Ocean City Lowdown: A Jamie August Novel

Jamie August #1

by Kim Kash

Ocean City Lowdown introduces Eastern Shore Maryland reporter Jamie August, who has a talent for unearthing more than her editor wants and a weakness for Ravens jerseys and sparkly underwear. She is assigned to cover the grand opening of a big new housing development in Ocean City, Maryland. But instead of writing about wrap-around porches and rattan furnishings, she uncovers kickbacks and payoffs, blackmail and murder. Jamie's tenacity, smarts, and sheer recklessness—plus some smokin’ striptease dance moves—can get her out of some tight spots, but are they enough to save her from a psychopathic arsonist and two generations of corrupt real estate tycoons?

Genres: Mystery, Chick Lit

320 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2013

About the author

Kim Kash is the author of Ocean City Lowdown: A Jamie August Novel and the bestselling Ocean City: A Guide to Maryland’s Seaside Resort. She is a founder of the Greenbelt Farmers Market near Washington, D.C. Topics she covers as a freelance writer for range from federal government policy to yoga, food and travel. A few years ago, Kim and her husband sold everything and moved to the Middle East. She has since traveled to more than a dozen countries and has taken up sailing, diving, and rock climbing.

Reviews

[Sheryl]

I adored this book, I could not put it down. I read it in one setting, it was funny, sexy it has everything you would want in a book. The characters all had their own quirks which added to fun of this quick read. I hope we have a new series to look forward too. Many thanks to Ms. Kash!

[Izolda Trakhtenberg]

In "Ocean City Lowdown," Kim Kash introduces the world to Jamie August, beautiful, courageous, quirky, and completely uncertain how her love life got into such a sorry state. Jamie splits her time between scheduling hotel rentals for her uncle and running down features for the free weekly Ocean City paper. When her editor assigns her a feature on a brand new development on the waterfront, Jamie smells a deeper story and the fun and mysteries begin. Like any good detective, Jamie has loyal friends who help her on her journey and the interactions between Jamie and her best friend Tammy ring wonderfully true. The descriptions of Ocean City and Maryland's Eastern shore are lush and make me want to go visit and have a beer at one of the local bars.

The writing whisks along and the pacing maintains a good mix of action scenes with just enough space for us to breathe before the next flurry of adventure.

I had the best time reading "Ocean City Lowdown." It's a perfect summer read, and I haven't breezed through a book this quickly in a long time. Kash has created a terrific community of characters, and I'm looking forward to seeing them again and getting to know them all much better. If you enjoy the Stephanie Plum books, you'll love "Ocean City Lowdown." Pick it up and get to know Jamie, Tammy, Donald and the rest of the group. You'll be glad you did.

[Michelle]

I truly enjoyed book. It was a quick read for me and also kept my interest. The characters were all well developed and likable. I liked the authors references to Pittsburgh and the Steelers because I am a local girl and who doesn't like to see some identifiable stuff in a book.

The story was full of suspense and kept you guessing the whole time about who was responsible for all of the fires and murders. I also liked how the author threw in a love story along with the murder and suspense. The author did a great job of balancing the story with just enough love and crime to make you breeze through this book. It was hard for me to put down because I wanted to see what other kind of trouble Jamie was able to get herself into and how the love developed between her and Will. This was a good summer read and I suggest this to anyone that likes a light suspense/crime story.

Jamie August is a budding wanna be reporter that writes for a local paper that does everything but the kind of stories that she wants to write. This reporter finds herself in trouble alot because she always tries to find out more than what she is assigned to write. Follow along as Jamie gets herself into some serious predicaments from her wanting to know more instincts. I truly hope the author continues with this character and develops a series featuring Jamie and her friends.

[Elaine]

Thoroughly enjoyable. In the vein of Janet Evanovich, a capable and hilarious heroine who follows a trail of clues through Ocean City and the eastern shore to uncover a developer who will stop at nothing to make a profit. Some murder, some mayhem, some one-night-stands; this book is the best of the "chick lit thrillers" I've read! The characters were witty, diverse, and fully developed, and the plot twisted at all the right places. As a Marylander, I particularly enjoyed the places and pieces of culture that are embedded into the narrative. I hope this turns into a long series, because I will read each installment.

[Lisa]

I live in ocean city and loved reading about it in a fictional mystery. this book was made to be read on the shores of ocean city during a vacation. quick and fun with plenty of romance, mystery and sexy :)

[Diane Ripley]

Fun, end of summer, whodunit!

[Seana]

This book is a fun page turner. It keeps you guessing, and rooting for Jamie August the lead character. I hope this is the start of a series - I will definitely read the next book.

[Cassandra Hecate]

Catchy story

Plot and main character have been done by many authors in many different ways. Fairly quick read and entertaining, but not really a book that I'll keep on my shelf.

[William Burnette]

The book gives us a view of the beach town, Ocean City MD, in the off season. But it's just a backdrop, for the action is in the forefront, and it goes from the beginning to the end. Jamie August is a fun and surprising hero, where her flaws keep her in trouble, and her wits get her out of every one. Ocean City Lowdown is a fun story that doesn't take itself too seriously. I enjoyed it.

[Alicia]

If you grew up going to Ocean City Md and continued to go for most of your adult life, you will love this book. Kim tells the story that brings you right back to all of the clubs, the boys, the ocean. I can't wait to read her sequil.

[Debbie]

3.5 stars

[Crystal Dahlstrom]

Really fun book!

[Jemathomp]

Quick Beach Read

The first of two Ocean City mysteries. Lots of action, fun characters. Would love to find out what happens next to Jamie August.

[Arenal]

This was a super fun read! I got it at a local bookstore in Berlin, and I loved that the mystery was set in Ocean City.

[KAREN D]

It was an interesting read but kind of predictable twists. I enjoyed seeing the local spots in OC mentioned in her book. It made it more interesting.

[Underground Book Reviews]

4.5 Stars

Jamie August covers "happy things, local people doing good, the latest rattan furnishings..." and other lightweight stories in Ocean City, Maryland for the lifestyle section of the community paper: The Weekly Breeze. But she aspires to cover real news as an investigative reporter. When her editor assigns her to write about the grand opening of Bayview Preserve, the flagship community for Ivory Enterprises, Jamie might have her chance as she uncovers more than just some interior design tips.

Arriving at Ivory Enterprises headquarters, Jamie is introduced to Jonathan Ivory, the scion of Ivory Enterprises, who will be taking her on a tour of the luxury gated community. He's also a previous evening's nameless one-night-stand. While touring Bayview Preserve, he lets his true colors slip through his polished exterior, and Jamie suspects he's hiding more than just a wife from her. Before long, a trail of fires and dead bodies lead Jamie into the dark underbelly of Ivory Enterprises long history of kickbacks, payoffs, blackmail, environmental degradation, and murder...

...read more at UndergroundBookReviews(dot)com!

[H.L.]

This book manages to be a good reporter-seeks-clues mystery and still very light at the same time - in a great way.

I read this book in various waiting rooms and between things I had to do, toting my Kindle in my purse. The storyline is interesting and not overly complex, so you can just put it down and pick it right back up - which you will want to do until you're all done. I think it took me two days to finish it with all the interruptions I got, but because it wasn't too heavy, but also was kind of like a crime mystery - I stayed engaged.

I also love the main character who has a variety (but not too many) quirks that make her real without making her unlikeable.

Can't wait for book two!

[Eleanor Daly]

When I first began this book, our book club choice for the month, my initial reaction was rather sceptical; it is not my usual genre, and I was prepared to not enjoy it. But darned if I did! I found Jamie to be both endearing and gutsy, the plot moved quickly enough to hold my interest but didn't seem forced, and I really admired her taste in clothes (LOL, as they say). Lots of twists and turns, a touch of foreshadowing here and there, and before I knew it the book was over, much to my chagrin. I'm looking forward to Jamie's second adventure. Wonder if she'll still be wearing those slippers....

[Jake]

Picked this one up because it's based in a familiar haunt and was glad I did. It definitely shows the creative strain of a freshman effort, especially after the early part in the book when the pieces are set, but it's an entertaining enough read with a few interesting twists at the end. It was also neat to see Ocean City portrayed offseason, something I'm familiar with but many who venture there between Memorial Day and Labor Day are not. I'll check out the sequel at some point.

[Celestine Ranney-howes]

I picked this up because the writer is local and I believe in supporting local artists of all sorts. Very little depth here, even with an environmental slant to it, but really fun and nicely written. Like good junk food. And if you know Maryland, it adds a lot of spice to the book. A great beach/vacation read.

[alice Tileston]

look out Stephanie Plum, Jamie August is coming up fast!
misadventures find Jamie as she goes in search of her next story. put on your safety belt, you're in for a fast, fun ride to the end!

[Cindy Thomas]

This is not normally my type of book, but I thoroughly enjoyed this & look forward to reading more.

[Nefty123]

Refreshingly fun and somewhat local.