title: Big Sick Heart: A Detectives Seagate and Miner Mystery
author:  Mike Markel 
description: <i>Big Sick Heart</i> is the first volume in the Detectives Seagate and Miner Mystery series. It is narrated by Detective Karen Seagate, who is forty years old and hasn't confronted her alcoholism. She is divorced and has recently lost custody of her teenage son due to a sexual indiscretion on the job. She and the chief, who restricts his police work to undercover surveillance at the topless bars, hate each other. Counting down the months until his retirement, he awaits an opportunity to fire her. Now she finds herself partnered with Ryan Miner, a cheerful and depressingly well-adjusted young Mormon just promoted from the uniform ranks. She realizes she's never going to understand this guy, let alone like him. <br><br>In creating Karen Seagate, I tried to define a character who is intelligent but spiritually adrift. She no longer understands who she is or even what she wants, and she frequently says and does things that complicate her life and the lives of those who work with her. Amid a series of personal and professional setbacks that culminate with a drunk-driving accident that seriously injures a young girl, she tries to stay focused on the case: the murder of an odious, corrupt evangelical leader.<br><br>Detective Karen Seagate is foul-mouthed, cynical, rude, depressed, and insubordinate. She lies constantly and assumes that most of what people say is untrue. She expects nothing good to happen to her and is rarely surprised. Really, there would be no good reason for anyone to want to have anything to do with her--that is, if she were not extremely good at figuring out which liar is also a killer.<br><br><i>Big Sick Heart</i> was awarded the Book of the Month award from Pacific Book Review in 2010, when it was first published.<br><br>Here are some reviews from Amazon readers:<br><br>"Oh! I have found a new character series to read. I adore Detective Seagate. The woman has problems like you would not believe--but she gets the bad guys anyway. One of the best lines in the book, "Honey, I'm home," and she cuddles her bottle of whiskey. So, now you know her major flaw. You'll like her anyway. Her sidekick, Miner, is a Mormon--straight as broom stick and funny. Best part, there are two more books in the series already published. No waiting!"<br><br>"As someone who really enjoys crime fiction, I found <i>Big Sick Heart</i> to be excellent. It was a fast read (probably because I couldn't put it down) with a very interesting story line. More than that, though, I finished the book and immediately went to see if the author had written a sequel. I feel like I 'know' Karen Seagate (with all of her demons) and Ryan Milner well enough now to want to see them together again. This book will not disappoint you!"<br><br>"<i>Big Sick Heart</i> sets the stage for what should be a great ride for fans of detective stories. With a new and appealing cast of characters, this series looks to be a winner."
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  Stakeout
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Roger Stelljes
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Roger Stelljes (2017)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  **_NEW RELEASE - SHORT STORY_**
  
  
  
  
  
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  **In a daring and high stakes heist worth millions, one man narrowly escapes
  capture.** Now his past could jeopardize his future as detectives piece
  together a web of clues.
  
  
  
  
  
  A rare coin collection worth millions was stolen and the thief is gone without
  a trace. Detective Mac McRyan and Detective Lich join forces to stakeout
  suspects and solve a few of Mac's problems along the way. Dick is in rare form
  with his classic crude and obnoxious humor to work the case with Mac in... A
  Case From The Dick Files.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # STAKEOUT
  
  
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  _A Case From The Dick Files_
  
  
    
  
  
  _(McRyan Mystery Series – Spinoff Episode)_
  
  
  
  
  
  by
  
  
  ### Roger Stelljes
  
  
  
  
  
  **STAKEOUT – A Case From The Dick Files**
  
  
  (McRyan Mystery Series – Spinoff Episode)
  
  
  
  
  
  **Copyright © 2