Gone to Dust: A Novel

Matt Goldman

Aug 2017 · Nils Shapiro Book 1 · Sold by Forge Books

About this eBook

Set in Minnesota, Gone to Dust is the New York Times bestselling debut private eye murder mystery from Emmy Award-winning Seinfeld writer Matt Goldman.

“Sharp wit, complex characters, and masterful plotting makes Goldman a writer to watch. Irreverent and insightful, private detective Nils Shapiro is sure to become a fan favorite.”—Harlan Coben, New York Times bestselling author

A brutal crime. The ultimate cover-up. How do you solve a murder with no useable evidence?

Private detective Nils Shapiro is focused on forgetting his ex-wife and keeping warm during another Minneapolis winter when a former colleague, neighboring Edina Police Detective Anders Ellegaard, calls with the impossible.

Suburban divorcee Maggie Somerville was found murdered in her bedroom, her body covered with the dust from hundreds of emptied vacuum cleaner bags, all potential DNA evidence obscured by the calculating killer.

Digging into Maggie’s cell phone records, Nils finds that the most frequently called number belongs to a mysterious young woman whose true identity could shatter the Somerville family--but could she be guilty of murder?

After the FBI demands that Nils drop the case, Nils and Ellegaard are forced to take their investigation underground, where the case grows as murky as the contents of the vacuum cleaner bags. Is this a strange case of domestic violence or something with far reaching, sinister implications?

“A perfect blend of light touch and dark story—I want more of Nils Shapiro.” —Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Ratings and reviews

Private Detective Nils Shapiro gets a call from his good friend, Detective Anders Ellegaard to take a look at a murder scene with him. Maggie Somerfield was found dead in her bedroom, covered with the dust from hundreds of emptied vacuum cleaner bags. The dust continues all through the house. Since any and all DNA has been compromised, the cops and Nils "assume" that Maggie knew her killer. But without any clues or leads, this may become a cold cold case. I only received a short preview of this book. This is the debut book of this author... and one that needs to be watched. The characters, even in a very short period of time, are well defined. Nils has a rough sense of humor, and can be a bit sarcastic as needs be, but he is totally likeable. Ellegaard is more down to earth, maybe because he has a wife and three young children. These guys make wonderful series characters. Set in winter in Minnesota, the author has a wonderful descriptive way of writing. And although I am in Arizona, I felt a yearning to get up and put a pair of socks on my feet. The story premise is a good one. There's nothing quite like a well-written crime thriller. This is one book I will definitely be looking for.... I was given just enough to whet my appetite .. now I want the full course. Many thanks to the author / Macmillan-Tor/Forge / Netgalley for the advanced digital preview copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

private-investigators, law-enforcement, procedural, Minneapolis, St Paul, false-information, falsely-accused, family-dynamics, friendship, friction, snarky, snow-season, murder, murder-investigation, suspense, suspicion, thriller, FBI***** Bought this audio on sale, actually twice (by accident). Money well spent for me. While I have never actually lived in or around the Twin Cities, several family members and a few friends have lived and gone to university there while I remained near Milwaukee. Point being the nostalgia of listening to all the directions, neighborhoods, roadways, and winter weather. As a procedural it was very well done and kept me guessing through the plot twists and red herrings. Lots of attention to detail in many aspects, including the characters. The tale is told as a narrative by Nils Shapiro, PI who is a very likeable, regular guy with personal problems like the rest of us. I am going to hunt down the rest of the series. The narration is well done by voice actor MacLeod Andrews and I truly enjoyed listening to him.

Gone to Dust

About the author

New York Times bestselling author MATT GOLDMAN is a playwright and Emmy Award-winning television writer for Seinfeld, Ellen, and other shows. He brings his signature storytelling abilities and light touch to the Nils Shapiro series. Goldman's debut, Gone to Dust, has been nominated for the Shamus and Nero Awards and was a Lariat Adult Fiction Reading List selection. He lives in Minnesota with his wife, two dogs, two cats, and whichever children happen to be around.