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Head Rock Harbor Mystery #3
Pride and Puncture
Pride has come to Head Rock Harbor, and along with it, tons of tourists. Under the guidance and leadership of the town’s favorite bookstore owner, Jackson Harper, everyone is getting ready. The first ever Pride weekend will be full of events, food, and, of course, a parade. Even though he has plenty on his plate, Jackson is (begrudgingly) happy to spearhead the historic event for his hometown. If all the older folks in town weren’t fussing about the influx of out-of-towners, everything would be perfect.
As if being overwhelmed by tourists isn’t enough, some people in town are grumbling about the new couple who bought Ona Evans’ old place to renovate. To make matters worse, they’ve also purchased The Downtown Theater to renovate, rebranding it “Harbor Stage.” Jackson can’t find time to worry too much over everyone’s opinions about progress since he is also making some changes to Head Rock Harbor Books. He also owes a certain forensic tech a date and has a high-strung, arrogant gay author coming to speak at his bookstore during Pride weekend. Rattlesnatches is making everything difficult with his new obsession of knocking books off shelves in the store.
Right as things are ramping up for Pride, a body is found under an umbrella on the sandbar by The Dock restaurant. Deeply unsettled by the circumstances of the killing and the appearance of the body, Jackson isn’t so sure that going forward with Pride is the best course of action. But the mayor and police chief won’t hear anything about cancelling the event. However, when it becomes clear that the killer has one more victim in mind, Jackson becomes concerned for his safety.
Is there anyone in Head Rock Harbor he can truly trust?
As if being overwhelmed by tourists isn’t enough, some people in town are grumbling about the new couple who bought Ona Evans’ old place to renovate. To make matters worse, they’ve also purchased The Downtown Theater to renovate, rebranding it “Harbor Stage.” Jackson can’t find time to worry too much over everyone’s opinions about progress since he is also making some changes to Head Rock Harbor Books. He also owes a certain forensic tech a date and has a high-strung, arrogant gay author coming to speak at his bookstore during Pride weekend. Rattlesnatches is making everything difficult with his new obsession of knocking books off shelves in the store.
Right as things are ramping up for Pride, a body is found under an umbrella on the sandbar by The Dock restaurant. Deeply unsettled by the circumstances of the killing and the appearance of the body, Jackson isn’t so sure that going forward with Pride is the best course of action. But the mayor and police chief won’t hear anything about cancelling the event. However, when it becomes clear that the killer has one more victim in mind, Jackson becomes concerned for his safety.
Is there anyone in Head Rock Harbor he can truly trust?
263 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 7, 2025
21 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Chase Connor
39 books316 followersBANG BANG HE SHOT HER DOWN - the fourth book in the Head Rock Harbor Mystery series - can be pre-ordered here!
https://mybook.to/HRHM4BBHSHD
GHOST IN THE CUPBOARD - the first book in the NEW Silas Erie Paranormal Cozy series - can be pre-ordered here:
https://mybook.to/SEPC1GitC
Chase Connor spends his days writing about the people who live (loudly and rent-free) in his head when he’s not busy being enthusiastic about naps and Pad Thai. Chase started his writing career as a confused gay teen looking for an escape from reality. Ten years later, one of the books he wrote during those years, Just A Dumb Surfer Dude: A Gay Coming-of-Age Tale, was published independently. Chase has numerous projects in various stages of completion lined up for publishing. Chase is a multi-genre author, but always with a healthy dollop of gay.
https://mybook.to/HRHM4BBHSHD
GHOST IN THE CUPBOARD - the first book in the NEW Silas Erie Paranormal Cozy series - can be pre-ordered here:
https://mybook.to/SEPC1GitC
Chase Connor spends his days writing about the people who live (loudly and rent-free) in his head when he’s not busy being enthusiastic about naps and Pad Thai. Chase started his writing career as a confused gay teen looking for an escape from reality. Ten years later, one of the books he wrote during those years, Just A Dumb Surfer Dude: A Gay Coming-of-Age Tale, was published independently. Chase has numerous projects in various stages of completion lined up for publishing. Chase is a multi-genre author, but always with a healthy dollop of gay.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 10, 2025
A really easy read, with the number of dead bodies stacking up amongst a buzzing debut Pride weekend. Jackson and some of the supporting characters get a bit more fleshing out but ………. a little more editing please; we don’t need to know quite so many details of feeding the cat and making a pasta salad. Other characters need a bit more building up and finishing in future if I’m to avoid the vague feeling of dissatisfaction when the ‘whodunnit’ is solved.
February 12, 2025
Chase Connor's third installment of Head Rock Harbor mysteries is a master class in suspense.
The entire novel is a winner, but the last 30 pages, as the story roared toward its killer reveal, were spellbinding. I refused to answer my phone. I ignored my cats cries for supper. Nothing was gonna distract me until I learned the killer's identity in "Head Rock Harbor Mystery #3 PRIDE AND PUNCTURE".
And Connor completely fooled me. My own arm chair detective skills proved more Barney Fife than J.B. Fletcher. By the way, I fed my cats, and gave them a bit extra, before writing this review.
Connor's murder mystery series, set in a fictional small Iowa town on the Mississippi River, has been consistently rich in colorful characters. And the LGBTQ-themed series offers PG romance but no hardcore sex scenes. There's a gentle rolling hills of Iowa sweetness and rural propriety to this series that suits it well. It's like "Little House on the Prairie", only if Merlin Olsen were Gay and the Labyorteaux twins hustled a bit on the side.
The plot driver is Head Rock Harbor's first LGBTQ Pride, an event that our hero Jackson was arm-twisted to organize. Jacks, Germ, Deb, Marv, Sawyer and all your favorites are back, plus several delightful new characters.
It would take a great detective brain to solve the case in advance of the "Pride and Puncture" crescendo ending. I will watch 200 hours of true-crime shows before book #4 in this series is published, and that new book is on its way, my mystery loving friends. I must be smarter for the next book!
The entire novel is a winner, but the last 30 pages, as the story roared toward its killer reveal, were spellbinding. I refused to answer my phone. I ignored my cats cries for supper. Nothing was gonna distract me until I learned the killer's identity in "Head Rock Harbor Mystery #3 PRIDE AND PUNCTURE".
And Connor completely fooled me. My own arm chair detective skills proved more Barney Fife than J.B. Fletcher. By the way, I fed my cats, and gave them a bit extra, before writing this review.
Connor's murder mystery series, set in a fictional small Iowa town on the Mississippi River, has been consistently rich in colorful characters. And the LGBTQ-themed series offers PG romance but no hardcore sex scenes. There's a gentle rolling hills of Iowa sweetness and rural propriety to this series that suits it well. It's like "Little House on the Prairie", only if Merlin Olsen were Gay and the Labyorteaux twins hustled a bit on the side.
The plot driver is Head Rock Harbor's first LGBTQ Pride, an event that our hero Jackson was arm-twisted to organize. Jacks, Germ, Deb, Marv, Sawyer and all your favorites are back, plus several delightful new characters.
It would take a great detective brain to solve the case in advance of the "Pride and Puncture" crescendo ending. I will watch 200 hours of true-crime shows before book #4 in this series is published, and that new book is on its way, my mystery loving friends. I must be smarter for the next book!
November 8, 2025
3 stars
Fine... 😩😩😩
I caved and read the third book, and honestly, it wasn't that bad.
Mostly, I liked Jackson and Deacon's dates. I thought they were cute and exactly right for someone with Jackson's personality.
Was I bummed he didn't choose to continue dating Deacon? Yeah. But only because I still felt like he had more chemistry with Sawyer... And Sawyer was barely in this book.
I still hate Jeremy.
No amount of groveling can make me like him. Jackson had to literally sit him down and tell him how much of a disappointment he was in him. And for Jeremy to not have recognized he was a terrible person to Jackson and his feelings, just shows that this man has only one thing on his mind. He's only interested in getting his 🍆 wet, and I am SOOOO disappointed and disgusted with Jackson for caving and giving it. I mean, you already spelled it out for him. At least let the bastard work for it. Don't just give it up for free!!! 🙄🙄🙄
The mystery was good, and overall, the book was an okay read.
Fine... 😩😩😩
I caved and read the third book, and honestly, it wasn't that bad.
Mostly, I liked Jackson and Deacon's dates. I thought they were cute and exactly right for someone with Jackson's personality.
Was I bummed he didn't choose to continue dating Deacon? Yeah. But only because I still felt like he had more chemistry with Sawyer... And Sawyer was barely in this book.
I still hate Jeremy.
No amount of groveling can make me like him. Jackson had to literally sit him down and tell him how much of a disappointment he was in him. And for Jeremy to not have recognized he was a terrible person to Jackson and his feelings, just shows that this man has only one thing on his mind. He's only interested in getting his 🍆 wet, and I am SOOOO disappointed and disgusted with Jackson for caving and giving it. I mean, you already spelled it out for him. At least let the bastard work for it. Don't just give it up for free!!! 🙄🙄🙄
The mystery was good, and overall, the book was an okay read.
March 28, 2025
The books in this series just get better and better! I really like how we learn a little bit more in each book about Jackson and what he wants (and his hopes and dreams, really). It's like each book adds another few pieces to the puzzle.
This one was especially nice because The ending is lovely, and the mystery is a bit of a surprise, as well (which is always nice). All in all, I'm loving this series, and I'm bummed that I have to wait now for the next one, haha.
This one was especially nice because The ending is lovely, and the mystery is a bit of a surprise, as well (which is always nice). All in all, I'm loving this series, and I'm bummed that I have to wait now for the next one, haha.
June 20, 2025
Me: OK, I suspected everyone except the cat...
Chase Connor: Mission accomplished! *evil grin*
Side note: I want to say for all those out there that feel the same as I did... It's okay to like Deacon the best... just sayin'!!! 🥰🥰🥰
This one was a slow starter for me. No problems with the story, just had to get into the right mindset to finish it. Picked it back up a few months later, and it ended up working VERY well for me! Now, we wait for book #4...
Chase Connor: Mission accomplished! *evil grin*
Side note: I want to say for all those out there that feel the same as I did... It's okay to like Deacon the best... just sayin'!!! 🥰🥰🥰
This one was a slow starter for me. No problems with the story, just had to get into the right mindset to finish it. Picked it back up a few months later, and it ended up working VERY well for me! Now, we wait for book #4...
February 9, 2025
I am really enjoying Jacksons adventures along with his cat, Rattlesnatches.
This book finds Jacks near the start of the Pride events he organized for the town. As usual, there is a murder or 2 that he seems to get swept up in.
Things move along with Jeremy although I did feel sorry for Deacon.
As per usual I didn't realize the identity of the killer until the big reveal.
This book finds Jacks near the start of the Pride events he organized for the town. As usual, there is a murder or 2 that he seems to get swept up in.
Things move along with Jeremy although I did feel sorry for Deacon.
As per usual I didn't realize the identity of the killer until the big reveal.
March 8, 2025
Another great mystery
I love these characters, this town, the chemistry between Jeremy and Jackson. It's a great story and an entertaining cozy mystery
I love these characters, this town, the chemistry between Jeremy and Jackson. It's a great story and an entertaining cozy mystery
March 12, 2025
I never read book series, but I have loved all three of these. Can't wait to see the next one.
c.t.h.
c.t.h.
May 20, 2025
Excellent!
July 25, 2025
A pretty good follow-up, though the mystery part felt a bit bland.
August 5, 2025
I managed to correctly guess the killer's identity before midway! However, the decently paced 'cozy' murder plot was somewhat suffocated by an excruciating slow dance of attraction between Jacks and Sawyer - resulting in a half star deduction; something not even featuring more of Rattlesnatch's antics could have salvaged.
February 23, 2025
I was ready to give this book a worse review because Jackson’s self-centred and entitled behaviour in the beginning of the book was grating on my nerves. Thankfully the story and Jackson redeem themselves in the end.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews