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M.L. Hamilton
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Murder on Potrero Hill (Peyton Brooks' Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by M.L. Hamilton (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 4,081 ratings
Peyton knows the first suspect is always the husband, but Jake Ryder isn’t acting like a typical suspect. Jake truly loved his wife. So what went wrong?Stepping into the circle of the social elite, Peyton finds that things work differently when you’re at the top. And Jake Ryder seems to be caught in the epicenter.Ultimately, Peyton finds that you never know what darkness lurks in the human mind and that some will murder to keep that darkness hidden.
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  1. Book 1 of 7
    Peyton Brooks' Series
  2. Print length
    247 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    November 24, 2013
  5. File size
    2.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

ML Hamilton has been teaching high school English and journalism in Central California for the last 20 years. Teaching students to appreciate literature has made her career rewarding; however, she always dreamed of publishing her own novel.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00738TGPC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 24, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.6 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 247 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 7 ‏ : ‎ Peyton Brooks' Series
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 4,081 ratings

About the author

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M.L. Hamilton

M.L. Hamilton

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ML Hamilton has been teaching high school English and journalism in Central California for the last 32 years. Teaching students to appreciate literature has made her career rewarding; however, she always dreamed of publishing her own novel.

That dream came true. Her first novel, Emerald, was published by Wild Wolf Publishing in 2010. In the summer of 2011, she published her first contemporary fiction, Ravensong, and six months later, launched the Peyton Brooks' series. The Avery Nolan Adventures and Peyton Brooks, FBI launched in 2014. In 2016, she ventured into the cozy mystery craze with her cozy mystery series, Zion Sawyer Cozy Mysteries.

Between teaching and writing, she spends her free time walking her canine children, Bailey and Jessami, and visiting her grandbabies. She is the president of Northern California Publishers and Authors.

Visit her website to sign up for her newsletter. Newsletter members are the first to get information on the latest releases and cool giveaways. New giveaways are available every month.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4,081 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-written, with a fast-paced plot that keeps them intrigued throughout. The characters are well-developed, with one review highlighting the strong female protagonist, and the writing is clean and easy to read. Customers appreciate the emotional pull of the story, with one review noting how the author captures Jake's emotions effectively. The police procedural elements receive mixed reactions, with some praising the great police work while others consider it among the worst in the genre.

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292 customers mention "Suspenseful"270 positive22 negative

Customers find the book suspenseful with a good storyline and enough mystery to keep them intrigued throughout, appreciating the twists and turns in the plot.

"...There were parts that were fascinating and absolutley mind-boggling, as for instance, posing the question in the reader's mind as to how it was..." Read more

"...In the end, the plot twists were quite unexpected. I found myself reading into the wee hours of the morning...." Read more

"...It is sad in several ways but I found it to be very interesting and new take on a murder mystery...." Read more

"...This book fell between those two extremes – an engaging tale that held my interest but with some problems that brought it down to only okay...." Read more

286 customers mention "Readability"265 positive21 negative

Customers find the book engaging and worth their time.

"...as well as motive, all making for an immensely satisfying and enjoyable read. This novel shows Hamilton in top form." Read more

"...Overall this was a quick, enjoyable read. I look forward to exploring Peyton’s character further in book #2." Read more

"This is a good book to read. It is sad in several ways but I found it to be very interesting and new take on a murder mystery...." Read more

"...Excellent plot. The pace is fast and keeps you reading. However, the police behavior was BAD...." Read more

115 customers mention "Character development"96 positive19 negative

Customers appreciate the well-developed characters in the book, noting their unique personalities, with one customer highlighting the strong and believable female protagonist.

"...The detectives, Peyton and Marco are likable and believable. They competently work through the case to uncover the truth...." Read more

"...The author does a great job in character description and you get caught up in Jake's life...." Read more

"...The characters were well fleshed out. There was a nice mix of character types and each is described in good detail. Excellent plot...." Read more

"...It made for a refreshing change. The characters in this book are colorful and very skillfully crafted...." Read more

100 customers mention "Writing quality"86 positive14 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its clean language and easy readability, with several mentioning they finished it in two sittings.

"...Additionally, the language was appropriate to the circumstances but was not offensive...." Read more

"...It is just a story and a well-written one, so just enjoy reading and write your own review...." Read more

"...The plot was good, the writing was good - although I could have done with a little less of the constant mentions of Marco's good looks and Peyton's..." Read more

"...The main suspect, on the other hand, was very well drawn and I almost immediately jumped into his corner as his world came crashing down on all..." Read more

73 customers mention "Pacing"61 positive12 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, describing it as a fast and enjoyable read with quick action and a plot that moves at an avoid pace.

"...Overall this was a quick, enjoyable read. I look forward to exploring Peyton’s character further in book #2." Read more

"...Excellent plot. The pace is fast and keeps you reading. However, the police behavior was BAD...." Read more

"...myself liking this book in spite of itself, mostly because of a good pace and some nice character development...." Read more

"...Other than that, the pace was good and the type of Queen B politics was correct...." Read more

27 customers mention "Page turner"27 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be an absolute page turner with nice twists and turns in the plot.

"There were enough twists and turns to keep it exciting and captivating, with a good little plot twist for the ending." Read more

"...Nice twists and turns. Realistic responses by detectives." Read more

"...A bit frustrating at times, but entertaining and good twists. Fun characters." Read more

"A good read with many twists and turns. The characters were interesting and well developed...." Read more

26 customers mention "Emotional content"19 positive7 negative

Customers find the book emotionally engaging, with one review noting how the author skillfully captures Jake's emotions and uses proficient flashbacks into his and Zoe's life.

"...reason she succeeds in evoking the response is her proficient flashbacks into Jake and Zoe’s life. You believe him when he says he loves her...." Read more

"...Jake, however, I found to be sympathetic. He didn't help himself much, and I'm not sure he was very realistic...." Read more

"...Kudos to her for that, but it also was stressful to read. So stressful that I hated it...." Read more

"Hamilton weaves a tale which draws the reader in and plays havoc with the reader's emotions...." Read more

37 customers mention "Police procedurals"22 positive15 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the police procedurals in the book, with some praising the great police work while others find it among the worst examples of the genre.

"...made an enthusiastic, sophisticated investigative team with credible police procedurals, and the many surprises that follow eventually reveal the..." Read more

"...The pace is fast and keeps you reading. However, the police behavior was BAD...." Read more

"...I appreciated that the violence was not gratuitous or gory...." Read more

"...However, the first 100 are deeply flawed. Her police investigators are likeably, but possibly the dumbest investigators imaginable...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • ZM
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cleverly plotted
    Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    The opening scenes give a nice picture of a husband and wife, Jake and Zoe, completely devoted to each other--until he finds her unconscious and bleeding on the floor. When Zoe dies at the hospital shortly after, Jake finds himself as the number one suspect. Officers Peyton and Marco, on the case, are convinced of his guilt until clues emerge to prove them wrong--and as is often the case in a cleverly plotted mystery, the killer turns out to be the last person you'd suspect.

    This piece shows Hamilton to be a fine mystery writer. There were parts that were fascinating and absolutley mind-boggling, as for instance, posing the question in the reader's mind as to how it was possible for Zoe who loved her husband so much, to hide the fact of her pregnancy from him--a pregnancy that was terminated as a result of someone's premeditated act in murdering her. Then the next question that the reader simply needed the answer to urgently--how was it possible for Zoe to have been pregnant with another man's child? Jake's shock on discovering these things about his wife was also the shock of the reader, making him a sympathetic and likeable character from the get-go. Peyton and Marco made an enthusiastic, sophisticated investigative team with credible police procedurals, and the many surprises that follow eventually reveal the killer as well as motive, all making for an immensely satisfying and enjoyable read. This novel shows Hamilton in top form.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Sandra Cruz
    4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging 1st in series, great read
    Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Once again, ML Hamilton has proven herself as an author. I love her “World of Samar” series and was interested to see how well she changed genres.

    The story had me from the get-go. When Jake Ryder’s wife is murdered he becomes the prime suspect. He sets out to prove he didn’t do it. Meanwhile, the detectives are doing everything they can to trigger a confession.

    I will admit that I was confident of who the killer was early on. However, that did not detract from the journey to uncover the truth. In the end, the plot twists were quite unexpected. I found myself reading into the wee hours of the morning. I just couldn’t find a good stopping place.

    The author did a phenomenal job capturing Jake’s emotion. Part of the reason she succeeds in evoking the response is her proficient flashbacks into Jake and Zoe’s life. You believe him when he says he loves her. His pain is palpable, especially as heartrending secrets are revealed. As the noose is tightened, you can’t help but feel sorry for him.

    The detectives, Peyton and Marco are likable and believable. They competently work through the case to uncover the truth. Though they have their minds made up, they are never careless in their efforts.

    I appreciated that the violence was not gratuitous or gory. Additionally, the language was appropriate to the circumstances but was not offensive.

    Overall this was a quick, enjoyable read. I look forward to exploring Peyton’s character further in book #2.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Sara Gardner Blow
    5.0 out of 5 stars In One Day Your Life Falls Apart
    Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is a good book to read. It is sad in several ways but I found it to be very interesting and new take on a murder mystery. I don't often give 5 stars but in this case, I felt it was worth it.

    The author does a great job in character description and you get caught up in Jake's life. It also reveals how much influential people can have control over the DA and local police departments. I feel sure it does happen and the local cops are pressured to close the case under any circumstance. It is sad but so true when crime and politics meet.

    It is just a story and a well-written one, so just enjoy reading and write your own review. I also agree, we don't need to give away the heart of the book in a review.

    http://www.amazon.com/Sara-Gardner-Blow/e/B009FB5RJE
    3 people found this helpful
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  • David A. Freas
    3.0 out of 5 stars I won’t rule out more books by M. L. Hamilton, but won’t go hunting for them.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Reading a book by a new author is a bit of a gamble. Sometimes you find a winner, sometimes you come up empty.

    This book fell between those two extremes – an engaging tale that held my interest but with some problems that brought it down to only okay.

    It got off to a slow start with most of the first three chapters devoted almost entirely to backstory. The main character didn’t make an entrance until late in chapter three. That’s too late for the protagonist to first appear.

    The writing in some places was very pedantic (He parked the car. They got out and walked to the door. He opened it for her.).

    The detectives focused almost from the start on the most likely suspect without even considering other possible ones. The suspect took steps late in the book that the police should have taken almost from the start, basically solving the murder for them. Readers like their protagonists (especially detectives) to be a bit sharper than the run of the mill people.

    I don’t read mysteries with the aim of solving it before the protagonist, but I picked up on the guilty party early in this one.
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  • C. Sims
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fast paced good read
    Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I'm surprised by some of the negative reviews. I found this story to be gripping and finished it in two days.

    The characters were well fleshed out. There was a nice mix of character types and each is described in good detail.

    Excellent plot. The pace is fast and keeps you reading. However, the police behavior was BAD. I am assuming they can't actually freeze a suspect's accounts and get him fired like these two did.

    I would recommend this book highly. There were some plot twists, but I did guess who and why very very early on. Its still engrossing watching the story develop.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Jean Williams
    5.0 out of 5 stars MURDER ON POTRERO HILL
    Reviewed in Spain on July 24, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    M L Hamilton.. Go To The Top Of The Class. You have written a really great book. I love a good murder story. This one is not just good, it is amazingly good. The way the characters Interlace, the clever plot, the death of a young woman, her husband the suspect, bla bla. But NO. An outstanding course of events makes all the difference. You will miss a treat if you fail to read this. Download it NOW.
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  • Dorothy Hanscom
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in Canada on June 4, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This was one of the best books l have read in a long time !! It was excellent !! I am looking forward to read in more from this author.
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  • Toots Sullivan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Murder on Potrero hill
    Reviewed in Australia on June 9, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    The plot of this book is well conceived and quite cunning, I loved the characters, would have liked to read more to the ending of the story, but it was good, quite good.
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  • marie of manchester
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 21, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this book from start to finish.. In fact found it hard to put down. Jake and Zoe are a young happily married couple when tragedy
    strikes and Zoe dies which turns out to be eventually murder.

    Jake and Zoe are a happily married couple and when Zoe dies in mysterious circumstances the Police suspect Jake has murdered her.
    What follows is a heartbreaking tale of a man trying to convince everyone that he was in no way responsible for the death of his wife.
    What follows is a story of a man desperate to convince everyone that his is innocent of the crime.
    I was utterly absorbed by the character of jake and am sure other readers will be also.
    Read and enjoy.
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  • W. R. Jongejan
    4.0 out of 5 stars It is ok. + a little spoiler
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on August 19, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    The book is ok, and a page turner. But something bothers me: I cannot imagine why Jake didn't read the diary at once. These few pages wouldn't have to be stretched out over days. It is not a logic thing for me. But for the rest of it: a good read. I will buy the next one.
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