Mac McClellan was honing his fly fishing skills in the waters of St. George Bay when he snagged what turned out to be a human leg. Recently retired from the U.S. Marine Corps, McClellan was enjoying his vacation until the horrible discovery. He contacted the marina where he had rented the boat, and employee, Kate Bell, contacted the Fish and Wild Life Department.

Because of the condition of the body and the fact that Mac had been in the area the past week, County Sheriff Bo Pickron told him to stick around. Mac’s knife was also found at the scene. In the meantime, Mac started up a friendship with the feisty and outspoken Kate.

Later Mac met with Benjamin Merritt, St. George’s Chief of Police, to see if he had any information regarding the body that was found. The next day Mac received a phone call warning him to stay out of the water. Then one of the tires on his pickup was slashed. Shortly after that marijuana was found on his boat. There was no doubt in Mac’s mind that someone was trying to set him up.

When the body was finally identified, the inhabitants of the small town were shocked. The death particularly affected several main players personally and the investigation took on an added emotional tone that led to a whole new set of questions as to who would have committed the murder and why set up Mac.

Deadly Catch, a Mac McClellan Mystery, was written by E. Michael Helms. The author of The Proud Bastards, a memoir of Vietnam, and of the two-part Civil War saga Of Blood and Brothers, has crafted a superb mystery. The fast-paced novel kept pages turning as more bodies were found.

The characters are well formed and add to the story. The twists keep the suspense going strong in this novel full of lies and betrayals. Helm’s attention to detail adds to the atmosphere of the Florida Panhandle and the inhabitants whose lives are turned upside down because of the murder.

Deadly Catch is a superb mystery thriller and a great first offering for a new series. Thankfully, more Mac McClellan stories are on the way.

A special thank you goes to Seventh Street Books for providing a complimentary copy for our review. If you are interested in purchasing your own copy, Deadly Catch is available at Amazon.com.