Beached

A Mer Cavallo Mystery #2

by Micki Browning

In this latest thrilling mystery from bestselling author Micki Browning, marine biologist Meredith Cavallo uncovers clues to a mysterious Spanish galleon—and quickly discovers the ship may be legendary, but the danger surrounding it is real. Mer’s life unravels after she finds a plastic-wrapped bundle floating on the waves off Key Largo. Curious, she pulls it aboard her dive boat and lands in the middle of a storm of intrigue involving an obscure legend, an 18th century shipwreck and a modern pirate who’ll resort to murder to claim the booty first. Thrust into the hunt for a ship with no historical record, Mer plunges into the world of nautical archaeology. But for a woman accustomed to dealing with facts, deciphering secrets proves difficult—and everyone she encounters harbors their own skeletons. A sinister betrayal sends her reeling, and even with the help of a crusty former marine salvager, a fiery professor, and her friends on the island, Mer's in over her head. Determined to outwit the man who wants her dead, she’s certain of only one thing—treasure is trouble.

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 10, 2018

About the author

MICKI BROWNING served twenty-two years in law enforcement and retired as a captain before turning to a life of crime fiction. Writing as Micki Browning, she penned the Agatha-nominated and award-winning Mer Cavallo mysteries, and her short stories and nonfiction have appeared in anthologies, diving and mystery magazines, and textbooks. As M.E. Browning, she writes the Jo Wyatt Mysteries. The first in the series, SHADOW RIDGE, won the Colorado Book Award for Mystery and the silver medal in the popular fiction category of the Florida Book Awards.

Micki is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime. A professional divemaster, she resides in Florida with her partner in crime and a vast array of scuba equipment she uses for “research.” Visit mebrowning.com to learn more.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

After enjoying her debut novel, Micki Browning plunges into the depths of the water again for this mystery off the Florida Coast. Dr, Mer Cavallo is a teuthologist by training, but has agreed to work for a dive shop between academic pursuits. While out with a family of clients, she comes across a a floating bale of contraband. Taking it aboard, Cavallo discovers a gold coin from almost three centuries ago. Before she can admire her find, she is attacked by a handful of men who shoot first and ask questions later. Dumping the drugs and pocketing this coin, Cavallo barely makes it ashore, where she can examine the coin a little closer. After turning it in to the authorities, Cavallo does a little digging at the local library and discovers that there is rumoured to be many more of these coins off the coast, rumoured to be part of the Thirteenth Galleon, which is echoed by a man seeking day labour who approaches the dive shack. Trying to learn a little more about this mysterious ship, Cavallo approaches a local nautical archeologist who has made a name for himself with such finds, only to find herself on the wrong end of a cocked fist. With a treasure and many more valuable coins waiting for her, Mer Cavallo wants nothing more than to explore and see what awaits her on the ocean bed, if she can stay alive long enough to tell anyone. Browning has delivered a wonderful novel here that will appeal to those who like their mysteries below water and full of oceanographic settings.

I discovered the series debut when handed an ARC over a year ago and have been keeping my eyes open for this follow-up piece. Browning does well to depict life off the Florida Coast and filling her stories with dive- and ocean-centric details that helps differentiate it from much I have read within the genre. The characters are strong, particularly Mer Cavallo, whose life has taken quite the twist since her last academic posting. She is trying to keep her life in order without letting an old flame burn her again. Her love of the water shows through much of the character development and discussion of her passion, something that Browning captures with ease. With a strong supporting cast, the story flows well and those familiar with the series debut will latch on to learn even more about some of the returning individuals. The story holds water (pardon the pun) and I was pleased to be taken on more nautical and underwater adventures, learning much between parsing through the process of the mystery. Browning has definitely found a sub-genre that suits her well and I would gladly explore more off the Florida Coast if she and Dr. Cavallo have additional stories to offer.

Kudos, Madam Browning, for a strong second novel. I am happy I stuck with this series and can see much coming from your work.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
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[Judy Sheluk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific follow up to Browning’s debut novel, Adrift, this can also be read as a standalone (but you’ll want to go back and read Adrift!). In Beached, the author seamlessly blends fact with fiction to create an underwater world filled with danger, intrigue, and suspense...along with just the right dose of family, friendship and romance.

[Lori Robinett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect book to read during a dreary Missouri winter's week. This is the 2nd book in the series, but could be read as a standalone. Mer Cavallo lives in the Florida Keys, working for a dive shop. She crosses aquatic paths with drug runners and finds a rare coin that hints at the presence of buried treasure.

I love a book where I learn something while enjoying the ride. I've never been into scuba, but this book (and the previous one) gave me a feel for what it would be like. It was fun to vicariously experience the dives. The book was fast-paced, with an interesting plot, and layered characters.

Mer Cavallo is a protagonist I've thoroughly enjoyed, and I hope to read more of her adventures in the future.

[David Felice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Micki Browning has written another exciting and suspenseful book set in the Florida Keys, involving marine biologist Mer Cavallo and a cast of likable and intriguing characters. Beached follows on the heels of Adrift, Micki’s award winning debut novel. You can tell from the first chapter that Micki is accomplished at character and scene development, and her knowledge of scuba diving, history, and police work adds a wonderful dimension to the story. Beached kept my interest from beginning to end and I highly recommend both Beached and Adrift as a desirable addition to your personal library.

[Schuyler Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic second book. It satisfies with solid writing, I love her character development and was happy she stayed away from some of the trite tragedy and didn’t have the typical “awwwww!!” ending. I was left with contentment and satisfaction and the thing an author loves to hear the most - a desire to read more of what happens to Mer and the rest of the cast of characters.

[Susan Van Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Micki Browning's second installment of the Mer Cavallo Mysteries. Her main character, Dr. Meredith Cavallo, is bigger than life and an expert at deep sea diving. She works on a boat off Key Largo, Florida. Browning hooks the reader in the first chapters when Mer pulls aboard a plastic-wrapped bundle floating in the ocean. That initial event draws Mer into the world of pirates, legends, and an 18th century shipwreck. But her exuberance is tempered by the realization that a modern pirate is also after the treasure aboard this centuries-old Spanish galleon. This calls for a plan, and Mer brings together a cast of rogues and renegades to help her go after this shipwreck. And what a cast of secondary characters it is: a crusty old sea captain; a ship salvager who only answers questions at his bar if Mer will drink a shot; a professor, and various police officers. The pace of the story charges along, and the characters are expertly drawn. There's a lot to like in this seafaring tale.

[Peter Murray]

Suspense doled in just the right dosage and underpinned by enough historical fact to send one googling such things as the Alhambra Decree. As an old law dawg with a bit of diving experience, I found the story procedurally correct and seamlessly instructive. I will be looking for more from this author.

[Josie B. Porterfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for mystery and adventure

I love well written books set around sea adventures. Even better when the author makes it realistic. Add to that, I read ‘ADRIFT’
, this same author’s precursor book to Beached. Unusually, Beached picked up where Adrift left off, literally to the page. That really clicked with me. Micki Browning, while being a new author to me, will be a writer I follow for her future books. Well written, well thought out, fits well into the real environment of the location. This one is a keeper. If you were a Clive Cussler fan, but wanted more realism, fewer characters to keep track of, and a less formula driven story, then this author is for you.

[Wagsworks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Micki Browning introduces us to a world of diving and oceanography in a book that's totally engaging. A wonderful combination of suspense, mystery, and humor, we're pulled in from page one. Browning really knows her stuff and puts it to good use without being overly technical and distracting. A great beach read, but can cause fear of strange men in boats.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great modern day mystery/thriller with compelling characters and a whirlwind adventure. The scuba diving scenes were so well done I felt like I had dropped into the deep along with the divers in the book.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

It turns out, looking for lost treasure isn't very exciting. There were parts of this book that dragged (pun intended) while they were searching for the sunken ship. I liked it well enough, but I felt the ending was a little too pat for my tastes.

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting underwater adventures off the Keys. Treasure, romance, food, strong female characters. Highly recommended. Started over the holidays and savored.

[Reading is Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mix of fact and fiction

I don't care if Browning takes liberties with her history, it's well done. She weaves a great plot with people you care about, even the curmudgeons.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked the first book in the series. Parts of this book just didn't make sense.

[Lynn Prince · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've said it before about Micki Browning, and I can say it again now. Her writing reminds me of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Her mystery brings in enough detail about her passion (the ocean and the diving) without burying the reader in tedium and details.

There were a couple of small details that I really loved, but can't talk about too much because of spoilers. The octopus made my day, and the dinner made me physically smile. When I read, I don't usually register emotions on my face, so this scene was a lovely treat.

I was honored to be an advanced reader on this one, and I am looking forward to see where Micki takes Mer Cavallo next.

[Mandy Mikulencak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A missing Spanish galleon filled with gold coins, a Cuban archivist, an enigmatic treasure hunter, cutthroat smugglers and a returning cast of larger-than-life characters populate author Micki Browning’s second installment in the Mer Cavallo mysteries set in the Florida Keys. As a sequel, BEACHED does not disappoint. In fact, the taut thriller just builds on Browning’s adept storytelling and character development. The historical elements of this undersea mystery are an immensely satisfying addition. I have high hopes for a third installment.