Montecito

"A gripping crime drama ... an engrossing story ... a marvelously entertaining suspense tale. OUR VERDICT: GET IT."

- Kirkus Reviews (Critical Recommendation)

"Anyone interested in a compelling character-driven mystery will devour this story. It's unlike any crime novel I've read before but is no less gripping for it."

- Independent Book Review

Montecito: Where having it all sometimes means having the most to hide.

For a smart guy, Hollis Crawford has certainly fouled things up. He planted his family in California's wealthiest town, backed his wife's transition from high-powered public relations partner to non-profit volunteer, and then got fired-not once, not twice, but three times. Now, with his savings drained and his prospects dwindling, Hollis is desperate for one last chance to keep his family afloat.

Which is why the mysterious Wimby family-Montecito's latest imported millionaires-seem heaven sent. Towering Cyrus Wimby commands a sprawling mansion, a winery, and a stunning wife as pedigreed as his stable of horses-a life of wealth and privilege. But Cyrus has his eyes on a bigger prize. To get it, he will need help. The help of someone hungry. Someone desperate. Someone like Hollis.

It's a chance for Hollis to save his career, his marriage, and his family. All he has to do is say yes ...

"Cox sensitively and intelligently explores Hollis' vulnerabilities, and out of that perceptive psychological profile spins a gripping crime drama. This is an engrossing story, both thoughtful and exciting. A marvelously entertaining suspense tale. OUR VERDICT: GET IT."

Kirkus Reviews (Critical Recommendation)

"A compelling narrator and equally fascinating setting serve as a vehicle for this riveting tale. There's no rush to the storytelling on these pages. Both characters and situations expand little by little until the reader can finally see the whole situation. It's an immensely satisfying way to read. Montecito is like an exquisite little machine where all the moving parts slot impeccably together ... Anyone interested in a compelling character-driven mystery will devour this story. It's unlike any crime novel I've read before but is no less gripping for it. This is an author I'll definitely be looking out for again."

Independent Book Review

"Alive with realistic details, from the lifestyles of the mega-rich down to the business of stocks and free-trade zones, Montecito nudges readers to feel its protagonists's predicament-and dream along with Hollis of what it'd be like to have the billionaire lifestyle. But Cox spurs readers throughout to wonder at the cost of it all, especially as Hollis admits that there's "no ointment, gauze, or bandage that could shelter the devastation in my soul." To Hollis's credit, the answers aren't straightforward."

BookLife Reviews

"With the beautiful backdrop set in Montecito, readers will love reading this story about a regular family making ends meet in a wealthy community. With forty-three-dollar coffee bills, ornate pizza ovens in backyards, freely pouring wine, and the beach a stone's throw from their doorstep, the people of Montecito are living large. Montecito will appeal to readers who enjoy a fantastic, nail-biting entrepreneurial scandal with twists and turns at every corner."

San Francisco Book Review (4.5 out of 5 stars)

"Michael Cox showcases the immense promise of this smooth, professional, and highly competent writer. Readers are fully immersed in life most can only imagine, experiencing unimaginable highs and hellish lows. The realistic details, down to the most mundane yet hypnotic minutiae, bring this world beyond the fast lane to life in a truly gripping way."

Midwest Book Review