Kate Reilly sought to join a racing team full time as a driver in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). She had filled in for other drivers a couple of times during the past few years and wanted to gain a permanent ride of her own. Upon her arrival at the Lime Rock Park track the Friday night before a big race, she literally stumbled upon the body of Wade Becker, a long time driver for the Sandham Swift Racing Team.

When Jack Sandham, owner of the team, asked Kate to take Wade’s place that weekend with the possibility of a permanent position if she did well, she not only jumped at the chance, but also to the top of the list of suspects likely to have abruptly ended Wade’s career.

As Kate prepared to race the Corvette, she tried to stay focused on her big chance to permanently join one of the top teams on the circuit. In the meantime she also tried to find out who killed Wade so she could clear her own name. In spite of warnings to leave well enough alone – from Jack and from Detective Jolley, the stern and intimidating chief investigator - Kate searched for clues as to who really committed the crime.

There were plenty of clues and a long list of people who were not fans of the popular driver, a fan favorite. A surprised Kate was openly welcomed to the track by a large number of race drivers and crew members.

The stakes were high – both for Kate personally and for her new team. Kate struggled to figure out who she could trust as she maneuvered her way through the tangled web of rumors, lies and betrayals while speeding towards the finish line in an effort to fulfill her long time dream.

Dead Man’s Switch, the debut novel of new mystery writer Tammy Kaehler, is off to a roaring start. After years of technical writing, Tammy decided to try her hand at fiction with great success. She had also gained an intimate knowledge of the racing world over the years which show in the vivid detail of her first offering.

Kaehler has crafted a fine mystery immersed in the high-speed racing world that will keep readers on the edge of their seat. This is the first in the Kate Reilly Racing series and new fans of the author will appreciate she is working on the next installment.

A special thank you goes to Poisoned Pen Press for providing a complimentary copy of this book for our review. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Dead Man’s Switch, it is available at Amazon.com.