Murder at Yaquina Head

Thomas Martindale Mystery #1

by Ron Lovell

Thomas Martindale, a journalism professor, is enjoying the first day of his summer vacation on the Oregon coast. He has brought with him the active curiosity and investigative abilities that often get him into situations most people would ignore. When he is invited to brunch at the home of an old friend, she confides that someone may be trying to kill her. The next night, that fear is realized when Tom finds her body at a nearby lighthouse. Tom immediately sets out to find her killer, using clues from a manuscript his friend gave him for review. Have the incidents during World War II, described in the manuscript, caused her death? Did they reveal secrets about someone—someone who feared their consequences if they were revealed? As he has in the past, Tom seeks help from his former lover, a State Police officer She has gotten him out of many tight spots in the past. But his determination to solve the murder puts him in great danger from unexpected sources—especially when he is finally confronted on a suspension bridge high above the swirling waters of Yaquina Bay.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 2002

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick fun travel read. I found the book at a shop in Newport and enjoyed the mystery after having been to the places in Newport mentioned in the book. There were some plot devices I didn’t quite buy and thought the main character was a little stupid at times, but overall a fun read. Nice to find a local author’s book while I traveled in the area. Finished it on the plane home.

[Stacei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery

I loved this book. Tom is invited to dinner at Simone's and he take home a manuscript. Next thing you know Simone has been murdered, and Tom wants to find out who did it. This book is filled with twists and turns. It involves Nazi's, members of the French Resistance, Members of the Sheriffs Dept, and State investigators, not mention a whole slew of other characters. I never saw the ending coming. This is a excellent book and I can't read more of this series.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book; I spend a lot of time in Lincoln County and have walked up the Yaquina Head lighthouse a couple times. Neither the characters nor the narrative really enthralled me, however, and I'm just glad it was a short and easy read.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good mystery set on the Oregon coast, with a memoir from World War II serving as a key bit of evidence. I’ll look for another by this Oregon State University journalism prof.

[Joyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having been to Yaquina Head Lighthouse, I was intrigued by the setting. It's not rocket science, but it's a good read for a Sunday afternoon.

[Frank Snell · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a good mystery and is of interest because it is set on the Oregon Coast.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grammar and typing errors drove me crazy.