SILVER MEDAL WINNER FOR LEGAL THRILLERS, GLOBAL BOOK AWARDS Who poisoned Nick Fagan? Nick Fagan died from eating the veal morel at The Arboretum, one of the finest restaurants in northern Michigan. His wife, Molly, said it was an accident, but was it? Molly hires Burr Lafayette, a brilliant but troubled lawyer, to help her collect on Nick’s life insurance policy. But the life insurance company refuses to pay and says that Molly put poisoned mushrooms in Nick’s veal morel. The Charlevoix County prosecutor arrests Molly and charges her with first-degree murder. Burr finds himself dragged into another murder case. A man at loose ends, Burr is the deposed head of a premier Detroit law firm. He prefers dogs, boats, women, and wine over a courtroom, but he’s a brilliant litigator. Nick owned the most successful radio station in northern Michigan. He was a ruthless competitor and had more than his share of enemies. Burr also discovers that Nick may not have been the perfect husband and that Molly may have had her own reasons for killing him. Burr does his best to defend her, but he can’t believe a word she says. A legal thriller full of suspects and a plot that twists and turns until the last page, Under The Ashes is Presumed Innocent and Murder On The Orient Express rolled into one. • • • “A first-rate murder mystery.” —Kirkus Reviews SILVER MEDAL WINNER at the Readers' Favorite Book Awards Under The Ashes is the fifth book in the award-winning Burr Lafayette Mystery series. "A clever and suspense-filled thriller with the good-looking but sometimes off-kilter Burr Lafayette as the lead character. Under the Ashes: Murder and Morels was entertaining from beginning to end. The dialogue was crazy and witty; there was never a dull moment. The pace kept me on my toes, and the plot was well thought-out; just when I was sure I knew the culprit, Cutter found a new angle, and I was back to square one. The way Cutter constructed each character was great, unique, and relatable, and Zeke the Lab was adorable. Burr is good at what he does, and Cutter easily draws out the character, making him likable even with his unorthodox ways. I recommend Under the Ashes to those who love mystery thrillers, bizarre protagonists, and courtroom dramas." —Readers Favorite, 5-Stars "The author's previous books in the Burr Lafayette Mystery series feature courtroom dramas so arresting they handcuff one to the page. And when court recesses, the reader is immersed in the beauty and ambiance of northern Michigan. This fifth in the series meets the same high standards. The courtroom scenes are brilliant, funny, sharp as a razor, and compelling as Lafayette desperately attempts to discredit witnesses for the prosecution. The "morel" of this story is that in the hands of author Charles Cutter death by poison mushrooms is grand entertainment." — Michigan in Books "Under the Ashes is like a good gin and tonic: clean, crisp, and with a bite." — Steven Pruett , Executive Chairman, Cox Media Group "A riveting page turner with surprising twists and turns." —Leland K. Bassett, President, Bassett Entertainment Group "Strong dialogue and an insider's sense of place make Under The Ashes Cutter's most convincing 'whodunnit' yet." — Bear River Literary "A spicy dish of intrigue, jealousy, and murder." —Ben Beversluis, Editor, Grand Rapids Press , retired "A Charles Cutter mystery is pure Michigan." — Peter Anthony Holder , The Stuph File Charles Cutter is the author of the highly acclaimed five-book Burr Lafayette legal thriller series. The Pink Pony , the first book in the series won first prize in the Global Book Awards. Cutter is a cum laude graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and a graduate with highest honors from Michigan State University. Before his writing career, he was in the media business and was a practicing attorney. Cutter is active in conservation, most recently serving as chairman of the board for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, the largest upland conservation organization in the United States. He lives with his wife, two dogs and four cats in East Lansing. He has a leaky sailboat in Harbor Springs, and a leakier duck boat on Saginaw Bay. He is currently at work on the next book in the Burr Lafayette series.