Dead Man's Float (Jersey Shore Mysteries)

Rating:
Summary: Tight plotting keeps you turning pages
Review: Anne Hardaway is shocked to see Tigger Mills has returned to her home town of Oceanside Heights, New Jersey. No one's seen him since the summer 20 years ago when he was accused of burning down a hotel and killing a little girl in the process. Attitudes in the town haven't changed, and Anne is one of the few people willing to talk to Tigger. When he confides that he's received a death threat, Anne thinks little of it. But the next morning, he's found floating in the surf. Teaming up with Tigger's brother Jack, she sets out to find who killed her friend. But the truth will take her into secrets she never suspected her neighbors were hiding. Can she sort through them all and learn the truth?

I thoroughly enjoyed this series debut. The resort town setting is fun and the characters are intriguing. I especially liked the two leads, and it was easy to feel sympathetic for them. What stood out most to me was the plot, however. The surprises never let up and keep you guessing. I was glued to the book, trying to figure out how everything fit together.

I will definitely be booking more time with Anne in Oceanside Heights. This series is a great way to spend a few hours relaxing at the beach, or anywhere else for that matter.

Rating:
Summary: Tight plotting keeps you turning pages
Review: Anne Hardaway is shocked to see Tigger Mills has returned to her home town of Oceanside Heights, New Jersey. No one's seen him since the summer 20 years ago when he was accused of burning down a hotel and killing a little girl in the process. Attitudes in the town haven't changed, and Anne is one of the few people willing to talk to Tigger. When he confides that he's received a death threat, Anne thinks little of it. But the next morning, he's found floating in the surf. Teaming up with Tigger's brother Jack, she sets out to find who killed her friend. But the truth will take her into secrets she never suspected her neighbors were hiding. Can she sort through them all and learn the truth?

I thoroughly enjoyed this series debut. The resort town setting is fun and the characters are intriguing. I especially liked the two leads, and it was easy to feel sympathetic for them. What stood out most to me was the plot, however. The surprises never let up and keep you guessing. I was glued to the book, trying to figure out how everything fit together.

I will definitely be booking more time with Anne in Oceanside Heights. This series is a great way to spend a few hours relaxing at the beach, or anywhere else for that matter.

Rating:
Summary: reading at the shore
Review: Beth Sherman is an intriguing writer. I loved reading a book with familiar towns like Red Bank, Asbury Park and other local towns mentioned. She also mentioned how the Fannie Farmer candy store in Red Bank is now a Starbucks coffee shop. This is the perfect beach read. Try the whole series - I know I will!

Rating:
Summary: reading at the shore
Review: Beth Sherman is an intriguing writer. I loved reading a book with familiar towns like Red Bank, Asbury Park and other local towns mentioned. She also mentioned how the Fannie Farmer candy store in Red Bank is now a Starbucks coffee shop. This is the perfect beach read. Try the whole series - I know I will!

Rating:
Summary: terrific new series . . .
Review: Oh, I do like Anne Hardaway! In her mid-thirties, struggling with life, trying to earn an honest living, she's everywoman, rolled into one. Shy, insecure yet tough when she needs to be, Anne lives in the small oceanside town in which she was born, and has always lived. This is both good and bad. The good part is that she knows everyone and they know her.The bad part is that she knows everyone and they know her.

Nearly twenty years earlier -- the summer Annie graduated from high school, and the country celebrated it's Bi-Centennial -- a tragedy occurred in Oceanside Heights. A little girl died in a fire that destroyed an old hotel. The town's pre-eminent 'bad boy' was suspected, but before anything could really be proved--for or against-- Tigger Mills left town, never to return. Until this year.

Drawn to him as she had been all those years earlier, Anne has a brief encounter with Tigger, and the promise of more to come -- but the promise will be unfulfilled, as Tigger drowns early the next morning. His half-brother Jack comes home from New York City to find out what happened.

Various elements of small-town life take their turn on center stage: the religious campground aura that defines Oceanside Heights; renewing acquaintances with former school-mates, some of whom would rather stay distant; getting to know Jack and his new life; and over all, families then and now, and the many secrets buried and thought dead only to have them come to life again.

I loved this book. I love Ann Hardaway as a character, and will go search out books two and three in the series. The first two that I've read have been well written, with wonderful characterization (both the goodies and the baddies are fully realized), and the setting is marvelous. Reading one of these Jersey Shore Mysteries is almost as good as a week spent on the beach. Try one for yourself--I think you'll agree!

Rating:
Summary: terrific new series . . .
Review: Oh, I do like Anne Hardaway! In her mid-thirties, struggling with life, trying to earn an honest living, she's everywoman, rolled into one. Shy, insecure yet tough when she needs to be, Anne lives in the small oceanside town in which she was born, and has always lived. This is both good and bad. The good part is that she knows everyone and they know her.The bad part is that she knows everyone and they know her.

Nearly twenty years earlier -- the summer Annie graduated from high school, and the country celebrated it's Bi-Centennial -- a tragedy occurred in Oceanside Heights. A little girl died in a fire that destroyed an old hotel. The town's pre-eminent 'bad boy' was suspected, but before anything could really be proved--for or against-- Tigger Mills left town, never to return. Until this year.

Drawn to him as she had been all those years earlier, Anne has a brief encounter with Tigger, and the promise of more to come -- but the promise will be unfulfilled, as Tigger drowns early the next morning. His half-brother Jack comes home from New York City to find out what happened.

Various elements of small-town life take their turn on center stage: the religious campground aura that defines Oceanside Heights; renewing acquaintances with former school-mates, some of whom would rather stay distant; getting to know Jack and his new life; and over all, families then and now, and the many secrets buried and thought dead only to have them come to life again.

I loved this book. I love Ann Hardaway as a character, and will go search out books two and three in the series. The first two that I've read have been well written, with wonderful characterization (both the goodies and the baddies are fully realized), and the setting is marvelous. Reading one of these Jersey Shore Mysteries is almost as good as a week spent on the beach. Try one for yourself--I think you'll agree!