California Fever: A Novel

by John J. Jacobson

SoCal surfer Dolphin Smoote just wanted to earn quick dough for a date with the brown-eyed beauty … what he got was G-men (and G-women), ghosts, and a Colt 45. John Jacobson’s California Fever is the compelling fusion of mystery, crime, and Southern California beach charm. Top surfer Dolphin Smoote gets more than he bargains for when he works up the nerve to ask out the brown-eyed beauty on a date. The search of quick coin without having to work will always lead a surfer to precarious places, and Dolphin is no exception. With the help of his lovable surfer crew who often have more to say about stylishness than anything else, Dolphin finds himself between conmen, ghosts, an impending storm from the coast of Mexico … and still no money for a second date. Along the ride, Dolphin finds in himself capacity for storytelling that would make P. G. Wodehouse himself chortle with laughter. From the author of All the Cowboys Ain’t Gone comes this thrilling tale where a crime-novel writer becomes caught up in crimes, and an aspiring writer tries to outrun the crime in her bloodline—what could go wrong? Jacobson immerses the reader in the world of California’s casual-radical surf culture, where radical stunts executed with the most casual air is a practiced form of art. In this world, rival surf clans goad each other on, upping the ante on stunts until mayhem looms. It looks like the storm brewing off the coast of Southern California just might disturb the tranquility of the beach.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

182 pages, Hardcover

Published August 2, 2022

Reviews

[Winnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Casual but not radical, California Fever is a breezy beach read that successfully banks on style to make up for its offbeat pacing. A fun short read that I definitely enjoyed, but probably wouldn’t wholeheartedly recommend to just anybody.

[Jules The Book Junkie Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

With California Fever, John J. Jacobson proves his writing skills by offering up a second book in a much different genre from his book. His debut novel, All the Cowboys Ain’t Gone, is a Western and epic journey, while California Fever is a more lighthearted work of fiction.

The main character, Dolphin, is a surf bum who is desperately trying to avoid employment so that he can focus on catching waves with his posse, who have dubbed themselves the Surfer Dawgs. Dolphin and his pals, take advantage of the absence of Dolphin’s aunt to make money by renting rooms in her house. Their efforts, while successful, bring in some questionable clientele, which kicks off the madcap mayhem.

I really enjoyed Dolphin, his love interest and his Aunt Clemmie. They’re interesting characters and quite likable. California is a humorous mystery with a solid plot and a feel-good ending. A quick, entertaining read that is suitable for young teens and adults.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at
www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com

#BlackstonePublishing #CaliforniaFever

[Annie]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

California Fever is a light and breezy "caper" mystery by John J. Jacobsen. Released 5th July 2022 by Blackstone, it's 160 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a fun and very light mystery(ish) story set in southern California and featuring lots of surfer culture and appealingly off-kilter characters. Dolphin Smoote just wants to catch waves and earn money without having to work for it. He has a love interest who mere presence renders him tongue-tied and flustered. The secondary characters are variously adorable, silly, and questionable.

In a lot of good ways it reminded me of a more grown-up episode of Scooby-Doo. There's a lot of whimsy and humor, and if the writing isn't terribly polished, at least it suits the narrative very well.

Three and a half stars. It's a standalone and a fast read. It would be a good choice for a pick-up-and-put-down commute or break read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Sam Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I need to thank both Blackstone Publishing and John J. Jacobson for sending me this Advanced Readers Copy of California Fever, which is both a lighthearted and trivial short story of a group of friends who ends up saving the day, on accident. This short story/novella is set to his shelves on August 2, 2022.

When Dolphin's Best-Selling Crime Writer Auntie goes out of town on business, he and his Surfer Dawgs come up with the a grandiose plan to rent out her mega-mansion to folks in need (but those who are stacked with cash) to earn enough money to put off getting jobs. Blah capitalism. Dolphin meets a pretty girl along the way, who he bribes into helping out with the plan. When Auntie Clemmie's trip gets cut short, she's forced to come back home, and just like youthful days, Dolphin gets busted, but in a rare sequence of events, he also busts one of the renting tenants for being a wanted criminal -- the other three renters happened to be undercover agents on the criminal's case.

This was a laughable and easy read to be placed in between the hardcore horror and thrillers that I find myself picking up day after day.

[RottyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the beginning of this book. I really didn't think I was going to like it. I honestly didn't think it was going to be my style. But by the end of it i was totally engrossed in the book.

Dolphin is a beach-bro-surfer-dude who is trying to impress a girl. He is short on cash and comes up with an idea to rent out rooms in his aunts house while she's out of town to make some “quick cash”. But of course, in the way of most things; Things go awry. This is totally not the book I thought I was getting with the first half. And I'm really glad I stuck around for the last half. It was worth it!

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Blackstone Publishing for the ARC of this audiobook
Thank you to John J. Jacobson for this totally surprising book
Thank you to Grover Gardner for the totally engrossing narration.

[Pennie Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun departure from what I have been listening to. Dolphin Smoote is a surfer and the last thing he wants to do is get a real job. His aunt is a big time crime author who owns a mansion on the beach in California and her publisher needs her in New York. She will not travel by plane and being she is so eccentric this is not unusual. Leaving her home in Dolphin's care is, though. He and his surfer dudes come up with a plan to rent out rooms and turn the house into a B and B while she is gone. What they do not expect is to be inhabited by thieves and the FBI. Mayhem and ghost stories and rival surfer dudes abound. Such fun!

**Received this ARC for review in audio from the publisher via NetGalley**

[Kindlelover 1220 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dolphins Smoote is a surfer who asks a beautiful woman on a date. The problem is that he has no money. To try to resolve this predicament, he wants to make some easy money. Now, his life goes haywire and trouble starts. Along the way he meets a variety of different characters and a ghost. A crime story with a mystery all bundled together to make an entertaining story. A story about a man who tries to outrun all the obstacles that are thrown at him. I listened to the audiobook version of this story.

Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this Audiobook, I received review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[V · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a super easy to read book that was honestly just enjoyable to read! I wouldn’t say the writing is anything to be amazed with and I wish the author would have developed the end of the book more. The end sort of came out of nowhere but not in a shocking way. If the author had quilted to a few thing in the beginning of the book a little more it would have added the necessary flow to keep the end both a surprise but logical. It was by no means bad, I just feel it could have been done better! Overall a fantastic beach read if you’re looking for one!

[readingwritingandocd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Herein lies a mystery. The mystery presented in California Fever is solved, in my opinion, in a very Scooby Doo kind of way. Not that it is a bad thing. I have always enjoyed the Scooby Gang. California Fever is by no means a serious mystery/thriller, but don’t let that scare you off. Even die hard mystery readers can get joy from this quick read. Just like the surfer crew main characters, California Fever puts on a very laid back mystery style. The characters have their general human flaws but are overall likeable.

Our main character is Dolphin Smoote. He is a local surfer who has very little on his mind aside from finding the perfect wave with his surfer friends and heaven forbid they have to get a real job. Dolphin lives with his famous writer Aunt Clemmie as he so lovingly calls her. However, he does meet a girl who catches his attention and in an effort to impress her, he needs to come up with some quick money. What follows is a parody of bad decisions and a running thread of old school mystery. The reader will be on the outside looking in so to say as we do not see from a single perspective, but look down on the scene as if we are watching it play out on a screen.

This is a quick read and to be honest in the beginning I was unsure if I would want to even finish. I continued to read and overall enjoyed the experience. I liked the writing style and I feel like it is a nice read for summer.

I want to thank Netgalley, John J. Jacobson, and Blackstone Publishing for this early arc in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

[Bruce Sembar · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is another book that probably falls between 3 and 4 stars for me, but giving the author a higher rating because it is about a time that I remember fondly. It was an interesting story that incorporated the Southern California surfing culture with a mystery that kept me in the dark about it just as the characters were. Dolphin was a guy we have all met sometime in our life, who seemed clueless but had an inner strength that he didn't realize even he had. It was a nice light comic relief that was entertaining to read

[Marci Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not my jam but I finished it. I didn't hate it but I also didn't love it and would love to have read a different book during that time. Although I DID love his aunt and her sassiness. I was here for that! I would have rather read a book about her and her exploits than his and his surfer dude-bros.

#CaliforniaFever
#NetGalley

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

If California Fever were called Psmoote, Surfer Hotelier instead, it would give you a better idea of type of book it wants to be. Dolphin Smoote is spiritually a surfing cousin of Bertie Wooster. When his Aunt Clemmie goes to NYC for the summer, leaving him alone in her surfside mansion, hijinks ensue.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is pretty good. Very interesting characters created here, along with an amusing plot. I wouldn't consider it great literature, but that's fine since it's just meant to be good entertainment. It is.

Thank you for the free ARC for review!!

[Debby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Billed as a “fusion of mystery, crime, and Southern California beach charm,” this could be your next beach read. Read my full review here.

#NetGalley #BlackstonePublishing #CaliforniaFever

Publication is expected August 2.

[David Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's very short but, that's a good thing because I don't think the story could stretch any further. It seemed to me to be a farce. Albeit a farce with an interesting California setting, with surfers and surf jargon. Not really my thing but, IMHO it is good to read outside of my usual lane.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Blackstone Publishing and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Humorous mystery with likable, quirky characters and a unique story.

[Benjamin Zook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably 3.5.

Just a light fun hangout book.

[Megsbookclub · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good, narrated book! The end of the story was hilarious how it all wrapped up. I really enjoyed it!

[Jenifer Rosenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, funny mystery that was a nice palate cleanser between heavier books.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC.

California Fever is a delightful farce. In this relatively short novel, the author is able to create memorable and well-developed characters with interesting personalities and experiences. I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys humorous and absurdist fiction.

The narration is masterfully performed by Grover Gardner, a top-notch narrator, and one of my personal favorites. He does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life. Fantastic!

[Lacepaperlife · Rating 3 out of 5]

California Fever had the sun-soaked setting and the drama dialed up, but the story didn’t fully land for me. The characters had potential, but I struggled to connect with their choices, and some of the plot twists felt more forced than fun. That said, it had a cool vibe and a few moments that gave off strong retro teen movie energy. It just didn’t leave a lasting impression.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars for the style and setting, but the story fell a little flat. PG-13 for language, partying, and some mature themes.

[Kenderia · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, love the cover it drew me in immediately.. very California aesthetic. Anyway this was a simple, easy, feel good read. Finished it in 1 day for reference on how simple and quick it was. Like another reviewer said nothing radical, but still interesting and the ending was unpredictable. Gave it 3 stars because I personally felt the plot was a little rushed and sometimes all over the place and hard to follow. Nonetheless worth a read.