Detroit Breakdown: 3 (Detroit Mysteries) - Softcover

Johnson, D E

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0692701257 ISBN 13: 9780692701256

Publisher: Dan Johnson, Ltd., 2016

Synopsis

Will Anderson and Elizabeth Hume are called to the vast Eloise Insane Asylum outside of Detroit, where Elizabeth's cousin Robbie is a patient and now a murder suspect. The victim, like three others before him at the asylum in recent months, was killed with the infamous "Punjab lasso," the murder weapon of the Phantom of the Opera.

Certain of Robbie's innocence, they begin an investigation with the help of Detective Riordan. Will has himself committed to the asylum to investigate from the inside, and Elizabeth volunteers at Eloise and questions people outside the asylum. While Will endures horrific conditions in his search for the killer, Elizabeth and Riordan follow the trail of a murder suspect all the way to Kalamazoo, where they realize the killer might still be at Eloise, putting Will in extreme danger. They race back to Detroit, but will they arrive in time to save Will and bring the killer to justice?

Filled with Johnson's trademark roller-coaster plot, nuanced characters, and brilliant historical research, Detroit Breakdown is a compelling, dark mystery set in the once- flourishing Paris of the West.

About this title

Review

Praise for D. E. Johnson:

"Detroit Breakdown" "Johnson's excellent third mystery effectively employs parallel first-person narratives to advance an investigation into a creepy murder. Johnson makes the most of the spooky setting." --"Publishers Weekly" (starred review) "Johnson's third chronicle of early-1900s Detroit provides a mystery with suspects aplenty and a scary portrait of life in an insane asylum."--"Kirkus Reviews""" "While exposing his characters to sadistic doctors, violent orderlies, and chaotic, frightening madness, Johnson ratchets up the tension as the killer repeatedly eludes capture. The Phantom's unmasking is such a shock that readers will wonder if Elizabeth and Will can ever recover. As suspenseful and twisted as Lehane's "Shutter Island" (2003) and Lavalle's "The Devil in Silver" (2012), this taut historical thriller is a definite winner."--"Booklist""" "Johnson's spooky third series entry ensures its place among hot new historicals. His unique take on Detroit in the early 20th century and its burgeoning automotive culture make this entry a perfect crossover selection for historical fiction buffs. The lead characters--chapters alternate between the two narrators--have a checkered and violent past that Johnson fills in nicely for new readers. Recommend for Stefanie Pintoff and Caleb Carr devotees."--"Library Journal" "Detroit Breakdown is a powerful dark historical noir. Fast-paced from the moment Will enters the asylum, readers will be shocked by the treatment he receives. The serial killer inquiry is superb, but it is the conditions at the Eloise Insane Asylum that grips the audience as D.E. Johnson provides another superb Anderson Motor City Shakedown."--Genre Go Round Reviews

"Motor City Shakedown"

"The scenes of Motor City, riding high on the industrial wave, are extraordinarily vivid."" --The New York Times Book Review"

"""Johnson's vibrant follow-up to "The Detroit Electric""Scheme" delivers razor-sharp depictions of the Motor

About the Author

D. E. Johnson, a graduate of Central Michigan University, is a history buff who has been writing fiction since childhood. He comes by his interest in automotive history through his grandfather, who was the vice president of Checker Motors. Johnson is also the author of The Detroit Electric Scheme and Motor City Shakedown and lives with his family near Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Edition details

• Publisher: Dan Johnson, Ltd.
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0692701257
• ISBN 13: 9780692701256
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 366