The Detroit Electric Scheme: A Mystery

Dan Johnson’s excellent murder mystery thriller is expertly woven into the fledgling automotive industry centered in Detroit. The year is 1910 and Will Anderson, heir to the Anderson Carriage Company, finds his former friend cut in half by a hydraulic roof press. He was supposed to meet John Cooper, now his ex-girlfriend Elizabeth’s fiancé, at his father’s plant. His former friend wanted to speak to Will concerning Elizabeth’s welfare. To his horror, John Cooper is the murdered man under the press. This begins Will’s frantic search for the killer through both the rich and seedy sides of Detroit. All the while, Will is being chased as the prime suspect by a brutal Irish detective, named Riordan. Both Will and Elizabeth have a dark secret that most people don’t know, which has precipitated Will’s drinking problem. Once accused of the murder, Will is persona non grata in Detroit’s nouveau riche automobile society. Yet, he is befriended by two unlikely characters. One is young Edsel Ford, a college student, and the other is Will’s apartment neighbor, Wesley McRae, who is a fighting musician. The chameleon changing color of suspects makes the read fast paced along with the ever-present bullying of Will and his friend by the Dodge brothers. One surprising thing Dan Johnson brings out in his history-based mystery thriller is that the Anderson Carriage Company has manufactured an electric car, which gets 211 miles to the charge. Thomas Edison has developed a long-life battery that is used in the Anderson Carriage Company’s electric car (we need another Thomas Edison today). The reader won’t want to put this book down and will be shockingly surprised at the very end when the real murder is revealed. Hopefully the readers will see a sequel of the trials and tribulations of Will Anderson.This book is an easy five star rating.

Being from Detroit with a family in the auto industry, I truly enjoyed this well-written mystery. Its details recalled the sounds, smells, and mayhem that were all a part of the ole' Motor City. The realistic plot with its entangled web of police, mobsters, union busters, labor unrest, and managerial posturing lend credence to a provocative tale. Can't wait for the sequel. J.P. Miller. Cambridge, MA

I absolutely loved this book! I have never been much of a reader because of my work schedule and my lack of patience but this book intrigued me because of my love for cars and mysteries. I could not put this book down! The characters were interesting and believable. The main character, Will Anderson, was sort of a pathetic drunk yet I found myself rooting for him to get out of the terrible mess he was in. It is obvious the author carefully researched the time period and the car industry. I found it fascinating. The murder mystery was complex but not confusing. I was caught by complete surprise at the end of the story as to who the killer was. I can't wait for Johnson's next book to be available. I highly recommend The Detroit Electric Scheme.