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Sam McRae Mystery #3
Riptide: Sam McRae Mystery, Book 3
A week at the beach could be murder.
Stephanie Ann "Sam" McRae’s stay in Ocean City for the annual Maryland bar association convention turns into a busman's holiday when her best friend Jamila is arrested for a murder she didn’t commit. All signs point to a frame, but Jamila’s local counsel must plea bargain, placing a permanent stain on the ambitious attorney’s spotless record, unless Sam and the private investigator on the case find evidence to clear her.
Sam has her work cut out for her, given that the victim is the stepson of a local wealthy entrepreneur and poultry producer and no one will talk to her, including the investigator hired on the case. Even Jamila appears to be withholding information. Meanwhile, Sam's running from mysterious pursuers and comes under police scrutiny when another murder takes place.
With the clock ticking down to the convention and preliminary hearing, Sam must uncover secrets, lies, and fraud to find the real killer. At what cost will that knowledge come for Sam?
About the
Debbi Mack is the New York Times best-selling author of the Sam McRae Mystery Series and other novels. In addition, she's a Derringer-nominated short story writer, whose work has been published in various anthologies. She writes screenplays and is interested in filmmaking. Debbi also has a podcast called the Crime Cafe, where she interviews other crime fiction authors.
Stephanie Ann "Sam" McRae’s stay in Ocean City for the annual Maryland bar association convention turns into a busman's holiday when her best friend Jamila is arrested for a murder she didn’t commit. All signs point to a frame, but Jamila’s local counsel must plea bargain, placing a permanent stain on the ambitious attorney’s spotless record, unless Sam and the private investigator on the case find evidence to clear her.
Sam has her work cut out for her, given that the victim is the stepson of a local wealthy entrepreneur and poultry producer and no one will talk to her, including the investigator hired on the case. Even Jamila appears to be withholding information. Meanwhile, Sam's running from mysterious pursuers and comes under police scrutiny when another murder takes place.
With the clock ticking down to the convention and preliminary hearing, Sam must uncover secrets, lies, and fraud to find the real killer. At what cost will that knowledge come for Sam?
About the
Debbi Mack is the New York Times best-selling author of the Sam McRae Mystery Series and other novels. In addition, she's a Derringer-nominated short story writer, whose work has been published in various anthologies. She writes screenplays and is interested in filmmaking. Debbi also has a podcast called the Crime Cafe, where she interviews other crime fiction authors.
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Published August 7, 2020
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About the author
Debbi Mack
20 books137 followersDebbi Mack is the New York Times bestselling author of the Sam McRae Mystery Series. She's also published a young adult novel called INVISIBLE ME and a thriller entitled THE PLANCK FACTOR.
She's the author of DAMAGED GOODS, the first book in a series about a female Marine veteran sleuth named Erica Jensen, which was nominated for a Shamus Award. The sequel is called FATAL CONNECTIONS, and she's currently working on the third novel. She's also written short stories, including one nominated for a Derringer. In addition, she writes screenplays and is interested in filmmaking.
Debbi hosts and produces a podcast called the Crime Cafe, in which she interviews crime, suspense, and thriller authors: http://www.debbimack.com/crime-cafe/
Debbi co-hosts and produces Dark and Twisted Alleys: A Film Noir Podcast with crime and horror author F.R. Jameson.
Debbi is a "recovering lawyer", who enjoys reading, movies, travel, baseball, walking and espresso--not necessarily in that order. She and her husband live in Columbia, MD, with their family of cats.
She's the author of DAMAGED GOODS, the first book in a series about a female Marine veteran sleuth named Erica Jensen, which was nominated for a Shamus Award. The sequel is called FATAL CONNECTIONS, and she's currently working on the third novel. She's also written short stories, including one nominated for a Derringer. In addition, she writes screenplays and is interested in filmmaking.
Debbi hosts and produces a podcast called the Crime Cafe, in which she interviews crime, suspense, and thriller authors: http://www.debbimack.com/crime-cafe/
Debbi co-hosts and produces Dark and Twisted Alleys: A Film Noir Podcast with crime and horror author F.R. Jameson.
Debbi is a "recovering lawyer", who enjoys reading, movies, travel, baseball, walking and espresso--not necessarily in that order. She and her husband live in Columbia, MD, with their family of cats.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 23, 2018
Stephanie (Sam) McRae is attending the annual bar association convention .. something she really didn't want to do. But here she is ..and sure enough .. trouble is brewing.
Her best friend, Jamila, is arrested for murder that she says she didn't do. Sam thinks that all the 'evidence' they have points to Jamila being framed for this crime.
Sam teams up with a private investigator and finds that no one will talk to them. The victim is the stepson of a very wealthy local businessman. And thinks only get worse when Sam realizes the Jamila may be keeping secrets.
It's like wading through quicksand to cut through all the lies, secrets, ,,, and then another body is found.
I confess .. I haven't read the first two books in this series.... something I will soon be doing. Same is a great series character. She's a strong woman, fearless in he determination to see justice done, and she is so likeable. She's willing to go wherever she needs to in order to fight for her friend's innocence .. and bring closure to the families of the victims.
This is well written with credible characters, and some surprising twists along the way. This one kept me glued to the pages and left me wanting more.
Many thanks to the author/ BooksGoSocial / Netgalley for the digital copy of this mystery. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Her best friend, Jamila, is arrested for murder that she says she didn't do. Sam thinks that all the 'evidence' they have points to Jamila being framed for this crime.
Sam teams up with a private investigator and finds that no one will talk to them. The victim is the stepson of a very wealthy local businessman. And thinks only get worse when Sam realizes the Jamila may be keeping secrets.
It's like wading through quicksand to cut through all the lies, secrets, ,,, and then another body is found.
I confess .. I haven't read the first two books in this series.... something I will soon be doing. Same is a great series character. She's a strong woman, fearless in he determination to see justice done, and she is so likeable. She's willing to go wherever she needs to in order to fight for her friend's innocence .. and bring closure to the families of the victims.
This is well written with credible characters, and some surprising twists along the way. This one kept me glued to the pages and left me wanting more.
Many thanks to the author/ BooksGoSocial / Netgalley for the digital copy of this mystery. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
March 15, 2012
Riptide, the latest in the Sam McRae series by Debbi Mack, launches its tough and sardonic protagonist head-first into a herd of sacred cows. Then it asks the reader not to get ran over by the stampede. The pay-off is a fast-paced, compelling crime novel that leaves the reader as buzzed and breathless as the Running of the Bulls.
The herd of sacred cows includes racism, illegal immigration, factory farming, human smuggling, xenophobia, overseas tax shelters, crooked charities and good ol' boy-ism. They're corraled just below the surface of a coastal city commited to looking the other way. Author Mack weaves these social issues tightly around a whodunit involving the framing of Sam's friend Jamila for the murder of a notorious local. The fact Jamila is black, not a local and a lawyer makes her an easy target in a town where all three of those qualities is a crime unto themselves.
Sam works to clear her friend's name, and unravels a larger criminal enterprise. Her investigation encounters the brutal conditions at a factory farm, the unapologetic mistreatment of immigrant workers, a double-standard for the rich of the city and so many conflicts of interest that nothing can be done about any of it.
If all this sounds like a bit much for one crime novel to tackle, you'd be right. Yet author Mack found a way to conduct each of these parts into a pitch-perfect symphony. From the first page to the last, the story never stumbled over itself. Mack's writing is tight as a drum. I slammed this novel in two days. I couldn't wait to turn the page.
Much of that has to do with the strong lead in Sam. She has a hard bark on her, but her sarcasm lightens the crushing seriousness of the mystery. Were it not for this balanced approach, the weight of the social issues in the story would diminish its readability. She's a hero to the story and the reader.
Get dragged under by Riptide. If you're not already a fan of the Sam McRae series, you will be after this read.
The herd of sacred cows includes racism, illegal immigration, factory farming, human smuggling, xenophobia, overseas tax shelters, crooked charities and good ol' boy-ism. They're corraled just below the surface of a coastal city commited to looking the other way. Author Mack weaves these social issues tightly around a whodunit involving the framing of Sam's friend Jamila for the murder of a notorious local. The fact Jamila is black, not a local and a lawyer makes her an easy target in a town where all three of those qualities is a crime unto themselves.
Sam works to clear her friend's name, and unravels a larger criminal enterprise. Her investigation encounters the brutal conditions at a factory farm, the unapologetic mistreatment of immigrant workers, a double-standard for the rich of the city and so many conflicts of interest that nothing can be done about any of it.
If all this sounds like a bit much for one crime novel to tackle, you'd be right. Yet author Mack found a way to conduct each of these parts into a pitch-perfect symphony. From the first page to the last, the story never stumbled over itself. Mack's writing is tight as a drum. I slammed this novel in two days. I couldn't wait to turn the page.
Much of that has to do with the strong lead in Sam. She has a hard bark on her, but her sarcasm lightens the crushing seriousness of the mystery. Were it not for this balanced approach, the weight of the social issues in the story would diminish its readability. She's a hero to the story and the reader.
Get dragged under by Riptide. If you're not already a fan of the Sam McRae series, you will be after this read.
December 17, 2018
Sam and Jamila get harassed by some locals. One of these men, Billy Ray was killed. Someone planted evidence to make it seem like Jamila was the killer, especially since she had a run in with Billy Ray. Sam does her own investigation since this is a closed community to outsiders. A surprise ending to this mystery.
December 13, 2018
An excellent mystery that was well written, had a believable plot, and a great main character in Sam McRae. Contains plenty of action, is hard to put down, and has an excellent conclusion. I highly recommend this book and the author's other writings.
December 17, 2018
This is a mystery with an OK plot, and the story is well written with a good pace to the sleuthing. The characters are also believable, making this good entertainment.
September 14, 2019
Fun read
Enjoyed the easy read. Interesting cases and some of the silly events that Sam goes through. Liked the struggles that can happen in everyday life.
Enjoyed the easy read. Interesting cases and some of the silly events that Sam goes through. Liked the struggles that can happen in everyday life.
January 4, 2021
This is the first Sam McRae book I've read and will be reading more. It was interesting to follow her investigation.
December 16, 2018
Hard-nosed attorney, sleuth, Sam McRae does Ocean City, Md.!!!
Riptide - great storyline tackling some pretty sensitive social issues. Along with facing off with a town full of people dead set on maintaining the status quo while framing someone for murder.
Buckleup for a fast paced business vacation in beautiful Ocean City, Md. Debbi Mack ingenuously creates a highly volatile ocean front environment and places Sam McRae into a hair raising chase to save her best friend's reputation, if not her life. Sam accompanies Jamila to the annual state bar association convention (the last place Sam really wants to be!). It quickly turns to hell-in-a-handbag as Jamila is arrested for the murder of a local business man's stepson (enter the racist redneck and party boy of the plot). Mix in a healthy (?) portion of good old boy, some local social issues, international politics and a town full of people willing to look the other way, and we are are on our way. On our way deep into a great read as the plot twists, turns and keeps you guessing as well as wanting more.
Congrats to Debbi Mack on the strong,
likeable, female lead character that she has created in this riveting Sam McRae series. Riptide was over the top!!!
Riptide - great storyline tackling some pretty sensitive social issues. Along with facing off with a town full of people dead set on maintaining the status quo while framing someone for murder.
Buckleup for a fast paced business vacation in beautiful Ocean City, Md. Debbi Mack ingenuously creates a highly volatile ocean front environment and places Sam McRae into a hair raising chase to save her best friend's reputation, if not her life. Sam accompanies Jamila to the annual state bar association convention (the last place Sam really wants to be!). It quickly turns to hell-in-a-handbag as Jamila is arrested for the murder of a local business man's stepson (enter the racist redneck and party boy of the plot). Mix in a healthy (?) portion of good old boy, some local social issues, international politics and a town full of people willing to look the other way, and we are are on our way. On our way deep into a great read as the plot twists, turns and keeps you guessing as well as wanting more.
Congrats to Debbi Mack on the strong,
likeable, female lead character that she has created in this riveting Sam McRae series. Riptide was over the top!!!
March 19, 2012
I absolutely loved reading Riptide! Because I live in the DMV (DC,MD, VA area), it helped that I actually am familiar with the settings in Maryland. The scenes are very vivid and settings are compatible to what is actually going on in the story. What turns out to be a simple convention/staycation trip turns out to be heightening name clearing. Tenacious Sam McRae tries to clear her best friend Jamila who is accused of murdering a spoiled bigot. In the interim, she finds out that the entire beach town has secrets of its own including a few that hit her close to home. There are lots of pulsed action scenes, which I really like and kept the story going fast.
If you have read Debbi Mack's other two novels, Least Wanted and Identity Crisis, you will see why Sam McRae is the best attorney sleuth ever. Can't wait for the next mystery novel!
If you have read Debbi Mack's other two novels, Least Wanted and Identity Crisis, you will see why Sam McRae is the best attorney sleuth ever. Can't wait for the next mystery novel!
January 5, 2015
In the first installment of Debbi Mack's Sam McRae mystery series, Rip Tide, she told us an excellent storyline. When Sam and her best friend Jamilla were confronted by racists in front of the building, racial tension were high. Then the police came to the door to arrest Jamilla for murder. Now it was up to Sam to clear her best friend's name, while she was being blackmailed by a close associate of hers named Jinx. Sam discovered some interesting insights that goes into the poultry farming business and learned some hidden tidbits as well to save her best friend.
August 21, 2012
This is my third dance with Sam McRae and this time it was personal, for her and for my fan-dom of author Debbie Mack. I admire the boldness of Mack, once again, infusing a very real insight into the current state of race relations and racism as something that is still very real in our "land of the free". Also you may never want to eat "mainstream" chicken again.
December 18, 2013
Down and gritty subjects including racism, cronyism, illegal farm workers, sex trafficking, and more -- not much of a mystery and not my taste for enjoyment reading. The protagonist's 'voice' carries the story, but it was a difficult ride for me.
April 29, 2014
Surprise ending
Containing several twists and turns, and involving several social issues, Riptide is fast paced. Mack manages to pull it all together smoothly for a surprising and satisfying conclusion. I recommend Riptide to fellow mystery fans.
Containing several twists and turns, and involving several social issues, Riptide is fast paced. Mack manages to pull it all together smoothly for a surprising and satisfying conclusion. I recommend Riptide to fellow mystery fans.
July 1, 2016
Going backwards.
I seem to have made a mistake and started with book 3. Despite that, I never felt lost, the characters were developed well, and I was thoroughly entertained.
I seem to have made a mistake and started with book 3. Despite that, I never felt lost, the characters were developed well, and I was thoroughly entertained.
January 8, 2019
This is an engaging action mystery story. The characters are likeable and entertaining. The plot is engaging with twists and turns to keep your interest. It's an overall good read.
March 4, 2019
A good mystery with several great characters. Lots of action to keep the readers interest while moving the story forward.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews