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Dave Cubiak #5
Death by the Bay
On a chilly Monday in late spring, Sheriff Dave Cubiak is at the Green Arbor Lodge for lunch when a scream from a nearby medical conference disrupts the scene. Leaping into action, he finds the ninety-three-year-old director of the prestigious Institute for Progressive Medicine collapsed on the floor, dead of a suspected heart attack. As Cubiak interrogates the witnesses, he’s struck by the inconsistencies in their stories. Some evade questions while others offer contradictory statements. Then suddenly another scream pierces the air. . . . Past and present merge as long-buried secrets rise to the surface. The resourceful sheriff must rely on his skills and wits, along with the advice and memories of friends and family, to uncover the dark truth behind the Institute for Progressive Medicine. Dedicated and new fans alike will find themselves captivated by this intelligently plotted story as Cubiak untangles the twisted threads of this intricate mystery.
208 pages, Hardcover
Published May 14, 2019
24 people are currently reading
211 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 5, 2020
I thought I'd missed at least one book in this series since Dave and Cate are now married, with a 4-year-old son in Death By the Bay. But apparently not so. Seems the Door County Sheriff's life moved ahead without readers witnessing the marriage.
Once again a good story that spanned decades back, with secrets of missing children that were pieced together bit by bit.
Once again a good story that spanned decades back, with secrets of missing children that were pieced together bit by bit.
April 6, 2025
Very interesting story. The storyline in this book was very easy to follow and kept me engaged for the entirety of the book.
January 21, 2021
I've been a fan of Patricia Skalka since we met at a library event where she was selling her first Dave Cubiak novel. When I found out she'd put out a fifth book I immediately bought it. Like the other four, I found this novel highly entertaining.
The first four books had an overarching theme of the redemption of Dave Cubiak. This book starts out several years after the events of the first four, and Cubiak, the county sheriff, is married with a new child. He's at a local hotel having lunch with a friend when an elderly doctor, presenting at a medical conference, dies of a heart attack. This should be a routine happening, but something seems off, so Cubiak keeps looking.
Well, these books are mysteries so of course something is off - badly off - and Cubiak's on the case. The majority of the action happens in southern Door County, which is not the tourist area. I found that a nice touch, and I very much enjoyed the characters portrayed by Skalka. The bottom line is that this is a very good read.
The first four books had an overarching theme of the redemption of Dave Cubiak. This book starts out several years after the events of the first four, and Cubiak, the county sheriff, is married with a new child. He's at a local hotel having lunch with a friend when an elderly doctor, presenting at a medical conference, dies of a heart attack. This should be a routine happening, but something seems off, so Cubiak keeps looking.
Well, these books are mysteries so of course something is off - badly off - and Cubiak's on the case. The majority of the action happens in southern Door County, which is not the tourist area. I found that a nice touch, and I very much enjoyed the characters portrayed by Skalka. The bottom line is that this is a very good read.
August 17, 2019
The mystery is good but the writing is kind of bad. Cubiak is a flat, lifeless character, nowhere near compelling. The writing is pretty sterile too--there's no real sense of drama, misery, suspense, fear, pain, sadness. Lackluster characters and detached narration doesn't make for the most exciting or compelling story, and it's all the worse in a mystery where the audience is learning horrible things. There are also so few suspects that the ending seems inevitable and not in a "the author set this up perfectly" sort of way.
August 14, 2019
Another good entry in the Dave Cubiak mystery series. This one takes place in Southern Door. Several years have passed since the last entry in the series. I would have liked to have an additional book in between this one and the last to provide more info on the birth of his son and how Cubiak handled it.
August 14, 2019
Skalka just gets better and better. This book is based on a family story which is amazing in itself. Pat Skalka's grandmother emerges in this family story as a brave, strong woman chasing off a predator who seeks to take Rose, a daughter with polio, away to be healed. This has happened before in her tight knit, immigrant community where an impaired girl was taken from her home to be healed, never to return. These things really happened. And Skalka re-creates, researches and brings some poetic justice to victims of these criminals. The book is dedicated to the author's Aunt Rose, "who was denied so much in life." And a mighty tribute this story is!
Cubiak is again on the scene. Life has changed so much for him in beautiful ways. He has a four year old boy. He and his wife have carved a strong family. And he is as tough, insightful and still geared to travel the unbeaten path to investigations as he has ever been.
As always, Skalka's research into her subject and her love of Door County permeate every page. She notices things others miss in her verbal paintings and helps us to see more clearly.
The story is riveting. I find myself reflecting on it over and over again.
Cubiak is again on the scene. Life has changed so much for him in beautiful ways. He has a four year old boy. He and his wife have carved a strong family. And he is as tough, insightful and still geared to travel the unbeaten path to investigations as he has ever been.
As always, Skalka's research into her subject and her love of Door County permeate every page. She notices things others miss in her verbal paintings and helps us to see more clearly.
The story is riveting. I find myself reflecting on it over and over again.
June 8, 2020
In this fifth Door County Mystery, Dave Cubiak tries to help a young immigrant find her "lost" brother while also solving two murders. He also befriends an elderly widow living alone on her family farm. As I read this book about doctors experimenting on innocent patients, "lost children", a defunct Hospital for the Insane and the way we treat those who are "different" I was left to wonder if indeed there are still places like that today. In the past year I have read about orphanages that sold children, a "School for Incurable and Feeble-Minded" that used and abused the children and adults under their "care", a nursing home for the elderly that "helped" their patients to die, and of course places like Auschwitz during Hitler's years in Germany. Those seem so far away -- and yet: how well do we treat our orphans, mentally challenged and elderly even today? Even as Dave solves the murder mystery, he is unable to solve all the problems he observes in his quest for answers.
June 28, 2019
Another good volume in this series. We have skipped a number of years ahead from the last one, as Kubiak is married and has a 4 year old son. Let's hope he survives in the next books--he is 54 now apparently. Perhaps PS will write some filler volumes for these skipped years.
PS continues to be good in giving a sense of the social and natural setting of this series and the characters, at least the main ones, are reasonably rounded as much as a short book can do. The main one is an elderly woman, dependent on grandchildren, who lives alone and has dementia of some sort. Her situation is a sad one....and I wonder what becomes of her after the book ends. It becomes pretty clear by 70-80% of the book who are the main suspects but the motivation is hidden quite well.
PS continues to be good in giving a sense of the social and natural setting of this series and the characters, at least the main ones, are reasonably rounded as much as a short book can do. The main one is an elderly woman, dependent on grandchildren, who lives alone and has dementia of some sort. Her situation is a sad one....and I wonder what becomes of her after the book ends. It becomes pretty clear by 70-80% of the book who are the main suspects but the motivation is hidden quite well.
February 26, 2024
Creative plot at first but felt very predictable. I don’t love how the main character always relates what is happening to his own life / acts as if a few terms aren’t used anymore (like cocktail dress?). Also a lot of stereotypes towards immigrants, especially when they line up the workers and Cubiak asks himself if the other people watching are worried that the men might have drugs or gang tattoos. Completely unnecessary. Lastly, the Spanglish in the book was super inaccurate; might be helpful to learn more about it before writing.
August 12, 2019
Being at the right place at the right town sets Sheriff Dave Cubiak on the path to solving a suspicious death. When the ninety-three year old founder of the prestigious Institute for Progressive Medicine falls dead at a conference, it appears to be from a heart attack, but when another death occurs, Dave is not so sure. Long buried secrets and the Institute's dark past lead Dave on a search or the truth.
July 3, 2019
Another good book in the series! I like the fact that these books are not overly long and not loaded with too much detail that serves no purpose other than lengthening a book. Having spent some time in Door County makes these books even more enjoyable to read. I worry that at the rate the characters are aging there will only be a couple more books in the series. Maybe the author will surprise us!
November 17, 2019
The story is very interesting and well plotted and described, but what I didn’t like was that all the different characters sound much too much alike, e.g. the uneducated immigrant who supposedly hardly speaks English uses a few words that are definitely college level vocabulary, and the teenagers sound nothing like any teenager I’ve heard recently.
January 18, 2020
first death of a physician at the start of a conference, second of the physican who was taken into the former's work; how are they related to the disappearance of children with polio and Down's syndrome many years ago? except for an unbelievably long time awake during one of the pursuits to north central Wisconsin, Cubiak seems true to character from earlier books.
June 13, 2022
What a heart breaking story. Children being abducted for medical research. Doctors after glory rather than healing. Elderly people with uncaring and deceitful family members. All rolled into the story of 2 deaths.
I enjoy this author immensely. This is a series, but there is enough background written into this book that it could be read as a standalone.
I enjoy this author immensely. This is a series, but there is enough background written into this book that it could be read as a standalone.
January 4, 2024
Just wish the author would have spent more time writing about the big things that happen in this series. I know they are not critical to the plot, but we become attached to these characters when reading this series and want to share their joys and sorrows too. Such as weddings and deaths. Something more than a casual mention.
June 16, 2024
Sheriff Dave Cubiak just happens to be at a restaurant attached to a conference center when a scream splits the air. Naturally he responds. And though it seems the elderly doctor suffered a hear attack, it sparks the beginning of another investigation, proving once again that the past can have long shadows.
July 29, 2019
Since I hadn't read any of the previous books in this series and the author will be at our library in a few weeks, I was very pleased to find myself truly enjoying this. Great read for Wisconsin author & other mystery fans, & can easily be read as a standalone.
August 12, 2019
Another excellent read! And very interesting this book is basked on a story told for years that sadly has some facts about it. Sad how history can be so horrible. Now looking forward to the next book in the series.
December 27, 2019
Another fantastic mystery set in my favorite place— Door County Wisconsin! Sheriff Dave Cubiak and the rest of the characters are multi-dimensional. You want to have dinner with them looking over the lake at sunset! Even more special because it was purchased in Jacksonport!
June 21, 2019
Great read. Made me get look back for the older books in the series that I had not read.
Fully developed characters and setting.
Fully developed characters and setting.
June 23, 2019
Entertaining mystery set in Door County
July 24, 2019
I love the book it was not what I thought would happen
September 3, 2019
Spoiler alert....
A 4-star read, but 5-star for tackling a subject not known in cozies but that's important: the trafficking of ill or malformed children.
A 4-star read, but 5-star for tackling a subject not known in cozies but that's important: the trafficking of ill or malformed children.
October 2, 2019
I love her books, great characters and the familiar settings of Door County.
January 30, 2020
Another great Dave Cubiak mystery set in Door County, Wisconsin. Recommended.
February 2, 2020
Glad I found her newest book on the New Mystery book shelf in the library!
June 3, 2021
Doctors looking for a cure for disease, take unsuspecting children from their immigrant families and experiment on them. Local sheriff follows the clues to solve a decades old mystery
June 6, 2021
Another intriguing murder mystery set in Wisconsin's Door County. I enjoyed the series of five books about Dave Cubiak, the Door County Sheriff. Hope there are more to come.
August 31, 2021
This is another good book in this series about Door County. I am enjoying these and look forward to more.
July 30, 2023
I’m reading this series that takes place in Door County and enjoy reading about places I’ve been. I especially enjoyed this book because, as the author pointed out, it is based on a true story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews