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Mara Tusconi Mystery #1
Cold Blood, Hot Sea
"Sleuths will have to figure out who done it, but the real crime is the backdrop the endless heating of a fragile planet."
—BILL MCKIBBEN, author of Falter
A thrilling contribution to the new wave of cli–fi hitting the shelves, Cold Blood, Hot Sea pits climate change scientists against big–energy conspirators. When a colleague is killed aboard the research vessel Intrepid , oceanographer Mara Tusconi believes it's no accident. As she investigates, Mara becomes entangled in a scheme involving powerful energy executives with much to lose if her department colleagues continue their climate change research. Mara's career—and life—is on the line, threatened by intrigue as big and dark as the ocean.
Marine ecologist and award–winning environmental educator CHARLENE D'AVANZO studied the New England coast for forty years. As a scientist, D'Avanzo sees firsthand the effects of climate change, and as a college professor, she knows the importance of storytelling in bringing ideas to life. Today she uses mysteries to immerse readers in Maine waters' stunning beauty and grave threats. An avid sea kayaker, D'Avanzo lives in Yarmouth, Maine.
—BILL MCKIBBEN, author of Falter
A thrilling contribution to the new wave of cli–fi hitting the shelves, Cold Blood, Hot Sea pits climate change scientists against big–energy conspirators. When a colleague is killed aboard the research vessel Intrepid , oceanographer Mara Tusconi believes it's no accident. As she investigates, Mara becomes entangled in a scheme involving powerful energy executives with much to lose if her department colleagues continue their climate change research. Mara's career—and life—is on the line, threatened by intrigue as big and dark as the ocean.
Marine ecologist and award–winning environmental educator CHARLENE D'AVANZO studied the New England coast for forty years. As a scientist, D'Avanzo sees firsthand the effects of climate change, and as a college professor, she knows the importance of storytelling in bringing ideas to life. Today she uses mysteries to immerse readers in Maine waters' stunning beauty and grave threats. An avid sea kayaker, D'Avanzo lives in Yarmouth, Maine.
250 pages, Paperback
First published May 10, 2016
12 people are currently reading
309 people want to read
About the author
Charlene D'Avanzo
9 books26 followersWhy does a marine ecologist/college professor turn to mystery writing? Easy. What could be more mysterious, dangerous, and riveting than the deep, dark sea?
I write the Mara Tusconi Maine Oceanography Mystery Series. Mara's a feisty scientist who uses her sea kayak to track down the bad guys.
In "Cold Blood, Hot Sea" Mara witnesses the death of a dear colleague aboard research vessel Intrepid. It's called an accident, but she thinks otherwise and risks her job & life as she uncovers a scam as deep and dark as the wild sea.
"Demon Spirit, Devi Sea" takes Mara to one of the last temperate rainforests on earth - Haida Gwaii, an archipelago off British Columbia. She investigates an international law of the sea crime, spiteful spirits that shouldn't exist, and a baffling death.
In "Secrets Haunt The Lobster's Sea" Mara visits the wild-wild west of Maine's islands where lobstermen practice their own rule of law.
In "Glass Eels, Shattered Sea" Mara confronts the deadly world of international eel trafficking.
As a marine scientist, the New England coast has fascinated me for over forty years. My sea kayak and I live in Yarmouth, Maine.
I write the Mara Tusconi Maine Oceanography Mystery Series. Mara's a feisty scientist who uses her sea kayak to track down the bad guys.
In "Cold Blood, Hot Sea" Mara witnesses the death of a dear colleague aboard research vessel Intrepid. It's called an accident, but she thinks otherwise and risks her job & life as she uncovers a scam as deep and dark as the wild sea.
"Demon Spirit, Devi Sea" takes Mara to one of the last temperate rainforests on earth - Haida Gwaii, an archipelago off British Columbia. She investigates an international law of the sea crime, spiteful spirits that shouldn't exist, and a baffling death.
In "Secrets Haunt The Lobster's Sea" Mara visits the wild-wild west of Maine's islands where lobstermen practice their own rule of law.
In "Glass Eels, Shattered Sea" Mara confronts the deadly world of international eel trafficking.
As a marine scientist, the New England coast has fascinated me for over forty years. My sea kayak and I live in Yarmouth, Maine.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 12, 2016
Well done mystery that uses climate change as a base but never becomes polemical. Mara is a very likeable character. D'Avanzo has clearly used her personal knowledge of sea kayaking and oceanography to write this novel, which is a good way to educate those of us who aren't familiar with either. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC- I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series. You will like this if you like mysteries with smart women and you like to learn something new. Good job!
March 19, 2017
3.5 stars. A very entertaining read about an oceanographer working in Maine. Suspenseful and a quick read. The author was a professor at Hampshire College, where I currently work, which is how I discovered this book.
June 26, 2016
An environmental educator and researcher, author D’Avanzo specializes in marine ecology. Her 2016 academic mystery, Cold Blood Hot Sea, throws the reader into the contentious field of environmental research, including scientific fraud and sabotage. At the book’s heart is a smart resourceful warm-hearted woman scholar, Dr. Mara Tusconi, who teaches and does research at the Maine Oceanographic Institution, surrounded by eager students and ambitious colleagues. Every twist of this page turner reveals more about the cutting edge field of study, its methods, and the scholars in training who will carry the work forward. This a compelling read that educates you while it challenges and satisfies your inner sleuth.
June 13, 2016
Charlene's knowledge of oceanography and environmental issues as well as her experience paddling the coast of Maine makes this an entertaining mystery. Her characters are well drawn, especially the protagonist Mara.
June 15, 2016
I really enjoyed and I recommend this lovely mystery. I like strong female leads and a book where you feel like you learn about a new industry while you enjoy a mystery. Having lived in Maine before I enjoyed all the references to Maine. I gave this book the highest rating.
February 25, 2016
This is a well written, researched and thought-provoking mystery. Emotionally charged, wonderful characters and I simply love the cover!
July 11, 2017
I confess to having some doubts when I started reading this novel: a climate change and crime/detective plot? I couldn't quite imagine how the two would mix. Plus, I'm a biologist/conservationist myself and not too keen to delve into environmental bad news after work hours, so to speak. But I was pleasantly surprised. Cold Blood, Hot Sea is a brisk, entertaining, educational read. I especially admired the skill with which D'Avanzo wove plenty of factual information into the narrative without stalling it, or making it too heavy, and without preaching. Quite an achievement. Much of the novel is dialogue: it's well written and keeps the story skipping along. I only have time to read in the evening and I found myself looking forward to my nightly dose. I've shared Cold Blood, Hot Sea with my 13 year old daughter (she wants to be a marine biologist and this will be right up her street) and will definitely check out D'Avanzo's latest in the Mara Tusconi series, Demon Spirit, Devil Sea.
December 16, 2022
Interesting read, but not compelling, easily put down.
LIKED:
-- info on the climate change situation - research activities, impact on fishermen
-- scenes on research vessel, how they deploy buoys and what they measure
-- Mara facing and overcoming her fears
-- the chase scene was thrilling
-- overall good plot and interesting characters - esp. Angelo
DID NOT LIKE:
-- it's funny that the start of this book was questioning scientists mis-reporting data, and then the author herself does it. Oil companies 20 billion in profits this year. Mara - that's something like 7 million an hour. Do the math - it's 2.83 million an hour. Errors like this make me question the other premises of the book. (no, I was not looking for mistakes, every time I see numbers I automatically do the math)
-- minor quibble - but making the other woman scientist's name Harvey was just unnecessarily confusing.
-- Angelo's secret not resolved , maybe next book?
LIKED:
-- info on the climate change situation - research activities, impact on fishermen
-- scenes on research vessel, how they deploy buoys and what they measure
-- Mara facing and overcoming her fears
-- the chase scene was thrilling
-- overall good plot and interesting characters - esp. Angelo
DID NOT LIKE:
-- it's funny that the start of this book was questioning scientists mis-reporting data, and then the author herself does it. Oil companies 20 billion in profits this year. Mara - that's something like 7 million an hour. Do the math - it's 2.83 million an hour. Errors like this make me question the other premises of the book. (no, I was not looking for mistakes, every time I see numbers I automatically do the math)
-- minor quibble - but making the other woman scientist's name Harvey was just unnecessarily confusing.
-- Angelo's secret not resolved , maybe next book?
August 6, 2019
I meet Charlene D'Avanzo at an Author Talk at my local library. Charlene, a retired professor, hopes to get the word out about the reality of climate change through her writings and believe novels will get more traction than nonfiction work. This book is fast-paced and an interesting read. Set on the coast in my home state of Maine, the characters are realistic and the plot is plausible. Given Charlene's background in marine ecology, the facts are likely very accurate. I look forward the next two Mara Tusconi adventures!
January 3, 2021
I picked this book up on a trip to Bar Harbor, ME a few years ago. What a hidden gem! The mystery was well constructed and the author did an excellent job building authentic tension and made me feel what Mara was feeling throughout the book. I loved the tie in of real-world climate change issues as well. I look forward to getting my hands on the next books in this series.
January 11, 2021
I liked this mystery right from the start. Since it is set in Maine, a state we like to visit, that was a plus. Mara Tucson is an oceanographer and her secret is that she is deathly afraid of public speaking, but when a friend is killed aboard the Marine Oceanographic's research vessel, she must put aside this fear and find out who and why was he killed.
March 3, 2019
I enjoyed this immensely. The combination of climate change science, oceanography, and a neat mystery makes for a great read. And Mara Tusconi is a fascinating character, both as scientist and detective.
June 20, 2017
Great mystery!
July 4, 2017
A real page turner! Loved the way the author wove mystery and climate science together. A great read and also educational.
Read
January 30, 2020read for a school project
March 29, 2021
Some interesting characters and well-paced (if a little outlandish) plot. Very appealing oceanography setting. Looking forward to reading additional books in the series.
June 20, 2016
This story, billed as “A Mara Tusconi Mystery,” introduces Mara, age 31, whose work at the Maine Oceanographic Institute (MOI) centers on the timely subject of climate change. D’Avanzo deserves credit for taking on the difficult task of making a science topic accessible to a general audience and taking advantage of the possibilities for drama inherent in this contentious field.
The story holds several key points of friction. First, between Mara and an aquaculture startup corporation up the Maine coast a short distance, which she believes may be fudging its data—anathema for any reputable scientist. And, second, between her fellow climate researchers and an apparently well funded cadre of climate change deniers who increasingly resort to spying, sabotage, and threats of physical violence. She has her personal issues as well: she gets seasick easily and she’s a behind-the-scenes player, deathly afraid of public speaking. At the same time, she’s trying to persuade Maine lobstermen that her research isn’t the threat, but the underlying changes in sea temperatures that could jeopardize their livelihoods.
As the novel begins, Mara and other MOI researchers head out to sea on their ship Intrepid to launch huge data-gathering buoys that will reveal ocean temperature trends. The buoy of her friend and colleague Harvey (a woman) goes into the water without incident. Because Mara is seasick, she turns the launch of her buoy over to Peter Riley, a young MOI PhD. Something goes disastrously wrong with the winch, the buoy slips, and fatally injures Peter.
An old MOI hand advises Mara to investigate Peter’s death on her own, secretly. She says the organization’s administrators may try to cover up any problems, in order not to scare off potential funders. Thus amateur sleuth Mara starts on a bit of a whirlwind of plot-driven activity.
D’Avanzo gives Mara a large cast of potential allies and antagonists, almost too many to flesh out in sufficient detail. Partly because the novel is told strictly from Mara’s point of view, we don’t get to know these other characters in very well. Stronger characters would create more unpredictability in the outcome and make me more invested in it.
When the opportunity arises for Mara to play a more prominent role in the climate change debate, she must weigh the risks of harassment along with the opportunities to make a vital contribution, and her personal strengths against her fears.
The story holds several key points of friction. First, between Mara and an aquaculture startup corporation up the Maine coast a short distance, which she believes may be fudging its data—anathema for any reputable scientist. And, second, between her fellow climate researchers and an apparently well funded cadre of climate change deniers who increasingly resort to spying, sabotage, and threats of physical violence. She has her personal issues as well: she gets seasick easily and she’s a behind-the-scenes player, deathly afraid of public speaking. At the same time, she’s trying to persuade Maine lobstermen that her research isn’t the threat, but the underlying changes in sea temperatures that could jeopardize their livelihoods.
As the novel begins, Mara and other MOI researchers head out to sea on their ship Intrepid to launch huge data-gathering buoys that will reveal ocean temperature trends. The buoy of her friend and colleague Harvey (a woman) goes into the water without incident. Because Mara is seasick, she turns the launch of her buoy over to Peter Riley, a young MOI PhD. Something goes disastrously wrong with the winch, the buoy slips, and fatally injures Peter.
An old MOI hand advises Mara to investigate Peter’s death on her own, secretly. She says the organization’s administrators may try to cover up any problems, in order not to scare off potential funders. Thus amateur sleuth Mara starts on a bit of a whirlwind of plot-driven activity.
D’Avanzo gives Mara a large cast of potential allies and antagonists, almost too many to flesh out in sufficient detail. Partly because the novel is told strictly from Mara’s point of view, we don’t get to know these other characters in very well. Stronger characters would create more unpredictability in the outcome and make me more invested in it.
When the opportunity arises for Mara to play a more prominent role in the climate change debate, she must weigh the risks of harassment along with the opportunities to make a vital contribution, and her personal strengths against her fears.
July 31, 2016
There's a lot to like about this book: the Maine setting, the plot involving science fraud, and several of the characters. I especially enjoyed the stalwart friendship between the two female scientists Mara and Harvey. And I learned some things about climate science, the email flap involving climate scientists a few years ago, and sea kayaking. The descriptions of the Maine land and seascapes were sure-handed and particular.
While the character development was interesting enough, I withheld stars because characters were often and annoyingly described by what they wore and eye/hair color. At the start, the book unleashed so many characters at once that it delayed my getting into the story.
This book is the first of a mystery series that will likely improve with time. I enjoyed enough of it that I'll read the next one.
While the character development was interesting enough, I withheld stars because characters were often and annoyingly described by what they wore and eye/hair color. At the start, the book unleashed so many characters at once that it delayed my getting into the story.
This book is the first of a mystery series that will likely improve with time. I enjoyed enough of it that I'll read the next one.
July 19, 2016
I grew up in Maine so this book was easy for me to relate to. And I have enjoyed kayaking in Casco Bay, off Portland Maine. So I enjoyed Mara's kayaking, learning to roll in her kayak. I really liked her spying adventure in her kayak at night. The fact that it was April and the water extremely frigid, should she capsize, added to the tenseness of her obtaining sea samples in a place she could not be seen.
I could imagine being at the wharf and being on boats and ships. I could imagine Mara's lobster pet, Homer. I could imagine the sea air and houses with weathered clapboard shingles.
The book mentions global warming and how it affects the sea life and water. Unfortunately, Maine waters are really getting warmer. I hope the lobsters stay!
This book made me homesick!
I could imagine being at the wharf and being on boats and ships. I could imagine Mara's lobster pet, Homer. I could imagine the sea air and houses with weathered clapboard shingles.
The book mentions global warming and how it affects the sea life and water. Unfortunately, Maine waters are really getting warmer. I hope the lobsters stay!
This book made me homesick!
December 11, 2016
What an easy, interesting read. The author does a great job of explaining both sides of the environmental issue while also throwing in a mystery. I read this book as part of a virtual book club. I found the book to be perfect for a book club because there was a lot to discuss. I'm looking forward to reading the next one!
December 3, 2016
This is a Mara Tusconi Mystery. Mara investigates the death of a scientist killed on the research vessel Intrepid. As she encounters the circumstances surrounding this death she believes it was no accident. She puts her career and life on the line. A good solid mystery that will keep you turning the pages. I received this book free through Goodreads Giveaways for a review.
June 23, 2016
good cli fi mystery. not exactly high art but a page turner.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews