Death at High Tide

A Jersey Shore Mystery #2

by Beth Sherman

Oceanside Heights Becomes Hollywood By The SeaIn the quaint New Jersey seaside town of Ocean Heights, freelance ghostwriter Anne hardaway is frustrated by her latest assignment: a tell-all autobiography of Mallory Loving, the former local sexpot who has made it big in movies. Even though Mallory's new film is being shot in twon, Anne finds that her high-profile subject is a first-class prima donna. And Anne isn't the only one having a hard time with the ego-driven star.But Murder Wasn't In The ScriptTreating the film's crew, cast, locals and her husband like personal minions, Mallory is a woman whose popularity, like her career, is on the wane. As severaly accidents delay shooting, a series of threatening letters from a deranged fan unsettle the star's fragile nerves. In the midst of the turmoil, the actress disappears-only to resurface as a corpse. Though the police rule the death as an accident, Anne suspects murder. Using the biography as her calling card, Anne begins an investigation into Mallory's murder to determine which suspect is only "acting" innocent.

Genres: Mystery

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Beth Sherman is a writer and editor based in New York City. She writes a bi-weekly column, "Design and Decor," for Newsday that gives decorating tips and home-related advice. Her work has also appeared in The New York Times, The New York Post, Cosmopolitan, Ladies' Home Journal, Harper's Bazaar, Martha Stewart Living, Bride's, Fitness, Working Woman, House Beautiful, American Health, Parents, and many other publication. Dead Man's Float is her first mystery. She summers on the New Jersey shore.

Reviews

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was writing this as a four star review but as I thought back on the twist at the end I bumped it up to five stars. I thought I had it all figured out and knew what was going on and for the most part I did, picking up on all the clues but the author wasn't totally finished and threw in a curve ball that I didn't see coming. Yes I did miss one clue, which is why the mystery side of the story jumped the review up to five. Purely for being predictable and not, at the same time. I liked the characters and while I thought I was going to struggle keeping them all straight because there is a lot, it was easy to follow along. At the start of each chapter you were given a fashion or make up tip but as this was just a few sentences it didn't interfere with the story too much. This is the second book in the series but it works as a standalone which is good because it has been a few years since I heard the first one, I might just have to go back and re listen.

For Anne's next assignment she is ghost writing a tell all book for famous movie star Mallory. Although with the star more focused on her latest film, that will kick start her career again, it proves hard to pin the starlet down for interviews. The town isn't happy with the film crew taking over there beachside town, the director isn't happy because little mishaps mean the film is running behind schedule and the star herself is receiving threatening notes. Could it all be related to the book? Then Mallory goes missing, only to be discovered dead in a car crash. Anne boss wants her to continue writing the book but with her notes being stolen and the police looking at her for the cause of the threats the only way Anne can write the book is by finding out what happened to Mallory.

I liked the narrator. She helped the characters come to life in front of my eyes and made it so easy to imagine being amongst the hustle and bustle of a film set.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Linda Rawlins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death at High Tide is the second book in the Beth Sherman series about a writer living in Oceanside Heights (loosely hidden Ocean Grove, NJ). In this book, freelance writer Anne Hardaway has the task of ghostwriting a tell-all autobiography by Mallory Loving. Mallory and her twin sister were both raised on the Jersey Shore. Mallory made it out and is now famous, however rumor has it she slept her way to the top. When Mallory returns to film a movie at the Jersey Shore, there are constant problems, accidents and turmoil to delay shooting the film. Mallory goes missing and then ends up dead. To make matters worse, Anne is considered a suspect. Anne now decides to investigate and clear her name, unless she winds up dead first. This book is fun, although a bit slow moving. A good beach read. NJ readers will recognize some famous Jersey shore landmarks.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun mystery that keptme guessing. I did figure out "who dun it" but I enjoyed the read none the less.