Green Flash

Rating:
Summary: An excellent read, especially while traveling
Review: Being a rather dull sort, who's never sailed in my life, I wasn't sure whether this mystery would leave me behind with complex nautical terminology and such-- however, it caught my eye on a list of recommended mysteries involving romantic partners and so I decided to give it a try.

I'm so glad I did! Lawson's impressive skill at presenting a clever, unique plot while offering, too, unobtrusive information about that interesting world of sailing (as with the nautical glossary in the back of the book) made this an impressive and original read and I found it particularly fitting to enjoy this mystery while vacationing on the coast.

The characters are very likeable: Jessie is the type of confident, independent, witty, and upfront female who you gotta respect and admire-- and the exchanges between her and her husband, Neal, keep one amused and highly entertained throughout.

Happy to have found an orginal and talented new mystery author; her _Easing Sheets_ is excellent too. Looking forward to more from Ms. Lawson!

Rating:
Summary: An excellent read, especially while traveling
Review: Green Flash beckoned me to read it because it takes place in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, a tropical, sunny, ocean community where I have vacationed a few times. It was fun to be able to accurately visualize and "relive" being in the locations described.

As I began reading, the somewhat unsophisticated style of writing was obvious. Time is spent on some unnecessary details; the sentence structure and vocabulary, other than nautical terms, is fairly ordinary. There are some glaring editorial oversights: misplaced punctuation, incorrect word usage, such as "passed" instead of "past", and spelling errors.

In spite of that, I found Green Flash to be entertaining. It's a quick read and easy to follow, partly because of its uncomplicated style. The mystery itself was enticing. After Jessie and Neal discovered a woman's body floating in the ocean, they distastefully tied it up to their boat to haul it to shore. They had removed the video camera from the body, and had been ordered to turn it in to authorities as evidence, without opening it or disturbing the film. As they prepare to take it to Mexico City, they become involved with several of the members of the seafaring community, who create the cast of suspect characters.

It's during their journey to get the camera to Mexico City, that all the excitement takes place. Seemingly unrelated acts of violence and sabotage keep happening to them and the friends that accompany them. Will they make it to Mexico City, and what will the film reveal? Who is attacking them, and why? Who toppled the unfortunate Jennifer over the side of her boat, letting her drown?

I give credit to the author who has used her own ocean-going experiences to create this story, which I believe is her first. It was a fun and entertaining mystery.

Rating:
Summary: Adventure in Paradise
Review: Green Flash beckoned me to read it because it takes place in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, a tropical, sunny, ocean community where I have vacationed a few times. It was fun to be able to accurately visualize and "relive" being in the locations described.

As I began reading, the somewhat unsophisticated style of writing was obvious. Time is spent on some unnecessary details; the sentence structure and vocabulary, other than nautical terms, is fairly ordinary. There are some glaring editorial oversights: misplaced punctuation, incorrect word usage, such as "passed" instead of "past", and spelling errors.

In spite of that, I found Green Flash to be entertaining. It's a quick read and easy to follow, partly because of its uncomplicated style. The mystery itself was enticing. After Jessie and Neal discovered a woman's body floating in the ocean, they distastefully tied it up to their boat to haul it to shore. They had removed the video camera from the body, and had been ordered to turn it in to authorities as evidence, without opening it or disturbing the film. As they prepare to take it to Mexico City, they become involved with several of the members of the seafaring community, who create the cast of suspect characters.

It's during their journey to get the camera to Mexico City, that all the excitement takes place. Seemingly unrelated acts of violence and sabotage keep happening to them and the friends that accompany them. Will they make it to Mexico City, and what will the film reveal? Who is attacking them, and why? Who toppled the unfortunate Jennifer over the side of her boat, letting her drown?

I give credit to the author who has used her own ocean-going experiences to create this story, which I believe is her first. It was a fun and entertaining mystery.

Rating:
Summary: A terrific action/adventure yarn of mystery and intrigue!
Review: Green Flash is a maritime thriller in which Jessie and Neal Fox survive ambush and sabotage while delivering to the authorities a video camera they salvaged off the Mexican Riviera. It seems that the tape holds proof that a fatal accident at sea was really murder. L.M. Lawson demonstrates a dramatic talent for narrative storytelling in this novel spanning from the tropical heat of Zihautanejo to the grandeur of Mexico City, and will prove fast-paced, totally entertaining, highly recommended reading for anyone who likes a good action/adventure yarn of mystery and intrigue with a maritime flavor of sailing ships and foreign ports!

Rating:
Summary: Did I miss something?
Review: One thing about this book that is good is the cover...it sure looks cool. But that's about it. This book is sluggish and poorly written. The parts don't fit and it's disconnected. I stuggled through about 40 pages and then put it on the discard shelf. The author dwells in minutia..."I stood up...from the chair...put on my slipper....put on the other slipper...straightened my sock...fixed the other sock..." Arrrrggghhhh! That's about the pace of the book. If you just read every fifth word you can still get the point. Might be good test case for Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics.

Rating:
Summary: Even if you aren't a sailor, Lawson keeps you on the hook
Review: Really enjoyed this one. Liked sharing in the life of the hero. Felt like she was a real person. Not many books where you have a man and wife with a relationship you wish you had. Couldn't find any holes in the plot. I'll read the next one - at least I assume there will be one to follow.

Rating:
Summary: Real people living a great adventure
Review: This book was very entertaining. I have never sailed on a yacht, shopped in an open air market in Zihautanejo, or run with the likes of millionaires and murders but I did all that while in the clutches of Green Flash. It kept me coming back for more until, unfortunately, I finished it. The characters were very real and I warmed up to them right away. The author is a colorful writer and makes the reader feel as if they are right there in the midst of Neal and Jessie's adventures. I recommend that you not read the back cover beforehand. Not knowing what the outcome of this adventure might be, will keep you in greater suspense. Ahoy! I mean, enjoy! I surely did.

Rating:
Summary: A great read!
Review: This book was very entertaining. I have never sailed on a yacht, shopped in an open air market in Zihautanejo, or run with the likes of millionaires and murders but I did all that while in the clutches of Green Flash. It kept me coming back for more until, unfortunately, I finished it. The characters were very real and I warmed up to them right away. The author is a colorful writer and makes the reader feel as if they are right there in the midst of Neal and Jessie's adventures. I recommend that you not read the back cover beforehand. Not knowing what the outcome of this adventure might be, will keep you in greater suspense. Ahoy! I mean, enjoy! I surely did.

Rating:
Summary: Fast-paced maritime mystery delivers
Review: This fast paced maritime thriller will not disappoint those that love a good sail-tale and "who done it." Straight away you are lured into the many twists and turns the story takes. At the center is a very likeable couple, fortunate to be able to live the life they love on their sail boat. While cruising the beautiful Mexican coastal waters they discover the decomposing body of a missing woman. Horrified, they tie her up along side the boat and then discover a video camera still velcoed to her arm. Securing the camera on deck they have now placed themselves in the forefront of the case and the story zooms off wildly, while you frantically turn those pages as fast as you can to keep up. The first few chapters are shockers, (deomposing body parts, shark attacks, graphic drowning scenarios ) and the reader will surely discover their innate fears stimulated.

In contrast, you will still be able to feel a part of the sailing life style; socializing on deck and in town, the feel of the ship cutting through the water and the lull of the boat as they fall asleep at night. While not a life style suitable for everyone, the rewards for those taken by it are captivating and I personally enjoy discovering all the details. I would not mind meeting this likeable couple again, in say, Costa Rica?

Rating:
Summary: An intriguing read in a unique setting
Review: We are not sailors, but we loved every bit of this thriller and the insight it gave to the cruising community. Not only did Lawson keep us in suspense as to who did what, but she was adept at making us feel the heat of Mexico, the quality of life in the cruising community, the lushness of the mountain retreat at Alta Linda, the freshness and coolness of the ocean breezes, the love between Neal and Jessie, and the tension and friction that comes not only between them but also between them and their friends while they try to decide what to do with the video camera. A great mystery that will keep you hooked until the last page. We can't wait until the next one!