Fun fall reads by Michigan authors

Whether this time of year gives you the urge to get your spook on, dive into a mystery, or just curl up with an easy read, Michigan authors have got you covered.

Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses by Dianna Stampfler

If you’ve ever talked with one of the volunteer lighthouse keepers at a beacon around our state, then chances are high that they’ve told you a ghost story. In some cases, it’s a legend from long ago, and in others, it’s a story from an experience they had the night before!

Former keepers like Captain Townshend at Seul Choix Point and prankster John Herman at Waugoshance Shoal, maintain their watch long after death. At White River Light Station in Whitehall, Sarah Robinson still keeps a clean and tidy house, and a mysterious young girl at the Marquette Harbor Lighthouse seeks out other companions. Countless spirits remain between Whitefish Point and Point Iroquois in an area well known for its many tragic shipwrecks.

Author Dianna Stampfler invites you to go on a wild and spooky ride with her, through the haunted lore of Michigan’s ghostly beacons.

The Ghosts of Detroit by Donald Levin

Award-winning writer, Donald Levin is perhaps best known for a series of mysteries surrounding Martin Preuss. However, this latest effort goes in a new direction.

While the title might seem like it’s another tale of hauntings, it’s not, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a haunting tale. Set in Detroit in 1955, it explores the lives of four shattered souls, as they navigate a turbulent time that includes factory closings, racial hatred, and even the Communist threat, known then as the Red Scare.

This compelling novel follows Jewish WWII veteran Jake Lieberman as he struggles to live with the hours of war that he witnessed, especially in the extermination camps of Europe. Then there’s gifted artist Malone Coleman, who battles racism and betrayal. Meanwhile, Anna Miller, a caretaker, grapples with ghosts from her past. Amidst it all, Bridget McManus of the Detroit Police Department, is searching for a serial child-killer. Readers follow the foursome on an unforgettable journey through the forces that shaped mid-century America.

The Witch of Delray by Karen Dybis

If you prefer your gripping stories to be more of the true crime variety, then pick up this stirring read by Karen Dybis. She has spent decades as a reporter in Metro Detroit, and has a passion for telling historic, and true stories. This one goes all the way back back to 1931.

The Motor City at that time, like much of America, was overrun with political scandals, rumrunners, and mobs. The architecture was alluring and industrial jobs had been plentiful, so the population was in a boom. Then, enter the Great Depression. Tensions grew, and they spilled over into the investigation of a mysterious murder at the boardinghouse of Hungarian immigrant Rose Veres.

Amid accusations of witchcraft, Rose and her son Bill were convicted of the brutal killing. They were also suspected in a dozen more. Their cries of innocence went unheeded–until one lawyer, determined to seek justice, took on the case. The twists and turns of this shocking story will keep you guessing.

The Secret of Snow by Viola Shipman

Well, it’s no secret that snow is coming. For some that means hitting the slopes, and for others it means hitting the sofa, hopefully with a comforting fire and an equally comforting read. Viola Shipman books are perfect in that regard. A USA Today best seller, this novel will get you in the mood for the holidays to come.

The aptly-named protagonist, Sonny Dunes, is replaced from her job as a Southern California meteorologist, and forced to reluctantly return to her Michigan roots. After years of sunny, perfect temperature days, she reacclimates to the colder climate of Northern Michigan, and its lake-effect snow. The climate isn’t the only thing that’s colder. She must confront her past, which includes a mortal frenemy, the death of her younger sister, and the mother who prompted her to leave in the first place.

To distract herself, Sonny decides to fully embrace winter, including plenty of activities and events, culminating with the town’s famed Winter Ice Sculpture Contest. Running the events is a widowed father and chamber of commerce director, whose genuine love of Michigan, winter and Sonny just might thaw her heart and restart her life in a way she never could have predicted.

Please remember to purchase your books from directly from the author, or from an independent Michigan bookstore.