Book Review: "Murder at the Courthouse" by A.H. Gabhart

"Murder at the Courthouse" by A.H. Gabhart is the first book of "The Hidden Springs Mysteries".
Michael Keane left his job as a police officer in Columbus to come home to Hidden Springs where nothing eventful ever happens. That is until a body turns up on the steps of the the courthouse. As he investigates, Michael realizes things aren't always what they seem.

I found the book to be well written and I liked Michael and his desire to help Anthony Blake, the "problem child" of the town. I had a feeling who the murderer was at the beginning of the book and as the story progressed, more and more of that person's actions confirmed my suspicions until the big "reveal" and I was right. I prefer to not be able to figure out the mystery (at least not as soon). There also was not very much of a romantic element like I thought there'd be. Michael is sort of dating a woman named Karen, but what put me off was that Karen was a pastor. I believe that pastors should be men. There were a couple of kisses in the book and some hand holding. I also found the back blurb to be wrong. It says that the "sheriff insists Michael check out one of the harebrained theories", but in the book, Michael just follows a hunch/gut feeling and it didn't have anything to do with what the sheriff said or told him to do.

"Murder at the Courthouse" is available in paperback:

• Series: The Hidden Springs Mysteries (Book 1)
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Revell (October 20, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800726766
• ISBN-13: 978-0800726768
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches

Kindle edition:

• File Size: 4778 KB
• Print Length: 338 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0800726766
• Publisher: Revell (October 13, 2015)
• Publication Date: October 13, 2015
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00XNJGRPM

and hardcover:

• Series: Hidden Springs Mystery
• Hardcover: 500 pages
• Publisher: Center Point Pub; Lrg edition (December 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1628997966
• ISBN-13: 978-1628997965

I received a free copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any way and all thoughts and opinions are my own.