STREETS
OF BLAME
OF BLAME
Book one · Seattle
Streets of Blame
He used their DNA to disappear. Now the wrong twin must prove he exists. A dark mystery through Seattle's Pioneer Square.
Explore on Amazon →The Braun & Lutz Thriller Series
Some secrets
were never meant
to surface.
Unpredictable mysteries. Unforgettable places. And two investigators drawn into cases where science, ambition, and human nature collide.
Explore the books →Shop the seriesSTREETS
OF BLAME
OF BLAME
3 + 1Three published · Book four underway
57Reported Amazon reviews
6Languages · Kindle, paperback & hardcover
Meet Braun & Lutz
Three cases. No easy answers.
Each thriller stands on its own. Together, they follow investigators Angie Braun and Donnie Lutz into increasingly dangerous territory.
THE GATOR
TOOK THREE
TOOK THREE
Book two · The Everglades
The Gator Took Three
Human remains in an alligator. A dangerous mystery. And a high-tech threat lurking beneath the Everglades' wild surface.
Explore on Amazon →
THE
ORCHID WAR
ORCHID WAR
Book three · Florida
The Orchid War
A rare orchid. A dead poacher. A hidden network of environmental crime, corporate power, and dangerous secrets.
Explore on Amazon →Ratings and review counts supplied by the author in October 2026; they may change. Cover images currently load from the existing Wix site and will be replaced with locally hosted originals before launch.
Featured author interview · WriteStats
Behind the Braun & Lutz Thrillers
From Seattle's fog to Florida Noir: discover the experiences and ideas behind Darin Hartley's continuing thriller series.
Read Darin's WriteStats interview →Coming next · Braun & Lutz Book Four
The Conch Widow
A Florida Noir Mystery Thriller
Neon nights. Tropical rain. A mystery waiting in Florida's shadows. Braun and Lutz return in the fourth installment of the ongoing series.
In progress: Approximately 20,000 words drafted. Publication date to be announced.
Ask about release updates →
Read in your language
Suspense without borders.
The series is available in English, Spanish, German, Italian, and Portuguese, with French editions of Books Two and Three. Choose your book and language below.
French is not available for Streets of Blame.
EnglishFrançais*EspañolDeutschItalianoPortuguês
Kindle · Paperback · Hardcover
Browse editions on Amazon →Amazon links open the selected edition; choose Kindle, paperback, or hardcover on Amazon where offered.
In readers' words
What readers are saying
“
Each story is unique, yet they all share engaging characters, vivid settings, and well-paced plots that kept me turning the pages.
— Kindle Customer · Review of all three books
From the streets of Seattle to the Florida Everglades, readers praise the series' suspense, immersive settings, and unexpected turns.
Find the books on Amazon →“Fantastic book”
“The best part is now I enjoy reading again all because of this book.”
Beth Luciano · Streets of Blame“Couldn't Stop Thinking About It”
“This one stayed with me long after I finished the last chapter.”
Sam R. · Streets of Blame“Highly Recommend!”
“The Gator Took Three kept me so enthralled I had a hard time putting it down.”
MaryAnnNotGinger · The Gator Took ThreeReview excerpts shown for design review only; confirm permission and attribution requirements before public launch.
For book clubs and reading groups
Great thrillers. Better conversations.
Every published Braun & Lutz novel includes book club discussion questions in the back. And Darin would be delighted to join your group virtually for a complimentary author conversation, subject to availability.
Discuss the mystery, the characters, and the questions that inspired the story.
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A personal touch
Request a signed copy.
A signed Braun & Lutz thriller makes a memorable gift—or a special addition to your own shelf. Request a personalized paperback or hardcover, signed by Darin.
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In the press
Meet the Author: The WriteStats Interview
From a career in nonfiction to the continuing Braun & Lutz mysteries: discover the inspirations, settings, and ideas behind the novels.
WriteStats · June 17, 2026
Darin Hartley: The Navy Veteran Turning Florida, Forensics, and Fiction into the Braun & Lutz Thriller Series
An interview about writing, the origins of the series, and the stories still to come.
Read the full interview ↗
Behind the stories
Meet Darin Hartley
What if discarded cigarettes and chewing gum could help someone get away with murder?
That question took shape during twelve years spent walking Seattle's Pioneer Square—and became the spark for Streets of Blame.
Darin Hartley writes fast-paced, intellectually driven thrillers where forensic science, vivid settings, and moral consequence intersect. Before writing fiction, he authored four professional nonfiction books.
His Braun & Lutz series begins in Seattle and continues in Florida, where his future mysteries will explore the darker side of paradise. The Conch Widow, Book Four, is underway. The imprint Flamingo & Fog Press reflects the two places that shaped the series.
Get in touch →The author journal
Ditties from the Dark Side of Paradise
Occasional musings, mysteries, and mischief from Darin E. Hartley.
This is a work of creative nonfiction. Some parts have been fictionalized in varying degrees for various purposes.
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