Publisher: Random House Alibi
Date of publication: August 2014
Michael Bevan is barely scraping by with his used bookstore and rare book
collection when he discovers a timeworn journal that may change everything.
Dating back to 1768, the tattered diary appears to be a chronicle kept during
the first of legendary seafarer Captain James Cook’s three epic voyages through
the Pacific islands. If it’s as valuable as Mike thinks it is, its sale may
just bring enough to keep his faltering used bookstore afloat for another year.
Then he meets a pair of London dealers with startling news: Adrian Hart and Penelope Wilkes claim to possess the journal of Cook’s second voyage. Is it possible a third diary exists? One which might detail Cook’s explosive final voyage—and his death at the hands of native Hawaiians? Together, all three would be the holy grail of Pacific exploration. But before Mike can act, the two journals are stolen.
Chasing them down will sweep Michael, Adrian, and Penelope across the globe—past a dead body or two—and into a very sinister slice of paradise. High in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, in a remote and secretive Maori compound, a secret rests in the hands in of a man daring enough to rewrite history . . . and desperate enough to kill.
Then he meets a pair of London dealers with startling news: Adrian Hart and Penelope Wilkes claim to possess the journal of Cook’s second voyage. Is it possible a third diary exists? One which might detail Cook’s explosive final voyage—and his death at the hands of native Hawaiians? Together, all three would be the holy grail of Pacific exploration. But before Mike can act, the two journals are stolen.
Chasing them down will sweep Michael, Adrian, and Penelope across the globe—past a dead body or two—and into a very sinister slice of paradise. High in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, in a remote and secretive Maori compound, a secret rests in the hands in of a man daring enough to rewrite history . . . and desperate enough to kill.
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I enjoyed the first book in this series, The Dirty Book Murder, so I was looking forward to Left Turn at Paradise. Unfortunately, it ended up being just an OK read for me. I was hoping for more of a mystery. The story started out that way, but then it turned into a weird "adventure" type book in the New Zealand wilderness. It just wasn't what I was expecting. The story was also heavy with description and history lessons. It slowed down the plot and made me skim a few areas of the story.
The other thing that confused me was Michael. I felt like his personality was different from the first book. He claims to love Josie, but he cheats on her. That really made me lose respect for him. I didn't buy the claim that it was for the sake of finding the book and staying on Pillow's good side. You all know how I feel about any type of infidelity in books I read. It makes the story lose major points for me.
This one can be read as a stand alone. I didn't feel like you had to have read the first book in order to read this one. So if you missed The Dirty Book Murder, you can read this one without feeling like you are missing something.
The other thing that confused me was Michael. I felt like his personality was different from the first book. He claims to love Josie, but he cheats on her. That really made me lose respect for him. I didn't buy the claim that it was for the sake of finding the book and staying on Pillow's good side. You all know how I feel about any type of infidelity in books I read. It makes the story lose major points for me.
This one can be read as a stand alone. I didn't feel like you had to have read the first book in order to read this one. So if you missed The Dirty Book Murder, you can read this one without feeling like you are missing something.
About the author:
Thomas Shawver is
a former marine officer, lawyer, and journalist with American City Business
Journals. An avid rugby player and international traveler, Shawver owned
Bloomsday Books, an antiquarian bookstore in Kansas City. He’s at work on the
third Rare Book mystery.
Purchase Links
TOUR STOPS
Tuesday, August 19th: Reading
Reality
Wednesday, August 20th: Patricia’s Wisdom
Thursday, August 21st: No More Grumpy Bookseller
Friday, August 22nd: A Chick Who Reads
Monday, August 25th: 5 Minutes for Books
Tuesday, August 26th: Mystery Playground
Wednesday, August 27th: Kelly’s France Blog
Friday, August 29th: Dwell in Possibility
Friday, August 29th: Mystery Playground - author
guest post – “Drinks with Reads”
Wednesday, September 3rd: From the TBR Pile
Thursday, September 4th: Bibliotica
Friday, September 5th: Joyfully Retired
Monday, September 8th: Crime Book Club
Monday, September 15th: The Reader’s Hollow
Wednesday, September 17th: Stitch Read Cook
1 comment:
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this book for the tour.
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