Fish or Cut Bait: A Pike's Marina Novel

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Summary: Bednar is two-for-two with his suspenseful mystery novels!
Review: Dave Bednar did it again! Fish or Cut Bait is just as suspenseful and entertaining as his first novel, Landlocked Sailors, and I was in anticipation of "who dunnit" until the last page! Fish or Cut Bait gripped my attention and I really enjoyed the fast-moving plot, unpredictability and entertaining character development that resonated throughout the novel. After the first few chapters, I felt so well-acquainted with the characters that I could picture them hanging out at Rum Runners, their favorite bar on the Lake Erie Bay. Whether you've visited Erie, PA or not, you'll love the Pike's Marina setting on the shores of Lake Erie. Between Jack, Teague, Beth and Gina, these are characters that you can truly relate to -- with their quirky personality traits, entertaining jargon and humorous quips that will make you laugh out loud. My favorite character is Gina Cachinni -- in my opinion, Bednar's best creation yet. You've turned me into a mystery reader Dave! Bednar's style is creative, fun and clever. Make's me ask the question . . . When's the next book due?

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Summary: Midwest Book Review - another winner from Dave Bednar
Review: This second in Dave Bednar's Pike's Marina series is a winner! He reprised the characters from Landlocked Sailors, much to my delight, and added a few new wrinkles to keep his readers hooked. And like his first book, the author's writing style is crisp and stylish.

Fish or Cut Bait begins a year from where Landlocked Sailors left off. Thomas Teague is back, still admiring Beth Osgood from a safe distance. Detachment from desire is more difficult this time around since Beth is now the first mate on his fishing boat, The Ancient Mariner. Beth has made Teague her main goal in life and makes it clear, in thought if not in actions, that one way or another she will hook her silent friend. Their rakehell pal, Jack Crevalle, is still wearing oddly decorated boxers everywhere he goes and bedding brunettes on his boat, the Seadawg. Teague's father - the aging, crafty WW 2 hero - has now joined ranks and is part owner of Pike's Marina. It's a draw as to which Pike's owner is the most curmudgeonly and canny - Teague's father or Beth's. All in all, they make a fine mix of characters that play off each other realistically. The Erie PA locales are described so realistically that I could see, feel, and smell the fog and air blown in across the lake.

This book begins with mysterious happenings on Lake Erie. On a fog enshrouded day, a boat is lost and finally towed in by the Coast Guard, minus passengers. Jack Crevalle is troubled by the situation As the Pike's Marina friends look on, hoping for word of survivors, Gina Cachinni appears to them from the fog and sends Jack's carefree life into a tailspin. Gina is the original brunette, Jack's first and only serious love, the one who broke their engagement to marry another, much richer man. To Jack, Gina represents a crack in time, a crack in his soul, a loss from which he never quite recovered.

All passengers aboard the foundered boat, the C-Dog, are lost and turn up dead not long after. Thomas and Ray Teague's suspicious military minds kick in at the obvious similarity between C-Dog and SeaDawg and the thought occurs that Jack may have been the target. Thomas, in particular, fears Gina may not be the sweet devoted long lost lover she pretends.

Gina quickly resumes her old relationship with an unusually reluctant Jack, while flirting with every male around, much to Beth's dismay. The petite and pretty Gina has big plans for Thomas Teague. She'll need accomplished heroes like Thomas and her ever-reliable Jack when the murderous Marvin Gardens aka Biggie Big comes in search of her! Her checquered past is rapidly zeroing in on Pike's Marina, and she knows it.

It's a heart pounder, with Thomas calling in old favors from his military contacts, and coming up against a killer twice his size. Jack also takes part in the battle, in his own inimitable style, as the friends from Pike's Marina work together to survive this latest plot to do them in.

Fish or Cut Bait is a great read, as was its predecessor. Dave Bednar's novels have realistic, wry and witty dialog, sometimes prickly humor, and characters who bring the story home in spades. I hope to see a third in this Pike's Marina series soon. One question begs an answer, Mr. Bednar. Will the more-than-patient Beth Osgood EVER get her man?

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Summary: Want A Different Kind of Mystery?Have I Got One for You!
Review: Try Fish or Cut Bait if you're looking for a different kind of mystery. A mystery concerning fishermen may not sound interesting to you. But take a good look at this one. It's definitely worth your time.
Jack Crevalle is a fun loving man who takes charters of fishermen on Lake Erie. A former officer with the Coast Guard, Jack keeps his boat the Sea Dawg in a slip in Pike's Marina, Erie, Pennsylvania.
One foggy morning a boat rescues two men found floating on Lake Erie, no ship in sight. Later five bodies are washed ashore, four men and a woman, each body bears gunshot wounds.
The same morning Gina,a sexy brunette who jilted Jack for another man appears out of the fog. Her ex-husband is in jail for drug dealing and Gina's running for her life.
With each page the tension mounts. There are several scenes where you'll feel breathless!
Fish or Cut Bait is full of twists and turns and surprises! I look forward to reading more of Bednaar's titles!
Review by Nancy Madison author of suspense and romantic comedy.