Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Silenced in the Surf


It is National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day!  It is a day to celebrate small business owners.  There are some great little shops in this country and we need to patronize them so they can thrive.  If you get an opportunity, you should check out the little businesses in your area (we have one that makes handmade chocolates).   On March 29 in history . . . farmers discover the burial site of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China in 1974.  They will eventually discover about 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers as well as horses and chariots that are meant to protect the Emperor in the afterlife.  In 1806 construction is authorized on the Great National Pike (better known as Cumberland Road) becoming the United States for federal highway!  The Royal Albert Hall is opened in 1871 by Queen Victoria.  Dr. John Pemberton brews the first batch of Coca-Cola in 1886 in Atlanta, Georgia.  And the first same sex marriage are performed in England and Wales in 2014!  

Silenced in the Surf by Kate E. Dyer-Seeley is the third book in A Pacific Northwest Mystery series.  May Reed is a journalist with Northwest Extreme in Portland, Oregon.  They are currently experiencing a heat wave.  So when the assignment came up to cover King of the Hook in Hood River (surfing and windsurfing competition), Oregon, Meg jumped at the opportunity (to cool off in the water at the beach).  The only rental she could find was a three-bedroom house, so Meg invites her bestie, Jill and boyfriend (sort-of), Matt to come along for the weekend.  Meg gets an opportunity for a lesson (on a surfboard with a sail) with other reporters.  Justin Cruise shows up and shows off some of his tricks (Justin is the number one competitor and first-class jerk).  Meg gets separated from the group during the lesson and winds up on the other side of the river where she sees a body floating face down.  She turns the body over and it is Justin Cruise.  Who wanted him dead (besides the number two competitor)?  Meg cannot help but investigate the case (she has a curious nature) despite being told to stay out of hit by Sheriff Daniels (who is dating Meg's grandmother, Gam), Matt, and her boss, Greg.  Will Meg be able to find the killer, complete her assignment, and stay out of trouble?

Silenced in the Surf is my least favorite book in A Pacific Northwest Mystery series.  The mystery was so simple that a child could solve it.  There were also very few clues provided in the book.  The book's focus did not seem to be on the murder.  More time was devoted to surfing (and other water sports), beer (ale), crystals and healing energy (thanks to Gam), and Meg not taking care of herself in the sun.  I also thought it was odd that Meg, as a reporter, did not write up the story about Justin.  She had a unique point-of-view and could have sold her story (that she wrote) to any newspaper (but she never even attempted it).  One thing that has gone on too long is Meg's investigation into her father's death.  It has been going on since the beginning and has not really advanced (we get like one clue per book).  It is time to wrap up that particular storyline instead of dragging it out further.  I give Silenced in the Surf 3 out of 5 stars. It is just okay (which is a shame).  I was not a fan of Meg in this book.  Meg is actually bitter that she has a great job and lives on her own when other people her age are job hopping and still living with her parents (does this make any sense).  I am not sure if I will continue with this series.


The first two books in the series are Scene of the Climb and Slayed on the Slopes.  The next book in A Pacific Northwest Mystery series is First Degree Mudder.  I received a complimentary copy of Silenced in the Surf from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest review of the novel.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog.  I am currently reading Hope in the Land by Olivia Newport.  I hope all of you are having a terrific Tuesday.  It is very rainy in our area (just dismal). Please be careful when you are out driving (the roads can be slippery). Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

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