Cold Crossover

Ernie Creekmore #1

by T.R. Kelly

Linnbert "Cheese" Oliver, hard-luck high school basketball hero in the Northwest town of North Fork, is missing on a late-night ferry. And for real estate agent Ernie Creekmore, his father figure, friend and former coach, the news hits hard. Ernie's suffered too much loss and pain in his life — his wife, a state basketball championship, a mysterious medical malady — and he just can't accept the idea that Cheese might have taken his own life. Working with sheriff's detective Harvey Johnston, Ernie uses his contacts in real estate and hoops to trace Cheese's movements. Meanwhile, hints at possible foul play turn up in pieces of North Fork's rough-and-tumble history in fishing, logging and railroading, and the past and the present violently collide in a series of heart-stopping moments that peel back layers of greed, secrets and twisted family ties that refuse to stay buried.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

360 pages, ebook

First published November 26, 2012

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too tangled (confusing and overdone threads) for me to rate higher. Basically a good plot and well written, just a little overdone on several fronts.

[Wpayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cold Crossover

Really enjoyed this book. A lot of interesting history and a real good mystery. Liked coach Creedmore and his friends

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining read. Liked all the basketball references as one of the sports my sons played for a number of years. The body count near the end added up.

[Kerry Reis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ernie Creekmore was well known for his nineteen years as the head basketball coach for the local high school in the north Washington state community of North Fork, near scenic Lake Wilhelmina, especially the year his team went to the state championship with one of the best athletes the area knew, Linn “Cheese” Oliver. However, many remember that “Cheese” missed the final shot that would have won the game and faded during his years at the University of Washington, playing for the Huskies. Now, five years later, Ernie is selling prime real estate along the shores of Lake Wilhelmina and Linn is renting one of the lakeshore homes that Ernie has listed for sale. Yet Linn Oliver has suddenly disappeared from the house and his car has been found abandoned on the nearby Bremerton ferry. Is Linn dead? Did he jump off the ferry and commit suicide? Or has something more sinister happened to him? Ernie seeks out friends and relatives in an attempt to find Linn and solve the disappearance. This is a mystery that moves slowly, but has been carefully crafted, depending more on character than clues to solve. An added historical background is added, the purpose of which becomes evident towards the end of the story. The investigation is straightforward and there are no true surprises in the revelations, but for those who love true character in their mysteries, this book is for them.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good start to a new series. I didn't really have any choice about reading this book. Mystery? Check. Sports? Check. Local author? Check. Local setting? Check. And the funniest thing was that after I started reading it, I noticed posters advertising the book on the Bainbridge Island ferry. It gave me a mental giggle to know that I was sitting next to or in front of a poster for the book I was reading. Okay, I'm easily amused.

The details of the story rang true, whether it was sports, real estate, local geography, or local attitudes. And Ernie was a very engaging main character. I'm looking forward to his future adventures.

[Diana Donnelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a Goodreads win. I enjoy mysteries and wasn't sure how'd I do seeing as I'm not a sports fan. I grew very fond of Ernie Creekmore who retired from coaching and went into Real Estate. He had such a genuine fondness for his players that they remained important to him even after retirement. I struggled some with the fluctuation in time. As I progressed I understood the author's purpose. I'm a contented reader and wonder if there will be a sequel. Ernie Creekmore could be Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar who I've enjoyed for many a book.

[Kelsye Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Cold Crossover was thrilling not only for the story, but also to spot so many familiar places. Tom is incredibly skilled at weaving in the setting and local history into his novel. He captures the essence and energy of the PNW, as well as its inhabitants, perfectly.

This is a book to curl up with. Best read on a rainy day, preferably while sitting in a cabin, deep in an emerald forest. I'm looking forward to the next books in the Ernie Creekmore series!

[Chaplain Stanley Chapin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off well

Rural, small town readers can relate as sports in the high school was the main excitement in most communities before t.v., computer and video games. The tying in of the early settlements was also interesting, it started losing me with booster club murders. In most booster clubs i have known they were predominantly females and parents

[Ken Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read, written by my friend Tom Kelly. I am sucker for plots based in the Pacific Northwest and high school sports/basketball related stories, and this book did not disappoint. Also interesting to see connections in the story woven throughout to my understanding of many of Tom's life experiences. Great book.