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Pine Island Coast Florida Suspense #1-4
The Ellie O'Conner Suspense Series: Books 1-4
The first four books in the bestselling Ellie O’Conner Series
BROKEN STERN
Fresh off a dynamic career with the CIA, Ellie finally returns home to Southwest Florida to catch up on years lost to the wind. But when news of a horrifying murder shocks her sleepy fishing community, she’s compelled by a deep sense of justice to help track down the killer. And when an old friend offers her a chance to do it from behind a badge, she goes all in. Ellie’s investigation gets off to a rapid start, leading her into a hidden underworld of drugs, murder, and lies, where she quickly discovers that some of the locals may not have the cleanest of hands. Meanwhile, as deep pain continues to linger from the recent death of her father and a gaping hole left by a previous mission gone terribly wrong, Ellie discovers that it’s not so easy to outrun your past.
SHALLOW BREEZE
When a plane loaded with illegal drugs crashes into an iconic pier, the locals begin to wonder if any other secrets are about to fall out of the sky. After going to Tampa to search out a possible link between Hawkwing Enterprises and the dead body of a young boy, Ellie suddenly becomes entangled with an elusive drug lord and the former Navy SEAL working with him. On Pine Island, a local and beloved business owner is blackmailed into moving cargo that goes against everything he believes in, bringing his world crashing down around him as he begins to live a sinister lie.
BITTER TIDE
When local Matlacha artist Jean Oglesby confides to Ellie that her son may be in some trouble, Ellie steps in to help and is sent down a winding trail that leads her into deep and unexpected waters. A Category 4 hurricane has Pine Island in its crosshairs, and as the winds whip the mainland, it forces Ellie to make a choice: flee for safety or stay and hunt down the weapons smugglers that have kidnapped and tortured an innocent man. And when a friend from the past suddenly appears with unexpected news, she begins to wonder if the truth is even out there and if she will be forced to finally bend the rules.
VACANT SHORE
Ellie has encountered setback after setback, and this time is no different. When a former adversary comes back for revenge, Ellie discovers the crosshairs cover more than she ever could have imagined and locks her into a deadly battle that has already claimed far too many innocent lives. As she gets ever closer to unmasking the lies running rampant over her community, Ellie finds corruption at the highest levels of government, forcing her to reexamine everything she knew to be true. In this nail-biting conclusion to an investigation that began in Broken Stern, Ellie’s pursuit of justice takes her to the very threshold of death’s door, and what she finds leading up to it is nothing short of terrifying.
BROKEN STERN
Fresh off a dynamic career with the CIA, Ellie finally returns home to Southwest Florida to catch up on years lost to the wind. But when news of a horrifying murder shocks her sleepy fishing community, she’s compelled by a deep sense of justice to help track down the killer. And when an old friend offers her a chance to do it from behind a badge, she goes all in. Ellie’s investigation gets off to a rapid start, leading her into a hidden underworld of drugs, murder, and lies, where she quickly discovers that some of the locals may not have the cleanest of hands. Meanwhile, as deep pain continues to linger from the recent death of her father and a gaping hole left by a previous mission gone terribly wrong, Ellie discovers that it’s not so easy to outrun your past.
SHALLOW BREEZE
When a plane loaded with illegal drugs crashes into an iconic pier, the locals begin to wonder if any other secrets are about to fall out of the sky. After going to Tampa to search out a possible link between Hawkwing Enterprises and the dead body of a young boy, Ellie suddenly becomes entangled with an elusive drug lord and the former Navy SEAL working with him. On Pine Island, a local and beloved business owner is blackmailed into moving cargo that goes against everything he believes in, bringing his world crashing down around him as he begins to live a sinister lie.
BITTER TIDE
When local Matlacha artist Jean Oglesby confides to Ellie that her son may be in some trouble, Ellie steps in to help and is sent down a winding trail that leads her into deep and unexpected waters. A Category 4 hurricane has Pine Island in its crosshairs, and as the winds whip the mainland, it forces Ellie to make a choice: flee for safety or stay and hunt down the weapons smugglers that have kidnapped and tortured an innocent man. And when a friend from the past suddenly appears with unexpected news, she begins to wonder if the truth is even out there and if she will be forced to finally bend the rules.
VACANT SHORE
Ellie has encountered setback after setback, and this time is no different. When a former adversary comes back for revenge, Ellie discovers the crosshairs cover more than she ever could have imagined and locks her into a deadly battle that has already claimed far too many innocent lives. As she gets ever closer to unmasking the lies running rampant over her community, Ellie finds corruption at the highest levels of government, forcing her to reexamine everything she knew to be true. In this nail-biting conclusion to an investigation that began in Broken Stern, Ellie’s pursuit of justice takes her to the very threshold of death’s door, and what she finds leading up to it is nothing short of terrifying.
1106 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 25, 2019
253 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Jack Hardin
22 books49 followersJack Hardin currently lives in Arlington, TX, with his stunning wife and five kids. He grew up in an Army family and spent half his childhood living in Germany, traveling all over Europe prior to the fall of the Iron Curtain. At nine years old he walked through Checkpoint Charlie and into East Berlin just one year before the Berlin Wall came down. He holds a 2nd degree black belt in Taekwondo, is proficient with bo staff and nunchucks, and has taught women's self-defense.
Those alone do not make him awesome, but it all sounds really cool.
You’ll find Jack’s books to be in the same vein as Wayne Stinnett, Dawn Lee McKenna, and Randy Wayne White. In other words...dig in...you’re about to be seriously entertained.
Jack is driven by grace, the bedrock of his Christian faith. Shoot him an email and let him know what you think of his books. Or to give him your opinion of the moon landing, or whether or not you think it's a sin to squeeze the toothpaste tube from the middle.
jack@jackhardinauthor.com
Books 1-4 in the Pine Island Coast Suspense Series form one larger story arc, with everything tied up in Book 4. Books 5+ will all be standalone installments.
Connect with him on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/JackHardinAu...
Those alone do not make him awesome, but it all sounds really cool.
You’ll find Jack’s books to be in the same vein as Wayne Stinnett, Dawn Lee McKenna, and Randy Wayne White. In other words...dig in...you’re about to be seriously entertained.
Jack is driven by grace, the bedrock of his Christian faith. Shoot him an email and let him know what you think of his books. Or to give him your opinion of the moon landing, or whether or not you think it's a sin to squeeze the toothpaste tube from the middle.
jack@jackhardinauthor.com
Books 1-4 in the Pine Island Coast Suspense Series form one larger story arc, with everything tied up in Book 4. Books 5+ will all be standalone installments.
Connect with him on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/JackHardinAu...
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 6, 2023
Really good series
I rarely leave a 5 star review as they are reserved for exceptional literature, but I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this 4 book series by Jack Hardin. It’s well written and edited, which is important to me.
Ellie is a former CIA operative who returns to her roots on a small island near Sanibel and Captiva Islands. It isn’t long before she is recruited to help the DEA bring down the drug kingpins that are using the area to bring in hundreds of kilos of drugs. Each book in the series kept me wanting to read more and find out how Ellie was going to use her skills and knowledge to win against the bad guys.
There are a couple of VERY unexpected twists, and while the book had a successful conclusion, I still have questions that might be answered in the next book.
In case it matters to you (it does to me), the author does an excellent job of writing an exciting book without the use of profanity or sex.
I rarely leave a 5 star review as they are reserved for exceptional literature, but I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this 4 book series by Jack Hardin. It’s well written and edited, which is important to me.
Ellie is a former CIA operative who returns to her roots on a small island near Sanibel and Captiva Islands. It isn’t long before she is recruited to help the DEA bring down the drug kingpins that are using the area to bring in hundreds of kilos of drugs. Each book in the series kept me wanting to read more and find out how Ellie was going to use her skills and knowledge to win against the bad guys.
There are a couple of VERY unexpected twists, and while the book had a successful conclusion, I still have questions that might be answered in the next book.
In case it matters to you (it does to me), the author does an excellent job of writing an exciting book without the use of profanity or sex.
May 9, 2021
A big winner
I must admit that I was at first a bit skeptical. During our lovely pandemic I have read a great number of books and series and thought another beach series might be entertaining. Ooh buddy was I surprised. Jack Hardin has offered up an extremely complex entertaining story about a young woman of exceptional means and she is so very credible. The characters within are extraordonarily well constructed. I felt as though I knew every one of them. Everything about this series was very entertaining and extremely well received.. A big thanks to Jack Hardin for his creation I will most certain long be looming into his other creations and I look forward to being mesmerized again by Ellie..Thanks Jack
I must admit that I was at first a bit skeptical. During our lovely pandemic I have read a great number of books and series and thought another beach series might be entertaining. Ooh buddy was I surprised. Jack Hardin has offered up an extremely complex entertaining story about a young woman of exceptional means and she is so very credible. The characters within are extraordonarily well constructed. I felt as though I knew every one of them. Everything about this series was very entertaining and extremely well received.. A big thanks to Jack Hardin for his creation I will most certain long be looming into his other creations and I look forward to being mesmerized again by Ellie..Thanks Jack
October 24, 2021
Descending stars
Book 1 was about 4.5 of 5 stars. Great! At the end of book 2 you find out the drug kingpin she's looking for is literally under her nose. So much for being a super spy, able to keep buildings in a single bound. In book 3 she's gone off the reservation but that aside, just completely lost interest in the storyline. Pass.
Book 1 was about 4.5 of 5 stars. Great! At the end of book 2 you find out the drug kingpin she's looking for is literally under her nose. So much for being a super spy, able to keep buildings in a single bound. In book 3 she's gone off the reservation but that aside, just completely lost interest in the storyline. Pass.
December 10, 2020
Loved this series and what a plot twist ! On the one hand some of the characters are a bit syrupy, on the other hand some quite gruesome murders carried out by people you wouldn’t expect . Looking forward to more . Perfect series for long Lock down evenings
November 1, 2021
A very interesting set of stories told in a nice way.
The stories with Ellie in the lead were interesting, intelligently told with the proper amount of interest and toughness for all 4 stories.
The stories with Ellie in the lead were interesting, intelligently told with the proper amount of interest and toughness for all 4 stories.
August 15, 2022
Had me all the way through!
I couldn't put the books down! One would end and the next would be even better. Lots of twists and turns! Real good character development and suspense all the way through.
I couldn't put the books down! One would end and the next would be even better. Lots of twists and turns! Real good character development and suspense all the way through.
June 22, 2021
Non-stop action.
This series hits all the right marks. Great characters, believable action, good subplots. I couldn't put it down. You have to read all four!
This series hits all the right marks. Great characters, believable action, good subplots. I couldn't put it down. You have to read all four!
July 27, 2021
Kept me turning the pages
Somewhat long and circuitous, it kept me wanting more. And it didn’t disappoint me when it was over. Excellent! Ok, it was spellbinding. Thanks
Somewhat long and circuitous, it kept me wanting more. And it didn’t disappoint me when it was over. Excellent! Ok, it was spellbinding. Thanks
November 10, 2021
Must Read, Jack Hardin!!
Fantaatic series, lots of twist and suspense. Loved the main heroine, Ellie, one very capable woman and a great cast of characters.
Fantaatic series, lots of twist and suspense. Loved the main heroine, Ellie, one very capable woman and a great cast of characters.
April 13, 2022
Excellent
Good reading you will enjoy the time wrapped up in reading. I definitely intend read a lot more Jack Hardin!
Good reading you will enjoy the time wrapped up in reading. I definitely intend read a lot more Jack Hardin!
June 10, 2023
Great Book
One of the best books I have read in a long time hard to put down so many twists and turns
One of the best books I have read in a long time hard to put down so many twists and turns
June 27, 2023
Great story
The characters and storytelling is captivating in these books, and they are really page turners. I just completed re-reading them all.
The characters and storytelling is captivating in these books, and they are really page turners. I just completed re-reading them all.
April 29, 2025
Enjoy reading books that take place in areas I am familiar with, so I can follow along and visualize with the travels of the characters. This was right in my wheelhouse.
October 12, 2019
Read before & Reading again - *****
Lovable characters-laughable, let’s say the entire spectrum of emotions. I read before and am re reading. It’s one of those series that you want read again. As an avid reader - I am enjoying again.
Lovable characters-laughable, let’s say the entire spectrum of emotions. I read before and am re reading. It’s one of those series that you want read again. As an avid reader - I am enjoying again.
December 25, 2019
Too many false trails. Too many characters were named with false names.
. Too much irrelevant backstory. Why did uncle get away Scott free? Too many loose ends. I will not read more
. Too much irrelevant backstory. Why did uncle get away Scott free? Too many loose ends. I will not read more
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews