Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Death on the Golden Mile by Caleb Wygal is the third book in the Myrtle Beach Mystery series. Clark Thomas continues to search for answers in the three-year-old case of his wife's murder when a beautiful stranger enters his life with an intriguing invitation. He has the opportunity to dine with a former composer and have a peek into the life of the rich and famous. He accepts the offer out of curiosity without knowing that the composer has other plans for him. The host's paranoia is justified, for when a storm disrupts dinner and traps the guests inside for the night, he winds up dead. The only clues to the identity of the killer are those left behind by the victim. When the tide turns in Clark's direction, he'll have to go on a scavenger hunt to figure out who the real killer is before the storm subsides. His love life sees some potential developments as he's edging toward different dynamics such as with a lovely reporter a decade younger than him and Detective Gina Gomez with whom he shares a definite connection as they are both drawn into the murder.

The storm provides the mystery with an ominous backdrop as it creates an almost locked-room mystery tone with the guests trapped in the house and knowing one of them is the killer. Using the storm, Caleb Wygal creates tension and suspense while putting Clark's investigation under pressure, for when the storm ends the killer will be able to get away. A certain inevitability in Clark's life is that he has developed a tendency to be involved in murder investigations wherever he goes. Several characters impact the mystery as the other guests are also the suspects. The host's daughter has a similar tone as a classic femme fatale as she draws him into murder and is the first suspect. Her role pairs well with the elegance and aesthetic of the rich lifestyle of the Golden Mile. Even the dinner invitation he received has elegant penmanship that immediately gives Clark insight into the mindset of the man that loves puzzles to the point that he leaves clues about who would want him dead. The memory of his wife remains a strong presence within his life as her murder continues to be an ongoing mystery. Every turn he makes, he comes one step closer to an answer with Wygal hinting at more to expect in regards to this mystery. Death on the Golden Mile is suspenseful and intriguing with a satisfying conclusion and a beautiful setting for murder.