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The Oasis Project
Why were they murdered? Shirley Waterbury does not believe her family's death was accidental. Shirley knows her father was too meticulous and too cautious and knew the sea too well to attempt to sail during an approaching hurricane. The sea was his life, and he would never jeopardize the welfare of her mother and her brother, Billy. She knows they were murdered, but with no indication of foul play, no one will investigate a tragedy classified as an accident. Enter Slade Lockwood, a decorated twenty-year veteran of the LAPD, who returned to Cedar Key to find what he lost in law himself. His reluctant acceptance to investigate the deaths of Shirley's family members will take him on a journey across America, where he finally finds what he has lost while unraveling the mystery behind the murders - a prize so priceless, it will rival Einstein and become the greatest gift ever bestowed upon the human race! The face of the world could change, and billions are at stake as Slade races against time to bring a ruthless killer to justice!
296 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2007
2 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Art Adkins
6 books3 followersArt Adkins is currently a Lieutenant on the Gainesville Police Department. He has written two fiction books and just finished a non-fiction book on developing leadership skills.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 14, 2020
Overall, this was a phenomenal story. My inner nerd was screaming at the discoveries and I loved every second. There was a sweet love story laced between, but not over done. Great writing, amazing scene descriptions.
January 7, 2019
Met the author when I purchased this book. Good story line.
January 28, 2023
I liked this book. It wasn't predictable, and there were surprises around every corner. I will def be reading the sequel.
October 6, 2011
A TRAGIC STRUGGLE FOR CONTROL OF A POWERFUL "GREEN" INVENTION LEADS TO MURDER AND MYSTERY IN CEDAR KEY.
In his first novel, Art Adkins introduces us to a retired decorated police officer, Slade Lockwood, who for 20 years worked for LAPD and had recently relocated to the Gulf Coast. We also meet his rescued pelican, Old Clacker, and the beautiful quaint town known as Cedar Key.
The story begins with a category 5 hurricane which was born off the coast of Africa, following a path that took it through the Bahamas, the Keys and up the Gulf leaving destruction in its course. It was to make landfall in the panhandle of Florida and it conveniently covered up the murders of a family from Cedar Key on board their fishing boat, the Fair Rose.
Shirley Waterbury, student at the University of Florida, was to learn of the death of her parents and her brother while in class. She was told they succumbed while on their boat in the hurricane, thus an accidental death. Not accepting that her parents would ever defy Mother Nature, she realized that the facts just did not add up. She turned to an associate of her family's, Harry Sloan to contact someone who could investigate the deaths, which would be Slade Lockwood. He really didn't want to be involved at first, but his girlfriend, Katherine convinced him otherwise.
Even though Shirley's family had no apparent enemies, a trail of tragic encounters led Slade to believe that the deaths may not have been accidental. Through many twists and turns, the scientific environmental invention that her brother, Billy, had been pursuing was one which could yield worldwide power for the people in control of it. Shirley did not discover right away what that invention was, but through the weeks following her family's death came to realize that whatever the scope of this invention could be, it could fall into the wrong hands—there were a path of murders and attempted murders connected to it. The actual theories that Billy used were uncovered bit by bit as the investigation proceeded.
Slade, with his new friends from Cedar Key, Chief Singletee and Shirley Waterbury, along with his girlfriend Katherine and a rescued pelican named "Old Clacker", peal away the layers of information gathered by Billy. With the help of Professor Krancz of the University of Florida, and Professor Johansen who was in charge of the national science fair in Michigan that Billy was getting ready to enter, and long-time buddy June Stenger, they discovered the essence and weight of the actual life-saving development that Billy had documented and demonstrated in his science fair project. All the while a world criminal element was stalking Slade and keeping one jump ahead of his investigation and was prepared to eliminate anyone who got in their way to attain rights to this biological invention.
Discovering World Vision Quest and Matt Kyle was only the beginning in the dig to uncover why Shirley's family would have been killed. What was the nature of their business and why were they so bent on keeping Slade out of the way in his investigation? His digging took him to California where he had to walk the outer limits of the law, and to Anchorage, Alaska where he found as many questions as he did answers.
As this story unfolded and the nature of the biological breakthrough became apparent, there was a glaring question question: why hasn't anyone ever discovered this before, or did they? In the real world, would this work and save millions of people?
The biological scientific facts exist and Art Adkins has used scientific research to establish the core of this mystery and how this earth-changing invention could be put to practical use in our environmentally conscious world.
The kicker in this story is found at the end as Shirley Waterbury finds information that was at her finger tips the entire time. It took Slade's investigation, though, for her to realize its existence.
It was a thrilling mystery which can be enjoyed by all ages.
celder@cfl.rr.com
Poolside Book Reviews
www.poolsidebookreviews.com
In his first novel, Art Adkins introduces us to a retired decorated police officer, Slade Lockwood, who for 20 years worked for LAPD and had recently relocated to the Gulf Coast. We also meet his rescued pelican, Old Clacker, and the beautiful quaint town known as Cedar Key.
The story begins with a category 5 hurricane which was born off the coast of Africa, following a path that took it through the Bahamas, the Keys and up the Gulf leaving destruction in its course. It was to make landfall in the panhandle of Florida and it conveniently covered up the murders of a family from Cedar Key on board their fishing boat, the Fair Rose.
Shirley Waterbury, student at the University of Florida, was to learn of the death of her parents and her brother while in class. She was told they succumbed while on their boat in the hurricane, thus an accidental death. Not accepting that her parents would ever defy Mother Nature, she realized that the facts just did not add up. She turned to an associate of her family's, Harry Sloan to contact someone who could investigate the deaths, which would be Slade Lockwood. He really didn't want to be involved at first, but his girlfriend, Katherine convinced him otherwise.
Even though Shirley's family had no apparent enemies, a trail of tragic encounters led Slade to believe that the deaths may not have been accidental. Through many twists and turns, the scientific environmental invention that her brother, Billy, had been pursuing was one which could yield worldwide power for the people in control of it. Shirley did not discover right away what that invention was, but through the weeks following her family's death came to realize that whatever the scope of this invention could be, it could fall into the wrong hands—there were a path of murders and attempted murders connected to it. The actual theories that Billy used were uncovered bit by bit as the investigation proceeded.
Slade, with his new friends from Cedar Key, Chief Singletee and Shirley Waterbury, along with his girlfriend Katherine and a rescued pelican named "Old Clacker", peal away the layers of information gathered by Billy. With the help of Professor Krancz of the University of Florida, and Professor Johansen who was in charge of the national science fair in Michigan that Billy was getting ready to enter, and long-time buddy June Stenger, they discovered the essence and weight of the actual life-saving development that Billy had documented and demonstrated in his science fair project. All the while a world criminal element was stalking Slade and keeping one jump ahead of his investigation and was prepared to eliminate anyone who got in their way to attain rights to this biological invention.
Discovering World Vision Quest and Matt Kyle was only the beginning in the dig to uncover why Shirley's family would have been killed. What was the nature of their business and why were they so bent on keeping Slade out of the way in his investigation? His digging took him to California where he had to walk the outer limits of the law, and to Anchorage, Alaska where he found as many questions as he did answers.
As this story unfolded and the nature of the biological breakthrough became apparent, there was a glaring question question: why hasn't anyone ever discovered this before, or did they? In the real world, would this work and save millions of people?
The biological scientific facts exist and Art Adkins has used scientific research to establish the core of this mystery and how this earth-changing invention could be put to practical use in our environmentally conscious world.
The kicker in this story is found at the end as Shirley Waterbury finds information that was at her finger tips the entire time. It took Slade's investigation, though, for her to realize its existence.
It was a thrilling mystery which can be enjoyed by all ages.
celder@cfl.rr.com
Poolside Book Reviews
www.poolsidebookreviews.com
May 18, 2011
The author of the Oasis Project, Art Adkins, is a Florida cop; I was a Florida cop. He lives in Hawthorne, a wide-spot on Florida's Hiway 301; I lived in Hawthorne in the 1970s. We are both products of a Florida university. He writes murder/mystery stories; I write murder/mystery stories. There are other similarities between us but these few should give you an idea why I was very much prepared to like this book —I did not like it.
The characters were presented full-grown with little or no development to let me get to know them. I found them to be shallow and predictable, almost as though they had been plucked from a boilerplate menu, and I really did not care what happened to them. The basic premise of the book had some interest value but the characters let it down. If a good editor had applied a blue pencil to the all too many trite, banal and overwrought phrases and expressions that mr. Adkins has his people speak; had that same editor strongly suggested cuts here and there, tightening of the prose nearly throughout the manuscript, then this book might have been saved. Obviously that editor wasn't in the picture and what might have been a good read just is not.
I received a complimentary copy of The Oasis Project as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.
The characters were presented full-grown with little or no development to let me get to know them. I found them to be shallow and predictable, almost as though they had been plucked from a boilerplate menu, and I really did not care what happened to them. The basic premise of the book had some interest value but the characters let it down. If a good editor had applied a blue pencil to the all too many trite, banal and overwrought phrases and expressions that mr. Adkins has his people speak; had that same editor strongly suggested cuts here and there, tightening of the prose nearly throughout the manuscript, then this book might have been saved. Obviously that editor wasn't in the picture and what might have been a good read just is not.
I received a complimentary copy of The Oasis Project as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.
October 4, 2011
The Oasis Project by Art Adkins, published by Dorrence Publishing, grabbed my attention with the first chapter. I read the book the first time in one sitting. This is a story of greed, murder, and the discovery of the impossible. It begins with Shirley Waterbury, a student at University of Florida, finding out that her parents and younger brother have been killed in a boating accident during a hurricane. Disagreeing with the official cause of death as an accident, she hires Slade Lockwood, a police detective who retired from the LAPD and from life, to investigate. What Slade uncovers is a tangled web of intrigue of those who are fighting to claim ownership of the discovery of the impossible. He races against time to prevent this discovery, which will change history, from falling into the wrong hands. Along the way, Slade rediscovers himself and how to engage in life. I appreciate a good murder mystery and this book is one of them. I recommend this book for readers who really like a good creative story and the possibility of the impossible.
I received a complimentary copy of The Oasis Project as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.
:http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?...
I received a complimentary copy of The Oasis Project as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.
:http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?...
July 31, 2014
The Oasis Project by Art Adkins is a fun read. The story line pulls you in quickly and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. Using a hurricane to cover up multiple murders Mr. Adkins begins his first novel with a real bang and that pace is evident throughout the Oasis Project. The characters are interesting and well drawn. While Mr. Adkins' engaging and believable characters search for the motive behind the murders the reader learns about them through their actions and thoughts. The flow of the book is interesting and well done changing scenes and points of view easily and understandably. Being familiar with some of the locations I found their descriptions excellent, accurately communicating their feel and ambiance.
The Oasis Project concerns young Shirley Waterbury who fights to learn what happened to her family in that hurricane. When their deaths are ruled accidental and her father is blamed, she refuses to believe it asks retired police officer Slade Lockwood to find answers. The resulting story is realistic, exciting and most enjoyable. I am looking forward to Art Adkins next work and wholeheartedly recommend the Oasis Project.
The Oasis Project concerns young Shirley Waterbury who fights to learn what happened to her family in that hurricane. When their deaths are ruled accidental and her father is blamed, she refuses to believe it asks retired police officer Slade Lockwood to find answers. The resulting story is realistic, exciting and most enjoyable. I am looking forward to Art Adkins next work and wholeheartedly recommend the Oasis Project.
July 16, 2010
The Oasis Project has a great plot but, for me, weak characters. Art Adkins writes in the omniscient POV, which is difficult to pull off even for seasoned authors. As readers, we're in everyone's head, all the time, and consequently I didn't truly care about or get to know any of them. It's also somewhat misleading. For instance, the "main" character in the opening scene never appears in the story again. We're led to believe he's important but he's nobody.
About 1/3 of the way through the story, Slade Lockwood, an ex cop, begins to shine through as the true main character. I wish that Adkins had spent more time developing his character and writing more from his POV. For me, that would have made an okay story riveting.
** I received a complimentary copy of The Oasis Project as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team. http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?... **
About 1/3 of the way through the story, Slade Lockwood, an ex cop, begins to shine through as the true main character. I wish that Adkins had spent more time developing his character and writing more from his POV. For me, that would have made an okay story riveting.
** I received a complimentary copy of The Oasis Project as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team. http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?... **
May 10, 2011
It was cool to read a book written by a local author, but the book was too complex (the science of it, the police-type stuff) and really could have been proofread a little bit better.
The dialog didn't ring true, nor did the stated strength of the relationships amongst the characters. Show, not tell. If I hadn't been told repeatedly, I never would have had the sense that they were as close. In such a short time?
And the "climax", getting the proof from that unread email, that was preposterous. In this day and age, one doesn't have to drive over an hour from Cedar Key to Gainesville to be able to check email.
This was a book club read and I am anxious to discuss this with my group.
The dialog didn't ring true, nor did the stated strength of the relationships amongst the characters. Show, not tell. If I hadn't been told repeatedly, I never would have had the sense that they were as close. In such a short time?
And the "climax", getting the proof from that unread email, that was preposterous. In this day and age, one doesn't have to drive over an hour from Cedar Key to Gainesville to be able to check email.
This was a book club read and I am anxious to discuss this with my group.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews