Book cover for The Long Fall, a novella from author Bruce Hammack
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The Long Fall

A Smiley and McBlythe Mystery Novella

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Working for the Russian mob never entered the minds of Steve Smiley and Heather McBlythe

It’s been a while since private investigators Smiley and McBlythe had a case to solve. When he was working as a Houston Homicide detective, before he lost his sight, Steve never had to worry about the next case. There was always one waiting.

Judson Witherspoon, a lawyer known to work for a Russian mob family, brings them an interesting proposition: prove his client, Rueben Moscovitch, did not commit The Ice House Murder. Steve has history with the wiley lawyer. He knows what he wants and he never lets truth stand in the way of getting it. Steve and Heather agree to accept the challenging case—and the ten day deadline. Witherspoon vows to find another suspect, guilty or not, if they don’t. Halfway to the deadline their unscrupulous client ups the ante when he kidnaps Heather’s beloved cat. All agreements are off. Smiley and McBlythe now have three days to solve the case if they want to see Max again.

With a list of suspects as long as the Houston ship channel, will Steve and Heather be able to prove Reuben’s innocence in three days? Will they discover the real killer? And most important to Heather, will she ever hold Max again?

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Book cover for Exercise is Murder, a novella from author Bruce Hammack

Exercise is Murder

A Smiley and McBlythe Mystery Novella

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Book cover for The Long Fall, a novella from author Bruce Hammack

The Long Fall

A Smiley and McBlythe Mystery Novella

Purchase

Bruce's Story

Drawing from his extensive background in criminal justice, Bruce Hammack writes modern mysteries in yesterday’s style. When not writing, he enjoys reading a good whodunit mystery, watching film noir movies and travel. Having lived in eighteen cities around the world during his life, Bruce now lives in the Texas hill country with his wife of thirty-plus years.

Photo of author, Bruce Hammack

Contact Bruce

Bruce Hammack

Bruce Hammack is an author living in Central Texas. He enjoys writing good, clean stories with vibrant characters, snappy dialogue and serpentine plots. He is currently hard at work on the Smiley and McBlythe Mystery series.

Bruce's Story

Being raised the son of an Air Force pilot must have instilled a love for travel in Bruce Hammack. At last count he’s lived in eighteen towns or cities across the country and overseas. This wanderlust has resulted in exposures to interesting places and people that have a habit of showing up in his who-done-its. Bruce’s first paid writing gig came in the form of a twenty-five dollar savings bond. After waiting until the due-date of the civics assignment, he propped himself up in bed at first light, unsheathed his trusty blue Bic pen and shot from the hip. The Lions Club of his small Texas town thought the essay deserved printing in the local newspaper. The English teacher that edited the essay may still be shaking her head in disbelief.

The next major stop for Bruce was college and graduate school in the piney woods of east Texas. He followed this with a twenty-three-year career in his chosen field, Criminal Justice. A series of mini-careers in ministry, manufacturing and sales followed, along with the desire to write good, clean stories with vibrant characters, snappy dialogue and serpentine plots.

When not writing, Bruce enjoys film noir movies, well-written mysteries, a quiver full of children, even more grandchildren, travel and his wife of over thirty years. He tolerates an aging gray cat with a missing front fang and a sketchy attitude.

Contact Bruce