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Paperback Details
  • 05/2023
  • 978-1-68512-287-4 B0C1PT8484
  • 366 pages
  • $16.99
Jode Millman
Author
The Empty Kayak
Jode Millman, author

Adult; Mystery/Thriller; (Publish)

For Detective Ebony Jones, crime is always personal. But this time, it strikes too close to home. A pop-up thunderstorm marched its way across the Hudson River, ambushing a young couple’s kayaking trip. The woman miraculously made it back to shore, but her fiancé remains missing. Ebony and her partner are the first responders who rush to the river to assist the capsized boater. The victim’s identity shocks Ebony to the core. Kyle Emory, the ex-boyfriend of her estranged best friend, attorney Jessie Martin, is the man who never made it out of the water. The accident ignites a firestorm between the two friends, pitting them against each other in a race to discover whether Kyle survived or whether he met his untimely demise. Ebony needs to solve the mystery, while Jessie seeks justice for the sake of the daughter she shares with Kyle. Along the way, they uncover lies and betrayals, and gather a list of dangerous suspects who are all linked to the accident survivor, Kyle’s mysterious fiancée. But the evidence is as murky as the secretive Hudson River. Only the river knows whether Kyle’s untimely death was an accident, a suicide, or something more sinister.
Plot/Idea: 7 out of 10
Originality: 6 out of 10
Prose: 7 out of 10
Character/Execution: 7 out of 10
Overall: 6.75 out of 10

Assessment:

Plot/Idea: Millman's The Empty Kayak offers an intriguing setup: a thunderstorm over the Hudson River capsizes a couple--and only one makes it back to shore. But is there more to the accident than meets the eye? Millman raises the stakes of the mystery through Detective Ebony Jones's own connection to the victim. 

Prose: Millman's narrative is evenly paced and gracefully rendered, with suspense sustained throughout. The author's knowledge of the criminal justice system is clear and provides a welcome level of verisimilitude to the storytelling.

Originality: The Empty Kayak utilizes familiar mystery elements to strong effect. Millman keeps readers guessing with potential leads, red herrings, and dead ends. While the motive ultimately revealed falls somewhat flat, the buildup is satisfying. 

Character/Execution: Millman skillfully develops the characters and leaves readers uncertain of who to trust.

Date Submitted: April 03, 2023

Reviews
Booktrib.com

“The Empty Kayak boasts emotional complexity and well-developed characters that will have readers trying to piece together this puzzle along with the protagonists. Millman maintains the mystery of the lost kayaker in a masterful way, leaving a few additional twists and turns to discover in the last few chapters of the book. Evenly paced and wonderfully written, the realism of The Empty Kayak is a reading experience of unique quality that keeps readers invested in the outcome up to the very last page.”—

Chronogram Magazine

“...A juicy, fast-paced page turner rich in you-are-there procedural detail and intermingled motivations, played out by a lively ensemble cast of cops, lawyers and miscreants.”—Chronogram Magazine

 

Kirkus Reviews

“Impressive...An involving whodunit with strong characters who must find a way to work together.” Kirkus Reviews.

 

Formats
Paperback Details
  • 05/2023
  • 978-1-68512-287-4 B0C1PT8484
  • 366 pages
  • $16.99
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