Recovering from the tragic death of his wife and child, Mitchell Quinn spends his days lamenting the tedium of being a police chief in a small resort village. Suddenly he’s drawn into investigating the disappearance of a popular court reporter whose blood-spattered car is found in a nearby, deserted strip mall.
An apparent shoo-in for Michigan governor, nationally renowned trial lawyer Lawrence Atwood falls under scrutiny after the missing woman’s cell phone is discovered behind his lakeside summer home. In the middle of his election campaign, he defiantly proclaims his innocence. But when charred remains are found in his patio fire pit, Quinn is convinced he’s got the killer. Yet if Atwood killed her, why would he dispose of her remains in his own backyard?
Meanwhile, the political prospects of a headline-grabbing murder trial spark the interest of the state Attorney General Robert Patterson, who yearns for the governor’s mansion. Seeing his chance to win by proving the guilt of his old rival, he seizes the role of lead counsel in Atwood’s impending trial. Tension builds as more incriminating evidence mounts against Atwood, who eventually volunteers a suspicious confession.
Is Atwood maneuvering for a temporary insanity plea? Mitch suspects that’s the case, but then Dani Sparro, the daughter of a former FBI agent, shows up saying she has proof the real murderer is a diabolical serial killer. She tries to get Mitch to re-focus his investigation, but he’s distracted by his growing attraction to Dani, despite wanting to stay “true” to his deceased wife. Not only that, he believes he already solved the murder.
Could it be that Mitch’s every move is playing into an elaborate scheme of a vicious psychopath? A startling turn of events unites Dani and Mitch in a dangerous confrontation and a pulse-pounding chase in their quest to solve the mystery of the White Rabbit.
Praise for Mark of the White Rabbit
"Mark of the White Rabbit starts at a breakneck pace and never slows. It's the definition of a page turner. A small-town cop, a small Lake Michigan town, a woman goes missing. But that's only the beginning. There is political intrigue, romance, and a string of mind-boggling murders. A serial killer is on the prowl, and no one is safe, not even the cop. If you like being on the edge of your seat, pick up Mark of the White Rabbit. I couldn't put it down."
- Charles Cutter, author of the Burr Lafayette mystery series.
Lincoln Cooper's debut novel is an exciting, skillfully constructed thriller set on the picturesque stage of Lake Michigan, where a serial killer, who can only be described as the “essence of evil,” slips through the shadows evading the dauntless, however flawed, Police Chief Mitchell Quinn. The storyline is woven with intricate political and legal themes yet is easily digestible due to Cooper’s crisp prose, engaging dialogue, and facility for the subject matter. The chase will keep you turning pages, but it’s the characters that stay with you. Mark of the White Rabbit is a riveting story from the opening scene to the novel’s climactic conclusion over one of Michigan’s iconic landmarks.
- Andrew Voelker, author of Beneath the Greater Sky, a Kirkus 5-star and one of its Best Books of the Year (2015).
Lincoln Cooper wastes no time plunging readers into the bloody deeds of an elusive, extremely clever serial killer for whom the white rabbit mentioned in the title is intimately connected to the killer’s motivation and actions… Mark of the White Rabbit is an engaging read, one you can get into quickly after a few short chapters introducing several key players. Once in, you don’t want to put the book down. While the serial killer’s identity and narcissistic cleverness are of greatest interest, the author sprinkles some romance and social issues into the novel to add realism to an otherwise gruesome story. Cooper uses lots of dialogue to keep the story moving at a pace just fast enough for those who don’t have time for… literary flourishes but yet manages to make his characters real and likable. Does the killer get caught in the end? Read it and find out! Quite enjoyable to say the least.
- 5-star review by Viga Boland for Reader’s Favorite.
Lincoln Cooper’s Mark of the White Rabbit is a cleverly plotted thriller which melds murder and mystery, featuring high profile, well developed characters… I particularly enjoyed how the author uses dialogue to get deeper into character development and to enhance plot points. Mark of the White Rabbit is suspenseful, engaging, and written in prose that is beautiful. The characters are rock solid and compelling, and the story is cunningly plotted, leaving readers longing for more as they turn from one page to the next.”
- 5-star review by Christian Sia for Reader’s Favorite
Lincoln Cooper is one of those rare writers who grips the reader’s attention with gusto and doesn’t let go. His debut novel, Mark of the White Rabbit, is an engaging, well-written story of crime and intrigue. I wouldn’t hesitate to go on this journey of thrilling suspense!
- Scott Devon, author of The Second Death, The Immortal Tree, and the soon to be released The Michigan Dogman.
The technical aspects of crime fiction stories are often inaccurate, if not just plain wrong, and the plots recurring, unreal or both. Lincoln Cooper’s novel, Mark of the White Rabbit, is no such disappointment. The author builds an engaging plot, taking the reader down a series of seemingly unrelated rabbit holes, while sprinkling hints along the trail of a ruthless killer inviting the reader to connect the dots. Compelling characters, a truly malevolent villain, realistic detail and plot twists lead to an exciting conclusion. I simply could not put down the book.
- J. Terrance Dillon, criminal trial lawyer and former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan