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Red Tide
When both old and new secrets are uncovered at a burial site the timetable of a madman moves up.
Old secrets were buried in the beautiful mountain meadow. It was Jamie Taylor and her dog’s job to uncover them. Trouble is, they dug up some new secrets as well. While some families would find closure, others would soon find their lives ripped apart.
Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Grant becomes embroiled in the case while coming to terms with his own demons.
A madman watches from the distance while officials expose his clandestine playground—his private playground—much sooner than he planned.
But with any luck, not soon enough.
Old secrets were buried in the beautiful mountain meadow. It was Jamie Taylor and her dog’s job to uncover them. Trouble is, they dug up some new secrets as well. While some families would find closure, others would soon find their lives ripped apart.
Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Grant becomes embroiled in the case while coming to terms with his own demons.
A madman watches from the distance while officials expose his clandestine playground—his private playground—much sooner than he planned.
But with any luck, not soon enough.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
178 people are currently reading
1388 people want to read
About the author
Peg Brantley
10 books143 followersAn award winning atuhor, Peg Brantley is proud to be a member of Sisters In Crime and Colorado Authors' League. She and her husband make their home southeast of Denver, and have shared it with the occasional pair of mallard ducks and their babies, snapping turtles, peacocks, assorted other birds, foxes, a deer named Cedric and a bichon named McKenzie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
July 5, 2012
I bought this because the author is my cousin and am glad I did. I couldn't put it down. I loved the inclusion of the dogs as crime solvers. I did figure out early who the bad guy was, but that didn't matter. I loved watching everything unfold. I always appreciate strong female characters. I really appreciated that there was only a little mild language and no smut. A good clean read, especially if you love crime novels or TV shows. Thanks, Peg. I'm looking forward to the next one.
October 9, 2016
Reviewed by Sarah Stuart for Readers' Favorite
Red Tide (Aspen Falls Thrillers Book 1), Peg Brantley’s debut novel, opens with Jamie Taylor and her search dog, Gretchen, looking for the grave of a murdered woman, and she knows from bitter experience how necessary it is for families to bury their dead with dignity and find closure. Unknown to Jamie, Agent Nick Grant is on a similar mission. Almost a decade ago, Leopold Bonzer was jailed for the murder of fourteen people, but he has refused to give the location of thirteen of the graves. Bonzer, on the point of giving in and telling Nick, dies: the only clue left is a photograph of grassland in Colorado. Jamie expects to find one new body and discovers dated remains, and it isn’t the only new body, so is there a second serial killer targeting women in the Aspen Falls area?
Red Tide (Aspen Falls Thrillers Book 1) is a story that delves deep into the minds of serial killers, and the deeper evil that lies behind a faceless man: I was hooked from page one. What motivates Jamie, and her sister, Jax, a medical examiner? Why does Nick Grant, taken off the case because he’s hooked on drugs, refuse to give up, despite his fear of Jamie's dogs? Who is “The Hungry Ghost”, what is his true mission, and can he be found and stopped? Peg Brantley has written a powerful, character-driven, thriller that will challenge the likes of Tess Gerritsen and Lisa Gardner for readers: captivating and impossible to put down.
Red Tide (Aspen Falls Thrillers Book 1), Peg Brantley’s debut novel, opens with Jamie Taylor and her search dog, Gretchen, looking for the grave of a murdered woman, and she knows from bitter experience how necessary it is for families to bury their dead with dignity and find closure. Unknown to Jamie, Agent Nick Grant is on a similar mission. Almost a decade ago, Leopold Bonzer was jailed for the murder of fourteen people, but he has refused to give the location of thirteen of the graves. Bonzer, on the point of giving in and telling Nick, dies: the only clue left is a photograph of grassland in Colorado. Jamie expects to find one new body and discovers dated remains, and it isn’t the only new body, so is there a second serial killer targeting women in the Aspen Falls area?
Red Tide (Aspen Falls Thrillers Book 1) is a story that delves deep into the minds of serial killers, and the deeper evil that lies behind a faceless man: I was hooked from page one. What motivates Jamie, and her sister, Jax, a medical examiner? Why does Nick Grant, taken off the case because he’s hooked on drugs, refuse to give up, despite his fear of Jamie's dogs? Who is “The Hungry Ghost”, what is his true mission, and can he be found and stopped? Peg Brantley has written a powerful, character-driven, thriller that will challenge the likes of Tess Gerritsen and Lisa Gardner for readers: captivating and impossible to put down.
August 12, 2013
Red Tide is set an exciting suspense in Colorado. Bodies are discovered at a burial site. Believed to be the victims of a serial killer, who died some time ago, the situation changes when newer corpses are discovered among the older ones. The ME, the dog handler whose job it is to find the dead, and the FBI are left with a growing number of questions.
The story starts out well and is immediately engaging. The writing is crisp and tight, and the author introduces an interesting cast of characters. The relationship between the 4 friends is nicely done, with some unexpected surprises. Jamie's relationship with her animals is touching and a pleasure to read. The author provides quite detailed information about the search and rescue work they do, which I found particularly interesting.
The plot is clever and the author does a decent job of concealing the villain's identity until the last quarter of the book. Once it is revealed (or guessed), there is still a decent element of suspense left in the novel to keep the reader turning the pages.
This is my 2nd Brantley read and I'll certainly watch for more books by this author.
The story starts out well and is immediately engaging. The writing is crisp and tight, and the author introduces an interesting cast of characters. The relationship between the 4 friends is nicely done, with some unexpected surprises. Jamie's relationship with her animals is touching and a pleasure to read. The author provides quite detailed information about the search and rescue work they do, which I found particularly interesting.
The plot is clever and the author does a decent job of concealing the villain's identity until the last quarter of the book. Once it is revealed (or guessed), there is still a decent element of suspense left in the novel to keep the reader turning the pages.
This is my 2nd Brantley read and I'll certainly watch for more books by this author.
December 7, 2012
What a disappointment. This sounded such a great story. A girl involved with her dog in searching for dead bodies finds a huge murder dump but there are some real surprises with the bodies they uncover. However, there are loads of mistakes and basic mistakes too....repeated parts of sentences, the word set replaced by s3t, constant apostrophe errors and one dog's name changed from Sam to Hank in the space of a couple of pages.
Ruined it for me and meant I deleted it. I gave 2 stars instead of 1 because the story really was a good one. Authors need to start paying attention to how many books are ruined due to careless editing. It's such a waste of all their hard work.
Ruined it for me and meant I deleted it. I gave 2 stars instead of 1 because the story really was a good one. Authors need to start paying attention to how many books are ruined due to careless editing. It's such a waste of all their hard work.
February 28, 2015
I think fans of Rizzoli and Iles (I've only seen the series, not read the books)would enjoy this. It's got competent and likable female characters who have pretty bad luck when it comes to choosing men, but seem to be pretty well recompensed by having great women friends. Plus, there's dogs! The writing is accomplished and the author has a great feel for her Colorado setting. A very promising first novel.
November 2, 2013
As far as books in the serial killer genre go, Red Tide has absolutely nothing new or interesting to offer. The blurb of this book promises so much, but the book fails to deliver on almost each front.
To begin with, the story is far too predictable. I'm not saying predictable as in, "I knew who the killer was from Chapter 3." That's a given (although the chapter number varies). It was predictable down to every detail, including the choice of the next victim. With that being the case, it was very difficult to appreciate any supposed twist or suspenseful part because, simply put, there was no suspense left at all.
Then came the weak characters. Jamie Taylor plays a central part, with most of the book written from her perspective. Rich, handsome, and troubled to the right degree FBI Agent Nick Grant got some say in there, but it was all haphazard, brooding, and a tad on the pointless end. Then there were Jamie's sister and two friends. The four women together remain the focus of the book as Jamie spends her time with them or thinking about them or referring to them. Throw in a few more, absolutely inessential, characters, and what you get is a bunch of sub plots that only serve to increase the number of pages.
It wasn't just the sheer number of inessential characters, but the development of each character itself that was disappointing. The characters didn't really have much depth other than the monologue like narration that each chapter offered as back story, which were all done and done too. Added to that was the strange, often annoying, ways in which they spoke with each other and the abrupt character changes that made no sense. The dialogue was another sore point, being altogether too forced, often pointless and in some cases, down right sappy. I have no problem with sentiment. But friends having conversations that sound more like Miss World speeches is pushing sentiment a bit too far. Their attempt at logic made even less sense! The worst though had to be the fact that sentimental dialogue seemed to be missing from exactly where it was actually needed, forced instead into areas where a simple look would suffice. Even the antagonist, who got some billing, seemed confused about his own motives and thoughts. Not too uncommon for a psychopath? I agree - except that this confusion was molded to suit the outcomes rather unconvincingly. Simply put, the antagonist seemed to be bad just for the heck of it!
Last is the writing style itself. Very little of the book actually made me feel like I was reading a story on a serial killer. The inconsistency in style didn't help either. The book goes from flowery narration to awkward dialogue, and from random statements (not even paragraphs) of violence to gushy sentiment. That is what finally led to an end that just... ended. It took a ton of things for granted, tossing information at you without bothering about connecting the dots. All in all, a rather tedious read.
The only reason I gave this book a 2 instead of a 1 or 1.5 star rating was because of its story. In its skeletal structure, the story had scope. The only problem was in its execution. Peg Brantley writes well in bursts and clearly has the imagination and potential to be good, but it may take some more effort to tap into that potential. It would take a lot of five star ratings to convince me to pick up another one of her books. All in all, Red Tide is just not worth the time and effort you would put into reading it. And if you are a fan of books based on serial killers, steer clear from Red Tide - its serial killer connection is highly superficial.
To begin with, the story is far too predictable. I'm not saying predictable as in, "I knew who the killer was from Chapter 3." That's a given (although the chapter number varies). It was predictable down to every detail, including the choice of the next victim. With that being the case, it was very difficult to appreciate any supposed twist or suspenseful part because, simply put, there was no suspense left at all.
Then came the weak characters. Jamie Taylor plays a central part, with most of the book written from her perspective. Rich, handsome, and troubled to the right degree FBI Agent Nick Grant got some say in there, but it was all haphazard, brooding, and a tad on the pointless end. Then there were Jamie's sister and two friends. The four women together remain the focus of the book as Jamie spends her time with them or thinking about them or referring to them. Throw in a few more, absolutely inessential, characters, and what you get is a bunch of sub plots that only serve to increase the number of pages.
It wasn't just the sheer number of inessential characters, but the development of each character itself that was disappointing. The characters didn't really have much depth other than the monologue like narration that each chapter offered as back story, which were all done and done too. Added to that was the strange, often annoying, ways in which they spoke with each other and the abrupt character changes that made no sense. The dialogue was another sore point, being altogether too forced, often pointless and in some cases, down right sappy. I have no problem with sentiment. But friends having conversations that sound more like Miss World speeches is pushing sentiment a bit too far. Their attempt at logic made even less sense! The worst though had to be the fact that sentimental dialogue seemed to be missing from exactly where it was actually needed, forced instead into areas where a simple look would suffice. Even the antagonist, who got some billing, seemed confused about his own motives and thoughts. Not too uncommon for a psychopath? I agree - except that this confusion was molded to suit the outcomes rather unconvincingly. Simply put, the antagonist seemed to be bad just for the heck of it!
Last is the writing style itself. Very little of the book actually made me feel like I was reading a story on a serial killer. The inconsistency in style didn't help either. The book goes from flowery narration to awkward dialogue, and from random statements (not even paragraphs) of violence to gushy sentiment. That is what finally led to an end that just... ended. It took a ton of things for granted, tossing information at you without bothering about connecting the dots. All in all, a rather tedious read.
The only reason I gave this book a 2 instead of a 1 or 1.5 star rating was because of its story. In its skeletal structure, the story had scope. The only problem was in its execution. Peg Brantley writes well in bursts and clearly has the imagination and potential to be good, but it may take some more effort to tap into that potential. It would take a lot of five star ratings to convince me to pick up another one of her books. All in all, Red Tide is just not worth the time and effort you would put into reading it. And if you are a fan of books based on serial killers, steer clear from Red Tide - its serial killer connection is highly superficial.
August 24, 2012
Novel received courtesy of Goodreads.com Giveaway
A mystery novel with a new twist--I enjoyed it! It was a novel I read in 2 days which I also enjoyed. Peg Brantley came up with the idea of mixing a Search and Rescue Dog handler with a burned-out FBI agent and then a crime with terrorist implications. It was great! The characters were well-developed. I hope that she is working on book #2!
A mystery novel with a new twist--I enjoyed it! It was a novel I read in 2 days which I also enjoyed. Peg Brantley came up with the idea of mixing a Search and Rescue Dog handler with a burned-out FBI agent and then a crime with terrorist implications. It was great! The characters were well-developed. I hope that she is working on book #2!
August 14, 2012
Fast paced and intense. Its great to read an action packed mystery serial killing book without the vulgar language and gruesome details. Being close to law enforcement as well as fire and rescue this book captured my intrigue. Of course being a dog lover helped too!!! Kudos to Peg Brantley!!!
October 5, 2012
A good read with some well developed characters. I found the plot intriguing albeit slightly predictable. A worthwhile read for a freebie but one question remained unanswered after I had finished...What's with the plane crash???
September 16, 2012
Excellent. I really couldn't put it down. I considered this book a nice treat. :)
November 3, 2012
A great mystery – as much a whodunit as a what-done-it - , wrapped up in a page turning thriller. It’s rare when a debut book in a much scrutinized genre is written this well. The story and premise is original, the plot excellently executed, the dialog drives the piece along at a relentless pace (I finished the book at 2:36 a.m. and if I hadn’t been so satisfied, I would have been mad at myself since 5:00 a.m. was just around the corner and not to be avoided). The characters seem plucked from real life, and their traits, foibles and daily life are things that aren’t just topical but very much at the forefront of current events. And there are many characters, but the reader won’t have a hard time keeping them all straight, they are all individuals, memorable and necessary. Brantley is to be applauded for this if nothing else; she kept all those different balls in the air until the grand finale. Well done!
Brantley draws the Colorado scenery in such a masterful way that you’ll be tempted to stop and shop for skis and checking Expedia for hotels, but never fear, the book won’t allow you to put it down. Plot and story line; A+, character development a strong A, pace another A+, sense of place A+ and extra credit for both a plot device (the Red Tide of the title) and issues that are topical. You can’t get much better than that your first time out of the gate, but I’d bet money that Brantley manages to get even better.
The story opens when FBI Agent Nick Grant accepts a call from a serial killer he helped put away over a decade ago. Leopold Bonzer admitted killing fourteen people, but only gave up the location of one. He is holding the knowledge of the location of thirteen victims as a bargaining chip, but for what is the question. He seemingly is happy where he is at. Colorado’s Super Max prison, the Alcatraz of the Rockies. Bonzer is ready to trade now and Grant, who has been haunted for a decade by not being able to give closure to thirteen families, is ready to listen. Bonzer is suddenly wanting to relocate out of the cold cement and steel facility. But not today, he wants it all in writing before he’ll give it up. But when Grant heads back to make the deal, the prison is in lock down, even cell phones are being jammed, attack dogs are loose and Grant has a fear of dogs. Grant also has a prescription drug problem.
There has been an escape attempt, and during the confusion Bonzer has mysteriously died. Maybe from natural causes, but it seem too coincidental. Grant looks through Bonzer’s stark cell for some kind of clue. He discovers a photograph hidden behind the stainless steel mirror. But there is no description of where the photo was taken. It is just a meadow surrounded by mountains and forest. Grant feels certain that it is the burial ground but with no idea of the locale, the case seems to be forever at a dead end.
During this same time, in Aspen Falls, CO., Jamie Taylor has been called out, along with her dogs, to locate the body of a missing woman. Jamie’s day job is as a loan officer at a bank where she makes enough to support herself and barely keep up with the upkeep on her families mountain home. She also is relied upon to help her sister, Jackie “Jax” Susman, who is the local medical Examiner, financially. Jax is married to a looser and abuser husband with a gambling, drinking and womanizing problem and Jackie makes excuses for him as he digs them deeper into debt.
What Jamie finds is the missing woman, but she also happens upon many more graves. The FBI is called in and the photo Grant is now in possession of, matches up with the presumed burial ground of serial killer, Bonzer. Problem is, there are decade old bodies, but there are also bodies of victims dead a year two at most. It’s no great stretch of the imagination to deduce that there is a new serial killer at work, and he is using Bonzer’s mountain meadow as a place to dispose of his victims.
Brantley brings in the supporting cast, Jamie’s sister, Jax, who despite her professional acclaim continues to allow herself to be used and abused by her husband Phil. Jamie's girlfriends, Ciara, a model, and Ellen who falls for a young junior FBI agent. Then there is Jamie and Jax father, who has not been around for ten years. Jamie’s vocation may be a bank loan officer, but her passion is her dogs, superiorly trained tracking dogs and cadaver dogs. Jamie is driven to help find murder victims because her mother was one. Her father was with a mysterious private international security agency when his wife and Jamie and Jax mother was kidnapped and murdered in a gruesome way. Bryce Taylor has been on the murderers trail ever since, sometime crossing the boundaries of the law in his search.
The romantic tension between Grant and Jamie is instantaneous, but they also rub each other the wrong way when Grant mistakenly takes Jamie as a hobbyist with her dogs. But then Grant has a deep fear of dogs, instilled from a bad experience as a child and that may be part of his distancing himself from Jamie. Together, these characters must try and find the new serial killer, and along with the local sheriff they unravel one clue after another. Brantley knows her subject matter very well and the research she did into the intricacies of cadaver dogs as well as Red Tide algae of the title, add fascinating details without slowing the story down.
The chase and the conclusion will have the reader riveted to the pages. Brantley also explores themes of otherwise strong women that remain with and make excuses for abusive men. Additionally, she delves into the psyche of serial killers in ways that are fresh to readers of the genre. There are very few weak spots in the story, which is promising in a debut author. This book will go a long way in introducing Brantley to readers as a force to be reckoned with in the thriller/mystery niche.
Peg Brantley is Colorado native and a prominent member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Sisters In Crime and the Crime Fiction Collective, who has just partnered with Amazon.com. Herr and her husband live near Denver where they enjoy the animals that wander through their neck of the woods, including a bichon named McKenzie.
The Dirty Lowdown
Copyright © 2012 Robert Carraher All Rights Reserved
Brantley draws the Colorado scenery in such a masterful way that you’ll be tempted to stop and shop for skis and checking Expedia for hotels, but never fear, the book won’t allow you to put it down. Plot and story line; A+, character development a strong A, pace another A+, sense of place A+ and extra credit for both a plot device (the Red Tide of the title) and issues that are topical. You can’t get much better than that your first time out of the gate, but I’d bet money that Brantley manages to get even better.
The story opens when FBI Agent Nick Grant accepts a call from a serial killer he helped put away over a decade ago. Leopold Bonzer admitted killing fourteen people, but only gave up the location of one. He is holding the knowledge of the location of thirteen victims as a bargaining chip, but for what is the question. He seemingly is happy where he is at. Colorado’s Super Max prison, the Alcatraz of the Rockies. Bonzer is ready to trade now and Grant, who has been haunted for a decade by not being able to give closure to thirteen families, is ready to listen. Bonzer is suddenly wanting to relocate out of the cold cement and steel facility. But not today, he wants it all in writing before he’ll give it up. But when Grant heads back to make the deal, the prison is in lock down, even cell phones are being jammed, attack dogs are loose and Grant has a fear of dogs. Grant also has a prescription drug problem.
There has been an escape attempt, and during the confusion Bonzer has mysteriously died. Maybe from natural causes, but it seem too coincidental. Grant looks through Bonzer’s stark cell for some kind of clue. He discovers a photograph hidden behind the stainless steel mirror. But there is no description of where the photo was taken. It is just a meadow surrounded by mountains and forest. Grant feels certain that it is the burial ground but with no idea of the locale, the case seems to be forever at a dead end.
During this same time, in Aspen Falls, CO., Jamie Taylor has been called out, along with her dogs, to locate the body of a missing woman. Jamie’s day job is as a loan officer at a bank where she makes enough to support herself and barely keep up with the upkeep on her families mountain home. She also is relied upon to help her sister, Jackie “Jax” Susman, who is the local medical Examiner, financially. Jax is married to a looser and abuser husband with a gambling, drinking and womanizing problem and Jackie makes excuses for him as he digs them deeper into debt.
What Jamie finds is the missing woman, but she also happens upon many more graves. The FBI is called in and the photo Grant is now in possession of, matches up with the presumed burial ground of serial killer, Bonzer. Problem is, there are decade old bodies, but there are also bodies of victims dead a year two at most. It’s no great stretch of the imagination to deduce that there is a new serial killer at work, and he is using Bonzer’s mountain meadow as a place to dispose of his victims.
Brantley brings in the supporting cast, Jamie’s sister, Jax, who despite her professional acclaim continues to allow herself to be used and abused by her husband Phil. Jamie's girlfriends, Ciara, a model, and Ellen who falls for a young junior FBI agent. Then there is Jamie and Jax father, who has not been around for ten years. Jamie’s vocation may be a bank loan officer, but her passion is her dogs, superiorly trained tracking dogs and cadaver dogs. Jamie is driven to help find murder victims because her mother was one. Her father was with a mysterious private international security agency when his wife and Jamie and Jax mother was kidnapped and murdered in a gruesome way. Bryce Taylor has been on the murderers trail ever since, sometime crossing the boundaries of the law in his search.
The romantic tension between Grant and Jamie is instantaneous, but they also rub each other the wrong way when Grant mistakenly takes Jamie as a hobbyist with her dogs. But then Grant has a deep fear of dogs, instilled from a bad experience as a child and that may be part of his distancing himself from Jamie. Together, these characters must try and find the new serial killer, and along with the local sheriff they unravel one clue after another. Brantley knows her subject matter very well and the research she did into the intricacies of cadaver dogs as well as Red Tide algae of the title, add fascinating details without slowing the story down.
The chase and the conclusion will have the reader riveted to the pages. Brantley also explores themes of otherwise strong women that remain with and make excuses for abusive men. Additionally, she delves into the psyche of serial killers in ways that are fresh to readers of the genre. There are very few weak spots in the story, which is promising in a debut author. This book will go a long way in introducing Brantley to readers as a force to be reckoned with in the thriller/mystery niche.
Peg Brantley is Colorado native and a prominent member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Sisters In Crime and the Crime Fiction Collective, who has just partnered with Amazon.com. Herr and her husband live near Denver where they enjoy the animals that wander through their neck of the woods, including a bichon named McKenzie.
The Dirty Lowdown
Copyright © 2012 Robert Carraher All Rights Reserved
October 10, 2017
A suspenseful mystery that gripped tightly and didn’t let go until its conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller with its easy and comfortable dialogue between the well developed characters.
The main protagonist, Jamie Taylor, loves her seek and rescue dogs and the job that they do along with her to help others find their lost loved ones who have been murdered. The only thing Jamie doesn’t like is her day job at the bank which threatens to interfere with her seek and rescue jobs.
Jamie becomes embroiled in more than she could ever have imagined when more bodies keep turning up and the one responsible for these murders has much more planned on his insane agenda. With the help of special agent, Nicholas Grant, she must find out what this agenda is before more lives are lost.
I look forward to more thrillers from this creative and talented writer.
The main protagonist, Jamie Taylor, loves her seek and rescue dogs and the job that they do along with her to help others find their lost loved ones who have been murdered. The only thing Jamie doesn’t like is her day job at the bank which threatens to interfere with her seek and rescue jobs.
Jamie becomes embroiled in more than she could ever have imagined when more bodies keep turning up and the one responsible for these murders has much more planned on his insane agenda. With the help of special agent, Nicholas Grant, she must find out what this agenda is before more lives are lost.
I look forward to more thrillers from this creative and talented writer.
October 28, 2017
Fast, light read
Interesting premise. Good story. Could have been a little longer ( Did I really say that?) to develop the story and characters giving the story a little depth especially at the end of the story
Interesting premise. Good story. Could have been a little longer ( Did I really say that?) to develop the story and characters giving the story a little depth especially at the end of the story
September 24, 2016
I liked this book very much! It's a quick, light read, perfect for beach or plane. I really liked the local Colorado connection. Jamie Taylor seemed like the real deal, tough but vulnerable, dedicated to the dogs who love her. I can't wait to read Peg's next book, which is already on my shelf. I think Peg Brantley will continue to grow as an author, she seems to have a depth to her, or perhaps a secret she is expressing through writing. Thanks Peg!
March 19, 2017
I really enjoy this book and look forward to reading more from Peg Brantley its a real page turner with a real mix of action romance and sadness
March 5, 2017
Jamie Taylor has a most interesting hobby/avocation. She volunteers to help police find where the bodies are buried – literally. She and her dog, Gretchen, that is.
Jamie is asked to assist the cops in determining whether a serial killer named Bonzer created a mass grave within which to hide his victims. Jamie’s devotion to this work seems to border on obsession. However, Jamie has ghosts from her past that may explain her intense desire to help murder victims’ survivors cope with their losses and reach closure.
Bonzer’s case is assigned to FBI Special Agent Nicholas Grant, a man with problems of his own, including oxycontin addiction and pressure to close out the matter, after years of work with little to show for it. At times, Agent Grant clashes with the strong-willed Jamie, whose job he has a hard time taking seriously. At first. His fear of dogs doesn’t help matters.
Complications arise when it appears that a new killer is burying bodies in the same place. In finding the answers, Jamie must overcome the obstacles of her full-time job and the near brush-off Agent Grant gives her.
Jamie also has personal problems due to her poor choices regarding her ex-husband. To her credit, she seems to wise up eventually. However, her sister, Jax, is married (for all intents and purposes) to a bum who dreams of hitting it big with “get rich quick” schemes. Jax unwisely finances her husband’s pipe dreams, then hits up Jamie to rescue her from her own dumb decisions. Jamie, unfortunately, can't seem to say no to her.
As the investigation progresses, Jamie appears to become the target of harassment. Her new possible love interest provides a ray of hope amid all her problems. He, her sister and their friends are the support she turns to during the rough patches.
Jamie’s relationships with others add substance to this story's suspense. Agent Grant’s journey of self-discovery also adds layers of depth to the police procedural storyline.
RED TIDE is a thriller that engages readers at an emotional level with complex characters, caught in difficult situations. The book marks an exciting debut for Peg Brantley.
Jamie is asked to assist the cops in determining whether a serial killer named Bonzer created a mass grave within which to hide his victims. Jamie’s devotion to this work seems to border on obsession. However, Jamie has ghosts from her past that may explain her intense desire to help murder victims’ survivors cope with their losses and reach closure.
Bonzer’s case is assigned to FBI Special Agent Nicholas Grant, a man with problems of his own, including oxycontin addiction and pressure to close out the matter, after years of work with little to show for it. At times, Agent Grant clashes with the strong-willed Jamie, whose job he has a hard time taking seriously. At first. His fear of dogs doesn’t help matters.
Complications arise when it appears that a new killer is burying bodies in the same place. In finding the answers, Jamie must overcome the obstacles of her full-time job and the near brush-off Agent Grant gives her.
Jamie also has personal problems due to her poor choices regarding her ex-husband. To her credit, she seems to wise up eventually. However, her sister, Jax, is married (for all intents and purposes) to a bum who dreams of hitting it big with “get rich quick” schemes. Jax unwisely finances her husband’s pipe dreams, then hits up Jamie to rescue her from her own dumb decisions. Jamie, unfortunately, can't seem to say no to her.
As the investigation progresses, Jamie appears to become the target of harassment. Her new possible love interest provides a ray of hope amid all her problems. He, her sister and their friends are the support she turns to during the rough patches.
Jamie’s relationships with others add substance to this story's suspense. Agent Grant’s journey of self-discovery also adds layers of depth to the police procedural storyline.
RED TIDE is a thriller that engages readers at an emotional level with complex characters, caught in difficult situations. The book marks an exciting debut for Peg Brantley.
September 18, 2014
Jamie Taylor loves her dogs and 2 of them help find buried bodies. She lives to do this volunteer work. But it is starting to interfere with her job at the local bank. Her boss tells her to keep the volunteer work with the police to after work hours or find a new job. She hates it, but agrees. She needs the money. Her sister Jax is married to a cad who spends more money than his wife makes and they are always in money trouble and Jamie tries to help when she can. Jamie is divorced from an abusive husband. Jax is the medical examiner for the town. Nicholas Grant is FBI recovering from a back injury and addicted to pain relievers. For 10 years he has been trying to get a serial killer to tell where the bodies are buried so Nick can give closure to the families. The Killer says from prison that in one week they can meet again and if he is guaranteed to move to another facility, he'll give up the graves. When Nick shows up on the appointed day it's to find out the Killer died that morning. The only clue left behind is a picture of a field. The FBI uses satellite photos to try to match areas and Nick follows up on the list. In Colorado, on a weekend, the police call in Jamie and her dogs. They start getting hits right away. Problem. They were looking for bodies 10 years or more buried and they are also finding bodies buried only a few years. 2 Serial Killers using the same burial area? What are the odds? And he is still killing. Jamie and Jax are on his list - sisters! So is the Bronco Stadium on game day - his masterpiece. Nick collapses and is put on leave and goes through Rehab. Can he and a surprise partner find the sisters and save the people in the stadium?
This book had so many tendrils that I couldn't even try to mention them all. Just know that a lot happens and if you like thrillers try this one.
This book had so many tendrils that I couldn't even try to mention them all. Just know that a lot happens and if you like thrillers try this one.
March 9, 2017
Jamie works full time in a bank. In her spare time she finds people and bodies, with her dogs and is an amateur sleuth. A story of murder and psychopathy.
October 23, 2012
This was a worthwhile read, but does require a certain degree of patience to get into the high paced action. The first third of the book focuses a great deal on character development, and gives the reader an in-depth look at the characters and what makes them tick.
The story follows Jamie Taylor, who is a banker by day and moonlights as a forensic dog handler. Jamie is haunted by a violent ex husband, the death of her mother by a serial killer, and the loss of her father after he sets out to avenge her mother's death. Jamie's sister Jax, is the medical examiner and the two find themselves in the middle of an investigation on the hunt for two different serial killers who share a common burial ground.
Nick Grant, the lead FBI agent leads the team in a race against time to find the killer. At first it is believed that this serial killer is a copycat, but there are too many discrepancies and the cause of death appears to be some kind of biological toxin. When the dark purpose of this elusive killer is finally realized, the team must try to stop a biological attack on US soil.
This being the author's first book, it is not certain if this will become a series. Based on the amount of character development in this first effort, it would be a worthwhile consideration. I look forward to reading more from this author!
The story follows Jamie Taylor, who is a banker by day and moonlights as a forensic dog handler. Jamie is haunted by a violent ex husband, the death of her mother by a serial killer, and the loss of her father after he sets out to avenge her mother's death. Jamie's sister Jax, is the medical examiner and the two find themselves in the middle of an investigation on the hunt for two different serial killers who share a common burial ground.
Nick Grant, the lead FBI agent leads the team in a race against time to find the killer. At first it is believed that this serial killer is a copycat, but there are too many discrepancies and the cause of death appears to be some kind of biological toxin. When the dark purpose of this elusive killer is finally realized, the team must try to stop a biological attack on US soil.
This being the author's first book, it is not certain if this will become a series. Based on the amount of character development in this first effort, it would be a worthwhile consideration. I look forward to reading more from this author!
June 10, 2013
Jamie Taylor lives in a small town in Colorado. She works in a bank as a loan officer to make a living. But her passion is working with her forensic dogs doing search and resuce missions. She gets called in to work on an old FBI case where a "killing field" has been uncovered. These murders occurred 10-12 years ago but in the process of discovering old bodies she and her dogs also uncover some more recent kills. Her sister is the local M.E. and gets involved in trying to solve the more recent deaths. Things take an interesting turn when there turns out to be a link between their mother's murder 10 years previously and the recent deaths. The two sisters end up in a life and death situation in an attempt to foil a terrorist attempt at a mass killing.
I found this story to be intriguing although I figured out the bad guy before he revealed himself. There were enough twists and turns in the story to keep me reading non-stop. I appreciated the fact that there was not a lot of graphic detail in this book about the murders or a lot of vulgar langauge used in the story.
This was a freebie Kindle download but but was good enough that I would have paid a used book price for it. Not a put down on the book-but I rarely pay full price for anything these days.
I found this story to be intriguing although I figured out the bad guy before he revealed himself. There were enough twists and turns in the story to keep me reading non-stop. I appreciated the fact that there was not a lot of graphic detail in this book about the murders or a lot of vulgar langauge used in the story.
This was a freebie Kindle download but but was good enough that I would have paid a used book price for it. Not a put down on the book-but I rarely pay full price for anything these days.
January 18, 2016
This was a first read for me by this author. Very good book, lots of action.
Jamie Taylor works at a bank, but on the side she is a Search and Rescuse with her 3 dogs. When she is called in for a case, her dog, Gretchen and her find at least 14 bodies buried. They thought this was a serial killer who done this 10 years ago, but why are some of the bodies were killed just recently. The serial killer could not have done that.
FBI Nick Grant has been following the serial murderer, Leopold Bonzer, for ten years interviewing him in prison, trying to get him to tell him where the bodies were. He never told and Bonzer died in prison.
This case will bring Jamie and Nick together to find the bodies and find out who is doing the killing in Aspen Falls. No only this case, but the case of Jamie's Mother who was killed years ago. They never found the killer and Jamie's father is still searching for him. Will the recent killings bring them all together.
Hope that we meet some of the characters in the next book as some things were left, but thoroughly enjoyed the book. Definitely an engrossing read!
Jamie Taylor works at a bank, but on the side she is a Search and Rescuse with her 3 dogs. When she is called in for a case, her dog, Gretchen and her find at least 14 bodies buried. They thought this was a serial killer who done this 10 years ago, but why are some of the bodies were killed just recently. The serial killer could not have done that.
FBI Nick Grant has been following the serial murderer, Leopold Bonzer, for ten years interviewing him in prison, trying to get him to tell him where the bodies were. He never told and Bonzer died in prison.
This case will bring Jamie and Nick together to find the bodies and find out who is doing the killing in Aspen Falls. No only this case, but the case of Jamie's Mother who was killed years ago. They never found the killer and Jamie's father is still searching for him. Will the recent killings bring them all together.
Hope that we meet some of the characters in the next book as some things were left, but thoroughly enjoyed the book. Definitely an engrossing read!
November 8, 2013
Red Tide is Peg Brantly's first book and I eagerly await reading more from this author.
Believable characters living a ' normal' American life--except for 2 men who are connected even though one doesn't realize that because he dies in prison early in the book!
I enjoyed the inclusion of the cadaver dogs and their wonderful human companion and her willingness to be involved in body searches.
The mystery and the story twist are well written. It took me a little while to figure out the 'bad' guy and had a real 'duh' moment when I finally did.
You will need to read the book to find out why he is the bad guy. It must be extremely hard to live the life of this bad guy. He is trying so hard to find what he doesn't have and desires so badly.
4 stars. Highy recommended to forensic, law enforcement, real life readers
Believable characters living a ' normal' American life--except for 2 men who are connected even though one doesn't realize that because he dies in prison early in the book!
I enjoyed the inclusion of the cadaver dogs and their wonderful human companion and her willingness to be involved in body searches.
The mystery and the story twist are well written. It took me a little while to figure out the 'bad' guy and had a real 'duh' moment when I finally did.
You will need to read the book to find out why he is the bad guy. It must be extremely hard to live the life of this bad guy. He is trying so hard to find what he doesn't have and desires so badly.
4 stars. Highy recommended to forensic, law enforcement, real life readers
November 21, 2013
Reading through some of the reviews, I am stunned. Trying to figure out if we read the same book, or perhaps the author made substantial changes, and edits based on negative reviews.
Nonetheless, I found Red Tide to be an amazing story. I found the characters real, the storyline compelling, the plot was believable. Unlike many of the books I have been reading lately, the dialog in Red Tide did not seem forced or stilted.
I rarely give out five star reviews. A book must have that extra something special that makes me forget the world for just a while. Red Tide did just that. I actually checked to see who the publisher was and was delighted to see that this compelling and well edited story was self-published. Congratulations, Ms Brantley, you have a new fan and have entered my very short list of auto buy authors.
Nonetheless, I found Red Tide to be an amazing story. I found the characters real, the storyline compelling, the plot was believable. Unlike many of the books I have been reading lately, the dialog in Red Tide did not seem forced or stilted.
I rarely give out five star reviews. A book must have that extra something special that makes me forget the world for just a while. Red Tide did just that. I actually checked to see who the publisher was and was delighted to see that this compelling and well edited story was self-published. Congratulations, Ms Brantley, you have a new fan and have entered my very short list of auto buy authors.
February 26, 2014
If you love a great compelling thriller, you'll enjoy this one from Red Tide. For Search and Rescue dog handler, Jamie Taylor, she's on her toughest assignment yet. Someone's out there after there and making a move on her and her family. When new bodies turn up with the old, those secrets turns up from the grave. A madman's out there, concocting the perfect experiment to kill humans unknowingly. She goes toe-to-toe to FBI Agent Nick Grant, who's not much of a dog lover, and works with her to solve the case and save her life. Someone's putting her loved ones on pressure for money--and it becomes personal, when someone she loved was on his victim list. This one left you chilled and breathless with shocking twists and turns to keep you guessing whodunit and why in the end.
August 1, 2012
I was really excited to read this book but it was a little disappointing. I loved the characters and how they all fit together in the end. There were a lot of interesting plot lines but some of them weren't explored at all. The book introduces a serial killer on death row who dies before telling where he buried his victims. The FBI agent eventually finds the burial site and they realize that another killer is using the same burial site. But then that's it... that plot line is over. The book also gets a bit predictable near the last third of the book. I definitely enjoyed the read but was hoping for more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2013
RED TIDE by Peg Brantley started out as a pretty good book, then, without my quite understanding how, it turned into an incredible book … well no, not incredible—unexpected … much more than I expected. Rich characters, a great plot, RED TIDE kept me up well into the night.
There are terrific dogs, a women coming into herself, a possible summer romance, and some ambiguous description that got me really worried—but all of these are just simple breadcrumbs woven into an engrossing, highly entertaining story.
Merveilleux!
http://www.reviewsbytdev.com/content/...
There are terrific dogs, a women coming into herself, a possible summer romance, and some ambiguous description that got me really worried—but all of these are just simple breadcrumbs woven into an engrossing, highly entertaining story.
Merveilleux!
http://www.reviewsbytdev.com/content/...
October 30, 2013
story line was good. characters could have used a little more depth...writer does a good job setting them up with there troubles and who they are, but I just didn't latch on to them for some reason. and yet again a book with an abrupt ending. I have to go back to the end to read again how the fbi agent got hurt I must have read it so fast I missed it, what happened to him? and what happened between he and Jamie? I think they spoke twice during the whole book, next thing you know she's meeting him at the airport ready to kiss him. I was expecting more of an epilogue I guess. I'd recommend it, but don't expect too much closure.
August 19, 2012
Despite the fact that I knew exactly who was who and what was what early on, I really enjoyed this novel. I don't think my own insight was due to the author's writing in any way, it's more to do with the amount of books I've read recently, I'm attuned to the devices authors use to facilitate their plot twists and make their audience go 'ooh I didn't expect that!'.
Well written and interesting, all the characters and threads of plot came together in a very satisfactory way, with an exciting and climatic conclusion. Would definitely recommend this as a nice easy but engaging read!
Well written and interesting, all the characters and threads of plot came together in a very satisfactory way, with an exciting and climatic conclusion. Would definitely recommend this as a nice easy but engaging read!
November 24, 2013
Swallowed by the story
This book just swallowed me whole. I loved having the dogs be such an integral part of the story and how each characters individual story was woven into the whole. So many surprises along the way in each of their lives. I would have thought I would get lost with so many but they were knit together so well. Jamie was such a strong character, independent yet relied on her group of friends. The family bonds that tied a few together. You will not be disappointed with this book, of that I am sure.
This book just swallowed me whole. I loved having the dogs be such an integral part of the story and how each characters individual story was woven into the whole. So many surprises along the way in each of their lives. I would have thought I would get lost with so many but they were knit together so well. Jamie was such a strong character, independent yet relied on her group of friends. The family bonds that tied a few together. You will not be disappointed with this book, of that I am sure.
August 16, 2014
Extremely Intriguing Mass MurderMystery
Captivating mystery involving an intelligent FBI law enforcement team that utilizes educated and compassionate local experts and a dedicated Search and Rescue team to locate bodies to solve many 10 year old, multiple Cold Case murders. Romance blooms between some of the team as they locate bodies only to find not just the Cold Case ones. but discovery of new bodies that lead to fear of another mass murderer using chemical toxins.
Captivating mystery involving an intelligent FBI law enforcement team that utilizes educated and compassionate local experts and a dedicated Search and Rescue team to locate bodies to solve many 10 year old, multiple Cold Case murders. Romance blooms between some of the team as they locate bodies only to find not just the Cold Case ones. but discovery of new bodies that lead to fear of another mass murderer using chemical toxins.
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