Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
Orchid Beach
Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Stuart Woods
Class/Genre: Mystery
Series: Holly Barker # 1
HarperCollins, 1998, $25.00,325 pp.
Brigadier General announced that Colonel James Bruno was not guilty on all three charges (sexual harassment, attempted rape, and conduct unbecoming an officer). At the time of the verdict, military police Sergeant Holly Barker, who filed the complaint, knew her military was over. That night, Holly meets with Chet Marley, Chief of the twenty-four person Orchid Beach, Florida police force, who offers her the position of being his deputy. After obtaining more details, she accepts the job.
However, the night before she reports to duty, the sleepy town is rudely awakened when Chet and local dog trainer Hank Doherty are murdered. Holly begins to investigate what happened to her boss, but there are no clues. No one, including her staff, will cooperate with the out-of-towner except for her new found lover and her canine. As she stubbornly continues to inquire into the homicides, Holly places her new job on the line and even places her self in danger.
Fans of Stuart Woods or anyone who loves an ultra-packed, non-stop action who-done-it will devour ORCHID BEACH. The novel is populated with well designed twists, turns, and red herrings. However, for many readers, the murder mystery remains dead in the water because there are way too many feminine issues buried throughout the story line with none of them properly developed. If it is action, action, and action the reader covets, than this is the novel for them.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
If you enjoy this website, a link would be appreciated. |