Happily Managing a Household of Boys: JustRead Tours Blog Tour: Magic City Murder by Bruck Hammack

Friday, September 25, 2026

JustRead Tours Blog Tour: Magic City Murder by Bruck Hammack

Magic City Murder JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Magic City Murder by Bruce Hammack, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Title: Magic City Murder
Series: Smiley and McBlythe Mystery Series #16
Author: Bruce Hammack
Publisher: Jubilee Publishing
Release Date: August 6, 2026
Genre: Mystery / Private Detective

A missing husband. A murdered journalist. A city where everyone has something to hide.

Blind former Houston homicide detective Steve Smiley and his partner Heather McBlythe take on what looks like a straightforward case: track down a missing husband so his estranged wife can finally file for divorce.

The simple case turns deadly when the body of the woman the husband has been living with is found in a Miami canal. She wasn't just the missing man's companion — she was an investigative journalist silenced before her story could see the light of day.

As Smiley and McBlythe dig deeper, they uncover a trail of political corruption and cartel money that someone powerful is determined to keep hidden. With a growing list of suspects, a city full of secrets, and a killer working in the shadows, Smiley must sort through the tangle of lies before whoever is cleaning up loose ends decides Smiley's next.

Pick up your copy of Magic City Murder today and follow Smiley and McBlythe from Houston to Miami as they chase down a missing husband and a killer who's running out of places to hide. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie-style whodunits who love clever plots, professional detective work, and clean reads without the gore, violence, or explicit content.

Mystery and Suspense novels are a genre that always intrigue me. Magic City Murder by Bruck Hammack is Book 16 in the Smiley and McBlythe Mystery Series. Bruce Hammack has written many books, although he is a new to me author. I had never read any of his book until I read this book. I felt this book read well as a Stand Alone Book, it flows great without having read other books in the series.

WOW, I absolutely LOVE when a book begins with a lot of action and continues throughout the book. The main characters in this book are Steve Smiley and Heather McBlythe. Steve is Blind and was a Homicide Detective for many years. He now has his own Private Investigator company along with his partner Heather McBlythe. Steve and Heather take on a new case, tracking down the estranged husband of Steve's friend Kate. Kate wants to serve him with Divorce Papers, but it seems he is missing. The case takes an unexpected turn when they now have a Homicide case as well as the Missing Person case. The mistress of the estranged husband was found deceased in a body of water in Miami, and the estranged husband is believed to be in another country. I LOVE the Determination of Steve and Heather throughout the book, especially when the scope of their investigation widens. Steve and Heather are a GREAT TEAM, along with Steve's Service Dog. The storyline is ACTION packed, has Humor intertwined in the storyline, and the characters personalities are a wonderful aspect to the story. I was very engrossed in the book from beginning to end. I am anxious to read the entire book series. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Mystery and Suspense. WONDERFUL BOOK!

More in This Series

Bruce Hammack, a native Texan, began his professional writing career in the tenth grade when the local Rotary Club sponsored a writing contest for students in civics class. To the amazement of students and teachers alike, he won the prize of a twenty-five-dollar savings bond.

After retiring from a career in criminal justice, Bruce picked up the proverbial pen again. He now draws on his extensive background with law enforcement (and criminals) to write contemporary, clean read detective and crime mysteries.

An avid Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes fan, Bruce firmly believes the world can’t have enough whodunits. When not writing, he enjoys travel, classic whodunits and a quiver full of children and grandchildren. Having lived in eighteen cities around the US and the world, he now makes his home in the Texas Hill Country with his wife of thirty-plus years.

Connect with Bruce by visiting brucehammack.com to follow him on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.

(3) winners will each receive a signed paperback copy of Magic City Murder, a Smiley And McBlythe bookmark, a Reading Log, and book lover stickers!

Magic City Murder blog tour giveaway JustRead Tours

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 23, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 30, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!