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Barkley Sound #1
Dangerous Waters
Sergeant Holly Rudd arrives in the coastal community of Bamfield after local divers discover a body with a knife jutting from its chest in the waters of Barkley Sound. As she investigates the crime, Holly soon realizes the sleepy town is rife with secrets. But what unsettles her most is the residents’ insistence that she bears a striking resemblance to the victim of a murder from three decades earlier. She shrugs off the uncanny likeness as a coincidence. But her simmering attraction to Finn Carver, one of the divers who discovered the corpse, isn’t so easy to ignore.
Finn, a former Special Forces soldier, knows it’s best to keep his distance from Holly. Yet it isn’t long before they both give in to the consuming desire they share. And as the danger escalates, Finn and Holly must rely on each other to thwart the plans of a cold-blooded killer who’s intent on keeping the past buried.
Finn, a former Special Forces soldier, knows it’s best to keep his distance from Holly. Yet it isn’t long before they both give in to the consuming desire they share. And as the danger escalates, Finn and Holly must rely on each other to thwart the plans of a cold-blooded killer who’s intent on keeping the past buried.
326 pages, Paperback
First published November 20, 2012
1040 people are currently reading
2416 people want to read
About the author
Toni Anderson
88 books3,259 followersNext Release: COLD HEAT
Put it on your "To Read" shelf.
BUY LINKS:
Put it on your "To Read" shelf.
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Toni Anderson® writes gritty, sexy, FBI Romantic Thrillers, and is a New York Times and a USA Today bestselling author. Her books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for excellence in Mystery/Suspense, the Readers' Choice, Aspen Gold, Book Buyers' Best, Golden Quill, and National Excellence in Romance Fiction awards. She’s been a finalist in The Vivian Contest and the RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America, and also in the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Jackie Collins Award for Romantic Thrillers.
Her books have been downloaded more than three million times.
Best known for her Cold Justice® books perhaps it’s not surprising to discover Toni lives in one of the most extreme climates on earth--Manitoba, Canada. Formerly a Marine Biologist, she still misses the ocean.
In January 2016, she visited FBI Headquarters in Washington DC, including a tour of the Strategic Information and Operations Center.
For more information about Toni:
Website: https://www.toniandersonauthor.com
Store: https://toniandersonshop.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonianderson...
TikTok: tiktok.com/@toni_anderson_author
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toni_anders...
Newsletter: https://www.toniandersonauthor.com/ne...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Start reading Toni's award-winning, bestselling Cold Justice® series with A COLD DARK PLACE.
If you want to know when Toni's next book will be out, visit her website https://www.toniandersonauthor.com or sign up for her newsletter https://www.toniandersonauthor.com/ne...
Put it on your "To Read" shelf.
BUY LINKS:
Put it on your "To Read" shelf.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Toni Anderson® writes gritty, sexy, FBI Romantic Thrillers, and is a New York Times and a USA Today bestselling author. Her books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for excellence in Mystery/Suspense, the Readers' Choice, Aspen Gold, Book Buyers' Best, Golden Quill, and National Excellence in Romance Fiction awards. She’s been a finalist in The Vivian Contest and the RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America, and also in the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Jackie Collins Award for Romantic Thrillers.
Her books have been downloaded more than three million times.
Best known for her Cold Justice® books perhaps it’s not surprising to discover Toni lives in one of the most extreme climates on earth--Manitoba, Canada. Formerly a Marine Biologist, she still misses the ocean.
In January 2016, she visited FBI Headquarters in Washington DC, including a tour of the Strategic Information and Operations Center.
For more information about Toni:
Website: https://www.toniandersonauthor.com
Store: https://toniandersonshop.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonianderson...
TikTok: tiktok.com/@toni_anderson_author
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toni_anders...
Newsletter: https://www.toniandersonauthor.com/ne...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Start reading Toni's award-winning, bestselling Cold Justice® series with A COLD DARK PLACE.
If you want to know when Toni's next book will be out, visit her website https://www.toniandersonauthor.com or sign up for her newsletter https://www.toniandersonauthor.com/ne...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 316 reviews
February 23, 2014
4 fast paced, exciting, romantic, stars!
Dangerous Waters by Toni Anderson is a romantic suspense-slash-mystery set in Bamfield, British Columbia. It’s an intriguing tale of murder, cover-ups, and a community either too scared or too complacent to get involved in any of it.
Description...
Sergeant Holly Rudd arrives in the coastal community of Bamfield after local divers discover a body with a knife jutting from its chest in the waters of Barkley Sound. As she investigates the crime, Holly soon realizes the sleepy town is rife with secrets. But what unsettles her most is the residents’ insistence that she bears a striking resemblance to the victim of a murder from three decades earlier. She shrugs off the uncanny likeness as a coincidence. But her simmering attraction to Finn Carver, one of the divers who discovered the corpse, isn’t so easy to ignore.My review...
Finn, a former Special Forces soldier, knows it’s best to keep his distance from Holly. Yet it isn’t long before they both give in to the consuming desire they share. And as the danger escalates, Finn and Holly must rely on each other to thwart the plans of a cold-blooded killer who’s intent on keeping the past buried.
Dangerous Waters is the second book I’ve read by this author and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed them both! Toni Anderson is a former marine biologist and so she brings a level of knowledge to her stories that we don’t often find in books like this, taking place in and around the water. She’s a gifted writer who shares that information with us in a way that’s never text-bookish, but makes it interesting, and even beautiful.
I enjoyed this story a lot! The murder had enough possible suspects to keep me guessing right until it was revealed at the end, and I have to say – I never saw that coming! Our hero and heroine were great! Honorable, intelligent, interesting – compelling people whose backgrounds fit the story well. Though I have to admit, I do wish there had been more to their romance earlier in the book.
The bottom line...
Dangerous Waters is an entertaining story written by a very talented author. Ms. Anderson’s descriptions of the people and areas of Bamfield made it come alive for me and that’s a huge part of why I enjoyed this tale so much. I could see what she was describing and felt like I was there, and that was great!
Sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, this romantic mystery is not to be missed!
My thanks to Ms. Anderson for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It was a pleasure!
April 14, 2013
Nope, I give up. I just can't drag myself through this book any longer.
Full review:
Though I don't typically read romantic suspense when I'm looking for a suspense novel, there are some books in the genre that I enjoy. I'm always a fan of good romantic tension between characters, as well as the "will they or won't they" question (which, of course, usually turns into "Of course they will!"--but I digress.) However, it has to be done well, and the romantic tension is something this book does not do well. Some minor spoilers to follow.
The book gets off to a good start with a tense prologue that initially doesn't seem to fit with the main thrust of the story. The prologue grabbed me and made me want to read more, but then it took a while for me to see where it fit in. Once I did, I was still intrigued by the concept, but the poor parts of the book slowed the pace so much that I eventually ended up not caring about this aspect of the plot.
As for the male lead: he does not appeal to me, not at all. I don't mind a guy who's rough around the edges, but there's a fine line between aloof and off-putting. It irritated me that Finn relied on sexual innuendo to push Holly away. Why not just be terse with her? He comes off sounding like a sexist pig and, though he does show his knight in shining armor colors later, this doesn't improve him as a character. I find it hard to like a character who comes off as so derisive of women.
I don't even want to get started on Holly. For a woman who is supposedly capable and who believes she got her job on her merits and not by virtue of her family associations, she doesn't seem all that competent. Instead, she moons like a teenager who can't keep her hormones in check, something I frankly found unbelievable in a woman who is supposed to value her career and who is the lead in a murder investigation. I'm not entirely ruling out the idea that a female officer could find herself attracted to a suspect, just that I didn't think the premise was well handled.
Which leads me to my big beef: there is no suspense when it comes to the romance part. From the minute Holly and Finn lay eyes on one another, it's all each can do not to rip the clothes off the other. I get that they feel this instant animal attraction, but what's wrong with a good, slow burn? So many of the books I read that feature romance get this wrong, it seems. It'd be nice to see more subtlety in the relationship, more of a buildup but, instead, from the minute the two meet, it's obvious they're going to end up sleeping with one another.
When the book shifts gears and the cop side of Holly is shown, it's jarring. It's almost like reading two separate books. Most of the time, the mystery side of the book feels like some sort of intermission, rushed through for the sake of getting back to the parts where Holly and Finn try hard not to rip each other's clothes off. It makes me wonder this: why even bother with the mystery? Why not just make this a straight-up romance novel?
Maybe I'm reading the wrong books lately. If there's a romance, I want to see a real love story, not just two characters immediately leaping into bed with one another. Call me old fashioned, but I prefer my romance with some real human connection along with the physical attraction.
Full review:
Though I don't typically read romantic suspense when I'm looking for a suspense novel, there are some books in the genre that I enjoy. I'm always a fan of good romantic tension between characters, as well as the "will they or won't they" question (which, of course, usually turns into "Of course they will!"--but I digress.) However, it has to be done well, and the romantic tension is something this book does not do well. Some minor spoilers to follow.
The book gets off to a good start with a tense prologue that initially doesn't seem to fit with the main thrust of the story. The prologue grabbed me and made me want to read more, but then it took a while for me to see where it fit in. Once I did, I was still intrigued by the concept, but the poor parts of the book slowed the pace so much that I eventually ended up not caring about this aspect of the plot.
As for the male lead: he does not appeal to me, not at all. I don't mind a guy who's rough around the edges, but there's a fine line between aloof and off-putting. It irritated me that Finn relied on sexual innuendo to push Holly away. Why not just be terse with her? He comes off sounding like a sexist pig and, though he does show his knight in shining armor colors later, this doesn't improve him as a character. I find it hard to like a character who comes off as so derisive of women.
I don't even want to get started on Holly. For a woman who is supposedly capable and who believes she got her job on her merits and not by virtue of her family associations, she doesn't seem all that competent. Instead, she moons like a teenager who can't keep her hormones in check, something I frankly found unbelievable in a woman who is supposed to value her career and who is the lead in a murder investigation. I'm not entirely ruling out the idea that a female officer could find herself attracted to a suspect, just that I didn't think the premise was well handled.
Which leads me to my big beef: there is no suspense when it comes to the romance part. From the minute Holly and Finn lay eyes on one another, it's all each can do not to rip the clothes off the other. I get that they feel this instant animal attraction, but what's wrong with a good, slow burn? So many of the books I read that feature romance get this wrong, it seems. It'd be nice to see more subtlety in the relationship, more of a buildup but, instead, from the minute the two meet, it's obvious they're going to end up sleeping with one another.
When the book shifts gears and the cop side of Holly is shown, it's jarring. It's almost like reading two separate books. Most of the time, the mystery side of the book feels like some sort of intermission, rushed through for the sake of getting back to the parts where Holly and Finn try hard not to rip each other's clothes off. It makes me wonder this: why even bother with the mystery? Why not just make this a straight-up romance novel?
Maybe I'm reading the wrong books lately. If there's a romance, I want to see a real love story, not just two characters immediately leaping into bed with one another. Call me old fashioned, but I prefer my romance with some real human connection along with the physical attraction.
February 14, 2022
Audiobook Review:
This is a first time listen/read by Toni Anderson, new author to this reader. "Dangerous Waters (Barkley Sound#1) was a very enjoyable suspense novel. I was kept on pins and needles trying to figure out the "who" with all of the twists and turns that were intricately woven into the pages of this story. Sometimes I do love the trope of love at first sight, but did not quite think it would be instantaneously in the early part of the book...especially in a suspense romance. I was looking for the building relationship but Holly and Finn made it too easy. I like Detective Holly as she is trying to hold herself in a profession strongly driven by men and Finn, an ex-special forces soldier now diver, is such a "Mr. Tough Guy" but has a soft side to him.
Holly and Finn are drawn together by a 30-year murder mystery in the small community of Bamfield. As the story unfolds, the residents see Holly as a possible twin of the woman who was murdered...but she has no relationship with the deceased victim. Danger lurks to keep this mystery from coming to light, and their relationship builds from one of "lustimacy" to an intimacy they can't deny. An interesting suspense romance story and very enjoyable. Loking forward to reading the next in this series.
This is a first time listen/read by Toni Anderson, new author to this reader. "Dangerous Waters (Barkley Sound#1) was a very enjoyable suspense novel. I was kept on pins and needles trying to figure out the "who" with all of the twists and turns that were intricately woven into the pages of this story. Sometimes I do love the trope of love at first sight, but did not quite think it would be instantaneously in the early part of the book...especially in a suspense romance. I was looking for the building relationship but Holly and Finn made it too easy. I like Detective Holly as she is trying to hold herself in a profession strongly driven by men and Finn, an ex-special forces soldier now diver, is such a "Mr. Tough Guy" but has a soft side to him.
Holly and Finn are drawn together by a 30-year murder mystery in the small community of Bamfield. As the story unfolds, the residents see Holly as a possible twin of the woman who was murdered...but she has no relationship with the deceased victim. Danger lurks to keep this mystery from coming to light, and their relationship builds from one of "lustimacy" to an intimacy they can't deny. An interesting suspense romance story and very enjoyable. Loking forward to reading the next in this series.
February 25, 2014
Dangerous Waters is the first book in Toni Anderson's Vancouver Island - Carver Brothers series. Sergeant Holly Rudd is in Bamfield on Vancouver Island to solve a murder. But she discovers she bares a striking resemblance to a woman who was murdered 30 years before. Finn Carver is a diver. He was one of the divers who discovered the body and, apparently, a suspect.
I have read a few of Toni Anderson's books and have not been disappointed yet. There was a nice balance on the mystery/suspense and the romance but I do think the emphasis was more on the mystery/suspense. I will admit to being surprised at the outcome. I didn't see that coming! Definitely recommended to Romantic Suspense fans! I see there is also a book about Finn's brother, Brent, and I got to get it!
I have read a few of Toni Anderson's books and have not been disappointed yet. There was a nice balance on the mystery/suspense and the romance but I do think the emphasis was more on the mystery/suspense. I will admit to being surprised at the outcome. I didn't see that coming! Definitely recommended to Romantic Suspense fans! I see there is also a book about Finn's brother, Brent, and I got to get it!
December 23, 2012
The female lead is hard to like. She falls victim to adolescent emotions and pouts when people don't fall in line with her plan. No need to mention she has just recently had an affair with her married boss and aside from not wanting to be around him doesn't seem to experience much shame about it. Found myself rolling my eyes nearly every time she spoke.
And I was totally jarred by Toni Anderson describing Holly's breath as "puffing like the Hogwarts Express." Was it necessary to bring a Harry Potter reference into a murder mystery?
And I was totally jarred by Toni Anderson describing Holly's breath as "puffing like the Hogwarts Express." Was it necessary to bring a Harry Potter reference into a murder mystery?
December 17, 2018
3.5 Stars rounded up.
I liked Ms. Anderson's writing voice in this book and I was really pulled into the plot. These were elements of the story that I really loved and some elements that got on my nerves.
I have a love/hate relationship with romantic suspense stories of late. I hate insta-lust (present in this book), I hate when characters refer to lust as love (again - this felt like lust and not love) and I really hate when the h/H are present in scenes together that the only thing on their mind is sex (every single scene?). If felt like every time the h/H were in a scene together we switch from an exciting murder mystery plot to a "he so hot/she so hot" cliche of internal thinking. It's a cut and paste formula from thousands of other books and actually reduces the characters down to cardboard cutouts. It's really sad because the characters were so much more than this and it brought the whole book down to the level of cliche romance novels. I wished Ms. Anderson had developed the relationship without it being all on physical looks and lust. Plus once our main female lead gets into a really serious car accident, the lust really needed to take more of a back seat. As I've been in serious car accidents - and the scenes following the accident really didn't seem realistic.
What I did love and where Ms. Anderson showed a lot more talent and originality was the murder plot and weaving the new murder(s) to an old murder plot. The characters and their relationships in the story were really solid and the book provided enough potential bad guys to keep the plot moving. The pacing was good and I was really pulled into the book (I did skim over the insta-lust and the "he's so hot/she's so hot" scenes.)
I liked Ms. Anderson's writing voice in this book and I was really pulled into the plot. These were elements of the story that I really loved and some elements that got on my nerves.
I have a love/hate relationship with romantic suspense stories of late. I hate insta-lust (present in this book), I hate when characters refer to lust as love (again - this felt like lust and not love) and I really hate when the h/H are present in scenes together that the only thing on their mind is sex (every single scene?). If felt like every time the h/H were in a scene together we switch from an exciting murder mystery plot to a "he so hot/she so hot" cliche of internal thinking. It's a cut and paste formula from thousands of other books and actually reduces the characters down to cardboard cutouts. It's really sad because the characters were so much more than this and it brought the whole book down to the level of cliche romance novels. I wished Ms. Anderson had developed the relationship without it being all on physical looks and lust. Plus once our main female lead gets into a really serious car accident, the lust really needed to take more of a back seat. As I've been in serious car accidents - and the scenes following the accident really didn't seem realistic.
What I did love and where Ms. Anderson showed a lot more talent and originality was the murder plot and weaving the new murder(s) to an old murder plot. The characters and their relationships in the story were really solid and the book provided enough potential bad guys to keep the plot moving. The pacing was good and I was really pulled into the book (I did skim over the insta-lust and the "he's so hot/she's so hot" scenes.)
June 23, 2021
A great Romantic-Suspense that is the best of both romance and suspense. This love at first sight romance is wrapped up in the case of a 30 year old murder and you will not want to put it down. Although the heroine, Holly, has an angst problem at times, she is a strong woman in a man's profession. I just loved the hero, Finn, who is a tough guy who falls hard for our heroine.
When Sergeant Holly Rudd's father-daughter vacation is interrupted to investigate a body found in a submerged wreck outside the small, isolated community of Bamfield, she has no idea she is about to meet the love of her life and become embroiled in an old 30 year old mystery. The citizens are wary of the RCMP and don't cooperate. Holly has a tough time sifting through the half truths and omissions she is told. One thing she knows for sure, she cannot get involved with the hot diver who found the body, but her body has another opinion. When several residents comment that she could be the twin of a woman who was murdered 30 years ago, she knows she is in no way related to this woman.
Finn is a former Special Forces soldier who, with his dive partner, discovered a body in a wreck. As a witness he knows that his instant attraction to the beautiful RCMP officer is all kinds of wrong, an attraction they both share. He plans to make himself important to the investigation to protect his brother and the man who took him in and raised him. When Holly is attacked, Finn has to protect her too. Except, Holly can more than handle her investigation and any threats that come her way. When past and present collide, Finn and Holly will need to trust each other to solve these murders.
4 1/2-Stars
When Sergeant Holly Rudd's father-daughter vacation is interrupted to investigate a body found in a submerged wreck outside the small, isolated community of Bamfield, she has no idea she is about to meet the love of her life and become embroiled in an old 30 year old mystery. The citizens are wary of the RCMP and don't cooperate. Holly has a tough time sifting through the half truths and omissions she is told. One thing she knows for sure, she cannot get involved with the hot diver who found the body, but her body has another opinion. When several residents comment that she could be the twin of a woman who was murdered 30 years ago, she knows she is in no way related to this woman.
Finn is a former Special Forces soldier who, with his dive partner, discovered a body in a wreck. As a witness he knows that his instant attraction to the beautiful RCMP officer is all kinds of wrong, an attraction they both share. He plans to make himself important to the investigation to protect his brother and the man who took him in and raised him. When Holly is attacked, Finn has to protect her too. Except, Holly can more than handle her investigation and any threats that come her way. When past and present collide, Finn and Holly will need to trust each other to solve these murders.
4 1/2-Stars
February 28, 2022
4.0-4.5 stars. This one gets an extra half star for the ending that I totally never saw coming. Suspense with a side of romantic attraction. Definitely reading book 2.
Read
November 12, 2018“Dark and intriguing, Anderson’s tightly plotted story keeps you guessing.”
– Laura Griffin, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.
2013 Daphne du Maurier Award Finalist for Excellence in Romantic Suspense Top 100 Amazon.com, Amazon UK and Amazon.ca bestseller
99c for November only (Amazon. US & Canada only).
– Laura Griffin, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.
2013 Daphne du Maurier Award Finalist for Excellence in Romantic Suspense Top 100 Amazon.com, Amazon UK and Amazon.ca bestseller
99c for November only (Amazon. US & Canada only).
November 22, 2014
3.5 Stars
Dangerous Waters opens with a chapter that grabs you. A glimpse into the past that provides a puzzle piece that you know is somehow key to the current story but you have no idea how or why...so you just have to keep on reading.
The Canadian landscape provides the backdrop for this latest offering from Toni Anderson. As a Canadian I very much appreciate that the story takes place in Canada because it doesn’t happen very often.
Scuba diver and former Special Forces agent Finn Carver’s unlucky enough to find himself smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation and up to his ears in hot water when he discovers a dead body deep underwater in a wreck he and Professor Thomas Edgefield have uncovered.
Now his quiet little community of Bamfield is swarming with cops including one Sergeant Holly Rudd.
There’s lots of sexual tension right from the get-go between Holly and Finn and first impressions are important. Here are Holly’s about Finn:
“Surfer blond hair and bare feet. Rugged good looks and attitude to match. Arms crossed over his broad chest, radiating impatience and hostility. Sexy as hell.”
Well hello there Finn Carter! But he’s a suspect in the murder investigation and she’s the investigating officer so he’s strictly off limits...well for the moment anyway. Acting on any feelings can only result in disaster. And Holly’s just dodged one disastrous relationship with Staff Sergeant Jimmy Furlong, the rat bastard and her immediate supervisor. Add in the fact her father is the Commanding Officer of the unit and she’s already on edge and under the microscope with her every move monitored and questioned. Finn Carver is definitely off limits!
For such a small community Bamfield is hiding a lot of secrets and it’s Holly’s job to get to the bottom of it all...if she can stay alive long enough to figure it out. She’s making waves with her on going investigation and all of her questions and someone is out to shut her up.
As the case unfolds and all the puzzle pieces started to unravel, there were definitely some twists and turns I was not expecting or see coming.
I think Dangerous Waters would appeal to readers who enjoy when the who-dun-it/murder mystery takes center stage over the romantic aspects of the story. Don’t get me wrong there was definitely sexual tension and attraction between Finn and Holly but given the scope of the investigation and their positions they have to walk a very fine line and it’s one Holly wasn’t willing to cross for the longest time.
Dangerous Waters opens with a chapter that grabs you. A glimpse into the past that provides a puzzle piece that you know is somehow key to the current story but you have no idea how or why...so you just have to keep on reading.
The Canadian landscape provides the backdrop for this latest offering from Toni Anderson. As a Canadian I very much appreciate that the story takes place in Canada because it doesn’t happen very often.
Scuba diver and former Special Forces agent Finn Carver’s unlucky enough to find himself smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation and up to his ears in hot water when he discovers a dead body deep underwater in a wreck he and Professor Thomas Edgefield have uncovered.
Now his quiet little community of Bamfield is swarming with cops including one Sergeant Holly Rudd.
There’s lots of sexual tension right from the get-go between Holly and Finn and first impressions are important. Here are Holly’s about Finn:
“Surfer blond hair and bare feet. Rugged good looks and attitude to match. Arms crossed over his broad chest, radiating impatience and hostility. Sexy as hell.”
Well hello there Finn Carter! But he’s a suspect in the murder investigation and she’s the investigating officer so he’s strictly off limits...well for the moment anyway. Acting on any feelings can only result in disaster. And Holly’s just dodged one disastrous relationship with Staff Sergeant Jimmy Furlong, the rat bastard and her immediate supervisor. Add in the fact her father is the Commanding Officer of the unit and she’s already on edge and under the microscope with her every move monitored and questioned. Finn Carver is definitely off limits!
For such a small community Bamfield is hiding a lot of secrets and it’s Holly’s job to get to the bottom of it all...if she can stay alive long enough to figure it out. She’s making waves with her on going investigation and all of her questions and someone is out to shut her up.
As the case unfolds and all the puzzle pieces started to unravel, there were definitely some twists and turns I was not expecting or see coming.
I think Dangerous Waters would appeal to readers who enjoy when the who-dun-it/murder mystery takes center stage over the romantic aspects of the story. Don’t get me wrong there was definitely sexual tension and attraction between Finn and Holly but given the scope of the investigation and their positions they have to walk a very fine line and it’s one Holly wasn’t willing to cross for the longest time.
June 22, 2017
Two divers find a shipwreck off the coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. A wreck containing a dead diver with a knife buried into his chest. Enter Sergeant Holly Rudd who has lots to prove; that she didn’t get the job because of her daddy, but because of her merits, that she’s put her affair with her married (although she didn’t know it at the time) superior behind her, that she can close her first murder case, and that she can keep it professional when it comes to her attraction to one of the divers who found the body…
Let me tell you, she proved none of it. For a supposed “professional” she was rather incompetent when it came to everything from investigating, to interrogating, to listening to her guts, and to keeping her hands off the supposed suspect. And for someone who claimed to have gotten the job through merit, she was rather quick to doubt herself.
So, this was supposed to be a romantic suspense novel. So let’s start with the romance. It wasn’t there. One snap of the fingers and the two of them were immediately attracted to each other, another snap of the fingers and they were bumping uglies (no emotion behind it, mind you), and yet another snap of the fingers and they were in love.
Why? How? Why?
There was all tell and absolutely no show.
I didn’t understand what they saw in each other—she was an incompetent idiot with a teenage crush, he was an off-putting asshole with a chip on his shoulder and no compunction about lying to the woman he supposedly loved.
As for the suspense. There was none. Or if there was, it was buried so deep, I couldn’t find it. No chills, no intensity. Nothing.
There were two “mystery” sub-plots, really, but both connected by the same villain. The first, about the murder in 1982 and the fact the heroine bore an uncanny resemblance to the murder victim was so predictable it was transparent. I was just waiting for everybody to finally get their heads out of their asses and see the truth.
So the only “surprise” was the reveal of the villain and the motive. The latter was rather far-fetched, or I simply didn’t care by that point, and the villain...Yeah, I didn’t care by that point.
It started off great with the chill-filled prologue, but after a few chapters, the whole thing slowed down. The plot was vapid, the writing amateurish, the romance and suspense non-existent. In the second half of it, I skimmed scenes, hoping for a glimmer of something to keep it interesting, to kick the pace into a higher gear, and by the end of it, I was ecstatic it was finally over.
Let me tell you, she proved none of it. For a supposed “professional” she was rather incompetent when it came to everything from investigating, to interrogating, to listening to her guts, and to keeping her hands off the supposed suspect. And for someone who claimed to have gotten the job through merit, she was rather quick to doubt herself.
So, this was supposed to be a romantic suspense novel. So let’s start with the romance. It wasn’t there. One snap of the fingers and the two of them were immediately attracted to each other, another snap of the fingers and they were bumping uglies (no emotion behind it, mind you), and yet another snap of the fingers and they were in love.
Why? How? Why?
There was all tell and absolutely no show.
I didn’t understand what they saw in each other—she was an incompetent idiot with a teenage crush, he was an off-putting asshole with a chip on his shoulder and no compunction about lying to the woman he supposedly loved.
As for the suspense. There was none. Or if there was, it was buried so deep, I couldn’t find it. No chills, no intensity. Nothing.
There were two “mystery” sub-plots, really, but both connected by the same villain. The first, about the murder in 1982 and the fact the heroine bore an uncanny resemblance to the murder victim was so predictable it was transparent. I was just waiting for everybody to finally get their heads out of their asses and see the truth.
So the only “surprise” was the reveal of the villain and the motive. The latter was rather far-fetched, or I simply didn’t care by that point, and the villain...Yeah, I didn’t care by that point.
It started off great with the chill-filled prologue, but after a few chapters, the whole thing slowed down. The plot was vapid, the writing amateurish, the romance and suspense non-existent. In the second half of it, I skimmed scenes, hoping for a glimmer of something to keep it interesting, to kick the pace into a higher gear, and by the end of it, I was ecstatic it was finally over.
November 17, 2012
Hawaiian Proverb: He ho'okele wa'a no ka la 'ino
"A steersman for a stormy day"
A courageous person
Toni Anderson had to work for this five star review from me as romantic suspense is not my first choice of reading genres. In fact, I tend to shy away from it because I want reading to be a pleasant escape. Yet I requested to review DANGEROUS WATERS because of the Pacific setting, the capable heroine investigating the murder, and the mysterious hero impeding her investigation. Plus the setting, heroine, and hero are Canadian. I have a soft spot for Canadians after working with them at NATO … and the Canadian flavor sets this Romantic Suspense apart from a genre flooded with US military themed thrillers.
The book blurb is on target in describing the plot. This investigation gives Holly two opportunities – to demonstrate her abilities with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and distance herself from her former lover (who failed to mention he was married). Holly is determined to be “above board” as she leads an investigative team into Bamfield - an isolated town on Barkley Sound that harbors many secrets. Her determination is tested when she finds herself attracted to Finn Carver. Despite his stellar career in Special Forces, Holly suspects he is hiding his own secrets. Finn is hiding secrets but does not hide his attraction to Holly. Both show courage in responding to “stormy days” that figuratively hamper the investigation. As with Hawaiian warriors, courage is intuitive and that’s what scared both Holly and Finn – they cannot hide their feelings from the other.
I appreciated Anderson’s vivid descriptions of Barkley Sound – it’s dangerous coast, its stifling isolation, and its rugged charm. Anderson enveloped me into the open diving, marine biology, and smuggling operations that dominate Barkley Sound. Andrew kept my attention to the end with the plot twists akin to the mountainous switchbacks required to access Barkley Sound. I came away with a new appreciation of the RCMP – not just the “Mounties” that are mimicked on TV shows. Anderson gave me hope that I would enjoy romantic suspense.
Recommend read for fans of romantic suspense who are looking for fresh perspective of this popular genre.
I received an ARC from the author for this review.
"A steersman for a stormy day"
A courageous person
Toni Anderson had to work for this five star review from me as romantic suspense is not my first choice of reading genres. In fact, I tend to shy away from it because I want reading to be a pleasant escape. Yet I requested to review DANGEROUS WATERS because of the Pacific setting, the capable heroine investigating the murder, and the mysterious hero impeding her investigation. Plus the setting, heroine, and hero are Canadian. I have a soft spot for Canadians after working with them at NATO … and the Canadian flavor sets this Romantic Suspense apart from a genre flooded with US military themed thrillers.
The book blurb is on target in describing the plot. This investigation gives Holly two opportunities – to demonstrate her abilities with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and distance herself from her former lover (who failed to mention he was married). Holly is determined to be “above board” as she leads an investigative team into Bamfield - an isolated town on Barkley Sound that harbors many secrets. Her determination is tested when she finds herself attracted to Finn Carver. Despite his stellar career in Special Forces, Holly suspects he is hiding his own secrets. Finn is hiding secrets but does not hide his attraction to Holly. Both show courage in responding to “stormy days” that figuratively hamper the investigation. As with Hawaiian warriors, courage is intuitive and that’s what scared both Holly and Finn – they cannot hide their feelings from the other.
I appreciated Anderson’s vivid descriptions of Barkley Sound – it’s dangerous coast, its stifling isolation, and its rugged charm. Anderson enveloped me into the open diving, marine biology, and smuggling operations that dominate Barkley Sound. Andrew kept my attention to the end with the plot twists akin to the mountainous switchbacks required to access Barkley Sound. I came away with a new appreciation of the RCMP – not just the “Mounties” that are mimicked on TV shows. Anderson gave me hope that I would enjoy romantic suspense.
Recommend read for fans of romantic suspense who are looking for fresh perspective of this popular genre.
I received an ARC from the author for this review.
November 13, 2012
This was a romantic suspense title that nicely balanced both the romance and the suspense. The story starts with a murder of a 24-year-old woman and her six week old son. Her two year old daughter disappeared at the same time. Than thirty years pass.
The woman's husband is Dr. Thom Edgefield. He has never let the unsolved case rest. He has devoted his life to harassing the police to keep working on the murder. Along the way he has reported any suspicious behavior to the police which has not endeared him to the criminals who want to use the small isolated town as a base for smuggling and distributing counterfeit money. It is a town filled with secrets.
When the body of a local low-life is found stabbed to death in an unknown shipwreck, the police are called in again. Thom and his foster son Finn Carver discover the body. Sergeant Holly Rudd of the RCMP is the investigating officer who is called in. Thom takes one look at her and faints. She is the image of his dead wife.
Holly quickly gets involved in trying to sort out the secrets of the town and, although she is incredibly drawn to Finn, she is determined not to get involved with someone who could be a suspect in the crime she is investigating. She already made the mistake of sleeping with a fellow officer (who is now her superior in this case) without knowing that he was married. She is afraid another indiscretion will ruin her police career.
Adding to the cast of characters is Finn's brother Brent who has recently got out of prison for killing their father. He did it to protect Finn who was being beaten by the man. But Brent spent twenty years in prison and is determined to keep Finn out of his life. He has become a bitter recluse who lives in a very expensive home although no one knows where his money comes from.
Honestly, the story isn't as complicated as I might be making it seem. It was a well-crafted mystery filled with interesting characters. The romance was well-done as both Finn and Holly fight their attraction to each other. Finn doesn't feel that he has much to offer Holly. But love overcomes all sorts of obstacles.
Fans of romantic suspense will really enjoy this story. I immediately went to Amazon and bought three more of her romantic suspense titles for my Kindle.
The woman's husband is Dr. Thom Edgefield. He has never let the unsolved case rest. He has devoted his life to harassing the police to keep working on the murder. Along the way he has reported any suspicious behavior to the police which has not endeared him to the criminals who want to use the small isolated town as a base for smuggling and distributing counterfeit money. It is a town filled with secrets.
When the body of a local low-life is found stabbed to death in an unknown shipwreck, the police are called in again. Thom and his foster son Finn Carver discover the body. Sergeant Holly Rudd of the RCMP is the investigating officer who is called in. Thom takes one look at her and faints. She is the image of his dead wife.
Holly quickly gets involved in trying to sort out the secrets of the town and, although she is incredibly drawn to Finn, she is determined not to get involved with someone who could be a suspect in the crime she is investigating. She already made the mistake of sleeping with a fellow officer (who is now her superior in this case) without knowing that he was married. She is afraid another indiscretion will ruin her police career.
Adding to the cast of characters is Finn's brother Brent who has recently got out of prison for killing their father. He did it to protect Finn who was being beaten by the man. But Brent spent twenty years in prison and is determined to keep Finn out of his life. He has become a bitter recluse who lives in a very expensive home although no one knows where his money comes from.
Honestly, the story isn't as complicated as I might be making it seem. It was a well-crafted mystery filled with interesting characters. The romance was well-done as both Finn and Holly fight their attraction to each other. Finn doesn't feel that he has much to offer Holly. But love overcomes all sorts of obstacles.
Fans of romantic suspense will really enjoy this story. I immediately went to Amazon and bought three more of her romantic suspense titles for my Kindle.
December 28, 2012
Only danger is to your brain cells
When one is a connoisseur of the genre known as "trashy underwater fiction" (coined by me), novels like Toni Anderson's Dangerous Waters are the risk you take. It's simply the worst thing I've read in quite some time.
I was attracted to the novel's plot, involving two divers out of a British Columbia marine research station stumbling upon a body while on a night dive in a wreck. The death is the result of neither natural causes nor a dive accident, but rather the large knife sticking out of the victim's chest. Enter Sergeant Holly Rudd of the RCMP, eager to impress her superiors and in charge of her first big case. Of course, it would be easier to proceed if she weren't so excruciatingly attracted to Finn Carver, the former special forces soldier who found the body and is considered, by some, to be a suspect.
Because, oh yes, this is much a romance novel as a thriller! I'm going to cut to the chase here. The writing was insipid. The plot boring. The dialogue cringe-worthy. The pace plodding. The novel was neither romantic nor erotic. The only thing worse than the material itself, was the amateurish reading of the audiobook by narrator Emily Beresford. The underwater segments were the best part of the book, but overall, I'm sorry to pronounce Dangerous Waters an epic fail.
When one is a connoisseur of the genre known as "trashy underwater fiction" (coined by me), novels like Toni Anderson's Dangerous Waters are the risk you take. It's simply the worst thing I've read in quite some time.
I was attracted to the novel's plot, involving two divers out of a British Columbia marine research station stumbling upon a body while on a night dive in a wreck. The death is the result of neither natural causes nor a dive accident, but rather the large knife sticking out of the victim's chest. Enter Sergeant Holly Rudd of the RCMP, eager to impress her superiors and in charge of her first big case. Of course, it would be easier to proceed if she weren't so excruciatingly attracted to Finn Carver, the former special forces soldier who found the body and is considered, by some, to be a suspect.
Because, oh yes, this is much a romance novel as a thriller! I'm going to cut to the chase here. The writing was insipid. The plot boring. The dialogue cringe-worthy. The pace plodding. The novel was neither romantic nor erotic. The only thing worse than the material itself, was the amateurish reading of the audiobook by narrator Emily Beresford. The underwater segments were the best part of the book, but overall, I'm sorry to pronounce Dangerous Waters an epic fail.
August 10, 2022
My first read by this author. Well written romantic thriller book. The suspense keep you guessing who is the villain. But 3 stars for me it's just not enough connection with H/h. Something is lacking.Will read more from this author hoping will get use to her writing style.
December 9, 2019
Toni Anderson's "Dangerous Waters" (Montlake Romance 2012)is from the new genre of romantic thrillers. I should have looked closer when I picked this book out of the 'thriller' category and noticed the publisher. Duh. Instead, I spent most of the 350 pages wondering how such intelligent characters could fall prey to teenage emotions so succinctly?
Let me back up. If you can leap over the nonstop romantic innuendos, thoughts, and emotions, this is a wonderful story. Thomas Edgefield and Finn Carver (it took me a while to figure out why the juxtaposition of those two names bothered me. Then I got it: 'Tom Sawyer' 'Huck Finn')discover a dead body while investigating a shipwreck. When Sergeant Holly Rudd arrives to investigate the murder, life will never be the same for her or Finn. They play off of each other, each hiding secrets as they uncover others, with a few close calls that leave Holly damaged but stronger and Finn (small spoiler) with a bullet wound in his chest.
Throughout what admittedly is a well-told story, the love interest is the driving force of the plot with everything else secondary. That mitigates what could have been a solid thriller. See if you agree: By page 66, Finn shares with the reader his growing lust for a woman he just met, nurtured apparently by nothing but his active imagination. When we pop into Holly's head, we see the same reaction. I'm sure it's inspired by body language between them, but wouldn't at least Rudd be professional enough to dismiss it, especially since she is hiding a recent illicit workplace romance?
Maybe that's the romance genre. Can anyone enlighten me?
Other than that, the story is fast paced, never slowing down, something always happening. I gave it four stars because I realized that the more I read (aside from the bee-stung lips and the manly muscles) the less I wanted to stop. Overall this is a decent read that the author could have delivered a lot better by maturing the romantic play.
Let me back up. If you can leap over the nonstop romantic innuendos, thoughts, and emotions, this is a wonderful story. Thomas Edgefield and Finn Carver (it took me a while to figure out why the juxtaposition of those two names bothered me. Then I got it: 'Tom Sawyer' 'Huck Finn')discover a dead body while investigating a shipwreck. When Sergeant Holly Rudd arrives to investigate the murder, life will never be the same for her or Finn. They play off of each other, each hiding secrets as they uncover others, with a few close calls that leave Holly damaged but stronger and Finn (small spoiler) with a bullet wound in his chest.
Throughout what admittedly is a well-told story, the love interest is the driving force of the plot with everything else secondary. That mitigates what could have been a solid thriller. See if you agree: By page 66, Finn shares with the reader his growing lust for a woman he just met, nurtured apparently by nothing but his active imagination. When we pop into Holly's head, we see the same reaction. I'm sure it's inspired by body language between them, but wouldn't at least Rudd be professional enough to dismiss it, especially since she is hiding a recent illicit workplace romance?
Maybe that's the romance genre. Can anyone enlighten me?
Other than that, the story is fast paced, never slowing down, something always happening. I gave it four stars because I realized that the more I read (aside from the bee-stung lips and the manly muscles) the less I wanted to stop. Overall this is a decent read that the author could have delivered a lot better by maturing the romantic play.
December 16, 2012
Sergeant Holly Rudd arrives in the coastal community of Bamfield, British Columbia, after local divers discover a body with a knife jutting from its chest. As she investigates the crime, Holly soon realizes Bamfield is rife with secrets. But what unsettles her most is the residents’ insistence that she bears a striking resemblance to the victim of a murder from three decades earlier. At first, she shrugs off the uncanny likeness as a coincidence.
Finn Carver, a former Special Forces soldier turned dive instructor, is one of the divers who discovers the corpse in the shipwreck. When he learns that Holly is the primary cop on the case, he knows it is best to keep his distance. But their sizzling attraction for each other, not to mention his desire to protect her in a town determined to undermine her credibility, provide the yin and yang that romance is made of.
They survive an exciting night dive only to be faced with other questions. The contributing characters such as Finn’s inscrutable older brother, Brent and Thomas Edgefield, the grieving survivor of the brutal attack on his family thirty years prior, are only a few pieces of the puzzle. The crimes suck her into a hornets’ nest of intrigue and escalating conspiracies.
Ms. Anderson uses her knowledge of marine biology and scuba diving to set up the labyrinth of betrayal that comprises an otherwise sleepy town with summer recreation on, and in, its waters. The vivid picture of the scenery adds ghostlike images to the dark and dangerous mystery. Plot twists interlock, never letting up until the last pages.
Maggie
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Finn Carver, a former Special Forces soldier turned dive instructor, is one of the divers who discovers the corpse in the shipwreck. When he learns that Holly is the primary cop on the case, he knows it is best to keep his distance. But their sizzling attraction for each other, not to mention his desire to protect her in a town determined to undermine her credibility, provide the yin and yang that romance is made of.
They survive an exciting night dive only to be faced with other questions. The contributing characters such as Finn’s inscrutable older brother, Brent and Thomas Edgefield, the grieving survivor of the brutal attack on his family thirty years prior, are only a few pieces of the puzzle. The crimes suck her into a hornets’ nest of intrigue and escalating conspiracies.
Ms. Anderson uses her knowledge of marine biology and scuba diving to set up the labyrinth of betrayal that comprises an otherwise sleepy town with summer recreation on, and in, its waters. The vivid picture of the scenery adds ghostlike images to the dark and dangerous mystery. Plot twists interlock, never letting up until the last pages.
Maggie
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
May 10, 2021
For me, this one was an... OK... read. I've really enjoyed the author's "Cold Justice" series - well, most of them anyway - but didn't find this was quite up to the same level (then again, I believe it's from quite early on in her writing career, and I feel like that shows in both the writing and the characterisation).
For example, something about Holly didn't quite ring true for me as a character, although I couldn't put my finger on what it was, exactly. Ditto with the relationship development. And I *never* enjoy the technique of writing the odd scene from the as-yet unidentified bad guy's POV either. I know a lot of authors do it, so I assume it's a perfectly acceptable technique. But for some reason, it always seems to fall flat for me - instead of raising questions I want answers to, upping the suspense factor and moving the story forward for me, it feels... more like it's yanking me straight out of the story and hitting me over the head with a demand to ask questions that events from Holly's POV had already had me asking anyway.
All in all, I don't feel like Dangerous Waters was a terrible read, and gods know I've read a lot worse in the romantic suspense genre. But it also didn't quite have the spark for me that the Cold Justice series has, so although I have Book 2 waiting for me, it may be a wee while before I end up reading it.
For example, something about Holly didn't quite ring true for me as a character, although I couldn't put my finger on what it was, exactly. Ditto with the relationship development. And I *never* enjoy the technique of writing the odd scene from the as-yet unidentified bad guy's POV either. I know a lot of authors do it, so I assume it's a perfectly acceptable technique. But for some reason, it always seems to fall flat for me - instead of raising questions I want answers to, upping the suspense factor and moving the story forward for me, it feels... more like it's yanking me straight out of the story and hitting me over the head with a demand to ask questions that events from Holly's POV had already had me asking anyway.
All in all, I don't feel like Dangerous Waters was a terrible read, and gods know I've read a lot worse in the romantic suspense genre. But it also didn't quite have the spark for me that the Cold Justice series has, so although I have Book 2 waiting for me, it may be a wee while before I end up reading it.
April 6, 2013
While I found myself enjoying trying to figure out whodunnit and why, this book fell kind of flat for me. The main character, Holly, acted ridiculously in my opinion. She is portrayed as very driven and dedicated to her career, but she very quickly gets romantically involved with a suspect in her investigation. She can't keep her hormones in check for even a week while they try to close the case? And I didn't really see the attraction to Finn.
I liked the Canadian setting, though what kind of small town has an entire population that won't tell the cops anything when they're trying to solve a murder? Wholly unrealistic and contrived.
I will say that the villain, while coming somewhat out left field, made a lot of sense and did work well to wrap up the mystery. Overall, it was a decent book and if you're looking for a romance with a bit of a mystery thrown in, this will fit the bill.
I liked the Canadian setting, though what kind of small town has an entire population that won't tell the cops anything when they're trying to solve a murder? Wholly unrealistic and contrived.
I will say that the villain, while coming somewhat out left field, made a lot of sense and did work well to wrap up the mystery. Overall, it was a decent book and if you're looking for a romance with a bit of a mystery thrown in, this will fit the bill.
July 21, 2017
Decent mystery. I did not figure out the complex mystery until the revealing. Mystery suspense and light romance, mild kissing and two sexy scenes make up this novel. The story was good it just kinda seemed flat to me. A good book but not a great book. As far as mysteries go solid 3stars.
Free with K.U. as well as audio but for God's sake don't use the audio the women narrating does all the voices male and female and is totally laughable.
Free with K.U. as well as audio but for God's sake don't use the audio the women narrating does all the voices male and female and is totally laughable.
June 20, 2021
For the first time, Holly Rudd is primary on a homicide investigation. Former Special Forces Officer Finn Carver and his dive partner Professor Thom Edgefield discovered a body with a knife sticking out of its chest while diving to an old wreck off Vancouver Island. Holly has just come from a vacation, which she used to get away from her boss with whom she was having an affair until she found out that he was married. Because Finn and Thom found the body, they are immediately suspected, but Holly doesn't believe either of them are involved, especially when she realizes how attracted she is to Finn. As the investigation progresses, secrets are uncovered and loyalties tested as almost everyone in the small community becomes a suspect.
One strength of Dangerous Waters is the development of the main character, Holly, who has had a rough time in recent years. The details of the mystery are doled out at a pace that keeps the reader guessing and makes the story interesting. The romance between Holly and Finn is a little underwhelming, but is emotional enough to make their instant attraction believable and slow burning enough to make their eventual connection plausible. Not all of the twists at the end are predicable and some come as a complete surprise. Overall, Dangerous Waters is an enjoyable romantic suspense with an interesting cast of characters and an entertaining mystery.
One strength of Dangerous Waters is the development of the main character, Holly, who has had a rough time in recent years. The details of the mystery are doled out at a pace that keeps the reader guessing and makes the story interesting. The romance between Holly and Finn is a little underwhelming, but is emotional enough to make their instant attraction believable and slow burning enough to make their eventual connection plausible. Not all of the twists at the end are predicable and some come as a complete surprise. Overall, Dangerous Waters is an enjoyable romantic suspense with an interesting cast of characters and an entertaining mystery.
April 4, 2024
I've been meaning to read Toni Anderson for some time and now that I finally read one of her books I loved it! (and I also realized that Romantic suspense is my jam!)
I liked the suspense and reading about a woman Sergeant (Holly Rudd) being in charge of the investigation of a crime and how each character interacts with her.
The romance was a nice addition to the story and I can't wait to read the nex book about the other Carver brother.
I liked the suspense and reading about a woman Sergeant (Holly Rudd) being in charge of the investigation of a crime and how each character interacts with her.
The romance was a nice addition to the story and I can't wait to read the nex book about the other Carver brother.
January 30, 2023
Romance y misterio con su buena dosis de acción en la isla de Vancouver.
Holly Ruud (32) es policía montada de Canadá dirigiendo su primera investigación por homicidio. Ambientación fría en el Pacífico septentrional, lluvia y nieblas, con osos y pumas campando por los bosques. Finn Carver (36) es el ex soldado que se gana la vida con el buceo y que ha encontrado en cadáver. ¿Sospechoso, testigo...?
No es novela con bruscos giros de la trama, pero sí un par de misterios que mantienen el interés. El suspense es un poco más elaborado que el de una Pamela Clare y menos que una Sandra Brown. A mí me recuerda mucho a Rachel Grant.
Reseña algo más amplia, en mi blog.
Holly Ruud (32) es policía montada de Canadá dirigiendo su primera investigación por homicidio. Ambientación fría en el Pacífico septentrional, lluvia y nieblas, con osos y pumas campando por los bosques. Finn Carver (36) es el ex soldado que se gana la vida con el buceo y que ha encontrado en cadáver. ¿Sospechoso, testigo...?
No es novela con bruscos giros de la trama, pero sí un par de misterios que mantienen el interés. El suspense es un poco más elaborado que el de una Pamela Clare y menos que una Sandra Brown. A mí me recuerda mucho a Rachel Grant.
Reseña algo más amplia, en mi blog.
November 25, 2012
With vibrant writing, a cast of damaged, captivating characters and a plot that’s deliciously diabolical, Dangerous Waters will have you mesmerized from page one. Anderson writes in a dark, edgy style reflected in the setting, the story line, and the secrets that haunt the members of this close-mouthed coastal community. Her characters are multi-dimensional and sympathetic—I was especially moved by the thorny relationship between Finn and his ex-convict brother. The sexual tension is high, the humor is gritty and Anderson’s background as a marine biologist lends an energetic authenticity to the story’s backdrop and the all-important dive scenes. A follow-on book entitled Dark Waters—featuring Finn’s reclusive brother—is due out in June of 2013 and I. Can’t. Wait.
April 8, 2019
I picked up Dangerous Waters for a kind of strange reason. One of my favorite romantic suspense authors, Rachel Grant, mentioned the author in one of her books. Her main character mentions that it’s one of her favorite romantic suspense authors. As I’ve read most of Rachel Grant’s books now, I thought I’d give her shout out a try, and it was really good!
A lady cop, a hunky dive master, and a town full of secrets. All set in the Pacific Northwest! There are plenty of unlikely coincidences that if you think about too hard might strain belief, but I’m not sure I care. Everyone was wonderfully flawed, waiting to meet just the right person to heal their old wounds and give new purpose to life.
Good romantic suspense.
A lady cop, a hunky dive master, and a town full of secrets. All set in the Pacific Northwest! There are plenty of unlikely coincidences that if you think about too hard might strain belief, but I’m not sure I care. Everyone was wonderfully flawed, waiting to meet just the right person to heal their old wounds and give new purpose to life.
Good romantic suspense.
July 27, 2017
OMG. I had to force myself to finish this book. I started with audible but about 60% mark, I quit with audible and finished the rest with reading manually as it is faster (not due to fault of narrator who did a decent job). I just cannot with this story. How the effing fok is Holly a sergeant? She's so damn bloody incompetent. Also, I find Finn to be a bleah H .. he was ex Special Forces? Really?! I'm just glad this is on KU. Had I paid for this I would have demand a refund.
December 18, 2021
I love Toni Anderson's romantic suspense mysteries. I didn't like the female lead detective in this book for a variety of reasons and just couldn't enjoy it as I usually do. Just my opinion on this. The writing was still as wonderful as in all the author's books, it was just the character.
April 2, 2013
If you like Tami Hoag, you'll love this book! I was stumped until the end, but then it all made perfect sense. Taut, tense romantic suspense, with plenty of twists.
Want to read
September 25, 201799 cents at Amazon but when I went to buy this & book 2, they came up at 89 cents each. 2/17/17.
August 6, 2019
Review posted on Got Fiction?
I've had this author recommended to me so often that when I saw her books in Kindle Unlimited, I downloaded both that were offered. This one, and the one after called Dark Waters.
So Holly Rudd is a Mountie (this series takes place in British Colombia, Canada). Her dad is the director of the agency. She's sent on an assignment and it turns out that her boss on this one happens to be a man she had a one night stand with...but he's married. This guy is a piece of work. She apparently had impostor syndrome or something because she's constantly trying to prove she got her job on her own merits, not because of daddy, or in this case, sleeping with her boss. The problem is that we're constantly told that she's so good at her job, that it feels weird she's so insecure about getting it.
Finn is a dive instructor, but he's a former Special Forces underwater demolitions expert (I'm guessing that's what he was-it was never overtly said). But the man, Thom, who raised him from 13 on was beaten up so he left the Army and came home to watch over him. Turns out the old man's wife and children were murdered 30 years ago but nothing was ever found. So he devoted his entire life to finding the killer or at least getting the police to try harder. Well during all this, he stumbled upon an organized crime syndicate trying to run drugs. He got beat up for his trouble. But seriously, a town of like 400 people and strangers are running drugs and no one notices? Really?
Meanwhile, Finn and Thom dive a newly discovered wreck, and find a dead body. They call the cops, and this is Holly's new assignment. So far we have murders from 30 years ago, a dead body on a wreck, and a small mafia. This book was a convoluted mess.
So Holly goes to talk to Finn and the professor, Thom, and the poor old man faints dead away. Holly could be a twin to his murdered wife. So here's another mystery; the baby was found dead, but his toddler daughter was missing. People just assumed a wild animal got her and went on their merry way. I mean what?!
Now Holly isn't even interested in the fact that she could be this woman's twin. Even when she sees the photographs. Then she's nearly killed. She's still ignoring it. Finn, for his part, never gets to use his special forces skills. Why have him be SF then? What's the point of that?
The writing could be tighter, and there are too many points of view. It's a lot, and it's not really necessary to advance the plot. The ending surprised me, I definitely didn't guess it, and I kind of liked the way it was handled, except that the book ended fairly abruptly. Some resolution would've been nice. I'm going to read the next book about Finn's brother, to see if that works better for me.
***I got this book through Kindle Unlimited
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