Tidewater Murder by C. Hope Clark

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Publisher: Belle Bridge Books

Publication Date: April 2013

 

The Story:

 

In the deep waters off the coast of Beaufort, South Carolina, corpses are turning up faster than dolphins chasing a shrimp boat . . .

When federal agricultural investigator Carolina Slade’s best friend is suspected of embezzlement and fraud in a sordid case involving drugs and migrant slavery, Slade must question her own long-held loyalties. She’s desperate to believe in Savannah Conroy's innocence despite every scrap of evidence pointing to her friend’s guilt.

 

After a tomato farmer dies in a shrimp boat explosion, Slade’s colleague, Senior Special Agent Wayne Largo, manages to force Slade off the case, citing conflict of interest. Refusing to quit even if it means violating agency orders, Slade fights to save her friend’s career. Soon, Slade’s the target of escalating threats meant to frighten her off the case.

 

But threats might be the least of Slade’s worries. She’s also juggling a co-worker’s sudden romantic interest, voodoo, and her teenage daughter’s determination to solve mysteries like her mother. Slade struggles to keep her life, and the lives of those around her, safe and sane when, once again, digging up dirt on the ag business threatens to put her six feet under.

My Two Cents:

Last month I was given the opportunity to receive a free autographed mystery fiction book by an author I respect and admire in exchange for an honest review. I have followed C. Hope Clark’s work as a Funds For Writers newsletter subscriber for quite some time.

So when she was giving away copies of her new book Tidewater Murder on Facebook; I jumped at the opportunity. Just two days later, I received the package and instantly ripped it open. I fell in love even before opening it to the first page.

The stunning artwork and the luxurious feel of the cover provide an extra touch of professionalism and care seen by few authors in the fiction world. As I read, the book’s binding prevented the pages from turning and losing my place. Nice!

Tidewater Murder is the second book in the Carolina Slade Mystery Series. I missed the first book, Low Country Bribe, but that didn’t prevent me from understanding the storyline or feel like I was missing important pieces of information.

This book gleans from the author’s personal background as an agricultural investigator. It was so hard for me to discern fact or fiction that I just had to interview her to find out the truth. I discovered very quickly how much of a sweet heart Southern belle C. Hope Clark really is. After our first conversation failed to record due to some weird technical glitch, she graciously agreed to answer all my questions all over again. Thank you Hope for such a lively and fun conversation!

I read a number of books each week that I download onto my Kindle device but none of them have impressed me as well as this well-written and suspenseful book. It isn’t hard to fall in love with any one of the characters…even the ones you aren’t supposed to like!

There were a couple of downsides for me. I would have liked more in-depth inclusion of the voodoo and Gullah culture aspects woven into the story. And while I thoroughly enjoyed the parts where Carolina’s daughter Ivy follows in her mother’s investigative footsteps; I felt that it distracted and strayed the reader from the main storyline.

However, given the fact that so much detail and intrigue was masterfully woven into each and every word and sentence, those minor details can easily be forgiven. It just makes me curious as to how these pieces will fit into later books. Needless to say, C. Hope Clark has me hooked.

This book was action-packed from start to finish. I’m not a person whose first choice is mystery when it comes to selecting a book to read. However, C. Hope Clark did a great job of making me change my mind. She truly is a master storyteller, an author of substance, and one who is here to stay. Now, if only I had book 3 to read.

So what are you waiting for? Go here now to grab your copy. You won’t be disappointed.