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Garrison Gage #6
Bury the Dead in Driftwood
They find her buried in driftwood.
Harriet Abel never shows up for her appointment. Irritating as hell? Sure. It's hard enough to work as a private investigator without potential clients standing you up.
Of course, it's difficult to show up when you're dead.
A revered community figure in the Oregon coast town of Barnacle Bluffs, the teacher extraordinaire never gets a chance to explain why she wants to hire Garrison Gage before her body turns up in a sandy grave. Seldom deterred by the lack of a client, Gage barrels forward intent on discovering the woman's killer. Unfortunately, the professional curmudgeon stirs up a lot more trouble than he expects, putting innocent people in imminent danger.
In the past, Gage always triumphed over whatever dark forces stood in his way, but this time he may have gone too far -- and he won't be the only one paying the price.
Harriet Abel never shows up for her appointment. Irritating as hell? Sure. It's hard enough to work as a private investigator without potential clients standing you up.
Of course, it's difficult to show up when you're dead.
A revered community figure in the Oregon coast town of Barnacle Bluffs, the teacher extraordinaire never gets a chance to explain why she wants to hire Garrison Gage before her body turns up in a sandy grave. Seldom deterred by the lack of a client, Gage barrels forward intent on discovering the woman's killer. Unfortunately, the professional curmudgeon stirs up a lot more trouble than he expects, putting innocent people in imminent danger.
In the past, Gage always triumphed over whatever dark forces stood in his way, but this time he may have gone too far -- and he won't be the only one paying the price.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 11, 2019
146 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Scott William Carter
82 books172 followersScott William Carter’s first novel, The Last Great Getaway of the Water Balloon Boys, was hailed by Publishers Weekly as a “touching and impressive debut” and won an Oregon Book Award. Since then, he has published many books and short stories, his fiction spanning a wide variety of genres and styles. His book for younger readers, Wooden Bones, chronicles the untold story of Pinocchio and was singled out for praise by the Junior Library Guild. He is the author of the popular Garrison Gage mystery series set on the Oregon coast, as well as the provocative Myron Vale Investigations, about the private investigator in Portland, Oregon who works for both the living and the dead. He’s also the cartoonist behind the Run of the House comic strip.
If that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, in his “day job” life he works as an Instructional Designer and Digital Production & Publishing Specialist at Western Oregon University, where he manages the Digital Media Center and provides training and expertise to the campus community on a variety of topics, including Web page creation, digital video production, print-on-demand and ebook publishing, and many software applications related to publishing, distribution, and education in all its forms. He also teaches occasional classes for both the English department and the College of Education.
In past lives, he has been an academic technologist, a writing instructor, bookstore owner, the manager of a computer training company, and a ski instructor, though the most important job — and best – he’s ever had is being the father of his two children. He currently lives in Oregon with his wife and two children.
If that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, in his “day job” life he works as an Instructional Designer and Digital Production & Publishing Specialist at Western Oregon University, where he manages the Digital Media Center and provides training and expertise to the campus community on a variety of topics, including Web page creation, digital video production, print-on-demand and ebook publishing, and many software applications related to publishing, distribution, and education in all its forms. He also teaches occasional classes for both the English department and the College of Education.
In past lives, he has been an academic technologist, a writing instructor, bookstore owner, the manager of a computer training company, and a ski instructor, though the most important job — and best – he’s ever had is being the father of his two children. He currently lives in Oregon with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
October 27, 2020
Not his best but worth reading
I enjoyed the book but am not sure I’ll read another. I’ve read all the Oregon Coast Mysteries but this one had so many typos that should have been ironed out during proof reading and I think the books are becoming a bit formulaic.
I also find Gage not having his knee sorted out a real irritation.
I enjoyed the book but am not sure I’ll read another. I’ve read all the Oregon Coast Mysteries but this one had so many typos that should have been ironed out during proof reading and I think the books are becoming a bit formulaic.
I also find Gage not having his knee sorted out a real irritation.
October 20, 2019
Disappointing
I loved all the previous books in this series, so I was very disappointed with this one. The editing was very poorly done, numerous missing words, and phrases repeated. The storyline was just ridiculous in several places. I don't recommend this book.
I loved all the previous books in this series, so I was very disappointed with this one. The editing was very poorly done, numerous missing words, and phrases repeated. The storyline was just ridiculous in several places. I don't recommend this book.
November 19, 2024
#6 in the Garrison Gage series of Oregon Coast murder mysteries. A beloved HS teacher is found dead, buried under driftwood, before she could keep her appointment with Gage. And two possible love interests must be juggled to the amusement of Zoe. A complicated plot with an interesting resolution.
August 4, 2024
-We return to Garrison Gage in Barnacle Bluffs, Oregon, but he’s now alone. No girlfriend relationships and his adopted daughter, Zoe, is away in college. It’s been quiet overall, but, through Alex, his friend who was his instructor during his brief stint with the FBI, he’s got a possible client. An acquaintance of Alex’s wife, Eve, is in need of his services, and he ends up waiting to meet her at Turret House, the boarding house run and owned by Alex and Eve.
-The meeting was set for 4:00, but when the time came and went and she hadn’t showed up, Gage thought she could have backed out, until he received a call from the chief of police, Percy Quinn. Quinn called Alex to reach out to Gage (who has no cell or landline phone) to come down to the beach area, near the casino. The client that Gage was waiting for, Harriet Abel, was found dead, and buried in the sand with her head bashed in.
-Normally, Quinn and Gage are in a constant state of opposition, but Quinn feels that Gage must know something about her death and called him in. Gage, though, had never met her, nor had he spoken to her. He only arranged the meeting through Eve. Even though Harriet never hired Gage, he still feels that he’s involved, especially when he sees the body of the older, 67 year old woman, lying dead and hidden under driftwood.
-Gage proceeds as best he could. He’s got to ask those who worked with her, but even Eve, Alex’s wife, knew very little about the woman, other than she was an extremely giving person who was always doing for others. She had been married to a doctor who suffered a stroke and the pair decided to live in Barnacle Bluffs. Her husband died 10 years before, but the kindness of the woman was reflected in so many people that she touched.
-She was a teacher in the local high school, and she was considered the favorite teacher of almost every student that Gage encountered. Even Zoe, Gage’s daughter, had her as a teacher and praised her.
-In a comical tone, where Gage’s love life was totally barren when Zoe left, he’s suddenly confronted by one woman after another who seem to be connected to the case and who throw themselves at him. What makes it all the more difficult is that Gage finds each one to be very beautiful, and it’s only with extreme effort that he tries to suppress his emotions.
-In the very beginning of the investigation, a strange character makes his appearance, and he’s unlike anyone that Gage has ever encountered. He walks into Alex’s book store while Gage is there, and is very non-descript in his appearance. He was a little heavy, with scant hair, but lifeless eyes and a very calm demeanor when he spoke. The veiled threats to stay out of this investigation coming from him, as it would have dire consequences to all the people that Gage knows, are enough to spook both Alex and Gage, as he’s described as having an emptiness about him, as if he has no soul. It’s not just the threat, but the way that he eerily does so that brings chills to the two men. When asked his name he refuses to give it, but the name on the car rental application is Ridley, which is the same name as a brutal killer from the past, which is another way of warning Gage to take Ridley’s words seriously.
-Some of those that Gage wants to question have very unusual responses to him and he knows that there are secrets that are being withheld, but nothing makes sense. He also fears for the welfare of his daughter, Zoe, as well as Alex and Eve.
-This turns into one of the most deadly of situations that Gage has gotten himself into, and also one of the most complicated. The pace of the investigation allows for information to slowly be revealed, but mixed up with so many things that are happening are the relevant clues which Gage must parse through to realize what’s going on. The villain introduced in this episode, Ridley, has a talent for evoking the maximum fear with the least effort, as he always seems to be at least a step ahead of Gage’s plans.
-Probably one of the best in this series for writing, plot and action, this book is a great example of how a courageous person is one that goes forward despite feeling intense fear.
-The meeting was set for 4:00, but when the time came and went and she hadn’t showed up, Gage thought she could have backed out, until he received a call from the chief of police, Percy Quinn. Quinn called Alex to reach out to Gage (who has no cell or landline phone) to come down to the beach area, near the casino. The client that Gage was waiting for, Harriet Abel, was found dead, and buried in the sand with her head bashed in.
-Normally, Quinn and Gage are in a constant state of opposition, but Quinn feels that Gage must know something about her death and called him in. Gage, though, had never met her, nor had he spoken to her. He only arranged the meeting through Eve. Even though Harriet never hired Gage, he still feels that he’s involved, especially when he sees the body of the older, 67 year old woman, lying dead and hidden under driftwood.
-Gage proceeds as best he could. He’s got to ask those who worked with her, but even Eve, Alex’s wife, knew very little about the woman, other than she was an extremely giving person who was always doing for others. She had been married to a doctor who suffered a stroke and the pair decided to live in Barnacle Bluffs. Her husband died 10 years before, but the kindness of the woman was reflected in so many people that she touched.
-She was a teacher in the local high school, and she was considered the favorite teacher of almost every student that Gage encountered. Even Zoe, Gage’s daughter, had her as a teacher and praised her.
-In a comical tone, where Gage’s love life was totally barren when Zoe left, he’s suddenly confronted by one woman after another who seem to be connected to the case and who throw themselves at him. What makes it all the more difficult is that Gage finds each one to be very beautiful, and it’s only with extreme effort that he tries to suppress his emotions.
-In the very beginning of the investigation, a strange character makes his appearance, and he’s unlike anyone that Gage has ever encountered. He walks into Alex’s book store while Gage is there, and is very non-descript in his appearance. He was a little heavy, with scant hair, but lifeless eyes and a very calm demeanor when he spoke. The veiled threats to stay out of this investigation coming from him, as it would have dire consequences to all the people that Gage knows, are enough to spook both Alex and Gage, as he’s described as having an emptiness about him, as if he has no soul. It’s not just the threat, but the way that he eerily does so that brings chills to the two men. When asked his name he refuses to give it, but the name on the car rental application is Ridley, which is the same name as a brutal killer from the past, which is another way of warning Gage to take Ridley’s words seriously.
-Some of those that Gage wants to question have very unusual responses to him and he knows that there are secrets that are being withheld, but nothing makes sense. He also fears for the welfare of his daughter, Zoe, as well as Alex and Eve.
-This turns into one of the most deadly of situations that Gage has gotten himself into, and also one of the most complicated. The pace of the investigation allows for information to slowly be revealed, but mixed up with so many things that are happening are the relevant clues which Gage must parse through to realize what’s going on. The villain introduced in this episode, Ridley, has a talent for evoking the maximum fear with the least effort, as he always seems to be at least a step ahead of Gage’s plans.
-Probably one of the best in this series for writing, plot and action, this book is a great example of how a courageous person is one that goes forward despite feeling intense fear.
January 13, 2025
It's been awhile since I last read a Garrison Gage. Doing so again with Bury the Dead in Driftwood brings back fond memories of this garrulous private investigator.
Except Garrison is somewhat older and getting along with a cane.
When Harriet Abel did not rock up for her appointment with Gage, it may have been quite a number of things that could have gone wrong. However, the discovery of her body buried under sand on the beach was a surprise for everybody. Well known and quite popular, her death was quite the surprise.
Ah well, Garrison Gage was determined to find out what happened and for a couple of hours of non stop reading I was nailed down in my seat following Garrison's tracing the almost non existent trail of the guilty party.
Of course, some unexpected humour also had me laughing out loud in one scene specifically when four women arrived one after the other at his home, three of whom previously showed quite a romantic interest in him, the other being his rather bewildered daughter Zoe.
What followed was hilarious.
All in all another excellent mystery thriller by author Scott William Carter
Enjoy
Except Garrison is somewhat older and getting along with a cane.
When Harriet Abel did not rock up for her appointment with Gage, it may have been quite a number of things that could have gone wrong. However, the discovery of her body buried under sand on the beach was a surprise for everybody. Well known and quite popular, her death was quite the surprise.
Ah well, Garrison Gage was determined to find out what happened and for a couple of hours of non stop reading I was nailed down in my seat following Garrison's tracing the almost non existent trail of the guilty party.
Of course, some unexpected humour also had me laughing out loud in one scene specifically when four women arrived one after the other at his home, three of whom previously showed quite a romantic interest in him, the other being his rather bewildered daughter Zoe.
What followed was hilarious.
All in all another excellent mystery thriller by author Scott William Carter
Enjoy
March 5, 2022
Emotional .
Such a good story. Probably one of the best, but maybe not? Each book I read shows so much more of Garrison and Each has left with a feeling of " what an ending". Where is more? When will I get the next book. ...lol. "The Gray and Guilty Sea "was amazingly good. It left a reminder that even now makes an impression. These books are kind of haunting. ( so is the area they are set ) I also happen to have an affinity for this area. That helps to be able to call up a picture as I read.
Yes, there are many mentions of Gage's knee but not too many
They do tell us things are worse. Maybe it is leading up to his finally getting the sucker fixed?
Yes there are some blatant typos in here. Mixing up who is saying or doing something certainly is not easily missed. I was too engrossed in the story to stop from figuring it out and reading on.
My conclusion here...Scott Carpenter can write! I'm certainly am reading on and I am going to stray and read his other books. Not just the Garrison Gage books. I don't often do that.
.
Such a good story. Probably one of the best, but maybe not? Each book I read shows so much more of Garrison and Each has left with a feeling of " what an ending". Where is more? When will I get the next book. ...lol. "The Gray and Guilty Sea "was amazingly good. It left a reminder that even now makes an impression. These books are kind of haunting. ( so is the area they are set ) I also happen to have an affinity for this area. That helps to be able to call up a picture as I read.
Yes, there are many mentions of Gage's knee but not too many
They do tell us things are worse. Maybe it is leading up to his finally getting the sucker fixed?
Yes there are some blatant typos in here. Mixing up who is saying or doing something certainly is not easily missed. I was too engrossed in the story to stop from figuring it out and reading on.
My conclusion here...Scott Carpenter can write! I'm certainly am reading on and I am going to stray and read his other books. Not just the Garrison Gage books. I don't often do that.
.
March 6, 2022
okay
I have now read all 6 books. Garrison Gage is PI that moved many miles away from his previous life, but it keeps coming back to him. He gets involved with cases yo help people, but he always falls in love with a main character. They always turn out to not be good for him. The stories are ok, but miraculously very near the end Gage figures Everything out that Nobody else could figure out. He won’t get his messed up knee surgically fixed cus it’s better to have it not be fixed. He wrecks his mustard colored van in book 3 , I think, and has it fixed even tho he spends far more money than buying something new. What can I say except decent read, but some things just never “add up”. And yes, I know it’s fiction, but there needs to be some truth in the fiction to be believable. Just don’t think they are always remotely believable.
I have now read all 6 books. Garrison Gage is PI that moved many miles away from his previous life, but it keeps coming back to him. He gets involved with cases yo help people, but he always falls in love with a main character. They always turn out to not be good for him. The stories are ok, but miraculously very near the end Gage figures Everything out that Nobody else could figure out. He won’t get his messed up knee surgically fixed cus it’s better to have it not be fixed. He wrecks his mustard colored van in book 3 , I think, and has it fixed even tho he spends far more money than buying something new. What can I say except decent read, but some things just never “add up”. And yes, I know it’s fiction, but there needs to be some truth in the fiction to be believable. Just don’t think they are always remotely believable.
November 13, 2020
Hot mess...
I've read all in series and they get worse. It has a surprising who done it, but it is so drawn out, I skimmed a lot. There is an underlying theme, that has gotten old and more unbelievable, one he's a Romeo who gets much younger women and second he's a grumpy old crippled guy. He won't have surgery on knee, but whines about it, and he uses a pay phone because he won't get a phone. Yep he's annoying, and this time, he has 3 younger women chasing him!
I've read all in series and they get worse. It has a surprising who done it, but it is so drawn out, I skimmed a lot. There is an underlying theme, that has gotten old and more unbelievable, one he's a Romeo who gets much younger women and second he's a grumpy old crippled guy. He won't have surgery on knee, but whines about it, and he uses a pay phone because he won't get a phone. Yep he's annoying, and this time, he has 3 younger women chasing him!
April 1, 2021
Excellent as usual
Got hooked on the Garrison Gage series. This is another of those that you can't wait to find out whodunit but on the other hand you hate for it to come to an end. I do find, however that, as with many series of this kind, some of the situations tend to get a bit over the top as does the one near the end of this book
Got hooked on the Garrison Gage series. This is another of those that you can't wait to find out whodunit but on the other hand you hate for it to come to an end. I do find, however that, as with many series of this kind, some of the situations tend to get a bit over the top as does the one near the end of this book
August 8, 2021
Complex, Confusing and convoluted
I was very unhappy with this book. I usually enjoy this author but this book was all over the place and the characters were just annoying. The foster daughter Zoe was repeatedly dragged in just to add extra drama and had no other function in the story. This was very contrived and distracting.
I was very unhappy with this book. I usually enjoy this author but this book was all over the place and the characters were just annoying. The foster daughter Zoe was repeatedly dragged in just to add extra drama and had no other function in the story. This was very contrived and distracting.
February 9, 2021
Good story line, plenty of twists and turns
The book was good but appears to have been put out in a hurry because there were so many errors, misused words , gender mistakes, etc. Still it entertained me.
The book was good but appears to have been put out in a hurry because there were so many errors, misused words , gender mistakes, etc. Still it entertained me.
March 1, 2021
Great
Another great Garrison Gage read. Love this PI. Just wish he'd stop being so stubborn and get his knee fixed! Sometimes it's painful to read about it. Love Zoe too. On to the next one.
Another great Garrison Gage read. Love this PI. Just wish he'd stop being so stubborn and get his knee fixed! Sometimes it's painful to read about it. Love Zoe too. On to the next one.
July 14, 2023
Garrison at his finest!
Great plot , deep and keeps you guessing.
But too much minute description of colors,sounds,weather only makes reading slow to get to main points of the paragraphs.
I look forward to book seven.
Great plot , deep and keeps you guessing.
But too much minute description of colors,sounds,weather only makes reading slow to get to main points of the paragraphs.
I look forward to book seven.
November 12, 2024
It took me a long time to read this, largely because I was busy but I was not really motivated to keep reading. Some of the plot twists require a little suspension of disbelief and there are some significant holes. I have read a couple other books by this author but they were much more compelling.
April 25, 2025
what a page turner!
Awesome, just awesome. Once I started I could not turn the page fast enough. The story line engaging, unbelievable characters, especially Whinny, and unexpected turns. It was so good I might read it again just to make sure I didn’t miss anything!
Awesome, just awesome. Once I started I could not turn the page fast enough. The story line engaging, unbelievable characters, especially Whinny, and unexpected turns. It was so good I might read it again just to make sure I didn’t miss anything!
October 20, 2020
another of his very complicated plots. Interesting characters and he captures the weather and environment very well.
April 9, 2021
Excellent
Only Garrison Gage would have three attractive women in his life and wind up with none of them. Good page turner right up to the unexpected reveal.
Only Garrison Gage would have three attractive women in his life and wind up with none of them. Good page turner right up to the unexpected reveal.
August 9, 2021
Good mystery
It was a good mystery with a surprise ending. Too bad their were
so many mistakes. The author needs to hire a decent proof reader.
It was a good mystery with a surprise ending. Too bad their were
so many mistakes. The author needs to hire a decent proof reader.
October 17, 2022
Suspenseful
It kept me turning pages and ending was a surprise. It did sometimes seem t o ramble a bit but was still a good read.
It kept me turning pages and ending was a surprise. It did sometimes seem t o ramble a bit but was still a good read.
October 30, 2023
I've got to give this one 5*, mainly because I didn't see the culprit coming at all. Although the plot is typical Carter slow, and stays that way throughout the book, the ending is well worth it.
June 29, 2025
love this character!
Fast paced and well written. Love the setting on the oregon coast. Have read several of these and will look for more.
Fast paced and well written. Love the setting on the oregon coast. Have read several of these and will look for more.
August 25, 2025
This was by far the best mistery in the series. I still recognized the villain the moment they entered the story though. I wish it was harder to.
February 26, 2020
Bury The Dead in Driftwood
Great!! Once again caught up so much in the story. Great twist in the story. I figured out a little about a few of the characters. But did not know other than they were about the plot. Thank you Scott William Carter
Great!! Once again caught up so much in the story. Great twist in the story. I figured out a little about a few of the characters. But did not know other than they were about the plot. Thank you Scott William Carter
November 21, 2024
There's something about PI Gage that keeps me coming back to the series. Not sure if it's to see if he will ever get his knee repaired or if he will finally find someone to fill the shoes of his dead wife. He does seem to meet a lot of beautiful women but somehow they have an agenda.
There's Ave (police chief's daughter), Winnie (wacko, manipulative daughter of the murdered woman, Rita (nice, local teacher who was a friend of the deceased). Two of the three were immediately suspicious to me.
A dead woman is found on the beach buried in driftwood and it seems she was Gage's next appointment who didn't show. He's drawn into finding the murderer.
As a PI, he plods (limps) along, nudging and asking questions until it all comes to a head.
Previous books in the series were better.
There's Ave (police chief's daughter), Winnie (wacko, manipulative daughter of the murdered woman, Rita (nice, local teacher who was a friend of the deceased). Two of the three were immediately suspicious to me.
A dead woman is found on the beach buried in driftwood and it seems she was Gage's next appointment who didn't show. He's drawn into finding the murderer.
As a PI, he plods (limps) along, nudging and asking questions until it all comes to a head.
Previous books in the series were better.
August 22, 2019
Keep Garrison Gage alive
I just finished this wonder read. I saved it for our stay at our place in Neskowin Oregon, North of Lincoln City, that I think is the insperation for Barnacle Bluff. Garrison Gage is the best detective character I've read since Kinsey Millhone. She Grafton did a whole alphabet of books, I think Garrison is worthy of the same. Scott William Carter you've developed such a great group of characters. Please keep them alive. 😎
Mike Corn
I just finished this wonder read. I saved it for our stay at our place in Neskowin Oregon, North of Lincoln City, that I think is the insperation for Barnacle Bluff. Garrison Gage is the best detective character I've read since Kinsey Millhone. She Grafton did a whole alphabet of books, I think Garrison is worthy of the same. Scott William Carter you've developed such a great group of characters. Please keep them alive. 😎
Mike Corn
November 13, 2019
Another good one.
This was a very busy story! It also involves Garrison with three very attractive ladies although he didn't get to spend quality time with any of them. But there was one hilarious scene where it looked like it could have been a major party. But this is a detective story, not soft core stuff. So there are murders to be solved and criminals to be dealt with. By the end of the book, that's just what has happened. I'll let you read it to get the details.
This was a very busy story! It also involves Garrison with three very attractive ladies although he didn't get to spend quality time with any of them. But there was one hilarious scene where it looked like it could have been a major party. But this is a detective story, not soft core stuff. So there are murders to be solved and criminals to be dealt with. By the end of the book, that's just what has happened. I'll let you read it to get the details.
October 6, 2019
I liked this book, although not as much as the previous ones. Garrison was the same as always, a real curmudgeon with the soft, mushy heart where his daughter was concerned. The story, while intriguing, was rather convoluted and lacking something for me (with quite a few editing issues). I do look forward to reading the next in this series.
November 11, 2019
These books 📚 are growing on me and I don’t want them to end. Each book gets better and the small cast of characters he uses all fit together so well. This book didn’t disappoint as the plot from the beginning grabbed your attention and held it throughout the book.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. Lingering questions remain that make me certain this is not the end.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. Lingering questions remain that make me certain this is not the end.
October 27, 2019
Excellent read‼️
Thank you, Scott, for another beautifully written novel!! Garrison Gage is one of my favorite characters. Thrilling, exciting with an ending I didn’t see coming. Don’t miss this book.
Thank you, Scott, for another beautifully written novel!! Garrison Gage is one of my favorite characters. Thrilling, exciting with an ending I didn’t see coming. Don’t miss this book.
November 14, 2019
Mesmerizing
I have enjoyed this entire series. Really well written with building drama and we'll fleshed characters. Gives you a true view of the Pacific northwest coast and it's brooding weather
I have enjoyed this entire series. Really well written with building drama and we'll fleshed characters. Gives you a true view of the Pacific northwest coast and it's brooding weather
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews