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Death at Windover: A Florida Murder Mystery Series Novel
A murder victim is found buried in the swamp near Florida's Kennedy Space Center. Chief of Police Bill Kenney, the one-man force for the little town of Canaveral Flats, must find someone to head up the investigation as the county refuses to help him. He has only one name on his list of candidates, a down-on-his-luck college professor and childhood friend presently drinking his life away trying to escape personal and professional problems. Little can the lawman realize that this case will put both their lives at risk and involve national and international organizations, some that don't officially exist.
- GenresMystery
191 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 21, 2019
166 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 24, 2024
I enjoyed this quite a bit. I saw some reviews that had me worried but I was pleasantly surprised. I found the dialogue both amusing and, at times, very perceptive. The characters were real and quirky. Some of the characters had demons to fight and others were helpful and kind souls. The mystery was good and the friendships were better. I will gladly read more in this series.
October 5, 2025
An interesting mystery.
The Chief of Police of Canaveral Flats heard about a body found at a construction site.
When he arrived, the equipment operator had uncovered a skull.Well, Bill knew of one person who could dig at the site, maybe unravel this mystery.
As it turns out, one body hadn't been buried that long. But new bones and skulls were found; they had been there for hundreds of years, if not thousands of years.
And the adventure begins. Did I mention that the investigator was a drunk, trying to drink himself to death? His wife and child died in a car wreck. There are Shamans, Nazis, attempted and suggestive murders.
You may also learn about how war criminals were secreted into the US to work in the space race. Shameful.
The Chief of Police of Canaveral Flats heard about a body found at a construction site.
When he arrived, the equipment operator had uncovered a skull.Well, Bill knew of one person who could dig at the site, maybe unravel this mystery.
As it turns out, one body hadn't been buried that long. But new bones and skulls were found; they had been there for hundreds of years, if not thousands of years.
And the adventure begins. Did I mention that the investigator was a drunk, trying to drink himself to death? His wife and child died in a car wreck. There are Shamans, Nazis, attempted and suggestive murders.
You may also learn about how war criminals were secreted into the US to work in the space race. Shameful.
June 12, 2023
An entertaining read
The plot is unusual and a bit bizarre, but a little entertaining. The writing is poor, with the dialog being especially bad. I almost abandoned the book after the first chapter. I’m truly surprised the author has other books already published.
The plot is unusual and a bit bizarre, but a little entertaining. The writing is poor, with the dialog being especially bad. I almost abandoned the book after the first chapter. I’m truly surprised the author has other books already published.
February 14, 2024
I might be overly critical of some books because I'm not in their target audience, but this book I hate on its own merits. This book is awful, and there wasn't a single aspect of it that I didn't dislike.
The largest problem here is that this book is a bad short story bloated out to serve as a truly bad novel. It is crammed full of back stories, repetitions and incidentals that have zero connection to the mystery at the center of the plot, all of them badly written and badly edited, and none of them sounding like any natural human interaction that has ever occurred in history. Example; the main character meets a medical examiner and within five minutes tells him that his wife 'shaved herself down there' but was 'a real animal in bed'. Yeah, also be prepared for a lot of tackiness and sexism in this book. Who cares? What does this have to do with the story? Who talks this way to someone they JUST met? Later on the MC talks about his honeymoon with an old friend, but doesn't want to tell too much (TOO LATE!) or share personal info (but it was OKAY with the fricking stranger???).
Every random weirdo in this book has a backstory that we have to grind through to get anywhere, they were infuriatingly distracting, and most of them made me cringe. And then there's the random diatribes about the author's philosophy and politics, based on urban legends and cheap talking points, but more importantly had nothing to do at all with the murder story the protagonists are supposed to be solving!
We take some time out to tastelessly slut shame the local librarian, because she comes on to the very-f*ing-obviously-a-self-insert of the author. Who turns on lots of ladies despite being unwashed after several days of hard drinking.
At one point there is a page long recap of the events that happened ONE CHAPTER AGO. I had to step away from the book I was so torn between baffled and furious. Did the writer despise editing? Was this book written by two people who couldn't be assed to read what the other guy wrote?
Not a chapter goes by without an irrelevant conversation or observation. And I eventually couldn't count how often I cringed at something (stereotypical depiction of American Indians, descriptions of women's boobs, whining about modern higher education, etc, etc).
The ending was even lamer than I thought it was going to be. The investigation is going nowhere, but the bad guys try to assassinate the MC just in case. And they suck at it. The heroes trail the bad guys, and arrive just as the villains have a falling out and murder each other. Well congratulations, heroes, you didn't do jack in this book. Then a side character leaves the country for some reason? And the real murderer also flees the country, and is killed by Israeli special forces? How any of this happens is never explained, but there's a feeble attempt to make it seem like it's all thanks to the heroes investigating, which is a major stretch since absolutely nothing was happening due to their crap investigation. And somehow the original murder victim was found with corpses from two different times, just happened to be lying under her where she was buried in a bog, but that lame coincidence has nothing to do with THIS book, maybe a sequel.
This book left a bad taste in my mouth. It felt like the writer wanted to do an exploration of small town Florida, and felt that twisting it into a murder mystery was the only way he could get sold. While the extravagant, irrelevant padding was the most aggravating part of reading Death at Windover, no other part of the book was good or even mediocre. The prose, characters, dialogue, action, research, editing, humor (miserably, miserably dreck humor), every last aspect was sub-par. I only finished reading this book out of morbid curiosity over how far down the rabbit hole of meandering plots and personal biases this book would go. Answer; very, very far. It was, occasionally, fun to laugh at this book, but otherwise it had no value at all.
The largest problem here is that this book is a bad short story bloated out to serve as a truly bad novel. It is crammed full of back stories, repetitions and incidentals that have zero connection to the mystery at the center of the plot, all of them badly written and badly edited, and none of them sounding like any natural human interaction that has ever occurred in history. Example; the main character meets a medical examiner and within five minutes tells him that his wife 'shaved herself down there' but was 'a real animal in bed'. Yeah, also be prepared for a lot of tackiness and sexism in this book. Who cares? What does this have to do with the story? Who talks this way to someone they JUST met? Later on the MC talks about his honeymoon with an old friend, but doesn't want to tell too much (TOO LATE!) or share personal info (but it was OKAY with the fricking stranger???).
Every random weirdo in this book has a backstory that we have to grind through to get anywhere, they were infuriatingly distracting, and most of them made me cringe. And then there's the random diatribes about the author's philosophy and politics, based on urban legends and cheap talking points, but more importantly had nothing to do at all with the murder story the protagonists are supposed to be solving!
We take some time out to tastelessly slut shame the local librarian, because she comes on to the very-f*ing-obviously-a-self-insert of the author. Who turns on lots of ladies despite being unwashed after several days of hard drinking.
At one point there is a page long recap of the events that happened ONE CHAPTER AGO. I had to step away from the book I was so torn between baffled and furious. Did the writer despise editing? Was this book written by two people who couldn't be assed to read what the other guy wrote?
Not a chapter goes by without an irrelevant conversation or observation. And I eventually couldn't count how often I cringed at something (stereotypical depiction of American Indians, descriptions of women's boobs, whining about modern higher education, etc, etc).
The ending was even lamer than I thought it was going to be. The investigation is going nowhere, but the bad guys try to assassinate the MC just in case. And they suck at it. The heroes trail the bad guys, and arrive just as the villains have a falling out and murder each other. Well congratulations, heroes, you didn't do jack in this book. Then a side character leaves the country for some reason? And the real murderer also flees the country, and is killed by Israeli special forces? How any of this happens is never explained, but there's a feeble attempt to make it seem like it's all thanks to the heroes investigating, which is a major stretch since absolutely nothing was happening due to their crap investigation. And somehow the original murder victim was found with corpses from two different times, just happened to be lying under her where she was buried in a bog, but that lame coincidence has nothing to do with THIS book, maybe a sequel.
This book left a bad taste in my mouth. It felt like the writer wanted to do an exploration of small town Florida, and felt that twisting it into a murder mystery was the only way he could get sold. While the extravagant, irrelevant padding was the most aggravating part of reading Death at Windover, no other part of the book was good or even mediocre. The prose, characters, dialogue, action, research, editing, humor (miserably, miserably dreck humor), every last aspect was sub-par. I only finished reading this book out of morbid curiosity over how far down the rabbit hole of meandering plots and personal biases this book would go. Answer; very, very far. It was, occasionally, fun to laugh at this book, but otherwise it had no value at all.
September 10, 2021
I was greatly surprised how much I enjoyed this read. Book one in the Roger Pyles series was fast paced and very colorful. Snappy dialog along with somewhat odd ball characters made for a surprisingly good read. Roger is a disgraced PhD. professor of Archeology in Maryland now living in central Florida. Roger stays drunk 24/7 living in an old trailer drowning his grief in a bottle of Jim Beam. Two years earlier Roger's wife and son, (and unborn child) were killed in a horrible car accident. Canaveral Flats P.D. Chief Bill Kenney knew Roger since they were both kids in West Virginia. When two skulls and a human hand pop out of a peat bog that was being dug and developed, Kenney knew he needed help. Roger had previously helped Maryland State Police investigations for years before he'd moved to Florida and become a drunk. When Roger begins to investigate the peat bog he uncovers a woman's body and the murder investigation swings into high gear. Although a very quick read at just 190 pages Kindle, this one's plot is very nicely scoped out. Colorful and some not very bright villains help give this yarn some unusual life. I read this story in just two quick sittings. At about half way through I downloaded the remaining four books in this series. Author Jay Heavner has created something special with this series. I hope to jump into book two very shortly. A must read. Check it out.
December 23, 2021
An unusual and interesting plot, if you can provide “a willing suspension of disbelief;” a couple of characters with actual flaws; and a setting that might make you laugh - it all adds up to a pretty good read. Some of the dialog was a little stilted, and there were a couple of plot strands unfinished, but overall, a four out of five.
July 31, 2024
AT ABOUT 50% I ALMOST STOPPED AND PUT THIS ON MY DNF SHELF. I LIKED AND DISLIKED THIS BOOK SOME OF THE TOPICS HE RAMBLED ON ABOUT WERE REALLY INTERESTING. BUT THEN THERE WERE THE PARTS THAT WERE NOT. FOR ME THERE WERE TOO MANY OF THE WERE NOT PARTS. THE MAIN CHARACTER IS A DRUNKEN SLOB HE GETS UP GOES TO HIS FRONT YARD AND PASSES OUT. THEN GETS UP GOES TO THE DINER TO EAT. YUCK! HE MUST REALLY SMELL BAD. EVERYONE LIKES TELLING ALL THEIR PERSONAL BUSINESS, USING OLD CATCH PHRASES. SMH. HE NEVER WASHES OR BRUSHES HIS TEETH HIS HYGIENE MADE ME WANT TO HURL. THEY KEPT SAYING HE LOOKED LIKE THE ACTOR SAM ELLIOTT. THE LADIES STILL LIKED THIS SMELLY DRUNK. I DON'T WANT ANY SMELLY MAN EVEN IF HE LOOKED LIKE ROB LOWE OR BRAD PITT A FUNKY DRUNK JUST DOESEN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME. ;<
August 4, 2023
Exceptionally fascinating book!
The adventures of an out of work and fallen way side archeologist and forensic specialist along with his childhood friend, the Chief of Police who is also a well wisher- cum support keep the readers spellbound, enraptured and riveted till the last page is read.
One of the best books I have read in the recent past, it has an absorbing story, awesome defined characters including the dog K9 and events that are awesome.
Thank you for a terrific, enjoyable reading experience, Jay!! I discovered that I have all the 9 books in this series and I am off to read the next one!
The adventures of an out of work and fallen way side archeologist and forensic specialist along with his childhood friend, the Chief of Police who is also a well wisher- cum support keep the readers spellbound, enraptured and riveted till the last page is read.
One of the best books I have read in the recent past, it has an absorbing story, awesome defined characters including the dog K9 and events that are awesome.
Thank you for a terrific, enjoyable reading experience, Jay!! I discovered that I have all the 9 books in this series and I am off to read the next one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2021
The location of the storyline is what caught my attention and I knew I wanted to read it. New series from a new author for me. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I really liked this book and I really like the storyline!! I love it when an author adds the mystical in because it gives it so much depth!! Looking forward to reading the next book!!
November 3, 2021
Florida
I read this book because I’m a native Floridian. The book is based on the east coast of Florida in Brevard County. The story seemed feasible about murder, the SS and two detectives trying to solve the case. I liked the main characters, the sheriff and his reluctant detective. Definitely worth reading.
I read this book because I’m a native Floridian. The book is based on the east coast of Florida in Brevard County. The story seemed feasible about murder, the SS and two detectives trying to solve the case. I liked the main characters, the sheriff and his reluctant detective. Definitely worth reading.
February 8, 2022
A first
Let me first say no spoilers here. Just my thoughts on the book. This is my first time reading a Jay Heavner story. Being a Floridian, and the setting this book being in Florida, caught my attention. The characters were interesting and relatable from the beginning. I'm glad there are other stories. I will certainly be reading more.
Let me first say no spoilers here. Just my thoughts on the book. This is my first time reading a Jay Heavner story. Being a Floridian, and the setting this book being in Florida, caught my attention. The characters were interesting and relatable from the beginning. I'm glad there are other stories. I will certainly be reading more.
January 23, 2024
a visit down memory lane
I lived in this area of Florida On a couple of different occasions. I am very familiar with Most everything In this story. The author has done his homework Although says he lived in this area part time.Here's how much I enjoyed the book immediately bought the sequel. I don't usually do that.
I lived in this area of Florida On a couple of different occasions. I am very familiar with Most everything In this story. The author has done his homework Although says he lived in this area part time.Here's how much I enjoyed the book immediately bought the sequel. I don't usually do that.
March 13, 2022
Good story
This is not a really bad story but just not my cup of tea. The characters, in my opinion, are flat and unbelievable and the story is repetitive and not as much action as I like.
This is not a really bad story but just not my cup of tea. The characters, in my opinion, are flat and unbelievable and the story is repetitive and not as much action as I like.
December 4, 2023
A special book
This book was not just interesting for the story, but it also was written by a person with a big heart. I am not the kind of person who usually leaves a review, but this book is special.
This book was not just interesting for the story, but it also was written by a person with a big heart. I am not the kind of person who usually leaves a review, but this book is special.
July 8, 2021
Wow
I loved this book and will be looking for more of this author. Seldom do i enjoy an authors work this much.
I loved this book and will be looking for more of this author. Seldom do i enjoy an authors work this much.
July 17, 2021
I enjoyed the story telling in this book. However, the overuse of cliches was very distracting. May try another in this series, despite this quirk.
December 25, 2021
Easy Read Page Turner!
What began as a slow easy read, turned into an action-packed mystery with realistic characters in life-like scenes throughout! Definitely worth reading!
What began as a slow easy read, turned into an action-packed mystery with realistic characters in life-like scenes throughout! Definitely worth reading!
May 9, 2022
very good read
Not at all whatI thought it would be about. The introduction of Germans and Jews caught me off guard. I’ll have to look the author up for more of his books.
Not at all whatI thought it would be about. The introduction of Germans and Jews caught me off guard. I’ll have to look the author up for more of his books.
July 19, 2022
Great story
Really liked this book, its characters and good ole Florida! Excellent plot and it easily flows throughout the book. Great job!
Really liked this book, its characters and good ole Florida! Excellent plot and it easily flows throughout the book. Great job!
June 21, 2023
K9 Critter
Down to earth and a great read . Got a tad of Parker’s style in it. Story site almost within rock throwing distance of me!
Down to earth and a great read . Got a tad of Parker’s style in it. Story site almost within rock throwing distance of me!
February 6, 2025
Not even for free
I live in Florida and though this might be fun. Sadly, the writing is so abysmal that I couldn't even make it through the first chapter.
I live in Florida and though this might be fun. Sadly, the writing is so abysmal that I couldn't even make it through the first chapter.
July 24, 2021
Well-crafted mature writing. The characters and story were interesting and had depth. Very well done.
December 21, 2024
I picked this one up solely on it being located in the Central Florida area.
It is not bad for a first of a series. I like the main characters and their interactions.
I have more of the series to read. Maybe they will be more deserving of a 4 of 5 rating, this did not quite rise to that level.
It is not bad for a first of a series. I like the main characters and their interactions.
I have more of the series to read. Maybe they will be more deserving of a 4 of 5 rating, this did not quite rise to that level.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews