Last Exit For Betrayal

by G.W. Conklin

Cape May is often called America’s oldest resort. It’s a place where people have come for generations to enjoy sun-filled days on the beach and peaceful strolls along the village’s quaint streets lined with ornate Victorian homes. For Porter Benjamin, the town’s new police chief, it is also the place he has called home his whole life.

This summer, however, the idyllic peace of this seaside town at the southern tip of New Jersey will be shattered when what at first appears to be a tragic drowning spirals into murder, intrigue and betrayal. Porter and his young detective, Mark Burnside, find themselves caught in a race against time as they try to piece together the puzzle and solve the mystery that threatens the very tranquility that those who love Cape May hold so dear.

252 pages, Paperback

Published July 14, 2020

About the author

George Conklin was born in the Bronx but has spent most of his life in New Jersey, where he currently lives with his wife. They have two daughters and enjoy spending as much time with them as possible, especially in Cape May which they visit frequently.

Last Exit For Betrayal: A Cape May Mystery is George's first novel. Previously, he has written several books and articles about the American Civil War, including a complete history of the 134th New York Infantry Regiment. He has also spoken on the subject to a variety of history and student groups.

Reviews

[Linden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Porter Benjamin is the chief of police in the seaside town of Cape May, NJ. When a body is found on the beach, Porter and his team learn that the deceased was an amateur diver who was one of the summer workers from Poland who had overstayed. There seems to be something fishy with divers coming into a lot of money. Could they have found one of the many shipwrecks located far under the sea off the coast? It's illegal to do so, but a shady crew could make a lot of money if no one found out. Porter and Detective Burnside locate the dive captain, but they know someone is bankrolling him, and work diligently to solve the case. This is undoubtedly one of the best freebies/KU books I've read, with likable characters, a good mystery, and a lovely setting. Having recently visited Cape May, I was excited to read this mystery, and it did not disappoint!

[Margi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read!

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really wonderful read that made me long for days in Cape May! Can’t wait to read other books by this author!!

[BooksCoffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set against the picturesque background of Cape May with its quaint streets lined with ornate Victorian homes, Conklin’s debut police procedural, featuring the mellow and down-to-earth Porter Benjamin, the town’s new police chief, finds the detective on the trail of a sinister conspiracy.

The almost clueless case of a young man’s body found washed up on a local beach poses a supreme challenge for the newly appointed chief and his deputy Mark Burnside after it’s established that victim was murdered brutally. The victim is identified as a twenty-one-year-old Polish immigrant, Krystian Poplawski, who was working illegally in the country. The discovery leads to one surprise after another, throwing Porter into the middle of a sinister conspiracy that threatens to destroy the very tranquility of the quaint town and its people.

Conklin adeptly builds suspense as the story unfolds, providing genuine, shocking surprises. He never loses his grip on the deliciously multilayered plot as Porter and Mark sift through layers of conspiracy. The action proceeds logically, and the shocking conclusion is thoroughly satisfying.

Deeply realized, entertaining characters give added depth to the story, and Conklin expertly weaves his characters’ interpersonal dynamics and their individual struggles into the affecting narrative. In Porter and Mark, readers find a detective pair they will love to see more of in the upcoming books.

For lovers of quality police procedurals, the novel offers pure, satisfying pleasure.

Conklin remains a writer to watch.

[Laura Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an exciting read. The plot pulls you right in and just keeps going from there.

Great setting descriptions too! Lovers of Cape May will appreciate such places as Coffee Tyme, Congress Hall, and, particularly close to my heart- the Fisherman’s Memorial.

Of course, that’s not to dissuade those unfamiliar with the resort. You’ll definitely feel like you’re right there with the characters.

And about those characters…I loved the dynamic between Porter and Mark. It had a very Law & Order vibe and the dialogue was realistic, easy to visualize. Add to it the slice-of-life scenes with Porter and his family and you’ve got the perfect beach read.

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry to say that even though this was a interesting story and had a lot of potential, the actual writing was mediocre at best. I am always bothered when reading a book riddled with errors that a proof reader should have picked up. The book would have been a lot shorter if full pages were not spent describing attire being worn by a minor character. Page filler, I mean really, after we get an in-depth description clothing being worn, is it really necessary say what color some man’s hair was and that it was parted on the right side. Then I would be shocked if every reader did not know very early on who the leader of the pack of thieves was going to be.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery set in Cape May started a little slow for me, but really picked up about a third of the way through! I loved the depiction of Cape May and all of the landmarks and imagery the author included. I’d love a Cape May native’s review of the depiction of the town! It could have used a little more copy editing, but overall a great murder/police/maritime mystery. I especially loved the little tie-in to the Civil War ship wreck (based on a real ship wreck)! It’s included on Kindle Unlimited, and definitely worth the read.

[Janie D · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read!

Story was very interesting. A shipwreck from the 1800’s is discovered by people with nefarious plans. It’s up to Chief of Police and his second in command to follow the trail of sparse leads. A fast read and made me interested in visiting this part of the country one day!

[Barbara Cosenza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like I remembered

What a fun read for me. Having navigated the Cape May and Wildwood areas as a teenager and living in North Cape May for a while it brought back memories as Porter describes where events occurred. I remember searching got Cape May Diamonds. I may even still have a few if I search hard enough. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Laur · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am rating this novel a 3 only because it is based in Cape May. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have finished and would rate it a one. Overly descriptive, characters that weren't quite flushed out, and numerous spelling/grammatical mistakes distracted from the overall premise of the story.

[Karli Visconto · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a slow paced true crime book. Different from my usual thrillers, but I’m a lifetime south Jersey beach go-er and cape May is my favorite. Was really cool to read about it places I know and love. Wasn’t the most exciting book but held my interest!

[Amber Abrams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read if you are a fan of the jersey shore and cape may. Was suspenseful up to the very end. Hopefully we will see more stories with Chief Porter.

[Miles Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good police procedural and good picture of Cape May, NJ. A reasonable and entertaining story.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was a very good story. Since the author actually named specific places in Cape May, it made you feel like you were actually there.

[Jackie Simons]

Read 7/25

[terry gerberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true Cape May treasure

A fantastic read glad I took the time if you’ve been to Cape May or not the book pulls you right in!