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Fog Point #1
Dark Water
P.I. Jake Rikker has been retained to find a stalker. A challenge that could help redeem his lifeâ?"if he doesnâ?t lose it first. A private investigator, kayak adventurer, and whale watching to
368 pages, Paperback
Published April 18, 2006
3 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Linda Hall
92 books122 followersI write mystery novels and short stories. So far I have 20 in print - with more coming. My newest mystery series begins with Night Watch and introduces my new series character, boat captain Em Ridge.
Other series include the Corporal Roger Sheppard mysteries, The Teri Blake-Addison PI thrillers and the Fog Point mysteries, as well as a number of romantic suspense novels and short stories.
For information about sales, new releases, contests, plus a 'free' short story, I'd love for you to sign up for my newsletter: writerhall.com/newsletter
I grew up near the coast in New Jersey, and it was there that my love of the ocean was nurtured. I married a Canadian and have lived in Canada ever since - well, actually, I have lived in three countries: the U.S., Canada and for a short stint - Taiwan.
I hope you enjoy my books.
Other series include the Corporal Roger Sheppard mysteries, The Teri Blake-Addison PI thrillers and the Fog Point mysteries, as well as a number of romantic suspense novels and short stories.
For information about sales, new releases, contests, plus a 'free' short story, I'd love for you to sign up for my newsletter: writerhall.com/newsletter
I grew up near the coast in New Jersey, and it was there that my love of the ocean was nurtured. I married a Canadian and have lived in Canada ever since - well, actually, I have lived in three countries: the U.S., Canada and for a short stint - Taiwan.
I hope you enjoy my books.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 4, 2025
3.5 stars. I can’t believe I walked into a library pretending to look for Pride & Prejudice (as if I didn’t already have it!) just to avoid someone and ended up walking out with this little gem. Crazy in this day and age to just… pick up a book off the shelf, vibe with the first few pages, and take a chance. Made me feel like a kid again.
I felt like it wasn’t quite wrapped up, but finding out that it’s the first in a series does bump my rating up a bit, which is why I have it at four stars.
I felt like it wasn’t quite wrapped up, but finding out that it’s the first in a series does bump my rating up a bit, which is why I have it at four stars.
February 22, 2023
🇨🇦 CANADIAN AUTHOR 🇨🇦
I own many Linda Hall paperback books and I read them years prior to beginning my Goodreads account in 2017. I just added them all to Goodreads in 2023 because I’ve been doing an inventory of all the books I own.
I do not have specific dates read—or even which years I read them in. I know that I loved them all. I strongly recommend her books.
I own many Linda Hall paperback books and I read them years prior to beginning my Goodreads account in 2017. I just added them all to Goodreads in 2023 because I’ve been doing an inventory of all the books I own.
I do not have specific dates read—or even which years I read them in. I know that I loved them all. I strongly recommend her books.
October 11, 2021
4.5 Stars.
October 22, 2025
Such mystery. I love it
January 22, 2019
It has been years since I first read this and I forgot just how much one of the main characters, Elise, annoyed me. She's clingy, dramatic, paranoid, and she reaches out to a PI because she believes she is being stalked by a man who, as the book goes on, wouldn't know how to get a hold of her. The chapters are from the viewpoints of several of the different characters and throughout, in between chapters, there are letters from Elise's daughter Rachel to Elise, giving her viewpoint of events that take place. As the book goes on, at times you are puzzled as to what is happening and why some of the characters are behaving as they are, but during the final few chapters everything comes to light. Even though I had read this before, I forgot the twists it held and was reminded of how good a story it is. The only reason I give it three stars is because of Elise's character, but it is necessary to the story once concluded. I suggest at least giving this book one chance.
S: 1, L:1, V:2
S: 1, L:1, V:2
August 27, 2011
Linda Hall's Fog Point series revolves around whale-watching tour guide Jake Rikker and his widowed partner, May. They're enlisted to help Elise St. Dennis, an acclaimed jewelry designer who has been corresponding with a prison inmate named Wesley Stoller, who is released and is believed to be stalking her. Jake develops feelings for Elise, despite her erratic behavior (she refuses to allow the police to be involved). May suspects some locals might be involved (the ne'er-do-well Featherjohn family) and red herrings abound, including Elise's strange neighbor.
The mystery itself isn't the problem; it's the weak-minded characters. Jake, a former police officer, should have red flags flying in his head when Elise refuses to allow him or May to contact local authorities. But he doesn't. Elise herself appears to be artistically gifted (a famous actress endorses her jewelry during a television interview in one scene) but rather stupid in writing to a prison inmate to begin with. Her daughter, Rachel writes in her journal about Elise's behavior as well as a few marine biology subjects (whales) that, after a few chapters, become tedious to read.
The story itself concerns redemption, which in the Christian worldview is possible for anyone, including Wesley Stoller, who is straightening out his life. The road to redemption, however, also involves repentance from one's actions. Hall doesn't browbeat anyone with Christianity but her characters are so stagnant and somewhat unrealistic in their actions in this book that I really didn't want to find out more and read the other books in this series.
The mystery itself isn't the problem; it's the weak-minded characters. Jake, a former police officer, should have red flags flying in his head when Elise refuses to allow him or May to contact local authorities. But he doesn't. Elise herself appears to be artistically gifted (a famous actress endorses her jewelry during a television interview in one scene) but rather stupid in writing to a prison inmate to begin with. Her daughter, Rachel writes in her journal about Elise's behavior as well as a few marine biology subjects (whales) that, after a few chapters, become tedious to read.
The story itself concerns redemption, which in the Christian worldview is possible for anyone, including Wesley Stoller, who is straightening out his life. The road to redemption, however, also involves repentance from one's actions. Hall doesn't browbeat anyone with Christianity but her characters are so stagnant and somewhat unrealistic in their actions in this book that I really didn't want to find out more and read the other books in this series.
November 26, 2016
I'm torn with my "ok" rating... this definitely wasn't my least favorite book ever, but it definitely warrants making the cut.
I don't think I've ever been introduced to a non-villainous character who I hated more than Elise St. Dennis. I literally told a coworker that I was hoping for her death rather early in the book. This woman (besides being an emotionally abusive, manipulative, user, psychotic murderer ((Woops! Ending giveaway!))) is wimpy, pathetic, clingy, & just a flat out poor example of humanity. Finding out that she was indeed the bad guy of the story & was "acting" out a lot of these qualities only served to make me like her a teeny tiny bit (can I say yay for getting arrested!?) Still wish she had died though...
Other than the not so awesome Elise I was seriously underwhelmed with pretty much everything else about the story as well. There were some interesting bright spots (Rachel's letters to her mother, Carrie, random aspects about the town,) but they were never given leave to grow and become fully interesting.
There is just so much more that this could have been...
What the heck is an Indigo child? Who did Rachel end up with? Where'd Moon go? Carrie? Stuart? I guess this is supposed to be some kind of series and I'm supposed to read on to figure things out. But I won't.
Dark water had potential but drowned in mediocrity. An entirely overworked piece that simply tried too hard to be good.
I don't think I've ever been introduced to a non-villainous character who I hated more than Elise St. Dennis. I literally told a coworker that I was hoping for her death rather early in the book. This woman (besides being an emotionally abusive, manipulative, user, psychotic murderer ((Woops! Ending giveaway!))) is wimpy, pathetic, clingy, & just a flat out poor example of humanity. Finding out that she was indeed the bad guy of the story & was "acting" out a lot of these qualities only served to make me like her a teeny tiny bit (can I say yay for getting arrested!?) Still wish she had died though...
Other than the not so awesome Elise I was seriously underwhelmed with pretty much everything else about the story as well. There were some interesting bright spots (Rachel's letters to her mother, Carrie, random aspects about the town,) but they were never given leave to grow and become fully interesting.
There is just so much more that this could have been...
What the heck is an Indigo child? Who did Rachel end up with? Where'd Moon go? Carrie? Stuart? I guess this is supposed to be some kind of series and I'm supposed to read on to figure things out. But I won't.
Dark water had potential but drowned in mediocrity. An entirely overworked piece that simply tried too hard to be good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2016
On vacation in Maine, seeking a new book in a small lending/donation based library. Never heard of the author but seemed like a fun little mystery. Worth the $2 I had on me.
It was entertaining but somewhat weakly written. Jake, our main character, was a dope. I'm glad his partner, May, was the real PI because he was pretty useless, falling easily for "damsels in distress" and overlooking inconsistencies that any normal person would wonder about. The mystery itself wasn't great, fairly predictable, no big twists, little resolution. Interesting (and morally questionable) personalities were kept at a distance (Sarah, Moon).
May keep an eye out (in free/lending bins) for the next in the "Fog Point" series just to see if anything happens with the trial on this one.
It was entertaining but somewhat weakly written. Jake, our main character, was a dope. I'm glad his partner, May, was the real PI because he was pretty useless, falling easily for "damsels in distress" and overlooking inconsistencies that any normal person would wonder about. The mystery itself wasn't great, fairly predictable, no big twists, little resolution. Interesting (and morally questionable) personalities were kept at a distance (Sarah, Moon).
May keep an eye out (in free/lending bins) for the next in the "Fog Point" series just to see if anything happens with the trial on this one.
August 24, 2015
Jake Rikker is a private investigator and a Whale - Watching tour guide he is based out of an old purple church, He is caught off guard by his new client Elise St Dennis an up- and coming jewelry designer. She wants him to find something- not an object but an ex con who has traced her to Fog Point. She is afraid to go to the police and she is a little desperate. Jake -senses an attraction to her so he throws himself into helping her. Aided by May a crusty Widow and also his business partner. But as Jake draws closer to their prey it becomes clear that they have become the hunted not the hunters! Can Jake and May get out of this case alive?
April 6, 2011
Well, I guess I liked the writing and the action till about 2/3 thru the book. Then I felt the author got confused. The ending was terrible: the "villian" was framed, the most interesting and sinister character was still unknown by the main characters, I wasn't sure who the main characters really were, and subplots had gotten mixed up in the main plot for no good reason.
Too bad. The first 2/3 really showed the author could build suspense and action.
Too bad. The first 2/3 really showed the author could build suspense and action.
April 16, 2016
This book has left me a tad conflicted. While I did enjoy most of it, I found the main character Elise quite strange/annoying from the very start. But then with the way it ended, which TOTALLY threw me, it kind of explained her weirdness. I guess a part of me knew there was something fishy about her and that's why I disliked her. I quite enjoyed the rest of the book though, I always like a good mystery/suspense story and if this book was anything it was definitely that!
July 18, 2008
Starts off well, with lots of twists and turns that keeps you guessing ... then about 3 chapters from the end all is revealed in such a way that it feels like an anti-climax with a dissappointing ending.
February 26, 2012
The last one-hundred pages are the best. There seemed to be a lot of distracting sub-stories...almost like the author wanted to throw the reader off. Instead they were just annoying and made the book longer than necessary.
January 23, 2015
This is my second book by this author. I really enjoyed seeing some of the same characters. I liked Jake and May and how they worked together. It was a good suspenseful read. I actually read the second book first and then saw this one. I look forward to reading more about Fog Point.
May 31, 2017
Second time read? not sure. Jake, single dad, & May, a widow, are PIs who solve the case of Elise, single mom, who seems to be being stalked by her ex husband.
good plot, characterization, descriptions! love Linda's writing! kept my interest!
good plot, characterization, descriptions! love Linda's writing! kept my interest!
April 19, 2007
I enjoyed this book and it was a really quick read. The "heroine" was a bit needy for my taste but all in all I would recommend it. Interesting characters and nice story location.
December 17, 2008
I love me a good mystery. I really enjoyed how the characters were not all they seemed to be. I can't wait to read the sequel.
July 12, 2009
slow to develop characters and plot; good mystery; not very Christian
June 15, 2012
Not a bad book, but I thought it was very predictable. I also wan't a big fan of the characters.
July 5, 2012
Rather juvenile. Usually love her books.
April 4, 2013
Quick read...good for get away reading....
August 24, 2013
Private detective finds himself hired by a woman who isn't telling him the whole story. But in the end this attempt at small town noir ends up a little dumb.
March 2, 2015
Review to come
July 14, 2008
Enjoyed this mystery - veyr well done setting and characters.
May 3, 2017
Ever hated a character so much you HAD to finish a book because you wanted to see how it ended?
The author achieved that, but as compelling as the read might seem for that, I found myself skipping while pages.
I will try the second in the series but I have nothing positive to say other than there were a tiny amount of issues technically.
Ms Hall has so many books, I will try one more. I hope that I just picked up a dud.
The author achieved that, but as compelling as the read might seem for that, I found myself skipping while pages.
I will try the second in the series but I have nothing positive to say other than there were a tiny amount of issues technically.
Ms Hall has so many books, I will try one more. I hope that I just picked up a dud.
February 27, 2018
Didn't actually finish it. Honestly I got too confused.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews