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Bay Tanner #3
Perdition House
When a fifth cousin twice removed calls Bay Tanner - a young, recently widowed, financial consultant - from the Beaufort County Jail, it's no accident. Mercer Mary Prescott spent a lot of time and trouble locating Bay on the family tree, and she needs more than bail out of the relationship. What she's really after is a secret she's not willing to reveal-yet. But when Bay generously takes Mercer back to the family mansion of Presqu'isle, she finds that this distant kin comes with a lot of personal baggage-and some very dangerous pursuers. Before Bay can help straighten out Mercer's problems, the mousy young woman disappears. Now, Bay begins a desperate hunt for her "shirttail" cousin through the twisted alleys of the past, from Civil War days to a plantation called Perdition House and to one last deadly fight.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published May 30, 2003
16 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn R. Wall
17 books79 followersKathy wrote her first story at the age of six, then decided to take a few decades off. She grew up in a small town in northeastern Ohio and attended college in both Ohio and Pennsylvania. For twenty-five years she practiced her profession as an accountant in both public and private practice. In 1994 she and her husband Norman retired to Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Her road to publishing success has taken many twists and turns. She self-published her first Bay Tanner mystery, In For a Penny, in 2001 using the innovative print-on-demand technology. Its success led to an offer from a small, regional publisher who reissued the first novel along with its sequel, And Not a Penny More, on Valentine's Day of 2002. A reprint of both books had to be ordered within six weeks.
Then serendipity struck. An editor for St. Martin's Press, visiting relatives in nearby Beaufort, was introduced to the Bay Tanner mysteries. A month later she called to offer Kathy a hardcover contract. They have since published Perdition House, Judas Island, Resurrection Road, Bishop's Reach and Sanctuary Hill in both hardcover and paperback. The eighth Bay Tanner novel, The Mercy Oak, is slated for release April, 2008.
Kathy is a founding member of Island Writers' Network and serves as treasurer for both the Sisters in Crime National Board and the Southeast Chapter of Mystery Writers of America.
Kathy has been a mentor in the Hilton Head schools and participates as a Friend of Literacy Volunteers of the Lowcountry. When not writing and touring for her books, Kathy and Norman play tennis, share long walks on the beach, and enjoy the lush beauty of the tidal marsh from the decks of their Hilton Head condominium. She has two stepsons and four grandchildren.
Series:
* Bay Tanner
Her road to publishing success has taken many twists and turns. She self-published her first Bay Tanner mystery, In For a Penny, in 2001 using the innovative print-on-demand technology. Its success led to an offer from a small, regional publisher who reissued the first novel along with its sequel, And Not a Penny More, on Valentine's Day of 2002. A reprint of both books had to be ordered within six weeks.
Then serendipity struck. An editor for St. Martin's Press, visiting relatives in nearby Beaufort, was introduced to the Bay Tanner mysteries. A month later she called to offer Kathy a hardcover contract. They have since published Perdition House, Judas Island, Resurrection Road, Bishop's Reach and Sanctuary Hill in both hardcover and paperback. The eighth Bay Tanner novel, The Mercy Oak, is slated for release April, 2008.
Kathy is a founding member of Island Writers' Network and serves as treasurer for both the Sisters in Crime National Board and the Southeast Chapter of Mystery Writers of America.
Kathy has been a mentor in the Hilton Head schools and participates as a Friend of Literacy Volunteers of the Lowcountry. When not writing and touring for her books, Kathy and Norman play tennis, share long walks on the beach, and enjoy the lush beauty of the tidal marsh from the decks of their Hilton Head condominium. She has two stepsons and four grandchildren.
Series:
* Bay Tanner
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 7, 2019
Writing a series is tricky. You're developing characters from book to book, but at the same time, each installment needs to stand alone. Finding the right balance between backstory and new action can be a challenge.
Unfortunately, in Perdition House, Kathryn R. Wall doesn't completely succeed in meeting this challenge.
I picked the title at a used book sale, intrigued by the setting and the cover. Indeed, Ms. Wall's evocation of the South Carolina Low Country is one of the book's strengths, and I do love a novel with a strong sense of place. I didn't realize the mystery was the third in a series. Once I started reading, alas, the author wouldn't let me forget this. I found the frequent references to events that had occurred in previous installments distracting rather than enlightening. It would have been sufficient to explain, once, that heroine Bay Tanner's husband had been murdered and that she barely escaped with her own life. I was not likely to forget this; the author did not need to keep reminding me!
The characters in Perdition House are vivid and skillfully drawn, especially the "shirttail cousin" Mercer and Bay's elderly Aunt Eliza. The plot, on the other hand, felt contrived and implausible. The final reveal was just too neat, all the threads unified, all the disparate villains in league. I also detected a note of anti-environmentalist sentiment that grated, though of course every author is entitled to his or her own political opinions.
Perdition House was a sufficiently diverting read for a four hour train trip, but ultimately I found it a bit disappointing.
Unfortunately, in Perdition House, Kathryn R. Wall doesn't completely succeed in meeting this challenge.
I picked the title at a used book sale, intrigued by the setting and the cover. Indeed, Ms. Wall's evocation of the South Carolina Low Country is one of the book's strengths, and I do love a novel with a strong sense of place. I didn't realize the mystery was the third in a series. Once I started reading, alas, the author wouldn't let me forget this. I found the frequent references to events that had occurred in previous installments distracting rather than enlightening. It would have been sufficient to explain, once, that heroine Bay Tanner's husband had been murdered and that she barely escaped with her own life. I was not likely to forget this; the author did not need to keep reminding me!
The characters in Perdition House are vivid and skillfully drawn, especially the "shirttail cousin" Mercer and Bay's elderly Aunt Eliza. The plot, on the other hand, felt contrived and implausible. The final reveal was just too neat, all the threads unified, all the disparate villains in league. I also detected a note of anti-environmentalist sentiment that grated, though of course every author is entitled to his or her own political opinions.
Perdition House was a sufficiently diverting read for a four hour train trip, but ultimately I found it a bit disappointing.
December 10, 2012
Being from SC I love reading a story that is set in my part of the world.
Not sure how I feel about the new cousin and wonder if she will show up in future storylines. I'm hoping for a little more heat between Red and Bay & Darnay and Bay. She needs a little more excitement in her life from the men that are there and not the crazies that appear.
Not sure how I feel about the new cousin and wonder if she will show up in future storylines. I'm hoping for a little more heat between Red and Bay & Darnay and Bay. She needs a little more excitement in her life from the men that are there and not the crazies that appear.
October 14, 2015
This story was a quick and compelling page turner. It is part of a series, but it also works well as a stand alone story. If you like stories about genealogy, the American Civil War, and technical thrillers then this book is a good choice.
June 2, 2019
Words do not describe how much I hate this book. Lured in by an interesting premise, I waded through what felt like a million pages of mindless description of every bit of minutia of everyday life (do you want to know every item of clothing that everyone wears, what everyone eats, when the heroine uses the restroom, what fast food joint she stops at for two sentences, etc? I sure didn't!). Then there was lots of violence with little mystery (what mystery there is is so easy to solve that you will spend most of the book wishing that they'd just hurry up and get to the ending), a truly bizarre and hard to believe plot...it was one of those train wrecks I just couldn't put down because I was curious if the ending might redeem it somewhat. Instead, right near the ending you get racist stereotypes of Native Americans! Except for the heroine and her newfound cousin, none of the characters have much substance. The reader is supposed to be very concerned about a character who never speaks in the book and who spends the entire book injured and/or unconscious. It just doesn't work that way!
I am never reading anything by this author again and wish I could get a few hours of my life back to read a decent book with.
I am never reading anything by this author again and wish I could get a few hours of my life back to read a decent book with.
January 29, 2019
I am enjoying this series and agree with some of the previous comments. There was a lot going on in this book and if the recap had not occurred, the reader would have been lost. I live in South Carolina and I enjoy the author's descriptions of areas near to me. I'm still enjoying reading a book where GPS is considered new and a pay phone is needed. :) I just hope Bay can have some time off from the violence in her life.
June 19, 2024
Slow to get started but it gets better. I have read a number of the Bay Tanner books and always enjoy the Hilton Head and Beaufort locals. This one also involves the Savannah River Site, just outside Aiken where we live and where my husband worked for 38 years. The ending is not very believable if you know the Site well, but it is a fun novel.
July 14, 2017
I am enjoying this series. Interesting characters and stories. Quick reads ... and I like that I know the area now that we spend so much time in Hilton Head. I can visualize the action. Beach reads ... but well written ones.
August 12, 2018
I will probably read the remainder of the series as I appreciate the Lowcountry setting. I sometimes found it difficult to identify with the main character, and would have enjoyed fewer characters with deeper development...and more details about Perdition House itself.
June 5, 2017
If you like the series, this one will not disappoint.
August 14, 2017
A lot going on in this one.
April 15, 2020
This is the only one in the series that I have read. As a stand-alone book it was enjoyable. I didn't understand the references to her past lover, but I guess books one and two feature him.
August 9, 2020
Kathryn Wall is a really good writer. I enjoyed reading a novel set in my hometown. The plot was good, too, with twists and turns, that all came together in the end.
November 28, 2021
Bit to family focused
August 23, 2022
Great books by Kathryn Wall for light mysteries. I need "escapism" right now and these are filling that need.
August 11, 2023
I just love reading her books that take place in Hilton Head or surrounding areas.
February 27, 2013
This is the 3rd book in the Bay Tanner series that I've read, the others come later in the series, so this was a nice chance for me to see her earlier sorta speak.
First all, I like how Mrs. Wall write her stories, except when she uses a word that makes me need a dictionary or thesaurus to understand, and not bragging here, but that is rare for me, so I would have to say she uses words that are not common everyday words. That being said, it really doesn't detract from the book, just a small bump.
I like this book for several reasons, one the history factor, her dad is one tough man, who doesn't no for an answer.
Each of the books could be read out of order and you would not be blind in knowing what is going on, Wall gives you plenty of background in each book, so you understand the dynamics, without having to put a book down and wait to start at the beginning of a series. Like I said, I read 2 later Bay Tanner series books and then this one, I lost nothing from knowing what happens later, trust me.
First all, I like how Mrs. Wall write her stories, except when she uses a word that makes me need a dictionary or thesaurus to understand, and not bragging here, but that is rare for me, so I would have to say she uses words that are not common everyday words. That being said, it really doesn't detract from the book, just a small bump.
I like this book for several reasons, one the history factor, her dad is one tough man, who doesn't no for an answer.
Each of the books could be read out of order and you would not be blind in knowing what is going on, Wall gives you plenty of background in each book, so you understand the dynamics, without having to put a book down and wait to start at the beginning of a series. Like I said, I read 2 later Bay Tanner series books and then this one, I lost nothing from knowing what happens later, trust me.
Read
February 5, 2015I took this off my shelves and apparently have had it since at least May 2004 - the binding had not even been cracked.
Reading at the cold rainy beach!
This is part of the series, #3. You know how I hate to read out of order but it appears another book I brought to read is part of the same series - how convenient.
So anyway - they are called The Bay Tanner Mysteries and there are at least 9 of them! Whew!
I recommend for light and one day reading.
Reading at the cold rainy beach!
This is part of the series, #3. You know how I hate to read out of order but it appears another book I brought to read is part of the same series - how convenient.
So anyway - they are called The Bay Tanner Mysteries and there are at least 9 of them! Whew!
I recommend for light and one day reading.
August 3, 2016
Sometimes it is not a good idea to answer the phone :-o
Now that Bay has a new twice removed cousin added to her family tree, and one that came with a heavy price paid! It will be interesting to see how she is used in future books in the series.
I enjoyed the twists, the multiple relationships and story lines that kept me interested and alert :-)
An enjoyable series.
Now that Bay has a new twice removed cousin added to her family tree, and one that came with a heavy price paid! It will be interesting to see how she is used in future books in the series.
I enjoyed the twists, the multiple relationships and story lines that kept me interested and alert :-)
An enjoyable series.
September 7, 2007
Good, but not as good as Sanctuary Hill! :)
April 5, 2009
Just an easy read mystery, the writing is pretty good, and story interesting, nothing profound or special, but well written.
June 4, 2009
I learned a little about Hilton Head Island where a friend lives.
February 5, 2011
I enjoyed this. It was a great non-murder mystery. And it really made me want to live in South Carolina :)
May 15, 2011
New mystery writer I found and really enjoyed this first book for me but her 3rd of the Bay Tanner series. Nook books not available in 1 or 2.
April 15, 2012
It's a good mystery series.
Read
February 19, 2012read because the book takes place in and around Beaufort, SC
September 24, 2012
I have liked every one of the books I have read in this series, even though I have not read them in order
June 8, 2015
Boring. Skimmed the last half.
Read
January 4, 2015Great series
Really like this series of books. When I finish one I am always ready to move onto the next book in the Bay Tanner series
Really like this series of books. When I finish one I am always ready to move onto the next book in the Bay Tanner series
July 19, 2015
Bay Tanner#3
I like Kathryn Wall's style of writing. I find this series an easy read with great characters. I will definitely be reading more in the future
I like Kathryn Wall's style of writing. I find this series an easy read with great characters. I will definitely be reading more in the future
May 19, 2016
Not the worst book ever, but not much mystery here. I had this one solved after the first handful of chapters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews