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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
Deadly Tides is book 2 in the Misty Pines mystery series. I enjoyed reading it, although I don’t think it was quite as good as book 1. In the early titles in long-running series, you can see the author working things out, and I feel like that’s happening here. The series has promise for a long run of its own.
The author has sprinkled her stories with a number of interesting side characters, and in this book we even get a dog! The character interactions are good, and the setting is intriguing.
The sheriff’s FBI ex-wife gets herself into a bad situation at one point, and I was so relieved that she did not require rescuing but extricated herself. I didn't love the (big spoiler), but I will definitely be on the lookout for book 3.
I read an advance reader copy of Deadly Tides from Netgalley.
The author has sprinkled her stories with a number of interesting side characters, and in this book we even get a dog! The character interactions are good, and the setting is intriguing.
The sheriff’s FBI ex-wife gets herself into a bad situation at one point, and I was so relieved that she did not require rescuing but extricated herself. I didn't love the (big spoiler
Spoiler
overused crazed grief-stricken female murdererI read an advance reader copy of Deadly Tides from Netgalley.
Trying to come to terms with the loss of a loved one, especially if it is a young child and especially if the loss was caused by a disease such as cancer, can be devastating. Separating spouses, mental illness and all sorts of problems are not uncommon. This is what happens to Sheriff Jax Turner and his wife Abby, an FBI agent. With extreme difficulty they are trying to put the pieces of their marriage back together, although Abby's mother's early Alzehimer's, which requires a lot of treatment, complicates things a bit. It is Abby's mother, who has escaped from the nursing home, who finds a foot on the beach, clearly cut from a body, setting in motion the series of events that form the plot of the book. There is a lot in this novel: grieving; jealousy - personal and professional; juvenile delinquency; the plight of small, underfunded American communities; the difficulty of accepting a gay son. In short, there is a lot, and perhaps a little too much, because in many cases one would feel the need for an in-depth look. Still, it remains an excellent novel, even if who is the serial killer that the sheriff and his wife are trying to identify is clear practically from the start.
I had never read anything by Mary Keliikoa before and you could say that Deadly Tides blew me out of the water.
I loved everything about this book - the flawed and sympathetic main characters, the strong supporting characters with their own unique personalities, the two intriguing mysteries that start out separate and become inextricably intwined, the rich descriptions of the setting, the change back and forth of the point of view. And just when I thought I had the mystery figured out, I questioned everything I though I knew.
Keliikoa has created a world the reader will want to visit again, in a page-tuner of a mystery. It is well-written and keeps you guessing and questioning throughout.
I'm pleased to have received an ARC of #DeadlyTides from #NetGalley and #LevelBestBooks.
I loved everything about this book - the flawed and sympathetic main characters, the strong supporting characters with their own unique personalities, the two intriguing mysteries that start out separate and become inextricably intwined, the rich descriptions of the setting, the change back and forth of the point of view. And just when I thought I had the mystery figured out, I questioned everything I though I knew.
Keliikoa has created a world the reader will want to visit again, in a page-tuner of a mystery. It is well-written and keeps you guessing and questioning throughout.
I'm pleased to have received an ARC of #DeadlyTides from #NetGalley and #LevelBestBooks.
I didn't know this book was the second in a series and normally it doesn't matter but this one felt like I had missed so much making the book harder to connect with.
I really enjoyed the story between Jax and Abby but I felt massively disconnected. I plan to reread this book once I have read book 1. It was that well written that it deserves another go around but right now...
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed the story between Jax and Abby but I felt massively disconnected. I plan to reread this book once I have read book 1. It was that well written that it deserves another go around but right now...
3.5 stars
This was my first read by this author and I was not disappointed. Police procedurals can get very drawn out and repetitive but this author writes in a way that will keep you engaged and wanting to read more. The twists were timely and unexpected.
The small town of Misty Pines’s crime rate is increasing again. What I enjoy about this series is how it combines thrilling crime with character development. It is a story just as much about the characters and their lives as it is about the crimes they are trying to solve. If you love crime set in a small town with excellent characters, you will enjoy this book and the series.
mysterious
slow-paced
3.7 Stars
One Liner: Better than book one but slower too
Misty Pines’ Sheriff Jax Turner is slowly getting his life on track. Of course, he is still struggling, and his ex-wife, Abby, doesn’t seem to be as interested in him. However, when the local surfing legend goes missing, Jax is busy gathering evidence and digging deeper.
Abby isn’t having it easy, either. A severed foot washes ashore, which seems connected to another missing case. Since it falls in Jax’s jurisdiction, she hands it over to him but takes up the investigation at the FBI level as more clues turn up.
As the waters get murky, Jax will have to find a way out and expose the layers of lies and agendas without risking precious lives in the process.
The story comes in the third-person POV of Jax and Abby.
My Thoughts:
Reading books one and two together sure helped. This one is better and doesn’t try to bring ‘surprise twists’. Though there’s a sort of curveball, the killer and clues are pretty much aligned.
Having Abby’s POV helped to an extent. We get to see both their perspectives about their personal lives. I also like that they are a work-in-progress, irrespective of the result.
Jax is much better in this book. He is more in control, assured, and capable. True that he is still coming to terms and makes some mistakes, but I like his arc (possibly more than Abby’s).
The mysteries go in parallel, and as new evidence comes to light, some things become clear, while some get murkier. The resolution is decent and not unexpected. A little more focus on the reason would have helped.
Apart from recurring characters like Trudy, Troy, Dylan, and Jax’s team, we have two new entries- Olek (Abby’s FBI partner) and Rachel. It will be interesting to see how they contribute to the future books.
Compared to book one, this one heavily leans on Jax and Abby’s past and present lives. There’s a reason for this. Nurse Margot, with her Maggi noodles curls, does her bit to keep the plot going.
While the setting and descriptions are nice to read, this is a slow-burn mystery mixed with some police procedural. Unlike book one, it takes a long time for the plot to pick up pace. The urgency of the storyline is not replicated in the narrative style. This contrast makes it a little hard to stay interested.
The book does work as a standalone, but I am not sure how much readers can connect with Jax and Abby’s strained relationship. Though we get the basic information, some important snippets are not repeated, which could make the characters feel distant (depends, though).
To summarize, Deadly Tides is an engaging slow-burn mystery with introspective themes like grief, healing, abandonment, family, relationships, etc. I like it better and will read book #3 next year (or whenever it is available).
Thank you, NetGalley and Level Best Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #DeadlyTides
This is the second book in this series, and I have been anxiously waiting for it to be published. I was glad to find it on NetGalley. This is a police procedural novel. The main character, Sheriff Jax, is a suffering soul who is very likable. He has a crew of reserve policemen who help him solve the mysteries. He is divorced, due to their child dying of leukemia, but he still loves his ex-wife. She is an FBI agent who is frequently involved in the same cases. This book is about feet, different men, that wash up 0n the shore. Are these two cases related? One of them is a surfboard builder whose blueprints are highly desirable. There is also the nurse who helped take care of Jax’s child. She has moved into the area and has a crush on Jax. She also keeps appearing in places she shouldn’t. What evolves is a well developed story where you feel the sympathies of the characters involved. I’m guessing there will be more adventures with Jax in the future!
I don't know if it's coincidental or like purposeful that both antagonists in all the Jax Turner novels I've read fromm Mary Keliikoa are female. It's also stranger because statistically male murderers are more like frequent that female ones but #girlpower #girlboss I guess?
The plot was definitely a ride because I didn't know who was actually the murderer. While Margot was definitely suspicious, I thought she was interested in Jax, not a whole murderer! Her motivation was definitely a bit stereotypical though because a woman with daddy issues being the murderer is a bit....distateful. Also the first book (Hidden Pieces I think) that had someone with a split personality. I think this means that Keliikoa just likes to recycle the stereotypical antagonists which is........nice.
I also think that it's really nice to see relationships heal from Jax and Abby to Rachel and her father. Even if Rachel and her father haven't been shown to reconcile, the implication is nice. Hopefully, they will. It's good to show healing relationships.
The plot was definitely a ride because I didn't know who was actually the murderer. While Margot was definitely suspicious, I thought she was interested in Jax, not a whole murderer! Her motivation was definitely a bit stereotypical though because a woman with daddy issues being the murderer is a bit....distateful. Also the first book (Hidden Pieces I think) that had someone with a split personality. I think this means that Keliikoa just likes to recycle the stereotypical antagonists which is........nice.
I also think that it's really nice to see relationships heal from Jax and Abby to Rachel and her father. Even if Rachel and her father haven't been shown to reconcile, the implication is nice. Hopefully, they will. It's good to show healing relationships.