Crescent Beach

by David J. Mather

Cardboard-wrapped, forty-pound bales of marijuana called square grouper are flooding Florida’s Gulf Coast. Undercover State Trooper Rusty McMillan is sent into the backwater fishing village of Crescent Beach to bust a key operator and stem the area’s rampant smuggling. Expecting to deal with trailer trash, Rusty instead discovers a hardworking community from an earlier era when life was simple and straightforward. He becomes immersed in the everyday life of shrimping, crabbing, and fishing, while at night he drinks beer, arm wrestles, and plays poker with the locals who become his friends.

Rusty gets the evidence he needs, but can he make the arrest? Either way he’s a traitor: to his job or to the community. But, before he can decide, the town is slammed by unexpected hurricane force winds and a lethal twelve-foot tidal surge. Rusty joins the men, women, and children in the life-and-death struggle with a ferocious storm that plays no favorites.

428 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2016

Reviews

[Tonya Townsend · Rating 3 out of 5]

I met this author at our local Christmas festival. I bought the book since it's setting was in my neighboring County. I enjoyed the story as I remember the Storm of the Century in 1993.

[D.W.Jefferson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written novel with a unique setting and very interesting, well developed characters which the author treats sympathetically. Author David Mather holds our interest by mixing background about Florida’s rural “Big Bend” region on the gulf coast and each character into the ongoing action of the story. It is a page-turner that is difficult to put down. The characters support each other and care for each other in heart-warming ways. By the end of the book, readers feel like they know these people and would be happy to have them for neighbors.

The dialog is peppered with colorful, often humorous, local expressions. The author’s use of multiple narrators enhances the readers’ understanding of the different characters by allowing us to see events from their differing perspectives. There is a twist at the end that reinforces the theme that rural folks look out for each other, regardless of their differences.

I haven’t read a book that fascinates me with its combination of unique location and characters who are characters since “The Shipping News,” some years ago. If this novel had either a big name author associated with it, or a large publishing house behind it to sponsor author events around the country, I have no doubt that it would be a best seller.

I could see it being made into a movie or a T.V. series. Similar to Northern Exposure, except in the rural gulf coast, or Mayberry RFD, but the PG13 version. I would cast Duane “The Rock” Johnson as Rusty, the undercover state trooper who is just a good old boy at heart.

My only gripe is that the book twice identifies a famous stock car driver as Junior Thompson, and twice as Junior Johnson! You just need to use global search and replace.

[Rebecca Lloyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was interested in reading this book because it is set in the county where I grew up (Dixie County). I found a lot of it humorous and vivid from my childhood memories. While a little slow in the middle, the end finished strongly.

[Jordan Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoyed this read, and looking forward to the rest of the series. it a fictional story based on the true events of the drug trafficking that took place in the Florida pandhandle/big bend areas in the 50/60s.

[Teo smite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read set in the old Florida of the Gulf.