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Charlie Crawford Mystery #2
Palm Beach Poison
Vasily Zinoviev is the last man on earth you want to say no to. Just ask the "working girl" who suffered a horrible death while skinny-dipping in a pool one night. Or the president of the prestigious Poinciana Club who’s sorry he ever laid eyes on the ruthless Russian.
Living in a $20 million oceanfront mansion with a harem of mistresses, Vasily and his brother are more than a handful for Palm Beach homicide detective Charlie Crawford. But throw in a vengeful ex-wife, a vicious hit man, a mysterious tycoon–even more diabolical than the Russians– and you have Palm Beach Poison.
Living in a $20 million oceanfront mansion with a harem of mistresses, Vasily and his brother are more than a handful for Palm Beach homicide detective Charlie Crawford. But throw in a vengeful ex-wife, a vicious hit man, a mysterious tycoon–even more diabolical than the Russians– and you have Palm Beach Poison.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2016
2028 people are currently reading
597 people want to read
About the author
Tom Turner
16 books91 followersA native New Englander, Tom Turner ran a bar in Vermont after college, then moved to New York and spent time as an award-winning copywriter at several Manhattan advertising agencies.
After years of post-Mad Men life, he made a radical change and got a job in commercial real estate. A few years later he ended up in Palm Beach, buying, renovating and selling houses. On the side, he wrote Palm Beach Nasty, its sequel, Palm Beach Poison, and a screenplay, Underwater.
While at a wedding, he fell for the charm of Charleston, South Carolina, and moved there. He recently completed his third novel entitled, Killing Time in Charleston.
After years of post-Mad Men life, he made a radical change and got a job in commercial real estate. A few years later he ended up in Palm Beach, buying, renovating and selling houses. On the side, he wrote Palm Beach Nasty, its sequel, Palm Beach Poison, and a screenplay, Underwater.
While at a wedding, he fell for the charm of Charleston, South Carolina, and moved there. He recently completed his third novel entitled, Killing Time in Charleston.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
January 17, 2018
Wasn't interesting.
Series of rather long twist and turns. Russian brothers wants to buy private gulf club in Palm Beach to build condos. They aren't the only ones, millionaires and billionaires to make more millions.
Series of rather long twist and turns. Russian brothers wants to buy private gulf club in Palm Beach to build condos. They aren't the only ones, millionaires and billionaires to make more millions.
March 5, 2022
Really enjoyed this book. Full of action in every page, will definitely be reading more from this author
August 28, 2021
It isn’t great literature but it is highly entertaining with an array of crazy characters. There is plenty of action, snark, and the good guys always win in the end. Something a little lighter, even though the death toll was pretty extensive, was appreciated.
Want to read
January 2, 2018💝 FREE on Amazon today (1/2/2018)! 💝
June 29, 2017
( Format : Audiobook )
""Dead people are bad for tourism!""
One of the most entertaining mystery thrillers that I have listened to recently: not great literature, perhaps, but well conceived, written and brilliantly narrated. The action might not seem fast initially but there is so much packed into it with a great cast of superbly crafter characters featuring businessmen, billionaires, Russians and realtors as well as the main protagonists themselves. Plenty of murder and mayhem, with some rather unusual despatching methods, There is even a thrilling car chase and some nice red herrings at large. Quite enough for the ex NYPD homicide detective, Charlie Crawford, now based in sleepy Palm Beach, to sort out with he help of his partner, Mort Ott, without the flack he's getting from his police superiors. Charlie even tries to have a private life, too.
Phil Thron's narration is superb. So much of the book is dialogue and, with a large cast of disperate characters it was easy to forget this was a reading and not a full cast performance, so skillfully was each person voiced. The text in between was read with perfectly paced speed and emotion to fit the context, always calm but guaging the feeling exactly. This is a narrator to look out for again in the future.
This is a light, fun, gently humourous book which feels remarkably substantial and, despite the oddities, real. I loved it and can wholeheartedly recommend it to other listeners. My deep thanks to the rights holder who freely gifted me my copy of Palm Beach Poison, via Audiobook Boom, and so introduced me to Charlie Crawford and his police patch in Palm Beach. I enjoyed it so much that I have already purchased the first book in the series ( the stories are completely stand alone) which I have not yet read, and, the naughty publisher having included the first two chapters of book three at the end of this audiobook as a bonus, I am waiting impatiently for that one, too. Sign me up!
""Dead people are bad for tourism!""
One of the most entertaining mystery thrillers that I have listened to recently: not great literature, perhaps, but well conceived, written and brilliantly narrated. The action might not seem fast initially but there is so much packed into it with a great cast of superbly crafter characters featuring businessmen, billionaires, Russians and realtors as well as the main protagonists themselves. Plenty of murder and mayhem, with some rather unusual despatching methods, There is even a thrilling car chase and some nice red herrings at large. Quite enough for the ex NYPD homicide detective, Charlie Crawford, now based in sleepy Palm Beach, to sort out with he help of his partner, Mort Ott, without the flack he's getting from his police superiors. Charlie even tries to have a private life, too.
Phil Thron's narration is superb. So much of the book is dialogue and, with a large cast of disperate characters it was easy to forget this was a reading and not a full cast performance, so skillfully was each person voiced. The text in between was read with perfectly paced speed and emotion to fit the context, always calm but guaging the feeling exactly. This is a narrator to look out for again in the future.
This is a light, fun, gently humourous book which feels remarkably substantial and, despite the oddities, real. I loved it and can wholeheartedly recommend it to other listeners. My deep thanks to the rights holder who freely gifted me my copy of Palm Beach Poison, via Audiobook Boom, and so introduced me to Charlie Crawford and his police patch in Palm Beach. I enjoyed it so much that I have already purchased the first book in the series ( the stories are completely stand alone) which I have not yet read, and, the naughty publisher having included the first two chapters of book three at the end of this audiobook as a bonus, I am waiting impatiently for that one, too. Sign me up!
July 13, 2017
As the follow- up to Palm Beach Nasty, I found that Palm Beach Poison was both a worthy sequel and a story that can stand on its own. In my opinion though Palm Beach Poison is not as strong as a story than Palm Beach Nasty. The characters of Ms. Almes and her lover were not given a satisfying wrap as Nick in Palm Beach Nasty. Almes and her abusive boyfriend just seem to be there and provide nothing useful to the plot. Despite this one weakness, I loved Palm Beach Poison. The twist of who was the real villain in the story was amazing and the ways that characters were murdered was incredibly creative and did an excellent job of relating to place as a source of inspiration. I would gladly recommend Mr. Turner's work to both causal readers and any serious fan of crime novels.
March 12, 2018
As good as Palm Beach Nasty was I can’t believe it took me since last May to read the second book, Palm Beach Poison, because I absolutely love Crawford and Ott.
This book was better than the first one. It just amazes me that these millionaire/billionaires in Palm Beach think they can commit murder, in this case it was seven murders, in order to get what they want. Although, I wasn’t sad about Vasily and Aleksandr because they were just murderous assholes. However, it really was disgusting HOW they died, along with an innocent woman. I guess that the smartest person involved was Churchill Ames. He got the hell outta Dodge as soon as he was threatened by Vasily, but not before another innocent woman was killed.
This was such a good story I’m moving on to the next book instead of waiting so long in-between the books.
No sex and the F-bomb was used 37 times.
As to the narration: Just like the first book I loved Phil Thron’s narration and I hated it. Loved the voices he gave all his male characters but hated the women’s voices. It was like he really didn’t even try to sound feminine. His emotions when he read was awesome, though.
This book was better than the first one. It just amazes me that these millionaire/billionaires in Palm Beach think they can commit murder, in this case it was seven murders, in order to get what they want. Although, I wasn’t sad about Vasily and Aleksandr because they were just murderous assholes. However, it really was disgusting HOW they died, along with an innocent woman. I guess that the smartest person involved was Churchill Ames. He got the hell outta Dodge as soon as he was threatened by Vasily, but not before another innocent woman was killed.
This was such a good story I’m moving on to the next book instead of waiting so long in-between the books.
No sex and the F-bomb was used 37 times.
As to the narration: Just like the first book I loved Phil Thron’s narration and I hated it. Loved the voices he gave all his male characters but hated the women’s voices. It was like he really didn’t even try to sound feminine. His emotions when he read was awesome, though.
May 18, 2021
My first novel by Tom Turner. Charlie Crawford is a great new character for me and I will definitely be reading more in the series.
January 4, 2018
Brilliant
Really enjoyed this book. Full of action in every page, will definitely be reading more from this author. Will? Recommend to my friends
Really enjoyed this book. Full of action in every page, will definitely be reading more from this author. Will? Recommend to my friends
October 11, 2024
Palm Beach police detective Charlie Crawford has his hands full when the wealthy and usually quiet town is hit with a series of homicides. With his partner Mort Ott, Charlie has to figure out who was responsible for the gruesome death of a young woman in a wealthy lawyer’s swimming pool. Charlie suspects that a pair of shady Russian brothers might have been involved, but proving it is another story. And as more murders pile up, the case becomes even more puzzling.
This is the first book by Turner that I’ve read. It’s fast-paced and populated with some interesting characters on both sides of the law. There are some fun digs at the lifestyles of the wealthiest Palm Beach residents, along with some name-checking of real-life folks such as the late Rush Limbaugh (“the bloviator”) and a certain former president.
All in all, I enjoyed reading Palm Beach Poison and I anticipate reading more about Charlie Crawford’s adventures.
This is the first book by Turner that I’ve read. It’s fast-paced and populated with some interesting characters on both sides of the law. There are some fun digs at the lifestyles of the wealthiest Palm Beach residents, along with some name-checking of real-life folks such as the late Rush Limbaugh (“the bloviator”) and a certain former president.
All in all, I enjoyed reading Palm Beach Poison and I anticipate reading more about Charlie Crawford’s adventures.
May 31, 2022
I thought this book was kind of slow moving but it is very well written. I love Charlie Crawford with all the women wanting him and I like his partner Ott. I wish they would get rid of the suck up captain who never seems to do anything but yell to get the job done and usually ends up wasting Charlie and Ott's time that they could have been solving the murders. The story line was good though slow moving and I never guessed some of the side criminals. A good read.
August 11, 2023
A fun read, plenty of action and fast paced action to enjoy. Great for reading on holiday.
December 31, 2020
Palm Beach Poison - a review by Rosemary Kenny
In an exclusive Palm Beach ocean-front mansion, murder and extortion become everyday events for the new occupants - who are Russian Mafiosi!
Amongst other crimes, they apply pressure to the Ponciana Golf Club's President to sell it to them.
Churchill Ames, initially rebuffs their blatant bribery and thinks he can walk away scot free, only to find the reprisals are far more deadly than he'd ever have imagined.
Detective Charlie Crawford and his partner Mort Ott are soon hot on the trail, after further deaths occur. With no honour among thieves, can our sleuths weed out the guilty from the innocent?
What makes the Golf Club worth millions of dollars (and seven murders), to obtain its ownership?
Who is Evsei? What is Leon Barnes' involvement? How will Crawford and Ott get to the truth?
Palm Beach Poison is Book 2 in the Charlie Crawford Palm Beach Mysteries series by Tom Turner, a great standalone novel that is sure to make you buy/read all the rest as quickly as they're available Get your copy of Palm Beach Poison today!
June 21, 2017
Great fast read book
I am not an avid reader, but Tom's books are great. Characters are well developed and in only a few pages you are hooked to the plot. If you like James Patterson, Tom's books are a must read.
I am not an avid reader, but Tom's books are great. Characters are well developed and in only a few pages you are hooked to the plot. If you like James Patterson, Tom's books are a must read.
July 15, 2017
Great book
This was a great book, it doesn't disappoint, grabs your attention and keeps going. I loved the first book and will probably love the next. So keep writing Mr Turner.
This was a great book, it doesn't disappoint, grabs your attention and keeps going. I loved the first book and will probably love the next. So keep writing Mr Turner.
May 19, 2017
Fun read
This series has been great so far. Fun reads that seem to fly by and leave you wanting more...i.e., the next book.
This series has been great so far. Fun reads that seem to fly by and leave you wanting more...i.e., the next book.
August 30, 2017
Another page turner
Couldn't put this one down either! Keeps you guessing until the very end. Great read. Highly recommend to you all!
Couldn't put this one down either! Keeps you guessing until the very end. Great read. Highly recommend to you all!
June 18, 2024
The luxurious Poinciana Club features in the first 'Charlie Crawford Mystery' (Palm Beach Nasty) and is brought to the fore in the second, “Palm Beach Poison”.
With over 300 members, almost all multi-millionaires and billionaires, it isn't for sale at any price. At least that's what the Club President, Churchill Ames, believes.
Criminal Russian brothers Vasily and Aleksandr Zinoviev are very sure he's wrong and send in 25 water moccasin snakes while he's entertaining his girlfriend in his garden.
She dies, he's bitten. After treatment Churchill heads for the hills.
Suddenly the Club's future is very much in doubt.
Charlie and his partner Mort Ott start digging and soon find themselves up to their necks in the rich and powerful men who believe they can do anything they want to and walk away scot free.
Not if Charlie has anything to do with it!
The pace is fast, the plot is solid, and the characters are interesting - the one thing slightly off was that it felt slightly formulaic and without some of the zest of the first in the series.
3 Stars.
With over 300 members, almost all multi-millionaires and billionaires, it isn't for sale at any price. At least that's what the Club President, Churchill Ames, believes.
Criminal Russian brothers Vasily and Aleksandr Zinoviev are very sure he's wrong and send in 25 water moccasin snakes while he's entertaining his girlfriend in his garden.
She dies, he's bitten. After treatment Churchill heads for the hills.
Suddenly the Club's future is very much in doubt.
Charlie and his partner Mort Ott start digging and soon find themselves up to their necks in the rich and powerful men who believe they can do anything they want to and walk away scot free.
Not if Charlie has anything to do with it!
The pace is fast, the plot is solid, and the characters are interesting - the one thing slightly off was that it felt slightly formulaic and without some of the zest of the first in the series.
3 Stars.
Read
October 28, 2024This review is for my own purposes, so I can remember what I thought of the book, etc. If you might want to read the book I suggest going ahead and reading it then making your own decisions about it.
Personal notes:
I am still not sure what to rate this book and the first book in the series at. The story had plenty of twists and turns and exciting action. At the same time, neither book felt like the Detectives solved the case so much as had a solution fall in their laps in the form of someone willing to turn on the people who hired them. Which, without any supporting evidence seems unlikely to me to result in a conviction. It also seems odd that people so rich would remain in jail before being convicted instead of being let out on extreme bail.
The characters have a thin sliver of depth to them which makes me almost care what happens to them. That said, most of the relationships and hook ups seem superficial and undeveloped.
At the same time the book was enjoyable enough to have read in a week. The endings just seem a bit abrupt and undeveloped.
Personal notes:
I am still not sure what to rate this book and the first book in the series at. The story had plenty of twists and turns and exciting action. At the same time, neither book felt like the Detectives solved the case so much as had a solution fall in their laps in the form of someone willing to turn on the people who hired them. Which, without any supporting evidence seems unlikely to me to result in a conviction. It also seems odd that people so rich would remain in jail before being convicted instead of being let out on extreme bail.
The characters have a thin sliver of depth to them which makes me almost care what happens to them. That said, most of the relationships and hook ups seem superficial and undeveloped.
At the same time the book was enjoyable enough to have read in a week. The endings just seem a bit abrupt and undeveloped.
Read
January 21, 2021A very entertaining police novel
Detective Crawford is charged with solving the murder of a young woman who was murdered by a water moccasin in a private pool. Well there were approximately 25 snakes . Pretty dangerous . The home owner was also bitten, however he got himself to the hospital in time . He also managed to disappear pretty fast . The center of the story is actually the very exclusive golf club in the center of Palm Beach . The who and why were very difficult to discover new . This was followed by two more murders . The pressure was on, of course as the chief demanded the murders be solved ""yesterday ". As usual , the ruffled feathers of the uber rich bothered the chief , the mayor , etc. A good amount of humor is found in the writing .
Detective Crawford is charged with solving the murder of a young woman who was murdered by a water moccasin in a private pool. Well there were approximately 25 snakes . Pretty dangerous . The home owner was also bitten, however he got himself to the hospital in time . He also managed to disappear pretty fast . The center of the story is actually the very exclusive golf club in the center of Palm Beach . The who and why were very difficult to discover new . This was followed by two more murders . The pressure was on, of course as the chief demanded the murders be solved ""yesterday ". As usual , the ruffled feathers of the uber rich bothered the chief , the mayor , etc. A good amount of humor is found in the writing .
January 3, 2022
This guy is GOOD!
I’ve been reading A LOT lately and Tom Turner is in a master class all by himself. This is the 2nd Charlie Crawford book I’ve read and looking forward to reading more. The writing is solid, the editing great (just one pronoun was wrong), the story line is reasonable and believable. The characters and dialogue are top notch. One thing in the 2nd book is the 2 brothers, about 2/3 in their dialogue doesn’t match up with their names. As if, in proofreading, the names were switched. The brother with the accent all of a sudden loses the accent, cadence, and seems to have the higher IQ of the other brother. It is rectified afterward but I do think for a while the names were switched - if you reverse the names the dialogue style makes more sense. But, it’s still a 5star read!
I’ve been reading A LOT lately and Tom Turner is in a master class all by himself. This is the 2nd Charlie Crawford book I’ve read and looking forward to reading more. The writing is solid, the editing great (just one pronoun was wrong), the story line is reasonable and believable. The characters and dialogue are top notch. One thing in the 2nd book is the 2 brothers, about 2/3 in their dialogue doesn’t match up with their names. As if, in proofreading, the names were switched. The brother with the accent all of a sudden loses the accent, cadence, and seems to have the higher IQ of the other brother. It is rectified afterward but I do think for a while the names were switched - if you reverse the names the dialogue style makes more sense. But, it’s still a 5star read!
April 22, 2019
Hook, line, and sinker...
Palm Beach Poison kept me ensnared from the opening paragraph to the end. I enjoyed the colorful characters and that are portrayed in such a way that I felt that I truly knew them. Plenty of mystery and thrills to keep me intrigued throughout the book. There were several times I found myself reading faster and faster, completely engrossed in the action. I can’t wait to read the next book in the Palm Beach Mystery series and discover what Charlie Crawford has in store. I chose four stars simply because I have enjoyed each book a little more than the last and am confident the next in line will be a solid 5 star!
Palm Beach Poison kept me ensnared from the opening paragraph to the end. I enjoyed the colorful characters and that are portrayed in such a way that I felt that I truly knew them. Plenty of mystery and thrills to keep me intrigued throughout the book. There were several times I found myself reading faster and faster, completely engrossed in the action. I can’t wait to read the next book in the Palm Beach Mystery series and discover what Charlie Crawford has in store. I chose four stars simply because I have enjoyed each book a little more than the last and am confident the next in line will be a solid 5 star!
October 30, 2019
Tom Turner's Charlie Crawford Mystery series gets better with each adventure. Palm Beach Poison kept me entertained to the end. I was not able to connect all the players before they were revealed. The story was fast paced and full of action with interesting characters. I enjoyed the book. I especially like the fact that both book one and book two had conclusions, not cliffhangers to force you into reading the next book. I look forward to following Crawford and Ott on their next case as I know it will be solved by the end of the story.
February 7, 2022
Good Mystery-Detective story
This is a fast paced mystery. Crawford is a former NYC detective, now working in Palm Beach. Several interesting things have happened at the Poinciana Club. It is a very exclusive golf club in Palm Beach. Russian mobsters are trying to buy it--supposedly to build a condo complex. And, in the negotiations, a murder occurs. A weird murder, using poisonous snakes. There are twists and turns, and all sorts of interesting things. Enjoyed the switching plot.
This is a fast paced mystery. Crawford is a former NYC detective, now working in Palm Beach. Several interesting things have happened at the Poinciana Club. It is a very exclusive golf club in Palm Beach. Russian mobsters are trying to buy it--supposedly to build a condo complex. And, in the negotiations, a murder occurs. A weird murder, using poisonous snakes. There are twists and turns, and all sorts of interesting things. Enjoyed the switching plot.
August 9, 2022
Charlie Crawford is a Palm Beach detective. He has been called to the residence of a local fellow who was entertaining a woman in the backyard pool, she is found dead and the man, Chruchill Ames is in the hospital recovering from snake bites.
There are two men as suspects, Russians who live in a palatial mansion with several mistresses and hitmen.
There are some hinky real estate deals showing up and the famous Poinciana Golf Club is being wrecked. But why? And what does this have to do with the Russians? And the hedge fund manager ?
Guess you just have to read it to find out.
There are two men as suspects, Russians who live in a palatial mansion with several mistresses and hitmen.
There are some hinky real estate deals showing up and the famous Poinciana Golf Club is being wrecked. But why? And what does this have to do with the Russians? And the hedge fund manager ?
Guess you just have to read it to find out.
May 12, 2018
Couldn't put it down
Another well written, exciting police drama with Charlie Crawford & Mort taking down the big players in Palm Beach. Lots of characters, good & bad, & enough action & tension to keep you riveted to the book. Especially when the snakes made their appearance! Charlie 's a complex, smart man but also a workaholic who runs from relationships. There are clues for readers but the ending is still twisted but fun! Enjoy!
Another well written, exciting police drama with Charlie Crawford & Mort taking down the big players in Palm Beach. Lots of characters, good & bad, & enough action & tension to keep you riveted to the book. Especially when the snakes made their appearance! Charlie 's a complex, smart man but also a workaholic who runs from relationships. There are clues for readers but the ending is still twisted but fun! Enjoy!
January 21, 2019
This is a fun mystery that again features PBPD and its star Detective Charlie Crawford and his partner Mort Ott. what seems like a plan by some Russian gangsters errr oligarchs trying to buy a historic golf course in Palm Beach is shown to be a much more complicated issue and has bodies piling up faster than the lounge chairs at the Breakers.
Palm Beach isn't a town that likes to make news and the pressure is on to stop this crime wave.
Palm Beach isn't a town that likes to make news and the pressure is on to stop this crime wave.
August 31, 2019
This much fun and murder should be illegal - it is....
Charlie - erstwhile Palm Beach detective and his gumshoe pal Otto are at it again and what fun they have. People dropping like flies and at least two very sinister Russians conspiring to change Palm Beach forever. Great twists and turns with some very nutty characters - these stories are good ole fashioned fun and entertainment. Now I have the list and will read them all. Rock on Charlie!
Charlie - erstwhile Palm Beach detective and his gumshoe pal Otto are at it again and what fun they have. People dropping like flies and at least two very sinister Russians conspiring to change Palm Beach forever. Great twists and turns with some very nutty characters - these stories are good ole fashioned fun and entertainment. Now I have the list and will read them all. Rock on Charlie!
January 8, 2018
Palm Beach Poison was a grand read!!
I was born (at Good Sam Hospital...lol) this story takes place in many places, that I know of or have been there. (MIAMI SUBS....YUM) Our intrepid Detectives are chasing murder suspects as bodied keep turning up! Fast pace story, with lots of action, that will make you go....WOW, WTF?? A can't miss read!!
I was born (at Good Sam Hospital...lol) this story takes place in many places, that I know of or have been there. (MIAMI SUBS....YUM) Our intrepid Detectives are chasing murder suspects as bodied keep turning up! Fast pace story, with lots of action, that will make you go....WOW, WTF?? A can't miss read!!
January 14, 2018
The Russians want to buy the Poincietta,a long time revered landmark in Palm Beach. No one wants to sell. But after bag of poisonous vipers, water moccasins,are set tloose on an estate, a woman dies from snakebite, the owner leaves unexpectedly; a couple is killed, and a myriad of other things, Charlie Crawford is trying to find out who and why this piece of real estate is so coveted.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews