Genre: Mystery
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay, Bi
Reviewer: Maryann
Get It On Amazon
About The Book
They say trouble comes in threes. Detective Danny Quirke is already mourning his wife and mired in an internal investigation that will likely spell the end of his career. Now he must return to the Newfoundland fishing village of his youth to bury his abusive grandfather. At least his three are up. Right?
Then the bones of local boy Llewellyn Single, drowned thirty years before, wash up on the beach, and secrets Danny thought were buried forever rise violently to the surface. Only two people know what really happened: Danny Quirke and his former best friend, millionaire Tadhg Heaney.
Danny and Tadhg have been bitter enemies for years. But when Danny is accused of Llewellyn’s murder, he needs Tadhg’s help exposing the truth—before those who believe he is responsible get their revenge.
After all, on an island, nothing stays secret forever….
The Review
J.S. Cook aka JoAnne Soper-Cook has been publishing stories since 2003 ( I did some quick research). In addition to her current publisher, there are many more of her books on Amazon that she also co-wrote. Sometimes you have to look for her book under both names.
I first discovered her books in 2015 when I was reviewing for The Novel Approach. I’ve read/reviewed about six of her novels, all LGBTQ. She has several that are written with the flavor of the 1930’s and 40’s – mysteries, murder, coppers/gangsters, war time – that are M/M. I believe she has written lesbian and paranormal too.
On March 24, 2020 “Wind & Dark Water” came out and I was surprised because it’s been a few years without anything new from her.
I read the book but I never reviewed it as, of course, I got all caught up in other books and was going to back track and do the review. Then on March 30, 2021, “Dark Water” “Kildevil Cove Murder Mysteries”, came out and I was kind of puzzled why such a great story needed to be revised that fast.
Ms. Cook shared that she and the publisher had decided to revise the story so that it was not as “sexually explicit,” in order to attract a wider range of readers.
I don’t remember the first edition being that explicit – I read too many books that are.
In any case, she’s a great author and I love her stories. This one is no exception.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
