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Chasing Truth in a Harbor Town
He thought his biggest worry would be finding clients.
Now Russian intelligence wants him dead.
When a wealthy Ukrainian businessman needs help with an international transaction, hockey-playing Duluth attorney Michael Lund sees a straightforward payday.
The money is real.
The paperwork looks legitimate.
One quick trip to Sweden to finalize the negotiation—and he’ll walk away with a hefty fee.
Unexpectedly combining business with a family legacy, Michael reunites with his great-uncle in Stockholm—and that’s when everything unravels.
Michael’s family ties are entangled in dangerous, aristocratic shadow games. His “simple” deal is anything but. And the charming Ukrainian client? He has deadly enemies. Suddenly, Michael’s work trip includes evading menacing Russian intelligence agents.
Then the bodies start to drop. An assassination in a Stockholm nightclub. A shootout in a Duluth warehouse. And soon, everyone Michael trusts—from his hockey teammates to the woman he loves—may be compromised.
With Russian operatives closing in, Michael must decide how far he’ll go for justice—and who he dares to trust—before he loses everything.
Perfect for readers of John Grisham and John le Carré.
Now Russian intelligence wants him dead.
When a wealthy Ukrainian businessman needs help with an international transaction, hockey-playing Duluth attorney Michael Lund sees a straightforward payday.
The money is real.
The paperwork looks legitimate.
One quick trip to Sweden to finalize the negotiation—and he’ll walk away with a hefty fee.
Unexpectedly combining business with a family legacy, Michael reunites with his great-uncle in Stockholm—and that’s when everything unravels.
Michael’s family ties are entangled in dangerous, aristocratic shadow games. His “simple” deal is anything but. And the charming Ukrainian client? He has deadly enemies. Suddenly, Michael’s work trip includes evading menacing Russian intelligence agents.
Then the bodies start to drop. An assassination in a Stockholm nightclub. A shootout in a Duluth warehouse. And soon, everyone Michael trusts—from his hockey teammates to the woman he loves—may be compromised.
With Russian operatives closing in, Michael must decide how far he’ll go for justice—and who he dares to trust—before he loses everything.
Perfect for readers of John Grisham and John le Carré.
196 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 10, 2026
6 people are currently reading
1036 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I would like to thank Severn River Publishing and William Brennan for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
2 ⭐- while the synopsis sounds great, the story was anything but great. The writing felt sloppy and all over the place. Such a pity.
2 ⭐- while the synopsis sounds great, the story was anything but great. The writing felt sloppy and all over the place. Such a pity.
February 13, 2026
I received an ARC through "Severn River" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review,
This story begins with Michael waiting for Nikolai to pick him up for a hockey game.This story then follows Michael, a lawyer, who gains a client with Nikolai's help. Once Michael hears what Alexei wanted Michael to do for him, Michael was hesitant, but in the end he agreed and as a result he soon made a trip to Switzerland to assist Alexei with making a deal with a manufacturing company. Michael had concerns with what the deal was really about. Michael along with Alexei and Oleg met with Mattias to bring the deal to conclusion.
Once Michael got back to Duluth, he was met by a woman claiming to be with ATF and wanted Michael to assist her. Michael told her that she would need to have her show a warrant before he would do anything. This meeting was related to Michael's business with Alexei and Michael wound up talking with Nikolai and a plan was made.
Read and discover exactly what Alexei wanted Michael to do, how Mattias came into the picture and what interactions Michael had with the woman claiming to be an ATF agent. The story is well done and should be a definite read, don't miss out!
This story begins with Michael waiting for Nikolai to pick him up for a hockey game.This story then follows Michael, a lawyer, who gains a client with Nikolai's help. Once Michael hears what Alexei wanted Michael to do for him, Michael was hesitant, but in the end he agreed and as a result he soon made a trip to Switzerland to assist Alexei with making a deal with a manufacturing company. Michael had concerns with what the deal was really about. Michael along with Alexei and Oleg met with Mattias to bring the deal to conclusion.
Once Michael got back to Duluth, he was met by a woman claiming to be with ATF and wanted Michael to assist her. Michael told her that she would need to have her show a warrant before he would do anything. This meeting was related to Michael's business with Alexei and Michael wound up talking with Nikolai and a plan was made.
Read and discover exactly what Alexei wanted Michael to do, how Mattias came into the picture and what interactions Michael had with the woman claiming to be an ATF agent. The story is well done and should be a definite read, don't miss out!
January 24, 2026
I received an advanced copy of this book and am leaving a honest review.
I mostly read fantasy and romantasy so this book was a bit out of my wheel house and I really enjoyed it!
I flew through the first half of the book, enjoying the hockey element, the intrigue and then 3/4 of the way through I wanted a bit more story, I wanted some more ice hockey, a little more fleshed out about the side characters, and maybe that’s coming in what should be a fun and thrilling series.
Our main character, Michael, former hockey player, now a practicing lawyer, falling into some political intrigue and dragging his wonderful partner Sue in the deep in with him.
Read this book if you love a fun thriller, and a main character that is a solid midwestern guy that is trying his best to move up the ladder in his law firm and gets himself a client that may or may not be the death of him.
I am excited to read what happens next!
I mostly read fantasy and romantasy so this book was a bit out of my wheel house and I really enjoyed it!
I flew through the first half of the book, enjoying the hockey element, the intrigue and then 3/4 of the way through I wanted a bit more story, I wanted some more ice hockey, a little more fleshed out about the side characters, and maybe that’s coming in what should be a fun and thrilling series.
Our main character, Michael, former hockey player, now a practicing lawyer, falling into some political intrigue and dragging his wonderful partner Sue in the deep in with him.
Read this book if you love a fun thriller, and a main character that is a solid midwestern guy that is trying his best to move up the ladder in his law firm and gets himself a client that may or may not be the death of him.
I am excited to read what happens next!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The cover drew me in because it’s my home. I rhen read the blurb, which sounded interesting and promised intrigue and a bit of action. I am sorry to say that I didn’t feel it delivered on its potential. I dislike giving a rating of less than three stars unless a book is truly poorly written. This book does not meet that standard, so does not merit less than a three star rating, but I cannot give it more than that. I’m sure that there will be readers who will enjoy this story - unfortunately it missed the mark for me.
February 10, 2026
Michael is a young attorney trying to find his path in a law firm and he accepts to represent a company who is selling goods to Sweden. The goods are overpriced so there'll be money left to pay American soldiers to fight in the Ukraine war against Russia. The story has a lot of espionage, financial deals explanations, and only at the end things become clearer but leaving an opening for the next book in the series which will, hopefully, make the long term plot more transparent.
I thank the author and his publisher for this ARC.
I thank the author and his publisher for this ARC.
February 17, 2026
Well plotted with fun legal twists
The author's legal background slots well and accurately in this tight thriller. And it was fun to see commercial law getting attention instead of criminal law for once! Duluth Minnesota really came alive as its own essential character here - if you know Duluth you'll feel right at home (be sure to wear your Carhart with hoodie layer, you're going to need it). Michael Lund has some hinted-at history and I'm hoping the next in this series explores that and other adventures in Sweden..... and maybe further east?
The author's legal background slots well and accurately in this tight thriller. And it was fun to see commercial law getting attention instead of criminal law for once! Duluth Minnesota really came alive as its own essential character here - if you know Duluth you'll feel right at home (be sure to wear your Carhart with hoodie layer, you're going to need it). Michael Lund has some hinted-at history and I'm hoping the next in this series explores that and other adventures in Sweden..... and maybe further east?
February 17, 2026
The author used just enough detail in describing the characters and amount of dialogue to let me see and get a sense about each one. I pictured the charming yet dangerous Alexei as a Ukrainian Tony Soprano😃!
There were unexpected twists and exciting scenes.
Because Michael has a strong moral compass he goes from being a regular guy to playing a role in the Russian/Ukrainian war.
There were unexpected twists and exciting scenes.
Because Michael has a strong moral compass he goes from being a regular guy to playing a role in the Russian/Ukrainian war.
February 12, 2026
Exciting read.
Very fun read. Hockey, Lake Superior, law, political, intellectual.
Very fun read. Hockey, Lake Superior, law, political, intellectual.
February 8, 2026
Disappointing mess.
CHASING TRUTH IN A HARBOR TOWN - The blurb sounded great but the book did not delivery. Messy writing style, characters going nowhere, and dialog awkward, but may be ethnic. Source: Severn River Publishing and won a GoodReads Giveaway. 2*
CHASING TRUTH IN A HARBOR TOWN - The blurb sounded great but the book did not delivery. Messy writing style, characters going nowhere, and dialog awkward, but may be ethnic. Source: Severn River Publishing and won a GoodReads Giveaway. 2*
Review of advance copy received from Author
The main character, Michael, was written really well. I enjoyed his risk taking. His wife gave a soft depth to the story. The supporting characters helped immerse me into the story. The Russian and Ukrainian aspects added a layer of tension and mystery. The overall plot was super interesting and kept me intrigued the entire time. I’m looking forward to what comes next!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews