Robert Downes

Sandy Bottom Robert Downes

Satire and hard-boiled detective mysteries collide in SANDY BOTTOM: Just back from Guatemala after three years of tending bar on Lake Atitlan, part-time shaman and aspiring detective Natty Dredd Bumpo returns to Traverse City, Michigan, where he finds himself plunged head-first into solving the murder of millionaire eco-warrior Timothy Bottom.

Complicating matters, a crystal skull, a roving militia, a grumpy gator and a femme fatale named Sandy add to the mayhem that could get Bumpo killed, or worse.

Meanwhile, dark forces stalk the small town charm of Traverse City, America's sweetheart destination for tech-crazed Millennials and wealthy retirees.

Sometimes the cosmic pancake falls sweet side up and sometimes it's syrup side down. Which way will it flip for Northern Michigan's grungiest detective?