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The Conawalki Murder Mysteries #1
Lost Village
A pair of brutal murders shatters the uneasy peace of the tiny town of Conawalki, Ontario, threatening to rip the community apart. For years, the residents have struggled to rebuild their lives and their community’s identity after the town was uprooted and moved in the late 1950s to make way for the St. Lawrence Seaway. Now, as shocking secrets begin to surface, it becomes clear that Conawalki is more than just a town in search of an identity; it’s a place built on hidden truths and unspoken fears.
At the heart of the turmoil are the “Three Smart Boys”—Mark, Seb, and Flix—teenage friends and bandmates navigating their own identity crisis. As they chase their dreams and grapple with the town’s unraveling mysteries, they become entangled in a web of murder, blackmail, betrayal, and a brush with death that will change them forever.
In a town where the past refuses to stay buried, the boys must uncover who they really are before the deception that blankets their community like a looming shadow destroys everything they hold dear.
At the heart of the turmoil are the “Three Smart Boys”—Mark, Seb, and Flix—teenage friends and bandmates navigating their own identity crisis. As they chase their dreams and grapple with the town’s unraveling mysteries, they become entangled in a web of murder, blackmail, betrayal, and a brush with death that will change them forever.
In a town where the past refuses to stay buried, the boys must uncover who they really are before the deception that blankets their community like a looming shadow destroys everything they hold dear.
330 pages, Paperback
Published July 15, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 4, 2026
The beauty of small village living is that everyone knows everyone and their families, and the families’ gossip. Privacy doesn’t quite exist when friendly neighbors are curious about what’s happening one street over. And so Michael Saver’s mystery novel, Lost Village: The Conawalki Murder Mysteries, opens while a woman, staring through her binoculars, narrates the town’s goings-on to her twin sister. All of this is par for the course until the next morning, when the binoculared woman is found bound, gagged, and dead in her home.
Lost Village follows a collection of characters as they attempt to unravel the grisly murder. Spearheading the cast are three adolescent boys, fondly known as “The Three Smart Boys,” who are primarily interested in passing their high school classes, playing music, and outsmarting the local bullies. Saver’s characters are witty, and he develops them with a sense of dry humor and wry cheekiness.
“The Three Smart Boys,” Mark, Flix, and Seb, are young men growing up in the early 1970s when compassion for individuals outside the mainstream is thin or nonexistent. Saver explores what it means to be a member of the LGBTA+ community in a time when brutality and intolerance were the norm. Early in the novel, Mark literally awakens from a dream and finally recognizes or admits to himself his strong emotions for Flix. In other parts of the town, though, other men are not within the bliss of romance and love but are struggling with anonymous and criminal cruelty.
Saver’s villain is more than just a traditional “bad guy.” Saver’s mystery writing leads readers through twists and turns as he toys with red herrings and archetypal characters that he adeptly turns on their heads. Lost Village has supernatural hints. The villain originally refers to himself as “The One” and, as he harvests victims, changes to the name “Havoc.” And he does a fantastic job wreaking havoc.
Fans of Shirley Jackson or the recent young adult Death Cast novel series will enjoy following “The Three Smart Boys” as they try to protect members of their village from Havoc and preserve their friendship in Lost Village, the first book in The Conawalki Murder Mysteries series by Michael Saver.
Lost Village follows a collection of characters as they attempt to unravel the grisly murder. Spearheading the cast are three adolescent boys, fondly known as “The Three Smart Boys,” who are primarily interested in passing their high school classes, playing music, and outsmarting the local bullies. Saver’s characters are witty, and he develops them with a sense of dry humor and wry cheekiness.
“The Three Smart Boys,” Mark, Flix, and Seb, are young men growing up in the early 1970s when compassion for individuals outside the mainstream is thin or nonexistent. Saver explores what it means to be a member of the LGBTA+ community in a time when brutality and intolerance were the norm. Early in the novel, Mark literally awakens from a dream and finally recognizes or admits to himself his strong emotions for Flix. In other parts of the town, though, other men are not within the bliss of romance and love but are struggling with anonymous and criminal cruelty.
Saver’s villain is more than just a traditional “bad guy.” Saver’s mystery writing leads readers through twists and turns as he toys with red herrings and archetypal characters that he adeptly turns on their heads. Lost Village has supernatural hints. The villain originally refers to himself as “The One” and, as he harvests victims, changes to the name “Havoc.” And he does a fantastic job wreaking havoc.
Fans of Shirley Jackson or the recent young adult Death Cast novel series will enjoy following “The Three Smart Boys” as they try to protect members of their village from Havoc and preserve their friendship in Lost Village, the first book in The Conawalki Murder Mysteries series by Michael Saver.
January 5, 2026
A Dark, Atmospheric Coming of Age Thriller Rooted in Secrets
Lost Village is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that blends small town mystery with the raw uncertainty of adolescence. Michael Saver crafts a haunting setting where history, identity, and buried truths collide, and the sense of unease lingers from the first page to the last. What stands out most is the emotional realism of the Three Smart Boys, whose friendship, ambitions, and fears unfold against a backdrop of murder and long suppressed secrets. The town of Conawalki feels alive, scarred, and watchful, making this story as much about place as it is about betrayal, loyalty, and survival. This is a powerful, immersive read that deserves serious attention from thriller and literary fiction audiences alike.
Lost Village is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that blends small town mystery with the raw uncertainty of adolescence. Michael Saver crafts a haunting setting where history, identity, and buried truths collide, and the sense of unease lingers from the first page to the last. What stands out most is the emotional realism of the Three Smart Boys, whose friendship, ambitions, and fears unfold against a backdrop of murder and long suppressed secrets. The town of Conawalki feels alive, scarred, and watchful, making this story as much about place as it is about betrayal, loyalty, and survival. This is a powerful, immersive read that deserves serious attention from thriller and literary fiction audiences alike.
August 18, 2026
I really liked the setting. It's an interesting mystery and story, with a large cast of characters, anchored by a small group of friends, that all feel very real for a small town. Plus the copy I have came with a playlist inspired by the book, which is a really fun addition.
November 3, 2025
Really loved this book. Meant a lot to me since I used to live in Seaway Valley and I knew the author. Very much looking forward to book two.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews