Straw Man

"Rolland Schmidt was a good man at heart, but even good people make mistakes. Some mistakes are gone and forgotten in an instant, while others stick with you for life - no matter how short that life may be."

When Marcus Schmidt discovers his estranged brother is missing he quickly returns to the Midwest, determined to find him. What he uncovers instead is a side of Rolland that he never knew, someone deeply involved in a Mexican drug war that threatens to explode into a blood bath across the Yucatan Peninsula.

Now Marcus must not only find Rolland but stop the impending carnage as well. Searching for answers he travels to Mexico and the only true family he has. But the war is much closer to him than he suspects, and he quickly finds that no one is above suspicion – not even the family he loves.

From California to the Midwest to the Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá, Marcus quickly learns that he must watch his back…or he’ll be the next victim in Mexico’s brutal drug war.

With its intense action, romance, and plot twists, Straw Man is guaranteed to keep you riveted to the surprising end.

Being a lover of the mystery / thriller genres I've always been captivated by writers such as Dick Francis, Eric Ambler, and Randy Wayne White.

For the most part my protagonists are average people caught up in events outside their control, forcing them to overcome their own shortcomings in order to succeed...or survive.

Reading should be fun and pleasurable. When you finish one of my books I hope you breathe a deep, satisfied sigh, and wish there were just a few more pages.

On a personal note, I'm blessed with a wonderful family, my lovely wife Lisa of 30 years, and three terrific kids, Nikki, Aaron, and Ian. I'm quite fond of British soccer, and a die-hard Fulham football fan. In my free time I enjoy running and biking, working out, and in an oxymoronic twist, fine cigars. My wife and I love traveling here and abroad and seeing the world, which is why my stories tend to gravitate outside of the U.S.

If you have a minute and have enjoyed Straw Man, please head over to Amazon or Goodreads and give a quick review - it would be much appreciated! And feel free to drop me a line at david.kettlehake@gmail.com.