My debut
novel, Voices of the Elysian Fields, released in May 2025. I
participated in new author programs at Malice Domestic, Thriller Fest, Killer
Nashville, and Bouchercon 2025. And the novel received nominations for an
Agatha at Malice Domestic 2026 and an Anthony at Bouchercon 2026.
Wow—and Whew!
Time to take a breath? Not a chance.
Cinco de
Mayo is my new favorite holiday. Shadows of Frenchmen, my second novel,
released as an eBook on May 5th (2026) and in paperback about two weeks
later. Both versions are available on Amazon.com (Shadows
of Frenchmen: A Jonathan Gray, M.D. Mystery: Rigg, Michael: 9798898202354:
Amazon.com: Books) and other online retailers. Here’s a synopsis:
On
a frosty Sunday morning in February, Dr. Jonathan Gray, Coroner of Orleans
Parish, faces a gruesome sight. A dead man splayed against the circular steel
and cut-glass blocks of the city's AIDS memorial in Washington Square Park has
strange symbols carved into his forehead and chest. A coded note-a cipher-has
been placed under one hand. The body mutilation and note are hallmarks of a
serial killer dubbed by the news media as the "Mardi Gras Sweeper,"
because he strikes during Carnival season and leaves coded manifestos taunting
police and giving hints about his next victim.
Hoping
to avoid a panic during the city's most profitable season, Mayor Max Jamerson
asks Gray to investigate the murder "on the sly," without formal
assistance from the New Orleans Police Department. Time is of the essence as
Gray races to figure out the cipher and track down the Sweeper in order to
prevent additional killings-and save Mardi Gras.
Here are
a few snippets from endorsements for Shadows of Frenchmen:
“…A
chilling, razor-sharp mystery set against the explosive energy of Mardi
Gras… Dr. Jonathan Gray is a hero you won’t forget—and the Mardi Gras
Sweeper is a nightmare you won’t escape.”
—Kathleen
Antrim, Bestselling Author, President-Outliers Writing University
“Michael
Rigg does it again, with another thrilling mystery that you won’t be able to
put down … Shadows of Frenchmen takes readers into the darkest corners
of New Orleans’ lush settings and spooky cemeteries as Gray and his colleagues
hunt for a possible serial killer, all against the backdrop of raucous Mardi
Gras celebrations…”
—Ellen
Byron, USA Today Bestselling & Agatha Award Winning Author
“…
Dr. Jonathan Gray is the new Kay Scarpetta…”
—John
DeDakis, Former CNN editor, writing coach, and author of the Lark Chadwick
mystery-suspense-thriller series, at johndedakis.com.
—Heather
Graham, New York Times Bestselling Author
“Featuring
smart and complex characters, Shadows of Frenchmen pulses with energy,
taking the reader on a breathless chase for a serial killer terrorizing the
city in the days leading up to a city-wide Mardi Gras celebration...”
—K.L.
Murphy, Author of the Detective Callie Forde Mysteries, The Great Forgotten,
and the award-nominated Her Sister's Death
“…Shadows
of Frenchmen has it all—taunting coded notes from a serial killer,
seemingly resurrected from the dead, bodies with mysterious carvings stacking
up all over New Orleans, and a race-against-time urgency as pulse-pounding as
an episode of 24...”
—Christi
Keating Sumich, author of the Old New Orleans Bookshop Mysteries
“…A
propulsive thriller set against the backdrop of Mardi Gras season, Shadows
of Frenchmen takes the reader on an unrelentingly tense exploration of the
sinister underbelly of the Crescent City’s carefree façade...”
—Norman
Woolworth, Author of The Lafitte Affair and The Bolden Cylinder, Books
1 and 2 in the Bruneau Abellard Novel series
And you can check out the book trailer
at: SHADOWS OF FRENCHMEN
| Book Trailer | New Orleans Mardi Gras Mystery.
Please
spread the news about Shadows of Frenchmen far and wide. Check out the book
trailer and, if you like the description, download an eBook or purchase the
paperback today. I hope I’ll earn a five-star review!
