Michael crafts compelling thrillers rooted in the authentic Chicago neighborhoods where he grew up. His private detective series plunges readers into the heart of gritty investigations, driven by atmospheric prose and sharp character insight. He masterfully captures the essence of urban settings, making the city itself a central element of the narrative. Beyond fiction, Michael is a respected voice in literary criticism and journalism, bringing a thoughtful perspective to his work.
Homicide detective Daniel Turner was never able to forget the unsolved case: the disappearance of Amon Jakobsen 18 years ago. Now he has returned to the isolated house on Black Hammock Island following reports of a disturbance. Is this his chance to find out what really happened to Amon - and will he be in time to stop history repeating itself?
Summoned to identify the trussed-up, naked body of a woman found amongst a pile of garbage on Blue Avenue, Florida businessman William Byrd recognizes the victim as Belinda Mabry, the girl with whom he spent a passionate summer 25 years before. Determined to find out what happened to the woman he once loved, Byrd must revisit his own troubled past.
Having spent eight years on death row for a crime he didn't commit, Franky Dast now helps others in the same situation. But when he learns that Bill Higby, the detective whose testimony helped convict him, is facing his own murder charge, Franky must decide whether to help the man he loathes, the man who remains convinced of Franky's guilt.