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Coastal Carolina Romantic Mysteries #2
Dark Beach
Temporarily at a reduced price. David and Mary move from Emerald Isle to Atlantic Beach, NC, thinking a change of scenery will put their romance back on track and help them better deal with previous devastating events. Mary is becoming stronger, but David, not so much as he seems still stuck in the past. While putting their lives back together, David and Mary find themselves in the middle of yet another evil mystery which may or may not have its origins in a group of Wiccans who occupy the area. Dark Beach is a romantic suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat to the bitter end.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2015
5 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Doug Burris
14 books7 followersI am a writer, photographer and drummer. Born and raised in the mountains of southwestern Virginia in a small city called Galax. Attended the College of William and Mary for undergraduate and Virginia Commonwealth University for graduate. Served in the US Navy. My wife and I currently live in the country, halfway between Richmond and Charlottesville, Virginia. We have four dogs and three cats. I have two daughters and one grandson who just turned one.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 7, 2017
Don't actually know if this is New Adult/YA... the distinctions blur for me.
Having really enjoyed the first book in this series, I was delighted to find a second volume. Wonder if there will be a third?
Not quite sure how these two kids afford college, they do seem to invest a lot into part-time jobs that I wonder how they manage to fit classes, studying, writing papers, and each other into the mix, but they love each other and I remember making room for a boyfriend/fiance my senior year when I overloaded the entire year to graduate sooner, rather than later.
Although I knew at the end of the first volume whodunnit, I was intrigued to see how Burris was going to keep my interest and he did.
Having really enjoyed the first book in this series, I was delighted to find a second volume. Wonder if there will be a third?
Not quite sure how these two kids afford college, they do seem to invest a lot into part-time jobs that I wonder how they manage to fit classes, studying, writing papers, and each other into the mix, but they love each other and I remember making room for a boyfriend/fiance my senior year when I overloaded the entire year to graduate sooner, rather than later.
Although I knew at the end of the first volume whodunnit, I was intrigued to see how Burris was going to keep my interest and he did.
April 10, 2018
Murder and more
This is a good murder mystery novel. I liked the characters and the plot. It kept me interested to the end. The writing style was easy to follow and flowed well. Recommended.
This is a good murder mystery novel. I liked the characters and the plot. It kept me interested to the end. The writing style was easy to follow and flowed well. Recommended.
November 7, 2015
This is one of those books that is difficult for me to review, because it is a “borderline” book. There are elements in it that appealed to me very much, and others that emphatically didn’t. I had not read the first book in this series, but the author made it easy enough for me to orient myself and catch up on past events, without detracting from the new story.
While some of the plotting was excellent and nicely complicated, it wasn’t as developed as I like. For a mystery plot to work, there should be some strong foundations, so that, when everything is complete, we can trace the indications of the villain’s identity back through well placed incidents in the book, and that foundation just wasn’t there. Oh, there were hints about the perpetrator, but they were entirely too fleeting, and too vague, because when we learned the motivation, it came as a surprise, and I found myself thinking “where did *that* come from?” Also, although the author uses some standard devices they aren’t used very effectively. Again, having the least suspicious of the cast the perpetrator isn’t new by any stretch, but in this case, it just wasn’t grounded thoroughly enough.
Also, with a few exceptions, many of the characters were one dimensional and almost “off the shelf”. Had this book been just a bit more thorough in its construction, and the characters been a bit more 3 dimensional, this could have been a really fine mystery story, because all the elements are there, as well as both a lovely setting and the addition of what turned out to be both a minor distraction and a unique side plot.
I did very much like the way the author handled the relationship of the main characters, and the way they resolved, or at least began the process of resolving, the effects of their past traumas.
I have always maintained that a narrator’s performance couldn’t ruin a book for me, but the performance of this narrator very nearly did. For one thing, I found her voice unpleasant, (though that is my personal taste, and has nothing to do with her abilities). It is too high and too child like for me to listen to for extended periods of time. Also, her rate of speech was too fast, she slurred her words, and her expression was flat.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for this unbiased review from AudioBookBlast dot com.
While some of the plotting was excellent and nicely complicated, it wasn’t as developed as I like. For a mystery plot to work, there should be some strong foundations, so that, when everything is complete, we can trace the indications of the villain’s identity back through well placed incidents in the book, and that foundation just wasn’t there. Oh, there were hints about the perpetrator, but they were entirely too fleeting, and too vague, because when we learned the motivation, it came as a surprise, and I found myself thinking “where did *that* come from?” Also, although the author uses some standard devices they aren’t used very effectively. Again, having the least suspicious of the cast the perpetrator isn’t new by any stretch, but in this case, it just wasn’t grounded thoroughly enough.
Also, with a few exceptions, many of the characters were one dimensional and almost “off the shelf”. Had this book been just a bit more thorough in its construction, and the characters been a bit more 3 dimensional, this could have been a really fine mystery story, because all the elements are there, as well as both a lovely setting and the addition of what turned out to be both a minor distraction and a unique side plot.
I did very much like the way the author handled the relationship of the main characters, and the way they resolved, or at least began the process of resolving, the effects of their past traumas.
I have always maintained that a narrator’s performance couldn’t ruin a book for me, but the performance of this narrator very nearly did. For one thing, I found her voice unpleasant, (though that is my personal taste, and has nothing to do with her abilities). It is too high and too child like for me to listen to for extended periods of time. Also, her rate of speech was too fast, she slurred her words, and her expression was flat.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for this unbiased review from AudioBookBlast dot com.
September 24, 2015
**I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
Another great listen by Doug Burris. I do suggest reading Young Love Lost first, the background is helpful, but this book can stand alone. You always wonder what happens to the couple after the first book ends, and so many times an author does not give you the opportunity to see. Doug Burris brings you to the next stage of David and Mary's life, along with some suspense and romance. I loved this book. From the beginning, it was intriguing with the scene of Sarah Jennings...is she dead? I am thinking she isn't but you just can't tell. Jump to David and Mary setting up house, going to school, stumbling on dead bodies, getting new jobs, introducing new characters...and who is killing these people? During the book several times I had different suspects in my mind. Since I couldn't decide, it made this book all the more fun.
Anna Starr gives another great performance, keeping the voices for the characters she used in the first book, which I absolutely love with a narration. If you love romantic suspense, read these...and hope there is a third.
Another great listen by Doug Burris. I do suggest reading Young Love Lost first, the background is helpful, but this book can stand alone. You always wonder what happens to the couple after the first book ends, and so many times an author does not give you the opportunity to see. Doug Burris brings you to the next stage of David and Mary's life, along with some suspense and romance. I loved this book. From the beginning, it was intriguing with the scene of Sarah Jennings...is she dead? I am thinking she isn't but you just can't tell. Jump to David and Mary setting up house, going to school, stumbling on dead bodies, getting new jobs, introducing new characters...and who is killing these people? During the book several times I had different suspects in my mind. Since I couldn't decide, it made this book all the more fun.
Anna Starr gives another great performance, keeping the voices for the characters she used in the first book, which I absolutely love with a narration. If you love romantic suspense, read these...and hope there is a third.
February 16, 2016
I found this to be a well written book with true to life characters. The mystery at the backbone of the plot of the book was a good one. Yes, it was easy to see who the bad guy was early on - but there were some nice red herrings.
September 18, 2016
Interesting and different
As someone who loves time at Atlantic Beach it was fun reading a story local to me. I don't agree with the Wicca stuff, throughout. However the mystery part was neat. I'm guessing by the epilogue a book three will happen. Well written.
As someone who loves time at Atlantic Beach it was fun reading a story local to me. I don't agree with the Wicca stuff, throughout. However the mystery part was neat. I'm guessing by the epilogue a book three will happen. Well written.
October 16, 2015
Good
the sick person who was committing murders and they were horrible murders.the police had very few clues on these murders
the sick person who was committing murders and they were horrible murders.the police had very few clues on these murders
January 26, 2016
very good
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews