Serenity by Craig A. Hart
Genre: Currently #11672 in Best Sellers Rank for Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Crime
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication Date: October, 2016
Submitted by author for review
Serenity by Craig A Hart – Interesting cover-may not convey subject
Serenity – The Shelby Alexander Thriller Series by Craig A Hart actually uses a senior protagonist, albeit one who, as a former boxer, still has a somewhat athletic body with the strength and experience to handle most of what comes his way.
Shelby Alexander is known in the small Michigan town of Serenity as a “fixer,” and takes on the murder of a young woman left to die in his arms on his property. She comes from a family of less than stellar reputation, and the patriarch has hired him for the task of discovering who and why.
I guess you have to have the gratuitous romance, so throw in a sweet young thing, a bar maid, world-wise and independent. (Must be the dream of any 60 year old male.) The characters might be complete at this point were it not for his daughter, the same approximate age as his sweet, young thing. The daughter is beyond a nag and annoying even for the reader, though the reason is revealed at the end.
Things are never simple, however, and the story weaves in and out of the local drug market and the players involved, most of who are pretty nasty. It’s good he has a hefty right cross–he’ll need it! He gets his old buddy (an ex-cop) involved and together they discover the new sheriff in town (who is up from Detroit) is probably dirty, and has an agenda of his own.
The story really doesn’t lag and the characters are fleshed out. The antagonists are super vicious, and the language is well beyond my PG rating, though given the characters involved, probably realistic dialogue.
I was given this novel, first in the series, in exchange for a review. While I enjoyed the fact that at last the hero was older than the popularly aged protagonist, the girlfriend his daughter’s age was a minus for me, but provided comic relief in the usual male gloating, light-hearted banter.
Recommended for those who like a crime thriller with realistic characters past the thirty-something range.
Rosepoint rating: Four stars of Five
Author description: Craig A. Hart is a stay–at-home father of twin boys, editor, and Amazon bestselling author. He has a long history of success, including winning the Best Novel of Summer 2015 from Pinnacle Awards for Becoming Moon. A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, he lives in Iowa City, Iowa with his wife, sons, and two cats. Find him at http://www.craigahart.com and on Twitter @craighartwriter ©2016 Virginia Williams 
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