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Michelle Hartman is an American novelist who has published her first mystery titled The Boxcar Killer.

Personal Information
Michelle was born in Buffalo, NY, attending school at Some High School (college?), graduating with a degree in Something.

Writing Background
Michelle started writing while in high school, writing short stories for High School newspaper. She continued writing, exploring a variety of genres including humor, romance, and mystery.

Novels
The Boxcar Killer is her first novel, published by Local Publishing Company in 2021.

The Boxcar Killer


The year is 1967...

Des Campbell is the smart but insecure son of an extraordinarily successful yet bigoted attorney who pushes Des into following in his footsteps. Des regularly escapes to the tracks where he finds solace in the street art of a tagger named Brando who creates stunning murals on the boxcars. After his high school crush, Tessa Rhodes, is brutally murdered on the tracks, Des enters Harvard Law broken hearted and unsure of himself. Later, he emerges stronger, more confident and ready to face the demons he left behind.

He returns to his home in Charleston at the prodding of his trusted mentor, John Taylor, who heads Harvard's School of Law. A secret meeting takes place at the public defender's office whereby Des is inspired by the no B.S. style of the white haired attorney with a heart for the discriminated. The duo sets out to free Brandon Michael Thompson, currently on the fourth of a forty-year sentence whom Des later learns has been convicted of the murder of Tessa Rhodes.

Along the way Des struggles with his feelings for Tessa and lingering doubts as to Brandon's innocence. After a brief confrontation he befriends a detective with a chip on his shoulder who reluctantly helps solve the murder. Des accidentally discovers Brandon and Brando are one in the same which ultimately proves his innocence. After a long battle, Brandon is exonerated. The two men form a friendship, both freed from their dark past. The real killer is someone closer than you think.

Next
Michelle is working on a book on something else.

It's also about something here.