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The Forgotten Coast #1
Low Tide
In Apalachicola, Florida, sinister things are afoot, as sinister things tend to be.
Lt. Maggie Redmond is called to a crime scene on St. George Island, where she is met with the body of Gregory Boudreaux. The medical examiner calls it a suicide, but no one knows that Maggie has a horrible connection to the dead man.
When Gregory’s uncle, Bennett Boudreaux, the richest and scariest man in town, takes a sudden interest in Maggie, people start to wonder, Maggie included. Maggie knows he may suspect her of killing his nephew, but she finds herself slowly drawn to the man.
As Maggie fights to help a young girl escape the clutches of a volatile drug dealer who’d love to see Maggie dead, she also struggles to hide her dark link to a dead man, and her burgeoning relationship with her boss, Sheriff Wyatt Hamilton.
Unfortunately, secrets have a way of revealing themselves at low tide.
About the Forgotten Coast Florida Series:
The first four books of the series, Low Tide, Riptide, What Washes Up, and Landfall, lay the foundation for the entire series. There are subplots resolved in each book, but there is also an overarching plot that is not resolved until Landfall, so they should be read in sequence. Later books can be read in any order.
Lt. Maggie Redmond is called to a crime scene on St. George Island, where she is met with the body of Gregory Boudreaux. The medical examiner calls it a suicide, but no one knows that Maggie has a horrible connection to the dead man.
When Gregory’s uncle, Bennett Boudreaux, the richest and scariest man in town, takes a sudden interest in Maggie, people start to wonder, Maggie included. Maggie knows he may suspect her of killing his nephew, but she finds herself slowly drawn to the man.
As Maggie fights to help a young girl escape the clutches of a volatile drug dealer who’d love to see Maggie dead, she also struggles to hide her dark link to a dead man, and her burgeoning relationship with her boss, Sheriff Wyatt Hamilton.
Unfortunately, secrets have a way of revealing themselves at low tide.
About the Forgotten Coast Florida Series:
The first four books of the series, Low Tide, Riptide, What Washes Up, and Landfall, lay the foundation for the entire series. There are subplots resolved in each book, but there is also an overarching plot that is not resolved until Landfall, so they should be read in sequence. Later books can be read in any order.
191 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2015
1480 people are currently reading
1201 people want to read
About the author
Dawn Lee McKenna
23 books400 followersI live in small town Tennessee, with three children still at home and two grown kids just blocks away.
I am an unrepentant romantic, a caffeine addict and a true dork. I apologize for none of these.
I am an unrepentant romantic, a caffeine addict and a true dork. I apologize for none of these.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews
June 7, 2015
I loved the author’s debut work, ‘See You’, regarding it as one of the finest books I’ve read in recent years. So this opener for a new series was a must for me. The author very kindly sent me a copy in advance of release day, so I could be one of the first to read it - thank you very much!
This is a very different book, a thriller built around thirty-something police lieutenant Maggie Redmond, divorced with two children. Maggie’s a very likable, very normal person, doing her job, raising her kids, not exactly struggling to get by but (like most of us) stuck in a bit of a rut. But Maggie has a secret in her past, and when ne’er-do-well Gregory Boudreaux turns up dead in an apparent suicide, her life threatens to unravel. She’s thrown into the path of Gregory’s uncle, the town’s rather charming chief crook. And then there’s the teenage girl ensnared by a local drug dealer, trying to look after his kids and her own baby, whom Maggie takes under her wing.
None of this is particularly unusual, but the background takes it out of the ordinary. Set on the Florida panhandle coast, every page oozes local colour and (even to a Brit like me) southern charm. There were quite a few references I didn’t get, but who could resist a town with a single traffic light, and a grocery story called a Piggly-Wiggly? I could almost small the salty tang of the air, hear the slap of waves against the side of the boat, and feel the sweat trickling between my shoulder blades. Although… oysters? Nah, you can keep the oysters.
The plot develops at a stately, Southern pace most of the time, with much of the tension arising from fabulous, subtext-laden conversations where nothing is said explicitly, but boy, are there undercurrents swirling beneath the surface. But, being a thriller, the pace ramps up dramatically at the end, with far less contrivance than is often found in books of this type. And I liked that no one takes such dramatic events lightly.
If I have a complaint, it’s that many of the characters seemed to be a little too nice to be inhabiting a thriller. Not just Maggie herself, but her normal, well-adjusted kids, her loving parents, and her almost-love-interest, fellow cop Wyatt (especially Wyatt, who can woo me any time). Even her ex-husband, divorced for very sound reasons, comes across in his few appearances as a pleasant, sensible and reliable man. In addition, the two plots are not well connected, so sometimes things seemed a little disjointed.
But overall an absorbing, enjoyable read. This is a great start to the series, with the author’s trademark wonderfully drawn characters, southern charm and plenty of humour. But there’s a darker tone in there as well. This is not the weepy-fest that ‘See You’ was, but I shed a few tears all the same. Looking forward to the rest of the series. A good four stars.
This is a very different book, a thriller built around thirty-something police lieutenant Maggie Redmond, divorced with two children. Maggie’s a very likable, very normal person, doing her job, raising her kids, not exactly struggling to get by but (like most of us) stuck in a bit of a rut. But Maggie has a secret in her past, and when ne’er-do-well Gregory Boudreaux turns up dead in an apparent suicide, her life threatens to unravel. She’s thrown into the path of Gregory’s uncle, the town’s rather charming chief crook. And then there’s the teenage girl ensnared by a local drug dealer, trying to look after his kids and her own baby, whom Maggie takes under her wing.
None of this is particularly unusual, but the background takes it out of the ordinary. Set on the Florida panhandle coast, every page oozes local colour and (even to a Brit like me) southern charm. There were quite a few references I didn’t get, but who could resist a town with a single traffic light, and a grocery story called a Piggly-Wiggly? I could almost small the salty tang of the air, hear the slap of waves against the side of the boat, and feel the sweat trickling between my shoulder blades. Although… oysters? Nah, you can keep the oysters.
The plot develops at a stately, Southern pace most of the time, with much of the tension arising from fabulous, subtext-laden conversations where nothing is said explicitly, but boy, are there undercurrents swirling beneath the surface. But, being a thriller, the pace ramps up dramatically at the end, with far less contrivance than is often found in books of this type. And I liked that no one takes such dramatic events lightly.
If I have a complaint, it’s that many of the characters seemed to be a little too nice to be inhabiting a thriller. Not just Maggie herself, but her normal, well-adjusted kids, her loving parents, and her almost-love-interest, fellow cop Wyatt (especially Wyatt, who can woo me any time). Even her ex-husband, divorced for very sound reasons, comes across in his few appearances as a pleasant, sensible and reliable man. In addition, the two plots are not well connected, so sometimes things seemed a little disjointed.
But overall an absorbing, enjoyable read. This is a great start to the series, with the author’s trademark wonderfully drawn characters, southern charm and plenty of humour. But there’s a darker tone in there as well. This is not the weepy-fest that ‘See You’ was, but I shed a few tears all the same. Looking forward to the rest of the series. A good four stars.
October 31, 2015
This book was not quite a mystery and not quite a suspense. There’s a little of both but not enough of either to put it firmly in one category or the other.
It also had a somewhat unfinished feel to it. Not poor writing or editing, but a lack of completeness about the book. The main plot and several subplots are unresolved and the ending wasn’t so much a cliffhanger as a pause in the action. After reading it, I felt as if I had watched the first episode of a multi-part miniseries.
On the plus side, Ms. McKenna did a better job with the romance subplot, doing an excellent job of having her two main characters tentatively feeling their way into a relationship instead of hopping into bed right off the bat. Her writing is taut, providing enough details to paint a full picture without bogging the reader down in page after page of description.
I’m interested in seeing where the author takes these characters, but not enough that the remaining books in the series go to the top of my ‘Must Read’ list.
It also had a somewhat unfinished feel to it. Not poor writing or editing, but a lack of completeness about the book. The main plot and several subplots are unresolved and the ending wasn’t so much a cliffhanger as a pause in the action. After reading it, I felt as if I had watched the first episode of a multi-part miniseries.
On the plus side, Ms. McKenna did a better job with the romance subplot, doing an excellent job of having her two main characters tentatively feeling their way into a relationship instead of hopping into bed right off the bat. Her writing is taut, providing enough details to paint a full picture without bogging the reader down in page after page of description.
I’m interested in seeing where the author takes these characters, but not enough that the remaining books in the series go to the top of my ‘Must Read’ list.
October 6, 2017
Came across this book by chance and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Interesting mystery read that manages to hook you in good, but does end on a cliffhanger.
(To be clear, the book's mystery is solved, but the series itself has an underlying plot/mystery and that's what I mean by cliffhanger. This will be a series that probably won't be able to be read out of order)
Would recommend to those to give a try. Definitely am looking forward to the next book in the series.
(To be clear, the book's mystery is solved, but the series itself has an underlying plot/mystery and that's what I mean by cliffhanger. This will be a series that probably won't be able to be read out of order)
Would recommend to those to give a try. Definitely am looking forward to the next book in the series.
July 21, 2016
Good story and an easy read but it ended abruptly with lots of unanswered questions. I guess you have to read the next in the series to know what happens. I like a story to have an ending and not one that leaves you hanging.
July 12, 2019
3.5-Stars. A very promising start to a series, but with some serious problems.
(Included in Kindle Unlimited)
As usual with my reviews, please first read the publisher’s blurb/summary of the book. Thank you.
I'm going to review the first five books as if they were one large volume, since the books end suddenly and mid-plot, often. I speculate that publishing 5x 200 page volumes might provide better income for her than a single large volume.
Which leads to a second problem: Endless repetition of character descriptions (including animals), and plot updates in each new volume (which you can skim over) but... These books cannot really be read separately, they must be read in order (at least books 1-5).
The Good
Firstly, McKenna shines at character development and description. There is a commanding feminine demeanour throughout these books, perhaps the best I've ever seen.
In fact, I would say characters and emotions are the lead attraction for me now, well ahead of the mystery/plots (which get better). The pacing is always good, and the prose also improves substantially over time. The dialogue is good, and the characters speak with (mostly) distinct voices.
There is a sub-plot which, to me, drives everything: The strange attraction between Maggie and Bennett Boudreaux. Boudreaux is the town "kingpin", ascribed with various crimes including murder, but his charm and eloquence make him impressive and attractive. The mystery of what binds Maggie and Boudreaux is resolved in three surprising parts throughout the first 5-6 books, and each scene and dialogue between Maggie and Boudreaux is superb.
There's only one glitch, centered around the last name "Boudreaux", for he has three step-sons, one of whom is a shady lawyer. The confusion around the last name harms the plot, and is quite unbelievable ... in my rarely humble opinion ...
Nevertheless, I'm enjoying this series more and more, especially as the quality of prose and plotting improves.
If you pick up the first book (must start there), please be patient and read through the first four or five books before making a decision on the overall series.
Boudreaux's 1947 Chris Craft Express Cruiser
Full size image here
Notes and Quotes:
Gregory Boudreaux at peace:
This was his sanctuary, his place of respite and refreshment. Here, there were no problems; there were no decisions or responsibilities or agendas. He could come here and empty his mind. He could fill his lungs with great, hungry breaths of salty air and be renewed, then go back to the mainland stronger, calmer, more ready to deal with his life and the people in it.
-
Bennett Boudreaux explains his code to Maggie:
“When I do something nice publicly, it’s because it’s the right thing to do for my reputation. When I do it privately, it’s because it’s the right thing to do.”
-
Maggie wondered if this was what it was like for farmers. She wondered if they walked out onto land that their fathers and grandfathers had farmed, scooped up a handful of black, loamy dirt and put their noses in it to remind them of what was real, of what was always. To remind themselves of who they were.
-
Maggie considers her attraction to Bennett Boudreaux:
As she watched him walk away, she thought that maybe flies didn’t fly into spider webs because the webs were invisible. Maybe they flew into the webs because the spider didn’t really look so bad.
.
(Included in Kindle Unlimited)
As usual with my reviews, please first read the publisher’s blurb/summary of the book. Thank you.
I'm going to review the first five books as if they were one large volume, since the books end suddenly and mid-plot, often. I speculate that publishing 5x 200 page volumes might provide better income for her than a single large volume.
Which leads to a second problem: Endless repetition of character descriptions (including animals), and plot updates in each new volume (which you can skim over) but... These books cannot really be read separately, they must be read in order (at least books 1-5).
The Good
Firstly, McKenna shines at character development and description. There is a commanding feminine demeanour throughout these books, perhaps the best I've ever seen.
In fact, I would say characters and emotions are the lead attraction for me now, well ahead of the mystery/plots (which get better). The pacing is always good, and the prose also improves substantially over time. The dialogue is good, and the characters speak with (mostly) distinct voices.
There is a sub-plot which, to me, drives everything: The strange attraction between Maggie and Bennett Boudreaux. Boudreaux is the town "kingpin", ascribed with various crimes including murder, but his charm and eloquence make him impressive and attractive. The mystery of what binds Maggie and Boudreaux is resolved in three surprising parts throughout the first 5-6 books, and each scene and dialogue between Maggie and Boudreaux is superb.
There's only one glitch, centered around the last name "Boudreaux", for he has three step-sons, one of whom is a shady lawyer. The confusion around the last name harms the plot, and is quite unbelievable ... in my rarely humble opinion ...
Nevertheless, I'm enjoying this series more and more, especially as the quality of prose and plotting improves.
If you pick up the first book (must start there), please be patient and read through the first four or five books before making a decision on the overall series.
Boudreaux's 1947 Chris Craft Express Cruiser
Full size image here
Notes and Quotes:
Gregory Boudreaux at peace:
This was his sanctuary, his place of respite and refreshment. Here, there were no problems; there were no decisions or responsibilities or agendas. He could come here and empty his mind. He could fill his lungs with great, hungry breaths of salty air and be renewed, then go back to the mainland stronger, calmer, more ready to deal with his life and the people in it.
-
Bennett Boudreaux explains his code to Maggie:
“When I do something nice publicly, it’s because it’s the right thing to do for my reputation. When I do it privately, it’s because it’s the right thing to do.”
-
Maggie wondered if this was what it was like for farmers. She wondered if they walked out onto land that their fathers and grandfathers had farmed, scooped up a handful of black, loamy dirt and put their noses in it to remind them of what was real, of what was always. To remind themselves of who they were.
-
Maggie considers her attraction to Bennett Boudreaux:
As she watched him walk away, she thought that maybe flies didn’t fly into spider webs because the webs were invisible. Maybe they flew into the webs because the spider didn’t really look so bad.
.
February 5, 2017
It takes a lot for me to dislike a book but this one qualifies.
A book needs to have a beginning, middle and end that fit and make sense, this one does not.
The book is set up to be a mystery that starts with a murder/suicide.
The main character is investigating this murder/suicide while dealing with her own personal demons and relationships.
Then midway the book shifts from the murder to drug dealers and from there the whole thing falls apart.
The ending was rushed and made absolutely no sense to the rest of the book.
Even with this being book one in a set/series, it still needed to finish one vein of investigation before it moved on to another.
Reading this book was like getting on a bike with the plan to ride 10 miles across town but after two hours of riding you realize your bike is stationary and you never left home. Time wasted!
A book needs to have a beginning, middle and end that fit and make sense, this one does not.
The book is set up to be a mystery that starts with a murder/suicide.
The main character is investigating this murder/suicide while dealing with her own personal demons and relationships.
Then midway the book shifts from the murder to drug dealers and from there the whole thing falls apart.
The ending was rushed and made absolutely no sense to the rest of the book.
Even with this being book one in a set/series, it still needed to finish one vein of investigation before it moved on to another.
Reading this book was like getting on a bike with the plan to ride 10 miles across town but after two hours of riding you realize your bike is stationary and you never left home. Time wasted!
February 18, 2017
What a read!!
Suicides, rape, domestic abuse, child abuse, drug
abuse, meth labs, drug running, secrets, oysters,
dancing, humor, romance plus more all combine
for a fast paced, well developed story with well
defined, colorful, some quirky, some temperamental
and well created characters.
The main female character Maggie and her two
children live in Apalachicola, Florida with their dog,
Coco who is a five year old Catahoula Parish Leopard
Hound, a rooster named Stoopid and a mixture of
White Silkie, Buff Orpington and Rhode Island Red
hens. She is divorced and is police Lieutenant.
Great ending. Amazing what can be revealed at
low tide!! Looking forward to reading the next
book.
Suicides, rape, domestic abuse, child abuse, drug
abuse, meth labs, drug running, secrets, oysters,
dancing, humor, romance plus more all combine
for a fast paced, well developed story with well
defined, colorful, some quirky, some temperamental
and well created characters.
The main female character Maggie and her two
children live in Apalachicola, Florida with their dog,
Coco who is a five year old Catahoula Parish Leopard
Hound, a rooster named Stoopid and a mixture of
White Silkie, Buff Orpington and Rhode Island Red
hens. She is divorced and is police Lieutenant.
Great ending. Amazing what can be revealed at
low tide!! Looking forward to reading the next
book.
April 3, 2016
This was a new author for me, I happened upon it by per chance! It begins with a bang! No pun intended, and you meet Sheriff Wyatt and LT. Maggie. I was so hooked by the 5th page, I never moved for the time it took me to start til finish! I will also tell you, I bought the whole series that day, and awaiting til Feb. 15th for the next book! It has mysteries, as in plural, funny, serious, great setting, Maggie is my Hero!
July 16, 2020
Puedes encontrar esta reseña en español al final.
This review is for the first two books:
Low Tide: 3.5 stars.
Riptide: 1 star.
I'm not sure how to tag this story. There really isn't enough suspense to call it such. Neither romance. Maybe chic-lit? Of course, the protagonist is a police detective, so this chic-lit is going to be something out of the ordinary (and it is not a compliment).
Although the story (in the first installment) is entertaining, nothing really happens. When it comes to summarizing it, I cannot come up with more than a handful of ideas, and none of them has a conclusion. At the end one does not have the feeling of having read a book but some chapters of a story. And the story continues, in at least 5 more books. So, I think I already have my tag: soap opera.
The label is confirmed when I read the second installment where I find the same characters, who are still stuck in the same situations, with the same problems, with the same personal relationships, the same lies, the same secrets and therefore, more melodrama. Of course, there is still so little suspense that it seems incredible that the heroine is a police officer. The suspense is supplemented with high doses of melodrama and with cardboard, two-dimensional, perfect and without background or personality characters.
At least in the first installment the dialogue between the MC´s was intelligent, insightful and with a lot of acidity and humor. In the second installment there are no longer dialogues. There is melodrama.
In the first installment, Wyatt, the other half of the romance, is smart, direct, honest, and with a humor that lights up the whole scene. In the second installment he is relegated to the bench. He almost doesn´t appear...
In the first installment Maggie, the heroine, is a strong, determined woman with a dark past that has not stopped her from becoming a benchmark of honesty and reliability in her community. In the second installment she becomes a threat. The lies no longer make sense and interfere with her work. She reaches a point where she becomes an accessory to the crimes for omission. And her personal life, which was already a bit surreal in the first installment, is directly ridiculous in the second one.
At least the bad guy is interesting. A kind of Robin Hood mixed with The Godfather or something like that... I imagine that since the police are not going to do their job, the author takes advantage and lets the bad guy do it. And she disguises it as divine justice or something. So very twisted and the only interesting thing in the story if it was not for his relationship with the heroine, that I can see where is going to go, and will be the cherry on top of the melodrama ...
So not for me. This is chic-lit but the protagonist is in uniform and in a zillion of installments.
***
Esta reseña es de los dos primeros libros:
Low Tide: 3.5 estrellas.
Riptide: 1 estrella.
No tengo muy claro cómo etiquetar esta historia. Realmente no hay suficiente suspense como para llamarla tal. Ni romance. ¿Tal vez chic-lit? Eso sí, la protagonista es detective de policía, así que el chic-lit va a ser algo fuera de lo habitual (y no es un cumplido).
Aunque la historia (en la primera entrega) está entretenida, realmente no pasa nada. A la hora de resumirla no puedo dar más que un puñado de ideas, y ninguna de ellas tiene conclusión. Llegadas al final no da la sensación de haber leído un libro sino algunos capítulos de la historia. Y la historia sigue, en al menos 5 libros más. Así que creo que ya tengo mi etiqueta: telenovelesca.
La etiqueta se confirma cuando leo la segunda entrega donde me encuentro los mismos personajes, que siguen anquilosados en las mismas situaciones, con los mismos problemas, con las mismas relaciones personales, las mismas mentiras, los mismos secretos y por lo tanto, más melodrama. Eso sí, sigue habiendo tan poco suspense que parece mentira que la protagonista sea policía. El suspense se suple con altas dosis de melodrama y con personajes que, ya sí, parecen de cartón piedra. Bidimensionales, perfectos, sin fondo ni personalidad.
Al menos en la primera entrega el diálogo entre los protagonistas era inteligente, perspicaz y con mucha acidez y humor. En la segunda entrega ya no hay diálogos. Hay melodrama.
En la primera entrega, Wyatt, la otra mitad del romance, es inteligente, directo, honesto y con un humor que ilumina toda la escena. En la segunda entrega es relegado al banquillo. Ni aparece…
En la primera entrega Maggie, la protagonista, es una mujer fuerte, decidida y con un pasado oscuro que no le ha impedido convertirse en un referente de honestidad y fiabilidad en su comunidad. En la segunda entrega se convierte en una amenaza. Las mentiras ya no tienen sentido e interfieren en su trabajo. Llega a un punto en el que se convierte en cómplice de los crímenes por omisión. Y su vida personal, que ya era un poco surrealista en la primera entrega es, directamente absurda en la segunda.
Al menos el malo es interesante. Una especie de Robin Hood mezclado con El Padrino o algo así… Imagino que como la policía no va a hacer su trabajo, la autora aprovecha y deja que lo haga el malo. Y lo disfraza de justicia divina o algo así. Muy retorcido y lo único interesante de la historia si no fuera porque su relación con la protagonista, que me la veo venir, va a ser la guinda del melodrama…
Así que no. Esto es chic-lit pero la prota va de uniforme y en tropecientas entregas.
This review is for the first two books:
Low Tide: 3.5 stars.
Riptide: 1 star.
I'm not sure how to tag this story. There really isn't enough suspense to call it such. Neither romance. Maybe chic-lit? Of course, the protagonist is a police detective, so this chic-lit is going to be something out of the ordinary (and it is not a compliment).
Although the story (in the first installment) is entertaining, nothing really happens. When it comes to summarizing it, I cannot come up with more than a handful of ideas, and none of them has a conclusion. At the end one does not have the feeling of having read a book but some chapters of a story. And the story continues, in at least 5 more books. So, I think I already have my tag: soap opera.
The label is confirmed when I read the second installment where I find the same characters, who are still stuck in the same situations, with the same problems, with the same personal relationships, the same lies, the same secrets and therefore, more melodrama. Of course, there is still so little suspense that it seems incredible that the heroine is a police officer. The suspense is supplemented with high doses of melodrama and with cardboard, two-dimensional, perfect and without background or personality characters.
At least in the first installment the dialogue between the MC´s was intelligent, insightful and with a lot of acidity and humor. In the second installment there are no longer dialogues. There is melodrama.
In the first installment, Wyatt, the other half of the romance, is smart, direct, honest, and with a humor that lights up the whole scene. In the second installment he is relegated to the bench. He almost doesn´t appear...
In the first installment Maggie, the heroine, is a strong, determined woman with a dark past that has not stopped her from becoming a benchmark of honesty and reliability in her community. In the second installment she becomes a threat. The lies no longer make sense and interfere with her work. She reaches a point where she becomes an accessory to the crimes for omission. And her personal life, which was already a bit surreal in the first installment, is directly ridiculous in the second one.
At least the bad guy is interesting. A kind of Robin Hood mixed with The Godfather or something like that... I imagine that since the police are not going to do their job, the author takes advantage and lets the bad guy do it. And she disguises it as divine justice or something. So very twisted and the only interesting thing in the story if it was not for his relationship with the heroine, that I can see where is going to go, and will be the cherry on top of the melodrama ...
So not for me. This is chic-lit but the protagonist is in uniform and in a zillion of installments.
***
Esta reseña es de los dos primeros libros:
Low Tide: 3.5 estrellas.
Riptide: 1 estrella.
No tengo muy claro cómo etiquetar esta historia. Realmente no hay suficiente suspense como para llamarla tal. Ni romance. ¿Tal vez chic-lit? Eso sí, la protagonista es detective de policía, así que el chic-lit va a ser algo fuera de lo habitual (y no es un cumplido).
Aunque la historia (en la primera entrega) está entretenida, realmente no pasa nada. A la hora de resumirla no puedo dar más que un puñado de ideas, y ninguna de ellas tiene conclusión. Llegadas al final no da la sensación de haber leído un libro sino algunos capítulos de la historia. Y la historia sigue, en al menos 5 libros más. Así que creo que ya tengo mi etiqueta: telenovelesca.
La etiqueta se confirma cuando leo la segunda entrega donde me encuentro los mismos personajes, que siguen anquilosados en las mismas situaciones, con los mismos problemas, con las mismas relaciones personales, las mismas mentiras, los mismos secretos y por lo tanto, más melodrama. Eso sí, sigue habiendo tan poco suspense que parece mentira que la protagonista sea policía. El suspense se suple con altas dosis de melodrama y con personajes que, ya sí, parecen de cartón piedra. Bidimensionales, perfectos, sin fondo ni personalidad.
Al menos en la primera entrega el diálogo entre los protagonistas era inteligente, perspicaz y con mucha acidez y humor. En la segunda entrega ya no hay diálogos. Hay melodrama.
En la primera entrega, Wyatt, la otra mitad del romance, es inteligente, directo, honesto y con un humor que ilumina toda la escena. En la segunda entrega es relegado al banquillo. Ni aparece…
En la primera entrega Maggie, la protagonista, es una mujer fuerte, decidida y con un pasado oscuro que no le ha impedido convertirse en un referente de honestidad y fiabilidad en su comunidad. En la segunda entrega se convierte en una amenaza. Las mentiras ya no tienen sentido e interfieren en su trabajo. Llega a un punto en el que se convierte en cómplice de los crímenes por omisión. Y su vida personal, que ya era un poco surrealista en la primera entrega es, directamente absurda en la segunda.
Al menos el malo es interesante. Una especie de Robin Hood mezclado con El Padrino o algo así… Imagino que como la policía no va a hacer su trabajo, la autora aprovecha y deja que lo haga el malo. Y lo disfraza de justicia divina o algo así. Muy retorcido y lo único interesante de la historia si no fuera porque su relación con la protagonista, que me la veo venir, va a ser la guinda del melodrama…
Así que no. Esto es chic-lit pero la prota va de uniforme y en tropecientas entregas.
March 24, 2022
What a wonderfully written slice of Florida fiction. Dawn Lee McKenna really makes a reader feel the salt spray and small-town rhythms of Apalachicola with this book, the first in her series about Lt. Maggie Raymond of the Franklin County Sheriff's Department.
The book starts with a bang (literally) but then slows way down to follow Maggie as she makes her way through two investigations. One is the death -- apparently from suicide -- of a man with whom she shares a secret connection. The other involves her efforts to free an abused woman from the clutches of a meth dealer who wants Maggie dead.
In between we get scenes of Maggie coaching Little League, lusting after her boss, dancing at a festival, hanging with her parents, coping with her kids, getting support from her ex and slowly letting herself be drawn in by the town''s arch-villain, seafood wholesaler and drug trade kingpin Bennett Boudreaux. (And lest we start to think he's not so bad, we get a strong reminder of what a villain he is with his final scene in the book.)
The plot with the meth dealer wraps up in this book, but not the one with the mysterious shooting. That one carries over into the next three books, I hear. That's the only reason I gave this book four stars instead of five. I look forward to reading the next in the series to find out what happens next.
The book starts with a bang (literally) but then slows way down to follow Maggie as she makes her way through two investigations. One is the death -- apparently from suicide -- of a man with whom she shares a secret connection. The other involves her efforts to free an abused woman from the clutches of a meth dealer who wants Maggie dead.
In between we get scenes of Maggie coaching Little League, lusting after her boss, dancing at a festival, hanging with her parents, coping with her kids, getting support from her ex and slowly letting herself be drawn in by the town''s arch-villain, seafood wholesaler and drug trade kingpin Bennett Boudreaux. (And lest we start to think he's not so bad, we get a strong reminder of what a villain he is with his final scene in the book.)
The plot with the meth dealer wraps up in this book, but not the one with the mysterious shooting. That one carries over into the next three books, I hear. That's the only reason I gave this book four stars instead of five. I look forward to reading the next in the series to find out what happens next.
August 29, 2017
Stormy coasts
Being from a coast, i love the storms, and i love it when authors use the environment almost like another character. This was only the first book... they're a little dark, not quite your Florida summer beach read with quirky characters and laughs a mile long. Its more real, with characters almost too real, where good guys stent all that perfect, and bad guys not all that bad. It's a. little bit of Dave Robicheaux, just a little, and a bit of Florida the way the natives live it, and a bit of teeball and divorce and women with secrets and moral codes and children to raise and a crazy chicken named appropriately, rather than politically correct. And family. The rest is just a story that pulls on the threads of all the other stories and makes you want more.
Being from a coast, i love the storms, and i love it when authors use the environment almost like another character. This was only the first book... they're a little dark, not quite your Florida summer beach read with quirky characters and laughs a mile long. Its more real, with characters almost too real, where good guys stent all that perfect, and bad guys not all that bad. It's a. little bit of Dave Robicheaux, just a little, and a bit of Florida the way the natives live it, and a bit of teeball and divorce and women with secrets and moral codes and children to raise and a crazy chicken named appropriately, rather than politically correct. And family. The rest is just a story that pulls on the threads of all the other stories and makes you want more.
December 2, 2016
Another story that quit before ending
Perhaps it is only me, but I really dislike being evolved in characters and story line and be left hanging, so the author can sell another book.
Perhaps it is only me, but I really dislike being evolved in characters and story line and be left hanging, so the author can sell another book.
September 21, 2016
Kind of dragged. Author had to put two unrelated stories together to make it a book.
August 19, 2017
A most excellent 5 star read! found a great new series, on to the next book #2 Riptide
January 26, 2021
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I ran across Dawn McKenna’s name, but I was looking for something new and fresh in the mystery category, and after checking out the Look Inside feature on Amazon, I took a chance and ordered the first two of her novels. Although technically more suspense than mystery, I’d have to say I hit a real jackpot with her Maggie Redmond series. The characters—good and bad, major and minor—all have unique, multilayered and personalities, and there were some really unexpected twists in the story lines. I’ve only read Low Tide and Riptide so far, but I’ll soon be ordering the rest of the series. I highly recommend this author.
November 2, 2020
A nice vacation read. I was expecting it to be pretty much throwaway reading, but the plot got a little more complex by the end, and the characters were interesting. The main character did irritate me with both divorcing her husband over pot smuggling, and trying to claim it was basically the same as dealing meth.
This would be a great book for a reading challenge with location based prompts, such as 'book with a strong sense of place'! Or just to read if you'd like to be on vacation right now, but can't be.
While not graphic, the book does have some blood and death/violence, and also gets into some dark themes like suicide, domestic/child abuse and other stress around the situations of children. I suspect that a lot of mid-teens and up who enjoy suspense/thrillers could be fine reading this book, but certain situations might actually be more difficult for some adults to read about.
This would be a great book for a reading challenge with location based prompts, such as 'book with a strong sense of place'! Or just to read if you'd like to be on vacation right now, but can't be.
While not graphic, the book does have some blood and death/violence, and also gets into some dark themes like suicide, domestic/child abuse and other stress around the situations of children. I suspect that a lot of mid-teens and up who enjoy suspense/thrillers could be fine reading this book, but certain situations might actually be more difficult for some adults to read about.
November 21, 2021
This was like a book snack, which I greatly enjoyed. Part of the appeal is my acquaintance with Apalachicola and St. George Island, making many of the landmarks familiar and adding a layer of charm. But familiarity aside, I was engaged in the story and intrigued by the characters, making this a quick and satisfying read.
August 15, 2020
I enjoyed this so much mainly because of my familiarity with Apalachicola and the surrounding area. I love that I know all the landmarks - the streets, the restaurants, the stores, the parks, and the festivals. On to the next books in the series !
October 10, 2017
Good start to a new series. I enjoyed this book and the characters. Good story line. My new nay issue was that it was kind of an abrupt ending. I will read another book by this author.
November 22, 2018
Slow and Good
You know how it is when you read a good book that is slowly paced but still good? That’s this book. Although, there are still moments of suspense that have your adrenaline kicking in.
You know how it is when you read a good book that is slowly paced but still good? That’s this book. Although, there are still moments of suspense that have your adrenaline kicking in.
July 6, 2018
Writing is a business, and writers want to keep readers sufficiently interested in their work to read more of their books. So, authors often choose to write novels or other works in series, in the hopes that readers who like their style and the characters will continue reading. It's a strategy that worked exceptionally well for some, like J.K. Rowling, but it's also risky, because many readers don't like out-and-out cliffhangers. The writer thus has to leave enough plot strands open to keep readers interested but, at the same time, give them a feeling of closure in each book. Dawn Lee McKenna wrestles with this problem in her otherwise solid (albeit short) novel, Low Tide, and her ending doesn't quite work.
Low Tide is set in Appalachicola, FL, a small Gulf of Mexico fishing town about an hour’s drive east of Panama City in one of the smallest (by population) counties in the state. It’s home to a commercial fishing industry, some retirement tourism, and, in this novel at least, a homegrown illicit drug trade as well. The last of these interests Detective Maggie Redmond, an investigator with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, since her current case involves an abused girlfriend of a local meth dealer. The girlfriend asks Maggie for help in getting away from her boyfriend and offers to inform. Maggie has to get the woman and three small children out and put the bad guy away.
To say that Low Tide is a book about small town cops taking on a local drug dealer, however, is to look at the small picture. For author McKenna sets this book up as most cop shows on TV are structured, with a “case of the week” (or in this case, the book) as one part of a larger puzzle. And this big puzzle involves Maggie, her ex-husband, her new potential boyfriend (who’s also her boss, the county sheriff), and the town’s largest employer, Bennett Boudreaux, who runs a fishing business but is also reportedly involved (but never proven) in various shady activities. At the start of Low Tide, his nephew apparently shoots himself on a deserted local beach, and Maggie’s investigation into the death winds up involving her in a very unusual, deepening relationship with Boudreuax, a man her own father’s age.
As a writer, McKenna does an excellent job of sketching in personality traits, both Maggie’s and of some of the other main characters. She does so gradually, allowing readers to know little bits and pieces gradually as the book progresses. But, as this book ends, readers still don’t know all the answers. And they won’t, unless they read more of the author’s work. They specifically won’t know whether Boudreaux’s nephew was murdered, and why he died, whether it was a suicide or murder, which, since the book opens by describing the moments leading up to his death, most readers would probably expect. They will learn what happens with Maggie, the drug dealer, and his girlfriend, but that will probably not satisfy most people in regard to the big picture.
I don’t want to be overly critical of Low Tide, since it succeeds quite well at capturing the atmosphere of this small corner of Florida and its residents and establishes Maggie as a very likable and quite realistic character. In addition, the action scenes are well laid out and interesting, and readers will enjoy the general feel they get for small town police work here. But the ending is handled rather awkwardly, as if the author was keeping a page count and, more or less decided to arbitrarily end the book at a particular point. The actual ending is unexpected, but not one that will shock anyone who has ever read this type of book before.
I’ve gone into a bit more depth here that I usually do in describing the storyline to allow readers to get a better feel for what to expect in Low Tide. Those who enjoy this type of mystery, with intriguing characters, atmospheric color, and good action, and who don’t mind an ending that asks more questions than it answers will enjoy it. Those who expect full closure will not. My three-star rating is a compromise here, between some very good writing for 190 or so pages and extremely awkward writing for the last ten. Low Tide will take readers on a good cruise as long as they watch out for some shallow water at the end.
Low Tide is set in Appalachicola, FL, a small Gulf of Mexico fishing town about an hour’s drive east of Panama City in one of the smallest (by population) counties in the state. It’s home to a commercial fishing industry, some retirement tourism, and, in this novel at least, a homegrown illicit drug trade as well. The last of these interests Detective Maggie Redmond, an investigator with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, since her current case involves an abused girlfriend of a local meth dealer. The girlfriend asks Maggie for help in getting away from her boyfriend and offers to inform. Maggie has to get the woman and three small children out and put the bad guy away.
To say that Low Tide is a book about small town cops taking on a local drug dealer, however, is to look at the small picture. For author McKenna sets this book up as most cop shows on TV are structured, with a “case of the week” (or in this case, the book) as one part of a larger puzzle. And this big puzzle involves Maggie, her ex-husband, her new potential boyfriend (who’s also her boss, the county sheriff), and the town’s largest employer, Bennett Boudreaux, who runs a fishing business but is also reportedly involved (but never proven) in various shady activities. At the start of Low Tide, his nephew apparently shoots himself on a deserted local beach, and Maggie’s investigation into the death winds up involving her in a very unusual, deepening relationship with Boudreuax, a man her own father’s age.
As a writer, McKenna does an excellent job of sketching in personality traits, both Maggie’s and of some of the other main characters. She does so gradually, allowing readers to know little bits and pieces gradually as the book progresses. But, as this book ends, readers still don’t know all the answers. And they won’t, unless they read more of the author’s work. They specifically won’t know whether Boudreaux’s nephew was murdered, and why he died, whether it was a suicide or murder, which, since the book opens by describing the moments leading up to his death, most readers would probably expect. They will learn what happens with Maggie, the drug dealer, and his girlfriend, but that will probably not satisfy most people in regard to the big picture.
I don’t want to be overly critical of Low Tide, since it succeeds quite well at capturing the atmosphere of this small corner of Florida and its residents and establishes Maggie as a very likable and quite realistic character. In addition, the action scenes are well laid out and interesting, and readers will enjoy the general feel they get for small town police work here. But the ending is handled rather awkwardly, as if the author was keeping a page count and, more or less decided to arbitrarily end the book at a particular point. The actual ending is unexpected, but not one that will shock anyone who has ever read this type of book before.
I’ve gone into a bit more depth here that I usually do in describing the storyline to allow readers to get a better feel for what to expect in Low Tide. Those who enjoy this type of mystery, with intriguing characters, atmospheric color, and good action, and who don’t mind an ending that asks more questions than it answers will enjoy it. Those who expect full closure will not. My three-star rating is a compromise here, between some very good writing for 190 or so pages and extremely awkward writing for the last ten. Low Tide will take readers on a good cruise as long as they watch out for some shallow water at the end.
March 10, 2017
Short and sweet but a great beginning to a serial of books written about an where I'm staying this winter! Many familiar places and the author has such a wonderful descriptive nuance to the people and places. Took me just an hour or so to read this. I found it at the local library. Kudo's for displaying the local talent and area books. I rarely if ever read a serial books, but I will read these even if it's just a pleasant break while on vacation.
August 11, 2017
I was instantly hooked on this fun, fast-paced, Florida mystery series featuring Maggie Redmond, Sheriff Wyatt Hamilton, David, Maggie's kids, and the mysterious Mr. Boudreaux. Maggie is called to the scene of an apparent suicide... Gregory Boudreaux has taken his own life. Maggie has been grappling with a dark secret for years: Gregory once raped her in the woods when she was a teenager, so she's not all that sad to see him go. While working the case, Maggie and Wyatt finally acknowledge their building attraction to one another that we get the impression has been sizzling for years.
The side plot in this book - as I'll call it - was Maggie's personal involvement with a woman named Grace who was involved with a big-time drug dealer, Alessi. While trying to help her escape Alessi's clutches, Grace ultimately gets her kids taken away by child services and commits suicide. Seeking vengeance, Maggie and the department go after Alessi, and when he turns violent, she shoots him point blank, killing him.
One very interesting twist to this book is Maggie's relationship with her ex-husband and best friend David. The two had been together since 5th grade, and divorced five years prior when, after losing his job, David took to hustling marijuana in and out of Florida, which Maggie could not bear. I thought that the comfort level Wyatt had with Maggie and David's relationship was quite the example of self-confidence and assuredness... Maggie and David still openly say "I love you" and he calls her "Babe"!
Let's also not forget Maggie's budding friendship with town bad-boy and mob boss Mr. Boudreaux. He's wealthy, mysterious, and definitely dangerous, although I can't quite figure out yet if he has it out for Maggie or if he genuinely cares for her. All the characters in this story are well-developed and likeable, and I can't wait to see what it has in store.
The side plot in this book - as I'll call it - was Maggie's personal involvement with a woman named Grace who was involved with a big-time drug dealer, Alessi. While trying to help her escape Alessi's clutches, Grace ultimately gets her kids taken away by child services and commits suicide. Seeking vengeance, Maggie and the department go after Alessi, and when he turns violent, she shoots him point blank, killing him.
One very interesting twist to this book is Maggie's relationship with her ex-husband and best friend David. The two had been together since 5th grade, and divorced five years prior when, after losing his job, David took to hustling marijuana in and out of Florida, which Maggie could not bear. I thought that the comfort level Wyatt had with Maggie and David's relationship was quite the example of self-confidence and assuredness... Maggie and David still openly say "I love you" and he calls her "Babe"!
Let's also not forget Maggie's budding friendship with town bad-boy and mob boss Mr. Boudreaux. He's wealthy, mysterious, and definitely dangerous, although I can't quite figure out yet if he has it out for Maggie or if he genuinely cares for her. All the characters in this story are well-developed and likeable, and I can't wait to see what it has in store.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2017
This first book in the series drew me in immediately. I have never spent time in Florida (other than Disney World) so I reveled in the descriptions of the place and weather, so vivid it’s as if I was right there. Maggie Redmond is very relatable, all the characters intriguingly multi-dimensional. While this is a great mystery, the love interests were also captivating. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of reading this book and, like other reviewers, felt it ended abruptly. Not all questions are answered, everything is not neatly tied up with a bow. But then, life is rarely that way, is it? I can’t wait to get started on the next in the series.
March 2, 2016
I got Low Tide as an Amazon Freebie and I'm so very happy that I did. Low Tide was short but kept me flipping the pages (alright, tapping the Kindle screen) till the very last page. (And immediately after I purchased book two).
I love a book that involves Florida. I love a book that makes me wonder who did it. I love a book that has a character that isn't necessarily nice but does things in such a way that you end up rooting for the bad guy. This book came through on all three fronts.
I love a book that involves Florida. I love a book that makes me wonder who did it. I love a book that has a character that isn't necessarily nice but does things in such a way that you end up rooting for the bad guy. This book came through on all three fronts.
June 9, 2021
The story is set in an area somewhat local to me. The author spends a lot of time writing about the oyster industry which is what Apalachicola is known for but some how it doesn’t give that sense of place I love from Florida authors like John D. MacDonald or Carl Hiaasen. Maybe I know the area too well, any way, moving on. The story was ok. I can’t decide if I like the characters or not but the ending has me wanting to at least read the next book in the series. I’m pretty sure I like bad guy more than the main character. He, at least, has a personality.
July 19, 2015
Compelling
This was one of those books that a person once started could not be put down till the end. Left me guessing
This was one of those books that a person once started could not be put down till the end. Left me guessing
March 13, 2016
An Excellent Read
The author did an excellent job of holding my attention throughout the book! I I generally fall asleep when I read but not this time! Spellbinding!
The author did an excellent job of holding my attention throughout the book! I I generally fall asleep when I read but not this time! Spellbinding!
June 3, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed the book ... with just a few personal quibbles. Stress: personal.
Again, as in her novella prequel, there wasn't much of a mystery here. Hints at a mystery, but really more a straight crime story/thriller. To this end, well done! Ms. McKenna's writing style is excellent with realistic sounding dialogue and, even more important, realistic reactions to events. I make a big deal about my quibbles, but they aren't as serious as they sound...especially the first one which is definitely down to personal taste. The negative side of this review is by far disproportionate to the impact it had on my enjoyment of the book. I did genuinely enjoy the book and will, at least, try another.
My only quibbles:
* like many writers these days, for my taste, there is a too much romance mixed in. Does every female detective have the hots for their boss? This is the third straight mystery novel I've read (from both sides of the pond) where this was so. Maybe I've hit an unlucky streak (for me). I'm used to Morse, Frost and Dalziel & Pasco where romantic entanglements were more of a one-off, not a running theme. And I'm not saying it's necessarily a bad thing, but I find it distracting from the mystery and somewhat unprofessional behavior - especially for her squeaky-clean boss. I know it's a novel, but really? I will, however, give the author excellent marks on her treatment of the lead character and her ex. Very well done!
* Most of the story's characters were well developed and 3(ish)-dimensional - even some of the minor characters. But, in come the non-police state/federal workers. As I've read in so many American (and even some British) mysteries, they are painted as non-feeling, unsympathetic, unpleasant, bullying robots. They are even uniformly unattractive. This gets old really fast. Even an acknowledged villain was given redeeming qualities. The one-dimensional "all government workers are evil" is very tiring. Being a former and present government worker and knowing many, many compassionate and humane co-workers, this was the only real disappointment of this book and left me with a bad taste. I'm probably going a little overboard on this, but, still...
I'm sure the romantic stuff will continue, which I can take if it doesn't get too distracting, but the second issue may be an issue for me. I'm hoping it's a one-off issue needed to just wrap up the story quickly. In the mean time, I will take a break to another author, but I will come back for #2 (already bought it) after I get the bad taste out. Ms. McKenna IS a talented author - no question in my mind. I think (hope) she just used a terrible stereotype to end the story quickly. Again, if you like a little romance in your mystery, this will probably be a great choice for you. If you think that government workers have little redeeming characteristics or don't care one way or the other, again, check.
Four stars? Yeah. 90-95% of the book was excellent. To me, that's 4 stars...at least.
Again, as in her novella prequel, there wasn't much of a mystery here. Hints at a mystery, but really more a straight crime story/thriller. To this end, well done! Ms. McKenna's writing style is excellent with realistic sounding dialogue and, even more important, realistic reactions to events. I make a big deal about my quibbles, but they aren't as serious as they sound...especially the first one which is definitely down to personal taste. The negative side of this review is by far disproportionate to the impact it had on my enjoyment of the book. I did genuinely enjoy the book and will, at least, try another.
My only quibbles:
* like many writers these days, for my taste, there is a too much romance mixed in. Does every female detective have the hots for their boss? This is the third straight mystery novel I've read (from both sides of the pond) where this was so. Maybe I've hit an unlucky streak (for me). I'm used to Morse, Frost and Dalziel & Pasco where romantic entanglements were more of a one-off, not a running theme. And I'm not saying it's necessarily a bad thing, but I find it distracting from the mystery and somewhat unprofessional behavior - especially for her squeaky-clean boss. I know it's a novel, but really? I will, however, give the author excellent marks on her treatment of the lead character and her ex. Very well done!
* Most of the story's characters were well developed and 3(ish)-dimensional - even some of the minor characters. But, in come the non-police state/federal workers. As I've read in so many American (and even some British) mysteries, they are painted as non-feeling, unsympathetic, unpleasant, bullying robots. They are even uniformly unattractive. This gets old really fast. Even an acknowledged villain was given redeeming qualities. The one-dimensional "all government workers are evil" is very tiring. Being a former and present government worker and knowing many, many compassionate and humane co-workers, this was the only real disappointment of this book and left me with a bad taste. I'm probably going a little overboard on this, but, still...
I'm sure the romantic stuff will continue, which I can take if it doesn't get too distracting, but the second issue may be an issue for me. I'm hoping it's a one-off issue needed to just wrap up the story quickly. In the mean time, I will take a break to another author, but I will come back for #2 (already bought it) after I get the bad taste out. Ms. McKenna IS a talented author - no question in my mind. I think (hope) she just used a terrible stereotype to end the story quickly. Again, if you like a little romance in your mystery, this will probably be a great choice for you. If you think that government workers have little redeeming characteristics or don't care one way or the other, again, check.
Four stars? Yeah. 90-95% of the book was excellent. To me, that's 4 stars...at least.
March 19, 2021
Warning: This is a serial, not the start of a series
Some authors seem unaware there's a difference between a *serial* and a *series.* A serial is when a tale is published in segments. This was popular in periodicals a hundred or so years ago to keep subscribers; editors hired writers to write stories that could unwind over the long haul with a cliff-hanger ending that would entice readers to purchase the next issue to see what would happen next.
A series is a set of books written about the same characters or set in the same place, and although the series has its own story arc, each book is a complete story with a satisfactory ending.
The "Forgotten Coast" books are serialized: "Low Tide" never reaches a satisfying conclusion with the primary mystery. The ending was abrupt enough that I thought a subplot was concluding, and when I saw the book was done, I thought I'd missed something. How was the central mystery resolved? Was it? I found myself pawing back to the early pages in the book, then skipping around, and ended up re-reading the book with the same disappointment: this was just the beginning of something much bigger to come, rather than the satisfying ending I was expecting.
Good thing I bought (or maybe received for free... I can't honestly remember) all four books in the "Forgotten Coast" set ("Low Tide" is followed by "Riptide," "What Washes Up," and "Landfall"). Hopefully by the time I reach the end of "Landfall" I'll have the solid ending I'm missing now.
The reason I'm willing to give the next installment a try is because the writing is very good, the characters ring true, and the setting is well-rendered, which is much more than I find in some of the books I've read lately.
Some authors seem unaware there's a difference between a *serial* and a *series.* A serial is when a tale is published in segments. This was popular in periodicals a hundred or so years ago to keep subscribers; editors hired writers to write stories that could unwind over the long haul with a cliff-hanger ending that would entice readers to purchase the next issue to see what would happen next.
A series is a set of books written about the same characters or set in the same place, and although the series has its own story arc, each book is a complete story with a satisfactory ending.
The "Forgotten Coast" books are serialized: "Low Tide" never reaches a satisfying conclusion with the primary mystery. The ending was abrupt enough that I thought a subplot was concluding, and when I saw the book was done, I thought I'd missed something. How was the central mystery resolved? Was it? I found myself pawing back to the early pages in the book, then skipping around, and ended up re-reading the book with the same disappointment: this was just the beginning of something much bigger to come, rather than the satisfying ending I was expecting.
Good thing I bought (or maybe received for free... I can't honestly remember) all four books in the "Forgotten Coast" set ("Low Tide" is followed by "Riptide," "What Washes Up," and "Landfall"). Hopefully by the time I reach the end of "Landfall" I'll have the solid ending I'm missing now.
The reason I'm willing to give the next installment a try is because the writing is very good, the characters ring true, and the setting is well-rendered, which is much more than I find in some of the books I've read lately.
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