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Florida Fiction #1
Tortoise Stew
“The bomb sat in a bag on Kelly Sands’ desk for an hour before she noticed it.” And so begins the raucous journey through small town Florida politics in Tortoise Stew. Kelly Sands is a reporter covering some of the more controversial and contentious issues in the north Florida town of Calloway. Dead armadillos and gopher tortoise carcasses left as calling cards to those opposing the development of rural Florida show small town politics at its worst. Commission meetings erupt into all-out warfare. With the murder of one commissioner and the suicide of his wife, Kelly begins an investigation that threatens to topple the carefully laid plans of the developers and politicians to bring a movie studio and landing strip within the city limits of the small town. When a semi-truck from Monster Mart runs over and kills a young girl, the environmentalists become even more vocal against the developers' plans. All the while, Kelly struggles to overcome and escape her past, which catches up to her as she follows the antics of the politicians, developers, and environmentalists. With the help of her boss, Bart, and her best friend, Molly, she uncovers more than corruption in small town politics.
- GenresMystery
286 pages, Paperback
First published February 11, 2006
24 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
P.C. Zick
51 books144 followersP.C. Zick describes herself as a storyteller no matter what she writes. And she writes in a variety of genres, including romance, contemporary fiction, and nonfiction. She's won various awards for her essays, columns, editorials, articles, and fiction. Currently, crafting fiction—mostly romances—occupies her time.
The three novels in her Florida Fiction Series contain stories of Florida and its people and environment, which she credits as giving her a rich base for her storytelling. "Florida's quirky and abundant wildlife—both human and animal—supply my fiction with tales almost too weird to be believable."
Her contemporary romances in the Behind the Love series are also set in Florida. The novels in her most recent series, Smoky Mountain Romances, are set in the fictional town of Laurel, North Carolina. She is currently working on a new romance series, Rivals in Love. Join the Crandall family of Chicago as the siblings find love despite their focus on successful careers. Her Montauk Romances are set in and around Long Island and feature simple, yet sophisticated beach houses designed with romantic intent.
Civil War Journal from the 2nd Michigan contains the reminiscences of her great-grandfather, Harmon Camburn, who joined the Union Army on April 20, 1861. The book contains his journal as well as annotations about the war in general. She’s also included several appendices that add local context to the journal. This is an expanded version of Civil War Journal of a Union Soldier published in 2013.
She has written several books of nonfiction on topics from gardening to travel to memoir. Her body of work contain stories set in a variety of places. Along with writing contemporary fiction and romances and creative nonfiction, Ms. Zick is also an editor, book formatter, and publisher.
She and her husband live in Tallahassee, Florida, during the winter. In the spring, they enjoy life in the Smoky Mountains near Murphy, North Carolina, where they enjoy gardening, kayaking, and golfing. And of course, in both locations,
Ms. Zick weaves stories that share her philosophy of living lightly upon this earth with love, laughter, and passion.
The three novels in her Florida Fiction Series contain stories of Florida and its people and environment, which she credits as giving her a rich base for her storytelling. "Florida's quirky and abundant wildlife—both human and animal—supply my fiction with tales almost too weird to be believable."
Her contemporary romances in the Behind the Love series are also set in Florida. The novels in her most recent series, Smoky Mountain Romances, are set in the fictional town of Laurel, North Carolina. She is currently working on a new romance series, Rivals in Love. Join the Crandall family of Chicago as the siblings find love despite their focus on successful careers. Her Montauk Romances are set in and around Long Island and feature simple, yet sophisticated beach houses designed with romantic intent.
Civil War Journal from the 2nd Michigan contains the reminiscences of her great-grandfather, Harmon Camburn, who joined the Union Army on April 20, 1861. The book contains his journal as well as annotations about the war in general. She’s also included several appendices that add local context to the journal. This is an expanded version of Civil War Journal of a Union Soldier published in 2013.
She has written several books of nonfiction on topics from gardening to travel to memoir. Her body of work contain stories set in a variety of places. Along with writing contemporary fiction and romances and creative nonfiction, Ms. Zick is also an editor, book formatter, and publisher.
She and her husband live in Tallahassee, Florida, during the winter. In the spring, they enjoy life in the Smoky Mountains near Murphy, North Carolina, where they enjoy gardening, kayaking, and golfing. And of course, in both locations,
Ms. Zick weaves stories that share her philosophy of living lightly upon this earth with love, laughter, and passion.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 12, 2013
"Tortoise Stew" by P.C. Zick is a multi-faceted and hugely entertaining book about local politics, corruption, environmentalist and journalism in a small fictitious town in Florida. Reporter Kelly Sands receives a bomb threat as she investigates a dubious land development project that is creating a lot of local protest. In the middle of this 'battle' between the developers, politicians and the newspapers Zick throws in a high profile murder case, rivalry between the reporters in professional and personal affairs.
Kelly, the protagonist, is a great character with many witty lines, sometimes a emotionally confused young woman, sometimes a sharp minded investigative journalist. Other people in the book are very colourful and entertaining. The story is rich in plot and sub-plots and cleverly told at a fast and enjoyable pace. A great read.
Kelly, the protagonist, is a great character with many witty lines, sometimes a emotionally confused young woman, sometimes a sharp minded investigative journalist. Other people in the book are very colourful and entertaining. The story is rich in plot and sub-plots and cleverly told at a fast and enjoyable pace. A great read.
June 2, 2013
This was a goodreads giveaway that I enjoyed. I felt that the beginning of the book was somewhat slow, it took me awhile to get into it. The story was a good one and it was written well. Even though the beginning was slow, it was needed to tell the story. All in all it was a good read.
December 10, 2015
Florida resident
I live in the Florida Panhandle. Sounds familiar. Wish I knew the location. I am pretty sure it is set close to where I live.
I live in the Florida Panhandle. Sounds familiar. Wish I knew the location. I am pretty sure it is set close to where I live.
November 10, 2020
Kelly is a journalist, covering different topics, from politics, land development and even a murder case. It becomes personal when she gets a bomb threat. She is someone you would like to know an interesting job, with a witty personality. Always love the author’s book and this one had a good suspense to it The narration I enjoyed and thought it added to the story. Given audio for my voluntary review.
June 6, 2018
The first sentence captured my interest--"The bomb sat in a bag on Kelly Sand's desk for an hour before she noticed it."
Following the winding road of this story was an adventure in small town politics and how a strong, determined woman with friends can make a difference. Let's not forget the bomb.
To quote Kelly--"That'll teach them to leave a bomb on my desk."
Following the winding road of this story was an adventure in small town politics and how a strong, determined woman with friends can make a difference. Let's not forget the bomb.
To quote Kelly--"That'll teach them to leave a bomb on my desk."
October 15, 2017
Pretty good book, a few typos, my only real problem with the book, I've lived my whole life in NE Florida, grew up with people who ate Gopher Stew (before they were protected) and never once heard it called Tortoise Stew.
March 9, 2017
Good Mix!
This book is a good mix of romance and action! There are many threads to the storyline, but the author manages to bring them all together effectively!
This book is a good mix of romance and action! There are many threads to the storyline, but the author manages to bring them all together effectively!
March 12, 2015
Kelly Sands may be in over her head as a writer for the Braidwood Tribune when a bomb is left on her desk. It seems someone doesn't like the questions she's been raising over the annexation of land and zoning issues. As Kelly dives further into her investigation of Industrial Pines and the politics of the town and neighboring communities.
It turns out that nothing is as it seems and what seems like a few people involved in a plot ends up involving way too many people. It's up to Kelly, fellow reporter and friend Molly and her boss Bart Stanley to uncover the truth along with several other townspeople.
Yet, just as Kelly seems to be getting close to the truth, her past comes back to haunt her in a way that she knows was done on purpose.
This is a great mystery and has a large assortment of characters, many with their own ghosts!
It turns out that nothing is as it seems and what seems like a few people involved in a plot ends up involving way too many people. It's up to Kelly, fellow reporter and friend Molly and her boss Bart Stanley to uncover the truth along with several other townspeople.
Yet, just as Kelly seems to be getting close to the truth, her past comes back to haunt her in a way that she knows was done on purpose.
This is a great mystery and has a large assortment of characters, many with their own ghosts!
August 21, 2015
TORTOISE STEW. PC ZICK
Tortoise Stew is a fictional account of the corruption that goes on in any Municipality in the world. This story is set in Florida and the characters could be any politician, city manager or even reporters.
I found the characters to be three dimensional and very lifelike. The main protagonist in this story is Kelly. She is the City reporter for a small paper and has a few skeletons in her closet. With a vote coming up Kelly unravels the skeletons of many of the city's politicians. In the process, she finds herself at odds with the people who want to get their own way. I enjoyed the story as it could be real. There is romance, humor, suspense and all around good storytelling. If you like fiction that is based on a little truth, Tortoise Stew is an excellent read. I highly recommend this novel and would give it 5 stars.
Tortoise Stew is a fictional account of the corruption that goes on in any Municipality in the world. This story is set in Florida and the characters could be any politician, city manager or even reporters.
I found the characters to be three dimensional and very lifelike. The main protagonist in this story is Kelly. She is the City reporter for a small paper and has a few skeletons in her closet. With a vote coming up Kelly unravels the skeletons of many of the city's politicians. In the process, she finds herself at odds with the people who want to get their own way. I enjoyed the story as it could be real. There is romance, humor, suspense and all around good storytelling. If you like fiction that is based on a little truth, Tortoise Stew is an excellent read. I highly recommend this novel and would give it 5 stars.
May 21, 2016
Fighting Back
Kelly is shocked when she finds a bomb on her cluttered desk. She’s accustomed to reporting the news… not living it. Now, she’s putting not just her life on the line to get the rest of the story.
If you like Tortoise Stew, then you should try Ms. Zick’s Native Lands. She adroitly captures the sights, sounds, and smells of tribal living in the 1760s. At the same time, she demonstrates political savvy with her insight into Florida politics. Ms. Zick also deftly and sensitively addresses social issues, including the environment and homelessness, without ever hopping up on a soapbox and preaching at the readers.
Kelly is shocked when she finds a bomb on her cluttered desk. She’s accustomed to reporting the news… not living it. Now, she’s putting not just her life on the line to get the rest of the story.
If you like Tortoise Stew, then you should try Ms. Zick’s Native Lands. She adroitly captures the sights, sounds, and smells of tribal living in the 1760s. At the same time, she demonstrates political savvy with her insight into Florida politics. Ms. Zick also deftly and sensitively addresses social issues, including the environment and homelessness, without ever hopping up on a soapbox and preaching at the readers.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews