Death on a Budget Book

Emerson Ward, a freelance writer wants to marry his girlfriend Nell but she is not sure. She leaves to care for her sick mother, taking their daughter, Emily with her. As he has some free time, Emerson decides to help his childhood friend, Meg who has called with something she wants him to check out. He jumps in his motor home and heads back to his hometown.

Emerson soon finds himself involved in trying to figure out why his best friend and Meg's brother, Lou has killed himself. There is a huge commercial real estate project that Lou was involved in that went under causing many of the town people to lose money. Was Lou's death really a suicide?

Being back in his hometown brings a flood of memories back to Emerson and he is confronted again with his father, Frank who still leaves there. When his motor home is blown up, Emerson realizes someone doesn't want him to dig any further. Frank suggests Emerson stay with him and he does. This brings back even more memories of his family, not all good but in the process he learns more about his father and himself.

The motor home blowing up doesn't stop him and Emerson believes that the new real estate project is a scam. There are many people involved. When another local man is found dead, Emerson knows he is on to something and calls his friend Brandt to come help. They hardly get started when the FBI shows up. Emerson and Brandt convince the FBI that their plan will work to bring the main backer of the scam to light.

This mystery was a page turner that had well developed and interesting characters. You see Ward growing throughout this book as he goes back to his hometown and is confronted with his past. He comes to understand why he left and what he really wants in life. The sub plot of his relationship with his girlfriend and daughter is effectively woven throughout the book. This is the first Emerson Ward mystery I have read but Michael W. Sherer has written others in this series which I look forward to reading.