Donald Harstad, a 26-year police veteran, has firsthand knowledge of small town police departments. This background enables him to create the authentic details, realistic dialogue, and suspenseful twists in Known Dead. Deputy Sheriff Carl Houseman is dozing in his cruiser near parklands in Nation County, Iowa when he hears popping sounds. Immediately, his radio screams to life with a call for assistance. What started as a simple raid on a marijuana patch has erupted into high-power gunfire. As the air clears, two men are known dead. But who was firing, and what else are they protecting? Houseman will find few heroes as he follows a convoluted trail that leads from the marijuana plants to an elusive international operator. By the time the case is closed, "known dead" has taken on a new meaning for him. Ron McLarty's dramatic narration highlights Houseman's increasingly ironic attitude toward life and his profession.
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"Iowa, that place where nothing happens. Unless you read Donald Harstad's good mystery series about Deputy Sheriff Carl Houseman. This time around we are confronted with a cover operation of marijuana agriculture. The real bad guys are an underground militia. "
— Mary (4 out of 5 stars)
“A complicated little conundrum of a plot that keeps Houseman, the Feds, and the reader guessing all the way through…An author who knows his territory.”
— New York Times“Harstad…advances the scary (and perversely entertaining) notion that people are just as cuckoo in the heartland as they are in the wicked city.”
— New York Times Book Review“Instantly propels him into the top ranks of mystery writers.”
— Booklist“Hardcore procedural fans will find Carl's second case authentically…realistic.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Ron McLarty nicely vivifies the characters, keeps the action moving, and best, of all, makes the mind work fascinating.”
— AudioFile" This book grips you from the first, a roller-coaster of action. Strong, in your face characters. I love the main character, realistic, solid and a great sense of humor. Every deputy should be him. "
— Minda, 5/24/2013" Not as good as his first one was. "
— Jane, 5/6/2013" Not as good as other Harstad books "
— Paul, 4/19/2013" Iowa, that place where nothing happens. Unless you read Donald Harstad's good mystery series about Deputy Sheriff Carl Houseman. This time around we are confronted with a cover operation of marijuana agriculture. The real bad guys are an underground militia. "
— Mary, 10/22/2012" Wish he would write some more! "
— Mary, 10/12/2012" Love Donald's books. Very suspenseful, great moving stories and awesome writing. "
— Teri, 8/27/2012" Awesome mystery set near my hometown. Love it. "
— Andrea, 3/9/2012" I love this series and wish for me. Every book is solid and Known Dead is no different. Give this series a shot if you love mystery series. "
— Bobbi, 1/2/2012" What a great book, being from Iowa, I knew right where the events were happening. Can't wait to read another one of his books! "
— Susan, 12/3/2011" I love Donald's books he is an amazing author. I did feel like this one took a while to finish. It moved a little slow but it was still a good book. "
— Catherine, 1/8/2011" A decent crime novel set in rural Iowa. Easy to read, and entertaining enough. "
— Jeremy, 8/24/2010" What a great book, being from Iowa, I knew right where the events were happening. Can't wait to read another one of his books! "
— Susan, 5/1/2010" Awesome mystery set near my hometown. Love it. "
— Andrea, 8/14/2009" A decent crime novel set in rural Iowa. Easy to read, and entertaining enough. "
— Jeremy, 8/12/2009" Wish he would write some more! "
— Mary, 3/6/2009" Harstad, Donald-KNOWN DEAD-G+- <br/>2nd novel, getting better, less dry, Iowa police procedural "
— LJ, 9/15/2007Donald Harstad is a twenty-six-year veteran of the Clayton County Sheriff’s Department in northeastern Iowa, and the author of the acclaimed novels Eleven Days and Known Dead. He lives with his wife, Mary, in Elkader, Iowa.
Ron McLarty is a veteran actor of television, film, and stage as well as an award-winning audiobook narrator. He has more than 100 television appearances to his credit, including as a series regular on Spencer for Hire and Law & Order. His film career began in 1977 with a performance in The Sentinel and continued with such films as The Postman, Flamingo Kid, and, most recently, How Do You Know? His stage credits include Broadway and other productions. He has narrated more than 100 audiobooks, earning nine Earphones Awards and recognition by AudioFile magazine as a Best Voice in Mystery & Suspense in 2009 and 2010. He has twice been a finalist for the prestigious Audie Awards and then won the award in 2001 for Best Mystery Narration. He is also an accomplished playwright and an acclaimed novelist.