Local investigator, author earns two international awards for book on deciphering the truth

Joe Koenig

GRANDVILLE – A local author and retired Michigan State Police investigator has won two international awards for his book on how to decipher the truth.

Jenison resident Joe Koenig recently received the 2016 Montaigne Medal Finalist Award and 2016 Indie General Non-Fiction Finalist Award for his book, "Getting the Truth."

Koenig's 208-page book features analysis of written statements from high-profile crimes such as the ransom note from the Jon Benet Ramsey case, O.J. Simpson's statement to Los Angeles Police Department detectives, and Woody Allen's response to Dylan Farrow's sexual molestation allegations.

The book aims to help business owners and other professionals as well as parents decipher the truth from deception. Grand Rapids-based Principia Media LLC published "Getting the Truth" in 2014.

Koenig spent 26 years in the Michigan State Police Department, serving as the lead investigator for the disappearance of Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa in 1975, and was president of the Michigan FBI National Academy Associates.

He now runs KMI Investigations LLC, at 4370 Chicago Drive, Suite 122.

Koenig said he currently starting to work on a second book, which will be a fiction novel focusing on a detective who solves crimes using the principles from "Getting the Truth."

Koenig earned this year's Montaigne Medal Finalist Award, which is given out through the Eric Hoffer Award, one of the largest international book awards for small, academic and independent presses. The Montaigne Medal is in honor of French philosopher Michel de Montaigne. The award finalists are recognized for their thought-provoking work.

The Indie Next Generation Book Awards is the largest nonprofit book awards program to honor indie authors and independent publishers. Koenig earned a finalist award for the General Non-Fiction category.