What do you think?
Rate this book
Turtle Cove #1
Turtle Cove
Nolan Parker just wants to relax, paint some turtles, and toss a ball with the dog. But...
Thing's aren't going as planned. The economy is supposedly, "The greatest in the history of the world," but he's just scraping by.
What starts out as a side hustle to pay for wifi and dog treats, ends up with Nolan chasing a teenage runaway around the beaches of Florida trying not to get killed. Worse, his tropical paradise has been invaded by a crew of wacky Floridians...and maybe an alligator.
Will Nolan find the kid and get the girl? Or will the sunshine state suck him into its swamplands?
Thing's aren't going as planned. The economy is supposedly, "The greatest in the history of the world," but he's just scraping by.
What starts out as a side hustle to pay for wifi and dog treats, ends up with Nolan chasing a teenage runaway around the beaches of Florida trying not to get killed. Worse, his tropical paradise has been invaded by a crew of wacky Floridians...and maybe an alligator.
Will Nolan find the kid and get the girl? Or will the sunshine state suck him into its swamplands?
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 5, 2019
623 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
May 15, 2021
Cute and comedic mystery that doesn't involve a murder. And set in Florida. Loved the unusual MC. Full review to come.
July 12, 2019
Very disappointing. It may well have been a good mystery, but you rarely seemed to get to that part of the book, rather being swallowed by inane musings about what his mother would say, what his relationship with the Fedex man was, etc. Every time you thought he was getting onto the story, he went off on another tangent. Finally, I could not take it no longer, gave up reading it, went to the end of the book, rated it and added this author to my authors non grata list.
January 16, 2024
Ok. This was a free ebook so thought I’d try it. I’m always up for something humorous with a mystery involved. The writing did turn out to be humorous, the mystery (no murder) was very minor in the grand scheme of the plot, the main character was a middle-aged man living in his mom’s house in Naples, Florida who was unique, but the tone of the book was kind of raunchy, even though the profanity was cleverly bleeped out using symbols. Not my favorite.
September 2, 2019
This strikes me either as the most pointless book I have ever read or one that I totally missed the point of. So Nolan is hired to find teenage drug addict Mason--and hilarity (??) ensues--not so much. This apparently was written in stream of conscienceness--though it read like in was written in stream of rambling and totally losing the thread. His asides went on for so long I would forget what the point was supposed to be. At the end the point was so typical--who cared anyway. And I never figured out what his dog Bop looked like. Weird.
November 5, 2021
Stupid.
I really don't even know what the point of this story was! I thought it was just lake and a waste of my reading time.
I really don't even know what the point of this story was! I thought it was just lake and a waste of my reading time.
July 27, 2019
Had me in tears!
I was laughing so hard.This is like talking with goods friends about a silly episode in your life. Everyone should read this book life is to short not to sit back relax and have a chuckle!!!!
I was laughing so hard.This is like talking with goods friends about a silly episode in your life. Everyone should read this book life is to short not to sit back relax and have a chuckle!!!!
August 12, 2019
Excellent reading adventure!
Never have I laughed through an entire book before! So looking forward to your future novels. On another note, Nolan needs to get a grip on the topic of getting old or he will be incredibly freaked over his next 40 years! ;)
Never have I laughed through an entire book before! So looking forward to your future novels. On another note, Nolan needs to get a grip on the topic of getting old or he will be incredibly freaked over his next 40 years! ;)
September 9, 2019
I liked this book. Other reviewers didn't like the rambling nature of the protagonist but that was most of his character. I thought his side musings were on target for a middle aged man muddling through his day.
July 21, 2019
I chose book because I love turtles
Very cute story .I laughed out loud . Book was fun. The dog was loyal . She deserved the treats
Very cute story .I laughed out loud . Book was fun. The dog was loyal . She deserved the treats
August 13, 2019
Great!! Well written. Very relaxed reading. Hard to put down
January 15, 2021
A man and a dog
As a whole I enjoyed the book. The dog Bop has a great personality, a bit like
my rescued standard poodle Buddy. A bit of PTSD and protective of me. I also
like the fact that Noland lives in FL. where life moves in its own time warp, and
the people move even slower. I like that Noland's life is like that of a beach but,
only he ,lives in a house, paints sea life, and takes on odd jobs from a skanky
guy, for money to buy dog treats and live on. He seems to get into strange adventures because of it,only escapes bodily harm or death because of Bops
Courage and loyalty to him. The author has a great talent for mystery and sure
dogness in his character. You don't find out the answer to the mystery till the
author tells it to you. A very enjoyable read. I hope Marc Landau writes more
Turtle Cove mysteries, soon I'm looking forward to them. After living in FL. As a
kid, I can relate to this book. Write on Mr. Landau, write on.
Debra H.
As a whole I enjoyed the book. The dog Bop has a great personality, a bit like
my rescued standard poodle Buddy. A bit of PTSD and protective of me. I also
like the fact that Noland lives in FL. where life moves in its own time warp, and
the people move even slower. I like that Noland's life is like that of a beach but,
only he ,lives in a house, paints sea life, and takes on odd jobs from a skanky
guy, for money to buy dog treats and live on. He seems to get into strange adventures because of it,only escapes bodily harm or death because of Bops
Courage and loyalty to him. The author has a great talent for mystery and sure
dogness in his character. You don't find out the answer to the mystery till the
author tells it to you. A very enjoyable read. I hope Marc Landau writes more
Turtle Cove mysteries, soon I'm looking forward to them. After living in FL. As a
kid, I can relate to this book. Write on Mr. Landau, write on.
Debra H.
September 19, 2021
I am very confused by this book. I guess it's just not for me. I couldn't finish it. I couldn't even make it half way. I was confused with the chapters I did read because it's kind of written like a memoir. In the chapters I did read nothing really happened, it was mainly the main character talking in nonsense. I guess I needed more character development and more action. Nothing really happened in the chapters I did read. It just wasn't for me. Maybe it gets better but I guess I'll never find out.
October 22, 2023
This had some good parts and some humorous parts, especially for us older folks! The plot was thin but, who cares, it's in the Keys! I like the character Hal, he was a jack-of-all-trades, and competent in all of them. I liked the way the main character's mind would wander while on track to do something else. It was written this way and, being older, I could relate. I like the dentist office part where he communicated using words like "ruughouffhutsh" and the assistant could understand him! That was cute. Good ending. I enjoyed it.
September 23, 2020
A quick and enjoyable story
Maybe because I'm old and live in Florida this story seemed funnier to me than it would be to folks who aren't old and living in Florida. That said the characters are engaging, the premise is believable and the story in general was a hoot. It's not Carl Hiassen or Tim Dorsey but you will pass an afternoon with a smile on your face as you follow Nolan and his dog Bop as they try to find a teenager who ran away from rehab
Maybe because I'm old and live in Florida this story seemed funnier to me than it would be to folks who aren't old and living in Florida. That said the characters are engaging, the premise is believable and the story in general was a hoot. It's not Carl Hiassen or Tim Dorsey but you will pass an afternoon with a smile on your face as you follow Nolan and his dog Bop as they try to find a teenager who ran away from rehab
October 16, 2023
The first thing I noticed when I got this book was the 316 popular highlights for a 189 paged book— and that's when I knew I'd love this book.
Reading this was like listening to myself trying to tell a story that would branch out to mini stories until I forget what I was trying to say 🤭 I found the other reviews pointing this out but for me, it was the part that gave the book its charm (besides the very cute and highly unusual ragtag team + Bop of course 🤗
Reading this was like listening to myself trying to tell a story that would branch out to mini stories until I forget what I was trying to say 🤭 I found the other reviews pointing this out but for me, it was the part that gave the book its charm (besides the very cute and highly unusual ragtag team + Bop of course 🤗
September 27, 2020
This could be a true story
If you are not a born and bred Floridian but moved to Florida thinking sun beaches and parties you don't know the REAL Florida. This book tells you what Florida is really like I never laughed as much as I did reading this book. It could have been my neighborhood ! I hope Mr Landau continues writing more Florida gulf coast mysteries
If you are not a born and bred Floridian but moved to Florida thinking sun beaches and parties you don't know the REAL Florida. This book tells you what Florida is really like I never laughed as much as I did reading this book. It could have been my neighborhood ! I hope Mr Landau continues writing more Florida gulf coast mysteries
September 23, 2023
Good fun with interesting plot twists!
I love the detective stories set in Florida and this didn't disappoint. The steam of consciousness rambles whenever there was action were sometimes laugh out loud funny. Maybe not for everyone, but if you like Carl Hiaasen, this could be for you.
I love the detective stories set in Florida and this didn't disappoint. The steam of consciousness rambles whenever there was action were sometimes laugh out loud funny. Maybe not for everyone, but if you like Carl Hiaasen, this could be for you.
November 9, 2023
Quirky and entertaining
Not bad and moves along. The main character is solid, but Hal is the character I remember most vividly. But the main character narrates the story with splashes of wit, sarcasm, thought provoking insights, and tidbits of random knowledge that might be useful in a game of trivia.
Not bad and moves along. The main character is solid, but Hal is the character I remember most vividly. But the main character narrates the story with splashes of wit, sarcasm, thought provoking insights, and tidbits of random knowledge that might be useful in a game of trivia.
November 9, 2023
Fun read!
I wasn't sure what to expect, but found this to be a unique and funny story. I live in Florida so I definitely get all the jabs about it. Even with the funny, there was some suspense, so it was not all light-hearted. I enjoyed reading all the rambling Nolan did, his sidetracked mind. Hal was a great character. All in all, great story.
I wasn't sure what to expect, but found this to be a unique and funny story. I live in Florida so I definitely get all the jabs about it. Even with the funny, there was some suspense, so it was not all light-hearted. I enjoyed reading all the rambling Nolan did, his sidetracked mind. Hal was a great character. All in all, great story.
December 16, 2023
A light read but SO many unnecessary additions
The story was interesting, as were the characters. But there were far too many ‘side thoughts’ that I fast forwarded to the main story. If the author could stick to his story and not make so many left hand turns, it would be a better book.
The story was interesting, as were the characters. But there were far too many ‘side thoughts’ that I fast forwarded to the main story. If the author could stick to his story and not make so many left hand turns, it would be a better book.
February 19, 2025
turtle Cove
Little too much introspection, but in the end a good well rounded Florida mystery book. Hopefully Marc Landau will write another one, can’t get too much of Florida goofy mysteries. I’m sure there are other mysteries local, but unless you live in the Florida heat. Have to deal with all of the delusional people it’s hard to understand the love for Florida
Sully
Little too much introspection, but in the end a good well rounded Florida mystery book. Hopefully Marc Landau will write another one, can’t get too much of Florida goofy mysteries. I’m sure there are other mysteries local, but unless you live in the Florida heat. Have to deal with all of the delusional people it’s hard to understand the love for Florida
Sully
February 2, 2021
Still laughing . .....
This book sucks you in from the start and gives you a wild ride of an adventure filled with laughter and intrigue....two words I never thought to put together until I read this book!
This book sucks you in from the start and gives you a wild ride of an adventure filled with laughter and intrigue....two words I never thought to put together until I read this book!
October 23, 2023
Hilarious!
The thought ramblings of the main character, Nolan, are sometimes hilarious. A couple of times I was laughing so hard tears were rolling down my cheeks and my dog was looking at me like WTH?! Fun book to read.
The thought ramblings of the main character, Nolan, are sometimes hilarious. A couple of times I was laughing so hard tears were rolling down my cheeks and my dog was looking at me like WTH?! Fun book to read.
November 16, 2023
lots of fun
Spending a few hours with my brain turned off reading about an inept amateur detective is exactly what I need at the end of a difficult day. Please write more the world will be a better place.
Spending a few hours with my brain turned off reading about an inept amateur detective is exactly what I need at the end of a difficult day. Please write more the world will be a better place.
November 28, 2023
Very entertaining and funny. A smooth read.
If you are a Florida transplant you will appreciate the book. The impossible happens in Florida a magnet for misfits from else where. The sun and beaches wash the cares away.
If you are a Florida transplant you will appreciate the book. The impossible happens in Florida a magnet for misfits from else where. The sun and beaches wash the cares away.
February 11, 2024
Life in Naples
Middle aged artist sidelines as a private investigator in southwest Florida. A cast of characters including Bop all get into this missing persons caper. Cute humorous tale.
Middle aged artist sidelines as a private investigator in southwest Florida. A cast of characters including Bop all get into this missing persons caper. Cute humorous tale.
February 25, 2024
This book reminded me of Carl Hiassian's style of writing. I found it hilarious. I do have a twisted sense of humor and maybe that's why I really loved this book. Funny characters that the author described quickly but thoroughly. Please write more!
April 14, 2025
Turtle Cove
The story was entertaining. I laughed out loud over and over as I read the musings of the narrator. The ending made sense and tied up all the loose ends. This was a very good read.
The story was entertaining. I laughed out loud over and over as I read the musings of the narrator. The ending made sense and tied up all the loose ends. This was a very good read.
November 1, 2025
It was a slighting entertaining read. The story line was believable but very thinly thought out. The flow of the book distracting at times too much talking to himself for my liking. If you need an easy read this could be your book.
February 21, 2020
Well done. Not your usual mystery. I enjoyed it.
Very well done. I thoroughly enjoyed this departure from the usual type of mysteries. Very enjoyable. A good average PI.
Very well done. I thoroughly enjoyed this departure from the usual type of mysteries. Very enjoyable. A good average PI.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews