Smiley and McBlythe Series by Bruce Hammack

How does a blind man solve a murder? Former Houston homicide detective Steve Smiley is faced with a dilemma. His college roommate, attorney Ned Logan, is found at the bottom of his exercise pool. The cops think it’s an accident. Steve’s instinct tells him it’s not. But how to prove it? He needs eyes…and a driver. Heather McBlythe is starting over, again. She’s hoping she will be able to make it through the Police Academy and start her new life before her father’s minions find her... moreHow does a blind man solve a murder? Former Houston homicide detective Steve Smiley is faced with a dilemma. His college roommate, attorney Ned Logan, is found at the bottom of his exercise pool. The cops think it’s an accident. Steve’s instinct tells him it’s not. But how to prove it? He needs eyes…and a driver. Heather McBlythe is starting over, again. She’s hoping she will be able to make it through the Police Academy and start her new life before her father’s minions find her. She meets Steve Smiley, an instructor at the Academy, and he presents an interesting proposition to her. When her father’s long arm of influence gets her kicked out of the Academy, Heather needs a place to hide. Smiley’s unorthodox proposition is the perfect answer. Smiley and McBlythe team up to investigate the murder of Ned Logan. At every turn in the road, they unearth another secret. Who has motive enough for murder? Ned’s wife? His children? The business partner? When the killer takes a shot at Steve, they know they’re getting close. Can they unravel the myriad of secrets before the killer strikes again? less

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells…Rifle Shells? Blind private investigator Steve Smiley and his partner, Heather McBlythe, hear a rifle shot. Hordes of Christmas shoppers scatter. A famous big-game hunter drops to the sidewalk. They grab the beautiful teen who was arguing with the camo-clad man and flee to safety. The girl is Bella, the adopted daughter of the victim and a celebrity in her own right... moreJingle Bells, Jingle Bells…Rifle Shells? Blind private investigator Steve Smiley and his partner, Heather McBlythe, hear a rifle shot. Hordes of Christmas shoppers scatter. A famous big-game hunter drops to the sidewalk. They grab the beautiful teen who was arguing with the camo-clad man and flee to safety. The girl is Bella, the adopted daughter of the victim and a celebrity in her own right. She shows no emotion over the murder, but plenty of passion accompanies her only request: find her real parents. Smiley and McBlythe agree to try. Strangely, their search intertwines with the murder investigation of Bella’s adopted father again and again—and also uncovers a shocking secret. Like it or not, Smiley and McBlythe must first identify the killer in order to discover the truth about Bella’s adoption. Suspects line up like Santa’s reindeer. An ex-wife, disgruntled former employees and an animal rights activist make up the shortlist of people with motives. Can the determined investigators tie a ribbon on the case? Will Bella have the best Christmas ever—or will death and heartache be the only presents under the tree?You’ll love this page-turning mystery—it has more twists and turns than stripes on a candy cane. less

Steve isn’t celebrating Christmas…he’s trying to survive it.Blind PI Steve Smiley loathes Christmas—too many memories. When his partner secures an invitation for them to teach at a mystery writers’ conference in Miami, what promises to be a welcome early December escape turns into a tidal wave of mysteries to solve.Steve and Heather walk into the midst of a raging civil war between two factions of the writers’ group... moreSteve isn’t celebrating Christmas…he’s trying to survive it.Blind PI Steve Smiley loathes Christmas—too many memories. When his partner secures an invitation for them to teach at a mystery writers’ conference in Miami, what promises to be a welcome early December escape turns into a tidal wave of mysteries to solve.Steve and Heather walk into the midst of a raging civil war between two factions of the writers’ group. When they agree to locate a missing author slated to be the next organization president, they find themselves plunged into the midst of the battle. Before they can solve that mystery, another one lands at their feet, along with a dead body. With more than a thousand mystery writers watching, Steve’s reputation is on the line. He and Heather make a plan to unravel the mysteries and expose the murderer. But the killer has a plan too. Steve’s no longer worried about enduring another lonely Christmas…this year he just wants to survive it. less

An inheritance worth millions. A killer with a list…and Smiley’s on it.A phone call from out of the blue leads blind PI Steve Smiley to become executor of a large Texas estate—one which includes the last undeveloped lakefront property in the state. While the sheriff is hunting for the rancher’s killer, a second death occurs. The ranch foreman is found murdered. Someone is intent on getting their hands on that property. Any of the four siblings could be guilty of one, or both, of the murders... moreAn inheritance worth millions. A killer with a list…and Smiley’s on it.A phone call from out of the blue leads blind PI Steve Smiley to become executor of a large Texas estate—one which includes the last undeveloped lakefront property in the state. While the sheriff is hunting for the rancher’s killer, a second death occurs. The ranch foreman is found murdered. Someone is intent on getting their hands on that property. Any of the four siblings could be guilty of one, or both, of the murders. There’s no love lost in the dysfunctional family. But which one wanted the land bad enough to kill for it? Or was it a conspiracy? Steve and his partner Heather are hired to find out who killed the ranch foreman. They unearth a long-buried family secret that could solve the mystery, but will it also lead to more killing? A person desperate not to be discovered attacks Heather. Steve needs to stop the killer or the next funeral could be his. less