Book Review for The Margaret Ellen, A Karen Cobia Mystery by RC Burdick
I've discovered a new favorite author, and his name is RC Burdick.
The Margaret Ellen is an ocean-drenched mystery, filled with vibrant characters, palpable sea breezes, and spine-tingling suspense. It's a story that lingers in the reader's mind for days, conjuring up images of blustery sky and sea, saltwater-dampened hair, and personalities that spring to life from the rapidly turned pages. Like a great film, it's over far too soon.
Karen "Seaweed" Cobia is in a dilemma. Treading water in unsatisfactory relationships, Seaweed knows something has to change. As the charming, boyish charter boat captain sets out to right the wrongs in her life, she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a juicy murder investigation.
Seaweed and soon-to-be-ex boyfriend, Angus Loman, discover a body bobbing in the surf off Hangman's Key, an island on the west coast of Florida. Eva Park, local well-known philanthropist, is found face down in the surf with her hands and feet bound and a bullet in her forehead. Because Seaweed was raised by her sea-loving father, owner of Cobia's Bait, Tackle, and Charter Service, her resultant marine expertise aids in the murder investigation. The crusty local detective, Myers, begrudgingly accepts her assistance. Nicknamed "Grim Lips," Myers continues to seek out Karen's help as his regard for her skill intensifies.
As the mystery unfolds, a peculiar woman approaches Seaweed for help, embroiling her more deeply in the intrigue. Seaweed tries to balance the life she craves on the ocean with the promise to help the young woman, but instead is catapulted toward a dangerous liaison with the devious culprit who wants her dead.
Mr. Burdick's first mystery is a masterpiece ? the sense of place is alive and tantalizing; the scenes are vibrant and tangible. I still taste the salt from the onion rings; feel the condensation on the café tabletop; and sense the rolling of The Margaret Ellen as it moves through the swells. Burdick's knowledge of boats, waterways, fishing, and life on the Florida coast is dazzling, and lends credibility to the work.
The Margaret Ellen is reminiscent of John D MacDonald's Travis Magee series. As much as I love Travis Magee, I must say that I felt closer to Burdick's characters and more securely at the helm of The Margaret Ellen than I did with Magee's houseboat, The Busted Flush. Is that a travesty?
The natural dialogue is brilliantly set to the rustling of sea oats and whistling Austrian pines. The interplay between Seaweed and her father is priceless, emotive, and genuine. Evocative of real life, it brings to mind my own precious relationships with my three daughters. When I finished The Margaret Ellen, I was left with the paradox of deep satisfaction coupled with a strong yearning for more. I cared about these characters, and want to know what happens next. Mr. Burdick has hinted at a sequel and will undoubtedly have a long line of readers anxiously awaiting its release!
Aaron Paul Lazar resides in Upstate New York with his wife, three daughters, two grandsons, mother-in- law, two dogs, and three cats. After writing in the early morning hours, he works as an electrophotographic engineer at NexPress Solutions Inc., part of Kodak's Graphic Communications Group, in Rochester, New York. Additional passions include vegetable, fruit, and flower gardening; preparing large family feasts; photographing his family, gardens, and the breathtakingly beautiful Genesee Valley; cross-country skiing across the rolling hills; playing a distinctly amateur level of piano, and spending "time" with the French Impressionists whenever possible.
Although he adored raising his three delightful daughters, Mr. Lazar finds grandfathering his "two little buddies" to be one of the finest experiences of his life. Double Forte', the first in the series, was published in January 2005. Upstaged, number two, is in production. With eight books under his belt, Mr. Lazar is currently working on the ninth, which features Gus LeGarde and his family. http://www.legardemysteries.com
 Google News Updated : Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:11:53 GMT Boston fire truck smashes into building; 4 injured - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - BOSTON (AP) - The Boston Fire Department says a ladder truck has crashed into a high-rise apartment building, injuring at least four firefighters. Fire truck crashes into Boston building Boston firefighter killed when truck crashes into building Publ.Date : Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:01:03 GMT Report: COBRA cost outweighs Florida jobless benefit - Bizjournals.com
Bizjournals.com - Florida is one of nine states in which the average premium for COBRA, providing health care coverage for laid-off workers and their families, equals or exceeds the average unemployment benefits, according to a study by Families USA. Unemployed: Out of Luck, Out of Health Care Health insurance no bargain for unemployed: group Publ.Date : Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:25:59 GMT US lost 2.6 million jobs in 2008 - International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune - By Louis Uchitelle NEW YORK: US employers shed 2.6 million jobs in 2008, the worst year since 1945, the government reported Friday, and a rapidly deteriorating economy promises more significant losses ahead. Video: Jobless Rate Jumps to 7.2 Percent in December Unemployment hits 7.2 percent Publ.Date : Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:56:06 GMT SCENARIOS: Challenges for Obama intelligence team - Reuters Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama on Friday named retired Adm. Dennis Blair to oversee US spy agencies as director of national intelligence, and chose former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta as CIA director. Obama completes national security team Pelosi on Panetta: ''Impeccable judgment, unquestioned integrity'' Publ.Date : Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:35:19 GMT Palin: Media Portrayal Would Be 'Prettier' If She'd Been Dem VP ... - ABC News
ABC News - By LEE FERRAN Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is still fuming over the coverage she received during the presidential campaign and claims that if she were from a different "class" or political party, the her coverage would have much "prettier. Palin: Crazy or Crazy Like a Fox? Finally! Sarah Strikes Back at the Mainstream Media Publ.Date : Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:32:12 GMT Ukraine limits gas consumption as cut-off bites - Reuters
Reuters - By Pavel Polityuk and Guy Faulconbridge KIEV, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Ukraine limited gas supplies to industrial customers on Friday to ensure the pipeline system remained operational, the latest sign that the dispute is starting to further sap Ukraine's ... Video: Ukraine is blackmailing us Putin Europe Kept Waiting for Gas Publ.Date : Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:08:44 GMT UN agency to resume Gaza aid work - BBC News
BBC News - The UN aid agency Unrwa is to resume operations in Gaza as soon as possible after receiving assurances on safety from Israel, a spokeswoman said. Video: Rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel UN aid chief disappointed Gaza truce call ignored Publ.Date : Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:25:09 GMT Increase Website Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Without great ideas, no organization can stay afloat, much less... Read More Bebe Moore Campbell weaves a tale of unrelenting love and... Read More "The dedication in this book is a work of poetry... Read More Award winning author John Roynesdal, is a retired English teacher... Read More The other day I was surfing the net looking for... Read More This land is my memories. For two thousand years this... Read More Finite Capacity Scheduling by Gerhard Plenert PhD and Bill KirchmeirI... Read More These are some of the highlights of a connected story... Read More Marone Memoirs ? An immigrant Story by author Sarah E.... Read More Last week I found an interesting book called ... Read More Why do some prayers seem to be answered while others... Read More For me, poetry is often too obtuse and difficult for... Read More Joyce Meyers has been inspiring Christians for decades with the... Read More Chapter OneI was ready to start the fourth grade, the... Read More Alan Heywood writes a stimulating, though sometimes improbable, adventure novel... Read More This modern, aristocratic book portrays real-life events and how hard... Read More A missionary and his family were forced to camp outside... Read More This beautifully laid out trade paperback has a gorgeous and... Read More Don't panic. Jack Mitchell, the author of Hug Your Customers:... Read More Let me start with a small disclaimer: I am a... Read More Primal leadership takes center stage in this book. This concept... Read More Now add ten more car wash trucks, with the corresponding... Read More "Fern's Dragon is a wonderfully fun read that stimulates the... Read More King Bartholomew and the Jester's Riddle by Pina Mastromonaco is... Read More Over the years, several books and countless magazine and newspaper... Read More
Adsense
websites
Ideas Are Free - A Book Summary
72 Hour Hold
Alison?s Journey: Book Review
Living in Darkness - Book Review
Product Review: Quick and Easy Ways to Instantly Mine Pure Gold from WordTracker
A Ghost in Cornwall
Book review on Finite Capacity Scheduling, Part I
Jesus and the Gnostic Cathars
Marone Memoirs: An Immigrant Story - Review By Amanda Evans
Job Interview Answers
The Isaiah Effect, by Greg Braden
Gilleland Poetry: A Book Review
Life Lines
IZEE Growing Up In A Logging Camp: Chapter One
Amapola - Book Review
Review of Alicia Maldonado: A Mother Lost by Ardain Isma
Why They Launched Harry Potter At 12:01 Midnight
Book Review - Manners That Sell: Adding The Polish That Builds Profits
Hug Your Customers - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review
Book Review: Seth Godin - All Marketers Are Liars
Primal Leadership - A Book Summary
Book review on Finite Capacity Scheduling, Part II
Ferns Dragon - Book Review
King Bartholomew and the Jesters Riddle - Review
The Southwest Airlines Way - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Book Review: Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands {How To Do Business In Sixty Countries}
Kiss, Bow, Or Shake Hands: How To Do Business In... Read More
Workshop-In-A-Book® for Dating Again, A Must-Read EBOOK
The Joy Of Dating Again is designed to be a... Read More
Atlantis Rises Book
Chapter one: Baby on the doorstep.It was one of those... Read More
Book Review: The NEW Game Of Business
If you think you've seen and heard everything there is... Read More
The Legend of Juggin Joe - Review
The Legend of Juggin' Joe is a fiction based on... Read More
A Ghost in Cornwall
This land is my memories. For two thousand years this... Read More
Book Summary: Good To Great
Explore what goes into a company's transformation from mediocre to... Read More
FISH! Tales - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review
FISH! Tales: Real-Life Stories to Help You Transform Your Workplace... Read More
Twin Falls, Gooding, Jerome, ID, and Regional Economic Outlook for 2005
Twin Falls Economic Report done by me; Twin Falls, ID... Read More
10 Best How-To Books Ever Written
Somebody once said there are more book titles beginning with... Read More
Young, Fabulous and Broke? Suze Orman Has Debt Relief & Financial Freedom Advice Books for You!
Are you a parent that has all the financial responsibility... Read More
Job Interview Answers
Last week I found an interesting book called ... Read More
Be the Leader - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review
The author of Be the Leader: Make the Difference, a... Read More
IZEE Growing Up In A Logging Camp: Introduction
IntroductionRusty Miles never had a real identity. I was that... Read More
Dark Autumn - Book Review
"Now this could definitely be a movie! Dark Autumn is... Read More
What Really Works - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review
If you watch television, read the newspaper and/or magazines, frequent... Read More
The Road of Silk: Book Review
"The Road of Silk is an adventure fantasy, with mystical... Read More
Entrepreneurs Reach Record Income Levels Using New EBook on Adsense and Adword Techniques
The "Rich Jerk" has created quite a stir on the... Read More
Born Evil - Book Review
"Author of two books and many short stories, J.P. Ransom... Read More
Execution... I Mean The Book
Larry Bossidy & Ram Charan have created quite a stir... Read More
The Legend of Juggin Joe - A Preview of the Comedy Sensation You Dont Want to Miss!
THE FROGGIN INCIDENTAs I recall this particular happenin', which we... Read More
How to Survive Sudden Leadership Challenges - Covey Has Some Clues
I have decided to start with this text as simply... Read More
Book Summary : The E-Myth Revisited
Ever wonder why most small businesses-- no matter how huge... Read More
Review: How To Write and Publish Your Own eBook in as little as 7 Days
How To Write and Publish Your Own eBook in as... Read More
FDA Approved Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy Can Improve The Quality of Your Life
As of August 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA)... Read More
Book Reviews |