Mister Bigmouth

About the Book

What should have been a wonderful anniversary weekend for Irene McKenzie took a tragic turn when she was targeted for a purse snatching by a young man. The crime turned violent as she resisted the robber, who battered her to the ground in an attack that left her comatose for decades. It was a major crime at the time, but the investigation stalled because of less-than-ideal police work. Many years later, after Irene’s death, the local newspaper strangely refused to report her death in anything but a paid obituary from her grieving family. Their obit took a shot at the Sheriff’s Department for being unable or unwilling to solve the crime. The accusation infuriated a politically ambitious sheriff who expects his top investigator, Detective Lieutenant Ida Mae Rollins, to solve a cold case clouded by secrecy, lies and past corruption by the former sheriff. Ida digs for the truth after hearing the appeals of Irene’s grown children, including a son troubled by alcoholism and fears he may have inspired the purse snatching. She finally uncovers a possible reason the newspaper refused to do follow-up news coverage of a purse snatching that turned deadly.

About the Author

Gary Metro was born on the South Side of Chicago and educated at Valparaiso University. He was a journalist for many years, starting as a reporter and rising to positions as Managing Editor for daily newspapers in Wisconsin and Indiana, and as Editor in Chief for dailies in Iowa and Illinois. Gary Metro also wrote popular columns and won many awards for writing and leading newsrooms. He lives in Illinois with his wife and their cats.