Dark Dive by Andrew Mayne

 

First Lines: Prologue. Central Florida. 11,867 BCE. She was scared.

 

Florida's Underwater Investigation Unit did its job too well, uncovering corruption at the highest levels. Political pressure disbanded the unit, but public outcry and its string of successes brought it back. Unfortunately, the UIU's first case is a personal one for Sloan McPherson and her partner, former Navy diver Scott Hughes. 

 

Longtime family friend Fred Stafford has disappeared. His truck is found near an unmarked sinkhole, and as Sloan continues her investigation, she realizes how little she knows about the missing man. 

 

In no time at all, Sloan and Scott find themselves joining a treasure-hunting band of underwater cavern divers, becoming involved in a cold case, and even looking into the buried secrets of the long-ago past. 

 

~

 

I always look forward to reading the latest Underwater Investigation Unit thriller. I've learned a lot about diving in different locations-- in Dark Dive, it's sinkholes and underwater caverns-- and about the state of Florida itself. Florida seems to be the home of abandoned "pet/monsters": pythons, anacondas, Nile crocodiles... let alone the native alligators, and Sloan has to take the wildlife into account each time she dives. 

 

The diving sequences are always riveting. You never know what's going to spring at Sloan from out of the murk, and I have to admit that I enjoy the vicarious scares. But it's not all fast-paced thrills and technical gadgetry. I wish every state in the country could have someone with the savvy of Sloan's boss, George Solar. To smooth the way for his investigators, Solar has two RVs-- one filled with lawyers ready, willing, and able to get search warrants and other legal necessities, and the second armed with CSI techs and all the lab equipment they need to avoid the interminable delays of local law enforcement backlogs. Sweet, eh?

Even sweeter is the fact that the cast of characters is just as strong as the story, the thrills, and the technology. I like Sloan's irreverent voice, and her partner Scott is increasingly figuring into the stories. In addition, there's always a one-time character whom you wish could become a recurring one. In Dark Dive, it's octogenarian Gayle Pinnesky. I just loved her to bits!

Exciting story, lots to learn, fantastic setting with a touch of the alien about it, and great characters. If you haven't already gone diving with Andrew Mayne's Underwater Investigation Unit, it's time you did!

Dark Dive by Andrew Mayne

eISBN: 9781662506451

Thomas & Mercer © 2024

eBook, 296 pages

Thriller, #5 Underwater Investigation Unit

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley

Trust the Terrier by D.L.Mitchell

 

First Lines: "Meeeooooowwwwwww!" "Sounds like Mrs. Pringle and Fluffy are early again," Anthony said, stating the obvious.

 

After buying the Coral Shores Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Emily Benton has put her personal life on hold. All of her focus is on the business. A house call to Mrs. Eliza Klein finds one very distressed terrier named Elvis and Mrs. Klein face down on the floor dead. Emily immediately calls her brother, Deputy Sheriff Duncan Benton.

 

The cause of death triggers a murder investigation, and Emily finds herself drawn into it, especially since she's temporarily brought Elvis into her home. The little terrier manages to turn Emily and her best friend Anthony into amateur sleuths while the professionals-- Emily's brother and Detective Mike Lane-- work hard to uncover the truth.

 

~

 

I have a weakness for cozy mysteries featuring veterinarians, and the dog lover in me couldn't resist the cover of D.L. Mitchell's Trust the Terrier. While I did find the main character exasperating, there is a lot to like about this first Coral Shores Veterinary mystery.

 

For one thing, the setting is a winner. The town of Coral Shores on the Florida Gulf Coast is a winner. Its strict building codes mean it's not the usual tourist trap, and I'm all for that. There's also the Coral Shores Turtle Project that Emily is a part of, and I always like to see people banding together to protect endangered wildlife. The author also takes readers right into a busy veterinary practice for some behind-the-scenes looks at what goes on.

 

Dr. Emily Benton's first outing as an amateur sleuth is aided by the dead woman's daughter who can afford to hire a private pathologist, saving valuable time in finding clues. It also doesn't hurt that her brother is the deputy sheriff in town. Emily is still grieving the death of her mother and often makes use of her mother's extensive flip-flop collection. She also has a Maine Coon cat named Bella who must get used to Elvis the canine house guest.

 

As I said, there's a lot to like in Trust the Terrier, but I found Emily exasperating. All dog lovers know to trust their pets whenever they strongly react to another human, but it took Emily eons to figure out why Elvis always went ballistic around one person. Then there was her belief that her brother should share every little piece of information from the murder investigation he was conducting. One of these days, I'd like to see a character lose his job for sharing information he knows he shouldn't, although that would put a serious cramp in some amateurs' sleuthing attempts.

There was also a bit more romance in this book than I really care for, but I do have to admit that it was handled well. However, what really chapped my hide was Emily's TSTL (Too Stupid To Live) moments. One such example is when she sees the truck belonging to a man she knows to be extremely dangerous parked out on the street. What does she do? She tells no one and goes out after dark to check it out. I rolled my eyes so far back in my head that they almost stuck.

Even though there is a lot to like about Trust the Terrier, the main character's behavior makes it doubtful that I'll read further in the series. Shame on you, Emily.

Trust the Terrier by D.L. Mitchell

eISBN: 9781685133467

Black Rose Writing © 2023

eBook, 211 pages

Cozy Mystery, #1 Coral Shores Veterinary mystery

Rating: C

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

Hidden Creed by Alex Kava

 

First Line: Blackwater River State Forest. Sunday, June 14. The scream sounded human.

 

When Ryder Creed's scent dog, Grace, discovers a shallow grave during what was meant to be a training course, it's the beginning of a nightmare. The body was found in Florida's remote and difficult-to-access Blackwater River State Forest-- and Creed's dogs rapidly uncovered more graves. 

This spot has been the dumping ground of a serial killer for years, and he never intended for it to be found. As the investigators begin their work, they're going to find out just how far this killer will go to stop them and keep his secrets hidden forever. 

~

I enjoy this series so much that I can't keep to my intended one-a-year pace. At this rate, I'll soon catch up and be forced to cool my heels waiting for the next book.

If you're a fan of Alex Kava's Ryder Creed series, you know to pay attention to her acknowledgments at the back of each book in which she often tells readers where she got the inspiration for that particular one. Hidden Creed is no exception. Learning about her writing process is interesting as well.

Although I did find the serial killer element of the book a bit tame, I really enjoyed Hidden Creed. In it, Kava shows readers some of what is involved in training medical alert dogs. I never cease to be amazed at how incredibly talented canines are. Kava is working some magic with two of the secondary characters.  Jason, the young Army veteran, is slowly working himself out of depression from losing an arm as well as PTSD. As he becomes more open, he comes in contact with more people. I love watching his healing process. I also love watching Creed's sister, Brodie, as she recuperates from her own ordeal. She's an incredible young woman who's very tired of everyone treating her like she's going to shatter into a million pieces. I look forward to what she will do in the next book. 

If you love fast-paced thrillers with marvelous working dogs and two-legged characters who rapidly come to feel like family members, you really need to read this series. Start at the beginning with Breaking Creed. You can thank me later.

Hidden Creed by Alex Kava

eISBN: 9781732006447

Prairie Wind Publishing © 2020

eBook, 329 pages

Police Procedural/Working Dog, #6 Ryder Creed mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

Desperate Creed by Alex Kava

 

First Line: Chicago. Frankie Russo's head was already throbbing when her cell phone started blaring salsa music.

 

Francine "Frankie" Russo is not happy when her young co-worker, Tyler Gates, calls at 5 AM for a video chat, but her irritation turns to horror when seconds later, two men murder Tyler and pick up his phone. Now they know what Frankie looks like... and more. They'll be coming for her next, and the only thing she can think of to do is get out of Chicago and head for the Florida Panhandle to her friend, Hannah Washington.

 

While Frankie is en route, Hannah's friend and business partner, Ryder Creed has taken his best scent dog, Grace, to Alabama where a series of devastating tornadoes means there are survivors to find. Ryder's employee Jason and Jason's K-9 partner, Scout, are on their way to help.

 

With killers on her trail, Frankie is trying desperately to get to Hannah and the meeting that Hannah has set up with FBI agent Maggie O'Dell, but the weather is proving to be the biggest handicap of all. With threatening clouds and screaming tornado sirens, Ryder, Jason, and their dogs are witnessing tremendous devastation while Hannah and Ryder's sister, Brodie, are at home, worrying and waiting... and Frankie is trying to outrun two killers. This is a race against time and the weather, a race that no one can afford to lose.

 

~

 

I've been an ardent fan of this series since the very first book, Breaking Creed. Ryder, Hannah, Jason, and Maggie are strong, intelligent characters, and I absolutely love how Ryder has created his business: "Hannah liked to say they rescued abandoned and discarded dogs and turned them into heroes"-- and that's exactly what Ryder does. In Desperate Creed, Ryder's behavior with his dog, Grace, during a tornado made me love the man even more.

Ryder's sister, Brodie, has been added to the cast, and her adjustment to life after captivity is both life-affirming and heartbreaking. (I'm purposely not saying much about Brodie to prevent possible spoilers because I want all of you to read this series!)

As much as I enjoy the interactions of the characters, the high-octane plot of this book almost blew me away. There are the killers following Frankie from Chicago down to the Florida Panhandle. They are professionals. She is a rank amateur. Are they going to catch up with her? But, first and foremost, there are the tornadoes. I once lived in Tornado Alley, and I've had a few close encounters. I've also experienced earthquakes, blizzards, fire, and hurricane-force winds. What scared me most? Tornadoes. To put characters whom I feel so strongly about right in the path of a weather phenomenon that petrifies me? I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

Desperate Creed thrilled the adrenaline junkie in me to pieces, and it's the type of book in which readers should make a point of reading the Afterword. If you're in the mood to read a book you won't be able to put down, this is definitely the one you need to get your hands on.

Desperate Creed by Alex Kava

eISBN: 9781732006416

Prairie Wind Publishing © 2019

eBook, 321 pages

Law Enforcement, #5 Ryder Creed mystery

Rating: A+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

Mrs. Plansky's Revenge by Spencer Quinn

 

First Line: "Hello, it is I, your grandson, insert name here," said Dinu.

 

71-year-old widow Loretta Plansky is relieved that her hip replacement hasn't affected her tennis game. She's settling into her Florida retirement, keeping an eye on her feisty 98-year-old father, and being inundated with requests for money from her children and grandchildren.

All's well until she's rudely awakened in the wee hours of the morning by a phone call from someone claiming to be her grandson Will, who needs $10,000 to get out of a jam. Of course, Loretta sends him the money. That's what grandmothers are for. 

A few hours later, Loretta has lost everything, and law enforcement has informed her that it was no use to try to find the scammers behind the theft. Once the humiliation wears off, Loretta becomes furious and refuses to become just another victim.

She's only got one clue, but it's enough to have her board a plane to Romania in an attempt to regain her money and her dignity.

~

If you're in the mood to suspend your disbelief for a few hours, Mrs. Plansky's Revenge is guaranteed to be a light, fun read. Of course, you may first have to overcome the desire to lock up all her family members who take her for granted as their Cash Cow of Choice.

 

It's easy to find yourself firmly on Loretta Plansky's side as she navigates tidal waves of humiliation and fury. Loretta is no fool, yet a pair of young Romanian scammers take her in. This book is even better because author Spencer Quinn makes those two scammers, Dinu and Romeo, sympathetic. They aren't mere cardboard villains. 

 

Loretta really doesn't have a clue of how much danger she's courting once she's in Romania, but Quinn keeps it light by showing how so many of her life experiences save the day. We should all be so lucky in our own adventures.

 

If you've enjoyed Spencer Quinn's Chet and Bernie mysteries (as I have) and are in the mood for something light and fun, you should give Mrs. Plansky's Revenge a try.

Mrs. Plansky's Revenge by Spencer Quinn

eISBN: 9781250843340

Forge Books © 2023

eBook, 294 pages

 

Amateur Sleuth

Rating: B+

Source: Net Galley

Sea Castle by Andrew Mayne

 

First Lines: A crescent moon casting glimmers of light onto the rolling waves of the ocean would normally be a relaxing sight to me. But not tonight.

 

Even though the Underwater Investigation Unit has been disbanded, Sloan McPherson still wears a swimsuit under her clothes when she's on call. It's a good thing for this particular call-out, as a young woman's body has washed up on a beach near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Against the common consensus, Sloan thinks the young woman was murdered, and she goes to Miami homicide detective Gwen Wylder for help. 

 

Wylder is known for being wicked smart, manipulative, and a tyrant, and she demands something in return from Sloan for her help: Sloan's fresh insight into seemingly unrelated cold cases. As loose ends from the old cases begin to come together, another woman disappears. Sloan and Gwen are certain she's the newest link in a deadly chain leading to a serial killer trolling the Florida coast. 

 

But the deeper these two go, the stranger the case gets...

 

~

 

I've been enjoying Andrew Mayne's Underwater Investigation Unit series immensely, and Sea Castle is the best one yet. Through police diver Sloan McPherson, Mayne has been instrumental in changing my rather antiquated view of mothers in dangerous professions, and once the scales were removed from my eyes, my enjoyment of these compelling stories grew-- especially when Sloan began tempering her tendency to leap into danger without thinking with some good, old-fashioned common sense. It's been a pleasure to watch Sloan grow as she gains experience. She's truly gifted in searching for clues and putting them together, and if you're in a life-or-death situation, she's the type of person you want on your side.

With the Underwater Investigation Unit disbanded and its members working in other divisions, Sloan finds herself working for a boss who hates her. When she doesn't agree with everyone else that the young woman found on the beach died accidentally, her search for help leads her to one of the more interesting characters I've read in quite some time. Gwen Wylder is a gifted homicide detective whose talent and unstoppable determination have made her a pariah. No one wants to work with her, and spreading rumors about her level of sanity and her work ethic seems to be a favorite pastime of her fellow officers. After years of working in this toxic environment, it's no wonder that Gwen is extremely paranoid, bitter, and manipulative. Sloan herself has raised more than a few eyebrows (and doubts) in her short career, and she's used to being considered the crazy one. Pairing her with Gwen Wylder on the hunt for a serial killer really tests how much she's matured in her job.

 

When someone says, "A lot of this is Gwentuition and Sloanology," I had to laugh. These two have their own ways of doing things, and it was a delight watching them learn to work together-- Sloan especially since, for the first time, she's the one reining in someone else instead of someone doing that to her.

 

This fast-paced story kept me guessing, and the identity of the serial killer really surprised me-- something that doesn't happen very often. Although everything is tied up by book's end, it does end on a cliffhanger that makes me wish that the next book in this series were available now. Bring it on!

Sea Castle by Andrew Mayne

eISBN: 9781662506420

Thomas & Mercer © 2023

eBook, 312 pages

Thriller, #4 Underwater Investigation Unit mystery

Rating: A+

Source: Net Galley

Lost Creed by Alex Kava

 

First Line: Lester Darrell told his wife it wasn't safe to be on his mobile phone with all the lightning strikes.

 

When Ryder Creed was fourteen and his sister, Brodie, was eleven, Brodie disappeared from a rest stop along the interstate. Her disappearance ripped Ryder's family apart. Now a Marine Corps veteran, Creed devotes himself completely to his K-9 business in which he takes abandoned dogs and turns them into scent detection dogs. Together, they find the lost and the missing. And always-- always-- a part of his heart hopes that, someday, he will find Brodie, too.

 

A thousand miles away from Florida, FBI agent Maggie O'Dell finds a clue that may finally explain what happened to Creed's sister, but in order to learn more, she's going to have to make a deal with a madman, and the search that follows will be an agonizing one for Creed.

 

~

 

I enjoy Alex Kava's Ryder Creed series so much that I dole out each book sparingly. I know I'm going to enjoy the read, and I never want to run out of them, no matter how much I love Creed's relationship with his dogs. Lost Creed was no exception.

 

In Lost Creed, we learn Ryder's backstory, of what led to his sister's abduction and the aftermath that destroyed his family. We get to meet Ryder's mother, who's made a name for herself in the field that Martha Stewart made famous. But most of all, we get to be partners with Creed and FBI agent Maggie O'Dell on another high-octane thrill ride as they search for the information they need in order to find out what happened to Creed's sister. Also helping us piece things together are occasional chapters from the point of view of one of the abducted women. 

 

In the meantime, we readers also follow along with Creed's employee, young Jason Seaver, a vet with a prosthetic limb whose troublesome attitude is slowly mellowing out. He and his young dog, Scout, are on their first solo mission, and it's Jason's chance to really learn the meaning of Rule #1: "Trust Your Dog."

 

Lost Creed has excellent pacing, ever-increasing suspense, and characters who make you come back for more. Kava has done so much to inform her readers about how talented dogs are, and what makes this series even more special is the fact that all of the dogs in Creed's K-9 Crime Scents business are rejects-- many of them abandoned at the end of Creed's driveway. He gives them all stability, love, and training, and as a result, many of his dogs have become heroes. Creed's primary objective is to make sure none of his dogs are ever hurt again, and you just have to mentally hug the stuffing out of him for his resolve. (At least I do.) However, this is a mystery series, not only for dog lovers but also for those who love fast-paced suspense. 

Now that I've read Lost Creed, I'm going to have to force myself to stay away from the next book in the series. As I said, I enjoy these books so much that I never want to run out. But... my resolve is weakening...

 

Lost Creed by Alex Kava

eISBN: 9780997389791

Prairie Wind Publishing © 2018

eBook, 295 pages

 

Police Procedural.Working Dog, #4 Ryder Creed mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

Sea Storm by Andrew Mayne

 

First Line: The bow of our boat bounces across the crashing waves, sending spray and foam into the night sky.

 

Sloan McPherson of Florida's Underwater Investigation Unit is one of the responders to a distress call from a sinking cruise ship off the coast of Fort Lauderdale. When the explosion seems to be the work of an ecoterrorist and other ships are threatened, it becomes a race against time.

 

A coming tropical storm means valuable clues and evidence could be washed away, and Sloan is concerned about the strange lack of urgency by authorities. She's determined to track down every lead she has, little knowing that she's put herself on a collision course with someone who has every resource imaginable to bury her.

 

 

~

 

Andrew Mayne certainly knows how to write a compelling thriller, and I really enjoy this Underwater Investigation Unit series. The underwater scenes are so vivid that I felt as though I were swimming alongside Sloan as she dodged pursuers and raced to bring a James Bond-like villain to justice. 

 

Sloan McPherson is definitely the star of this show. The McPherson clan is filled with scallywags and pirates which means that sometimes all she has to do is ask a relative to get information on a lead she's developing. She has phenomenal instincts and an amazing knack for putting clues together which the other members of her team are learning to rely on more and more. The dashes of humor throughout Sea Storm are usually at her expense but in the spirit of camaraderie which readers will have a greater appreciation of if they've read the other two books in the series. I have read those other two books (The Girl Beneath the Sea and Black Coral), and one of the things I like the most is Sloan's character development. Sloan is growing up as the series progresses. She's learning to control her impulsiveness as well as to rely on her own opinions rather than looking for validation from men.

A main character with a distinctive (and addictive) voice, thrilling underwater scenes, and a compelling mystery all mean that, once again, I'm looking forward to Sloan McPherson's next adventure. Bring it on!

Sea Storm by Andrew Mayne

eISBN: 9781542032230

Thomas & Mercer © 2022

eBook, 300 pages

Thriller, #3 Underwater Investigation Unit

Rating: B+

Source: Net Galley

The Bone Cay by Eliza Nellums

 

First Line: From the edge of the shore, Magda paused to look left, where the roots might catch on hair or clothing.

 

Over the past decade, Smithsonian-trained caretaker Magda Trudell has lovingly restored Whimbrel House, the Key West estate of famous poet Isobel Reyes, who committed suicide there in 1918. The restoration has consumed Magda's life, so much so that she refuses to leave when a monster hurricane heads straight for Key West. 

 

The tremendous force of the hurricane causes a fire in Whimbrel House, a collapse of part of the building, and flooding. In her attempts to protect the house, Magda finds an old steamer trunk with the remains of a woman inside. Feeling that these remains have something to do with Isobel Reyes, she's keen to start searching for clues, but when a teenage girl and her father come seeking shelter, Magda is forced to put her search on the back burner to focus on them.

 

As the waters rise and the wind rages, more questions surface due to the odd behavior of the man and his daughter. Are they really who they say they are? And are any of them actually going to survive the storm, which shows no signs of letting up?

 

~

 

It's been over a week since I read The Bone Cay, but I can still hear the roaring of the wind and still feel an old house crumbling beneath me as the waters rise-- Eliza Nellum's claustrophobic setting is that good. The mystery as to what really happened to the poet Isobel Reyes is easy to deduce, but that is such a small part of what is going on in this book that it almost doesn't signify.

Magda Trudell is a fantastic character. Smithsonian-trained, her dedication and focus on Whimbrel House and Isobel Reyes is total. She has spent over a decade of her life determined to restore the house and grounds to their original state so that, if Isobel were to return, the poet would find it exactly as she left it. From the lemurs living on the estate, to the condition of the floors, to her tender nurturing of heritage Key lime trees, Magda's own life is subsumed by Whimbrel House, and when the two strangers appear needing shelter, she wishes she didn't have to bring them in because it means she has less time to save "her" house. Readers will soon discover that when Magda says to herself "at least she could try," this woman is more than willing to die trying. She will not give up, even as her suspicions about the teenage girl and her father become more profound.

Everything is so serious. Two strange people Magda needs to keep an eye on. The hurricane raging all around them. Most of their provisions lost in the floodwaters. Her beloved old house being eaten alive by hungry-looking murky water. An old trunk filled with old bones. The tension is even higher than the suspense, so it's good that there are occasional flashes of dark humor that allow readers (and Magda) to laugh and lighten up for a moment or two.

The Bone Cay is a tension-filled tale of survival that kept me wondering how Magda Trudell could come out on top when everything was stacked against her. I was in the mood for an elemental, atmospheric, nail-biting tale about a strong, memorable woman. I wish that I could meet her again in the future.

The Bone Cay by Eliza Nellums

eISBN: 9781643858456

Crooked Lane Books © 2021

eBook, 288 pages

 

Thriller, Standalone

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley

Black Coral by Andrew Mayne

 

First Line: Everyone is looking at me funny.

 

When police diver Sloan McPherson arrives at the scene of an accident in which a driver crashed through a guardrail and into a Florida canal, little does she realize she's embarking on a possibly life-changing moment. Not only is the canal home to alligators, but it's also known to be one of the haunts of Big Bill, the biggest, the meanest alligator of them all.

 

As she swims through the murky canal, hoping that Big Bill is occupied elsewhere, she finds a second car submerged in the water. Inside are the bodies of four teenagers who disappeared thirty years ago after attending a rock concert. At first, the teens' deaths are thought to be a horrible accident, but the evidence points to murder. The more Sloan uncovers, she realizes that there's been a serial killer working this area for quite some time, and the discovery of a recent murder shows that the killer may be back in business. 

Will Sloan unmask him and bring him to justice, or will he be able to silence her?

~

This is the third book I've read written by Andrew Mayne, and it won't be my last. This writer knows how to tell an exciting story that captures my imagination. In the case of this Underwater Investigation Unit series, it's the visuals and information about diving that Mayne provides that help keep me glued to the action.

Sloan McPherson is a strong main character. She comes from a family whose shady past is well-known, and this has given her the idea that she's always got something to prove-- especially to those in law enforcement.  She's working on a degree in archaeology, and since she's the only police diver available in an area filled with coastline, canals, and the Everglades, she has plenty to keep her busy. She's passionate about what she does, and she can be impulsive, which means there can be situations when she should keep her mouth shut... but doesn't.

In the first book in the series, The Girl Beneath the Sea, I was exasperated by Sloan's TSTL (Too Stupid to Live) moments when she would take unnecessary risks. This was especially annoying since she's a single mother. I'd contemplated not finishing the book, but Mayne does know how to tell a riveting story. I decided that the jury would be out until I'd given this second book a try. The jury is now in. What happened?

I think this is a situation where Mayne and I both underwent a change. Although there were dangerous moments for Sloan in Black Coral, she didn't blunder into things without a care in the world. She assessed the situation, she understood the risks, and she took as many precautions as possible. The TSTL moments were gone. In addition, I had my own epiphany. I realized that I was applying my own double standard. Why did I think it was more acceptable for a male character who's a father to do extremely dangerous things than it was for a woman who's a mother? Yes, Sloan is a single mother, but her ex-husband is an excellent father who doesn't shirk any of his responsibilities toward their daughter, and it's obvious through scenes with her tween daughter, Jackie, that Sloan is raising an intelligent, responsible, caring person.  So... as long as Sloan abandons those TSTL moments, I'm totally supportive of her occupation. See? Reading fiction can make people smarter!

With all this talk about characterization, I don't want you to think that the story lacked meat on its bones. Serial killer books aren't my favorite, but this one was done extremely well because, for most of the book, this was a cold case in which a lot of time had to be spent on teasing out clues and evidence. Readers weren't following along in the footsteps of a crazed killer. I also liked all the jurisdictional infighting Black Coral shows. Sometimes you wonder how all the various law enforcement agencies manage to get anything done. 

Black Coral also works very well as an audiobook. I do like Sloan McPherson's "voice", and narrator Susannah Jones brings her to life. She also does a good job with male voices (much better than the male attempting female voices in the audiobook I'm reading now). I was in the mood for an exciting story with a strong lead character, and Andrew Mayne's second Underwater Investigation Unit thriller was just what the doctor ordered. I'm definitely looking forward to book number three.

Black Coral by Andrew Mayne

Narrated by Susannah Jones

ASIN: B08D3XGR55

 Brilliance Audio © 2021

Audiobook. 9 hours, 13 minutes

Thriller, #2 Underwater Investigation Unit

Rating: A-

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

Reckless Creed by Alex Kava

 

First Line: Tony Briggs coughed up blood, then wiped his mouth with his shirtsleeve.

 

Mysterious deaths aren't anything new. In Chicago, a young man jumps to his death from the thirtieth floor of a hotel. In Missouri, hunters find a lake covered in dead snow geese. In southern Alabama, Ryder Creed and his search-and-rescue dog Gracie find the body of a young woman who filled her pockets with rocks and walked into a river. Seemingly unrelated, right? But when FBI agent Maggie O'Dell and Ryder Creed begin to investigate, very disturbing facts begin to show themselves. These deaths are connected, and if Maggie and Creed are right, they're searching for potentially the most prolific killer in the United States. 

 

~

 

Alex Kava's Ryder Creed series is one that I have to keep myself from gobbling up like a starving woman, and Reckless Creed is no exception. The stories are exceptional, and I love the relationship between Creed and his amazing dogs. Kava goes a long way into explaining just what remarkable talents dogs have. 

 

In an article about Creed and his business, K9 Crime Scents, a journalist talking about his success said, "They did it by rescuing abandoned and discarded dogs and turning them into heroes." In fact, as Creed's success becomes better known, more and more people are abandoning pets at the end of his driveway. This has the conflicting effect of making me angry and my being thankful that at least the dogs have a much better shot at a good life.

Published in 2016, having a story revolve around dogs that can sniff out diseases ratcheted up the tension and chill factor now that we are battling a pandemic. In Reckless Creed, we learn more about young Jason Seaver, a vet with a prosthetic limb and an often troublesome attitude, as well as the plight of other returned veterans who must deal with the search for proper-fitting prosthetics and doctors who seem to love to over-medicate. Creed has Jason training a young dog, and it's good to see them learning to work with each other.

 

If you enjoy exciting stories, fantastic working dogs, and a passionate main character you can believe in, Alex Kava's Ryder Creed series is the one for you. I'd suggest that you start at the beginning with Breaking Creed. It was one of my Best Reads of 2019. 

Reckless Creed by Alex Kava

eISBN: 9780698160699

G.P. Putnam's Sons © 2016

eBook, 336 pages

 

Law Enforcement/Working Dogs, #3 Ryder Creed mystery

Rating: A

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

The Girl Beneath the Sea by Andrew Mayne

 

First Line: Something else is in the water.

Sloan McPherson comes from a long line of Florida treasure hunters and drug smugglers, but she's working hard to forge her own path out of her family's shadow for herself and for her daughter. Working on her doctorate in archaeology, Sloan is a police diver for the Lauderdale Shores Police Department.

 

When Sloan finds the body of a woman floating in a canal-- a woman Sloan knew as a girl-- all eyes are on Sloan. The police, the DEA, the FBI, all of law enforcement wonders if she's the prime suspect, and they start following every move she makes. As a result, she finds herself teamed with the one person she hates: a DEA agent who put her uncle behind bars. Together, the two are going to have to outsmart a ruthless cartel searching for a lost fortune.

 

~

 

I was introduced to Andrew Mayne's writing by his first Dr. Theo Cray mystery, The Naturalist, and when I learned that this mystery was the first in a new series about a woman police diver, I knew I had to give it a try. At the end of The Girl Beneath the Sea, I had mixed emotions... but I'm game to read the next book in the series (Black Coral, released in February 2021).

 

Mayne certainly knows how to tell a riveting story, even though the plot seems to be a bit far-fetched at times, and he also knows how to create a main character with a distinctive voice. The youngest child and only girl of the McPherson family, Sloan is a self-professed "alpha wolf," and it's true that her brothers do not make appearances in this book. Her shady family background in treasure hunting and drug smuggling has made her believe that she's always got to prove herself to everyone, and it's this that I had the most problems with. As an alpha wolf, she thinks nothing of putting herself in extremely dangerous situations with no backup, and I found her occasional TSTL (Too Stupid To Live) moments exasperating, especially since she's a single mother. If the story hadn't been so compelling, I would have stopped reading for this reason alone. I can't stand women who are TSTL.

 

However, as I said, Mayne knows how to tell a compelling story, and there are two things I really liked about The Girl Beneath the Sea: (1) teaming Sloan with DEA agent George Solar, a man she hates for putting her beloved uncle behind bars, and (2) the underwater scenes. Mayne is a diver himself, and he brings the underwater sequences to life. There's a lot of fascinating information about diving and the underwater world to be learned here, and he really had me squirming whenever Sloan was diving in those murky Florida canals. (I love the water, but I want to be able to see what's in the water with me if you know what I mean.) Teaming Sloan with George Solar puts a cap on those hare-brained solo stunts of hers and makes her grow up emotionally.

 

Even though the plot seemed a bit unbelievable from time to time, and even though I wanted to shake some sense into Sloan whenever she decided to dive in and save the day all by her lonesome, I do want to read the next book in the series. If Sloan continues her ill-advised ways in the second book, that's when I'll call it quits.

The Girl Beneath the Sea by Andrew Mayne

eISBN: 9781542009577

Thomas & Mercer © 2020

eBook, 328 pages

Thriller,  #1 Underwater Investigation Unit

Rating: C+

Source: Purchased from Amazon.

Breaking Creed by Alex Kava

First Line: Sweat slid down Amanda's back.

It was never Ryder Creed's intention to wind up in the spotlight, but that's exactly what's happened to him and the dogs he's trained for search and rescue, finding cadavers, and sniffing out drugs and bombs. Creed may not like it, but his partner says the publicity's good for their fledgling business.

One job has Creed and his Jack Russel Terrier named Grace searching a commercial fishing vessel off the coast of Florida. They discover that the Colombian cartel's latest shipment isn't drugs-- it's human.

Meanwhile, FBI agent Maggie O'Dell is following the trail of a brutal assassin. She's worked with Creed once before, so when she discovers a hit list with his name on it, she immediately goes into action. Hopefully, she isn't too late...

Last September, I happened to read an article about the top mystery series featuring working dogs, and Alex Kava's Ryder Creed series was on it. I've already sampled the others on the list and thought that it was high time I cracked open Breaking Creed. Boy howdy-- once I did, I didn't want to stop reading!

Breaking Creed has all the hallmarks of a thriller: the breakneck pace, lots of action, multiple locations,  and just the type of loathsome bad guys that made audiences boo! and hiss! in the old silent movie theaters. If that was all it had, it would be a good book, but it has a lot more.

I loved getting to know Creed and seeing the perfect set-up he has for his dogs-- the kennels, the fact that he trains rescue dogs, and that he's building facilities for a veterinarian. I pretended that I was part of the audience in one of those old silent movie theaters when I learned what many of his neighbors were doing, and then there was the pleasure of seeing Creed at work with his dogs. I'm the type of person who believes one of the best things in life is to find oneself in the middle of a romping pile of puppies, so you know I'm thrilled with the burgeoning subgenre of working dog mysteries.

There are some interesting secondary characters as well, like young Amanda and Jason, a vet who served in Afghanistan. Having Maggie O'Dell make an appearance from Kava's other series undoubtedly brought many Maggie fans over, but I'd never read a Maggie O'Dell mystery before. Guess what happened? Now I've added the Maggie O'Dell series to my Need-To-Read list.

What can I say? I'm the type of reader who is disciplined enough to put my book down when it's necessary, but I was enjoying Breaking Creed so much that I read until I finished the book at 5 AM. I'm certainly looking forward to reading the other books in the series, but in the meantime... anyone got a couple of toothpicks so I can prop my eyelids open?

Breaking Creed by Alex Kava

eISBN: 9780698160675

G.P. Putnam's Sons © 2015

eBook, 309 pages

Law Enforcement/Working Dogs, #1 Ryder Creed mystery

Rating: A+

Source: Purchased from Amazon. 

Flamingo Road by Sasscer Hill

First Line: My name is Fia McKee, and I was a Baltimore City cop until that November night when I drove through West Baltimore alone.

Put on leave from the Baltimore Police Department, Fia McKee is given a second chance and grabs at the opportunity to work undercover for the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau (TRPB) at Gulfstream Park in Florida. Working as an exercise rider and keeping an eye on two racetrack workers whose horses consistently outperform all expectations, she moves in with her brother Patrick and his daughter Jilly who live near Gulfstream.

Fia's job becomes increasingly complicated with teenage horse lover Jilly living in the same house, a Cuban gang living off the grid, a group of unscrupulous gamblers, and a very handsome do-gooder. She's a busy woman indeed.

This is a very good racetrack-themed mystery that's only marred by the main character being attracted to two men at the same time. That's mere personal preference; however, so if you do prefer romantic triangles you'll have even more reason to enjoy Flamingo Road. 

Sasscer Hill has created an excellent racetrack setting with doping schemes to improve the horses' performances on the track, gamblers whose greed leads them to form syndicates looking for the next big drug that will escape detection by organizations like the TRPB, and owners who want to turn over a fast buck and refuse to spend time or money on their horses if they don't win races. Racing can be a cutthroat business, and Hill portrays this very well indeed.

She has also created a topnotch main character. The murder of her horse trainer father still haunts Fia McKee, but she is one sharp, gutsy person when it comes to working undercover. One of the things I like the most about her is that she doesn't run around taking one unnecessary risk after another-- she uses her head. 

I enjoyed this fast-paced mystery that looks deep into the heart of horse racing, and I'm looking forward to Fia's next investigation.
 

Flamingo Road by Sasscer Hill

ISBN:  9781250096913

Minotaur Books © 2017

Hardcover, 320 pages

Law Enforcement, #1 Fia McKee mystery

Rating: A

Source: publisher 


   

A Twist of the Knife by Becky Masterman

First Line: The first execution I attended wasn't by lethal injection but by Old Sparky. 

When her former partner, Laura Coleman, asks for her help, ex-FBI agent Brigid Quinn leaves her home and husband in Tucson, Arizona, and heads for her childhood home of Florida. 

Laura is on leave from the Bureau and has been volunteering for a legal group trying to prove the innocence of a man who is on death row for killing his family. Laura is convinced the man is innocent. Brigid isn't so sure. The date for his execution is coming up fast so they have to work quickly. There's only one thing slowing Brigid down: her father is ill and in a local hospital. 

I have read and enjoyed Becky Masterman's previous two Brigid Quinn books Rage Against the Dying and Fear the Darkness, and I really looked forward to A Twist of the Knife. While still a strong book, I didn't find it quite as enjoyable as the other two.

I think one of my problems was the fact that I missed two things quite a bit: the Tucson setting of the other books, and the absence of Brigid's husband Carlo. Carlo is such a wise, strong, comforting presence that Skyping and phone calls just didn't cut the mustard for me. Perhaps it's because I identify too strongly with Brigid, another woman who found the love of her life after the age of fifty. Watching Brigid become accustomed to sharing her life with another person has been a pleasure for me.

Due to the scheduled execution date of the condemned man, the action of A Twist of the Knife takes place within a very short period of time, and Brigid has to go nonstop in order to take care of both her parents and of her share of the investigation. Masterman made me feel as exhausted as Brigid had to be. 

Family dynamics play a crucial role in this book. After all, the man is on death row for killing his family, and we have the added drama of Brigid's own family web of secrets. Her relationship with her parents has always been troubled, and we learn the reasons why. Her father is gravely ill. Her mother is acting very strangely. She's unhappy with her brother Todd who's ignoring his father's illness and concentrating on the same investigation on which his sister is working. Many times it felt as though Brigid's own family situation was working against the subplot of proving (or disproving) the condemned man's innocence, and this weakened both storylines for me a bit.

A Twist of the Knife is still a good, strong book with a main character I'm addicted to. How can I resist a woman who's seen so much evil, who's experienced so much, and who now believes that "we're all mysteries that can't be solved"? 
 

A Twist of the Knife by Becky Masterman

ISBN: 9781250074515

Minotaur Books © 2017

Hardcover, 320 pages

Thriller, #3 Brigid Quinn

Rating: B+

Source: publicist  


 

Cracked to Death by Cheryl Hollon

First Line: "Come on. Do the right thing-- again."

Savannah Webb has the perfect idea to help St. Petersburg, Florida residents beat the summer heat and boost sales in Webb's Glass Shop: a workshop that uses recyclable bottles. The class is taught by store manager Amanda Blake, and it's a bigger hit than anyone had anticipated due in part to a pair of very old bottles brought in by Martin Lane.

The bottles may be relics of a storied local pirate shipwreck, and it looks as though someone is taking their existence very seriously. Too seriously. Martin's body washes ashore the next morning with another of the bottles tucked in his dive bag. When cell phone records tie Amanda to Martin's death, Savannah has to find the real killer and keep her friend from going to prison.

With glass-making, antique glass, and pirate treasure, Cracked to Death looked to be right up my alley. There was enough information about glass-- and upcycling-- to keep my interest, and Savannah's recently expanded shop meant that I kept an eye peeled on her business acumen. It was also refreshing to see that Savannah has a good rapport with local police. One thing that's been done to death in cozy mysteries is the dumb, obstructive police officer in charge of an investigation. 

The author has also created some interesting characters, and I don't just mean Savannah Webb. There's the British heartthrob Edward Morris, Rooney the Weimaraner, and-- most importantly to me-- Jacob Underwood, a young man with Asperger's who's become a stained glass restoration expert. 

However, I chose the wrong series to start off with book number three. In her role as Suspect #1, store manager Amanda Blake's behavior just turned me completely off. To the tune that I didn't care if her innocence was proven or not. Pretty harsh, I know. But if I'd gotten to know Amanda pre- lies, evasions, suspicious actions, and emotional crackups, I undoubtedly would have had some badly needed empathy for her. 

If you're not new to the series, then you should be very happy-- especially since you already know Amanda. If you're new to the series, like I was, I would suggest that you may want to start with the first book in the series so you can avoid any possible adverse reactions to Savannah's store manager. There is a lot to like about Cracked to Death.
       

Cracked to Death by Cheryl Hollon

eISBN: 9781617737657

Kensington Books © 2016

eBook. 320 pages

Cozy Mystery, #3 Webb's Glass Shop mystery

Rating: C+

Source: Net Galley