Mind Trap - (A Clay Wolfe / Port Essex Mystery) by Matt Cost (Paperback)

About the Book

Something evil is lurking in the streets of Port Essex, Maine. A missing girl. Violent attacks. It is up to Clay Wolfe, his partner Baylee Baker, and a colorful assortment of friends to get to the bottom of it all.

Book Synopsis

"You say your daughter is missing?" Clay Wolfe asked. The man in front of him was slightly disheveled. Red eyes. Fear creased his features.

What is the End Game?

It was as close to ecstasy as the woman had ever been in her life. It was enlightenment. She was no longer Martha Abbott. She was a warrior of Marduk engaged in a war of purity.

What is going to happen on Leap Day?

"We have allowed sin to fill our homes, and it is our divine labor to cleanse that filth from our streets." Marduk's voice boomed through the cavernous temple.

Something evil is lurking in the streets of Port Essex. A missing girl. Violent attacks. It is up to Private Investigator Clay Wolfe, his partner Baylee Baker, and a colorful assortment of friends to get to the bottom of these odious occurrences before it is too late. Mind Trap is a thrilling ride set in a small Maine town with rich characters and shocking plot twists that will keep the reader rapt within the pages.

Review Quotes

Advance praise for MIND TRAP:

"Matt Cost's Mind Trap pits former homicide detective turned private investigator Clay Wolfe against a dangerous cult leader in the town of Port Essex, Maine. Wolfe and his band of amateur sleuths are the only things standing between Marduk, the embodiment of evil and self-proclaimed son of God, and the townsfolk. Mind Trap is a twisted and chilling tale of control and manipulation. The ultimate 'what if' on steroids."

-Bruce Robert Coffin, award-winning author of the Detective Byron Mysteries

"...an absorbing read. It's not only filled with twists and turns that will delight murder mystery fans, but adds psychological insights that will attract readers who look for depth in their stories. It's a top recommendation for prior fans, but stands nicely alone for newcomers. Mind Trap deserves a spot in any collection strong in murder mystery writing."

-D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

Critical Acclaim for Matt Cost:

"Set on the midcoast of Maine, Wolfe Trap introduces us to an eccentric and interesting cast of characters in this first installment in the Port Essex Mystery series. This gripping plot moves with lightning speed until its explosive and thrilling conclusion. Here we have murder, drug-smuggling lobstermen, art theft, and budding romance. Despite our hero's hard-drinking and prolific womanizing, Clay Wolfe is a sympathetic and likable character. Cost's jam-packed plot should appeal to all lovers of private detective fiction. I eagerly look forward to next book in this series."

-Joseph Souza, acclaimed author of The Perfect Daughter

"In Mainely Power, things get very complicated very fast. I settled in with the colorful cast of this midcoast tale and felt that pang that good crime fiction gives you-you bear down on the resolution with the reservation that part of you doesn't want the story to end. And when it does, you hope there's a bookstore in Brunswick where you can find Goff Langdon and a cup of coffee and go over the story yet again."

- Gerry Boyle, author of the Jack McMorrow Mysteries, on his choice of Mainely Power

for The Maine Humanities Council Read ME Book Selection

"My first impression on beginning to read the new mystery novel, Mainely Power, was this: Boston has Robert B. Parker and Maine has M. Langdon Cost.... Parker's hero, Spenser, has his dog, the memorable Pearl, and Cost's hero has his four-footed companion, Coffee Dog. Beyond that, Cost... has crafted a private detective, Goff Langdon, whom Spenser might well meet for a few beers if a big-city case brought him to town.... Langdon is backed by a varied band of friends, male and female, who give real life to the book. Seldom has a mystery focused on men given better, stronger portraits of women than Cost gives of women in this book."

-Maine Sunday Telegram

"Very engaging, kind of quirky and descriptive without actually using too many words. The characters are amazing - you get a real sense for who they are and the way they interact gives great colour to the whole plot. The setting was perfect for both the characters and the story. I really enjoyed this and recommend it for people who enjoy traditional 'small town' mysteries."

-Louise Gray for NetGalley, 5 Star Review, on Mainely Power