working!
#7
Murder Down The Line
2022
Three families. Two murders. One blind PI. Has he finally met his match? Blind PI Steve Smiley’s former homicide partner is in trouble. If Leo can’t solve an eighty-year-old cold case murder, he’ll be put out to pasture before his time. When Smiley offers to help out his old partner, what he finds is a generations-long feud between three families. With no love lost between any of them, Smiley’s field of suspects grows and Leo’s future looks bleak. Before Smiley can help his friend solve the cold case, the feuding families are rocked by another murder. Is history repeating itself? Are the two killings connected? With a real live killer on the loose, can Smiley connect the dots and solve the cases, or will another murder be relegated to the cold case files? Smiley and McBlythe deliver a page-turning mystery with no foul language, sex scenes or graphic violence. Get your copy today to find out whodunit!
Vision Of Murder
2022
Liars at every turn… but which one is the killer? It’s up to the blind detective to find out. When blind PI Steve Smiley accompanies his nervous partner to the optometry office for her first eye exam, screams coming from the exam room aren’t exactly reassuring. Turns out the drops used to dilate the patient’s eyes were tainted, and just like that, Smiley and McBlythe have their next case. But who has motive to sabotage the doctor’s practice? Before the duo can solve the case, a body is found in the office of the doctor’s ex-wife, also an optometrist. In spite of multiple claims of innocence, Smiley knows something’s not right with the two doctors and their employees. One after another, the lies stack up. Then McBlythe is called out of town on an emergency, leaving Smiley on his own to solve both cases. Can he discern the truth without her, or will a liar get away with murder? Smiley and McBlythe deliver a great mystery with no foul language, sex or graphic violence. You won’t be able to put it down until you’ve solved ‘whodunit’!
Author
Bruce Hammack
Author · 30 books
#8
#9
Mistletoe, Malice And Murder
2022
Nothing takes a detective’s mind off Christmas like a murder. Embroiled in a generations-long feud, an oil baron is convinced someone in his family will die soon—and it will probably be him. When blind PI Steve Smiley is called in to find answers, it seems like the perfect opportunity to avoid another bleak Christmas. After a body is discovered in the tycoon’s home, the man is convinced someone’s picking off his family one by one. With the clock ticking and the feuding families closing ranks against Smiley, the wily detective must get creative with his investigation. As he digs deeper, generations of intrigue rise to the surface. Lies and coverups swirl around him like snowflakes. Can Smiley stop the killer before he strikes again, or will this be one case he can’t put a bow on? The eighth book in the popular whodunit Smiley and McBlythe Mystery series, Mistletoe, Malice And Murder will take you on a wild sleigh ride of family secrets, suspects and clues! Like all the books in the series it contains no graphic violence, sexual scenes or foul language. Just a great mystery waiting to be solved!
#10
A Beach To Die For
2023
An island paradise… and a killer on the loose. Warm Caribbean sunshine and the whisper of waves upon the shore beckon blind PI Steve Smiley. He’s come for the wedding of his friend, Bella, at her parents’ island resort, but the tide turns on the joyous occasion when the man slated to purchase the resort is found dead. When a guest claims someone is framing her for the murder and pleads for Smiley’s help, he's no longer on vacation. With the help of his partner and Bella, Smiley’s investigation shines the light on a host of people vying for the slice of paradise. But who would be desperate enough to kill for the beachfront property and its untouched barrier reef? Smiley dives in head first to solve this mystery before the body count rises and the bride’s dreams of a picture-perfect wedding are all washed up.
#11
Dig Deep For Murder
2024
It was the perfect murder… until the truth refused to stay buried.
With no active murder case to solve, private investigator Steve Smiley is enjoying a week of peace and quiet. Meanwhile, his partner is preoccupied with her latest real estate project. However, their tranquility is short-lived when a dead body is unearthed at the construction site. Suspicion falls on a young construction worker and brings the project to a standstill. When the boy's lawyer hires them to prove his innocence, Smiley must navigate the complicated dynamics of high school friendships and broken relationships.Tight-knit loyalty and deception among the teenagers challenge Smiley’s investigative skills. He’ll have to dig deep to uncover the truth and set an innocent young man free while stopping a killer from getting away with murder.
Smiley and McBlythe deliver a page-turning mystery that will keep you up way past your bedtime, all with no graphic violence, sex or foul language.
#12
A Killer On Christmas Cay
2024
Palms swaying, tensions rising… and a killer’s footprints in the sand.
Blind private investigator Steve Smiley is pulled into another case when his partner's father suspects corporate espionage. But after an employee is left battered and comatose, it's evident that more sinister forces are at play. To lure out the culprit, Smiley and his partner orchestrate an elaborate ruse—a high-stakes leadership retreat on a private Caribbean island. The game takes a lethal turn when the assault victim succumbs to his injuries, confirming a cold-blooded killer lurks among the participants. As the weeklong gauntlet of grueling mental and physical challenges intensifies, suspicions escalate, and tempers flare. The stakes skyrocket when two of the suspects fall prey to a mysterious assailant. Now, it's a perilous race against time for Smiley to unravel the twisted web of secrets and unmask the killer before more blood stains the pristine island sands.
#13
Hemlock And Homicide
2024
Tinsel, treachery and toxins… the perfect Christmas cocktail.
Acclaimed for success in a career where sight is considered essential for detection, blind private investigator Steve Smiley has always relied on his extraordinarily heightened senses and razor-sharp intellect. His sighted business partner is usually at hand to offer her penetrating insights, but when she becomes consumed with a high-stakes real estate development, Smiley finds himself at loose ends – until fate pairs him with an unlikely a washout from the police K9 program. In their first case together, what appears to be a simple matter of proving a pharmacist's innocence in a poisoning death quickly unravels into something far more sinister. Every conversation reveals another suspect, every clue points to another motive, and in the shadows, someone is watching their investigation with growing concern. When an act of arson sends his partner to the hospital, Smiley realizes he's stumbled onto something bigger than a single murder. With time running out and lives at stake, Smiley must rely on his keen powers of observation and his uniquely gifted canine partner to expose a truth that others have gone to violent lengths to conceal.
Hemlock And Homicide
has a sleigh full of surprises for detectives Smiley and McBlythe. Ride along as they deal with Smiley’s nemesis while solving two seemingy unrelated murders—all before Christmas! With no graphic violence, sex scenes or foul language, the Smiley And McBlythe Mysteries are perfect for class mystery lovers.
#0.5, 1-2
The Smiley and McBlythe Mystery Series
2024
The case that started it all for Smiley and McBlythe's partnership (prequel novella), PLUS books one and two—all in one collection!
Books Exercise Is Murder (prequel), Jingle Bells, Rifle Shells (book two), Pistols And Poinsettias (book three). Each book is a complete whodunit mystery.
Exercise Is Murder
Blind PI Steve Smiley and his partner set out to find his friend's killer. When a bullet whizzes by, he knows he's on the right trail. But will his sleuthing lead them to the killer, or get them both killed?
Jingle Bells, Rifle Shells
When blind PI Steve Smiley and his partner rescue a teen whose adopted father is murdered, the girl has one passionate find her birth parents. Their investigation uncovers a host of murder suspects and a shocking secret. Will this be the best Christmas ever, or will death and destruction be the only gifts under the tree?
Pistols And Poinsettias
Teaching at a mystery writers' conference was supposed to be an escape from Christmas for blind PI Steve Smiley and his partner. Not one, but two, bodies turn it into a working holiday. The partners make a plan to expose the murderer, but the killer has a plan too. Steve’s not worried about enduring another lonely Christmas... this year he just wants to survive it.
Free up your weekend and binge the first three cases for Smiley and McBlythe! All are stand-alone complete mysteries and all are free of graphic violence, foul language and sex scenes.