Fractures

Detectives Seagate and Miner Mysteries #5

by Mike Markel

The fracking boom in eastern Montana has minted a handful of new millionaires and one Lee Rossman, the president of Rossman Mining and the leading philanthropist in the small city of Rawlings. Rossman was the last person Detectives Seagate and Miner expected to discover dead in the alley next to a strip club. His marriage was a formality, but both he and his wife, Florence, were discreet. He was involved with a dancer at the club; his wife, with Lee's oldest and most trusted friend, Ron Eberly, a landman who always seemed short of funds. Rossman's business enemies, all from outside the family, included a group of ranchers who held him personally responsible for the methane in their water, as well as a radical environmentalist at the university who was forthright in explaining to Seagate and Miner how she planned to put Rossman out of business for good. When Lee's son is found out at the rigs, with significant internal injuries, numerous broken bones, and a belly full of fracking liquid, the detectives know the two crimes are related but can't figure out how. In their toughest case yet, Seagate and Miner try to solve a mystery awash in enormous fortunes, thwarted ambitions, and grudges both old and new.

Genres: Mystery, Ebooks, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

303 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 19, 2015

About the author

I am the author of eight books in the Detectives Seagate and Miner Mystery series: Big Sick Heart, Deviations, The Broken Saint, Three-Ways, Fractures, The Reveal, Players, and Swerve. For more information, please visit my site: http://mikemarkel.com.

I'm looking forward to meeting people on Goodreads.

Reviews

[Donadee's Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen and her partner are back again this time with a murder of an oilman. This gets really complicated when his son also get beat up and they pour fracking material down his throat. Karen and Ryan not only have to fight the freezing weather they have to think outside of the box to find the killer and solve the mystery of why his son was attacked.
What did I like? I love the main characters; they have a beautiful working relationship. Karen has her faults and she is working really hard to overcome them. Being a cop is really important to her and she respects the boundaries that it puts on her. Her partner is the loveable family man that respects the privacy of his partner but looks after her wellbeing.
What will you like? A well written fifth book in a series that continues with the awesome police officers, Karen Seagate and Ryan Miner in Rawlings, Montana trying to solve the murder of one of the towns leading citizens. Working against the weather and small town living that sometimes adds problems for them. The author knows how to really draw out the problems and shows how the characters can work well with even the worst of leads even to work out of the box if need be. He makes them human so that anyone can connect with them. If you want to read a great mystery series check out Mike Markel’s books. I have read all of them and each one has been better that the last. I understand that he does intend to continue the series and I can’t wait till the next one comes out.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fractures: A Detectives Seagate and Miner Mystery by Mike Markel

Set in Montana Lee Rossman is the president of Rossman Mining in the small city of Rawlings. He found dead in an alley, murdered. Married to a much younger second wife, he also has a son from his first marriage and a lot of enemies outside of his family.

While the suspect list grows, his son is nearly killed. Seagate and Miner know the two cases are somehow connected. But who is behind this and why? The suspect list is high, many people have a motive. They won't stop until they solve this difficult case.

A fast paced murder/mystery. I really Liked Seagate, she is flawed with a past that she must struggle to accept daily. Miner a Mormon, makes for an unlikely partner but they work so well together. He is very likable as well. The story was original, fresh, intense and at times humorous. All the makings of a perfect who-done-it.

Just when I thought I had it figured out a new plot development kept me guessing. I love that in a murder mystery. I highly recommend Fractures: A Detectives Seagate and Miner Mystery to those who love a great murder/mystery. A fantastic five star read!

[Tulay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good story.

Subject of this book will always be on the news and we will be dealing with it long long time. Injection of the dirty water from gas wells known fact that causes earthquake, I live with it, refused to sign a lease, but seven wells around me. Author wrote fast moving, good page turner. This was the first book I read from this author, will be reading all his books. Like the strong woman character, but her one downfall is alcohol, hope she'll handle this sickness. Ryan is good friend and partner to have. Very good mystery/thriller, must be read.

[Robin Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

By Book 5 of this series, Karen has been off the Jack Daniels for more than a year, “with just a couple of blurry days here and there.” She and Ryan have been detective partners for two years, and their characters, as well as the relationship between them, are/is becoming more complex and engrossing. Their very different approaches – as well as their tolerance and appreciation of each other - tell us a lot about how different people handle the pressures of life in the 21st century, and that is as interesting as following their progress through the case they happen to be handling.
Mike Markel’s writing is evocative, excellent, and intriguing. “The movie theatre, its bright bulbs illuminating the lobby posters and the V-shaped white marquee extending out over the sidewalk, offered the only attraction in the frozen purple night.” “Lee Rossman turned left on Harrison and drove slowly toward the grittier section of downtown, where the storefronts cowered behind steel accordion gates.” “What did it mean, Lee Rossman thought, that he was summoned here? At nine-thirty on a Sunday night?”
It isn’t easy to write as well as Mike Markel does. It takes a great deal of research – of places, procedures and terminology – consistently to produce the credible detail that enables the reader to suspend disbelief. It takes empathy, social and psychological awareness, a dry sense of humour and painful honesty. This isn’t simply a murder mystery. It’s a murder mystery that highlights important environmental issues and makes the reader think about the efficacy of different strategies for combatting global pollution “in a conservative state like Montana, where the zeitgeist favors extractive industries.” It’s about fractures on different, complicated levels.
The author doesn’t go for the easy option of each interview or each action on the part of one or other of the detectives yielding a solid clue that enables them to make a brilliant deduction and take a significant stride in solving the crime. This isn’t Holmes and Watson. This is down-to-earth, worldly-wise, dogged, patient, policework: confronting everyone involved, sifting through the maze of fractured lives, half-truths, convincing alibis and almost infinite variety of plausible scenarios in the hope of breaking down someone’s defences. The detectives follow hunches, they lie about what they know or don’t know in the hope of short-circuiting a cumbersome procedure or getting a possible suspect to trust them enough to let their guard down. Following their progress – or lack of it – reminded me of tackling a tough sudoku. For quite some time, there may not apparently be a way forward; and yet you just know that somewhere in that morass of possibilities is one deduction that will enable you to take one or two further steps towards an eventual tipping point, when you have enough information to wrap the situation up in pretty short order.
I read this book almost at a sitting (I was on a long flight from Cancun to Manchester) and was gripped and entertained throughout. I do think that the author began this series well and got better and better.

[Joy York · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Mike Markel. I love detective series and his Detective Seagate and Miner Mysteries caught my interest. I was not disappointed. Karen Seagate is an experienced detective. She is a recovering alcoholic who is cynical, unfiltered, flawed, but loyal. Ryan Miner, her partner, is a young, well-adjusted family man who is good-natured, intelligent, and supportive. This team, with totally opposite personalities and outlooks, works like a charm. Their banter is sharp witted, sarcastic, and fun. This is book 5 in the series, so I can imagine it took some bumps in the road to get there, but they are magic and a perfect balance to the other’s strengths. This makes them extremely effective in solving crimes.

Lee Rossman is a highly respected and well-like billionaire oilman. He is found dead in the alley outside a seedy strip club. It doesn’t take long for Karen and Ryan to determine not everyone was a fan of the wealthy oilman, despite his philanthropic giving. The Montana ranchers who have leased their land for fracking are convinced their water and land are being contaminated. Some radical environmentalists are also suspects in this investigation. The subject was well research, and I personally learned a lot on the subject which is very timely.

There are many layers to be peeled back in this mystery as things heat up, but this detective duo does an amazing job of uncovering them. The plot is well-paced and keeps the reader interested and guessing. The style is raw and gritty. There are plenty twists of and surprises. Karen and Ryan are so well-tuned, they know exactly who needs to lead and who should step back and observe. It is an unspoken dynamic between them that is natural and does not breed jealously. Only mutual respect.

I truly enjoyed this mystery series and plan on exploring more books by Mike Markel.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fracking boom in eastern Montana has minted a handful of new millionaires : Lee Rossman, the president of Rossman Mining and the leading philanthropist in the small city of Rawlings. Rossman is the last person Detectives Seagate and Miner expected to discover dead in the alley next to a strip club. Later, when Lee's son is found out at the rigs, with significant internal injuries, numerous broken bones, and a belly full of fracking liquid, the detectives know the two crimes are related but can't figure out how.
Book is a fast-paced read with several unexpected twists involving multiple suspects encountered by the detectives. Good beach mystery novel.

[Gene Archdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This another great bok

Detectives Seagate and Mine catch a murder case involving he President of a oil company. Th case takes them all over Montana. Along the way the presidents son is best up and a nother person is murdered. He case takes twists and gets solved. A good book could by our it down.

[Lesley Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder Mystery

Just a good, old fashioned murder mystery. Even though it seems to be a part of a series, it's a great stand alone read. Would I read other books in this series? Definitely! Do I feel as though I need to in order to finish the story? Absolutely NOT!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The oil industry and the fracking boom have made Lee Rossman very successful with a lot of money. So Seagate and Miner are confused when his body is found outside a strip joint. So what secrets will they find when they start their investigation.
Another good and enjoyable well-written mystery

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read

It was a little slow for me, but still a decent story. I think it could have used a little more action.

[Joanie Hinton]

Really like this series I hope the writer keeps writing more of this duo's stories I like the set up of each in the series where the murder takes place right away and then the story develops to the ending

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

What does it take to write a mystery series with legs? The plot of each individual story has to be good, but just as (maybe more) important is a solid foundation among the recurring characters. As I’ve read and reviewed previous books in the Seagate and Miner series I’m always struck by how good these characters are. Karen Seagate, a recovering alcoholic with lots of life experience (and more than her share of past mistakes to live down) stands in perfect contrast to her partner, Ryan Miner, a goody two-shoes, Mormon family man. They could easily clash, but instead form a perfect partnership with their differences making the team that much stronger. It seems I can’t rave about them enough.  There are also subsidiary characters, primarily the police chief and a district attorney, both of them strengthening that strong foundation.

Reflecting on past books in the series, much of the plot could have taken place almost anywhere with only a minor few changes. What sets Fractures apart from the others is that it couldn’t have. Set against the backdrop of fracking, a controversial procedure to extract oil and gas from the ground, this story could only happen in a few specific places, one of them Eastern Montana where Seagate and Miner are based. Proponents of the procedure point to the immense positive economic impact and opponents counter with concerns around increased seismic activity and environmental impact. The stakes are high and makes it an excellent and credible backdrop for a murder mystery. Markel has another winner on his hands.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

[Lynn Hallbrooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in the Detective Seagate and Miner Mystery series. I must admit that I love the characters of Karen Seagate and Ryan Miner as written by Mike Markel.

To me this is a Police Procedural

This time Detectives Seagate and Miner are called to an alley scene where they see a nicely dressed older gentlemen. The frozen body doesn't reveal much. The investigation leads them into the world of Fracking vs. Ecology. The problem seems to be that most people even his opponents seemed to have really liked this guy. So who left his body to the elements on a frigid November night in Rawlings, Montana?

For most of the series, Karen Seagate tells the story as she sees it, adding the personal touches. She even shares her inner turmoil. Maybe that's why I feel that she is so real.

Warning: This book is for Mature Audiences due to violence, adult language, and sexual situations.

[Daniel Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Seagate and Miner Mystery

One of the best things about this series is that Mike has steadily improved in his story telling ability with each book. I started reading the series when I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. When I say that Mr. Mariel has improved his story telling with each book, I am referring to the fact that his character development, story and plot development and his editing have gotten stronger. He now tells us more about the people in the story without over telling the main character’s stories in must read manner. One of the best things about this series is that there is a completed wrapup, that is often found in inexperienced authors. Sometimes the writer just seems to end the chapter and in that same sentence, ended the book. Another 5 star story from a five star author.

[Georgiann Hennelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fractures is set in Montana. Lee Rossman is the President of Rossman mining in the city of Rawlings. When he is found murdered in an alley. He was married to a much younger second wife, he has a son from his first marriage and a lot of enemies. As the suspect list grows the son is nearly killed Seagate and Miner know the two cases are connected somehow. But who is behind this and why? The suspect list is long many people have a motive. Seagate and Miner won't stop till they solve this case. A fast paced murder mystery. I liked Seagate she has a flawed past that she struggles with daily. Miner is a Mormon but they work well together. A very orginal story humorous at times but also intense. A perfect who done it story.

[Brittany | BrittanyIsBooked · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite picking up a book that is part of a series, I honestly did not feel like there was any information that I was missing. The book started out slowly, in fact a little more slowly than I would have liked, but all of a sudden there was a lot happening that I actually had to put the book down and think about the goings on and happenings to stay caught up. I felt like there was a lot of dialogue in the book; definitely more than average. This both helped paint a clear image of what was happening, but I think it took away from the explanations and the fun of a reader trying to figure out the mystery themselves. Because of the pure dialogue you only know exactly what the detectives know, whereas I usually like a little bit more. Otherwise, great mystery and a good book.

[Sheila Carsins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well Written.

Well written, but for a story that should've promoted more emotions, like sympathy, or fear, or some kind of empathy with some of the characters, it left me cold...totally indifferent, and disconnected from the characters lives, or problems. Technically, the story is methodical, well planned, and perfectly feasible and flawless in the writing and telling of the events. I won't recommend reading it, because the only reason I that I read all of it was to find out the ending. It fell flat. Even the ending felt anticlimactic, It would probably be perfect for a movie script, it already has that feel to it.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received Fractures for an honest review. I enjoyed it very much! Detectives Seagate and Miner are as different as night and day, yet they work together to solve the case. This one is about an oil company owner who gets killed behind a strip club, in the middle of winter,in the middle of all kinds of trash in the alley....as one can imagine. The case becomes more complex as the detectives keep questioning more and more people. I enjoyed this murder mystery very well and liked the ending also. Not what I was expecting, but very satisfied with it. Check it out for yourself.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seagate and Miner

The Fractures was even better than the first four in the series. It seems the author Mike Markel just does his characters a service by making them more human and believable in every book. The detectives are tenacious in working the homicide cases to bring an ending to the family and especially the perpetrator. Read the series and you'll find how well Detectives Seagate and Minder grow as partners and in their lives for the better.

[Joe Vitucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

i learned a little more about fracking. the world isn't always as it seems. I detective with a drinking problem. a second wife my h younger than her husband. Wow that's a different twist. a successful oilman with half a conscious, cheating on his wife, who cheats on him. a son learning the I'll business from the hard side. I'm a little sarcastic, but it did hold my interest all the way until the end.

[Will Decker · Rating 1 out of 5]

For a book with more dialogue than action, it holds your interest, which is the sign of great writing. I never felt rushed to finish it, like some with more action that have you on the edge of your seat, but I always looked forward to picking it up again after setting it down. There were a few editing boo-boos, but nothing that detracts from the fine writing style of this author. If you're looking for a good, well-written detective mystery, Markel never disappoints.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 5th book in the series and another great easy read. It caught my attention from the first page to the last. Miner and Seagate catch another murder case and are called out to the scene which is an alley behind a stripper bar. The guy turns out to be the owner of Rossman Mining company which is in the fracking business. Now we along with the detectives have to follow the clues to find out who wanted him dead. This is a quick and easy read.

[Carlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best of the series so far. I enjoyed reading the 5 books all in a row. The characters became much more fleshed out, and even Karen became more sympathetic as she struggled to maintain her sobriety. The mystery was gripping in part because the issue of fracking's impact on the environment is so important and current. I look forward to the publication of book #6.

[Jbaes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A TipTop Read

Well plotted, paced and put together. Topical for the huge impact tracking has had on the energy situation in the US and educational for relating the environmental questions that have been raised. I love learning something along with my entertainment. What more need I say, if you like a well crafted mystery, read it.

[Kristina Trawick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

I have read the first five books of the series to date, but this is the only review I've written. Well written stories with believable characters. I think each book is good as a standalone story, but I recommend reading them all, in order, for a better feeling of character development. Can't wait for #6!

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad....kinda moved along but I kept waiting for the lady's personality to come to the forefront and it never did for me. I'm writing this a few weeks after reading it and finding it difficult to remember anything memorable about it. That about says it all.

[Lexie Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book packed with action and mystery that kept you on your toes with each chapter. Who is behind all of this and just when you think you have it figured out that person ends up dead...Enjoyed the writing style as well so I will be checking out other books by Mike Markel.

[Beth Lechman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Detective Seagate, a recovering alcoholic and her partner Detective Miner are investigating a murder of an oil tycoon. They have few leads to follow and seem to be pulled n several different directions. The more they investigate the more secrets they seem to uncover.

[Bonnie Hunsaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just keeps getting better

Partners learning to get along and grow. Fast paced and good story line. Believable characters. Mystery lovers will like this

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery.