Detective Charlie Crawford is having a tough week. First, Palm Beach’s ex-police chief washes up dead on the beach behind The Breakers. Then Charlie’s friend’s niece is abducted without a trace. As if that wasn’t bad enough, his brother just checked himself into a clinic for depression and alcoholism.
The good news is Charlie’s love life has never been better…except with the woman he really loves.
A 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.
Phew! If Detective Charlie Crawford thought he was having a week, I’m right along side him on that one. What normally would take me about a week to finish ended up taking me almost triple the amount of time due to “life’s moments” that I could not possibly foresee. Having said that, it was nice to delve back into my favorite duo, Crawford and Ott and see what they had going on. So, let’s get into it.
Charlie learned early on that his brother was having mental health problems and luckily for him, he decided to check himself into a facility to help him deal with it. To add insult to injury, it didn’t help any by having caught a case with a former police chief. All the while having to deal with that, one of his CI’s (confidential informant) was in dire need of assistance with his niece gone missing.
Wow! Talk about a hell of week? At any rate, Charlie and Ott dive right into the ex-police chief murder, while Charlie decides he owes a favor to his CI by sneakily assisting him with finding who kidnapped his niece. It’s a wonder that any of this stuff turned out right, but Charlie isn’t one to ever back down from a challenge and he didn’t let me down in this installment of the Palm Beach series. As usual, there were shady characters coming at the reader from all sides and red herrings thrown about for fair play, it was enough to make any reader’s head spin. But. . .spin in a good way.
This was a pretty decent read. What I love about Charlie and Ott is that they feel so real. Their dark sense of humor and banter is to die for. They always manage to get the job done no matter how much bull they have to take to get the reader there. Overall, this is a quick read with lots of twists, turns and loads of action to keep you going.
This may be the best of the series thus far. We have a complicated case of a dead retired Police Chief, and it seems related to a dead Judge a few years back. And these aren't nice guys. Some one has kidnapped Charlie's friend and CI's niece and we meet more creeps and losers. And Charlie's younger brother, who carries the Crawford depression gene, has checked himself into a posh rehab in CT to dry out.
The former chief and his buds have a lot of secrets and a pile of lies the detectives need to wade through to get at the truth. And they'll be heading for NOLA and SC before this case comes to an end.
I like the general story and the characters. I like Turner's writing and descriptions. Want I didn't like so much in this one was the side story that didn't seem to have anything to do with the main story. It was like he's going for more word count.I guess it has to do with the whole series, like a saga over a season, showing how various characters may be inclined to offer help in the future. I'll probably read the next one, though. The stories ARE entertaining.
Like his third book Palm Beach Deadly, Palm Beach Bones is another work by Tom Turner where issues found in his earlier books have been improved. With only two cases in his fourth work, Turner does an amazing job of interweaving the two crimes to show the dangers of friendship but also the rewards. At this point, the author has his written down to a science. He understands what makes his two leads Detective Crawford and Detective Mort such appealing characters. They each have one another's back and their dialog gives the audience the feeling that these two might exist. Everything about this book feels perfect and I definitely wanted to read more when the book suddenly ended. I hope to see a new book soon so that I can see what kind of character transformation occurs in Police Chief Rutledge and if Crawford finally finds happiness through his relationship with Dominica McCarthy.
I have never written a review that contains spoilers so I hope that I do this correctly....I was without a doubt 100% disappointed in this book. I have grown to enjoy this series since I discovered it a few months ago. My reasons for being disappointed are simple....the killer storyline was so easily solved after a few minor details were revealed but the author has Crawford and Ott who I have considered entertaining and smartly written detectives acting in the opposite manor. They were written as forgetful morons and for some reason the author didn't elaborate on one big issue....Spoiler: at the very end of a chapter the author mentions someone being assaulted and then BOOM it's never mentioned again. It isn't even discussed by Crawford or Ott. It made no logical sense. In the other books in this series he has a very good memory but he so easily forgets basic simple things his go-to sex buddy Rose the real estate agent tells him about the ladies in her 'Mentors' group. In the end, I was correct in my guesses which happens because I read a lot but this was different and so disappointing. I will continue the series even after this book if the author decides to write the next story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
A Charlie Crawford Palm Beach Mystery no 4, is Palm Beach Bones.
Former police chief, Clyde Roadholt, is found murdered, in the amazing Tom Turner's fantastic Charlie Crawford series' book 4, Palm Beach Bones. Charlie and Ott question several potential suspects with no results, leaving them frustrated. Then David Balfour's niece Lila Bacon is kidnapped, and a $3million ransom demand is sent to him. Can Charlie and Ott get a result?
Finally catching a lucky break, the partners close in on Roadholt's killer. Working with Charleston PD to get a helicopter search and officer backup, Crawford and Ott take off in a car chase worthy of Fast and Furious.
Will they be first past the flag? Who are The Mentors and how are they involved
The tangled web of family, friends, partners, spouses, officers, civilians and killers is finally straightened out and leads to a hubristic finale for Crawford, Dominica (his on/off/on again realtor girlfriend), Ott, Lila and Balfour, on the Lake where hopefully all will be plain sailing aboard the 'love boat'. Another riveting, all-action crime-thriller, from the fantastic Tom Turner's imagination... don't miss Palm Beach Bones - it's exciting enough to raise the dead and make them dance!
This is a new-to-me author’s police procedural/mystery featuring two likable detectives who’ve migrated south from NYC and Cleveland. There are very few murders in Palm Beach, but they catch one connected to a three-year old cold case.
Detectives Charlie Crawford and Mort Ott breathes life into this mystery. The murder storyline is straightforward and so is the whodunnit—although the culprit’s alias is cleverly concealed. The second storyline—seemingly unconnected to the first—was less interesting, so I skimmed those chapters. The storylines eventually merge, and the ending is satisfying, because all threads are tied off.
There is NSFW language, plus God’s name in vain. Sex is implied, nothing overt. Characters detail their childhood abuse, which is not a comfortable read but not excruciatingly so.
3.5 stars bumped up to 4 stars, because this book is well-written.
Haven’t read the first 3 Palm Beach books in a while, then I ran across this one. I like Charlie Crawford and his partner Ott. They were looking for a murderer and in-between they had to find the kidnapped niece Lila, of their friend Balfour. It was interesting having two stories going on at once.
No sex and the F-bomb was used 35 times.
As to the narration: Wow, it wasn’t good at all. Jerrod Haarstad was no where as good as Phil Thron, who did the first 3 books. Phil gave everyone their own special voice while Jerrod had every voice sounding exactly the same.
I've read other books in this series, and enjoyed them also. The detectives are likable, the situations seem realistic, the conversation is often funny. I really enjoyed the references to local eateries and bars, several of which I have frequented when I lived in the area. Refreshing to revisit, because the author has captured the whole feeling of Palm Beach, and West Palm Beach. Looking for more in this series.
After having loved the first three books in the series, I had a hard time getting into the start of this book. I even put it down several times and moved on to other books before coming back to it recently. What was missing from this book was the humor that I enjoyed so much in the prior books. It wasn't a bad story, I just didn't enjoy it a much as the first three. I have to say I enjoyed the back half of the book much more than the front half.
Love reading books, that take place in Palm Beach County, where I was born and raised. PBPD Detective Crawford and Detective Ott are on the hunt for a murderer. A fast pace book, that takes place in and around Palm Beach, on and off the water. They are searching for two women, who they believe were involved in the crime. A " Can't Put Down, until the very end book!!"
Charlie and Mort are a pair of Palm Beach detectives. In this novel they deal with two cases, the kidnapping of a rich (Palm Beach, remember) friend’s niece and the murder of the former PB Police Chief. The plot is complex, the protagonists a delight. The reader will find themselves chuckling at some parts and taking a deep breath at others. It is fast, fun, action packed reading. Thanks to the author and publisher for an e-galley for an honest review.
A former police chief washes up on the beach . At the same time a good friend's niece is kidnapped . Her uncle asks Charlie and Ott to find her , no police or FBI involvement . After letting him know the legal issues that would involve the pair start looking while they are trying to solve the murder . Lots of interviews and searching in both cases.
A fun and intriguing book that keeps you guessing most of the story. Love the characters and especially the Partner give and take. A great escape book to read and enjoy - and look forward to book 5. Fasten your seatbelts, get your road maps ready and freshen up your NOLA attitude for this good time.
Great summer beach book. I am looking forward to reading another book by this author. I live in Palm Beach soit was fun knowing all the places in the book. Good time. Thank you
Very enjoyable! Many characters were introduced throughout the book and it was engaging trying to figure out the murderer. Great storytelling without a lot of drama and gore.
Another good mystery. Charley Crawford and his partner Mort Ott are looking for the murderer of the former Police Chief and a Judge. Good characters and plot. Some humor.
Not a literary masterpiece but a nice, fairly quick, read. I enjoy Mr Turner's books. They're not filled with unbelievable super heroes but rather likeable almost believable characters.
I thought this book was drawn out too long. It was almost like two books in one. Back and forth between subplots can get very confusing . Sometimes I would have to go back a few pages to know what was going on. Enjoyed the two detectives.
Joins factual with story line to Sean as it is something that was really in the news not a shoot an up white hat makes all the right moves and wins the girl but methodical reasoning by two competent executives working together to solve the crimes
I have not read the first three books in this series, but this book was well written and not be lost because of that. The characters were interesting and enjoyable. It was a pleasure to read.
If you are reading Tom Turner’s series about Charlie Crawford and his partner searching out the bad people in town. Mr Turner does a fine job of killing people in various ways.
OK, they're a bit idealized, but the characters are human enough to be interesting. A cop story that has the frustration of false leads and a truly evil but intriguing villain
The author has written a very interesting story about high society crime. The author has written with many interesting twists and turns that is sure to keep you entertained and guessing. Enjoyable reading.
Definitely worth the time and effort to follow this series. Something for everyone great dialog between two detectives, tracking down the bad guys, beautiful women, and much more. Give this author a chance, you will not be disappointed.
Tom Turner continues to delight me with my new favorite detective, Charlie Crawford. I'm looking forward to the next mystery, and the next, and the next. Good plot, interesting characters - made me want to head to Florida :)