Deadly Wipeout

Aloha Lagoon #3

by Beth Prentice

From bestselling cozy mystery author Beth Prentice comes an Aloha Lagoon mystery that will leave you gasping for more...
Samantha Reynolds had hoped that moving to the resort town of Aloha Lagoon would be the start of an exciting new life. Sure it may not be everything she had hoped for—she's living with her mom, has no job, no income, and absolutely no idea what to do next. But it's a start! Out of options, Samantha decides to take a job she's just a little under-qualified for—a children's surfing instructor at the Aloha Lagoon Resort. She can surf...she just doesn't know how to teach surfing. But that soon becomes the least of her worries.


Throw in two dead bodies, two unexpected inheritances, and one hot bartender, and the heat in Aloha Lagoon has quickly turned up! Samantha just needs to figure out why her family is involved, control a group of preadolescent kids, keep her mom and brother out of jail, and get the hot bartender to notice her. It couldn't be that hard, could it? With the help of her new friend Alani and some of the quirky residents of Aloha Lagoon, she just may be able to pull it all off...and still keep everybody alive!


The Aloha Lagoon
Ukulele Murder (book #1)
Murder on the Aloha Express (book #2)
Deadly Wipeout (book #3)
Photo Finished (book #4) coming in Oct!
Deadly Bubbles in the Wine (book #5) coming in Nov!
Mele Kalikimaka Murder (book #6) coming in Dec!
Death of the Big Kahuna (book #7) coming in Jan 2017!


About Aloha
There's trouble in paradise...
Welcome to Aloha Lagoon, one of Hawaii's hidden treasures. A little bit of tropical paradise nestled along the coast of Kauai, this resort town boasts luxurious accommodation, friendly island atmosphere...and only a slightly higher than normal murder rate. While mysterious circumstances may be the norm on our corner of the island, we're certain that our staff and Lagoon natives will make your stay in Aloha Lagoon one you will never forget!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Ebooks, Amazon, Mystery Thriller, Fiction

241 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 13, 2016

About the author

Beth Prentice is the award winning, USA Today Bestselling Author of the several series and standalone novels.
She was born in Manchester, England, but after moving backwards and forwards across the world 13 times in 14 years she decided that at the age of 18 that Australia was to be her home. She now lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia where every day is a good one. She is the lucky mother of two grown up children, and, along with her ever-patient husband, she is the proud but sometimes flustered owner of four dogs, a cat, and a canary. She has always had a love of reading, and even though her background is in accounting, she has now discovered her love of writing. Her main wish is to write books you can sit back, relax with, and escape from your everyday life...and ones that you walk away from with a smile! When she's not writing you will usually find her at the beach with a coffee in hand, pursuing her favorite pastime --people watching!

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a slower paced mystery with a quick resolution but I found it to be probably true to life. The pieces of any mystery are often slow to come together, but when they do everything happens in a rush. I also found the amateur detective skills here to be very realistic. You only “know” what you’ve picked up from TV or reading detective novels, and the main character, Samantha, realizes how inept she really is as she fumbles around doing her own investigating. Samantha is really one of a kind; she’s quite likeable and relatable in her experiences as she adjusts to life in Aloha Lagoon. This was an enjoyable cozy mystery with elements of family, friendship, and romance.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beth Prentice writes such great cozy mysteries and there is a new one coming out very soon in this series so I wanted to read one that has been languishing on my TBR pile for a while and I was not sorry, I loved it there were laughs and a good mystery or two to solve and of course a romance, this one is a page turner.

Samantha Reynolds has moved from Sydney Australia to be with her mother Rita and twin brother Luke in Hawaii, they live in the resort town of Aloha Lagoon, this should be fun but Sam is broke and needs a job and fast, so she applies for the surfing instructor’s job she may not be fully qualified but she is confident and the resort is pretty desperate, but on her first day things go pear shaped and fast when a dead body knocks her over in the surf.

This turns even worse when there is another dead body and two inheritances to her mother and brother lead them to be murder suspects and Sam is more than determined to prove them innocent and she will do anything to prove it. There is also the cute and gorgeous bar tender Casey who Sam is fast falling for and as Sam investigates and Casey is there to offer assistance things get more dangerous by the day, Sam has a real knack for being a bit of a klutz and finds it easy to get herself into trouble.

This is a story that I would highly recommend, unravelling the mystery is not always easy for Sam but her strength and her no give up attitude is fabulous there really are so many laughs along the way and she and Casey are finding it easy to be together. I loved the setting and the characters Beth Prentice has bought them to life and made them very easy to make friends with, now off to start the new one.

My thanks to the author for digital copy.

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love visiting Aloha Lagoon !! As soon as you start reading one of the books in this amazing series, you are completely lost in the resort, the people and murder !!!

Deadly Wipeout by Beth Prentice is the third book in this series and because the books are all written by different authors, you do not have to read the Aloha Lagoon Resort Mystery series book in order.

Deadly Wipeout follows Samantha who just moved from Sydney Australia to Hawaii. She moves to Hawaii to live with her mother and twin brother, Luke. Being new to the island and desperate for money, she applys for a job as a surf instructor for the resort and gets the job !!! Unfortunately on her first day a dead body washes up in the waves knocking her for a loop.....even though she is new to the island and knows no one, that doesn't stop her from diving full force into the investigation when her mum is taken in for questioning !! Come to find out the deceased was a resident at the nursing home that her mum and brother work at and had recently changed his will leaving her mum everything. Things tumble downhill and spiral when another resident is found murdered and her brother is a suspect......Sam and her new friend, Alani, will do anything to prove their innocence.

You cannot help but fall in love with Sam and her nervous ways, especially when she is around the sexy bartender, Casey and for the rapidly growing friendship she is making with Alani. And even though she is new to the area and doesn't know a lot of people, it doesn't stop her from he devotion to her family.

It is said that Prentice's "main wish is to write books you can sit back, relax with, and escape from your everyday life.....and ones that you walk away from with a smile !" and that is absolutely what she did with Deadly Wipeout. I know I escaped while reading it and sure had a huge smile on my face when I finished. You would think that after reading a great book like that would have the reader sad upon completion of it, but knowing that there are more books in the Aloha Lagoon Resort series to read, you know that the adventure will continue......

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good story about Aloha Lagoon. This time, the lead character has just moved to Kauai to be with her family. She takes the first job she comes to-surfing instructor to children at the Aloha Lagoon. Of course since she hasn't surfed since long before she left Sydney, Sam has some catching up to do in her technique. Before she has much of a chance, she is hit by a dead man who is surfing the waves where she is teaching. Since he was a patient at the nursing home where her mother and brother work, things don't go smoothly. When a second body is discovered, the questions start all over. Both her mother and brother were beneficiaries in the wills of the old gents, and now both are suspects in their murders.

Fortunately, Sam has made a couple of good friends who are willing to help her sleuth and try to figure out who the murderer/s could really be. Her mother's boyfriend is one of many suspects as she discovers he doesn't always tell the truth! Then there are a couple of guards at the nursing home that she suspects as well as the manager and another nurse! So many people. Sam struggles to figure out the truth before Detective Ray puts her family in jail.

A good mystery with a little romance, nice family feelings, beautiful scenery and appreciation for the island, and some great chuckles. If you haven't read the other books in the series, you can still read this as a stand-alone book. However you will enjoy it more if you have read the other books and know the people who are part of Aloha Lagoon.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam moved to Aloha Lagoon from Sydney to be with her family, which was her mother and her twin brother. As she was out of a job, she applied for the position of surf instructor at the beautiful resort, thinking that surfing was like riding a bike, you may be out of practice, but you never really forget. Unfortunately for her, she was landed with the kids class as Brad, the regular instructor was away with appendicitis. If that was not bad enough, when she was in the water with the kids, a tide rushes in, pushes her over head first into the ocean, right in front of the cute bartender that she fancied, only that it wasn't the tide, it was a dead body. A dead body who used to be one of the residents of a retirement care home that Sam's mother works at, a resident who has named her as the sole beneficiary to his will. Detective Ray thinks that this is highly suspicious, enough to make Sam's mum a murder suspect, and he was not about to change his mind in a hurry.

This is the first book of Beth Prentice's that I have read and I enjoyed it very much. I will certainly be on the lookout for more of her books

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam needs a job quickly so she applies for the position of children's surfing instructor (somewhat glossing over the fact that is has been a few years since she surfed and she has never taught anyone!), on her first day though the problems she thought she might encounter are eclipsed by a dead body slamming into her back .... oh and it goes downhill from there with her Mum being accused of "helping" the elderly man to reach his eternal rest a little earlier than anticipated!

It gets even worse when her twin brother is also accused of murder - she needs the help of a local by the name of Alani (also her new best buddy) and it would be nice if the flirtation she has going on with Casey the bartender could come to something (which means her bother Luke butting out!)

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book from this author..but it won't be my last. I love this series. Each book is written by a different author but it's as if they were all sitting at a table together. I love how characters from some of the other books are mentioned in this book. It's like visiting old friends.I like how the main character Samantha,talks her way in to getting a job. She is desperate and wants to start a new life and being with her family again. On her first day as a surfing instructor, a body washes up and plows right in to her. This begins her adventure of mystery,murders and secrets. I highly recommend this book if you love a good mystery with a great storyline . Fun and entertaining

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Aloha Lagoon Series. In this book the main character Samantha has moved to Hawaii from Australia to be with her family. She takes a job she is not exactly qualified for, stumbles upon a dead body, and must try to solve the murder in order to save her family. Another great book in this series. Each book can be read as a stand alone, but why would you want to do that when you can read all three.
**I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**

[Barbara Tobey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spend some time in Hawaii, you will be glad you did. Our young protagonist is starting over in Hawaii. Her mother and twin brother are already living there. Some surprises, some are easy to guess, others are not. The story is entertaining and engaging. I look forward to reading more from Beth Prentice. An advance reader copy was provided by the publisher for an honest review.

[Julesy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, from beginning to end! Great characters, great plot, great scenery, what more could you ask for?

I only wished the chapters were a bit shorter. They seemed incredibly long and it is difficult at times to determine when to stop and bookmark on my kobo when reading during my lunch break.

[Krystyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sun, sand and sea - shame about the bodies.

Loved it! Teaching kids to surf should be easy if you have been a surfer. However if you haven't surfed in years you might have a slight problem. Especially when dead bodies suddenly turn up and your closest family is framed for the deaths. A fun read that let's you try to uncover the clues as you go. A good cozy.

[Nancy H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good mystery in the Aloha Lagoon Mystery series. In this one, a dead body washes up on the beach at the exact same time as Samantha starts her new job as a surf instructor for children. Not only does the body wash up, but it actually hits Samantha and knocks her over. That is not the only blow she takes, though, because she soon finds that her mother is accused of having murdered the man at the care home where she works. Things get complicated when Samantha's brother Luke is soon accused of murdering another man. The police don't seem to be targeting anyone except Samantha's family, so she has to try to find the real murderer before she herself is harmed. This is a good mystery for cozy mystery lovers.

[Barbara ★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book but didn't love it. Samantha was all-around inept which I didn't find endearing at all. Honestly all the characters were mostly unlikable except for Casey and Alani who I liked.

[Ann-Maree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book first when it was released and it was so nice to revisit Sam's antics from the start again. I have read all the Samantha Reynolds books and some of the other books in the Aloha Lagoon series.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
This audio was narrated by Tessa Needham this was a first time listen to this narrator for me and at first, I was very unsure if I like her take on this story. But as the story went along and my memory of the story was refreshed I came better accustomed to her tone, speed and voice.

Beth Prentice has a way with words that entertain you while putting a smile on your face with her wonderful character's antics of life. Sam is no different she will make you laugh, make you cringe, make you say stop and thing, but most of all she will make you keep reading to learn more about her and her life. Sam has recently moved from Sydney Australia to Hawaii to be closer to her mother and twin brother, Luke. But living with them both was not in the plan, she has had trouble finding work but as the book starts she finds herself a job as a surf instructor at the local resort. What could possibly go wrong with this type of job??????????

Ssm soon finds herself as an amateur detective when her mother is taken in for questioning about murder and all the fun will not stop there as a second murder will have her brother in the hot seat next. As both victims reside from the nursing home were her mother and brother work.

Sam is not alone in her sleuthing she will involve her new friends Alani and the sexy bartender, Casey. This book is full of fun, mystery, secrets, family drama, attraction and lots of laughs to keep you fully entertain to the very last word. If you are like me you will not see the end coming at all!!!!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book started a little slow but picked up. I received it as an ARC. I read another in the Aloha series. This book is about Samantha who moves from Australia to Hawaii to move in with her mother and her twin Luke. She gets a job teaching surfing to children at a resort only to get hit by a dead body. Low and behold the dead person has left his money to her mother who works at a nursing home where the man had been living. The next person to die leaves his money to her brother. Samantha is afraid detective Ray is targeting her family so she investigates. Eventually she finds the killer, her long lost father and starts a romantic relationship. A fun book all around.

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the Aloha Lagoon mysteries, but have to confess that if this had been my first dip into the series I'm not sure I would stick with it. It didn't hold my attention as well as the other ones due to a really slow buildup to the mystery while the final wrap up felt very hurried and clumsy. I will admit there are some characters I really liked (like the best friend Alani and her grandma-- I almost wish they could have been the focus of the book). I'm going to keep reading through the Aloha Lagoon mysteries-- I like the way we get to see the same character through different author's lenses.

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and tense mystery with great characters.. I loved the main characters and look forward to seeing their relationships grow. The mystery was a good one and their suspicions were reasonable throughout. I want my characters to be intelligent and follow sensible path as they investigate and we don't always see that in cozy mysteries. The only negative was that she didn't consider her own safety which made her seem immature. That is common in many of the cozy mysteries that I love. I still can't wait to read more!

Ms. Prentice makes the scenery come alive without sacrificing plot!

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

A series of mysteries, all set in the same small town, written by different authors. This could have been an interesting series to read. The thing is, I think there was a template: 1 goofy girl, 1 hot guy, a murder or two, the very slow moving detective in hawaiian shirt and shorts, the obligatory bad guy/girl, and a very good friend to the goofy girl. The girl (or a relative of hers) is suspected of murder, so the hot guy, who has fallen for the girl in about 2 seconds, decides they should investigate so the girl/her relative doesn't get locked up.

[Mindy Pollock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first two books of this series and didn't like them. I read the preview of the 3rd book and then decided to read it. This one was SOOOOO much better! I love the characters! It wasn't cheesy. Had a good plot and didn't drag on forever! Now I will go ahead and try the next one, but seriously - this one is so much better!

[Shannon Binegar-Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series keeps getting better and better. I am so glad there are several more in the series. I can't wait for the next book to come out.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Sarka B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a third book in Aloha Lagoon cozy mystery serie set in Hawaii and I enjoyed reading it. It has nice atmosphere and tropical vibe. It is engaging and in last chapters gripping with a surprising twist. Can't wait to read next book in this nice serie.

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It did slow down towards the middle where the romance took over from the mystery side of the story, which I don't normally like (being a mystery fan) but I actually did enjoy it. The romance was sweet and often amusing, the interaction between the shy couple and the mishaps and misunderstanding that go along with it and add in the over protective but brother and you have some fun entertainment. I liked the surf instruction idea for a job (perfect for an island and a nice change from working in the catering industry) and I liked how she struggled with giving the lesson, I think I would have liked a few more fun lessons with the children but that might just be me thinking kids are funny. The mystery was good and although I had guessed the major twist at the end, I hadn't guessed the right had guy. I liked the way the story unfolded, the only problem I had was why were the bodies moved from the nursing home in the first place?
Samantha has packed everything she owns and moved back home after a bad break up and losing her job. In desperate need of money she lies while applying to teach children how to surf and despite off to a bad start she gets the job. Her first lesson doesn't go well when the children know more about surfing then she does and when she finally dares to take them into the sea it's only to get knocked over by a dead body. The dead man lived in a nursing home where Sam's mum, Rita, and brother, Luke, work at and when a lawyer informs Rita that she has been named the beneficiary of the will, she gets suspended and the police take a closer look at her. Then another body is found, this time naming Luke in the will. Knowing the two people she cares for the most in the world could be going to jail as the police aren't looking at anybody else Sam sets out to find her own answers and maybe in the process find a killer.

[Linda (The Arizona Bookstagrammer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Deadly Wipeout” (Aloha Lagoon #3) by Beth Prentice. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Cozy Mystery Series Location: The fictional town of Aloha Lagoon on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, USA. Time: Present. Note: All books in the series are set in Aloha Lagoon and have the same supporting characters, but the books have different lead characters and are written by different authors.-
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Samantha moved from Australia to Kauai to join her mother and brother. Eager to start working, she takes a job as surfing instructor at the local resort. Can she surf? Yes. Has she surfed in the past 10 years? Well, no, but it’s like riding a bicycle, right? Her body will remember how, right? Imagine her surprise when, during her first time in the water as an instructor, she is slammed down by an incoming object. Not just an object, but an actual dead body!-
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Soon the murder becomes personal. Sam, her twin brother Luke, her new best friend Alani, and Casey the hot bartender join together to figure out why residents of the local nursing home are changing their wills and then suddenly dying.-
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It’s a typical cozy mystery with lots of embarrassing, slightly sexy moments as Sam and Casey circle each other, lots of coincidences that lead to clues, and characters you won’t find anywhere except in cozy mysteries. Sam also makes body-shaming comments about others, some characters are pretty one-dimensional, and the book wasn’t edited very carefully for facts. If you can overlook those, it’s a quick, fast, cozy read set in paradise. It’s 3 stars from me for #3 in the Aloha Lagoon series. 🌵📚👩🏼‍🦳”

[Claire Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth's Aloha Lagoon stories are focused around the quirky character of Samantha Reynolds who has a tendency for getting herself into trouble. This was a fun read, with some good laughs and a dose of intrigue.

I had to laugh straight up when Samantha goes to a job interview as a surf instructor and has absolutely no idea what she is doing, lol, it's something like I might do myself, in at the deep end and all that jazz.

On Samantha's first day, a body washes up in the surf and she is drawn into a murder mystery that sees her putting herself in danger while uncovering secrets and trying to clear the names of those closest to her.

I loved the cast of characters who are part of Aloha Lagoon and who welcome Samantha to the island. There's hunky British bartender Casey, who I'm totally in love with, what a hunny he is. Then there's fabulous new best friend Alani who owns the surf shop. Samantha's brother Luke is a great brother even if he can be moody at times. Alani's grandmother is good fun and I enjoy the scenes she is in while the girls are gathering information (or is that gossip).

The bad guys are not very nice at all, and really, they aren't overly smart either. But they can be dangerous.

I really enjoyed my first visit to Aloha Lagoon and am going back to visit Samantha and co tonight with Lethal Tide. 

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of cozy mysteries and Kauai like me, you will like Deadly Wipeout the third book in the Aloha Lagoon mystery series. Twenty-eight year old Samantha Reynolds has moved from Sydney Australia to Kauai to live with her mother and twin brother, Luke. She has managed to get a job as a surfing instructor at the Aloha Lagoon Resort. On her first day on the job, a man from the Aloha Ohana nursing home, 92 year old Albert William Johnstone, wipes up in the waves. Obviously he has been murdered! The main suspect is her mother who works at the nursing home. Samantha, with help from her new friends, Alaini and Casey, sets out to solve the murder. This book is full of secrets, surprises, new romances, beautiful scenery, and danger. I liked the characters and I enjoyed reading it.

[Rose Mcclarin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long lost relatives, shady characters and a suspicious boyfriend are just part of the craziness. First Sam gets more than she bargained for when she moves to Aloha Lagoon to join her family. Who knew being a surfing instructor would include being knocked down by a dead body or that it would end up looking like her family has something to do with the murder. Things get very confusing with lots of twists and turns and way too many suspects in the mix. After a couple of shocking twists, the murder is finally found but it's a close call. If you love edge of your seat mysteries, then this is the book for you.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were definitely parts I liked but this wasn't my favorite cozy mystery. I felt that the main character was very immature. I know she is young, 23, I believe however she acted like a hormonal teenager when it came to the romance. Therr were a few things I found inconsistent.
The author however did make the setting of Hawaii come alive. I liked how she referenced traditional local myths as well.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deadly Wipeout

This is a great cozy mystery. There's never a dull moment as Samantha is busy trying to figure out who killed two nursing home residents and why. Lots of action and intrigue with a little love adds to this wonderful story. I recommend it to everyone who likes cozy mysteries and I give it 5 stars.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyable book

Samantha moved to Hawaii to be with her mom and brother. She gets a job teaching kids how to surf when she finds not only herself but her family embroiled in not one but two murders. Add in the sexy bartender and you have a terrific story! I highly recommend this book.

[Rachelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a great setting and story line but there are too many "sexy bits". ie, describing how Sam is attracted to Casey. Don't get me wrong, they're well written, but I don't read books like that. Oh well, moving on I guess. And the bulk newsletter email I got from the author described the latest book in which Sam & Casey get married. That spoiler sealed the deal.