Death On Grave Street — Barbara Burgess

Tyrone Trotman takes early retirement from the homicide and special investigation unit of the Detroit Police Force to accept the position of Police Chief in the small town of Port Ottawa on the shores of Lake Huron. Having lost his wife in a drive-by shooting in Detroit, he is looking for a new space to settle down and quiet his inner rage. Living in a port town on the lake seems to offer him the peaceful life he hopes for. He makes an offer on a handsome old house located on Grave Street. He questions the real estate lady about a gigantic white virgin pine that dominates the front yard. With pride the real estate lady tells Trotman a story about what the community calls the Last Tree. When the first white man discovered Michigan territory in the 17th century the white pines ruled a vast forest that covered the land. During the 19th century, in less than fifty years, the lumber industry destroyed those proud woodlands. The Last Tree on Grave Street survived the mass killing. The real estate lady solemnly reports that the Last Tree still whispers with her lost sister trees. Trotman finds the history of the tree whimsical, and purchases the house and tree. However, when an unexplained death occurs on Grave Street, the citizens blame his tree and expect him to accept their conclusion. The sheriff of the county advises Trotman to go slow and honor their local legend. Trotman knows that the death of the victim was not accidental, self-inflicted, or tree-related. He is not going to let his Last Tree take the rap for a murder. When another death occurs on Grave Street, Trotman knows that there is a real killer in the sleepy town, and that he is the only one who can find out who is behind the killings and why.

Barbara Burgess has lived in Michigan all of her life. She has a BA from Wayne State University in Detroit. She has three sons and a daughter, plus eight grandchildren. She decided to write a British-type police procedural that took place in a small Michigan town. Death on Grave Street is the first.