Normally, Ocean Grove, New Jersey is known for Victorian charm and family fun, not murder. In Missing by the Midway, book 1 in the Ocean Grove Mystery series, murder and mystery are commonplace and the Dean of Students at Asbury College is responsible for solving the crimes.
Normally, Ocean Grove, New Jersey is known for Victorian charm and family fun, not murder. In Missing by the Midway, book 1 in the Ocean Grove Mystery series, murder and mystery are commonplace and Douglas Carter-Connors is responsible for solving the crimes. Douglas Carter-Connors is not a common name, but he is not a common detective. In fact, he's not a detective at all; he's the kindly Dean of Students at Asbury College, a small, private college on the Jersey Shore. Everyone calls this family man "Dean Doug" and in most places, his life would be considered boring-- but not in Ocean Grove. One of Dean Doug's students, Jessica Philmore has disappeared. He learns of this from Jessica's mother, who, a few days later also disappears. Thus, Dean Doug is plunged into a new and uneasy role of detective-- calming the faculty and students at the College, reassuring the local community, and working with the Ocean Grove Police Department to find Jessica. Dean Doug's investigation connects him with many Ocean Grove residents including the Mayor and town's funeral home director, Theodore Carcass (pronounced Carcass), and Reverend Malificent Brown, the Unitarian Minister who chain-smokes and hosts monthly sushi-suppers. These peculiar individuals sometimes help, but often hinder, Dean Doug on his search for Jessica, which ends with a deadly ride on a runaway Ferris wheel! Doug's adventure also provides this amateur sleuth, and readers, an appropriate introduction to the Ocean Grove Mysteries.
Professional Reviews
Puzzling with interesting characters
It's easy to like this easy-going college administrator/accidental sleuth and the memorable characters he works with in this little cozy about a small college in a small town. The sleuth genuinely likes his young and goofy or misguided students while enforcing the rules of student conduct with a skeptical eye. The mystery he falls into in the course of his duties was interesting and I couldn't figure it out until the end. That's what I like best about a good mystery like this one!
Five star perfect!
As a lover of cozy mysteries, Ocean Grove and college life, this book is five-star perfect! Not only does it cover all the bases, but does so in a humorous, heart-felt, easy-to-read, page-turning, what will happen next manner. The characters are well defined, the plot moves along nicely and the Grove and surrounding towns are described perfectly. I felt for Dean Doug and all the characters, sometimes laughing out loud and sometimes thinking .. don't do that..what are you thinking?! Heath has a way of drawing you in and not letting you go! For a fun read, and a taste of the Jersey shore, try this book. I can't wait for the next one..and hopefully more will follow.
Book Four in Belinda Lawrence mystery series. Confirming the Professor was murdered proves to be a challenge and, gradually, as they get to know those associated with the Manor House, Belinda and Hazel discover another murder and an intricate web of
The third book in the funny Silver Sisters Mysteries series. The twins and their 80 year-old mother and uncle get into trouble sleuthing in Sin City.
Paperback, Kindle, eBook, Audiobook
