Book cover titled "Shadows of Deceit" by Peter Cleveland, featuring a landscape with a view through a rifle scope, illustrating a rural area with a house and trees, and a blurred road with moving cars.

PARADISE CAN
BE DEADLY

A romantic tropical getaway turns deadly when Private Investigator Hamilton St. James and his team get drawn into a real estate scam gone violently wrong. Teaming up with Costa Rica’s elite investigative unit, St. James uncovers a criminal network where fake deeds, corporate fraud, and cold-blooded murder intersect.

Available NOW!

Three mystery novel books by Peter Cleveland, titled "Double Shot of Scotch," "GobsMacked!", and "Shadows of Deciet," with colorful covers and cover images including a cityscape, Big Ben, and a telescope view of landscape, stacked overlapping.

In the high-stakes world of global deals, financial crime, and buried truths, Hamilton St. James sees what others miss. He follows the money. He uncovers the lies. And when the trail leads to danger, he doesn’t back down. In a world where power, money and ambition collide, St. James solves crimes that start in the boardroom and end in blood.

MEET HAMILTON ST. JAMES

Discover the Hamilton St. James Series

“Atmospheric and razor-sharp —
Cleveland is a master of intelligent suspense.”

An elderly man with white hair wearing a black blazer, light blue shirt, and black pants, sitting against a gray background.

peter cleveland

MYSTERIES ARE
HIS LATEST BUSINESS

Peter Cleveland knows the cost of corruption and commerce very well. He used to count it. Now this former CPA, Certified Fraud Examiner and Managing Partner turns his decades of real-world experience into gripping thrillers where boardroom and backroom deals turn deadly.

Learn More

Cover of the book titled "Shadows of Deceit" by Peter Cleveland next to an ebook displaying Chapter 1 of a story about a Boeing 737 flight in Costa Rica.

start the chase

Download a free chapter from Peter’s latest book Shadows of Deceit, and unlock exclusive content: case files, character dossiers, and behind-the-scenes insights.

GET YOUR FREE CHAPTER

Three people are at a bookstore table, with one seated signing a book, another standing looking on, and a woman with glasses across the table. A sign on the table indicates they are for sale, with others in the background in a busy indoor setting.

BE THERE WHEN THE NEXT CASE BREAKS OPEN.

events

UPCOMING EVENT

SHADOWS OF DECEIT: BOOK LAUNCH

Thursday, November 13, 2025
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Royal Oak Centrepointe
117 Centrepointe Dr., Unit 105, Ottawa, ON

RSVP HERE

latest news

Peter Cleveland shares his approach to writing, the stories behind his stories, and mysteries still unfolding. Enter the business mind behind the corporate thriller Hamilton St. James books.