Murder in the Mangroves: A Pete Brown Mystery
Adult; Mystery/Thriller; (Market)
When a social media star washes up dead on a sleepy island, the residents are forced to confront their own secrets – the money, murder, and lies behind the idyllic small town façade – as a wave of fans descends.
Pete Brown is a retired pro-surfer looking to live the perfect beach bum life and put the trauma of a career-ending accident behind him. Then influencer Emily Larson shows up dead in the Endless Islands Nature Preserve. Emily's fans set out to destroy Pete's best friend, Shae, the local tour guide who found her body. Some fans even believe she's a murderer.
Local police ignore the brewing online storm and Emily's fans call on the Track a Murder podcast to investigate. But Track a Murder has a history of devastating small towns, all in the name of investigationalism. As leaked pictures of Pete and Shae go viral, Pete’s sponsors get nervous and Pete must uncover the real killer before it’s too late. Without police help and in over his head, Pete is forced to choose between living the quiet life he longs for and protecting the people he loves.
Semi Finalist
Plot/Idea: 10 out of 10
Originality: 10 out of 10
Prose: 9 out of 10
Character/Execution: 9 out of 10
Overall: 9.50 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Ross weaves a mystery that will pull readers in. With all the elements of a timeless whodunnit, the novel offers a sophisticated modern edge via its integration of social media and true crime podcasts.
Prose: Ross's prose is consistently clear and inviting, effectively propelling the storyline and keeping readers guessing until the conclusion.
Originality: Murder in the Mangroves has all the elements of a classic murder mystery, which will appeal to readers of the genre. The plot twists exhibit a great balance between simplicity and surprise.
Character/Execution: Ross populates the novel with complex and interesting characters, while Pete serves as an endearing protagonist navigating the death of a social media influencer and impending coverage of the case via a popular true crime podcast.
Blurb: When the death of a social media influencer rocks a sleepy southern town, can Pete help find the killer before the arrival of a popular true-crime podcast shakes things up even more? Find out in Angie Ross' Murder in the Mangroves: A Pete Brown Mystery.
Date Submitted: April 29, 2024
Reviews
Kirkus Reviews Starred Review
Mystery fans will be delighted by this first installment in a promising new series.
