Dean L Hovey – författare

When Hagstrom's bait store burns down, arson rumors fly among the residents of Whistling Pines senior living facility. When Peter Rogers, the recreation director speaks with residents he discovers there have been numerous suspicious business fires over the years. Torn between two sets of Halloween preparations and the arson investigation, Peter finds himself drafted as an unwilling judge for Two Harbors Halloween competitions, while the police chief forges ahead with the arson investigation. What is alpaca bingo? Will the Rube Goldberg cannons actually launch a pumpkin without killing anyone? Will Peter survive a night of surveillance with the fire chief?

When Roger Bartlett doesn't return from his deer stand at sunset, his friends go looking for him. Failing to find him overnight, a broader search starts the next morning, led by the Pine County Sheriff's Department.  Sgt. C.J. Jensen discovers footprints leading to a remote summer cabin. Inside, she finds Bartlett, dead from a gunshot wound. The investigation quickly focuses on Barlett's tire recapping business in the tiny town of Askov. The workers, all parolees from the nearby Federal Prison, are wary of the interviewing deputies, and are less than forthcoming. Roger's widow seems upset, but she is the biggest beneficiary of Bartlett's death, so a prime suspect. His partner was in Las Vegas at the time of the shooting, but his past criminal record is suspicious. As Sgt. C.J. Jensen and Investigator Pam Conrad dig, they develop a long list of suspects, all with alibis for the time of the shooting. Consulting with recently retired Sgt. Floyd Swenson, Pam and C.J. sift through layers of lies and misdirection until they uncover the motive and confront the killer.

When human remains are found at the Vore Buffalo Jump, the short-staffed local sheriff's department requests assistance from Park Service Investigators Doug and Jill Fletcher. ATV tracks lead the investigators to the victim's boots and a hunting blind constructed on the edge of the Black Hills National Forest. With more questions than answers the Fletchers find themselves pulled into the community dynamics of tiny Aladdin (population 15) where the café and general store are the hub of information for the county. The surprising identification of the victim only opens more questions about him, and his connection to the location of his murder. When the Fletchers follow up on the few leads provided by John Doe's identification, they unwittingly open a can of worms.

When the body of a missing cheerleader is found in a ditch, the local police turn the investigation over to the Pine County sheriff's department, fearing that the girl's relationship with the son of a local politician could compromise their objectivity.Upon arriving at the scene, Sergeant CJ Jensen quickly finds herself embroiled in the politics of the girl's murder and kidnapping. Calling in Pam Ryan to assist with the investigation, the two veteran officers dig into the girl's obvious relationship with the politician's son. While the boyfriend's shaky alibi seems paper thin, their interviews with the victim's friends have them questioning other aspects of her life. A missing laptop computer piques their interest, making them think the murderer's motive may be buried in her on-line activities. Editorial Reviews There is drama, humor and compassion blended perfectly. – Linda J.I don't know how you keep coming up with these great tales, they're intriguing, scary, funny and hold my attention... Can't wait for another story in Pine County. -Kathy W-B Enjoyed the twists and turns of this mystery and I learned something new. The officers of pine County are interesting characters and they work together to solve three murders. Two young bodies and a tax collector have little in common. Finding the small thread takes time and energy. This is an enjoyable book and well-written. - Janet W. Mr Hovey keeps the facts of an investigation very accurate and the characters highly enjoyable. My wife frequently asks what I'm chuckling about. – Greg P.

Ranger Grace Watanabe discovers fellow Ranger Erik (Red) Petersen's dead body tangled in the barbed wire at the Manzanar National Historic Site entrance. The local sheriff's department quickly decides the death is related to a Mexican cartel who use the nearby highway to smuggle drugs. Park Service Investigators Doug and Jill Fletcher look for a more obscure motive by focusing on other groups who might be unhappy with the Manzanar site. Finding no obvious suspects or motives, they step back and realize the victim was targeted for an entirely different reason. Editorial ReviewSusan Davis EditorI have been hooked on author Dean L. Hovey's "e;Doug Fletcher Mysteries"e; since book one. Each mystery has a plot life of its own, and each of the characters plays their individual roles perfectly, so much so that the stars, Doug and Jill Fletcher (and Jamie Ballard in this book), become friends with the reader. The settings that Doug and Jill find themselves in are not just descriptive, but also vivid and authentic, adding a layer of realism to the narrative. They are the investigators from the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch sent wherever they are needed, and they are exceptional at investigations and finding the truth. My expectations have always been met in Hovey's mysteries…and I look forward to where the Fletcher's will be sent next and what will unfold is always a surprise. Series Editorial ReviewsIn Western Justice, the reader is introduced to Doug and Jill Fletcher, National Park Service investigators… I like using Historical and National parks not only for a backdrop of the story, but also as a character in itself. Doug and Jill soon learn the identity of a murder victim, opening it up for more unusual suspects and intriguing characters. The story line has a great depth to it, and the characters have interesting traits, flaws and personality. This story lands the reader in Vore Buffalo Jump National Historical site, and it's a dump job for the victim. A very unpredictable story, my favorite kind! This book is both thrilling and intriguing, all the way to the end. Western Justice is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews.