Shadow over Cedar Key: A Brandy O’Bannon Mystery

by Ann Turner Cook

Florida reporter Brandy O'Bannon is intrigued by a classified ad that asks an unidentified woman, who has been missing for twenty years, to come forward. The young mother and her two-year old daughter disappeared as Hurricane Agnes swept into the historic Gulf coast village of Cedar Key, although no fatalities were reported. When Brandy learns that a woman's skeleton was found a year later in the basement of one of the state's oldest and Cedar Key's most charming hotel, she begins a search for answers. The grisly fate of the private detective who placed the ad is soon discovered by Brandy's golden retriever. While trying to resolve both mysteries, Brandy ferrets out a new friend's true identity and guides her to self-knowledge. In the process, Brandy becomes the victim of attack, kidnapping, and hurricane. She outwits both nature and assailants, helps solve two brutal murders-and gets her front page story.

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2003

About the author

Ann Turner Cook is an American mystery novelist, who was the model for the familiar Gerber Baby artwork seen on baby-food packages of the Gerber Products Company.
After retiring from teaching, Cook became a novelist. A member of the Mystery Writers of America, she is the author of the Brandy O'Bannon series of mystery novels set on Florida's Gulf Coast.

Reviews

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review is on the original

[Linda Loretz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brandy O’Bannon, a motivated reporter from a small Gainesville newspaper, goes on a mission to Cedar Key to solve a murder and learn about ghost hauntings.
Her architect husband warns her several times to let the professionals handle the detective work, but much like Nancy Drew, she can’t help herself. Brandy is determined to help Cara Waters, an adopted young woman, find her true parentage. Unfortunately, Cara’s adoptive mother is outrageously protective, and Brandy assumes she can help Cara realize her dreams.

The story focuses on the contradictory landscapes of Florida: backwoods and an ionic tourist town. The characters are unremarkable, and the story is formulaic. Nevertheless, it’s easy and worthwhile if you yearn for stereotypical characters and little brain work while reading.
See my reviews at https://quipsandquotes.net/