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Lewis Cole #11
Hard Aground
336 pages, Hardcover
Published April 3, 2018
212 people are currently reading
386 people want to read
About the author
Brendan DuBois
188 books347 followersBrendan DuBois of New Hampshire is the award-winning author of twenty novels and more than 150 short stories. His novel, "Resurrection Day," won the Sidewise Award for Best Alternative History Novel of the Year.
In addition to his thrillers, Brendan DuBois is the author of the Lewis Cole mystery series.
He is currently working on a number of writing projects with New York Times bestselling author James Patterson,
He is also a one-time "Jeopardy!" gameshow champion, and a co-winner of the trivia gameshow "The Chase."
His short fiction has appeared in Playboy, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Analog, and numerous other magazines and anthologies including “The Best American Mystery Stories of the Century,” published in 2000 by Houghton-Mifflin. Another one of his short stories appeared in in "The Year's Best Science Fiction 22nd Annual Collection" (St. Martin's Griffin, 2005) edited by Gardner Dozois
His short stories have twice won him the Shamus Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and have also earned him three Edgar Allan Poe Award nominations from the Mystery Writers of America. Visit his website at www.BrendanDuBois.com.
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In addition to his thrillers, Brendan DuBois is the author of the Lewis Cole mystery series.
He is currently working on a number of writing projects with New York Times bestselling author James Patterson,
He is also a one-time "Jeopardy!" gameshow champion, and a co-winner of the trivia gameshow "The Chase."
His short fiction has appeared in Playboy, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Analog, and numerous other magazines and anthologies including “The Best American Mystery Stories of the Century,” published in 2000 by Houghton-Mifflin. Another one of his short stories appeared in in "The Year's Best Science Fiction 22nd Annual Collection" (St. Martin's Griffin, 2005) edited by Gardner Dozois
His short stories have twice won him the Shamus Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and have also earned him three Edgar Allan Poe Award nominations from the Mystery Writers of America. Visit his website at www.BrendanDuBois.com.
Show less
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
April 21, 2018
It's too bad Brendan DuBois is not better known, as this is a very good series. Introducing some medical realities in this 11th book, Lewis Cole is recuperating from the surgical removal of tumors, barely able to negotiate his stairs, without a visiting nurse to empty his drains because of insurance company policies, and his biopsies lost, having been sent cross country unnecessarily. He thinks he hears someone invading his home nightly, and a pesky couple who want to look around his home as a historical matter. Meanwhile, a local antiques dealer has her head blown off by a shotgun, a silver service owned by Felix Tinios is missing from her shop, and a packet of heroin is found, causing the state police to intercede, pushing local detective Diane Woods aside. Of course, all of these many stories are related. It's nice to see all of Lewis's friends helping nurse him back to health because of the many kindnesses he has provided over the years.
April 7, 2018
First Sentence: From the vantage point of my bed, I looked out the near window to a cluster of rocks and boulders, which had been tossed and turned over the years by storms and long-ago glaciers.
Recovering from surgery, magazine journalist Lewis Cole is housebound and in pain. When a couple shows up on his doorstep wanting to tour the inside of his home for its historical significance as a former coastguard station and a housing facility for Navy corpsmen during the Korean War, it is initially annoying, but their persistent visits escalate. Cole believes he hears someone in his house at night but can’t find evidence of it during the day. Lewis’ friend Felix Tinios had taken a silver bowl to Maggie Tyler Branch, a descendant of the town’s founder, for her to appraise. When Maggie is murdered and the bowl missing, Felix Is committed to finding both his bowl and the killer.
Dubois’ opening is twinge-worthy. It is also informational. The author does a nice job of introducing the protagonist and providing new readers with his background as well as reminding series readers as to why he is in his present situation. Felix is one of those wonderful characters you’re almost glad isn’t the primary protagonist as that would remove some of the mystique about him. He is also someone one would be glad to have as a friend, particularly if he’d cook for you—“Dinner is fettuccini Alfredo with lobster and salad…,” and would never want as an enemy.
Dubois does write characters who are interesting and believable. The women are smart, strong, and very capable; journalist Paula Woods, Cole’s lover, and Det. Sgt. Diane Woods who is about to marry her partner, Kara.
There are delightful touches of humor—“Fortune sometimes favors the brave, the lucky, and those too dumb to know what they have.”—but also moments which touch your emotions—“Alice moved in with a niece over in Worcester…and got Alzheimer’s, that nasty bitch of a disease. Suffered with that for years, and died two years back. By then, it was a mercy.” Lewis has experienced his own tragedy. Anyone who has lost someone they truly loved can associate with Lewis.
Dubois’ writing captures people, places, and emotions well. There is one very effective scene which serves to remind us that everyone is a human, and everyone has their own story and problems. On the negative side, there are also some really annoying portents. The third, which is late in the book, is not only completely unnecessary—after all, it’s not as though one wouldn’t keep reading at this point—but it vastly diminished the suspense of what was to follow.
“Hard Aground” with a protagonist unable to leave his house is clever and engrossing. There are twists, suspense, a wonderful rescue, and an all-around excellent ending.
HARD AGROUND (Unl Invest–Lewis Cole–Maine–Contemp) – VG+
DuBois, Brendan – 11th in series
Pegasis Crime – April 2018
Recovering from surgery, magazine journalist Lewis Cole is housebound and in pain. When a couple shows up on his doorstep wanting to tour the inside of his home for its historical significance as a former coastguard station and a housing facility for Navy corpsmen during the Korean War, it is initially annoying, but their persistent visits escalate. Cole believes he hears someone in his house at night but can’t find evidence of it during the day. Lewis’ friend Felix Tinios had taken a silver bowl to Maggie Tyler Branch, a descendant of the town’s founder, for her to appraise. When Maggie is murdered and the bowl missing, Felix Is committed to finding both his bowl and the killer.
Dubois’ opening is twinge-worthy. It is also informational. The author does a nice job of introducing the protagonist and providing new readers with his background as well as reminding series readers as to why he is in his present situation. Felix is one of those wonderful characters you’re almost glad isn’t the primary protagonist as that would remove some of the mystique about him. He is also someone one would be glad to have as a friend, particularly if he’d cook for you—“Dinner is fettuccini Alfredo with lobster and salad…,” and would never want as an enemy.
Dubois does write characters who are interesting and believable. The women are smart, strong, and very capable; journalist Paula Woods, Cole’s lover, and Det. Sgt. Diane Woods who is about to marry her partner, Kara.
There are delightful touches of humor—“Fortune sometimes favors the brave, the lucky, and those too dumb to know what they have.”—but also moments which touch your emotions—“Alice moved in with a niece over in Worcester…and got Alzheimer’s, that nasty bitch of a disease. Suffered with that for years, and died two years back. By then, it was a mercy.” Lewis has experienced his own tragedy. Anyone who has lost someone they truly loved can associate with Lewis.
Dubois’ writing captures people, places, and emotions well. There is one very effective scene which serves to remind us that everyone is a human, and everyone has their own story and problems. On the negative side, there are also some really annoying portents. The third, which is late in the book, is not only completely unnecessary—after all, it’s not as though one wouldn’t keep reading at this point—but it vastly diminished the suspense of what was to follow.
“Hard Aground” with a protagonist unable to leave his house is clever and engrossing. There are twists, suspense, a wonderful rescue, and an all-around excellent ending.
HARD AGROUND (Unl Invest–Lewis Cole–Maine–Contemp) – VG+
DuBois, Brendan – 11th in series
Pegasis Crime – April 2018
May 3, 2021
Lewis Cole is on bed rest after several tumors were removed from his back. This requires two drains, for fluids and blood leaking out. The pouches have to be emptied periodically. Cole seems to be quite inept, and there's a ton of blood spatter on many occasions. We're never told exactly how much blood continues to leak out of him, but it seems to be quite a bit. For days and days. How is it that he never needs a blood transfusion? The body can't make blood this fast.
Of course, this was the least of the book's problems. The plot, involving a married couple pretending to be genealogy researchers so they can get inside Cole's house and steal a stash of morphine from the Korean War era he doesn't know is hidden there, is idiotic. But the worst aspect of the book is the huge amount of gross sexual innuendo, out of all proportion to the silly plot. Cole's girlfriend Paula is always saying things like "Put your eyes back where they belong" and "Slow down, cowboy" and suggesting they have wet t-shirt contests on the back deck. When Paula and Cole's dear lesbian friend Diane are over, Cole says: "Dear me, my favorite fantasy comes true. Diane and Paula, under the same roof, at the same time." Cole and Diane exchange sexual banter and joke about him seducing her. He invites her to sleep in his bed. Someone expresses their wish for "a sponge bath by two sweet nurses." (The book was published in 2018, but the author seems to be living in 1950. Nurses are professionals and don't want to be part of your sexual fantasies, any more than your surgeons do.) An old lady Cole befriends tells him she'll "promise a BJ" to a Korean War vet to get information out of him.
Cole is irked at being an invalid and keeps telling himself to "man up." Three times characters utter the annoying phrase "No joy." Diane's hair is "cut in a bobbed style that went out of fashion years ago - which I've never had the heart to tell her," thinks Cole, as if dear friends should be reminding each other how their appearance falls short. You know what else went out of fashion years ago? Wet t-shirt contests, demeaning women, straight men sexualizing lesbians, blow job jokes.
And this author doesn't know the difference between lay and lie, which is literary malpractice.
You're welcome, author.
August 27, 2019
Brendan DuBois’s “Hard Aground” is the eleventh book in his mystery series featuring Lewis Cole, but it is the first one I have ever read. I picked it up not knowing that it was part of a series, and while there is lots of back-story that would have helped in explaining some things, DuBois does a good job of creating a good stand-alone mystery. It’s enticed me enough to want to go back and read his series from the beginning.
Cole, a retired Department of Defense research analyst, lives in an old federally-protected landmark building that used to be owned by the Navy. How he came into possession of it is, apparently, explained in one of his previous books.
In “Hard Aground”, Cole is recuperating from surgery that involved removing tumors from his back. The tumors are also, apparently, the result of exposure to some kind of nasty biological weapon years ago (again, probably explained in a previous book).
Bed-ridden and sore, Cole’s days and nights are spent mostly in bed, looking out the window at the beautiful view of the Atlantic. (The New Hampshire setting, by the way, is wonderful for those of us who have a thing for the New England/Northeastern U.S. region.)
He occasionally receives visits from his girlfriend, Paula, a local journalist; Diane, a friend on the local police force; and Felix, a long-time friend who seems to be the type (every mystery series has one) who doesn’t seem to have any known form of employment but manages to live quite well and likes to avoid law enforcement types. Fill in the blanks.
Over the course of the novel, several disparate things seem to be happening, none of which have any apparent connection.
Cole is awakened each night by the sound of someone opening his front door, rummaging around in his kitchen cabinets and refrigerator, and walking around the first floor. Each time Cole investigates, there is no sign that anyone is there. Creepy.
A couple who claim to be geneaologists keep bothering him to let them look at his home, claiming that it was once lived in in by a distant relative. Cole’s attempts at shooing them away are unsuccessful.
In town, a well-known antiques dealer and historian was found brutally murdered. The police have no suspects, but they think it may have been heroin addicts in a robbery gone wrong.
Without much physical work involved, and with the help of his friends, Cole begins to piece together a complex web of weirdness going on in his beloved small town involving rival gangs, the opioid epidemic, and something that happened in his home nearly 50 years ago when it belonged to the Navy. In this case, though, the truth may not set him free, it may kill him.
“Hard Aground” is a decent thriller and murder mystery, and it intrigued me enough to want to go back and read the earlier books in DuBois’s series.
Cole, a retired Department of Defense research analyst, lives in an old federally-protected landmark building that used to be owned by the Navy. How he came into possession of it is, apparently, explained in one of his previous books.
In “Hard Aground”, Cole is recuperating from surgery that involved removing tumors from his back. The tumors are also, apparently, the result of exposure to some kind of nasty biological weapon years ago (again, probably explained in a previous book).
Bed-ridden and sore, Cole’s days and nights are spent mostly in bed, looking out the window at the beautiful view of the Atlantic. (The New Hampshire setting, by the way, is wonderful for those of us who have a thing for the New England/Northeastern U.S. region.)
He occasionally receives visits from his girlfriend, Paula, a local journalist; Diane, a friend on the local police force; and Felix, a long-time friend who seems to be the type (every mystery series has one) who doesn’t seem to have any known form of employment but manages to live quite well and likes to avoid law enforcement types. Fill in the blanks.
Over the course of the novel, several disparate things seem to be happening, none of which have any apparent connection.
Cole is awakened each night by the sound of someone opening his front door, rummaging around in his kitchen cabinets and refrigerator, and walking around the first floor. Each time Cole investigates, there is no sign that anyone is there. Creepy.
A couple who claim to be geneaologists keep bothering him to let them look at his home, claiming that it was once lived in in by a distant relative. Cole’s attempts at shooing them away are unsuccessful.
In town, a well-known antiques dealer and historian was found brutally murdered. The police have no suspects, but they think it may have been heroin addicts in a robbery gone wrong.
Without much physical work involved, and with the help of his friends, Cole begins to piece together a complex web of weirdness going on in his beloved small town involving rival gangs, the opioid epidemic, and something that happened in his home nearly 50 years ago when it belonged to the Navy. In this case, though, the truth may not set him free, it may kill him.
“Hard Aground” is a decent thriller and murder mystery, and it intrigued me enough to want to go back and read the earlier books in DuBois’s series.
July 1, 2018
The form was something I appreciated. It's only the 2nd or 3rd novel I've read in this genre from the position of being invalid (not going much beyond the lodging or specific room/hospital/care center).
Lewis has some moments within his own personality and thoughts that are above average, interesting, locale specific (New Hampshire coast) and seemingly real/ individual. Not always the case in this genre, regardless of the single older male being a majority of the ex-copper principles.
The plot was average and not very surprising. The emptying of the drains in his back after the surgery was realistic and within fiction so rarely is such a logistics procedure of recovery depicted. That was a 5. It's amazing in some other high interest and top run female and male p.i. series both- that the main characters get shot and other than the pain meds? They seem to just pop up again like cartoon characters after being shot, stabbed, poisoned, car crashes with multiple broken bones, heart attacks etc. And nothing is short term or long term as ridiculous as this common outplay. It "twinges" years later. Oh no, it's not just twinges. Lewis is living results and effects from past interludes of his job.
There was another aspect I liked in this book. The people seemed fairly common types. And they were stressed like modern people are. Not able to take guff and chat for 10 minutes or hours either, most of the time. And that person who he railed on the phone for the biopsy deliveries- she gave him some excellent answers.
But overall, there was tons of drag with certain characters. And redundancy that was, to me, boring. I'm not a fan of Paula. She seems flat and totally tied to her career and self. He needs another red head like he dreams about from his youth.
Lewis has some moments within his own personality and thoughts that are above average, interesting, locale specific (New Hampshire coast) and seemingly real/ individual. Not always the case in this genre, regardless of the single older male being a majority of the ex-copper principles.
The plot was average and not very surprising. The emptying of the drains in his back after the surgery was realistic and within fiction so rarely is such a logistics procedure of recovery depicted. That was a 5. It's amazing in some other high interest and top run female and male p.i. series both- that the main characters get shot and other than the pain meds? They seem to just pop up again like cartoon characters after being shot, stabbed, poisoned, car crashes with multiple broken bones, heart attacks etc. And nothing is short term or long term as ridiculous as this common outplay. It "twinges" years later. Oh no, it's not just twinges. Lewis is living results and effects from past interludes of his job.
There was another aspect I liked in this book. The people seemed fairly common types. And they were stressed like modern people are. Not able to take guff and chat for 10 minutes or hours either, most of the time. And that person who he railed on the phone for the biopsy deliveries- she gave him some excellent answers.
But overall, there was tons of drag with certain characters. And redundancy that was, to me, boring. I'm not a fan of Paula. She seems flat and totally tied to her career and self. He needs another red head like he dreams about from his youth.
March 26, 2022
This was a pretty fast paced little mystery/thriller. This is book 11, so there were a few references to things that had happened in other books, but they were consise enough for me to be able to just say oh, someone burned his house down, ok.
There was an underlying commentary on the opioid epidemic, and health care in general, that can be hit or miss.
The characters were pretty good, if a bit flat at times.
If you like thrillers, you'll probably like this well enough.
There was an underlying commentary on the opioid epidemic, and health care in general, that can be hit or miss.
The characters were pretty good, if a bit flat at times.
If you like thrillers, you'll probably like this well enough.
April 12, 2018
A long time ago, Lewis Cole worked in a super-secret department of DOD, along with his friends and his love, Cissy. But a visit to another secret site ended in catastrophe with everyone dead except Lewis. Now, he lives on the Atlantic coast in New Hampshire in an old house that was given to him by the government after the disaster in the desert. He is home, recovering from surgery to remove some (hopefully) benign tumors, another souvenir from the desert. He hears someone moving around his house at night and then strange people start showing up at his door. His girlfriend, Paula, a journalist for the local paper, finds out that a elderly antiques dealer has been murdered. Lewis, being Lewis, cannot leave it alone, even though he is almost incapacitated from his surgery. As he starts investigating, along with help from his friend, Felix, the history of his old house becomes central to all the strange activities happening around him. Another satisfying read from a talented author who creates interesting plots and compelling characters.
January 25, 2018
I finished this book today. As you can see by my rating, I found it merely okay. However, this is a book I'm reviewing for Mystery Scene so I will save the details for said review.
July 19, 2018
Not crazy about this latest installment in the Lewis Cole series. Lewis is home recovering from surgery to remove tumors from his back. While there is actually a little thinking/detective-type work (but not much), mostly this book consists of the following sequence of events repeated in random order:
1. Lewis or one of his friends empties the wound drains and measures the output
2. Lewis attempts to sleep and is interrupted by knocks at the door or weird noises or gunshots
3. Paula Quinn drops by and they flirt
4. Felix drops by
5. Diane Woods drops by and Lewis asks her about Kara and their upcoming wedding
Shuffle and repeat
2.5 stars.
1. Lewis or one of his friends empties the wound drains and measures the output
2. Lewis attempts to sleep and is interrupted by knocks at the door or weird noises or gunshots
3. Paula Quinn drops by and they flirt
4. Felix drops by
5. Diane Woods drops by and Lewis asks her about Kara and their upcoming wedding
Shuffle and repeat
2.5 stars.
March 22, 2018
The latest in the Lewis Cole series!
My thanks go out to my contacts at Pegasus Books, Iris Blasi, Katie McGuire, and Maia Larson, for my copy of this book! Rock on!
Although this book is volume 11 in this series, it is my first experience with Lewis Cole. Cole has been a DOD agent, a reporter for a magazine, and currently recovering from surgery. He has reconnected with journalist Paula Quinn but is still haunted by the loss of former love Cissy Manning, killed while they were on a mission for the DOD.
The incident that left Cissy dead had left Lewis with reoccurring tumors, hence the operation. While convalescing, Lewis is being cared for by Paula and friends Felix Tinios, Detective Sergeant Diane Woods, and a waitress named Mia arranged by Felix.
The house that Cole lives in was once owned by the DOD, used for various purposes, and was given to Cole due to the awful mission that left Cole the sole survivor and killed Cissy Manning. It has apparently gone through rough times and it is mentioned that it is being repaired from arson.
Now an elderly neighbor lady has been murdered with a shotgun, someone is creeping around Cole’s house in the night and a man and woman seem desperate to get into the place citing genealogy! Cole is threatened, stalked, and harassed. A new heroin dealer whose packets of drugs have a bluebird on them is somehow involved. Felix is angry and after someone for stealing a family heirloom.
In other words, all hell is beginning to break loose!
I found the book a great read. With the final tie-up of the many threads, there were a few surprises I wasn’t expecting. The characters are well developed and the pace is steady, neither too fast nor too slow. Cole the central character is portrayed as a man who doesn’t faint under pressure. He is well armed and prepared to defend himself, his property, and his friend by any means necessary. His instincts are what gives him the advantage in the end, and his reporter’s insight gives him the answer to his last question. The book is well worth reading.
I give the book four stars…
Quoth the Raven…
My thanks go out to my contacts at Pegasus Books, Iris Blasi, Katie McGuire, and Maia Larson, for my copy of this book! Rock on!
Although this book is volume 11 in this series, it is my first experience with Lewis Cole. Cole has been a DOD agent, a reporter for a magazine, and currently recovering from surgery. He has reconnected with journalist Paula Quinn but is still haunted by the loss of former love Cissy Manning, killed while they were on a mission for the DOD.
The incident that left Cissy dead had left Lewis with reoccurring tumors, hence the operation. While convalescing, Lewis is being cared for by Paula and friends Felix Tinios, Detective Sergeant Diane Woods, and a waitress named Mia arranged by Felix.
The house that Cole lives in was once owned by the DOD, used for various purposes, and was given to Cole due to the awful mission that left Cole the sole survivor and killed Cissy Manning. It has apparently gone through rough times and it is mentioned that it is being repaired from arson.
Now an elderly neighbor lady has been murdered with a shotgun, someone is creeping around Cole’s house in the night and a man and woman seem desperate to get into the place citing genealogy! Cole is threatened, stalked, and harassed. A new heroin dealer whose packets of drugs have a bluebird on them is somehow involved. Felix is angry and after someone for stealing a family heirloom.
In other words, all hell is beginning to break loose!
I found the book a great read. With the final tie-up of the many threads, there were a few surprises I wasn’t expecting. The characters are well developed and the pace is steady, neither too fast nor too slow. Cole the central character is portrayed as a man who doesn’t faint under pressure. He is well armed and prepared to defend himself, his property, and his friend by any means necessary. His instincts are what gives him the advantage in the end, and his reporter’s insight gives him the answer to his last question. The book is well worth reading.
I give the book four stars…
Quoth the Raven…
March 30, 2024
Hard Aground by Brendan DuBois is the highly recommended eleventh novel in the Lewis Cole series. In this outing Lewis finds himself "hard aground" as he recovers from major surgery.
Due to an experience when he was in the Department of Defense, Lewis Cole has to check his body for tumors. At the end of the last novel in the series, Storm Cell, a tumor was found. In Hard Aground Lewis is home bound as he recovers. This doesn't stop the action and suspense from coming to Cole. He is hearing someone entering his house at night, but there is no evidence of it. Then he has this couple who claim to be historical/genealogy researchers repeatedly coming to his door. The biggest news is that antiques dealer and a local historian Maggie Tyler Branch was murdered and it may be tied to the opioid epidemic.
There is more action than one would expect in a novel where the main character is home bound, recovering from major surgery and having to deal with draining the wounds. It is always good to see long time characters Felix Tinios, Paula Woods, and Det. Sgt. Diane Woods back. They are all also helping nurse Cole in his recovery. Hard Aground has a Rear Window quality to it. Our main character is very limited in what he can do, but his mind is still active and he can piece information and clues together.
This is a more subdued novel compared to others in the series. There are still several mysteries presented that will come to satisfying resolutions.I really love this whole series. Thanks to Severn River Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2024/0...
Due to an experience when he was in the Department of Defense, Lewis Cole has to check his body for tumors. At the end of the last novel in the series, Storm Cell, a tumor was found. In Hard Aground Lewis is home bound as he recovers. This doesn't stop the action and suspense from coming to Cole. He is hearing someone entering his house at night, but there is no evidence of it. Then he has this couple who claim to be historical/genealogy researchers repeatedly coming to his door. The biggest news is that antiques dealer and a local historian Maggie Tyler Branch was murdered and it may be tied to the opioid epidemic.
There is more action than one would expect in a novel where the main character is home bound, recovering from major surgery and having to deal with draining the wounds. It is always good to see long time characters Felix Tinios, Paula Woods, and Det. Sgt. Diane Woods back. They are all also helping nurse Cole in his recovery. Hard Aground has a Rear Window quality to it. Our main character is very limited in what he can do, but his mind is still active and he can piece information and clues together.
This is a more subdued novel compared to others in the series. There are still several mysteries presented that will come to satisfying resolutions.I really love this whole series. Thanks to Severn River Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2024/0...
June 20, 2019
Poor Lewis Cole. He's recovering from the surgical removal of two tumors and the tissue samples tested to determine if said tumors are cancerous appears to have been lost after being sent to California instead of the local lab in Boston. What's a former DoD research analyst to do except limp around the house in between episodes of draining the bladders collecting blood and other fluids from the site of the surgery?
Trouble is he keeps hearing someone in his house at night and then a pair of genealogical researchers harass him during the day. Add this to news that an old lady antiques dealer is killed and one of his friends is missing a beloved silver platter and Lewis Cole has too much on his plate.
Who killed the old lady? Who is walking around his house at night? Why, oh why, are those so-called researchers bugging him about getting into his house to "look around?" Oh, and where did those tissue samples go? These and other questions are finally answered, but only after the reader is captured by a tale that introduced me to several really interesting characters. Will there be a sequel? I hope so.
Trouble is he keeps hearing someone in his house at night and then a pair of genealogical researchers harass him during the day. Add this to news that an old lady antiques dealer is killed and one of his friends is missing a beloved silver platter and Lewis Cole has too much on his plate.
Who killed the old lady? Who is walking around his house at night? Why, oh why, are those so-called researchers bugging him about getting into his house to "look around?" Oh, and where did those tissue samples go? These and other questions are finally answered, but only after the reader is captured by a tale that introduced me to several really interesting characters. Will there be a sequel? I hope so.
September 6, 2021
This was my first time reading anything of the Lewis Cole series. I didn't realize it was a series until I got into the book and realized that there was some definite back story involved. It didn't interfere with my enjoyment of the book though.
Lewis Cole is recovering from surgery for removal of two cancerous tumors in his back. He has friends and family coming in and out to check on him and help him with food, bandage changes, tube drainage and such. Unfortunately, his house is somewhat isolated and when he is there alone at night, he keeps thinking that he hears someone coming into the house. He doesn't find any evidence that that is the case. He is not strong enough to manage the stairs very well yet and he is also hampered by the two drains in his back that have to be dealt with a few times a day.
He is also interrupted by two geneologists, who are very anxious to explore his house because of it's history as an ex Naval base party house. Lewis is not up to it and tells them to contact him at another time. They do not take hints well. Hisgood friend Felix, who has some dubious contacts related to crime of various types seems to have a dispute with a local heroin gang that seems to have absconded with his Grandfathers Sicilian silver service. He is annoyed about it, and not in a good way.
This was a pretty good mystery with some fun twists and I enjoyed it and would read more of the series. I recommend to everybody for a good read.
Lewis Cole is recovering from surgery for removal of two cancerous tumors in his back. He has friends and family coming in and out to check on him and help him with food, bandage changes, tube drainage and such. Unfortunately, his house is somewhat isolated and when he is there alone at night, he keeps thinking that he hears someone coming into the house. He doesn't find any evidence that that is the case. He is not strong enough to manage the stairs very well yet and he is also hampered by the two drains in his back that have to be dealt with a few times a day.
He is also interrupted by two geneologists, who are very anxious to explore his house because of it's history as an ex Naval base party house. Lewis is not up to it and tells them to contact him at another time. They do not take hints well. Hisgood friend Felix, who has some dubious contacts related to crime of various types seems to have a dispute with a local heroin gang that seems to have absconded with his Grandfathers Sicilian silver service. He is annoyed about it, and not in a good way.
This was a pretty good mystery with some fun twists and I enjoyed it and would read more of the series. I recommend to everybody for a good read.
March 21, 2024
I received an ARC through "Severn Publishing" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
In this latest book in the series, Lewis is home recuperating from surgery. Paula is there when she receives a call about a murder that has happened. She leave Lewis to go to the scene. The individual that was killed was a person who had strong ties to the town, Lewis even did ywo magazine artcles on her. Felix becomes involved because he hal left an item with her and it was taken.
Lewis has had what he believed was a nighttime visitor, but when either the cops or Felix arrived, they did not find anything. In addition, a couple from NY kept stopping by Lewis's house asking to see the inside. They told him a story about how his place was one time a barracks that a relative stayed at. They didn't want to take no for an answer. To make matters worse, Lewis was waiting for information on the tumors that were removed, but he couldn't get some sort of answer from the doctor.
All of these events will be explained at the end of the book.
This is another great story in this series. Bon't miss it.
In this latest book in the series, Lewis is home recuperating from surgery. Paula is there when she receives a call about a murder that has happened. She leave Lewis to go to the scene. The individual that was killed was a person who had strong ties to the town, Lewis even did ywo magazine artcles on her. Felix becomes involved because he hal left an item with her and it was taken.
Lewis has had what he believed was a nighttime visitor, but when either the cops or Felix arrived, they did not find anything. In addition, a couple from NY kept stopping by Lewis's house asking to see the inside. They told him a story about how his place was one time a barracks that a relative stayed at. They didn't want to take no for an answer. To make matters worse, Lewis was waiting for information on the tumors that were removed, but he couldn't get some sort of answer from the doctor.
All of these events will be explained at the end of the book.
This is another great story in this series. Bon't miss it.
November 14, 2023
Lewis attracts trouble – even while recuperating at home!
Reading Hard Aground, the eleventh Lewis Cole book felt like sliding on a comfortable pair of old shoes. I was offered the opportunity to proofread this book and immediately accepted the offer having just finished Deadly Cove. I must admit I unknowingly, or stupidly, skipped from book seven to eleven and while I found myself adrift in a sea of unfamiliarity in Lewis’s world, I soldiered on and read Hard Aground. This story is filled with action, deception, and plenty of interaction with the characters I have come to see as virtual friends. If you enjoy the Lewis Cole stories you will find Hard Aground to be very enjoyable and in certain instances one filled with a bit of mystery, humor, and of course a case or two to be solved. I wouldn’t suggest skipping any of the previous books like I did in this instance unless you are a fan of cognitive dissonance, or you love doing puzzles with lots of missing pieces. I was provided with an Advance Reader Copy of Hard Aground by the publisher and chose to provide my review.
Reading Hard Aground, the eleventh Lewis Cole book felt like sliding on a comfortable pair of old shoes. I was offered the opportunity to proofread this book and immediately accepted the offer having just finished Deadly Cove. I must admit I unknowingly, or stupidly, skipped from book seven to eleven and while I found myself adrift in a sea of unfamiliarity in Lewis’s world, I soldiered on and read Hard Aground. This story is filled with action, deception, and plenty of interaction with the characters I have come to see as virtual friends. If you enjoy the Lewis Cole stories you will find Hard Aground to be very enjoyable and in certain instances one filled with a bit of mystery, humor, and of course a case or two to be solved. I wouldn’t suggest skipping any of the previous books like I did in this instance unless you are a fan of cognitive dissonance, or you love doing puzzles with lots of missing pieces. I was provided with an Advance Reader Copy of Hard Aground by the publisher and chose to provide my review.
April 10, 2024
Lewis is struggling to recover from his latest surgery and he keeps on listening to strange noises in his home, to find no one besides him there. His friends are taking turns to help him until an antiques dealer is shot to death in her store and an odd looking couple comes to his door trying to get into the house's basement. His ever present best friend Felix has an antique silver plate stolen from the antiques store and he'll do all he can to find it until a gun fight explodes outside Lewis's house. A mystery that runs into another depper mystery and lots of action although our main character is bed ridden. Great story, too bad the series is reaching its end, with only one more book to go.
I thank the author and his publisher for the copy of this book.
I thank the author and his publisher for the copy of this book.
April 1, 2018
I seem to have come late to this series, but that's all right. It was perfectly fine, but didn't inspire me with the desire to find out more about the tough yet sensitive hero and his aging, even tougher pal. Lewis Cole is practically bed-bound after surgery, with his friends visiting him to bring food. He's pestered by a couple of genealogists who want to come into his historic house and look around; he's worried by the recent shotgun death of a local antique dealer. One of his best friends is a lesbian cop; the other is a former mobster; his girlfriend is a journalist. A group of drug dealers up from Massachusetts is lurking in the neighborhood. Will there be trouble? You know it!
July 31, 2018
Disappointing. The Lewis Cole mystery series, sited on the coast of New Hampshire, began with promise. Lately, however, the books are sliding toward mediocrity. The spark is gone. It's almost as if the author has grown tired, substituting tired cliches and trite expressions for authentic dialog. HARD AGROUND could have been a much better book with stronger editing, particularly focused on how characters interact with one another. Example: Main character Lewis Cole strives to be a serious, manly investigator, but comes across as a petulant teenager. An "OK" beach read, but only if you have enough beer.
March 13, 2024
Hard Aground is a well written novel about Lewis Cole, a character we know from previous novels, who is recuperating from surgery and pretty much confined to his home and mostly his bed. The writing is such that I felt as if I could actually feel his pain. There are welcome flashes of humor throughout the book which has several stories to tell. —. murder, heroin, missing silver, mysterious footsteps, newspapers struggling to survive, etc. it is also a testament to friendship.
It is easy to recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this genre and I thank NetGalley and Severn River Books for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
It is easy to recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this genre and I thank NetGalley and Severn River Books for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
April 9, 2024
This is the 11th book in the Lewis Cole series. This was one of my least favorite in the series so far. Lewis is recovering from surgery to remove two tumors from his back, leaving him homebound and in need of assistance from his friends to empty surgical drains and occasionally provide meals. We hear a LOT about these things and his issues with the insurance companies. This gets repetitive and begins to feel a bit like filler to add length to the story. There just didn’t seem to have the same substance that previous books in the series had. It wasn’t a bad story by any means, and those who have been following the series from the beginning will enjoy this installment as well.
February 21, 2018
This mystery is about Lewis Cole who has just had major surgery on his back. As a former Dept. of Defense analyst his expertise comes into play when his neighbor lady is murdered. His being incapacitated plays a big role in him trying to help solve this murder. This is a light hearted mystery, with some surprises. At times you will laugh because you can just feel what he is going through with the healing. I enjoyed the book and the style of writing.
I received this book free from Goodreads for a honest opinion.
I received this book free from Goodreads for a honest opinion.
April 9, 2024
Another fabulous book by Brendan Dubois, who has quickly become one of my favorite authors! Fresh from major surgery, Lewis Cole repeatedly hears an intruder in his house, but can find no one. Genealogists plague him with requests to tour his house. Then a local antique dealer is brutally murdered. The author weaves these incidents together for a story with a very complex plot, and well drawn characters. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.
October 10, 2018
Lewis Cole, a former Department of Defense employee had tumors removed from his back as a result of a nasty gas exposure on his job. His home in New Hampshire was given to him by the government. But unknown to him the home is hiding a secret. He is trying to recover but is constantly interrupted by visitors during the day and someone in his house in the middle of the night. This is the 11th book in the series.
February 5, 2021
Lewis Cole is recovering from surgery so the entire book takes place at his house where he is recovering. I thought this was a novel and less breathless way to present his character and it was much more realistic than in some of the other ones of this series.
I'm not sure if this is the last one of the series but I certainly hope not. Now I have to go back and get to the ones at the beginning.
I'm not sure if this is the last one of the series but I certainly hope not. Now I have to go back and get to the ones at the beginning.
February 27, 2024
The characters have always been outstanding, the stories remarkable, but this novel tops them all. If you are looking for action, compassion, friendship, and danger - it's all here in another stellar tale in the life of Cole Lewis. The story shakes you up from page one and continues throughout. This is an intense, astonishing book that should be on everyone's top shelf. Very Highly Recommended.
March 30, 2024
Brendan Dubois is my new favorite author and Lewis Cole one of the beat characters to come along in a while. The setting of a small town in New Hampshire and and intriguing storyline made this a book I finished in one day. Lewis has a mysterious background in government and is housebound from surgery. The various plots and subplots provide mystery and thrill from .beginning to end. The mystery involving Lewis's house made this one of best entries in an excellent series. Highly recommend
April 4, 2024
Twisting suspense!
Lewis Cole is confined to his isolated home on Tyler Beach recovering from major surgery. Strange noises in the night in his home, insistent genealogists at his door, the brutal murder of an elderly neighbor, and violent gang activity threaten his peaceful existence.
This thriller wrapped me in an atmosphere of drama and suspense from page one! So many twists. I couldn’t put it down. I received a free copy but my review is honest and voluntary.
Lewis Cole is confined to his isolated home on Tyler Beach recovering from major surgery. Strange noises in the night in his home, insistent genealogists at his door, the brutal murder of an elderly neighbor, and violent gang activity threaten his peaceful existence.
This thriller wrapped me in an atmosphere of drama and suspense from page one! So many twists. I couldn’t put it down. I received a free copy but my review is honest and voluntary.
April 9, 2024
Lewis Cole is recovering from a major surgery and not heading out, his friends keep dropping by to make sure his drainage tubes are cleaned and keeping him fed.
But it seems that others keep knocking at his door, and he opens it good, bad and ugly.
A local antique dealer and historian is found brutally murdered, with it comes feuds, historical and drug dealers.
Once again a page turner, and Lewis Cole stuck at home is still in the thick of things.
But it seems that others keep knocking at his door, and he opens it good, bad and ugly.
A local antique dealer and historian is found brutally murdered, with it comes feuds, historical and drug dealers.
Once again a page turner, and Lewis Cole stuck at home is still in the thick of things.
April 10, 2024
Hard Aground (Lewis Cole Book 11), my eleventh read from author Brendan DuBois. An enjoyable 291-page mystery. “I received a Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I'll be reading more from this author in this series as they're published. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
March 30, 2019
on my nook. The opioid crisis rears its head and it turns out that there are narcotics hidden in the basement which a crazed woman is trying to get. In the process they murder an antiques dealer and there are opposing drug gangs as a sideshow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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