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Savannah Gone
Everyone in the state of Georgia believes expanding the Savannah Port is the single-most important economic development project in the entire state. Everyone except Marine Biologist Claire Robertson that is. When Claire goes missing, Private Investigator Ray Fontaine agrees to search for her. At first Ray thinks finding her will be an open and shut case.
But behind Savannah's Gothic facade, everyone has a secret. As Ray begins to peel back the layers, he uncovers a growing list of suspects. To solve the case, Ray must put himself, and those he cares about, in mortal danger.
But behind Savannah's Gothic facade, everyone has a secret. As Ray begins to peel back the layers, he uncovers a growing list of suspects. To solve the case, Ray must put himself, and those he cares about, in mortal danger.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 19, 2015
288 people are currently reading
238 people want to read
About the author
Doug Keeler
2 books11 followersDoug Keeler is the author of the Best Selling Mystery/Thriller SAVANNAH GONE.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
June 3, 2015
Ray Fontaine is an ex-military, ex-journalist, now working as Private Investigator. Hired to locate a missing heiress brings all kinds of questions. The woman recently called off her wedding and was roughed up by said fiancee also had a secret 'someone' she was seeing. So, did she just take off to spend time with the new lover, or did the ex-boyfriend take it a step further? Claire is also involved with the Preservation Society to protect a parcel of land where it has been rumored that gold is buried there. So many possibilities ... and they all elevate a notch when her body is found with a bullet in the back of her head.
The story is told in Ray's voice. He's the type of guy that women are more attracted by his wicked sense of humor which borders on the unacceptable, but never really crosses the line. He is a stand-up guy and has little patience with fools.
Ray Fontaine would make an excellent series character. The conversations were so natural .... I even chuckled at Ray's idioms a time or two. At first glance I wondered if this guy ever got truly serious ...and then the serious side reared its head. There were several suspects that I was bouncing back and forth trying to figure out the who-dun-it before it was finally revealed. And of course, there are the ladies. One is with the Savannah Police Department who puts up with Ray's interference when hunting down a killer. Throw in a little history about Georgia, Savannah in particular, and I found an extraordinary story.
If the author's first novel is this good, I can hardly wait to see what comes next.
The author supplied a digital copy of his book in exchange for an unbiased opinion .. Thank You!
April 19, 2017
I absolutely love Doug Keeler’s writing style. He is down to Earth, humorous, and mysterious; and all while clearly telling the story smoothly. This was a quick and smooth read. Though Ray Fontaine is a fictional character, I really want to meet him. The imagery was great! As a Savannah resident, I may be a bit bias, but I am ready to make the 45 minute trip out to the lisle’s. This time I will be looking with a newfound appreciation.
Overall, Savannah Gone was easily a 5 Boundless Star book and I am ready to read more of Keeler’s work!
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Overall, Savannah Gone was easily a 5 Boundless Star book and I am ready to read more of Keeler’s work!
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
September 12, 2015
As a frequent visitor to Savannah, I completely enjoyed the book! I'm originally from Albany, GA so I'm right at home with reading anything related to GA. I was immediately drawn to the book as soon as I saw the cover and recognized the location. I'm not one to get bogged down in whether an author sticks to facts in their writing. I tend to put more into the plot and trying to figure out "who done it". In this case, since I've visited a lot of the places mentioned in the book, I was familiar with some of the history. There were a couple of things that left me curious to know if they were facts or made up for the book. I was quite happy to find out they were true. It left me wanting to read more books that delve into GA history (been a lot of years since I took GA history in Mrs. Butler's 8th grade class!). I look forward to the next book....will it stay in Savannah? I certainly hope so as it is one of my favorite places to visit.
May 20, 2015
Savannah Gone by Doug Keeler is written in the first person, and at times that can be a bit off putting...but once it got moving, things really began to move along. This is not a complex mystery/thriller, so you don't need to focus and concentrate to understand the flow of the story, which makes it a good read before bed. In saying that, the story line was interesting enough to hold my attention and at times kept me reading long past my bedtime! Set in Savannah, Georgia, its the story of PI Ray Fontaine who is after a missing marine biologist named Claire Robertson. The story had well developed characters, rich descriptions and a main character that was both interesting and likeable...if not a bit subdued. The story never stops moving -- as I found myself dying to know the outcome.
August 28, 2015
Good read! Held my interest and kept me up reading late. Mystery with humor. You really felt like you knew Ray throughout the book. He had a way of expressing himself that made me chuckle. He didn't hold back!! Told it like it was, even though sometimes, it was under his breathe. Would like to see more books with Ray at the center. Good book for a new author.
May 14, 2015
Good
I was skeptical because it is written in the first person but I was pleasantly surprised. A good story, that reminded me of those 1940s narrated crime stories in black and white.
Good book.
I was skeptical because it is written in the first person but I was pleasantly surprised. A good story, that reminded me of those 1940s narrated crime stories in black and white.
Good book.
November 5, 2015
I was interested in reading this book because the setting was in Savannah, Georgia. I've never visited there, but always wanted to. I enjoy reading books written by my fellow Southerners or stories about the South or set in the South.
Ray Fontaine is a Private Investigator who has been hired to find a missing Marine Biologist, Claire Robertson. The book is written in the first person, which I personally enjoyed. The story line has plenty of twists and turns. It's a easy read that doesn't require trying to remember massive amounts of information to try to figure out who done it. The story was very easy to follow, but not so easy to figure out who actually was responsible for Claire's disappearance. I felt like I knew Ray Fontaine personally by the end of the book. Although he's a "tough guy" he is full of sarcastic wit. I personally enjoy characters like that. I did find myself giggling a few times even though the story is serious... about a missing person and what happened to her. Nice touch in my opinion!
I absolutely enjoyed the book and would certainly recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries, thrillers, great characters and plot twists.
Ray Fontaine is a Private Investigator who has been hired to find a missing Marine Biologist, Claire Robertson. The book is written in the first person, which I personally enjoyed. The story line has plenty of twists and turns. It's a easy read that doesn't require trying to remember massive amounts of information to try to figure out who done it. The story was very easy to follow, but not so easy to figure out who actually was responsible for Claire's disappearance. I felt like I knew Ray Fontaine personally by the end of the book. Although he's a "tough guy" he is full of sarcastic wit. I personally enjoy characters like that. I did find myself giggling a few times even though the story is serious... about a missing person and what happened to her. Nice touch in my opinion!
I absolutely enjoyed the book and would certainly recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries, thrillers, great characters and plot twists.
May 9, 2016
This is my first Ray Fontaine mystery, and I enjoyed the book. If you're in the mood for a wise-cracking detective who gets the job done, you'll probably like this book.
September 6, 2017
Claire is missing. A friend of the family hires Ray Fontaine to find her. This takes Ray all over Savannah and it's barrier islands in search of the truth. When she is found murdered the story takes on a new and different twist.
I love the city of Savannah. All of the old homes, ghosts and pirates make for a unique story. The author captured this perfectly and wove it into a murder mystery with a list of suspects a mile long. So, who did it...the congressman, the banker and ex-fiancé or the ex-lover/archeology professor? You must read to find out!
This is a lightening fast read. And Ray Fontaine has taken over as my new book boyfriend. I love his strength and his irreverent comments and behavior. He is a good "bad boy"! I cannot wait to see what he does in the next installment of this series.
I received this novel from the author for a honest review.
January 3, 2018
Great
Loved this book and look forward to more. I live in Kentucky and our son lived on James Island . We have spent a lot of time on Folly and the southern bug has bit me bad. We have ancestry buried next to Charleston. I so hope you keep publishing your work because you do such a great job of bringing that southern feeling to me through your words. Thank you so much !!!
Loved this book and look forward to more. I live in Kentucky and our son lived on James Island . We have spent a lot of time on Folly and the southern bug has bit me bad. We have ancestry buried next to Charleston. I so hope you keep publishing your work because you do such a great job of bringing that southern feeling to me through your words. Thank you so much !!!
June 7, 2018
satisfying classic whodunnit
The characters are solid, our hero just quirky enough to be believable AND interesting, and enough villiany to keep us guessing. Keeler does a good unobtrusive first person narrative with none of the wimpering handwringing that so often plagues that voice.
And about the plethora of damsels... gee. Why don't we see Natalie again?!
The characters are solid, our hero just quirky enough to be believable AND interesting, and enough villiany to keep us guessing. Keeler does a good unobtrusive first person narrative with none of the wimpering handwringing that so often plagues that voice.
And about the plethora of damsels... gee. Why don't we see Natalie again?!
August 26, 2018
Enjoyable way to spend an afternoon
I always enjoy books that take place in places I have visited. And I love a mystery. So this combination of both elements made for an enjoyable afternoon read on a hot summer afternoon.
I always enjoy books that take place in places I have visited. And I love a mystery. So this combination of both elements made for an enjoyable afternoon read on a hot summer afternoon.
September 17, 2018
Excellent
I have lived in the Savannah area for years but his description of this area made me feel like I was following him on his case. I loved the picture he painted of the city. The characters were very well written. Would recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a mystery.
I have lived in the Savannah area for years but his description of this area made me feel like I was following him on his case. I loved the picture he painted of the city. The characters were very well written. Would recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a mystery.
July 1, 2020
Hot & Steamy in Savannah
Doug Keeler creates an atmosphere of “being there” with his characters and backdrop. I’ve lived in Georgia since 1986 and have visited Savannah but not many of the surrounding areas. Thanks to Ray Fontaine and his adventures plans are in the works.
Doug Keeler creates an atmosphere of “being there” with his characters and backdrop. I’ve lived in Georgia since 1986 and have visited Savannah but not many of the surrounding areas. Thanks to Ray Fontaine and his adventures plans are in the works.
March 18, 2017
Fast-paced, well-written, hard-boiled mystery. Good read.
June 10, 2017
Good book
This was a good book with normal situations including a bedroom scene. This was a very interesting book about a murder.
This was a good book with normal situations including a bedroom scene. This was a very interesting book about a murder.
August 26, 2017
WOW!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had everything going for it . Can't wait to read another. I hope that this is going to e a series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had everything going for it . Can't wait to read another. I hope that this is going to e a series.
September 20, 2017
Ray Fontaine, Savannah
March 6, 2018
Enjoyable read.
This was my first time reading Doug Keeler. I thoroughly enjoyed his characters and and his sense of humor. I would recommend this book to my fellow readers.
This was my first time reading Doug Keeler. I thoroughly enjoyed his characters and and his sense of humor. I would recommend this book to my fellow readers.
April 12, 2018
Tired, lead character.
I had hoped for greater character depth and plot complexity....disappointing. The protagonist's incite into story character motivation is not a credible.
I had hoped for greater character depth and plot complexity....disappointing. The protagonist's incite into story character motivation is not a credible.
July 22, 2018
Southern adventure.
I love Ray Fontaine and look forward to many more adventures with him and all his friends and enemies. Thank you for a great ride.
I love Ray Fontaine and look forward to many more adventures with him and all his friends and enemies. Thank you for a great ride.
September 13, 2018
A fun read
I found the character development to be excellent. A compelling who dunnit. What was most surprising was has much I learned about coastal Georgia.
I found the character development to be excellent. A compelling who dunnit. What was most surprising was has much I learned about coastal Georgia.
August 21, 2021
Enjoyed the book ,would've given it 5 stars if the language had been toned down a bit .I like the way the author described Savannah as the story went along.
January 19, 2018
Very interesting read
Would recommend this book. Keeps you interested throughout. Excellent writer and looking to read more of his novels. Love stories set in the South.
Would recommend this book. Keeps you interested throughout. Excellent writer and looking to read more of his novels. Love stories set in the South.
October 19, 2018
Bravo! A good fast read! now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
May 10, 2015
Ray Fontaine is hired to find a missing marine biologist. Could her disappearance be tied to the plans to dredge the Savannah Harbor? Perhaps, her jilted fiance knows something about it. Or is there a darker reason behind her going missing?
The tough guy as private eye has been many times before, including such greats as Sam Spade and Mike Hammer. Now, we get Ray Fontaine. At least, that seems to be where the author is aiming. The problem is that Ray doesn't seem to be a tough guy so much as he has read too many tough guy stories. Those other tough guys could handle themselves of course. But it wasn't a knee-jerk first impression reaction. With Ray, it is. He has so much testosterone in him that you would expect him to leave little puddles of it all around. He doesn't work out. Instead, he pounds the weight bag and then slams out some sit ups and push ups. He never simply drives away. He slams it into first , stomps the gas, and leaves rubber as he peels out of the space. He runs up steps and pounds on the door instead of walking up and knocking. He sees everyone male as a rival and every (beautiful) woman as a potential conquest. He interrogates instead of asking questions. Frankly, he comes across more as a macho bully than a tough guy.
Despite the main character seemingly always spoiling for a fight, there is almost no actual violence in the story. Ray does work with the police, or at least one. She is a beautiful (naturally) woman that tries to prove she is just as tough and capable as any man. Basically, this means she dresses in a way that doesn't emphasis her body and she cusses a lot. Since Ray is so macho, he also feels the need to cuss frequently. Oftentimes, this cussing is gratuitous and could have been eliminated.
Ray does have a softer side though. He is a doting father, even if he only gets to see his daughter infrequently. He also clearly loves Savannah and nature. Of course, he hates tourists that come to share his town and its environment.
There is one sex scene that is fairly tepid. It felt like it was included more because it was a tradition of the tough guy detective stories than to help this story in any real way.
Finally, the mystery itself was decent and Ray did work for most of what he discovered. But, the ending felt rushed and a little too easy. I'm not sure that I bought that so many people would let Ray get away with his method though, especially taking over interrogations with police present. Also, Ray seems to forget his employer about halfway through the story.
This is a self-published story so there are mistakes. Words left out or added when they weren't needed is the most common. There were also a couple of instances where the possessive was shown as plural instead (boats instead of boat's). Unfortunately, this seems to be the norm for this type of publishing anymore.
This could have been a really good detective story. But the main character needs to learn the difference between being tough and being a jerk. The author also needs to decide if he wants his story to be a tough guy noir story or a gentler mystery filled with a lot of local color and history. I would consider checking out the next installment of the series, but if nothing changes, that would be the last one I read in the series.
The tough guy as private eye has been many times before, including such greats as Sam Spade and Mike Hammer. Now, we get Ray Fontaine. At least, that seems to be where the author is aiming. The problem is that Ray doesn't seem to be a tough guy so much as he has read too many tough guy stories. Those other tough guys could handle themselves of course. But it wasn't a knee-jerk first impression reaction. With Ray, it is. He has so much testosterone in him that you would expect him to leave little puddles of it all around. He doesn't work out. Instead, he pounds the weight bag and then slams out some sit ups and push ups. He never simply drives away. He slams it into first , stomps the gas, and leaves rubber as he peels out of the space. He runs up steps and pounds on the door instead of walking up and knocking. He sees everyone male as a rival and every (beautiful) woman as a potential conquest. He interrogates instead of asking questions. Frankly, he comes across more as a macho bully than a tough guy.
Despite the main character seemingly always spoiling for a fight, there is almost no actual violence in the story. Ray does work with the police, or at least one. She is a beautiful (naturally) woman that tries to prove she is just as tough and capable as any man. Basically, this means she dresses in a way that doesn't emphasis her body and she cusses a lot. Since Ray is so macho, he also feels the need to cuss frequently. Oftentimes, this cussing is gratuitous and could have been eliminated.
Ray does have a softer side though. He is a doting father, even if he only gets to see his daughter infrequently. He also clearly loves Savannah and nature. Of course, he hates tourists that come to share his town and its environment.
There is one sex scene that is fairly tepid. It felt like it was included more because it was a tradition of the tough guy detective stories than to help this story in any real way.
Finally, the mystery itself was decent and Ray did work for most of what he discovered. But, the ending felt rushed and a little too easy. I'm not sure that I bought that so many people would let Ray get away with his method though, especially taking over interrogations with police present. Also, Ray seems to forget his employer about halfway through the story.
This is a self-published story so there are mistakes. Words left out or added when they weren't needed is the most common. There were also a couple of instances where the possessive was shown as plural instead (boats instead of boat's). Unfortunately, this seems to be the norm for this type of publishing anymore.
This could have been a really good detective story. But the main character needs to learn the difference between being tough and being a jerk. The author also needs to decide if he wants his story to be a tough guy noir story or a gentler mystery filled with a lot of local color and history. I would consider checking out the next installment of the series, but if nothing changes, that would be the last one I read in the series.
February 26, 2017
Give me More Ray Fountaine stories !
Doug Keeled spins a great mystery with an unconventional hero, and lots of local color from Savannah and it's environs. As someone who has traveled the South Carolina and north Georgia ' low country ' just enough to want to return, I enjoyed the bits of History and Legend that were woven into the story, and the quick and bright character development of the anti-hero, as well as the people and places we encounter. I will be watching for Mr Keeler's next book.
Doug Keeled spins a great mystery with an unconventional hero, and lots of local color from Savannah and it's environs. As someone who has traveled the South Carolina and north Georgia ' low country ' just enough to want to return, I enjoyed the bits of History and Legend that were woven into the story, and the quick and bright character development of the anti-hero, as well as the people and places we encounter. I will be watching for Mr Keeler's next book.
February 16, 2017
Ray
A very enjoyable read. Savannah is a beautiful backdrop. Ray is like a private eye out of the Mickey Spillane mode! Enjoy
A very enjoyable read. Savannah is a beautiful backdrop. Ray is like a private eye out of the Mickey Spillane mode! Enjoy
August 8, 2015
What begins as a missing person's case quickly turns into something more, as Doug Keeler puts us in the shoes of private investigator Ray Fontaine, equal parts investigator, former journalist, and former military man who seems as crass as he is dedicated to his work. It's a character trope that borders on cliche', but Ray Fontaine still manages to be a character to root for -- even as he's saying things that would have one wishing to slap him.
The story itself is fast-paced, to the point where plot twists are few and not terribly surprising. It's not a fatal flaw, but even the slightest moments of "Huh... wasn't expecting that" would be nice given the genre. Still, Keeler paints a vivid picture of Savannah -- a city that I've visited on more than one occasion and would gladly return -- without bogging down in the minutia and losing focus on the story.
That's a hard balance to strike sometimes, and Keeler manages.
There is a plot point in the second half of the book that I wish would've been revisited more in-depth -- because it was one of the few true action beats of the story and because I feel the explanation given toward the end wasn't quite sufficient. It's not a plot hole, and it didn't keep me from enjoying this book, but it did leave me wanting just a bit.
Still, Savannah Gone is an enjoyable read and a solid addition to the mystery genre.
The story itself is fast-paced, to the point where plot twists are few and not terribly surprising. It's not a fatal flaw, but even the slightest moments of "Huh... wasn't expecting that" would be nice given the genre. Still, Keeler paints a vivid picture of Savannah -- a city that I've visited on more than one occasion and would gladly return -- without bogging down in the minutia and losing focus on the story.
That's a hard balance to strike sometimes, and Keeler manages.
There is a plot point in the second half of the book that I wish would've been revisited more in-depth -- because it was one of the few true action beats of the story and because I feel the explanation given toward the end wasn't quite sufficient. It's not a plot hole, and it didn't keep me from enjoying this book, but it did leave me wanting just a bit.
Still, Savannah Gone is an enjoyable read and a solid addition to the mystery genre.
August 19, 2015
Marine Biologist, Claire Robertson has disappeared. Detective, Ray Fontaine, is put on the case to find her. Ray figures this will be an easy case to solve, however he will soon be proven wrong. Increasing the Savannah Port was of the greatest significance for monetary growth, and all of Georgia was in agreement, giving it a thumbs up for production, all that is, except for Claire Robertson. Ray discovers more and more questionable subjects that could be connected to the crime. There’s a hushed guise over the city of Savannah. It’s hard to know who to trust. Ray has to face the fact that if he cracks this cases it will mean placing his life and many others lives in dangerous peril. This is an on the edge of your seat story with vivid imagery of the old city of Savannah. The way that Doug Keeler described the city made me feel like I was there. The characters are well depicted and their voice is well suited to the story. Ray the main character has a clever, dry sense of humor which I loved. Absolutely recommend this one to crime-drama fans.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews