The Santa Alvera Murders

Woman in dark catacombs using her phone camera for light.

The Santa Alvera Murders is a genre-bending modern pulp mystery/thriller that blends elements of classic detective fiction, high-stakes thrillers, and just a touch of science fiction into a fresh, cohesive form. It delivers the excitement of 1930s pulp fiction, but with modern character development and cultural sensibilities. The story follows our protagonist, Patti, who arrives on the island hoping for a vacation filled with live music, daiquiris, and great food. Her relaxation is short-lived, however, when she becomes entangled in the murder of a famous street magician. As Patti begins to unravel the case through the island's twisted, tourist-filled streets, it soon becomes clear that she's not quite who we think she is.

Half of a woman's face combined with half of a skull.

Reviews for the Santa Alvera Murders:

★★★★★ A Real Page Turner!

This was a wonderful read, pulling you in to a world of magic, mystery and murder. I really enjoyed the cast of intriguing characters and setting as the backdrop for this who-done-it thriller. Like a good magician, the author keeps you guessing (and second guessing!) what is real and what is well honed slight of hand up until the very end. A hard one to put down once you start!

Stewart Ellyson

★★★★★ Exciting Story I hope there's a sequel!

What a fun book! This novel was exciting from the get go and hard to put down. Cool setting, great characters, and a gripping story. If there's a sequel I will be buying it!

AmazonFanZach

★★★★★ Fun read!

Creative page-turner! New twist on the classic mystery.

Gina Passarelli

★★★★★ Worth the loss of sleep - a great read!

I really enjoyed this book! Much different from the books I normally read. It captivated my interest a few pages in and was one of those binge reads because I couldn't put it down. I would love to read another book by this author in the future. Love the idea of a sequel!

Jennifer Erdman

★★★★★ Smart, Stylish, and Impossible to Put Down

I am an avid reader of mystery novels, and this book is an absolute delight from beginning to end. I found myself engrossed in its narrative for an extended period. Brett Marlo's vivid portrayal of the setting, the development of intriguing characters, and the masterful fusion of mystery and suspense are all exceptional. If you like mysteries with atmosphere, brains, and a bit of bite, this is a must-read.

Yogita D

★★★★★ Exciting Story and must read

Brett Marlo's The Santa Alvera Murders is a riveting crime and mystery novel that entertains with its pulse-pounding suspense and richly emotional narrative. Set in the evocatively crafted city of Sant Alvera, the story unfolds in a world so vividly described that it feels as tangible as the pages in your hands. Marlo's Sant Alvera feels alive, its streets, dark alleys, and pulsing neon lights crafted with such vivid authenticity that we are pulled straight into its moody, atmospheric world.

The Santa Alvera Murders is an essential read for mystery enthusiasts.

NAMRATHA

♥♥♥♥♥ Damn you Brett Marlo!

Damn you Brett Marlo! I had a rather large list of things to accomplish today, but your amazing book kept me from all of them! I was truly drawn into the story, even though this is not what I would consider to be one of my favorite genres! Congrats on a job well done! Loved it!!

Ann E.

Chapter 1

Shadows. It was the shadows that caught Patti's attention—ethereal forms dancing amongst the crowded shops and back alleys of the Muralla district. Neon lights, flickering gas lanterns, and the headlights of passing cars induced all manner of elongated and fantastic projections throughout the twisting Santa Alvera streets. There was something about them that made her uneasy. As she walked past a bright coffee shop doorway and back into darkness, her brown eyes glimpsed one shadow in particular—one less elongated, more human than the rest—one that exhibited a motion less random than it was purposeful. As she turned her head toward the shadow, it retreated instantly back into the void, where it remained just beyond her perception, elusive. She told herself it was her overactive subconscious playing tricks again, for it had certainly done so before. But periodically, just around the time she had convinced herself there was nothing to it, she’d catch another dark movement off to the side somewhere, on a rooftop, or in a doorway, and she would start to wonder all over again: Am I being followed?

The silhouette of a woman standing at the doorway of a dark room having just fired a gun.