I just finished reading Murder on the Front Nine by Steve McMillen. This mystery/thriller adventure and a travel story, is Mr. McMillen's first novel, "It is set in the Myrtle Beach area of South Carolina, which is why I picked it up in the first place. It's main character is a charismatic crime solving Realtor/Architect/Golf Pro, who also just happens to be an ex-Green Beret. It is a tale of assassinations, black ops, corrupt politicians, big oil, betrayal, a drug cartel, and a treasure hunt, with a twist, off the South Carolina coast.
You can read Steve's book on two levels. Simply as a murder, mystery, thriller, whodunit yarn, in a southern beach setting, which is probably how the majority of the readers will percieve it. The other level is with a local's and visitor's delight in recognizing familiar resorts, restaurants, golf courses and other local features. (Which is were I was coming from, when I bought the novel .)
The tale begins on Bald Head Island, North Carolina, a remote, upscale golf resort island along the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. Mickke D allows himself to be drawn into an assassination investigation by three of his old army buddies, who he has not seen in fifteen years. Bodies begin piling up, planes are blown up, buildings are burned down and Mickke D discovers that maybe one of his old army buddies may not be as much of a friend as he once thought. The story meanders down the coast to Little River, SC; and makes a stop during the playing of the World Amateur Golf Tournament in Myrtle Beach. It makes side trips to Charleston, SC, Panama City Beach, Fl, Las Vegas and Washington, DC. There are plots within plots and the reader will has to figure out the bad guys from the good guys; who they like and who they dislike. Sometimes the number of characters, and complex plots got hard to follow, but overall it was an entertaining,fun, light read that I finished in less than half a day
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