Rumors, suspicions and fierce dance steps coalesce in the shadow of imminent danger.
Competitive Dance. The very notion may conjure images of glittering reality television contestants performing their hearts out to an enthusiastic audience and a few piquant judges set in place to either crush dreams or make them come true. Kick Ball Slay features all the theatrics, tears, motion and drama of primetime television, but with a sinister, murderous twist. A pattern is emerging among a string of deaths at dance conferences and Detective Evann Myrick has been tasked with the investigation. While Myrick’s talents make him a natural fit to investigate any murder, his aversion to dance makes these West Coast Swing murders an unusual challenge. With the help of gossip-loving event coordinator Ellen Cromwel, Myrick begins to assess the situation with all the practiced and clinical professionalism of a courtroom litigator. As he sizes up the crime scene and potential suspects, Ellen and the dancers realize that nobody will be above this diligent detective’s scrutiny. Myrick has to work fast, though, as the murder spree won’t end at the Silver Moose Lodge in Colorado Springs.
Like a classic detective mystery from some bygone era, Doug Dorsey tantalizes readers with a diverse and equally culpable array of suspects, allowing plenty of opportunity for home-sleuthing alongside the book’s protagonist. To lighten things up, sly humor adorns the pages and is apparent in everything from the cheeky cover to the detective’s dry sense of humor. If you’re new to the world of competitive dance or West Coast Swing, digging into these homicides will be a fun learning curve that is filled with plenty of tucks, rolls and partner changes, all guided by the ever-calm and level-headed Evann Myrick. The author’s diverse knowledge of the intricacies and cultural norms surrounding both dance and law enforcement adds a level of sophistication to an already nuanced and multi-layered story. A worthy entry in the Christian-fiction genre, Kick Ball Slay weaves scripture into the plot cleverly, seamlessly and without ostentation, making this novel approachable to readers of any background. Rumors, suspicions and fierce dance steps coalesce in the shadow of imminent danger in Kick Ball Slay: An Introduction to West Coast Swing… and a Murder Mystery.
