Drifter

The 1929 Series #4

by M.L. Gardner

ACE for ASIN: B00FITGVIS

In this fourth book of The 1929 Series, we are led into the world of Richard Sloan, a Massachusetts missing person's detective who seems to be losing his touch. After six months he hasn't found anyone alive and becomes desperate to redeem his reputation.
Aryl Sullivan, who suffered amnesia in a boating accident, finds himself caught up in a series of events that land him in London. While in the hands of Gina, a secretive and controlling woman, and her boss, Mickey, Aryl is forever changed as he does what he has to in order to survive.
Following leads on a serial cop killer terrorizing Boston, Detective Sloan unwittingly stumbles on information that leads him to Aryl Sullivan, a man everyone in Rockport thinks is dead.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Historical, Ebooks, Romance, Drama

Kindle Edition

First published September 28, 2013

About the author

M. L. Gardner is the bestselling author of the 1929 series. Gardner is frugal to a fault, preserving the old ways of living by canning, cooking from scratch, and woodworking. Nostalgic stories from her grandmother’s life during the Great Depression inspired Gardner to write the 1929 series—as well as her own research into the Roarin’ Twenties. She has authored nine books, three novellas, one book of short stories and a cookbook. Gardner is married with three kids and three cats.


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Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing, interesting and sometimes disturbing read! I really got into this story and read it very quickly. It's definitely a good story and will keep your readers interested; however I would suggest readers be prepared to read all books in this series in the right order. This is not the typical run of the mill read, for sure! I like to read a variety of different stories, different styles, genres, etc and this definitely worked for me.

If I was to have a critical view, it would be that I didn't find the ending that I wanted in Book 3, I read this book 4 longing to know what happened to Aryl after a particular situation from Book 3, but I read this whole book, and didn't get my answer, although I learned a whole lot more about Aryl. I didn't have Book 2 on my Kindle so I skipped that, but book 3 did provide me with some inform\ation about Elizabeth. I am going to move on to 1931 - Book 5 and hope I will get it all worked out.

[Rosemary Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't put them down

I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed the 1929 series. I go eagerly on to book 5. One of the best series I've read in a long, long time.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've now read the first 5 books in this series -- my review for every book is/will be the same. (I wrote "will be" since I know I'll keep reading to the end of the series.) In a nutshell, these are books I love to hate. The storyline is engaging, and I definitely want to keep reading to see what happens to all the characters. Having said that, there are SO MANY historical inaccuracies that it's almost, but not quite, enough to make me walk away. Other readers have pointed out some of the obvious errors, like showers in the NYC tenements, etc. I'll point out a couple of things that just about drive me crazy: (1) the author's constant use of bad grammar in an effort to make the dialogue more authentic -- at least I can only assume that's why she uses it. Case in point, "Me and Caleb used to go there when we were younger." (OK, this isn't a direct quote, but you get the idea.) Every time I read another example of "Me and ____ did such and such" it makes me grit my teeth. (2) Getting a very simple detail like the Ides of March incorrect. In Book 3, one of the chapters is titled, "March 10, 1931," and starts off: " 'The Ides of March,' Jonathan grumbled as he carried Jean back to his bed." NO! NO! NO! The Ides of March is the 15th!!! The Ides of any month is the 15th!!! IMO, this sort of error is inexcusable. (3) In Book 2, a large chunk of the plot is "lifted" straight from the movie "Ghost." Hardly original.

OK, so it's obvious I have a number of issues with the series/writing. BUT, as I've said above, I'll keep reading to see what happens. And I guess ultimately that's what matters to the author.

[Ami · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was in major need of an editor, and someone to point out the major inaccuracies so they could be fixed. I liked the main premise but it just didn't work. It was hard to look past the bad grammar (not even historically accurate) as well as everything else.

This was two men telling their stories while on a ship headed to the U.S. but at times it was difficult to keep track of names nor was it always readily apparent when narrators had switched. Their timelines were also certainly not linear so could lead to confusion. The ending was a let down and only made partial sense. I know this is part of a series but I'm only vaguely interested in continuing with it; certainly not enough to buy them.

[Linda Laher. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is entertaining, if nothing else. But there is something else. in the present book that is bothersome: addiction to opiates. Aryl disappeared from his family eleven months prior to his homecoming. After being shipwrecked, he was picked up by a cargo boat full of opiates. For pain he took the 'medicine.' Somehow he gets home only to fall into another ship bound for England. By this time he is hooked on the medicine. He is thrown under a bridge where a supplier happens along. He lives in a warehouse where all kinds of drugs are kept which is fortunate for an addict. His story combines with Sloan's story. Sloan is a detective specializing in finding lost people. Sloan miraculously finds Aryl and escorts him home. Sloan has marital problems stemming from his wife being a habitual aborter. I think after three miscarriages a woman is a habitual aborter. These two men tell their stories through flipback which is a new word I just created. Read the book and determine for yourself if flipback is an appropriate descriptive word. This book will not stand alone.

Thank you, Ms. Gardner, for a good read.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Continues on with the saga of the characters from the 1929 series. Provides a lot of background on what happened to Aryl Sullivan after the explosion on the boat. Aryl crosses paths with Richard Sloan, a detective from Boston, who discovers Aryl's identity and takes him back to his family and friends. On the long trip home, we get to hear what has happened to Aryl during the year he has been missing and presumed dead. The series just keeps getting more interesting.

[Frank Fusco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't know why I stayed with it to end. Story, if it can be called that, didn't move. Scene changes were abrupt and without description. Names changed in a confusing manner. Went back and forth from first person to narrative. All characters hokey and trite, borrowed from other failed books and 'B' movies. Won't waste time with this author again.

[Amy Gennaro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am toughing out reading this series. I don't like how the story jumps from one storyline to a completely unrelatated storyline in each book. Eventually, the stories link up, but it is a very convuluted way.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story gets hard to follow at times - I read the Kindle edition and perhaps the print editions are laid out better, but it would have helped me a lot if the different character's tales were in different fonts since the author does not tell the reader which character is telling his story.

[Janet M Sirel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Series

I just finished book number 4 of the 1929 series and it was great. There are a few editing mistakes that should have been caught, but not strong enough that you couldn't follow the story. I'm on to the final book in the series. Great Series, M. L. Gardner

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not crazy about this book. I am enjoying the series, but if this was the 1st book, I would think twice about continuing with the series.

I thought it was choppy and jumped from one time period to another.

Looking forward to getting back to the real story....

[Carley Dodds · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite in the series as it jumps around quite a bit and is somewhat confusing to follow, but i read it because it answers a lot of questions and ties up some loose ends from the previous books. It was a quick read and now i can move on to the next in the series!

[Mike Seigler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked The Drifter. going on to Purgatory Cove.

[Linda Barras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Excellent story telling skills!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading each book in this series. Suspense, love, travel, multi dimensional. Highly suggested!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aryl is located in France by a missing person's detective, Sloan. Through conversations on their way back to the U.S., we discover where Aryl has been for almost a year... living in pure hell.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really Liked This One!

I loved this book. It did not disappoint. I can’t wait to start the next book in this series! Happy reading.....

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this and enjoying the story line. Looking forward to the next 2 books.

[Sandy Vanisacker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lost Storyline Toward Enf

Loved first three in series. Lost story at end of Gina & Mickey in this one. Skipped over last part.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book continues with the story of what happened to Aryl. It begins to tie the second book to the family story.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book

You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself.I really enjoyed reading this book very much so.Shelley MA

[Sharon Shelor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my least favorite of 1929, 1930 & this one. Too scattered. Hard to follow.

[Lynelle Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure what I expected but this book was a let down from the previous books in the serious.
I simply couldn't connect with the story or the characters.

[Steve and Jill McNeil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed book

I liked this particular book as we find out what happened to Aryl and how he makes it back home.

[Carol Gambardella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

I am loving every one of these books. It’s non stop reading. Glad I bought all of them at once.

[Allana]

didn't read as didn't like or finish first book in series

[Stanley McShane · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's amazing who you can become--given the right--or wrong circumstances. Sometimes, you can't imagine how you've ever become this person. And having become a person you revile, can you ever quit and so back? Can you ever really "go home"? Would you want to?

This is the fourth in the 1929 series; the third I've read and this was definitely my favorite. Aryl is "found" by Richard Sloan, a missing persons cop who lucks onto Aryl looking for a serial cop killer. Sloan is a disgruntled, discontented Boston P.D. detective with a marriage teetering on the edge for a reason both partners are impotent to remedy. His record hasn't been that good of late, finding more "missings" dead than alive; a day late, handing the file to homicide. He desperately hoped his last case, a 16 year old, would be the reverse to the pattern. It wasn't. Dejected, depressed, he decided he'd concentrate on the serial killer; counted on it to be his saving grace.

Aryl Sullivan in the third series has been in a horrific explosion aboard his fishing vessel and barely survives with his body in tact, never mind his mind. He has sustained major lacerations to his back which leaves him in severe pain in this installment. Unfortunately, he has no recollection what happened--only that he has been rescued and handed off eventually to land in London where he is again rescued by Gina who introduces him to Mickey. His injuries have left him dependent upon Gina who dishes him an elixir that quickly gets him hooked and leaves him no where to turn. Under his newly acquired circumstances, he becomes a man totally alien-capable of the unimaginable.

The tale unfolds after Sloan has picked him up from the French police and both board a ship for the states. Together over the course of the cruise, each unloads his personal story as Aryl has regained his memory and narrates the events of his past year. Aryl faces a shaky return. The experience has been life-changing for Sloan, however, and he makes several decisions both affecting his job and his marriage.

This book was downloaded as a freebie by BookBub. Different in concept, the switch between the narrations garnered my imagination. Recommended reading--embrace the uncommon style.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that I've read all 4 books in order, back to back, I can honestly say I'm going to be missing these characters. Hopefully it won't be long until book 5 is released??

Like Elizabeth's Heart, Drifter was again, much different than books 1 and 3 ~ where all of the major characters are present. Drifter is the story of what happens to Aryl during the time it is thought by his family and friends that he was dead at sea. Included in the story is the Boston police detective, Sloan, who brings Aryl home. He found Aryl very accidentally, in the course of another case he was working. On the boat ride home, they both disclose stories of their recent life experiences to one another. We get to know Sloane very well and I almost enjoyed his missing persons and home life stories more than those Aryl had to tell.

Not as much fun as Elizabeth's Heart but still good writing and an overall good story. I'm anxious to see what direction their lives will be going in upcoming books. There are numerous directions the author could take this - so many interesting characters, even visiting characters, like the psychic... I might like to know more about her character...also what happened to Elizabeth and her ghost boyfriend? Something about Elizabeth as a kid would be good - Maura's life before America, Patrick and Shannon - where they moved on (I hope they don't just drop off completely). Soooo many possibilities woven into these stories....I hope the author takes complete advantage of that fact and gives us a plethora of written stuff!

[Katie Voss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having completed the series, I honestly believe that this book stands out from the rest. While it contains the same inaccuracies and errors as the rest of the series, I found the manner in which the story was told to be engaging. However, it took me a while to get there.

When I first started this novel, my initial thoughts were: I hope I'm reading this in the right order, since apparently I got that wrong the first time! My second initial thoughts were: Why am I reading about this insignificant detective? I don't care about Sloan, or really what happened in London, I'd just like to get back to the story.

After a while I did become a little interested in Sloan, and was usually satisfied with the progression of Aryl's time in London. However, the characters just seemed so predictable. Violent drug lords, violent cop-killer, lots of prostitutes and murderers and oceans of opium. The general idea of a missing-persons-detective and his found person swapping tragic histories is BRILLIANT. But it should have been done with other characters who had their own timeline--it never should have been squished into the middle of a grammatically flawed, historically inaccurate historical fiction series.

Main points: Good ideas. Patchy plot. Needs an editor.

[John Sugden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit unsure about this BB/Kindle special as it was clearly labelled the fourth in a series and I wasn't sure whether it would read well as a stand alone novel. It turned out to be the best read I've had from my discount books so far.

It has an interesting structure of flashback and multiple narrators which drew my interest and worked pretty well. I see from reviews here that some readers found it confusing but that was not the case for me, the page breaks made the change in narrator clear. The story was entertaining if a little basic. I found Sloans story far more interesting than Arryls but they were both livened up by the drip feeding effect of the structure.

Would I read any more of the series? Not for the moment. The underlying stories are pulp novella stuff full of melodrama. Many reviewers on here seem enraged by historical inaccuracies and the like. I suspect that I got lucky with one that was different enough to be engaging.

[Florence Primrose · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sloan is a Boston Missing Persons detective. His record was great, but for the past year poor results. He was given a wet billfold of a man presumed dead. After many twists and turns in the story Sloan locates his missing person in London.

On the ship home the two men take turns telling what each has been doing for the past year before returning home.