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Murder at Whalehead
Murder at Whalehead is the ultimate beach read. On the northern Outer Banks looms an old hunting lodge known as the Whalehead Club. During the roaring twenties Edward and Marie Knight entertained guests at this isolated Mansion by the Sea. Now it has become one of North Carolina's most popular tourist attractions. Less than a quarter mile away deep in the marsh along the Currituck Sound lies the body of a young woman. Someone has killed and craves to kill again. In his new novel, Murder at Whalehead, Joe C. Ellis tells the story of two Ohio families vacationing on the Outer Banks. They look forward to sun, sea, rest, and relaxation. Instead, they cross paths with a homicidal maniac. Can they stop him before another innocent victim dies? "Murder at Whalehead will absorb the reader from its first tantalizing page to its last satisfying conclusion." Michele Rubin, senior agent, Writers House, New York
- GenresMystery
244 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2007
113 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Joe C. Ellis
42 books22 followersJoe C. Ellis, a big fan of the North Carolina's Outer Banks, grew up in the Ohio Valley. A native of Martins Ferry, Ohio, he attended West Liberty State College in West Virginia and went on to earn his Master's Degree in education from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio. After a thirty-six year career as an art teacher, he retired from the Martins Ferry City School District.
Currently, he is the pastor for the Scotch Ridge Presbyterian Church and the Colerain Presbyterian Church.
His writing career began in 2001 with the publication of his first novel, The Healing Place. In 2007 he began the Outer Banks Murder Series with the publication of Murder at Whalehead (2010), Murder at Hatteras (2011), Murder on the Outer Banks (2012), Murder at Ocracoke (2017), The Treasure of Portsmouth Island (2019), and Roanoke Island Murders (2020)
Joe credits family vacations on the Outer Banks with the inspiration for these stories. Joe and his wife, Judy, have three children and five grandsons. Although the kids have flown the nest, they get together often and always make it a priority to vacation on the Outer Banks whenever possible. He comments, "It's a place on the edge of the world, a place of great beauty and sometimes danger--the ideal setting for murder mysteries."
Currently, he is the pastor for the Scotch Ridge Presbyterian Church and the Colerain Presbyterian Church.
His writing career began in 2001 with the publication of his first novel, The Healing Place. In 2007 he began the Outer Banks Murder Series with the publication of Murder at Whalehead (2010), Murder at Hatteras (2011), Murder on the Outer Banks (2012), Murder at Ocracoke (2017), The Treasure of Portsmouth Island (2019), and Roanoke Island Murders (2020)
Joe credits family vacations on the Outer Banks with the inspiration for these stories. Joe and his wife, Judy, have three children and five grandsons. Although the kids have flown the nest, they get together often and always make it a priority to vacation on the Outer Banks whenever possible. He comments, "It's a place on the edge of the world, a place of great beauty and sometimes danger--the ideal setting for murder mysteries."
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 19, 2022
Being a frequent visitor to OBX my attention was caught by the title. A short look over revealed the book must be self-published. Well I have read some fairly decent books self published so Ok. Next three comments on the cover, one agent, one writer and a teacher, seemed weak but still the setting was a pull. I found no warning of the heavy Christian mythology that runs throughout the book. The story was interesting, a quick read, and if you find the author on shelf in a rental on OBX you do discover some of the color of the area.
August 29, 2024
Nowhere in the item description does it mention that this is a Christian novel, albeit it one with a troubling racial preoccupation and bizarre sexual undertones. Two families have rented a beach house where they encounter a scary biracial magician from the city (the "scary" part would be the MC's point of view and the biracial thing is only mentioned because the MC is obsessed with it) and a mini crime wave. It's slow moving and silly.
Note this book has a lot of slurs, none of which seem particularly necessary to the plot. The slurs are directed at disabled people, Native Americans, Black Americans, and gay men.
But to be fair, it also contains one of the funniest lines I've ever read in a Christian novel and it is meant in absolute sincerity: "When Byron saw Adrienne stripped to her bra and panties and handcuffed spread-eagled to four U-bolts on the wall, he knew God had called him to save her."
If this is your response to your daughter going on one (1) single date with a biracial guy it is officially time to turn off the Fox News and take a walk around the block:
"He always had considered himself an open-minded humanitarian. In principle, he believed God created all men equal. Throughout his life he had formed relationships with upstanding black men and women. What bothered him over the last few years was the subculture of young black people who popularized obscene rap music, gang affiliation, sexual immorality, drugs, crime, and violence. Whenever he saw a group of black teens gathered around a car blasting ghetto music, he couldn’t help feeling uneasy. The negative images of hip-hop stars draped in golden chains with scantily dressed ‘hos’ hanging on their arms had saturated the media, and Byron couldn’t stand it."
And then later:
"I will not stand to see her enchanted by some hood who bedazzles people with magic."
Keep in mind this "hood" is a biracial guy in a beach side town who is obsessed with yoga and basically makes David Blaine look edgy.
Note this book has a lot of slurs, none of which seem particularly necessary to the plot. The slurs are directed at disabled people, Native Americans, Black Americans, and gay men.
But to be fair, it also contains one of the funniest lines I've ever read in a Christian novel and it is meant in absolute sincerity: "When Byron saw Adrienne stripped to her bra and panties and handcuffed spread-eagled to four U-bolts on the wall, he knew God had called him to save her."
If this is your response to your daughter going on one (1) single date with a biracial guy it is officially time to turn off the Fox News and take a walk around the block:
"He always had considered himself an open-minded humanitarian. In principle, he believed God created all men equal. Throughout his life he had formed relationships with upstanding black men and women. What bothered him over the last few years was the subculture of young black people who popularized obscene rap music, gang affiliation, sexual immorality, drugs, crime, and violence. Whenever he saw a group of black teens gathered around a car blasting ghetto music, he couldn’t help feeling uneasy. The negative images of hip-hop stars draped in golden chains with scantily dressed ‘hos’ hanging on their arms had saturated the media, and Byron couldn’t stand it."
And then later:
"I will not stand to see her enchanted by some hood who bedazzles people with magic."
Keep in mind this "hood" is a biracial guy in a beach side town who is obsessed with yoga and basically makes David Blaine look edgy.
July 9, 2025
Not for me
I read another book by this author which I liked so decided to try this one but I was disappointed. The description didn't mention anything about the religious nature of the book and it was off putting for me. Also I found much of what the main character did to be ridiculous. The first 3/4 of the book was pretty slow but it did get better at the end so I gave it 2 stars instead of 1.
I read another book by this author which I liked so decided to try this one but I was disappointed. The description didn't mention anything about the religious nature of the book and it was off putting for me. Also I found much of what the main character did to be ridiculous. The first 3/4 of the book was pretty slow but it did get better at the end so I gave it 2 stars instead of 1.
July 12, 2019
Not bad and a fun read!
Read
July 10, 2024DNF
October 8, 2019
Oh is this book bad...the one star is purely because the site doesn't allow for lower ratings. Some reasons why:
Plot: It was pretty clear who the ultimate criminal was even before the foil sauntered into the story. I say ultimate criminal because despite the title, no murder, crime, or really much of anything happens until the last 50 or so pages. There's some intrigue in the first few chapters that is quickly eclipsed by following flat characters around in their daily lives, lengthy descriptions of recipes, and casual racism.
Characters: If bland is what you go for in protagonists, then Byron is your man. He's from Ohio, he's a preacher who is legitamately (though not interestingly) afraid of the occult, and is a very overbearing father. And that's about it. Another character is supposed to be perceived as a bad guy primarily because he's a) mixed race, b) has tattoos, c) does magic tricks, and d) isn't a born again Christian. And the women either fade into the background to the point of being vague cardboard cutout silhouettes of personalities, or are Chrissy, who acts perfectly, piously, and totally unrelistically as though her older Christian father was writing her character.
Other: I mean setting-wise, one of the reasons I picked this book up was because it takes place on the Outer Banks, and as a North Carolinian I thought that would be interesting. To say that it doesn't capture much of the Outer Banks is probably unsurprising, and most of the characters are tourists to boot. Also, did I mention the main character's casual racism, because that's pretty rough to read in this day and age in a contemporary novel. He also nonchalantly controls his adult daughter's life and seems to really be afraid of witchcraft. Remind me again of why he's the protagonist? We're supposed to be rooting for this guy?
Plot: It was pretty clear who the ultimate criminal was even before the foil sauntered into the story. I say ultimate criminal because despite the title, no murder, crime, or really much of anything happens until the last 50 or so pages. There's some intrigue in the first few chapters that is quickly eclipsed by following flat characters around in their daily lives, lengthy descriptions of recipes, and casual racism.
Characters: If bland is what you go for in protagonists, then Byron is your man. He's from Ohio, he's a preacher who is legitamately (though not interestingly) afraid of the occult, and is a very overbearing father. And that's about it. Another character is supposed to be perceived as a bad guy primarily because he's a) mixed race, b) has tattoos, c) does magic tricks, and d) isn't a born again Christian. And the women either fade into the background to the point of being vague cardboard cutout silhouettes of personalities, or are Chrissy, who acts perfectly, piously, and totally unrelistically as though her older Christian father was writing her character.
Other: I mean setting-wise, one of the reasons I picked this book up was because it takes place on the Outer Banks, and as a North Carolinian I thought that would be interesting. To say that it doesn't capture much of the Outer Banks is probably unsurprising, and most of the characters are tourists to boot. Also, did I mention the main character's casual racism, because that's pretty rough to read in this day and age in a contemporary novel. He also nonchalantly controls his adult daughter's life and seems to really be afraid of witchcraft. Remind me again of why he's the protagonist? We're supposed to be rooting for this guy?
July 22, 2025
Pretty ok book. I felt like killer’s identity was not a big surprise. You could have figured it out very early on or even the first chapter. Lots of cringey dialogue and amateurish writing and the characters Elijah and Byron are pretty crazy. Skulking around people’s homes and saying “This guy is a weirdo” but they’re the ones being creepy. Not to mention Byron’s level of self importance feeling the need to say his thoughts to everyone despite how rude he may be. Also very indignant and self righteous, maybe it’s intentional. The killer flexing and lifting weights in front of his victim was funny just a really weird moment that helped make him look pathetic and desperate but I don’t think it was supposed to be humorous. The shining light in this book thought was Dugan. The first one or two chapters I wasn’t really hooked and feared I might not finish the book. But the introduction of Dugan gave me someone to root for. He was easily my favorite part of the book and why I kept coming back but hated that he was irrelevant for the middle third of the book. Seeing him grow and having his character arc come full circle was worth sticking around.
January 29, 2014
I felt like the plot "twists" were too obvious. It was pretty clear from the beginning that the "bad guy" would be the good guy and the "good guy" would be the bad guy. There was also way too much philosophical religious debating between characters and within characters that I found really dry and boring. In some ways, it helped the character development, but it was just too much at times and detracted from the story itself. Clearly this author is obsessed with running as well. I'm not sure who I would recommend this to, it was a so-so mystery, somewhat entertaining, but it didn't suck me in like I initially thought it would.
September 26, 2018
I picked up a later book in this series while on vacation at the Outer Banks and enjoyed it so much that I went back and picked up this one. The fact that the bookstore where I purchased this was referenced in the first few pages of the book was just an added bonus! Most of this book was set basically exactly where I was staying, so I really enjoyed that aspect. The mystery itself was engaging, and I found myself changing my mind about the villain's identity throughout the book. Another engaging beach read!
February 26, 2017
Well this book certainly exceeded my expectations! I think I picked it up at our local used book store as something light to read - and it turned out to be exactly that! The characters were not deeply developed, but were believable enough. There was enough suspense and intrigue to turn it into a real page-turner about 3 chapters from the end. It isn't great literature, but was enjoyable.
September 21, 2011
Picked this up in the book store close to the Currituck lighthouse and it's been helping me while away the hours during two windy rainy days on OBX. Definitely a page turner and a great 'beach read'.
November 25, 2016
Stairway to heaven
The stairway to heaven is not a smooth, trouble free path. This stairway may be like the spiral staircase in this story-twisting and turning. Heaven itself is in the deep recesses of our souls.
The stairway to heaven is not a smooth, trouble free path. This stairway may be like the spiral staircase in this story-twisting and turning. Heaven itself is in the deep recesses of our souls.
December 3, 2016
Good
this book is one that was hard to get into but it was one that shows how people aren't what they seem
this book is one that was hard to get into but it was one that shows how people aren't what they seem
July 24, 2017
I'm not sure if I read a murder mystery or a discreet version of the Bible.
October 27, 2023
The killer is obvious somewhere around page 50. 90% of the book isn’t about the murder. The characters were pretty much caricatures, and the dialogue wasn’t realistic.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews