BOOK REVIEW: Beneath the Dune

TITLE: Beneath the Dune
AUTHOR: Walter Ramsay

PUBLISHER: Pena Beach Press
DATE OF PUBLICATION: June 4, 2011
FORMAT: Paperback, 232 pages
GENRE: Mystery
ISBN: 978-0983440703

SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS:

Tucker Lee Anderson’s boss needs him to check out a story over on the beachside. Not earth- shattering, it’s more of a follow up to the Ed Ventara case, he says. When Anderson, a staff reporter for a local Southern newspaper hears this, a red light goes off in his head. But wait, wasn’t Ventara the serial killer convicted of killing five children, even though they only found four bodies a few years back?

Following the discovery of a child’s skeleton, what at first appears to be a straightforward case of suspected murder is anything but, when Anderson finds himself not only investigating the case, but also dabbling in ancestral research. This laid-back divorced dad’s ordinary life soon takes a turn when in the process, he soon discovers family ties that bind him to both the present and the past—but what does this have to do with the child?

Set in the Central Florida community of Brevard County, "Beneath the Dune" features an interesting cast of characters, and what Anderson uncovers is bound to shock a few upper class residents to the core. Steeped in suspense and blended with humor, the book has all the ingredients necessary for the making of mystery that is sure to hold you in its grip to the very end.

MY REVIEW:

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Tucker Lee Anderson is an extremely likeable protagonist. He is a divorced dad with two kids that live with his ex-wife and her new rich husband, and his only living relative is his elderly Nana.

Tucker, a sports journalist, is sent to a crime scene to fill in for an ill investigative reporter. A child's skeleton is uncovered at the beach, and it is assumed by all that these are the remains of the fifth child of a serial killer whose body was never found. As the book moves along, it appears that there is more to the case than meets the eye and Tucker is determined to uncover the truth.

The book flips back and forth between time periods. When he is asleep, Tucker is plagued by dreams involving a Seminole Indian named Osci who lived during the time of the Civil War and worked on the plantation of a very prominent and wealthy Florida family.

This was a very fast read for me, and the pace of book moved quickly. I loved Tucker's vulnerability, and it was very easy to connect with the character. The revelation at the end of the book was a great surprise! Fans of cozy mysteries will love the style of the book.

Ramsay's debut novel is really good, and the book excerpt for his second novel, "Coastal Access", sounds just as interesting! I can't wait to read more from Ramsay! I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good mystery!

MY RATING: 4 stars!

This book qualifies as:
#43 for my 2011 100+ Reading Challenge
#3 for my Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2011