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Storm Rising: A Mystery
It’s been a rough five years for Lucy Hendricks.
She hasn’t had an easy time of it since her husband, Jack—a devoted and upstanding Bayonne, New Jersey, cop—was murdered while on an investigation. There were suspicions that he’d been involved with the local Mafia, and the media wouldn’t let it go, making life unbearable, so Lucy moved to Florida to raise her son, Kevin, who was born without ever knowing his father.
The distance was healing, but now Lucy is back in New Jersey to pick up the pieces in the same house she and Jack once shared, trying to move on. But the past won’t loosen its grip on the young widow, and it seems to have taken hold of Kevin as well. At first his behavior becomes increasingly erratic; then he begins making statements wise beyond his years, offering specific details about Jack’s murder he couldn’t possibly know. Lucy decides to delve into the mystery surrounding her husband’s death, for her own sanity and for Kevin’s. She can’t trust the cops, it seems, and now the local Don has reached out to her, offering help in clearing Jack’s name. As Hurricane Sandy bears down on Bayonne, Lucy must trust her instincts to save herself and her son from much more than a deadly storm.
She hasn’t had an easy time of it since her husband, Jack—a devoted and upstanding Bayonne, New Jersey, cop—was murdered while on an investigation. There were suspicions that he’d been involved with the local Mafia, and the media wouldn’t let it go, making life unbearable, so Lucy moved to Florida to raise her son, Kevin, who was born without ever knowing his father.
The distance was healing, but now Lucy is back in New Jersey to pick up the pieces in the same house she and Jack once shared, trying to move on. But the past won’t loosen its grip on the young widow, and it seems to have taken hold of Kevin as well. At first his behavior becomes increasingly erratic; then he begins making statements wise beyond his years, offering specific details about Jack’s murder he couldn’t possibly know. Lucy decides to delve into the mystery surrounding her husband’s death, for her own sanity and for Kevin’s. She can’t trust the cops, it seems, and now the local Don has reached out to her, offering help in clearing Jack’s name. As Hurricane Sandy bears down on Bayonne, Lucy must trust her instincts to save herself and her son from much more than a deadly storm.
- GenresFiction
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2016
3 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Schofield
11 books52 followersDouglas Schofield was raised and educated in British Columbia, where he earned degrees in History and Law. He has worked as a trial lawyer in Canada, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, prosecuting and defending hundreds of cases of serious crime and, more recently, conducting complex cross-border litigation. Douglas and his wife Melody live on Grand Cayman, along with their highly intelligent talking cat, Juno, who kindly permits them to share his home.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 4, 2019
The story is told in back and forth flashes between present day Lucy/Kevin and past Jack during his investigation of the dead cop... causing the writing to feel disjointed. The story was interesting enough but there were several things that didn't seem to be reality based wit the story line or maybe just need additional explanation. Kevin had never known his father but he apparently had visions causing him to "know" things that he had no way of knowing about his father. I love supernatural and paranormal elements in a story but I want them to make sense. This just came out of the blue and didn't really fit in. Overall...it was a good story and very interesting. It kept my attention throughout but with a little tweaking it could have been better.
November 29, 2016
Reading a new author is almost akin to visiting a new place. You need to adapt, familiarise and learn the groove of things. Though I’m new to author Douglas Schofield, I quickly adapt to his style of writing, drawn into the story by the gutsy characters and their suspenseful stories. Storm Rising: A Mystery by Douglas Schofield is much more than just a mystery novel. It is an exciting police procedural with supernatural elements, suspenseful and steadily paced which lovers of a tight and taut read will relish.
Storm Rising by Douglas Schofield follows the story of Lucy Hendricks, along with her son Kevin, who for over four years, has been living with her sister Erica and her husband Jeffery Barnett, and their precocious eight-year-old daughter Pauline in Florida. She had moved when she had been four months pregnant. On the surface, things seemed to be just normal for Lucy, and for some time now it has been. But life has not always been fair to Lucy. She lost her mother Giulia when she was only twelve. Less than five years ago, she was happily married and pregnant, so full of life, and excited about the future. Her husband Jack Gabriel Hendricks, her soulmate, her protector, her lifeline was an upright cop serving the community in Bayonne, New Jersey. But one fateful day, he was brutally murdered and the crime has never been solved. To add insult to injury, with his death, Jack’s reputation was in tatters with rumor flying thick and fast that he had been corrupt.
Five years on, constantly nagged by Kevin to return “home,” Lucy decided to pick up the pieces of her life and start afresh in Bayonne, New Jersey, where it all started and where she lost everything. But it was not to be easy. Storm Rising by Douglas Schofield is both real and metaphoric in the sense that Lucy and Kevin had to face both Hurricane Sandy and the people who wanted the past to stay buried as it was. Douglas Schofield’s characters and the plot he has visualized for them will keep you on the edge of your seat. The supernatural aspect of the story surrounding Kevin was interesting, and how it scared the hell out of Lucy was a realistic portrayal. Intriguing and absorbing, Storm Rising is a suspenseful read from start to finish.
Storm Rising by Douglas Schofield follows the story of Lucy Hendricks, along with her son Kevin, who for over four years, has been living with her sister Erica and her husband Jeffery Barnett, and their precocious eight-year-old daughter Pauline in Florida. She had moved when she had been four months pregnant. On the surface, things seemed to be just normal for Lucy, and for some time now it has been. But life has not always been fair to Lucy. She lost her mother Giulia when she was only twelve. Less than five years ago, she was happily married and pregnant, so full of life, and excited about the future. Her husband Jack Gabriel Hendricks, her soulmate, her protector, her lifeline was an upright cop serving the community in Bayonne, New Jersey. But one fateful day, he was brutally murdered and the crime has never been solved. To add insult to injury, with his death, Jack’s reputation was in tatters with rumor flying thick and fast that he had been corrupt.
Five years on, constantly nagged by Kevin to return “home,” Lucy decided to pick up the pieces of her life and start afresh in Bayonne, New Jersey, where it all started and where she lost everything. But it was not to be easy. Storm Rising by Douglas Schofield is both real and metaphoric in the sense that Lucy and Kevin had to face both Hurricane Sandy and the people who wanted the past to stay buried as it was. Douglas Schofield’s characters and the plot he has visualized for them will keep you on the edge of your seat. The supernatural aspect of the story surrounding Kevin was interesting, and how it scared the hell out of Lucy was a realistic portrayal. Intriguing and absorbing, Storm Rising is a suspenseful read from start to finish.
March 4, 2017
The writing in this book was solid, but the plot was pretty cliched and the characters were beyond unbelievable. That said, I did finish the whole thing and it kept me guessing, so I'm not sorry I spent the time reading it. I think this author is capable of doing better though.
May 4, 2020
I found this book on the bargain books at Indigo in Brampton, Ontario.
When I picked it up to look at it, thete was just something that intrigued about it. I really glad that I did end up buying it because I found this book absolutely enjoyable and fascinating from the first page to the very last page. I just couldn't seem to put it down and thete are very few books that I have read that have caused me to feel that way. If you like a good mystery/thriller, you won't want to miss reading this book.
When I picked it up to look at it, thete was just something that intrigued about it. I really glad that I did end up buying it because I found this book absolutely enjoyable and fascinating from the first page to the very last page. I just couldn't seem to put it down and thete are very few books that I have read that have caused me to feel that way. If you like a good mystery/thriller, you won't want to miss reading this book.
July 11, 2020
Fast paced and enjoyable the slight paranormal twist made this book stand out from others in the genre.
Provided readers are willing to suspend belief, they will probably find that 'Storm Rising' hits the spot.
I particularly liked the strong female lead, even though some of her choices were questionable. A fairly straight forward book that has solid entertainment value.
Provided readers are willing to suspend belief, they will probably find that 'Storm Rising' hits the spot.
I particularly liked the strong female lead, even though some of her choices were questionable. A fairly straight forward book that has solid entertainment value.
December 9, 2020
I almost gave up on this book. I was halfway through and was having a hard time finishing it. I received the book from my monthly subscription “Coloring and a Classic”. I hated to give up on a book I received through a subscription. It would make the subscription un-worth it. So I kept at it and it did get better. It was an ok book. Hope next month’s is better!!
June 12, 2017
I received this book free via Goodreads giveaways.
This turned out to be a great mystery with a mafia twist. Even if mafia stories aren't your thing, I think you'll still like it because it's more than that. It's about family, loyalty, and revenge. Don't be surprised if you finish it in a weekend!
This turned out to be a great mystery with a mafia twist. Even if mafia stories aren't your thing, I think you'll still like it because it's more than that. It's about family, loyalty, and revenge. Don't be surprised if you finish it in a weekend!
April 4, 2018
When I purchased this book I thought it was a mystery but it turned out to to have supernatural overtones. I was very disappointed since I don't read that genre.
May 9, 2018
Not as good as Time of Departure but it was good.
August 4, 2023
Great read!! Lots of twists and turns!
January 2, 2017
https://bookishdevices.com/2016/11/28...
3.5 stars
I’m struggling with this review. There was something missing here but I can’t quite put my finger on what it was.
Lucy Hendricks hasn’t had an easy time since her husband, Jack―a cop―was murdered while on an investigation. There were suspicions that he’d been involved with the local Mafia. This made life unbearable for Lucy, so she moved to Florida to raise her son, Kevin, who was born without ever knowing his father. But 5 years later Lucy is back to pick up the pieces in the same house she and Jack once shared.
The story is told in back and forth flashes between present day Lucy/Kevin and past Jack during his investigation of the dead cop. This way of telling a story typically doesn’t bother me but this time the writing felt disjointed and didn’t flow. The story was interesting but the lack of flow took something away. Kevin seems to have visions and know things he should have no way of knowing about his father. This added a supernatural or paranormal element that I wasn’t expecting so it threw me off. I don’t know if this kind of thing actually happens but I found it unbelievable and odd. I was not expecting this element of the story and I let that taint my feelings for this book.
Overall, this was an interesting read. It kept my attention until the end but it didn’t WOW! me.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley.
3.5 stars
I’m struggling with this review. There was something missing here but I can’t quite put my finger on what it was.
Lucy Hendricks hasn’t had an easy time since her husband, Jack―a cop―was murdered while on an investigation. There were suspicions that he’d been involved with the local Mafia. This made life unbearable for Lucy, so she moved to Florida to raise her son, Kevin, who was born without ever knowing his father. But 5 years later Lucy is back to pick up the pieces in the same house she and Jack once shared.
The story is told in back and forth flashes between present day Lucy/Kevin and past Jack during his investigation of the dead cop. This way of telling a story typically doesn’t bother me but this time the writing felt disjointed and didn’t flow. The story was interesting but the lack of flow took something away. Kevin seems to have visions and know things he should have no way of knowing about his father. This added a supernatural or paranormal element that I wasn’t expecting so it threw me off. I don’t know if this kind of thing actually happens but I found it unbelievable and odd. I was not expecting this element of the story and I let that taint my feelings for this book.
Overall, this was an interesting read. It kept my attention until the end but it didn’t WOW! me.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley.
February 6, 2017
Overall, I liked this book. Loved? Parts of it yes. But definitely liked as a whole.
The beginning seemed to drag a little, while the backstory was established. I found it hard to get into, as the story at first kept switching between characters too quickly. It was hard to keep who was who straight in my mind... and then I realized it was switching time periods, too. THAT really was hard to follow at times... part way through the book though, once the whole back story was completely established, this book really picked up.
From about the middle to the end, I couldn't put it down. The story was intense, and I simply could not wait until I found out what happened next....
Then, everything was wrapped up. But wait, there's still quite a few chapters left! Then there was a side turn that I didn't expect, and again, it left me flipping pages like a madwoman.
I would recommend this to people, yes, but I would also warn them that the beginning may be slow, but the end is worth it.
The beginning seemed to drag a little, while the backstory was established. I found it hard to get into, as the story at first kept switching between characters too quickly. It was hard to keep who was who straight in my mind... and then I realized it was switching time periods, too. THAT really was hard to follow at times... part way through the book though, once the whole back story was completely established, this book really picked up.
From about the middle to the end, I couldn't put it down. The story was intense, and I simply could not wait until I found out what happened next....
Then, everything was wrapped up. But wait, there's still quite a few chapters left! Then there was a side turn that I didn't expect, and again, it left me flipping pages like a madwoman.
I would recommend this to people, yes, but I would also warn them that the beginning may be slow, but the end is worth it.
February 6, 2017
Solid story, although I am still not sure about that ending. So is Lucy a reincarnated mafioso (-sa?)?
Want to Read
February 7, 2017I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2017
Loved this book! Schofield writes relatable characters in situations that keep you completely engaged- the storm at the center of the story is Hurricane Sandy. It has a sense of urgency that keeps the story moving, and you really care what happens to Lucy and everyone around her. Schofield writes female protagonists better than most in the business, and his story has wonderful twists and turns. Highly recommend!!
January 9, 2017
I wish I could remember where I got this recommendation... as this is my kind of BOOK! Could not put it down!
January 14, 2017
Very interesting and captivating.
December 15, 2025
6.5/10.
The plot was better than the actual book, and there while there were a lot of points that I thought could’ve been done better, I still enjoyed the read.
The plot was better than the actual book, and there while there were a lot of points that I thought could’ve been done better, I still enjoyed the read.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews