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Amagansett
Verhaal dat zich afspeelt in de jaren na de Tweede Wereldoorlog in het (werkelijk bestaande) vissersdorpje Amagansett op Long Island. Een rustig kustplaatsje waar men al generaties lang van de visvangst leeft en nu veel moeite heeft met de toenemende stroom rijke New Yorkers die er vakantiehuizen laat bouwen. Visser en oorlogsveteraan Conrad Labarde en zijn maat Rollo Kemp vinden het lijk van een jonge vrouw in hun netten; het blijkt een New-Yorks societymeisje te zijn dat verdronken is. Het lijkt een ongeluk, maar de uit New York afkomstige politieman Tom Hollis en Labarde denken daar anders over en gaan ieder voor zich op onderzoek uit.
397 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
112 people are currently reading
1507 people want to read
About the author
Mark Mills
10 books154 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Mark Mills is a British writer of screenplays and novels. His first screenplay was BAFTA-nominated short film One Night Stand starring Jemma Redgrave and James Purefoy in 1993; this won Mills a 'Best Screenplay' award at the Angers European First Film Festival in 1995.
Mills's first novel was Amagansett, later reissued under the title The Whaleboat House published in 2004; this won him the 'Best Crime Novel by a Debut Author' at the Crime Writers' Association Award. His second novel, The Savage Garden, was published in 2006. His third novel, The Information Officer, was published in April, 2009.
Mark Mills is a British writer of screenplays and novels. His first screenplay was BAFTA-nominated short film One Night Stand starring Jemma Redgrave and James Purefoy in 1993; this won Mills a 'Best Screenplay' award at the Angers European First Film Festival in 1995.
Mills's first novel was Amagansett, later reissued under the title The Whaleboat House published in 2004; this won him the 'Best Crime Novel by a Debut Author' at the Crime Writers' Association Award. His second novel, The Savage Garden, was published in 2006. His third novel, The Information Officer, was published in April, 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 337 reviews
June 27, 2019
Secrets
The Whaleboat House was originally published in the US as Amagansett, where the story takes place. Like many Mark Mills books, there is an engaging style of writing that is wonderfully placed in the Second World War era with good characters and plot. He seems to have captured the period in the mid-1940s with the sense of a country just emerging from a world war, knowing that life will not go back to as it was before but society trying to find its balance.
It is 1947, Amagansett, Long Island, and 2 fishermen catch, in their nets, the body of a local socialite from a well-connected powerful family. Was this death an accidental drowning or did something more sinister happen? The local police find it difficult to get any information from the locals as they are a secretive bunch, probably with too many indiscretions of their own to bring any attention to themselves.
Conrad Labarde is one of the fishermen that found the body. With a past as a WWII veteran-commando, it seems natural or convenient that he steps up to investigate what happened with a certainty that the killer is known to the local community.
The characters are developed in the sense that they are interesting and the dialogue throughout the story is quite good. The dialogue does try to be authentic to the time, place and fishing environment, which sometimes requires a lookup. A criticism is that the bad guys do not receive the same well-planned actions and characterisation and the main characters. It couldn’t be considered a cosy mystery mainly because of the sex scenes, which are in my view, unnecessarily graphic.
I find reading Mark Mills a warming, easy and enjoyable experience, but this was his weakest book with a number of plot holes. It was his debut and his novels did get much better. Probably 3.5 stars
The Whaleboat House was originally published in the US as Amagansett, where the story takes place. Like many Mark Mills books, there is an engaging style of writing that is wonderfully placed in the Second World War era with good characters and plot. He seems to have captured the period in the mid-1940s with the sense of a country just emerging from a world war, knowing that life will not go back to as it was before but society trying to find its balance.
It is 1947, Amagansett, Long Island, and 2 fishermen catch, in their nets, the body of a local socialite from a well-connected powerful family. Was this death an accidental drowning or did something more sinister happen? The local police find it difficult to get any information from the locals as they are a secretive bunch, probably with too many indiscretions of their own to bring any attention to themselves.
Conrad Labarde is one of the fishermen that found the body. With a past as a WWII veteran-commando, it seems natural or convenient that he steps up to investigate what happened with a certainty that the killer is known to the local community.
The characters are developed in the sense that they are interesting and the dialogue throughout the story is quite good. The dialogue does try to be authentic to the time, place and fishing environment, which sometimes requires a lookup. A criticism is that the bad guys do not receive the same well-planned actions and characterisation and the main characters. It couldn’t be considered a cosy mystery mainly because of the sex scenes, which are in my view, unnecessarily graphic.
I find reading Mark Mills a warming, easy and enjoyable experience, but this was his weakest book with a number of plot holes. It was his debut and his novels did get much better. Probably 3.5 stars
March 3, 2008
I loved this book so much that when I finished it I turned back to the beginning and read it again. I was drawn to it because of the name of the English edition -- "The Whaleboat House" -- and even more so when I found that it was published in the US with the name "Amagansett", a town I know as a historian as well as a frequent visitor. Having lived in a hamlet on the East End of Long Island, and having studied its history, I was acutely aware of the dichotomy between the new rich and the old fishing and agricultural communities. In the 1990s the conflict between the clamdiggers and the summer people was still simmering there. Mills caught this perfectly for me, and I was surprised to find that several reviewers missed the point. What was particularly vivid, however, was the protagonist's war experiences. I still think of them often.
November 14, 2009
A thoroughly engrossing, superbly plotted thriller set in Amagansett and East Hampton, Long Island in 1947. Two local fisherman pull an unexpected catch from their nets - the body of a beautiful, wealthy young woman. The autopsy finds that she drowned, but of course we know it's not quite that simple. It could make a very good movie; not surprisingly, the author is also a screenwriter. Scenes and dialogue flow effortlessly and you can tell which lines are going to get a laugh in a theater. Mills creates an unforgettable hero in Conrad LaBarde, working class Basque fisherman, World War II veteran, death-defying commando, crimesolver always four steps ahead of the local police. The scenes and jargon involving commercial and charter boat fishing seem impeccable, to my unlearned eye, and Mills also incorporates some history of Long Island and some gruesome tales from WWII.
Two minor annoyances: the author coyly brings up Jackson Pollock (famous resident of the area) without naming him, and the sex scenes between Hollis and Mary. Gruesome sex scenes between frumpy people - one of my pet peeves.
Two minor annoyances: the author coyly brings up Jackson Pollock (famous resident of the area) without naming him, and the sex scenes between Hollis and Mary. Gruesome sex scenes between frumpy people - one of my pet peeves.
May 19, 2008
The Whaleboat House, by Mark Mills, is a murder mystery. It takes a meandering approach to the genre. Character development relatively irrelevant to the plot takes up much of the almost 400-page novel. As far as the murder mystery part of the plot, I thought it was thin, at best. Though much time is spent on character development, it is mostly the “good guys” who are being developed. The lack of development of the “bad guys” made it difficult to believe the motivations behind the killing. Also, the clues were revealed in a disconcerting jumble. In fact, the killer is revealed in a sort of off hand manner—very anti-climatic.
Two minor complaints:
Fishing jargon. I know Mills was trying to give life to the setting, but I felt that the fishing jargon was not explained well enough for a layperson to understand. For example, there is a scene where the characters are harpooning swordfish and something important happens with the keg. Now, to me, keg means a barrel with alcohol in it. The importance of the scene, though rested on the reader’s understanding of just what a keg is in this context.
Sex. I’m not really a book prude. I can handle a sex scene or two, but these sex scenes were not only totally irrelevant to the plot but cheesy and explicit in a manner reminiscent of Danielle Steel.
Overall, I thought this was a fairly mediocre, meandering read.
Two minor complaints:
Fishing jargon. I know Mills was trying to give life to the setting, but I felt that the fishing jargon was not explained well enough for a layperson to understand. For example, there is a scene where the characters are harpooning swordfish and something important happens with the keg. Now, to me, keg means a barrel with alcohol in it. The importance of the scene, though rested on the reader’s understanding of just what a keg is in this context.
Sex. I’m not really a book prude. I can handle a sex scene or two, but these sex scenes were not only totally irrelevant to the plot but cheesy and explicit in a manner reminiscent of Danielle Steel.
Overall, I thought this was a fairly mediocre, meandering read.
October 29, 2016
Uma excelente história. Um livro que nos agarra ao fim de 30 ou 40 páginas. É impossível não se gostar de Conrad Labarde. Uma personagem enigmática, fechada e algo sombria... mas que nos ensina tanto sobre si próprio. Ensina-nos acima de tudo que o amor e a justiça valem a nossa própria vida, mesmo que não possamos voltar a viver esse amor, mesmo que não possamos ver a consumação dessa justiça!
"Pescar não ensina lá muita coisa - disse -, mas ensina-te a não precisares de muita coisa."
"Pescar não ensina lá muita coisa - disse -, mas ensina-te a não precisares de muita coisa."
August 31, 2011
I'm not one of those people who has any trouble quitting a book they don't like. So, how a book starts can be crucial to whether I keep on reading or put it down forever. I almost put this one down in the first few pages. I am so glad I didn't. The more I read, the more I was drawn in to the story, a fascinating mix of fishing lore, murder mystery, and Long Island history, with a detour into the horror of the front lines in WWII and insights into the lives of the super rich and privileged who converted Long Island into their playground. I'm still not sure how the author managed to pull all these disparate parts together.
I was surprised to read that this was the author's first book (although less so when I read that he was also a screenwriter). While some of the characters were painted only in broad brush strokes without much detail, the key characters had a depth to them that, together with the unfolding of the underlying mystery, made for a very enjoyable read and seemed like the work of a more experienced author. I could feel the lead characters' inner struggles. And I appreciated that they did not come fully hatched. Details came out slowly, helping fill in the picture of who the characters were, where they came from and how their experiences helped shape them.
Often my best barometer of how much I like a book is how hard it is to put down when bedtime comes. While I made it through a night or two without finishing the book, I did find that when I got within 100 pages of the end I was unable to turn out my light, the late hour notwithstanding, until I had turned the last page.
I was surprised to read that this was the author's first book (although less so when I read that he was also a screenwriter). While some of the characters were painted only in broad brush strokes without much detail, the key characters had a depth to them that, together with the unfolding of the underlying mystery, made for a very enjoyable read and seemed like the work of a more experienced author. I could feel the lead characters' inner struggles. And I appreciated that they did not come fully hatched. Details came out slowly, helping fill in the picture of who the characters were, where they came from and how their experiences helped shape them.
Often my best barometer of how much I like a book is how hard it is to put down when bedtime comes. While I made it through a night or two without finishing the book, I did find that when I got within 100 pages of the end I was unable to turn out my light, the late hour notwithstanding, until I had turned the last page.
March 19, 2020
Post World War II New York tale. Murder, conspiracy and cover-ups are investigated by a war veteran fisherman and a lacklustre cop. A decidedly interesting and though provoking piece of crime fiction where at times the life and times of post World War II New York are just as compelling as the mains story itself... so much for me, that I place this squarely in the Historical Fiction shelf. 7 out of 12
January 22, 2011
The story starts with two fisherman - Conrad Labarde and Rollo Kemp pulling the body of a young woman from the sea. From then on the story unfolds til it reaches it's climax and we find out who murdered her and why. I found the story of the murder itself quite slow but halfway through it did pick up the pace a bit. I did enjoy the sections of Conrad's past - his boyhood in Spain and his experiences in WW2 but I just found the book lacked a little something for me - the plot didn't grip me and make me desperate to know what happened. The side story of Mary and Tom, the policeman were interesting but again not gripping. On saying that I don't think this book was meant to be like this - it's slow paced on purpose but maybe a bit too slow? Not read any of his other books but would read another before I decided I wasn't a fan of his writing.
December 4, 2008
i picked this up on a whim on a bargain book table, not knowing a single thing about author or story.
what a find! this one has a little bit of everything and could easily have gone on another 100 pages.
what a find! this one has a little bit of everything and could easily have gone on another 100 pages.
July 22, 2011
Also published under the title “The Whaleboat House”
Amagansett is a clever story set in 1947, in a small working class village east of the Hamptons. The white sandy beaches and dunes have been inhabited by rugged fishermen for years and have come to attract the wealthy and cultured city folk during their summer vacation. As travel became easier, a different class of people frequented the area, rich sports fisherman put a strain on locals whose livelihood depended on the ocean’s bounty for their survival. Where tension grows, trouble is sure to follow…..
Its central plot: part mystery, part thriller and part historical fiction involves money, elite members of society, conniving bad guys, corrupt law enforcement, a war hero and a sexy cop. It opens when Conrad Labarde and Rollo Kemp, fishermen, snag what appears to be a dead weight. When they pull it out of the water much to their horror they discover the body of Lillian Wallace, a beautiful socialite and daughter of a powerful man.
Deputy Chief Tom Hollis is lead investigator and one of his first priorities is to question family and friends. This turns out to be quite a challenge, the locals are not cooperative and all appear to be hiding something. To make things worse, his superiors pressure him from the other side, they want him to wrap up his investigation without delay and declare the incident an accidental drowning and move on. Something smells fishy…..
The storyline meanders at times, slowly unraveling into a “who-done-it” coloured with local myths that are expertly told through fisherman folklore and tales of the sea that go back to the times of the Montaukette Indians. A flashback to the war and other nuggets of history and some tender love moments all add colour to the story.
This tale is powerfully told and shines in its depiction of the fishermen’s ways of life and their sacrifices during the war. The dialogue, characterization and plotting are riveting. Some may find the pacing to be a bit slow, I did at first but soon found myself absorbed in this intricately woven tale. This is an excellent and captivating novel.
Amagansett is a clever story set in 1947, in a small working class village east of the Hamptons. The white sandy beaches and dunes have been inhabited by rugged fishermen for years and have come to attract the wealthy and cultured city folk during their summer vacation. As travel became easier, a different class of people frequented the area, rich sports fisherman put a strain on locals whose livelihood depended on the ocean’s bounty for their survival. Where tension grows, trouble is sure to follow…..
Its central plot: part mystery, part thriller and part historical fiction involves money, elite members of society, conniving bad guys, corrupt law enforcement, a war hero and a sexy cop. It opens when Conrad Labarde and Rollo Kemp, fishermen, snag what appears to be a dead weight. When they pull it out of the water much to their horror they discover the body of Lillian Wallace, a beautiful socialite and daughter of a powerful man.
Deputy Chief Tom Hollis is lead investigator and one of his first priorities is to question family and friends. This turns out to be quite a challenge, the locals are not cooperative and all appear to be hiding something. To make things worse, his superiors pressure him from the other side, they want him to wrap up his investigation without delay and declare the incident an accidental drowning and move on. Something smells fishy…..
The storyline meanders at times, slowly unraveling into a “who-done-it” coloured with local myths that are expertly told through fisherman folklore and tales of the sea that go back to the times of the Montaukette Indians. A flashback to the war and other nuggets of history and some tender love moments all add colour to the story.
This tale is powerfully told and shines in its depiction of the fishermen’s ways of life and their sacrifices during the war. The dialogue, characterization and plotting are riveting. Some may find the pacing to be a bit slow, I did at first but soon found myself absorbed in this intricately woven tale. This is an excellent and captivating novel.
June 8, 2016
Good, but not that good. The murder mystery was not much of a mystery, not really very gripping. More interestingly the mystery is set against a backdrop of a changing postwar culture where the local inhabitants lives are changing due to the influx of rich socialites. At the heart of the mystery is the clash between old and new. Add to the mix, the effect of the war and the setting should be very rich. Unfortunately it feels somewhat contrived and simplistic, unconvincing. There are sudden about changes in events which interrupt the flow and can be confusing. The main female characters are disappointingly shallowly drawn and remarkably similar in terms of their reaction to the men in their lives, for example. One might say they are a typical male view of women's desire for love and sex.. Suffice to say, Mills doesn't do women very well.
Not a favourite.
Not a favourite.
November 27, 2015
A really good book. Well written with a vivid setting and time period. The plotting was smoothly done and the characterizations, from the leads to minor players, were quite realistic. Very impressive for a debut and I was not the only one who thought so since it won the New Blood Dagger in 2004.
December 27, 2018
This is very good. I discovered it when my brother mentioned that someone he was at school with over 40 years ago was now an author. So I looked online and discovered this by him. Highly recommended. Great plot and characters and very atmospheric. Will read more by Mark Mills.
October 21, 2008
so slow & boring that I can't even persist in reading through... after page 70, i just flicked to the end for the whodunit and closed the book... Next!
December 26, 2015
An interesting premise storied by a good prose.
The edition I have, it's cover is even better.
October 2, 2024
Passano tanti personaggi, in questo romanzo, tutti interessanti, tutti riusciti, tutti basculanti fra i loro trascorsi e i rapidi mutamenti del presente: il capace poliziotto ingiustamente accusato di corruzione a causa dell’invidia dei superiori; il reduce di guerra solitario tornato a fare il pescatore; il giovane forse non tanto intelligente, ma dall’animo limpido e leale; il fotografo di grande talento, sempre scontento dei suoi scatti; la famiglia di affaristi senza scrupoli; la donna amareggiata dalla vita, finalmente pronta a una nuova storia d’amore; la giovane aristocratica, il cui cadavere si è impigliato nelle reti durante una battuta di pesca.
Il personaggio dominante, tuttavia, è Amagansett, che non per nulla costituisce il titolo.
Amagansett è una località di Long Island. Nel tempo del romanzo – il 1947 – è ancora un luogo incantevole, tra boschi e dune maestose, ma già minacciato dall’invadenza edilizia dei magnati newyorkesi, i quali stanno soppiantando gli ormai decaduti ricchi balenieri, che a loro volta avevano strappato il territorio a varie tribù indigene. E la storia delle cicliche sopraffazioni topografiche si rispecchia nelle soverchierie che i nuovi potenti architettano ai danni dei più deboli, gli agricoltori dell’interno, che vivono di stenti; i pescatori già segnati dagli inevitabili lutti professionali; il personale di servizio, soggiogato ad arbitrarie imposizioni.
Il personaggio dominante, tuttavia, è Amagansett, che non per nulla costituisce il titolo.
Amagansett è una località di Long Island. Nel tempo del romanzo – il 1947 – è ancora un luogo incantevole, tra boschi e dune maestose, ma già minacciato dall’invadenza edilizia dei magnati newyorkesi, i quali stanno soppiantando gli ormai decaduti ricchi balenieri, che a loro volta avevano strappato il territorio a varie tribù indigene. E la storia delle cicliche sopraffazioni topografiche si rispecchia nelle soverchierie che i nuovi potenti architettano ai danni dei più deboli, gli agricoltori dell’interno, che vivono di stenti; i pescatori già segnati dagli inevitabili lutti professionali; il personale di servizio, soggiogato ad arbitrarie imposizioni.
August 7, 2022
An excellent historical mystery that captures the feel of the time in which it is set well. In 1947, the old ways are dying out in the Long Island town that gives this book its name. Rich Manhattanites encroach of the town, crowding out the village and its (mostly working class) year-round inhabitants. Then, Conrad Labarde, a Basque fisherman, finds the body of a young woman caught in his nets. The stage is set for a look at a world in transition. If this sounds more like literary fiction than whodunit, the truth is it's both at once. Rich character development seamlessly blends with the murder investigation to create a unique hybrid. An added bonus comes from the details about the work and lives of fishermen. A solid first book for Mills.
November 10, 2019
Prachtig geschreven boek. Het is eigenlijk een thriller die zich vlak na de tweede wereldoorlog afspeelt. De hoofdpersoon Conrad Labarde is een tweede generatie Bask die zich voor de oorlog met zijn vader en broer als visser gevestigd heeft in Long Island, Amerika. Hij wordt nog getekend door de dingen die hij heeft meegemaakt in die oorlog en waardoor hij steeds flash backs heeft naar de strijd. Als er een lichaam van een jonge vrouw wordt aangetroffen de netter die Conrad en zijn vriend Rollo binnenhalen, gaat Conrad op onderzoek uit want er kloppen een aantal dingen totaal niet. Al gauw legt hij de link tussen deze dode vrouw en een verongelukt meisje van een aantal jaren eerder.
March 23, 2020
I overall liked this book. However, it lacked a lot. The characters are flat, the writer gets lost in the description of unimportant details, leaving to your imagination a lot of basic information. The representation of women is null, and there is few to none important dialogues that include their voices. The story is interesting but slow, and the whole point of the novel doesn't start until well into the half of the book, which made it very difficult for me to continue reading it until page 200 more or less, then everything goes very fast.
Moreover, the ending is definitely very expected, the typical "justice for the just".
Moreover, the ending is definitely very expected, the typical "justice for the just".
April 29, 2019
My first thriller I suppose.. It was a hard read but beautifully written. His style is more show than tell and smart twists and elements of surprise are evenly distributed throughout the plot.
November 12, 2023
A coworker gave me this book to read so I felt obligated to finish it. It's a very "male" book. That's the only way I can describe the writing which was not to my liking. Neither was I interested in the fishing/whaling community versus the rich townies which is at the center of the novel. I was expecting another "Snow Falling on the Cedars" type of murder mystery, but this book fell short.
April 24, 2025
A who done it.., it was okay I’m not a big fan of the genre though
November 23, 2020
This novel has a lot to offer. Set after WWII on Long Island, the author weaves together a plot that involves the lives of the fishing community and the moneyed vacationers, the beautiful of the sea and painful memories of the war.
August 1, 2017
This was not the book that I had expected. I had skimmed the Digital Library's description that said something about generations of families so I thought it was a generational historical saga of Amagansett. I was not expecting a murder mystery, so I was somewhat disappointed. There were lots of names and I had trouble keeping the different characters straight. But, in the end it was a good murder mystery with some historical references as well.
January 20, 2018
A correction: The title of the book is Amagansett, its author is Mark Mills.
This is an enthralling troll through the history of the fishing communities on Long Island. We are reminded of the long-gone whalers who roamed the waters in fragile boats, ready to harpoon and drag huge whales back to home ports. Since the book is set just after WW11, over-fishing has not yet depleted fish stocks. A Basque family recalls that their ancestors "discovered" Newfoundland and its teeming cod stocks a century before Columbus stumbled ashore in America. People "from away" spend their Summers in palatial homes in East Hampton, Sag Harbor and other beach and ocean-side communities. Those who fish for a living are thrown into contact with those who fish only for sport when the body of a young woman from a wealthy family is found drowned, tangled in a net near the cabin of Basque fisherman. Tangled inside this suspicious death is the hit and run death of a young local girl the previous year, a crime that remained unsolved. To find out if the two deaths are connected, you will have to read the book, dear reader. I awarded it ***** for the historical and fishing lore, particularly as it was written by a man who was born in Switzerland and lives in England. Mark Mills story-telling skills are prodigious, well worth a read.
This is an enthralling troll through the history of the fishing communities on Long Island. We are reminded of the long-gone whalers who roamed the waters in fragile boats, ready to harpoon and drag huge whales back to home ports. Since the book is set just after WW11, over-fishing has not yet depleted fish stocks. A Basque family recalls that their ancestors "discovered" Newfoundland and its teeming cod stocks a century before Columbus stumbled ashore in America. People "from away" spend their Summers in palatial homes in East Hampton, Sag Harbor and other beach and ocean-side communities. Those who fish for a living are thrown into contact with those who fish only for sport when the body of a young woman from a wealthy family is found drowned, tangled in a net near the cabin of Basque fisherman. Tangled inside this suspicious death is the hit and run death of a young local girl the previous year, a crime that remained unsolved. To find out if the two deaths are connected, you will have to read the book, dear reader. I awarded it ***** for the historical and fishing lore, particularly as it was written by a man who was born in Switzerland and lives in England. Mark Mills story-telling skills are prodigious, well worth a read.
May 25, 2008
A murder mystery set in Long Island in the late 1940’s with plenty of excellent historical and background information about the area. This I think was the reason for me that the mystery was a little slow to get going and at one time I nearly gave up. Get beyond this slow start and it is well worth reading as everything that came before begins to make sense!
Lillian Wallace youngest daughter of a wealthy New York family who have a summer home in East Hampton is found dead in mysterious circumstances.
Her death is declared an accident but two local men have their own good reasons to believe otherwise. Conrad Labarde, local fisherman who discovered the body and Tom Hollis, deputy police chief, individually unravel the mysteries behind Lillian’s death. Complex twists and turns lead to the conclusion, thanks to the collaboration of these two men.
I believe this is Mark Mills’s first novel though he is already an established script writer. Murder mysteries are not my favourite genre but I will certainly add this author to the list of thriller writers that I do enjoy. In fact The Savage Garden is already on my bookshelf, waiting to be read.
Lillian Wallace youngest daughter of a wealthy New York family who have a summer home in East Hampton is found dead in mysterious circumstances.
Her death is declared an accident but two local men have their own good reasons to believe otherwise. Conrad Labarde, local fisherman who discovered the body and Tom Hollis, deputy police chief, individually unravel the mysteries behind Lillian’s death. Complex twists and turns lead to the conclusion, thanks to the collaboration of these two men.
I believe this is Mark Mills’s first novel though he is already an established script writer. Murder mysteries are not my favourite genre but I will certainly add this author to the list of thriller writers that I do enjoy. In fact The Savage Garden is already on my bookshelf, waiting to be read.
March 31, 2011
My mom passed this book along to me bc she thought I would like to read a novel that took place in the Hamptons but this pleasantly surprising mystery story was more than just a reference to my favorite summer haunts. The writing is very fluid and Mark Mills does a good job of weaving together a multilayed murder mystery. Naturally, I loved the references to my favorite East Hampton and Amagansett places but the characters were developed nicely and like most humans were multi tiered and like a sleepy off-season village I found myself more engrossed in the story and characters than I had realized or expected to be. This story sneaks up on you and is a great introduction to this author and his style of writing. There is more substance to these characters and the plot than you would find in a typical murder mystery ala James Patterson for example. I definitely recommend if you are looking for a story that is not completely fluff but has a compelling storyline. By the end I was trying to unravel the mystery before it came to it's conclusion and already looking for other books by the author. I will definitely be reading more of him!
June 16, 2012
Excellent Read!! This is a story set after WWII, a story of the wealthy and the poor, of the hoi polloi of the Hamptons and the fisherman who have been there for years. There is a murder mystery that is fairly well done, but the best part is the writing, the back-stories of each character, the elements of their past that led them to who they are at the time of the novel. It’s gripping from the first page, with realistic conflicts arising everywhere. The author handled the complexity of numerous storylines beautifully.
Basically, the story starts with Conrad Labarde, a Basque fisherman, alone in the world. When he finds a dead female body in his fishing nets, he suspects there is more to it than a swimming accident. The body is that of a wealthy young woman with a summer home nearby; her family is representative of the rich people’s approach to life. Also involved is a local policeman, who is falling in love with a woman in charge of the local town fair. Then there are the other fisherman, including a half-wit who works with Conrad. And, a cold case murder of a young woman from a year ago surfaces … all in a short time span and a fascinating setting.
Basically, the story starts with Conrad Labarde, a Basque fisherman, alone in the world. When he finds a dead female body in his fishing nets, he suspects there is more to it than a swimming accident. The body is that of a wealthy young woman with a summer home nearby; her family is representative of the rich people’s approach to life. Also involved is a local policeman, who is falling in love with a woman in charge of the local town fair. Then there are the other fisherman, including a half-wit who works with Conrad. And, a cold case murder of a young woman from a year ago surfaces … all in a short time span and a fascinating setting.
April 23, 2008
The book starts out with two fisherman, Conrad LaBarde and Rollo Kemp, who pull the body of a young lady out of the ocean. We come to find out that the victim, Lillian Wallace, had a secret relationship with Conrad, and neither Conrad nor the detective on the case believe her death was an accident.
The story follows Conrad and the detective, Tom Hollis, as they seperately investigate Lillian's death. The reader learns fairly early on who kills Lillian and why, but the suspense is in wondering if anyone is going to be able to bring the killer to justice.
While "Amagansett" is a good book, I wouldn't call it an edge-of-your-seat thriller. The setting, in post WWII New England, was new and interesting to me. I also liked how they developed Conrad's character through flashbacks throughout the novel. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable read with some suspense, but not for an adrenaline junkie.
The story follows Conrad and the detective, Tom Hollis, as they seperately investigate Lillian's death. The reader learns fairly early on who kills Lillian and why, but the suspense is in wondering if anyone is going to be able to bring the killer to justice.
While "Amagansett" is a good book, I wouldn't call it an edge-of-your-seat thriller. The setting, in post WWII New England, was new and interesting to me. I also liked how they developed Conrad's character through flashbacks throughout the novel. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable read with some suspense, but not for an adrenaline junkie.
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