The Footloose Killer by Michelle L. Johnson, a Mysterious Review.

Review: Detectives Lexi Sawyer and Morgan Pryce struggle to solve the strange case of a severed foot that washes ashore, an annual event that has occurred for the past eight years just prior to the start of tourist season, in The Footloose Killer, the first "Virginia Beach Murder Mystery" by Michelle L. Johnson.

There are few clues that will help the detectives identify the person to whom the foot had once belonged or — and possibly more importantly — to the person responsible. Forensics has established that the foot, severed at the ankle, was cut off post mortem. A body has never been found and missing persons reports have been inconclusive. Over the years there have been no suspects. Lexi and Morgan are being pressured by their Commanding Officer to find a solution to identify the guilty person — or persons. The media, not surprisingly, is unrelenting in their news reporting. The Mayor is demanding an arrest. Somebody must know something. Finally the detectives get a lead, with information somewhat incongruously pointing to a local talk show host. More evidence is needed before they can even try to bring him in for questioning, but without a body the detectives are at a loss as to what it might be.

The whodunit-style murder mystery in The Footloose Killer is a compelling one, strange to the point of being unbelievable yet probably inspired, in part, by a real case involving eight feet that washed ashore in British Columbia in 2008. The storyline balances the investigation with the personal lives of the detectives, giving depth to their characters. This book is subtitled a "Virginia Beach Murder Mystery", hence it is not clear whether or not the next in the series will feature these same characters or simply be set in the same location; it would be good to see Lexi and Morgan return for another case, though.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of The Footloose Killer.

Acknowledgment: the author provided a copy of The Footloose Killer for this review.

The Footloose Killer

A Virginia Beach Murder Mystery by Michelle L. Johnson