Sleeping Dogs Lie

From the Tales of Dan Coast #1

by Rodney Riesel

A mystery set in the Florida Keys, Sleeping Dogs Lie, is the first installment of the story of lottery winner turned private detective, Dan Coast. Dan, a wise-cracking excessive drinker, is haunted by the memory of his dead wife. Short after the two won the lottery and purchased a small beach bungalow in the Florida Keys, her life was taken in a car accident. Soon after his wife's death, Dan relocated to the Keys with his wife's dog, whom he blames for her death. In Sleeping Dogs Lie, Dan Coast, an unlicensed private detective of sorts is hired to find the missing boyfriend of a woman who herself soon ends up missing. When someone from the woman's past unexpectedly shows up at Dan's home, with a story of faked deaths and missing life insurance money; Dan along with his side kick Red set out to find the money, and the woman.

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 2, 2012

Reviews

[Don Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rodney Riesel now has more series than most authors have books, and The Tales of Dan Coast is one of his best. "Sleeping Dogs Lie," the first installment, is a fun and entertaining read loaded with quirky and interesting characters, and lays the groundwork for what promises to be a great lineup. But it's tough to go wrong with Key West as a location, waterfront as a setting, a battered Porsche and a VW Thing for transportation. Then he rips his readers away from all that, transporting us to the interior of North Florida, and manages to keep our interest and attention when he does. Only a great writer can get away with that, and that's proof he's one.


So, now I'm 'invested' in the series, and already halfway through the second book. Sleep is so very overrated anyway. Thanks a lot, Rodney. Yawn.

[Ed Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend Rodney Riesel has two books currently selling well at Amazon. They both feature Dan Coast, and are set in Key West. So if you enjoy Key West mystery/thrillers these are for you. Like myself, Rod writes in a straight-forward, terse style. By that I mean he gets to the point without a lot of flowery language or lengthy scene and character description. He lets the story speak for itself.

Both books are pretty quick, light-hearted reads. They are perfect for the beach, or maybe on a cold northern winter’s night. Dan Coast is a cool character in a long line of Key West cool characters.

[jane koepplinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only a man

I normally don't read a lot of books that are pretty much from a males voice, but this was refreshing and funny at the same time; the author used terminology that men use when talking to each other. The off colored remarks, the side cracks, but bringing in the true friendship that men can and do have shows through all the noise. Loved it.

[Delores Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Dan Coast books! One of my favorite series. The characters seem like old friends. The main character Dan Coast is great even though he acts like a jerk sometimes. I would recommend this series of books to everyone!

[BonusMom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read

This is an excellent, kind of fun book to read. There is murder and mayhem and action and humor, and of course some romancing (loosely speaking). A very good book to spend the night with.

[Susan Reardon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m going to read the next one

I enjoyed most of it but agree with others that the amount of booze this guy downs seems overplayed. I did however think the vignettes about his dead wife were poignant. Well see how the next one goes

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun story

I have fallen into reading these cozy mysteries. This one is pretty good. Off to a slower start but it was a fun read. Twisty curvy tale of characters that makes the series look like more fun.

[William Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sleeping Dogs Lie: A super good read.

This book by Rodney Risel is a fast moving detective story with the hobbyist, non-licensed investigator Dan Coast. It has good dialog and is an entertaining read.

[Mary Rowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fetching intro to a troubled hero

My first Dan Coast book did not disappoint. Wry and dry, clever word play, not overdone, memorable characters and, perhaps some easing of grief for those concerned.

[Philip Neff · Rating 3 out of 5]

feels like Key West

An easy read, the kind you’re sometimes looking for just to get away for a while. Uncomplicated characters and simple, plot, easy to visualize the Florida settings.

[Louise Pass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beach bum fantasy

Definitely male humor and point of view, but not a bad story. Sort of a long anecdote told casually, but I liked the dog.

[Russ Leavitt · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. Too much sarcasm and irreverence. Won't be reading any more in this series.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

A book that is one where this gets involved in a mystery and becomes a murder investigation.this part of a series.

[Janice McMillen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The First Dan Coast story. Start here!

[Kathryn Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kind of book. Tells a good story and gets with it and stays with it.
This was the first in a series and I am looking for the next now.

[Wpayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sleeping Dogs Lie

Pretty good story. Get a kick out of Dan and like his friends. On to another adventure in book two.

[Edwin K. Williams Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first one of these.

I enjoy the settings. Our hero is less than perfect. Not automatically likeable but tolerable. Gonna take a while maybe a few more books to find out....

[Gary Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Key West read

Fast paced with crisp details, story moved with precision. Characters were well defined with no superfluous images. Twisty satisfying ending.

[Jackson Mila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story and well written

Decent mystery, some comedy, and a good read on to the next. Dan Coast may have a spotty liver but his wits are sharp as a razor

[nyla rieman]

Read them all. Love them all. LOVE THE HUMOR AND SARCASM. DONT EVER CHANGE THAT!!!

[Thomas D. Bunce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good start

I really need to read the next book in the series to decide orthodox an
Author worth reading. The book was good but was slow in getting started.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main character is an alcoholic which makes me cringe every time he needs a shot or a drink. Very quick read as it is like a long short story. Not much depth. As the title states....it is a tale.

[Dr Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good summer read, for someone that loves the beach, cocktails at noon and fast cars, I am hooked.

Dr. Thomas

[geezer · Rating 2 out of 5]

entertaining but nothing to recommend

[Jack McIntosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

Enjoyed the characters and the plot. Fast read and enjoyable. Looking forward to seeing g where these characters go in the next book.

[Barbara K Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little slow to start, but that was just getting the characters in place. Fast read, good characters and interesting story. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.

[David Berkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting!

A great plot with some action and suspense with a little humor thrown in. A strong main character that you want to cheer for.

[John Taussig · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting Tale

Not so perfect lead character but story was interesting with a couple of twists. I will read at least one more. A little short for my tastes.

[Dorothy Scarecrow · Rating 1 out of 5]

These books are so poorly written - the plots are not well thought out even if they’re plausible. The “wisecracking” dialogue becomes too tedious to read and it’s not remotely funny.

[Julie Fenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly Recommend

Loved the storyline and characters. Can’t wait to read the next book in the series. You won’t want to put the book down!