When the Sandpiper Calls : a cozy mystery by Peggy Darty

Christy Castleman is the local "mystery lady" of Summer Breeze, a town on the Florida Panhandle. Her first mystery novel is a success, and now Christy faces a looming deadline for her second, which keeps her at her computer at all hours. Then she discovers an antique green bottle on the beach with a note: "Call the police. Someone is trying to kill me." Is this a joke? Or is something more sinister going on in Summer Breeze? And what's happened to aggressive realtor Marty McAllister, who has suddenly disappeared from the town? A real murder mystery is brewing right in Summer Breeze, and Christy is in the thick of it.

When a homeless man and then another resident who had protested the realtor's aggressive development on his island are arrested, Christy worries that the real murderer is still on the loose. A further development in the case comes when a jewelry heist in New York back in the 1980s is tied into the murder. The ending is unexpected a bit more violent than I anticipated for a cozy mystery.

Christy has a loving extended family, ranging from her benevolent pastor father to a kid brother who is off in Australia trying to "find himself." One of the most enjoyable characters is Jack, a fisherman and at one time her future father-in-law, with whom Christy maintains a delightful relationship. Christy's almost-too-good-to-be-believed Granny provides respite in the form of country cooking, deep faith, sage advice, and her own wisdom about the murder. Her Granny is hoping Christy will find romance, and it isn't long before Christy meets the handsome war hero Major Dan Brockman, who seems intent on sweeping her off her feet. However, Christy's heart is still aching from a tragic love affair in the past, and she's unsure if she's ready for another man in her life. The Sassy Snowbirds, a fun group of "red hat" women over 50, are Christy's biggest supporters and add color and a bit of help with figuring out some clues. One of the most realistic parts of the book is her relationship with her mother, which shows the emotional complexity between them, while loving, are always marked by a bit of tension. So I enjoyed the variety of characters the author brought to life.

Breaking Cover by J.D. Rhoades

Story unfolds with a newspaper story of two young boys who have been kidnapped from a rural North Carolina town. Tony Wolf lives a reclusive life, but has gotten noticed nevertheless for being such a mysteryman. While driving home from doing errands he spots a white van and sees a terrified young face screaming out the window. He follows the van and discovers the kidnapped boys. He is torn between doing nothing and doing everything. He takes the kidnapper out and calls 911 leaving the boys behind to be rescued by the local cops. But too many questions are left unanswered. He is recognized on a surveillance tape from the local gas station, and suddenly the FBI is very interested. His cover is blown.

Undercover FBI agent Tony Wolf had infiltrated a meth-dealing biker gang until his cover was blown; since then, he's been living under an assumed name outside Pine Lake, N.C. Not even his wife or his employers know where he is. Wolf was believed dead after his cover was blown 4 years ago. When a local reporter comes to his house he knows it is just a matter of time before his enemies come knocking. Now his location is known and he is on the run. To those who have been watching and waiting for him to reappear—drug-crazed bikers thirsty for vengeance, FBI agents hoping to either rescue or silence him and an aggressive local reporter. Wolf proves to be the sort who, once cornered, is far more deadly than his pursuers could have imagined.

While this book had some very violent sections, so I had to skim read those parts, it was a very exciting read. The characters are believable and engaging. It leaves you wanting to know more. I have not read this author before but am curious now to what his previous books are like.

Visions in Death by J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts)

Set in the year is 2059, NCY Detective, Eve Dallas is called to Central Park to investigate the murder of Elisa Maplewood. Arriving in an expensive gown and heels, Dallas has to balance her private socail life with her life as a police detective. But death is not neat and tidy and Dallas cannot forget that. The killer had gone to great lengths and taken unnecessary risks in order to stage the scene...the victim was displayed on the rocks near the lake, herhands posed as if in prayer, with a single red ribbon around her neck. Upon closer examination, Dallas discovers the most alarming, as well as, the most telling clue, the eyes had been removed with surgical precision.

When Celina Sanchez, a licensed, registered psychic offers to help with the investigation by sharing her disturbingand surprisingly accurate visions, Dallas is less than receptive to the idea. However, after an extensive background checkand some cajoling, Dallas and Peabody pay Celina a visit at her home. Despite following up on all leads, exhaustive searches and Celina's visions, more bodies were discovered with the killer's grotesque signature.

It doesn't take long for Dallas to determine that the killer hates women and is fascinated by his own strength and domination over women. So she agrees to an interview with the press, reporter NadineFurst, in order to bring the killer out into the open. While Dallas was right about his reaction, she miscalculated the target of his rage. She had anticipated, as the lead investigator, the killer would come after her, instead her partner, Detective Peabody was viciously and mercilessly attacked.

During the hunt for this psychopath, she is forced to deal with abuse issues from her childhood that she has spent a life-time trying to bury. Dallas finally tells Peabody about her past and her battle with demons that she fights every day. It is always interesting to see how Dallas will handle her personal life and friendships. Interesting twist at the end that made the storyline more believeable.

China Lake : an Evan Delaney novel
by Meg Gardiner

The story begins with a religious cult jeering at an AIDS funeral in Santa Barbara, California attended by Evan Delaney. When Peter Wyoming and The Remnant start spewing their hatred the better angels of her nature require her to get in this guy's face. She assumes he is just a bigot, but Evan under estimates this guy, and quickly discovers that Tabitha, her sister-in-law, is a member of The Remnant. Tabitha is still married to Brian, Evan's brother, but she left several months ago and it has been Evan who ended up raising their six-year-old son Luke while Brian was away on carrier duty. Evan's immediate fear is that Tabitha will want Luke back, and she is determined to protect the boy. Fortunately as a Navy brat, a lawyer, and the author of a science fiction novel "Lithium Sunset" featuring the heroine Rowan (the novel is apparently quite popular in high desert cowboy bars), Evan has resources to go alone with her stubbornness and intelligence.

This is a very fast-paced story but I have to say I rolled my eyes a lot. Every situation just seemed so contrived to me and I felt annoyed by it. Even the start of the story with the funeral being picked by this religious group who just happens to have a member who is married to her brother. Of course we find out much more personal stuff is really going on. Plus both Evan and her brother, Brian, are ready to just do whatever they want without thinking of any kinds of consequences. Personally I don't think if the police pulled me over that I would do any of the stuff that happens but that is just me.

Interesting enough the author lives in London but grew up on Southern California. I might read more but I need some distance between myself before I try again.

Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan

Set on the last day of business of a Connecticut Red Lobster, we see the story from the manager, Manny DeLeon's point of view. He is a conscientious, committed restaurant manager any national chain would want to keep. Instead, corporate has notified Manny that his—and Manny does think of the restaurant as his—New Britain, Conn., location is not meeting expectations and will close December 20. On top of that, he'll be assigned to a nearby Olive Garden and downgraded to assistant manager.

It's a loss he tries to rationalize much as he does the loss of Jacquie, a waitress and the former not-so-secret lover he suspects means more to him than his girlfriend Deena, who is pregnant with his child. On this last night, Manny is committed to a dream of perfection, but no one and nothing seems to share his vision: a blizzard batters the area, customers are sparse, employees don't show up and Manny has a tough time finding a Christmas gift for Deena. Lunch gives way to dinner with hardly anyone stopping to eat, but Manny refuses to close early or give up hope.

This short book is really packed with great dialog and descriptions of people who work and eat at the Lobster. I read this for my bookclub and we had our discussion at a Red Lobster. You really see a small part of the working class America.