Superior Peril: Murder on 123

Getting to Know Jack #3

by Michael Carrier

[Jack Handler Series] is an intense thrill ride!! Michael Carrier's character Jack Handler is a retired Chicago detective who keeps finding himself suspenseful situations. … I seriously couldn't put this book down!!! Definitely a must read for those who enjoy David Baldacci, James Patterson and Michael Connelly. Being a Michigander, I loved that this book is based in the UP. When is the next Jack book coming out? —Mario What People are saying about the “Getting to Know Jack” series Move over James Patterson and David Baldacci … Michael Carrier is the newest great suspense author!!! Finally there is a new author who will challenge the likes of Michael Connelly and David Baldacci. In this latest mystery, Sugar Island (in Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula) is used as a fitting backdrop to the wild action. It is a fast-paced thriller that you won’t want to put down until the final page. —Island Books … Full of twists and turns. If you like James Patterson, you'll enjoy all of Michael Carrier's novels in the Getting to Know Jack series. These riveting thrillers will keep you turning pages all the way to the shocking end. —Cascade Writer's Group A good read. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and kept coming back to it whenever I had the free time. The characters were really good. Connelly and Baldacci should approve—Dave If you like James Patterson and Michael Connelly, you'll love Michael Carrier. Carrier has proven that he can hang with the best of them (seriously- we're talking Patterson and Connelly) with his newest book. It has all of the great, edge-of-your-seat action and suspense that you'd expect in a good thriller, and it kept me guessing to the very end. Fantastic read with an awesome detective duo—I couldn't put it down! Can't wait to read the next one! —by Katie “I like to read Michael Connelly and James Patterson. When I saw Michael Carrier’s book suggested with my favorites authors, I decided to give him a read. … best decision. [This book] is not really like anything else I have ever read … much better” —Cheech I really like James Patterson and David Baldacci. … I’m not going to say who’s [my favorite writer now], but it just might become this author. Highly recommended. —GGC At first I thought the story jumped around a little too much. And then I remembered the great Russian writers, Tolstoy in particular. … Something like a Michael Connelly story. —Lindsay At last there is a top-rated true murder mystery on the market without a lot of vulgarity. This is one action mystery you can recommend to anyone -- even your teenagers. The twists and turns keep you turning the pages long after you should move on to other things. With the short chapters, you can read a few, then put it down without losing your place, but you won’t want to. I believe this is the best murder mystery on the market. Hollywood should definitely look at this one! Congratulations to Michael Carrier on this next chapter in the Jack Handler series -- When’s the next one coming? –Bookaholic If you like James Patterson and Michael Connelly, you’ll love Michael Carrier. Carrier has proven that he can hang with the best of them (seriously- we’re talking Patterson and Connelly) with his newest book. It has all of the great, edge-of-your-seat action and suspense that you’d expect in a good thriller, and it kept me guessing to the very end. Fantastic read with an awesome detective duo- I couldn’t put it down! Can’t wait to read the next one! –Katie … Great story line...

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2013

About the author

Michael has at different times in his life driven truck throughout the US, hustled pool from Texas to Montana, traveled the country hitchhiking, spent five years in Greenwich Village's East Side, delivered diamonds in New York's diamond district (disguised as a down-and-outer), tended bar at a New York nightclub, climbed dozens of water towers throughout the US, panned gold, skydived, and worked for over two decades in private security.

One of Mike's favorite hobbies is creating intricate puzzles. Since 1992 he has assumed the persona of "Mountain Mike." As this character, he hides a treasure (which is a ten dollar bill) somewhere around Grand Rapids, Michigan. He then every week publishes puzzles which contain clues as to the location of the treasure.
When a lucky sleuth finds the treasure, Mountain Mike buys it from him for $1000. So far, since 1992, Mike has rewarded seven such treasure hunters.
Currently Michael lives with his wife in a house on Lake Superior. His mailing address is Paradise, MI.

Reviews

[Leisl Kaberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superior Peril is an action-packed suspense filled mystery. The big mystery? How is it that nine people on a boat have disappeared from Lake Superior off the border of Canada?
Out of interest, Jack Handler and his detective daughter decide to check things out and before they know it they find themselves in the middle of a murder and kidnapping investigation which they suspect may be related to the mysterious disappearance. The action heats up very early in the book and it's a rollicking ride from then on. The chapters are short which makes it easy to read however dialogue and action is often cut cleverly between the chapters making it extra hard to put down.
Jack reminded me of Jack Bower from 24 in that he's tough, takes charge of the situation and does whatever is needed to get to the bottom of what's going on, including roughing people up. Although he doesn't do a lot of killing, people tend to drop like flies around him.
While the premise is intriguing and the historical element adds to the interest, the characters themselves lack some depth. We get to know what Jacks like trying to solve a case but we don't see the real him and his motivations that lead him to make his decisions.
Despite this however it is a good fun ride that leaves you wanting more.

[Paula Cappa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first read of Mr. Carrier’s work. My honest and fair review is at three stars and for me that means the story elements have remarkable and admirable merit. I really, really liked this story concept: history, mystery, sea adventure, and murder. And a treasure hunt is always a hook (The Mino 1787 BC). The characters are very comfortable. Jack is so familiar, I was certain I had known him for years. He's quite charming. But Jack’s investigative skills in this book aren't as stellar as I’d hoped: most of the clues, leads, and information were “told” to him from second-hand sources so tension of discovery lagged a little. The action, however, speeds along and yes, this is a zipper of story; easily read in one or two sittings.

One issue for me was Mr. Carrier’s odd punctuation style: the overuse and misuse of ellipses. This technique made the rhythm choppy and distracting (I’m a copy editor so, forgive me, I find this more troubling than most readers. I think the writing would be stronger without the constant ellipses). Since I continue to see the category of thrillers breaking loose of their genre these days, I expect this quirky book will likely have a fair run among beach-book thriller readers, especially if you are addicted to high-tailing car chases and blow-ups at high impact. All the best to Mr. Carrier. He achieved some fascinating accounts on maritime Minoan history.

[thomas peter dougherty · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's only half a book. At the end of the book it says, oh this is half the mystery now go buy another book to finish it. LOL. The book was fine, more a of middle school level. Predictable characters you seen hundreds of times. Mr. tough guy saves the day !

[Diana Duell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy getting to know these characters and following them on their journey.

[Peggy Mikolajewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed his books. I love the relationship between the father and daughter, and Red is a blessing.

[Stefan Vucak · Rating 2 out of 5]

In 1787, three Minoan ships are making their way along the Great Lakes toward the Atlantic. During a severe storm, one of the ships sinks, taking down its crew and a load of copper ore. Jumping to present day, a motor cruiser is found stranded along the shore with eight bodies. This is just one of a number of mysterious happenings where people and boats disappear without trace. Jack Handler, a former Chicago homicide cop, gets involved when a car gets blown up before his eyes, with the cruiser captain’s wife in it. I stopped reading at Chapter 31.

From the first page, I found ‘Superior Peril’ hard going, sprinkled as it was with a profusion of ellipses, which only acted as stumbling stones. The first chapter—two pages—could have been left out entirely. When Michael Carrier introduced Minoan ships into the story, stating that they were mining almost pure copper in the Great Lakes since 2,500 BC, I had to blink. The Minoan civilization traded actively with Egypt up to1,600 BC, but there is no evidence that they visited the Americas. Copper could have been sourced in Europe without having to go across the Atlantic. How did they know there was copper in the Great Lakes anyway, and wouldn’t they establish colonies after having come this far? Michael Carrier made a mistake introducing the Minoans into the story, then devoting them only a few pages.

Even accepting the premise of Minoans in the Americans, Michael Carrier’s usage of modern day names and sprinkling current day events when talking about them, destroyed the atmosphere of those scenes. Surely the Minoans would have had names of their own for the places they visited. Chapter 4 is a synopsis, and could have been dispensed with as it did not contribute anything to the story. It is a pity the storm scene where the Minoan ship sank wasn’t treated with greater detail, enabling the reader to get into their story.

Although Jack Handler is supposed to be the main character in this book, it is not until Chapter 11 that I learned who he is, Far too long to leave the reader scratching his head. The characters are two-dimensional, nothing for the reader to connect with. Michael Carrier’s disconcerting habit of creating single page chapters makes it difficult to follow what is going on. Ch 8 is two short paragraphs, and Ch 13 is one paragraph and a sentence. After 89 pages, the only thing I learned is that boats and people disappeared in Lake Superior, and Jack is getting involved solving the mystery of the stranded cruiser. Not really understanding what was going on, and unable to connect with this book, I gave up the effort.

A very disappointing book.

[Liz Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rate of 4 stars is due to the fact that I found the writing style and the book structure a bit odd. I got distracted by issues like punctuation and chapter division. The author uses too many ellipses, for my taste, and the chapters are extremely short. For instance, my Kindle app is set for the maximum number of words in a two-column page. In it, chapter 8 has 12 lines while the longest one - Chapter 19 - has 7 pages. Most chapters have 3 pages. Another example of it is Chapter 90. It ends in the middle of a dialogue, which continues in the beginning of Chapter 91 for two short paragraphs. Then, there are three stars signaling a scene change. Why? The next book in this series –Superior Intrigue – could benefit from a more thorough editing.
Having said that, I must confess these issues might have annoyed the writer in me. I’m sure most readers will not notice and will not be distracted by them. And these readers shouldn’t let these little things bother them because the story is worth their time.
The rhythm flows as fast as the car chase scenes. Being a fan of car races myself, I was enthralled by the detailed descriptions of the action. They put me right in the middle of the chase. The mysteries and the investigation process kept me glued to my laptop screen.
The author was very skillful when presenting characters from the two previous books of this series. I hadn’t read those books but that made no difference in my understanding and enjoyment of Superior Peril.
Although we get answers to many questions raised along the book, there is a cliffhanger. That didn’t bother me because I love a good series and this is definitely an excellent detective series. I recommend it to all book lovers in search for a good story.
Liz GavinMichael Carrier

[Shelley Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sorry to be blunt: it's the only way I know how to be. The first chapters were descent and got my interest, and then things quickly went south. Part of the title is 'Getting to know Jack,' but I learned so little about him I didn't get the chance. There wasn't enough character depth, only movements, actions not allowing me to 'feel' for him or any of the characters in any way. The investigation was based on correct assumptions, so there wasn't any elements of surprise. As a matter of fact, a lot of the action was 'explained' by the characters talking to themselves out loud. For example, one of the characters needed to escape her captors. After finding an old car she spoke aloud, 'I'm sure the keys are in it.' Sure enough they were. Scenes like this became distracting and were far too often. Another example is finding the buffet receipt and assuming the bad guy would show up for the Sunday special. It wasn't surprising when in the next chapter the fat bad guy confirmed this. Speaking of chapters, two paragraphs don't constitute as one. Neither does taking what should have been one chapter and breaking it into three. There was hardly any suspense. Overall it read like an eight-year-old telling a story (excellent examples are when the car blew up and when Kate killed one of the bad guys with a pocket knife). Some sentences, although not as simple, read similar to, 'the guy got stabbed, bled, then died.' The dialogue was a little too bland for me. The sheriff was too ignorant. What sheriff allows an out-of-towner dictate his involvement in a murder investigation? I also didn't understand using a teen relative to help in your hunt for the bad guy (hiding him behind a tree to see if the bad guys are coming). The book premise was excellent, however. I think with rewrites and good editing it could be a bestseller.

[Rea Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rated this book 4 stars on Amazon, but Amazon "like" is 4 stars and Goodreads "like" is 3, so I hope that isn't confusing. I wish they would synchronize the system.

I liked this book.

Even though plot-driven books are not really my thing, I felt that Michael Carrier did a good job of keeping the action interesting. He grounds the reader nicely in Michigan's Upper Peninsula geography and some of its culture, including the nearly mythical stories surrounding Lake Superior. In fact, I wish the characters had spent more time in and around the lake, as the title suggested. The action was exceedingly fast-paced, and although I felt he could have taken a bit more time to develop the characters, the story held my interest much of the time. I understand that the characters were introduced in an earlier book in the series, but still, a few quirks here and there would make them more memorable. (The exception is Red, whose only means of communication was by text. A wonderful quirk.)Other than Red, the cadence of the dialogue was nearly the same for all characters. A little diversity would have helped. There was also a style issue for me (elipses), but other than that the story itself is good. I think readers of action and suspense will enjoy this tale, and no doubt, the entire series.

[Seve Verdad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Carrier's "Superior Peril: Murder on 123" swept me right along with the action but left me behind in spots, pondering motives and my suspension of disbelief. And the format, in particular the technique of dividing chapters right smack in the middle of a scene, is a bit perplexing. On the whole though, "Superior Peril" is another quality crime-thriller from Michael Carrier's Jack Handler series. Jack Handler may be pushing sixty but he hasn't lost the edge honed from his experience as an Army Ranger, sergeant in the Chicago Police Homicide Division, and a Private Investigator. He has a couple other things going for him as well: his daughter Kate, who is a New York homicide detective, and Kate's fourteen-year-old cousin, Red. Due to damaged vocal chords, Red is mute, yet he is also fiercely loyal, independent and resourceful. Both Red and Kate prove indispensable to Jack as the three of them become embroiled in a murder mystery, a search for sunken treasure in Lake Superior, and high-stakes treachery involving the Russian Mafia. The book is a quick read and packs enough punch, intrigue and action to fill volumes, volumes that continue to fly off Michael Carrier's prolific pen and will capture the imagination of crime-thriller fans.--Seve Verdad, Author

[Jennifer Hinsman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Living in Michigan, I was intrigued by the premise of the book. It was great fun to read the history given from the author’s perspective. There was a lot of action, so that kept the book moving along for me. I don’t really like reading series too much because I often feel like I HAVE to buy the next one. (I realize that is the point of a series, however it is nice when they can stand-alone.) There are questions at the end of this book that are left hanging so getting the other books in the series are a must if you want the answers.
There were some abbreviations throughout the book that I felt were overdone and maybe not appropriate. The characters seemed real to me, so I liked that. I was able to relate to the smart character named Kate. It was an easy read and I’d recommend it to those that like action, action and more action. The violence seemed very realistic.
The chapters were short, sometimes just a paragraph. One could argue that this made the read quick and easy but I found it a bit odd at times.
Overall not a bad read, I would recommend it for those that like action, violence and death.

[Clare Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superior Peril, follows the adventures of retired police detective, Jack Handler.
The third book, in the 'Getting to Know Jack' series, in this instalment, Jack finds himself embroiled in a mystery that begins when a ship and its occupants goes missing on Lake Superior.
Jack's nephew Red asks his uncle and guardian, Kate to investigate the incident, which has claimed the life of his friend's father.
The fast paced adventure barely stops for breath as we're drawn into an adventure that spans from the ancient past to the present day. With a cliff hanger ending, it leaves the reader wanting to know what really happened, and who is behind the mysterious goings on.
I have to say, as a reader, I have never read a book with such short chapters, or chapters that seem to run together, but, it did keep me reading, with an attitude of 'just one more chapter before bed...'
If you like thrillers, then this book is for you. I haven't read any of the other Jack Handler books, but that didn't stop me enjoying this one. I look forward to reading the story's conclusion.

[Deborah McClatchey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I'd read in the Jack Handler Series. I found it good and quite vigorous even though this is not my usual genre. I haven’t read the other books in the series so I am probably missing a few significant facts about Jack and his daughter, Kate.
There were parts where I became clearly lost…but was able to sort it out later. Lots of descriptions of speedy road travel, many accidents and several deaths. I was a bit confused as to how some of these people ended up dead.
There were some logical questions that left me wondering and had to go back and re-read to make sure I didn’t miss anything. i.e., when Kate was tied up with duct tape; the mute nephew Red, who drove a semi at one point, which I couldn’t envision as I figured him to be a smallish kid.
Longer chapters would be nice. But all in all, it is a well-written, action-packed story line which leaves you with having to read another book to find out the rest of the answers. But that goes along with being part of a series.

[Georgia Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an action packed read with plenty of description painting the vivid scenes as the bodies mount up. I would have liked the same amount of description to have been given to how the characters were dealing with what they were going through as they just seemed to brush everything off. Carrier had clearly given a lot of thought to his characters as there was a whole section at the end giving details of their lives. Jack, though tough, is a good guy and his story was particularly interesting and although bits of it were touched on in the story I thought more could have been added though I realise that I come to this series part way through so no doubt those reading from the start would have the gaps filled in. The chapters were short but strangely that kept me turning the pages and the end came far too unexpectedly. I would have liked the situation to have been fully resolved but that’s a personal preference and I understand many prefer a cliff hanger ending.

[Alice Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't read a thriller since the whole Dan Brown craze years ago and to be perfectly honest I was reluctant to pick up a book in the genre ever since (yes, overselling something has the opposite effect on me), but I am glad I bought this on recommendation from a friend.

Michael's book boasts structured action and strong dialogue with eventful plot and engaging premise. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found myself genuinely wondering what was about to happen at times. The 'too descriptive' and rich in minute details action chase scenes, which some readers have pointed out as a weakness in the narrative is actually one of the elements I particularly liked as descriptions help me fully immerse in the story.

I would definitely recommend Superior Peril for anyone who's looking for a fast-paced and enjoyable thriller.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Superior Peril" started out on a fantastic note with the story of the Minoans. It had a Clive Cussler feel to it. I fully expected to read about an underwater adventure. But the story didn't carry through. Most of the time was spent in chasing or looking for various sets of the bad guys.

The book is in need of serious editing. A lot of information is repeated in various scenes, has excessive use of filter words and dialog tags, and plenty of info dumps. I would recommend the author to join a writer's group, perhaps even an online one. Scribophile.com is an excellent place to start.

On the positive side, the parts with the Minoans was interesting, and the author supplied interesting details about car mechanics. It was fast-paced and kept you on your toes. I'd love to give it a higher rating, but can't justify doing so with all the editing the book requires.

[Kenneth Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, exciting read.
This is the first book by Michael Carrier I have read. It won't be the last. It was an enjoyable, exciting read. I love his cast of characters, who he masterfully describes. Jack Handler, the main character, who is a retired Chicago homicide detective. Jack's daughter Kate, who is a homicide detective in New York City, and legal guardian of a fourteen year old boy, Red, who communicates by texting. And Sheriff Bill Green, the local sheriff in Michigan's Upper Peninsula where the crimes happen. I found the story cleverly told, fast paced, and captivating. I started the book in the morning intending to read for an hour or two, but finished it the same day.
I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys action packed detective mystery/suspense stories.

[Mike Nach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Michael Carrier book. It was enjoyable.
The main character of this story is Jack Handler, a retired Chicago police detective who lives on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. His daughter Kate is a NYPD detective. She’s the legal guardian of “Red”, a fourteen year old boy, who communicates by texting. Jack and Kate find themselves embroiled in a mystery when “Red” informs them that his friend’s father and nine other people are missing on Lake Superior. They had been searching for the wreckage of a Minoan ship that supposedly sank around 1200 BC.
Lots of action and twists.
If you don’t mind the ellipses and some very short chapters, get it.

[Rachel Pruchno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started "Superior Peril' in the San Francisco airport yesterday morning. Trip to Philly was over before I knew it because I was so captivated by Michael Carrier's book. Fast-paced action with more twists and turns than a Cedar Point amusement ride. Love the dynamic between Jack Handler and his daughter Kate. Nephew "Red" is a believable 14-year old. As a native Michigander, I enjoyed the scenery of the Upper Peninsular. Only down to the book is that it's part of a continuing saga, so many of the ends that I wanted tied up, remain for the next book.

[Joy Lo-Bamijoko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superior Peril by Michael Carrie is a fast moving story that reads like a real life story. The description of the runs and turns are so vivid, that one can actually visualize them. The book puts the reader in the middle of the action taking place so much that I felt like I was physically there with the characters, feeling their anxiety, and pushing on with them in all of their adventures.
This is a great read and I enjoyed reading this story, and look forward to reading the other titles in the series.

[Nadege Nicoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superior Peril is a fast paced story with many twists and turns. I like the unpredictability all the way through the book. It takes so much talent to be able to add more and more dimensions to the story without confusing the reader. Well done Michael Carrier for writing such an intriguing thriller. I also enjoy very much the father-daughter complicity. In a world where not much makes sense, Jack and his daughter can understand one another with hardly any word.
The ending is clever. I won't give anything away. I am too busy ordering the sequel anyway...

[Linda Look · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast moving. Father and daughter are current and ex detectives raising Red, a nephew who, because of an accident, cannot speak. Begins with a ship's crew being killed in their search for proof of sunken gold. Because of Red's friends car being bombed in front of them, an investigation ensues where kidnaps, murder and intrigue leaves one wondering who are the "bad guys". Can't wait to read the next book by this author. Stayed up late to finish this book in one day. I rate it a 4.8.

[Tabatha Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have not read the previous books in this series, but it didn't matter: Carrier gave enough explanation within the story to compensate. It certainly is a fast- paced action thriller. I have not read many thrillers as they're usually not my thing (I more usually read fantasy or SF) but this kept me engaged (I read it in one sitting) and I found it thoroughly entertaining. I will now have to backtrack and read the first ones!

[Beth Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Superior Peril. It's my first book by Michael Carrier, but it won't be my last. The books begins with action, and it doesn't let up. I was holding my breath at some points, because of the unexpected twists and gripping suspense. The characters were believable and relatable, and the descriptions were wonderful. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fantastic mystery.

[Valerie Downs · Rating 3 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT

I have read and enjoyed the first two books in the series and was delighted to get back with Jack and Kate for this newest release. Although I might have given this a good solid four stars, the unfinished ending was a disappointment in great measure. it is almost enough to find a different writer.

[Fat Ninja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superior Peril has plenty of twists and turns as you follow Jack and his daughter Kate chasing the bad lads and lasses through the streets of Michigan. Plenty of action and only disappointing observation was that the ending is so abrupt, requiring you to read the end of the saga in the next book. It’s well written and very detailed. An enjoyable tale.

[Martin Pingree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was also a very enjoyable read.

[Marc Estes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a very fast paced read. Good story and character development. Chapters were a little short, but overall a fun read with twists and turns. I will have to check out the others now.

[Charles Forgrave · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it. It was fast paced and intellectually honest and highly entertaining. Not to mention that it was set in the area where I live...

[Lillie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is very fast-paced, but I found it confusing, and I don't like cliffhanger endings.