Tag: Erik Hanberg

Guest Post: Author Erik Hanberg

I am pleased to be able to provide you with the following guest post by the author of The Saints Go Dying and The Marinara Murders, Erik Hanberg.

Why would a city government ever own a restaurant? In 2002, in my hometown of Tacoma, our city found itself in that unusual situation.

It started when the city government was clearing a block of old buildings downtown to make way for a new convention center, and they paid each business to move elsewhere.

One of those long-time businesses, Bimbo’s of Tacoma (really, that was its name) was famous for its meat sauce, with a secret recipe no one knew.

The owner of Bimbo’s decided part way through the process that instead of letting the city move him, he would just rather take the money they would have spent moving him and retire.

The City paid him and suddenly found itself in position of all the assets of the restaurant—the equipment, the pots, and the secret recipe to the meat sauce.

I don’t want to give away much more, but when the real world hands you such a rich story to start with, I knew I had a great story for The Marinara Murders, which—nine years later—I’m happy to say is finally available.

The Marinara Murders: A grown man living in his mother’s basement, disgraced detective Arthur Beautyman knows his life has fallen off a cliff. But that doesn’t mean he has to be happy about his mother’s solution to his woes: volunteering him to solve a case for her favorite bridge partner. Oh, and to make matters worse, she wants to be his partner on the case as well …

Erik Hanberg blogs at erikhanberg.com and is on twitter at @erikhanberg. He is an elected official, serving as a commissioner with the Metro Parks Tacoma.



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Book 238: THE MARINARA MURDERS Review

Arthur Beautyman is back (Arthur made his initial appearance in The Saint’s Go Dying). Unfortunately he’s no longer a police officer. Arthur is living in the basement of his mother’s house in Minneapolis. For six months he has felt sorry for himself and done basically nothing. But now he’s been forced to accept a case as a private investigator on behalf of one his mother’s friends in The Marinara Murders by Erik Hanberg.

Fortunately for Arthur this is not a typical case. Mrs. Diamond doesn’t want Arthur to find a murderer; she only wants to discover where her grandson has been for the past three years. Why is this so important? Because her grandson was declared dead three years ago but his body only recently discovered revealing he had just died. Arthur doesn’t want to disappoint his mother so he accepts the case. What follows is a wild and topsy-turvy but fast-paced ride along with Arthur as he investigates Jakes’ disappearance. Little does Arthur know that this investigation will place him in dangerous situations and reveal more intrigue and possible murders from the past.

Arthur is slightly more comical, not as obsessed, and just a tad more likeable in The Marinara Murders. Seeing him work with and around his mother is at times funny as well as sad. The cast of characters in The Marinara Murders is eclectic to say the least, and includes the Diamond family (can we say dysfunctional), Detective Holst, members of Hmong community and more. This was a quick, but great read filled with a little humor, some drama and plenty of suspense. The Marinara Murders has just been released, so don’t hesitate to get a copy today . . . you will not be disappointed.



Disclaimer: I received this book free for review purposes from the author. I was not paid, required or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book 166: THE SAINTS GO DYING Review

A serial murderer is on the loose in the City of Angels, Los Angeles. Unfortunately this murderer clearly aligns himself with evil and is out to kill people that do good or “saints” in Erik Hanberg’s The Saints Go Dying.


Deputy Arthur Beautyman is the lead investigator and coordinator on the case. He is literally being overseen by the entire city thanks to a local television program called ‘Watchdog.’ Beautyman is definitely not a Hollywood or LA version of an investigator. He’s rather short, has graying hair, and has an “average” pockmarked face. This is a case of Beautyman versus the beast, the serial killer. After fourteen months and numerous murders there isn’t even a viable suspect, or is there? Is the killer really that good or is the Sheriff’s department that inept? That is what ‘Watchdog’ would have everyone believe but is it true? Beautyman has his hands full juggling the investigation, public backlash and the ever-increasing popularity of the ‘Watchdog’ series. 


Mr. Hanberg has provided a nicely written suspense in The Saints Go Dying. The characters and the action are very believable, or at least until the end. I found the ending a bit far-fetched but fiction doesn’t have to mirror reality. The Saints Go Dying is a quick read that packs a suspense-filled punch to the end.


Disclaimer: I received this book free for review purposes from the author. I was not paid, required or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”