In Death on the Golden Mile, Clark Thomas, bookstore owner and lover of puzzles and mysteries, does it again – finds himself in the middle of a murder scene, but this time it happens in the middle of a tornado. After a dinner invitation from a famous Hollywood music composer, Clark finds himself trying to figure out which of the family members or dinner guests murdered the composer before dinner while tropical storm Karen brought a tornado with her to the upscale neighborhood of the Golden Mile, part of the Myrtle Beach area.

At first, things look pretty cut and dried, but, all is not as it seems. As Clark looks over the house and questions the family members and guests, he begins to wonder who the real murderer may be.

Caleb Wygal did a great job setting up this mystery and creating the possible suspects. As the reader follows Clark on the murderer’s trail, questions arise and there are several people who could have had a motive for murder. Mr. Wygal takes his readers to several Myrtle Beach businesses as Clark investigates this murder and, at times, the reader is on the edge of their seats as Clark may be in danger or is faced with an angry suspect who may threaten him.

I also read and reviewed Mr. Wygal’s first “Myrtle Beach Mystery”, Death on the Boardwalk, which was a good read. You can read my review of Book One here. However, as all writers know, the more books they write, the better their books become. Therefore, in my opinion, Mr. Wygal has done a better job of creating his cast of characters and setting up an intense murder scene. He’s even improved his unofficial detective, Clark Thomas, who inherited his love of mysteries from his mother. In Death on the Boardwalk, Clark sought out his mom’s help in regard to his thoughts on who committed the murder whereas, in Death on the Golden Mile, though Clark does talk to his mother about it on one occasion, he actually solves the case without further discussion with his mom.

Instead, he’s actually out on what seems to be his first date with Officer Gomez of the Myrtle Beach Police Department. At an art gallery, Clark discovers information about one of the murder suspects, and it isn’t long before he puts everything together and solves the case.

If you enjoy murder mysteries that are free of profanity and grisly details and you enjoy trying to help the amateur detective solve the case, or trying to solve it before the amateur detective, you’ll enjoy Death on the Golden Mile by Caleb Wygal.

I did read Death on the Golden Mile before reading Book 2 of the “Myrtle Beach Mysteries” series, and though I missed some of Clark’s personal story and some of his interactions with Gomez and her partner, Moody, I didn’t miss anything that made me feel lost or confused while reading Death on the Golden Mile. However, I definitely want to go back and read Book 2: Death Washes Ashore, as well as the rest of the “Myrtle Beach Mysteries” series because I have come to love Myrtle Beach and I enjoy trying to figure out whodunnit before Clark Thomas does. I also would suggest reading the series in order.

I give Death on the Golden Mile by Caleb Wygal 5 stars.