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Mitigating Circumstances
Set in the heart of the "Redneck Riviera" during the spring of 2009, Mitigating Circumstances is a fast-paced, character-driven, and fun environmental thriller.
Gail LaRue returned to her hometown of Gulf Breeze, Florida, after college with an urban planning degree and dreams of planning utopian communities. Instead, as the junior member of the Community Development team, she finds herself battling residents about their weedy yards. But when a prominent local environmentalist is kidnapped by a zealot, Gail and her friend Emily find themselves digging into the mitigation bank industry.
In the process they uncover a land swap conspiracy that involves the Park Service and the nearby Air Force base, incurring the wrath of the local Good Old Boy network as they go.
Gail LaRue returned to her hometown of Gulf Breeze, Florida, after college with an urban planning degree and dreams of planning utopian communities. Instead, as the junior member of the Community Development team, she finds herself battling residents about their weedy yards. But when a prominent local environmentalist is kidnapped by a zealot, Gail and her friend Emily find themselves digging into the mitigation bank industry.
In the process they uncover a land swap conspiracy that involves the Park Service and the nearby Air Force base, incurring the wrath of the local Good Old Boy network as they go.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 18, 2013
1 person is currently reading
319 people want to read
About the author
Dawn Corrigan
5 books23 followersDawn Corrigan was born in New York City and grew up in South Jersey. She studied writing at Sarah Lawrence College, the University of Florida, and the University of Utah. Her debut novel, Mitigating Circumstances, an environmental mystery set in Gulf Breeze, Florida, was published by Five Star/Cengage in 2014. Her poetry and prose have appeared widely in print and online, and her masthead credits include Western Humanities Review, Girls with Insurance, and Otis Nebula, where she currently serves as co-editor. She works as a writing consultant at 7Sage and lives in Myrtle Grove FL.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 28, 2013
I just finished reading an advance copy of Mitigating Circumstances and was pleasantly surprised. The protagonist, Gail LaRue is a junior city planner slash code enforcement officer, who along with co-worker and sidekick Emily Wright find themselves investigating mitigation banks after a local environmentalist is kidnapped.
The author depicted life along Florida’s gulf coast to a T and the characters were well developed. Pat Hubbrd’s review of “aging hippie conservationists, a deranged but well meaning backwoodsman, the usual slimy villains and plenty of good ole' Bubba's” was spot on. The story has humor and adventure, but also gives the reader good insight as to how planning and zoning work in a community.
I can easily see this evolving into a series and can’t wait to see what Gail and Emily will get into next!
The author depicted life along Florida’s gulf coast to a T and the characters were well developed. Pat Hubbrd’s review of “aging hippie conservationists, a deranged but well meaning backwoodsman, the usual slimy villains and plenty of good ole' Bubba's” was spot on. The story has humor and adventure, but also gives the reader good insight as to how planning and zoning work in a community.
I can easily see this evolving into a series and can’t wait to see what Gail and Emily will get into next!
August 16, 2013
I was fortuante enough to obtain an advance copy of this book im exchange for a review.
This book is definitely a fun easy read with enough detail and intrigue to keep it interesting! The surreal but real references to the wackadoo world of small town culture, government and politics in the Sunshine State are rich and salty. We get to know Florida's panhandle aka 'Redneck Riviera'.
Ms. Corrigan's characters feel familiar and foreign at the same time and include the bright, funny and lovely Amazonian City Code Enforcement officer by the name of Gail LaRue as the protagonist; her equally enjoyable sidekicks, aging hippie conservationists, a deranged but well meaning backwoodsman, the usual slimy villains and plenty of good ole' Bubba's . The environmental subtext reminds us that we are all guardians of Florida with her unique beauty, flora and fauna.
Janet Evanovich and Carl Hiaasen move over and make room for this writer!
This book is definitely a fun easy read with enough detail and intrigue to keep it interesting! The surreal but real references to the wackadoo world of small town culture, government and politics in the Sunshine State are rich and salty. We get to know Florida's panhandle aka 'Redneck Riviera'.
Ms. Corrigan's characters feel familiar and foreign at the same time and include the bright, funny and lovely Amazonian City Code Enforcement officer by the name of Gail LaRue as the protagonist; her equally enjoyable sidekicks, aging hippie conservationists, a deranged but well meaning backwoodsman, the usual slimy villains and plenty of good ole' Bubba's . The environmental subtext reminds us that we are all guardians of Florida with her unique beauty, flora and fauna.
Janet Evanovich and Carl Hiaasen move over and make room for this writer!
September 28, 2013
Welcome to the Salt Life! Wry and good-humored, this environmental mystery/thriller unwinds like a drive down the beach on a summer day. Although certainly endowed with a fast-paced plot, the novel evokes the leisurely mood of its "Redneck Riviera," Florida Panhandle setting. Heroine Gail LaRue convincingly intersperses Wonder-Woman-esque badassery with a finely observed savoring of the local landscape and lifestyle. Dedicated genre fans will doubtless appreciate the action and suspense, but the novel's greatest strength is its warm, almost luminous treatment of aspects of contemporary life that are often deemed unworthy of attention, much less appreciation: Gail's office job, her favorite lunch spots. Yes, they'll learn something about environmental policies, but what most readers will probably value more is the chance for an armnchair Spring Break--without any risk of a hangover.
(This review is based on an advance reading copy I received.)
(This review is based on an advance reading copy I received.)
December 6, 2013
Dawn Corrigan’s Mitigating Circumstances is a smart and suspenseful thriller. The story is driven by characters that include environmentalists, capitalists, and criminals. In her insistent way, Gail La Rue may stand aside these categorizations… or possess qualities of each of them.
The story offers compelling insight into issues of land use, loggerheads, mitigation banks, and “Salt Life” on the Gulf Coast, or Redneck Riviera.
Corrigan’s narrative is driven by engaging dialogue; her plot includes characters developed down to the Tevas. From literary references to Moby Dick and pop-cultural nods to the likes of Boss Hogg and AC/DC, Corrigan delivers a savvy tale of plunder and accountability as Gail La Rue sorts through the complexities of what some stand to gain, or lose, through zoning and development.
The story offers compelling insight into issues of land use, loggerheads, mitigation banks, and “Salt Life” on the Gulf Coast, or Redneck Riviera.
Corrigan’s narrative is driven by engaging dialogue; her plot includes characters developed down to the Tevas. From literary references to Moby Dick and pop-cultural nods to the likes of Boss Hogg and AC/DC, Corrigan delivers a savvy tale of plunder and accountability as Gail La Rue sorts through the complexities of what some stand to gain, or lose, through zoning and development.
January 24, 2014
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Mitigating Circumstances" by Dawn Corrigan. It's pure entertainment.
The writing grabs you from the first page, flows smoothly, and was a pleasure to read.
The story is interesting, as well as entertaining, and is told with a good, healthy "dollop" of humour. I didn't feel like a single word was superfluous, but neither did I feel like 233 pages was too short (and usually, I do!).
I'm looking forward to reading more from Dawn Corrigan in the future, and would recommend "Mitigating Circumstances" to anyone who wants a fast paced, humorous and easy read.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Mitigating Circumstances" by Dawn Corrigan. It's pure entertainment.
The writing grabs you from the first page, flows smoothly, and was a pleasure to read.
The story is interesting, as well as entertaining, and is told with a good, healthy "dollop" of humour. I didn't feel like a single word was superfluous, but neither did I feel like 233 pages was too short (and usually, I do!).
I'm looking forward to reading more from Dawn Corrigan in the future, and would recommend "Mitigating Circumstances" to anyone who wants a fast paced, humorous and easy read.
February 11, 2014
This book was written by a friend of mine, so I was pre-disposed to like it. That being said, I really DID like it. Fluid writing style that sucks you in easily, great characters that I can see inhabiting an entire series of books, and a mystery that eases you into some environmental issues that may or may not be up your alley otherwise.
I enjoyed the regional feel of the book. It feels like people who know the Florida panhandle area would nod their heads in agreement with a lot of the narrative. I REALLY enjoyed the replacement cussing. I may have to start replacing my oft-used swears with the names of c-list Star Trek characters. (Reginald Barclay!!)
I enjoyed the regional feel of the book. It feels like people who know the Florida panhandle area would nod their heads in agreement with a lot of the narrative. I REALLY enjoyed the replacement cussing. I may have to start replacing my oft-used swears with the names of c-list Star Trek characters. (Reginald Barclay!!)
February 9, 2014
I received this book as part of a First Reads giveaway.
The writing was very descriptive, and the characterization immensely enjoyable. A lot of pages were filled with city planning details, less actually contained the mystery and thrill. It was a quick read, and brought up several environmental concerns that were interesting. I would recommend it to friends that were interested in those topics, but overall found it lacked the 'zing' to make it a suspenseful book. Several plot lines got lost by the end, and the overall environmental message didn't have a lasting impact, but the ease of the writing shone through to the end.
The writing was very descriptive, and the characterization immensely enjoyable. A lot of pages were filled with city planning details, less actually contained the mystery and thrill. It was a quick read, and brought up several environmental concerns that were interesting. I would recommend it to friends that were interested in those topics, but overall found it lacked the 'zing' to make it a suspenseful book. Several plot lines got lost by the end, and the overall environmental message didn't have a lasting impact, but the ease of the writing shone through to the end.
February 18, 2014
I don't read a lot nowadays. I do listen to a fair share of audiobooks, but I've really got to be interested in it for a hard copy book to take up my precious knitting time. I started reading Mitigating Circumstances on a Friday evening, read through the weekend, and took breaks only for food and sleep. I related so well to the protagonist that I just couldn't wait to find out what she was up to next. Great book! Set aside a day or two and read it!
September 8, 2013
Bored with their jobs in community development, Gail and her friend Emily jump at the opportunity to play amateur detectives. Author Dawn Corrigan perfectly captures the flavor of life in the Florida Panhandle, a place where Southern ways and the Salt Life breed fascinating characters. A fast-paced read packing a political message that is delivered with humor and plenty of local color.
November 12, 2013
This book is a delightful mystery set in the 'Redneck Riviera' of Florida's panhandle, light yet engaging and informative. Gail LaRue, the heroine, is ready for anything that comes her way no matter how off the wall. If you like Janet Evanovich's books you'll love Dawn Corrigan's debut novel. I highly recommend you give it a read.
November 12, 2013
Great twists and turns. Bet you can't guess the ending. The heroine, Gale LaRue is an intriguing personality with conflicting qualities that can truly surprise the reader. This mystery also has important insights into the eco-economy. Really think you might enjoy this one.
September 27, 2014
I know a lot more about mitigation banks in the US, but should I. Whilst the narrative was engaging and descriptive, I found a lot of the context setting unnecessary and the plot climaxed far too early IMO (ha.). The story recovered towards the end, but overall the book could have been better.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews