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Tango Key Mysteries #2
Black Water
As the sun sets on a deserted Florida beach, a desperate man prepares to take his next victim. The young girl seems just the right age to survive the journey through the black water. And if she doesn't, she'll end up like all the others. It's been a beautiful day for psychic Mira Morales and her daughter, Annie. So why does she feel a growing unease about the smiling man walking calmly toward them on the deserted beach...a chilly warning that he is not to be trusted, but feared above all else. For years, children have been disappearing without a trace in the Florida Keys. And no one, not even the FBI, has suspected that it could be the work of a single twisted psychopath. Now, with her daughter gone--abducted by a killer consumed by a desire to change his past and his future--one mother will do whatever it takes to find her child, even if it means following her through the darkest passages of the unknown, to a place where each choice has terrifying consequences no one can possibly foresee.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
12 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
T.J. MacGregor
66 books41 followersPatricia Janeshutz MacGregor. Also writes under the pseudonyms of Trish MacGregor, Trish Janeshutz, and Alison Drake.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 24, 2021
Black Water by T.J. MacGregor is the second book of the Tango Key mystery series, a parallel plot set in 2003 and 1968 Florida. Psychic Mira Morales needs all her extra-sensory and survival skills when her daughter Annie is kidnapped. A mysterious 'black water mass' enables the kidnapper and his captive to time-travel back to 1968. Time travel sickness killed most former kidnap victims over the years, but one remains alive - and he's eager to help Annie survive.
The mystery frequently flips between time settings, welcome if you enjoy parallel plots. Mira must figure out how to get back in time to save Annie. Once she arrives in 1968, she must blend in as best she can, and try not to arouse suspicion, until she can find Annie. She also needs to leave clues for her significant other, FBI agent Wayne Sheppard, to find in 2003 so he can rescue them, with help of course from Mira's psychic grandmother Nadine.
Completely suspend belief to enjoy the intriguing story. It builds slowly at first to establish the parallel story lines, provide background on the kidnapper's history and goals, and describe the culture shock for someone from 2003 arriving in 1968. Once the rescue attempt is underway, the pace increases rapidly and the plot shifts between times quickly. A fun what-if read with an iconic cameo.
The mystery frequently flips between time settings, welcome if you enjoy parallel plots. Mira must figure out how to get back in time to save Annie. Once she arrives in 1968, she must blend in as best she can, and try not to arouse suspicion, until she can find Annie. She also needs to leave clues for her significant other, FBI agent Wayne Sheppard, to find in 2003 so he can rescue them, with help of course from Mira's psychic grandmother Nadine.
Completely suspend belief to enjoy the intriguing story. It builds slowly at first to establish the parallel story lines, provide background on the kidnapper's history and goals, and describe the culture shock for someone from 2003 arriving in 1968. Once the rescue attempt is underway, the pace increases rapidly and the plot shifts between times quickly. A fun what-if read with an iconic cameo.
January 18, 2025
Easy to follow, interesting plot but I wish there was more to the ending.
March 6, 2010
When I first realized that this book relied on time travel, I was leery. I generally don't care for such books and especially not a mystery, but this was very good. Mira's daughter, Annie, was abducted by am man who was able to travel back to 1968 where he was keeping her with another surviving child he had brought back. Shep, Mira's FBI boyfriend is in the present and trying to find Mira and Annie.
For most of the book, I was able to keep straight the ramifications of people from the present and their influence on the past when brought from their own time, but I thought that the reason for kidnapping the children was a little weak. That did not really detract from the book and it was a very good read.
For most of the book, I was able to keep straight the ramifications of people from the present and their influence on the past when brought from their own time, but I thought that the reason for kidnapping the children was a little weak. That did not really detract from the book and it was a very good read.
June 29, 2009
Very interesting time-travel story along with all the paradoxes that can happen. A little disappointing in the end because we don't really know if some of the tampering in time really worked. Specifically the part about her (SPOILER) husband, Tom and if her warning worked. I don't know if there are more books about Mira, but I will be looking for them, maybe they will help clear up the mystery. Very readable and a page-turner.
January 21, 2022
A sci-fi mystery, involving kidnapping, time travel, and psychic powers. While slow to start, it really hits the ground come chapter six.
While ideally I would have loved to see more concrete closures to some of the arcs - it was a fabulous read. Will check out more of the Tango Mysteries.
While ideally I would have loved to see more concrete closures to some of the arcs - it was a fabulous read. Will check out more of the Tango Mysteries.
January 22, 2019
hard to put this one down...
March 3, 2019
This is one of the few books i would like to re-read, it was fantasic!!, i love this author
October 23, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! Didn’t want to put it down!
November 25, 2019
Interesting idea. Got a little confused with the times shifts. Don't imagine there would be as little impact on the changes made in the past time for future time as indicated in the book.
July 25, 2020
This is one of my all time favorite novels. Mixes in mystery, psychology and fantasy elements. At times, you feel for the antagonist, which just shows how well rounded the characters are.
March 12, 2022
book was kind of confusing at times but a pretty interesting read
June 23, 2022
I thought this was excellent. Mind bending. I will probably have to re-read. Still puzzling over something at the end...Nadine. Hmmm. Stayed up way too late again.
March 22, 2025
This book was a fun read with different perspectives and a unique storyline. I haven’t read a book for fun in a long time and this book had me hooked.
June 29, 2014
3.50 Stars!
Am completely sold on Ms MacGregor's works! Different and mysterious.
What I liked: I won't lie, when I felt the direction Black Water was going, I was more than skeptical about how Ms MacGregor was going to make the story believable and not over the top. She did it very well by understating what the black water does.
Some readers don't like the point of view changes in their books, but I've found several authors who do it well and use it as a tool for the story. Ms MacGregor is one who does it very well. The changes flow smoothly and I didn't find myself confused.
As with the first book in this series, I enjoyed the characters and the mystery much more than the paranormal aspects. Black Water takes place several years after the first book in the series, The Hanged Man. The transition is smooth and brief background is given on what happened in those several years. This made the continuity in the series more "real".
I especially enjoyed the continuing character development. Mira, Annie, Nadine, and Shep have moved forward and as their characters have grown so have their relationships. Ms MacGregor doesn't dwell on it, but the characters have moved forward and now have a different dynamic.
I always wondered if I could go back in time, what would I change? If I changed something in my past, how would it affect not only my future but those around me? This whole topic was handled very well in the story. The shifting memories of the people in the present, the sense of deja vu was a wonderful aspect of Black Water.
What I didn't like: Again, this is an older book (published in 2003) but neither the story nor the characters felt out of date. The motive of "the bad guy" and the explanation of the black water was pretty convoluted but didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story.
Overall, another solid book by Ms MacGregor. I enjoy her writing style and her characters. The story flows well and the characters are not card board cut outs.
Recommended for mystery readers who like a twist!
Am completely sold on Ms MacGregor's works! Different and mysterious.
What I liked: I won't lie, when I felt the direction Black Water was going, I was more than skeptical about how Ms MacGregor was going to make the story believable and not over the top. She did it very well by understating what the black water does.
Some readers don't like the point of view changes in their books, but I've found several authors who do it well and use it as a tool for the story. Ms MacGregor is one who does it very well. The changes flow smoothly and I didn't find myself confused.
As with the first book in this series, I enjoyed the characters and the mystery much more than the paranormal aspects. Black Water takes place several years after the first book in the series, The Hanged Man. The transition is smooth and brief background is given on what happened in those several years. This made the continuity in the series more "real".
I especially enjoyed the continuing character development. Mira, Annie, Nadine, and Shep have moved forward and as their characters have grown so have their relationships. Ms MacGregor doesn't dwell on it, but the characters have moved forward and now have a different dynamic.
I always wondered if I could go back in time, what would I change? If I changed something in my past, how would it affect not only my future but those around me? This whole topic was handled very well in the story. The shifting memories of the people in the present, the sense of deja vu was a wonderful aspect of Black Water.
What I didn't like: Again, this is an older book (published in 2003) but neither the story nor the characters felt out of date. The motive of "the bad guy" and the explanation of the black water was pretty convoluted but didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story.
Overall, another solid book by Ms MacGregor. I enjoy her writing style and her characters. The story flows well and the characters are not card board cut outs.
Recommended for mystery readers who like a twist!
July 10, 2013
In Florida, there is a mass of black water which can be used to time travel. THere is a man who decides to kidnap about half a dozen children, taking them through what he calls 'the corridor.' Only two survive--the others are buried near his house. Even the two who make it, don't consider him their father, and want to escape. Mira, the mother of Annie, seeks to free her, helped by Rusty, the first survivor. Time travel does make a good ploy for writers. It can lead to some confusion, as we are dealing with at least three different time periods.
January 28, 2010
I absolutely got absorbed in this novel. As a result, I got obsessed with the Psychedelic era. That year, I even created a painting (which I am extremely proud of and consider it my best artwork yet) which was inspired by the book.
Pure inspiration!!
Pure inspiration!!
Read
April 14, 2008Mystery
April 15, 2009
Great read.
October 6, 2008
weird little twist- psychic mystery, time travel
October 31, 2008
Not a great book, but a fun page-turner with lots of interesting twists involving the paradoxes of time travel.
November 17, 2008
Mystery. Psychics. The Beach. A Smart-ass Kid. Hippies. What more could you ask for?
July 29, 2011
I loved this book... it is one of my all time favourites..I would love for it to be made into a movie...
February 8, 2016
Time travel with a who-dun-it is a real challenge to write and to read; however MacGregor did a pretty good job.
Read
June 13, 2017I really enjoyed reading this book.
November 19, 2011
Read My Review At BookLikes
February 27, 2016
Love all the references and such an interesting plot. Easy read, great page turner.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews