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Thorn Mystery #3
Mean High Tide
After the mysterious underwater death of his girlfriend, Thorn joins forces with former cop Sugarman to investigate and becomes caught up in a deadly web of violence, obsession, and ecological vengeance
483 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1994
About the author
James W. Hall
70 books494 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
James W. Hall is an Edgar and Shamus Award-winning author whose books have been translated into a dozen languages. He has written twenty-one novels, four books of poetry, two collections of short stories, and two works of non-fiction. He also won a John D. MacDonald Award for Excellence in Florida Fiction, presented by the JDM Bibliophile.
He has a master’s degree in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University and a doctorate in literature from the University of Utah. He was a professor of literature and creative writing at Florida International University for 40 years where he taught such writers as Vicky Hendricks, Christine Kling, Barbara Parker and Dennis Lehane.
James W. Hall is an Edgar and Shamus Award-winning author whose books have been translated into a dozen languages. He has written twenty-one novels, four books of poetry, two collections of short stories, and two works of non-fiction. He also won a John D. MacDonald Award for Excellence in Florida Fiction, presented by the JDM Bibliophile.
He has a master’s degree in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University and a doctorate in literature from the University of Utah. He was a professor of literature and creative writing at Florida International University for 40 years where he taught such writers as Vicky Hendricks, Christine Kling, Barbara Parker and Dennis Lehane.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
May 11, 2026
In Mean High Tide (Thorn #3), we find Thorn content and happy. Needless to say that lasts all of about 30 pages. Then it's all about vengeance and uncovering what informs another fairly improbable yet gripping tale.
Once again the Florida Keys fight against human incursion and ecological destruction form the backdrop to the action. We also get more utterly sociopathic villains.
Another compelling instalment of the Thorn series, a series to which I am rapidly becoming addicted.
I've already got Gone Wild (Thorn #4) lined up and am looking forward to getting stuck in
4/5
Beneath the still blue waters off Key Largo a woman dives into a dazzling array of color. But behind the shimmering schools of fish, somewhere in the shadows of the reef, a death trap awaits. In minutes one life will be expertly, brutally taken, and another plunged into a mean season of fury, obsession, and revenge... His name is Thorn, his world is mangrove islands, open waters, and the ghosts of a too-violent past. Darcy Richards was everything to him. Now, finding her killer is. Wading into a seething mystery, Thorn is catapulted into a nightmare of violence and deception. There lurks a sensual young woman with a hard come-on, an aging former mobster, and a diabolical ex-CIA man. What they all have in common is each other's mad ruthlessness -- and a little red fish that will make some people very rich, and others very dead...
Once again the Florida Keys fight against human incursion and ecological destruction form the backdrop to the action. We also get more utterly sociopathic villains.
Another compelling instalment of the Thorn series, a series to which I am rapidly becoming addicted.
I've already got Gone Wild (Thorn #4) lined up and am looking forward to getting stuck in
4/5
Beneath the still blue waters off Key Largo a woman dives into a dazzling array of color. But behind the shimmering schools of fish, somewhere in the shadows of the reef, a death trap awaits. In minutes one life will be expertly, brutally taken, and another plunged into a mean season of fury, obsession, and revenge... His name is Thorn, his world is mangrove islands, open waters, and the ghosts of a too-violent past. Darcy Richards was everything to him. Now, finding her killer is. Wading into a seething mystery, Thorn is catapulted into a nightmare of violence and deception. There lurks a sensual young woman with a hard come-on, an aging former mobster, and a diabolical ex-CIA man. What they all have in common is each other's mad ruthlessness -- and a little red fish that will make some people very rich, and others very dead...
October 26, 2024
Another 3.5. Not a huge fan of Sylvie and some things just don’t add up at all but a light read.
June 28, 2021
Like an old friend
When I was much younger and lived in South Florida, I met a man. He quickly burrowed a place in my life, and I spent as much time with him as I could. Eventually, I moved away and have thought about him occasionally but never got back to him. I tried to find someone to fill that place. Some seemed like possibilities for awhile but let me down. Travis McGee could not be replaced. When I started reading Mean High Tide, I thought John D. MacDonald had returned to write again. It’s like my old friend had been revived. Thorn, the protagonist here, is that same sort of man. He prefers simple life on the water. He has his best friend. He takes care of problems when he has to. The only thing that I didn’t live is the weird Cheetos thing. I assume the spelling used throughout has something to do with copyright laws. All in all—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. And if you haven’t met Travis McGee, read that series when you finish this book.
When I was much younger and lived in South Florida, I met a man. He quickly burrowed a place in my life, and I spent as much time with him as I could. Eventually, I moved away and have thought about him occasionally but never got back to him. I tried to find someone to fill that place. Some seemed like possibilities for awhile but let me down. Travis McGee could not be replaced. When I started reading Mean High Tide, I thought John D. MacDonald had returned to write again. It’s like my old friend had been revived. Thorn, the protagonist here, is that same sort of man. He prefers simple life on the water. He has his best friend. He takes care of problems when he has to. The only thing that I didn’t live is the weird Cheetos thing. I assume the spelling used throughout has something to do with copyright laws. All in all—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. And if you haven’t met Travis McGee, read that series when you finish this book.
July 1, 2021
(2 1/2). Wow, serious Florida noir. This is such a different read. We start off with a seemingly very cool protagonist who almost loses his place in the story to the overwhelming plot lines going on. We have an overwhelmingly bad, bad guy, a pretty bad guy, a good sidekick, a totally insane girl who is related to way too many of the other players and as I said, a storyline that gets totally overwhelming. The wonderful Key Largo setting does its best to hold it all together but in the end it is so dark it is hard to plow through a lot of the time. Medium stuff.
June 17, 2021
Just way to long and complicated. Though it was going to be all about the keys.
Thought it was going to be all about the keys . spend 20 winters in Marathon and absolutely loved every day. This very long story was about a farm that was raising unusual talapia. Didn't hold my interest but had started it so had to finish the book. I found it to be a waste of my time and I think you will too. Can't recommend. Good luck!!!
Thought it was going to be all about the keys . spend 20 winters in Marathon and absolutely loved every day. This very long story was about a farm that was raising unusual talapia. Didn't hold my interest but had started it so had to finish the book. I found it to be a waste of my time and I think you will too. Can't recommend. Good luck!!!
March 20, 2025
Infuriating. Starting with the good, this book has all the strengths of the previous Thorn books, just heavily watered down. Interesting characters, at first; strong writing, mostly; good atmosphere and strong scene setting, for the most part. Moving on to the bad, the meandering plot that never came together, constant viewpoint shifts, obsession with sex, terrible protagonist. The viewpoint shifts I think did me in the most. The problem with changing viewpoint every few paragraphs is that it never gives the story time to build momentum. Imagine driving in stop and go traffic, very similar feeling. The protagonist was wholly unrelatable, he's supposed to come off as a vengeful antihero, but he felt more like an idiot throwing a tantrum. The whole story he can't do a single thing right. The obsession with sex got tiring as well. Everybody bangs somebody by the end. At one point Thorn comes across a couple of alligators while sneaking through the Everglades, and of course they have to be banging each other. If Hall can find a way to sneak a sex metaphor or simile into a scene, he does. Maybe he thought he had something to say about sex. He doesn't. It all comes to a head at the climax, which could have been exciting, but just turned into a slog. This one killed the Thorn series for me. There's also a rape scene that takes place near the middle, that while the story never says it was rape, it absolutely was, so anybody sensitive to that should stay away. God this book was horrible.
July 24, 2021
3.5, Rounded up
Wow, I'm still debating in my mind if this was more of a masterpiece or a mess? Was it an offbeat, unique and darkly amusing story or was it a plot full of holes that only makes sense if you are a little demented? In the end, I gave it four stars as I generally enjoyed the crazy, quirkiness. It certainly is better written and more interesting than the first two novels of the series. I read it at the beach which had to help.
I would like to have had more Thorn in this story. It reminded me of James Lee Burke, with more characterization and pages going to the villains then the protagonist. Sylvie and her Dad though extremely interesting, are one shot wonders. Surely James W. Hall is not through developing Thorn?
Wow, I'm still debating in my mind if this was more of a masterpiece or a mess? Was it an offbeat, unique and darkly amusing story or was it a plot full of holes that only makes sense if you are a little demented? In the end, I gave it four stars as I generally enjoyed the crazy, quirkiness. It certainly is better written and more interesting than the first two novels of the series. I read it at the beach which had to help.
I would like to have had more Thorn in this story. It reminded me of James Lee Burke, with more characterization and pages going to the villains then the protagonist. Sylvie and her Dad though extremely interesting, are one shot wonders. Surely James W. Hall is not through developing Thorn?
January 15, 2022
In minutes one life will be expertly, brutally taken, and another plunged into a mean season of fury, obsession, and revenge... His name is Thorn, his world is mangrove islands, open waters, and the ghosts of a too-violent past. Darcy Richards was everything to him. Now, finding her killer is. Wading into a seething mystery, Thorn is catapulted into a nightmare of violence and deception. There lurks a sensual young woman with a hard come-on, an aging former mobster, and a diabolical ex-CIA man. What they all have in common is each other's mad ruthlessness -- and a little red fish that will make some people very rich, and others very dead.
November 15, 2018
---A well plotted mystery, but the heavy is excessively violent and self centered and has taught his daughter to be the same. Thorn and his fiance Darcy Richards are fishing and diving off his boat when the unexpected & unforgivable happens. Harden Winchester and daughter Sylvie run a fish farm in the back of nowhere and obsess about ex-wife and mother Doris Albright. Sugarman is an ex-cop who has opened a private investigations office next to a beauty salon run by Rochelle Hamilton. Roy Murtha (once Ray Bianetti) has an antique store and is closely related (unknown to them) to two of the women. Judy Nelson is an agent of the Fish & Wildlife Service.---
July 23, 2021
A very dark and twisted tale, number three in the series. The author has already written Thorn #15. Hall uses very powerful descriptions of the sea, Florida maritime life, people, sex acts and fights in this noir thriller where Thorn saves the world from the release of millions of very aggressive fish with a fast reproductive cycle that will eventually paralyze the industry on the East Coast. Lots of well-developed characters riding a weak plot and some very sick relationships. Perhaps later books in the series are more balanced.
January 6, 2023
Continuing the Thorn series, pretty quick thriller, with some very unusual twists that I will need to look into. This is a re-read from my Navy days, great story, loved it b/c The Keys, Florida characters, murder & mayhem.
Interestingly, Hall was a professor at Troy State to Craig Pittman, a local journalist-author who covers Florida and it's oddities, incl. "The State You're In: Florida Men, Women & other Wildlife."
Interestingly, Hall was a professor at Troy State to Craig Pittman, a local journalist-author who covers Florida and it's oddities, incl. "The State You're In: Florida Men, Women & other Wildlife."
June 13, 2021
Not just an ordinary Florida beachy book
This book was way better than I expected it to be! That's always a great thing. I thought it would be just an easy beachy Florida thing like the rest. However, it had lots of surprises. It definitely kept my heart rate up here and there. Interesting mysteries abounded. If you are interested in something different, this is it!
This book was way better than I expected it to be! That's always a great thing. I thought it would be just an easy beachy Florida thing like the rest. However, it had lots of surprises. It definitely kept my heart rate up here and there. Interesting mysteries abounded. If you are interested in something different, this is it!
Read
June 19, 2021Good read! Hard to put down for dinner; can't do an errand for the wife kind of can't put down.
Exciting read with an imagery too close to reality. If one is a fan of mysteries, this will fit the bill. If one likes ecology, this is the thriller of choice! Kind of rough and bloody if you're faint of heart.
Exciting read with an imagery too close to reality. If one is a fan of mysteries, this will fit the bill. If one likes ecology, this is the thriller of choice! Kind of rough and bloody if you're faint of heart.
July 6, 2017
Thorn is obviously a protagonist who keeps "losing" women--through relationship spinout or death. Why breed red tilapia fish? You're about to learn, with the usual cast of low rent girls, over the hill Mommas and your usual psychopath or two.
September 10, 2017
Clever and engaging
A most unusual mystery, written by an author who really knows the Florida keys. I'm moving to the next one...
If you like Florida, read "A Land Remembered" True Florida.
A most unusual mystery, written by an author who really knows the Florida keys. I'm moving to the next one...
If you like Florida, read "A Land Remembered" True Florida.
February 24, 2019
My introduction to Hall's writing was simply great. Well developed characters including the likeable Thorn. Very interesting plot and mystery too. I've heard Hall is far from the first to visit this beach - John D. MacDonald perhaps? - but I just love it when Hall writes about Thorn!
June 11, 2021
Decent plot.
However, subplots are way out there. Thoughts and languages are even further out there. I enjoy fiction and read the entire book, but only glanced at dozens of pages, rather than read them, due to rambling of the words.
However, subplots are way out there. Thoughts and languages are even further out there. I enjoy fiction and read the entire book, but only glanced at dozens of pages, rather than read them, due to rambling of the words.
July 7, 2021
Detailed but Fast moving. Complete surprising story comes together well with facts fitting perfectly in the end. Enjoyable read. Almost feel like you are in the action at times as you feel yourself running, swimming and dreaming
July 12, 2021
Fantastic trip under and above water
A love story. Darcy and Thorn.
A wonderful fish story that was written with great emotion and tremendous knowledge.
A family novel.
Action doesn’t stop.
I wish all my friends would read it.
So far the best book I have read this year.
A love story. Darcy and Thorn.
A wonderful fish story that was written with great emotion and tremendous knowledge.
A family novel.
Action doesn’t stop.
I wish all my friends would read it.
So far the best book I have read this year.
August 21, 2021
Great story
I enjoyed this book immensely. Fascinating characters, great plot, fast paced and extremely readable. The premise for this story is fascinating as well as disturbing. I recommend you read this.
I enjoyed this book immensely. Fascinating characters, great plot, fast paced and extremely readable. The premise for this story is fascinating as well as disturbing. I recommend you read this.
June 12, 2025
I think the thorn series is a hidden gem in the thriller world. I have read the 1st 3 and have been pleased. Great pacing in the books, and a wonderful description of South Florida. This one had some characters that could be seen as outlandish, sure, but still a good overall read.
August 5, 2017
Big fish
Stories of mutation new fish anthe feeding og of the world mixws with ways to make itvrich along with killing
Stories of mutation new fish anthe feeding og of the world mixws with ways to make itvrich along with killing
August 29, 2017
One of the best books I have read in a while, the suspense was great and the author did great with character development.
March 29, 2018
Thorn runs into one dysfunctional family, looking for revenge. Hall does a magnificent job of a sense of place, in this series. Gotta really like Thorn.
July 18, 2018
Never take a bite of tilapia without thinking of the environmental havoc of food farming again
August 9, 2018
I enjoyed this book but some of the random violence was just too random.
June 25, 2020
A fast moving high action thriller full of nasty villains and brave heroes . Enjoyed it immensely, highly recommend.
June 12, 2021
????it's
Had to skip pages and didn't miss a thing. Don't plan to continue this series even if it were free.
Had to skip pages and didn't miss a thing. Don't plan to continue this series even if it were free.
June 13, 2021
Great read
It was a well written murder book that everyone who enjoys a good mystery should read. Put in your library and enjoy.
It was a well written murder book that everyone who enjoys a good mystery should read. Put in your library and enjoy.
June 15, 2021
Great writing
The writing is great, the plot is ridiculous. Tilapia apocalypse. A new psychotic every third page. Not my thing, maybe it’s yours.
The writing is great, the plot is ridiculous. Tilapia apocalypse. A new psychotic every third page. Not my thing, maybe it’s yours.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews