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Jane Bunker #4
Bimini Twist
Jane Bunker returns in Bimini Twist , another thrilling, small-town mystery by Linda Greenlaw set in Down East Maine.
It seems like everyone in Green Haven knows that Jane Bunker has scored an invite to the ultra-exclusive Summer Solstice Soiree―and they all assume she’ll be in attendance, as one of the few eligible single women in town. Of course, that’s the last place Jane would like to be; hobnobbing and making small talk with the upper crust isn’t exactly her idea of a good time. She prefers to put in her hours working as an insurance investigator, and part-time as the deputy sheriff. When she gets to work one morning, the sheriff asks her to take a break on her personal war on drugs―it seems that she’s been so successful catching dealers and interrupting the flow of drugs in the area that she’s called too much attention to just how bad it’s gotten, and the community is worried that all the attention on the drug trade will deter the summer tourists that Green Haven so badly needs to keep the economy going.
Instead, Jane takes on a missing person case―a young woman working at the Bar Harbor Inn has disappeared. The Inn employs foreign exchange students from all over the world during the busy summer season, and the missing Bianca Chiriac is one of them. When it becomes clear that Bianca isn’t just sleeping off a late-night party, Jane is plunged into the underbelly of the resort town, and must find the missing woman before the worst happens.
It seems like everyone in Green Haven knows that Jane Bunker has scored an invite to the ultra-exclusive Summer Solstice Soiree―and they all assume she’ll be in attendance, as one of the few eligible single women in town. Of course, that’s the last place Jane would like to be; hobnobbing and making small talk with the upper crust isn’t exactly her idea of a good time. She prefers to put in her hours working as an insurance investigator, and part-time as the deputy sheriff. When she gets to work one morning, the sheriff asks her to take a break on her personal war on drugs―it seems that she’s been so successful catching dealers and interrupting the flow of drugs in the area that she’s called too much attention to just how bad it’s gotten, and the community is worried that all the attention on the drug trade will deter the summer tourists that Green Haven so badly needs to keep the economy going.
Instead, Jane takes on a missing person case―a young woman working at the Bar Harbor Inn has disappeared. The Inn employs foreign exchange students from all over the world during the busy summer season, and the missing Bianca Chiriac is one of them. When it becomes clear that Bianca isn’t just sleeping off a late-night party, Jane is plunged into the underbelly of the resort town, and must find the missing woman before the worst happens.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published June 26, 2018
46 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Linda Greenlaw
27 books236 followersLinda Greenlaw's three bestselling books about life as a commercial fisherman -- THE HUNGRY OCEAN (1999), THE LOBSTER CHRONICLES (2002) and ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS (2004) -- have climbed as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. She is the winner of the U.S. Maritime Literature Award in 2003, and the New England Book Award for nonfiction in 2004. Time Magazine called her 2005 RECIPES FROM A VERY SMALL ISLAND, co-authored with her mother Martha Greenlaw, a "must-have cookbook".
Before becoming a writer, Linda Greenlaw was the captain of a sword boat, the career that earned her a prominent role in Sebastian Junger's THE PERFECT STORM and a portrayal in the subsequent film. She has been featured on Good Morning America, Today, CBS Sunday Morning, The Martha Stewart Show, and National Public Radio. She now lives on Isle au Haut, Maine, where she captains a lobster boat.
When Linda Greenlaw confessed a desire to write fiction, readers responded with an enthusiastic "Please do!" At last, she satisfies their hunger with SLIPKNOT, a sharp-witted, compulsively readable mystery, the first in a series featuring marine investigator Jane Bunker. As she proved in THE HUNGRY OCEAN, no one knows the sea like Linda Greenlaw. And as she proved in THE LOBSTER CHRONICLES, no one has a better way with the telling details of Maine village life. SLIPKNOT delivers everything readers want: a great setting, wonderful characters, an authentic and original detective -- and a story that will keep them on the edge of their seats. (from the author's website)
Series:
* Jane Bunker Mystery
Before becoming a writer, Linda Greenlaw was the captain of a sword boat, the career that earned her a prominent role in Sebastian Junger's THE PERFECT STORM and a portrayal in the subsequent film. She has been featured on Good Morning America, Today, CBS Sunday Morning, The Martha Stewart Show, and National Public Radio. She now lives on Isle au Haut, Maine, where she captains a lobster boat.
When Linda Greenlaw confessed a desire to write fiction, readers responded with an enthusiastic "Please do!" At last, she satisfies their hunger with SLIPKNOT, a sharp-witted, compulsively readable mystery, the first in a series featuring marine investigator Jane Bunker. As she proved in THE HUNGRY OCEAN, no one knows the sea like Linda Greenlaw. And as she proved in THE LOBSTER CHRONICLES, no one has a better way with the telling details of Maine village life. SLIPKNOT delivers everything readers want: a great setting, wonderful characters, an authentic and original detective -- and a story that will keep them on the edge of their seats. (from the author's website)
Series:
* Jane Bunker Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
June 26, 2018
I'm always on the lookout for a good mystery series and I've had my eyes set on trying out this series for some time. What's not to like? A small-town mystery with a female deputy sheriff who also works part-time as an insurance investigator. As a big mystery fan was I was curious and wanted to see if this series would work for me.
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
August 11, 2018
In Linda Greenlaw's Bimini Twist, the 4th installment in the Jane Bunker Mystery series, this compelling storyline is twisted and send you spinning in a tailspin. Meet Jane Bunker. She wears two hats in Green Haven, Maine--she works as a deputy sheriff for Hancock County and also a marine insurance investigator. It all started for Jane that she had been assigned to look for a missing Romanian girl named Bianca Ciariac, while her thorough drug busts had been put on hold by her boss. While she was looking for her, she boarded one boat named the Princess of the Seas and meets Pete Alford, the chief fisherman there. During her boat ride, she witnessed a ramming of one other cruise ship and then later had killed Ron Thomas. As insurance adjustor for the company, she discovered more than she bargained for, when the chief suspect had suspiciously died by his own gear. Meanwhile, another call had come out about a missing maritime cadet named Franklin Avery, and later he was also presumed to return to Rockland the next morning on the ship. But while Jane had tried to put two to two together, things had gotten awry, when he turned up dead. More suspicions had swirled around in Jane's head, when she discovered other missing women had gotten missing on the ship with help from her assistant Deloris. In the end, she had gotten into herself a nasty bind of a potential coverup of something more sinister and learned the bitter truth behind it.
June 26, 2018
Jane Bunker has been a massive success since moving to Green Haven, Maine at what she loves to do. Namely, catch drug dealers and disrupt the drug pipeline that has hurt so many Mainers. However, the town fathers think she has been a bit too successful and want her to scale back her efforts. They are afraid the summer people won't want to come if there is so much publicity about drug busts. Deputy Bunker has been relegated to other incidents. Her first is the disappearance of a foreign worker at a local spa. The girl's roommate is distraught, but Jane thinks she is just shacked up with a boyfriend. After all, missing teenagers usually turn up in her experience. Jane's investigation leads her to a cruise ship anchored off Bar Harbor. The ship's personnel are less than co-operative, and since it is chartered in Bimini, she has no jurisdiction without a warrant. Complicating matters are the ongoing feuds over territory and gear among the local lobstermen which have escalated dramatically. Bimini Twist is twisty indeed, with another disappearance, several murders, and an attack on Jane herself. There is a lot more going on here than one missing girl.
I enjoy the Jane Bunker mysteries for the Maine setting and characters. Jane's landlords, the Vickersons, treat her and her Downs Syndrome brother, Wally, like family and she has made other friends as well. Without them, Jane would be entirely consumed by her work. She has almost no personal life, but that may be changing with the introduction of a new character and the possibility of romance. Thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.
I enjoy the Jane Bunker mysteries for the Maine setting and characters. Jane's landlords, the Vickersons, treat her and her Downs Syndrome brother, Wally, like family and she has made other friends as well. Without them, Jane would be entirely consumed by her work. She has almost no personal life, but that may be changing with the introduction of a new character and the possibility of romance. Thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.
July 10, 2018
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an e-ARC of Bimini Twist by Linda Greenlaw in exchange for an honest review. This is the fourth installment of the Jane Bunker series, although this is a first for me. I find myself at a loss to categorize this book: it is somewhere in between a police procedural and a cozy mystery. Deputy Sheriff Jane Bunker is the law in the small town of Green Haven. Because it is tourist season, she is asked to tone down the drug busts for the summer which leaves her with a missing person case. Jane takes on the case to keep busy but does not realize that this investigation will involve a boat sinking, assault, attempted murder, kidnapping and murder, among other crimes. The story starts out well but I found the middle had too many unneccesary details which slowed down the momentum somewhat. This is then redeemed by a tension-filled and satisfying ending. If you like your murder mysteries lite, this is the book for you.
July 27, 2018
We really enjoyed Linda Greenlaw's "Bimini Twist". Like "Shiver Hitch", we (my mother and I) enjoyed figuring things out before Jane did. We already had a hunch what kind of crime ring was involved as soon as Bianca disappeared and had a pretty strong hunch on Pete. Jane's ditzy moments help to humanize her and her social awkwardness adds to that. I find her charming, endearing, very-human and sometimes almost laughably dense. I think Linda Greenlaw did an excellent job creating the lead character and fleshing her out for this series of mysteries and look forward to the next installment. The Jane Bunker Mysteries are currently one of my favorite series on the market.
I appreciate the publisher sending me a proof of this book to read and review. I read it aloud to my blind mother and we both enjoyed it immensely.
I appreciate the publisher sending me a proof of this book to read and review. I read it aloud to my blind mother and we both enjoyed it immensely.
July 16, 2018
#4 in the Jane Bunker mystery series. This 2018 entry from author Greenlaw is a quick fun read. Known for her nautical non-fiction, Greenlaw is doing a fine job with deputy sheriff/insurance investigator Jane Bunker. Jane reminds me of early series entries of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone. Jane's support structure depends heavily on her octogenarian landlords and she is a dogged, intrepid, but fallible, investigator. This entry shows that Jane is not a one trick pony and she can investigate crimes that are not drug related. I'm glad because she is a likeable character and already geographically restricted, I would hate to see her series life shortened by being too repetitive.
Jane Bunker is an insurance investigator and part-time deputy sheriff in Green Haven, Maine. As a deputy she utilizes her experience as a detective in Miami to specialize in disrupting the drug trade. She is upset when the sheriff tells her that he is passing along orders for her to tone down her anti-drug efforts during the tourist season. He gives her a missing person report to look into - a Romanian seasonal worker has gone missing. Then she get a report of a missing military school cadet. Are the cases connected. And when she talks to the girl's roommate, she learns that a girl went missing with no investigation the previous year. And what of Pete, the pilot boat captain, fisherman extraordinaire, who asks her to the Spring Solstice Soiree but starts appearing in all of her investigations.
Jane Bunker is an insurance investigator and part-time deputy sheriff in Green Haven, Maine. As a deputy she utilizes her experience as a detective in Miami to specialize in disrupting the drug trade. She is upset when the sheriff tells her that he is passing along orders for her to tone down her anti-drug efforts during the tourist season. He gives her a missing person report to look into - a Romanian seasonal worker has gone missing. Then she get a report of a missing military school cadet. Are the cases connected. And when she talks to the girl's roommate, she learns that a girl went missing with no investigation the previous year. And what of Pete, the pilot boat captain, fisherman extraordinaire, who asks her to the Spring Solstice Soiree but starts appearing in all of her investigations.
September 15, 2018
Bimini Twist (Jane Bunker Mystery #4)
Linda Greenlaw
The author is perhaps best known as a swordboat captain in The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger. Since then she has written numerous books related to her knowledge of the seas. This story continues that theme.
The main character, Jane Bunker, is a deputy sheriff for the a small coastal town in Maine. She usually works drugs, and has been successful in greatly reducing the drug problem, but when the summer tourist season begins, she is assigned other duties that include a missing person case.
One thing leads to another and Linda, oops Jane, is back on the water again. She witnesses several acts of aggression that might have been attempted murder or lesser acts of destruction. This is where this story really gets authentic. Commercial fishing can be very competitive and a keen understanding of the boats, electronic gear, weather, and competition is on display here.
There is some character development. Jane and her younger brother, who has autism, rent rooms from a kindly elderly couple that allows for Jane to have a good, but limited, social life. But that might change after she meets a boat captain in the course of her duties.
The missing person case starts to grow. Are others missing? How is a cruise ship involved? Were the acts of aggression between boat captains connected to a bigger crime?
Unfortunately, the answers to these questions are achieved by a very unbelievable set of actions and coincidences. This was a disappointing resolution to an otherwise enjoyable story.
Linda Greenlaw
The author is perhaps best known as a swordboat captain in The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger. Since then she has written numerous books related to her knowledge of the seas. This story continues that theme.
The main character, Jane Bunker, is a deputy sheriff for the a small coastal town in Maine. She usually works drugs, and has been successful in greatly reducing the drug problem, but when the summer tourist season begins, she is assigned other duties that include a missing person case.
One thing leads to another and Linda, oops Jane, is back on the water again. She witnesses several acts of aggression that might have been attempted murder or lesser acts of destruction. This is where this story really gets authentic. Commercial fishing can be very competitive and a keen understanding of the boats, electronic gear, weather, and competition is on display here.
There is some character development. Jane and her younger brother, who has autism, rent rooms from a kindly elderly couple that allows for Jane to have a good, but limited, social life. But that might change after she meets a boat captain in the course of her duties.
The missing person case starts to grow. Are others missing? How is a cruise ship involved? Were the acts of aggression between boat captains connected to a bigger crime?
Unfortunately, the answers to these questions are achieved by a very unbelievable set of actions and coincidences. This was a disappointing resolution to an otherwise enjoyable story.
March 29, 2018
I have really enjoyed Greenlaw's non-fiction books in the past, so I figured I would give one of her fiction books a try. I gather this is the fourth in a series of mystery books featuring the character of Jane Bunker who works in a small town in Maine as a deputy sheriff and insurance investigator. In this particular book she is called in to help when a young girl in the country on a work exchange visa for the summer goes missing. At first she suspects that the girl has just run off with a lover, a local naval cadet, but when he goes missing too everything changes.
This was not a good book. For someone whose non-fiction writing I enjoyed Greenlaw does not seem to be a very good fiction writer. The plot development was weak. The characters are not developed at all. Greenlaw basically just tells you who they are and what their thing is. Instead of writing so that you as a reader can see that this quirky town character is like this because you see them act like that she pretty much tells you this town character is quirky because they do this thing. I guess if she's written four of these books someone must be enjoying them, but it's not me. I hope she writes some more non-fiction.
This was not a good book. For someone whose non-fiction writing I enjoyed Greenlaw does not seem to be a very good fiction writer. The plot development was weak. The characters are not developed at all. Greenlaw basically just tells you who they are and what their thing is. Instead of writing so that you as a reader can see that this quirky town character is like this because you see them act like that she pretty much tells you this town character is quirky because they do this thing. I guess if she's written four of these books someone must be enjoying them, but it's not me. I hope she writes some more non-fiction.
August 6, 2021
Another Dollar Tree score!
Ok so Detective Jane Bunker is not a likable character in my opinion. It seems that rather than doing her job as a police officer she wants to do police work that gains her notoriety. This is incredibly irksome. Looking for a missing person is not a waste of time. You suck if you think that.
Anyway - I see what the author was trying to do. Perhaps when it was published this was accomplished but for me it completely fell flat. The characters just weren’t likable, the situations seemed so far fetched - I don’t know. This just wasn’t it for me.
I was hoping for a nice quick semi-cozy mystery story and what I got was a police officer only interested in notoriety complaining about the plot line. Not a fan.
Ok so Detective Jane Bunker is not a likable character in my opinion. It seems that rather than doing her job as a police officer she wants to do police work that gains her notoriety. This is incredibly irksome. Looking for a missing person is not a waste of time. You suck if you think that.
Anyway - I see what the author was trying to do. Perhaps when it was published this was accomplished but for me it completely fell flat. The characters just weren’t likable, the situations seemed so far fetched - I don’t know. This just wasn’t it for me.
I was hoping for a nice quick semi-cozy mystery story and what I got was a police officer only interested in notoriety complaining about the plot line. Not a fan.
July 25, 2019
2 stars out of 5 - I listened to this on CDs over the past couple of weeks during drive times after picking it up at the library based on a whim. The most positive thing I can say about it is that it held my interest well enough to cause me to finish it. In the beginning I almost abandoned it because it took a heck of a long time for the plot to get started, then at the end I almost abandoned it because the author evidently got so caught up in making it a breakneck paced thriller that she neglected taking time to do even the most basic research into how ships work. I won't be getting any more Greenlaw books.
June 23, 2018
Jane Bunker returns in another mystery fourth in the series.A young foreign exchange student hired by the inn as summer help goes missing.Jane has to find her digging into the small town its secrets and the danger this young woman is in kept me turning the pages.The small town the sea the atmosphere already looking forward to the next in the series.
August 9, 2018
I question how this novel ever made it past editors. The plot is somewhat engaging but the writing needs a good editor to make it worth the time spent reading. Disappointing.
July 30, 2018
Having left the big city of Miami behind, Jane Bunker works as an insurance investigator and as a part-time Deputy Sheriff in her small town of Green Haven, ME. Jane has been successful rounding up active members of the prevalent drug trade in the area, so much so, that her boss asks her to lay low during the tourist season, because the powers-to-be fear the notoriety of the drug busts might impact negatively on tourism. Thus, Jane picks up a case of a missing foreign student working at a nearby resort, on an F-1 foreign student work visa. Initially, everyone, to include Jane, thinks the student is just off on a jaunt and will surface soon. However, days go by with no clues or word about or from the student, Jane begins to change her mind, figuring the disappearance is more than a young person’s jaunt. Then, Jane begins work on another case of a missing maritime student who is enrolled at a nearby maritime academy. To complicate matters, Jane has been invited to the annual solstice affair by the town’s richest and most prominent couple. Jane prefers not to go but has been tasked to represent the locals at the party by her boss. During her investigation, Jane stumbles upon some suspected murders, all involving the well-to-do local fisherman Pete. To complicate matters, Jane has agreed to be his date at the solstice party. For the first time in a long, long time, Jane is interested in something other than her job, her younger brother and the elderly couple with whom they live. Soon things spin out of control, as Jane begins suspecting that the missing students are connected to the mishaps involving fishing boats and deceased locals. Through dogged detective work, Jane works through a myriad of clues, red herrings and events to figure out what exactly is going on, as well as how, or if, everything is connected.
This was a well written book. I have read others by this author, but only years ago. I recognized her name and thus requested this for review from NetGalley. As with the others I have read, I enjoyed this one thoroughly and was hooked from the get-to. One thing I did miss was any real chemistry between Jane and Pete, but I decided that was because each of them was just very dedicated to his/her job and had little time for relationships. However, there was a spark when they were together. The way Jane (and the author) pieced together the clues and seemingly unrelated events to figure out what was going on was rather interesting. I also thought the supporting characters, especially the couple with whom Jane and her brother live, added a lot to the story and kept things rather lively. I do not think I have not read any other books in this particular series, though what I did read by this author was so long ago I am not sure, but will now go back to look at, to read, and possibly re-read them. This is a well-done mystery cum romance, with not all that much emphasis on the romance side of things. Still, this romance side will probably play out in later books in the series. I think it is a great idea to have a strong female character as the lead—who is not only interested in a man, but who cares deeply about her job/career.
This was a well written book. I have read others by this author, but only years ago. I recognized her name and thus requested this for review from NetGalley. As with the others I have read, I enjoyed this one thoroughly and was hooked from the get-to. One thing I did miss was any real chemistry between Jane and Pete, but I decided that was because each of them was just very dedicated to his/her job and had little time for relationships. However, there was a spark when they were together. The way Jane (and the author) pieced together the clues and seemingly unrelated events to figure out what was going on was rather interesting. I also thought the supporting characters, especially the couple with whom Jane and her brother live, added a lot to the story and kept things rather lively. I do not think I have not read any other books in this particular series, though what I did read by this author was so long ago I am not sure, but will now go back to look at, to read, and possibly re-read them. This is a well-done mystery cum romance, with not all that much emphasis on the romance side of things. Still, this romance side will probably play out in later books in the series. I think it is a great idea to have a strong female character as the lead—who is not only interested in a man, but who cares deeply about her job/career.
July 6, 2018
This is the 4th Jane Bunker Mystery and my first by the author in the series. I do recommend this book quite highly and it can be read as a stand alone to the series. I look forward to exploring the previous books in the series.
I enjoyed the location of Maine in a small town so aptly described by the author. The reader instantly feels they are enjoying small town Maine.
The protagonist of this series is Jane Bunker who works as an insurance investigator, and part-time as the deputy sheriff in the small town of Green Haven. Having arrested and publicized to many drug cases , Jane is told by the sheriff to concentrate on cold cases and a missing person case. Apparently the town does not like the publicity in the summer season. Feeling sidelined Jane is assigned to try to track down a missing young European woman along with another missing student .
Her social life is heating up with a invite to the exclusive Summer Solstice Soiree. Pete, the nephew who invited her stands her up . Jane is not concerned until a boat sinking occurs and he may have been involved. Soon she is involved in other mysterious happenings in her town that may involve the missing people. .
I enjoy the very quirky local characters , the setting and the plot. This was a fast paced interesting read with a strong savvy female protagonist. I look forward to the next in series and to catching up with the previous books This is a well crafted story with a fun sleuth. Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my review.
I enjoyed the location of Maine in a small town so aptly described by the author. The reader instantly feels they are enjoying small town Maine.
The protagonist of this series is Jane Bunker who works as an insurance investigator, and part-time as the deputy sheriff in the small town of Green Haven. Having arrested and publicized to many drug cases , Jane is told by the sheriff to concentrate on cold cases and a missing person case. Apparently the town does not like the publicity in the summer season. Feeling sidelined Jane is assigned to try to track down a missing young European woman along with another missing student .
Her social life is heating up with a invite to the exclusive Summer Solstice Soiree. Pete, the nephew who invited her stands her up . Jane is not concerned until a boat sinking occurs and he may have been involved. Soon she is involved in other mysterious happenings in her town that may involve the missing people. .
I enjoy the very quirky local characters , the setting and the plot. This was a fast paced interesting read with a strong savvy female protagonist. I look forward to the next in series and to catching up with the previous books This is a well crafted story with a fun sleuth. Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my review.
July 6, 2018
Bimini Twist
A Jane Bunker Mystery
by Linda Greenlaw
St. Martin's Press
Minotaur Books
Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 26 Jun 2018
I am reviewing a copy of Bimini Twist through St. Martin’s Press:
It's like everyone in Green Haven knows that Jane Bunker has scored an invite to the ultra exclusive Summer Soiree and they all assume she will be attending as one of of the few single/ eligible women in town. That's however the last place Jane wants to be, hobbnobbing and making small talk with the wealthy isn't something she finds enjoyable. She prefers to use her time working as an insurance investigator, and part time as a deputy sheriff. When she gets to work one morning, the Sheriff asks her to take a break on her personal war on drugs. She's been so successful at catching dealers and interrupting the flow of drugs that she's brought attention to how bad it had gotten and the community fears the negative publicity will deter the summer tourists Green Haven so badly needs.
Jane is instead asked to take on a missing person case. A young woman working at the Bar Harbor Inn has disappeared. The inn hires foreign exchange students from all over the world during the busy summer season. The missing Bianca Chiriac is one of them. It soon becomes obvious that Bianca isn't simply sleeping off a late night party, Jane is plunged into the underbelly of the resort town, she must find the missing woman before the worst happens!
I give Bimini Twist five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
June 27, 2018
I enjoy reading the Jane Bunker series set in Down East Maine. Many of the locations are familiar to me since we are lucky enough to spend time each summer along the Maine coast.
Jane Bunker has left the big city behind and now works as an insurance investigator, and part-time as the deputy sheriff in the small town of Green Haven. Having arrested too many druggies, Jane is told by the sheriff to lay low on those types of cases and to concentrate on cold cases and a missing person case. Switching between her two hats as necessary, Jane is trying to track down a missing young European woman here on an F-1 foreign student work visa, along with another missing student from the Maritime Academy.
In the meantime, her social life is heating up with an obligatory invite to the exclusive Summer Solstice Soiree. Pete, the nephew who invited her and who is working as a pilot boat captain, seems to turn up everywhere. Pete is attractive and helpful, but can she trust him - especially when he stands her up at the Soiree? Between a boat sinking, deaths and missing people, there is plenty to keep Jane busy and the reader engaged. I enjoyed catching up with her landlords, the Vs, her brother Wally, and other quirky local characters plus meet new ones like the older couple who run Tag Team Taxi. Drug cases put aside, there is still plenty of action in Green Haven!
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Jane Bunker has left the big city behind and now works as an insurance investigator, and part-time as the deputy sheriff in the small town of Green Haven. Having arrested too many druggies, Jane is told by the sheriff to lay low on those types of cases and to concentrate on cold cases and a missing person case. Switching between her two hats as necessary, Jane is trying to track down a missing young European woman here on an F-1 foreign student work visa, along with another missing student from the Maritime Academy.
In the meantime, her social life is heating up with an obligatory invite to the exclusive Summer Solstice Soiree. Pete, the nephew who invited her and who is working as a pilot boat captain, seems to turn up everywhere. Pete is attractive and helpful, but can she trust him - especially when he stands her up at the Soiree? Between a boat sinking, deaths and missing people, there is plenty to keep Jane busy and the reader engaged. I enjoyed catching up with her landlords, the Vs, her brother Wally, and other quirky local characters plus meet new ones like the older couple who run Tag Team Taxi. Drug cases put aside, there is still plenty of action in Green Haven!
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2019
This series just keeps getting better. I could not put this book down, so chose to miss my community meeting. Hey, the community will survive, this mystery needed to be solved !
Most important, to me: Greenlaw did something in this book I don’t recall ever seeing before and I thought it was Great. Jane reflected on what she had done, seen or found out that day or ‘so far’. Terrific recap and summary of the plot points. This helped me a great deal as a reader to better understand and remember everything that had been going on. The best part was that it was not an obvious ‘plot device’, it was very normal, something that anyone would do in reviewing the case to themselves.
Complex, convoluted, twists and turns, surprises – the plot just kept getting more interesting and was extremely well thought out. I enjoyed returning to characters that are now familiar old friends, and seeing Jane start to have a personal life as well. Greenlaw makes the details of lobstering clear and interesting – the boats and their operation are vividly created in my mind. And of course it’s set in Maine !
Read this for the mystery, for the locations and for the characters. Just read it !
Most important, to me: Greenlaw did something in this book I don’t recall ever seeing before and I thought it was Great. Jane reflected on what she had done, seen or found out that day or ‘so far’. Terrific recap and summary of the plot points. This helped me a great deal as a reader to better understand and remember everything that had been going on. The best part was that it was not an obvious ‘plot device’, it was very normal, something that anyone would do in reviewing the case to themselves.
Complex, convoluted, twists and turns, surprises – the plot just kept getting more interesting and was extremely well thought out. I enjoyed returning to characters that are now familiar old friends, and seeing Jane start to have a personal life as well. Greenlaw makes the details of lobstering clear and interesting – the boats and their operation are vividly created in my mind. And of course it’s set in Maine !
Read this for the mystery, for the locations and for the characters. Just read it !
July 24, 2018
I was given the honor of being one of the first to read this newest edition of the Jane Bunker Mysteries. It did not disappoint. Jane continues to find herself in the middle of great myseries as she tries to solve crime. The carry over of many of the characters from book to book is well done and the introduction of new characters was interesting and engaging. There were twists in this book that kept me guessing and turning the pages. I continue to love the Down East Maine setting and all the details of the area that are shared throughout the story and through each character and/or the characters actions. The description of driving into Bar Harbor and Southwest Harbor takes me right in to town with her - memories of being there and wishes to return to Mt. Desert Island myself. Love that Beals Lobster Pound! I always love reading what the next mussel recipe from Mrs. V will be, too. I think there should be a cookbook - or recipes included in each book maybe? The very end of this one sure left me wanting more - just like Jane! Now I can't wait for #5 to see what happens next for Jane and the other Green Haven residents. Great Summer Read!!
June 21, 2023
I had a hard time finishing this book ... but I was out of town in a remote cabin, so i forced myself. The paper-thin plot was transparent as soon as the mystery began to develop, which, unfortunately, was not until close to halfway through! As a wannabe author, I wanted to take a big red pen to this due to the poor quality of the writing. The worst offense was the non-stop use of "I thought" by the protagonist, which was unnecessary, given that the entire narrative was her story and thoughts. Other problems (not all-inclusive): stilted dialogue in which all characters speak in the same unnatural way; repetItive narration where the POV character repeats to the readers what they already know; word echoes; and verbosity, especially the overuse of the word "that." I don't think the writer ever used a contraction, which gave it a formal and unnatural tone. If you are a boat enthusiast, you may enjoy all the specific jargon the knowledgeable author uses, but, for me, it was overdone.
April 11, 2021
Jane Bunker works two jobs in Green Haven-an insurance investigator and part time deputy sheriff. She's done such a good job catching drug dealers and slowing the flow of drugs in the area, that she's told she needs to slow down since its tourist season and the town doesn't need that kind of attention. The sheriff gives her an assignment to track down a missing young girl who is employed at the local inn. Another young man disappears and Jane figures they might be together. In her pursuit of the two, she realizes that it is much more than just two young people who may have hooked up and lost track of time. Jane also has to contend with her invite to the Summer Solstice Soiree. It's the last place Jane would like to be-dealing with the upper crust and having to make small talk. It is a fast read and would be perfect to read on a rainy weekend
June 20, 2018
I got the book from the publisher in return for a review which I am happy to provide. I love the Author and the series and could not wait to get started, and as with her previous books it did not disappoint. I like strong female characters and the plot line was interesting, and I am hopeful that the budding romance will make an appearance in upcoming books. There was plenty of mystery and action and I can't wait what will happen next in Jane's life. Even though its part of a series you don't necessarily need to read them in order. Now if I could just find somebody who will cook Mussels for me every-night I would be set.
July 30, 2019
Jane Bunker is a police detective and insurance investigator. She had been a highly successful Narcotics detective in Miami, but the fast paced hard core world of that area got to be a bit much.
So, she moved to Maine and started investigating drug crimes there. A little slower pace and a beautiful setting.
Jane is told to tone it down during tourist season, her boss doesn't want it advertised that there are drug problems in their community. Its Bad for the tourist business. So Jane is sent to look for a few missing persons and stumbles across an even bigger case....
Some humor and her crazy landlords lighten up the story a bit.
The coastal Maine setting adds interest as well.
So, she moved to Maine and started investigating drug crimes there. A little slower pace and a beautiful setting.
Jane is told to tone it down during tourist season, her boss doesn't want it advertised that there are drug problems in their community. Its Bad for the tourist business. So Jane is sent to look for a few missing persons and stumbles across an even bigger case....
Some humor and her crazy landlords lighten up the story a bit.
The coastal Maine setting adds interest as well.
August 19, 2019
I am in love with Linda Greenlaw's nonfiction work, and have read all her books except the cookbook over the years of vacationing in Maine. We'd stop in at Sherman's in Portland and I'd buy her latest. This past week I was at Sherman's in Portland as the FEATURED AUTHOR! What a treat!!! In between people stopping to chat with me, I noticed this on the shelves. I purchased it on my way out...and am now sad that I've already finished it. That's okay; I noticed I have two more Jane Bunker Mysteries to catch up on next (I read Slipknot some years ago)! Thanks, Linda, for providing great reads each summer!
June 26, 2022
I have read the three previous books in the series and have enjoyed them all. I do believe that this outing was not quite as good as the previous books. Jane is still living with her tourist trap shop owning landlords and her brother is living there as well. She has been very successful in attacking the drug trade in her area of Maine. So successful in fact that she is pulled off of it and set on missing persons cases instead. We meet several new characters and there even appears to be a hint of a romance in Jane's future. I would recommend for readers who have read the other books in the series.
July 1, 2018
Where to begin? Greenlaw's Jane Bunker series gets better and better. The twisty mysteries get knottier, the characters are so well rounded I feel like I could drop right into Green Haven and find them. Bimini Twist's opening premise is excellent: Who hasn't been frustrated by a boss who says to hold off doing something until some perfect moment? Even Jane's response is true - whatever you're given to do instead can start out as simple make-work and end up being more complicated than what you didn't do. Now, may I please have Jane Bunker as my friend?
July 1, 2018
This is the second of the Jane Bunker Mysteries that I have read and enjoyed following Jane on her latest case and catching up with her brother Wally, landlords, her co-worker Deloris and the diner regulars.
Jane has been ordered to let up on her usual cases because the town so that tourists don't get a bad impression of the town. She starts to look into a missing person case and gets caught in something bigger than she expected. Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy in return for an honest review.
Jane has been ordered to let up on her usual cases because the town so that tourists don't get a bad impression of the town. She starts to look into a missing person case and gets caught in something bigger than she expected. Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy in return for an honest review.
April 13, 2019
This one is best described as 'A quaint, entertaining read set in Maine'. It involves our heroine who is a small-town deputy sheriff and part time insurance adjuster trying to solve two missing persons cases.
Part romance, part action this is a light, well written story which is fairly predictable but still quite good. It falls neatly into the 'pleasant holiday reading' category.
Overall it was a 'satisfactory' rather than mind blowing. Final verdict? Three and a half stars rounded down.
Part romance, part action this is a light, well written story which is fairly predictable but still quite good. It falls neatly into the 'pleasant holiday reading' category.
Overall it was a 'satisfactory' rather than mind blowing. Final verdict? Three and a half stars rounded down.
June 26, 2018
Exciting and fast-moving mystery. The characters were easy to understand and relate to. Skipped over some of the boat details to hurry on with the story. Not a boat person, so not interested, but they did seem appropriate. I enjoyed my first experience with Jane Bunker and eagerly look forward to reading the next one in this series. The publisher provided a copy via NetGalley.
August 3, 2018
Another Jane Bunker mystery. I like her persistence and doggedness in the face of politics in the little tourist town where she has relocated. In this book, I think she makes a few wrong assumptions that she believes are fact, leading her to miss a few cues, but overall, I enjoyed the book. She even got an "almost" date out of it. Good For Jane!
August 5, 2018
Deputy Jane Bunker, recently moved to a small town in Maine, investigates a missing person case. Then a second missing person. Pete, a commercial fisherman who interests Jane, is becoming a question for her because he keeps turning up “maybe too conveniently” as she investigates these cases.
Fun story as once again Jane fights crime in Maine.
Fun story as once again Jane fights crime in Maine.
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