A Killing Reputation

One bullet at a charity gala unravels decades of secrets on Spartina Island.

David Fields—philanthropist, CEO, beloved benefactor—is shot dead on the ballroom floor of his own charity gala. And retired Oakland detective Sean Tanner is mid-dance with Sheriff's Sergeant Charlie Nash when their romantic evening becomes a homicide scene.

Charlie gets the assignment. Sean's supposed to be enjoying retirement solving cold cases with the Mudflats Murder Club. But ballistics connects the gala shooting to a forty-year-old killing buried as road rage. The club's specialty.

The more they uncover, the more Spartina Island's golden reputation tarnishes. Environmental protests. Secret land deals. A multi-million-dollar development tied to the county's most powerful players. And at the center of it all? A conspiracy decades in the making—one that leads straight to the disappearance of Charlie’s father ten years ago.

Two murders, forty years apart. One island where everyone knows everyone. And suddenly, the deadliest secrets are the ones closest to home.

From a former detective and cold case investigator comes a mystery that's intricately layered, character-rich, and impossible to put down. Perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club and Only Murders in the Building.

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Praise for Brian Thiem:

“Totally charming and completely relatable…I'm dubbing it Only Murders in the Mudflats! What a winner!" —Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author

“A sophisticated, pulsing, persistent police procedural with multiple whodunnits and secrets that come at you from all angles…A highly satisfying read." —Chris Bauer, author of the Maximum Risk series

“...I loved the people, the place, the detection process—and the hint of romance!” —Jane K. Cleland, Agatha Award-winning author

“Sometimes the cop can’t quit the job. Sometimes the job won’t let them…This is a must read series!” —Bruce Robert Coffin, bestselling author of Crimson Thaw

“Recommend to fans of Richard Osman and Robert Thorogood.” —Booklist