Grim Paradise - by Rod Sadler (Paperback)

About the Book

Could a 1960 murder on Michigan's Mackinac Island finally be solved with new information and forensic science, or is it too little, too late?

Book Synopsis

When widow Frances Lacey was murdered in July 1960 on Mackinac Island, only a few meager clues were found by police, and the case soon turned cold. But more than seventy years later, will those same clues finally solve the mystery?

On July 24, 1960, the quaint charm and serenity of Mackinac, nestled between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas, was shattered by Lacey's brutal death. Despite a massive manhunt and thousands of pages of police reports, her killer was never caught.

Now, in GRIM PARADISE, true crime author Rod Sadler (Killing Women) delves into the secrets of one of Michigan's most perplexing murder cases. Offering an in-depth and suspenseful account of the long-standing mystery, he poses the question:

Find out in GRIM PARADISE: The Cold Case Search for the Mackinac Island Killer.

Review Quotes

"In GRIM PARADISE: The Cold Case Search for the Mackinac Island Killer, Rod Sadler does what he does best, giving the reader an in-depth, inside look into the investigation of the murder of widow and mother Frances Lacey at one of Michigan's most beloved vacation spots. Sadler's background in law enforcement allows him to write about crime with true attention to detail. Here, Sadler gives us so much more than a glimpse at a horrific tragedy that shouldn't be forgotten. It's an engrossing read."

-RACHEL GRECO, Lansing State Journal

"Leaning on his background in law enforcement, [Sadler] examines the 1960 investigation into the death of Frances Lacey through a modern-day lens, reigniting hope that Mackinac Island's only unsolved murder might be solvable yet. This one's a must-read!"

-JENN CARPENTER, author of The Cereal Killer Chronicles of Battle Creek and Haunted Lansing

"Rod Sadler, seasoned retired police officer and now best-selling author, has applied his thirty years of law enforcement experience to the unsolved murder of Frances Lacey to try and discover the truth. GRIM PARADISE creates a suspenseful, page-turning account of this 63-year-old mystery, including some of Mackinac Island's deepest secrets. Sadler brings the reader hope for solving this brutal murder with the possibility that the same advanced DNA technology that recently solved the Golden State Killer case might now solve the Lacey murder." -ALAN R. WARREN, NBC News Radio, Los Angeles, and Best-selling Author

"Things like this aren't supposed to happen on Mackinac Island. Rod Sadler's access to the actual police file regarding the murder of Frances Lacey adds much to this sad story, and as a retired police officer, his methodological 'investigation of the investigation' and reporting of this crime are second to none." -DEB MALEWSKI, Historian and Researcher, Contributing Writer, Community News

"[Sadler] humanizes Frances Lacey and focuses the investigation on those suspects who may have been responsible for her death. Throughout, the cast of witnesses and investigators are prominently featured, weaving an intricate web of mystery, and illustrating the impact of Lacey's death on so many... Grim Paradise is a compelling story and a tribute to the life of Frances Lacey... Though there is no shortage of suspects, some are more likely than others, Sadler is careful to maintain the objectivity of an investigator. -KAREN HOLT, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University

"GRIM PARADISE is a concise narrative and draws the reader in the investigative arena. It's well written and spellbinding while providing the true anatomy of a cold care homicide investigation. A terrific read." -WM. LENAGHAN, Mackinac Island Chief of Police (ret.), Cold Case Investigator