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Sunrise-Side Mystery Series #1
Huron Breeze
Ten years ago, legendary author Riley Cannon produced three of the best-selling thriller novels of all-time. Then, she vanished, leaving the final three books of the saga unfinished and producing the biggest mystery in the history of publishing. Now, a decade later, there is word from her mega-agent, the glamorous and powerful Topaz Kennedy, that a new Cannon novel is all-but-finished. But, Topaz knows the truth: Riley Cannon hasn’t even started the book. With the clock counting down to the publication date, desperate measures are needed…
Meanwhile, in the sunrise-side town of Hampstead, Michigan, thirty-five-year-old Kaj Reynard emerges from Lake Huron on a cool June night and falls face down on the beach next to a fading bonfire—with a knife stuck in his back. Who murdered him? And why?
Enter veteran Hampstead P.I. Obadiah Ben-David, a man who has never taken on a case that he couldn’t solve. But this mystery is different. The only piece of evidence is the knife, which has no prints. Not a soul saw or heard a boat that night, and the woman sitting by her bonfire did not see anyone else in the water. It is almost as if the deep blue waters of Lake Huron killed Kaj Reynard, and the Huron breezes blew him to shore.
With Hampstead in jeopardy of losing its summer revenue from vacationers who are chilled to their bones of a murderer on the loose, Ben-David takes on an apprentice—a computer coder, Rachel Roberts, who lives down the beach from where Kaj came ashore. Bored by her solitary existence behind a screen all day, Rachel thinks that becoming a P.I. would be a welcome sea change in her own life. But neither of them can foresee the tangled web of lies, treachery, and danger they will encounter.
For when the summer Huron breezes arrive, the blood boils, the inhibitions disappear, and no one is safe.
Meanwhile, in the sunrise-side town of Hampstead, Michigan, thirty-five-year-old Kaj Reynard emerges from Lake Huron on a cool June night and falls face down on the beach next to a fading bonfire—with a knife stuck in his back. Who murdered him? And why?
Enter veteran Hampstead P.I. Obadiah Ben-David, a man who has never taken on a case that he couldn’t solve. But this mystery is different. The only piece of evidence is the knife, which has no prints. Not a soul saw or heard a boat that night, and the woman sitting by her bonfire did not see anyone else in the water. It is almost as if the deep blue waters of Lake Huron killed Kaj Reynard, and the Huron breezes blew him to shore.
With Hampstead in jeopardy of losing its summer revenue from vacationers who are chilled to their bones of a murderer on the loose, Ben-David takes on an apprentice—a computer coder, Rachel Roberts, who lives down the beach from where Kaj came ashore. Bored by her solitary existence behind a screen all day, Rachel thinks that becoming a P.I. would be a welcome sea change in her own life. But neither of them can foresee the tangled web of lies, treachery, and danger they will encounter.
For when the summer Huron breezes arrive, the blood boils, the inhibitions disappear, and no one is safe.
381 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 26, 2021
254 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Landon Beach
11 books125 followersLandon was born and raised in Michigan but now lives in the Sunshine State with his wife, two children, and their golden retriever. He previously served as a Naval Officer and was an educator for fifteen years before becoming a full-time writer. Find out more at landonbeachbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
January 6, 2022
Huron Breeze is exceptionally well-plotted but also hosts one of the most interesting protagonists I’ve encountered – she teams up with a private investigator to solve a murder but she’s also an author in a slump, so every event and suspect she encounters evokes creative images and plot lines for her new book, and the interaction between what’s in her head and what’s happening right in front of her is both compelling and fun!
August 2, 2022
Not my favorite by Landon Beach but narrator Scott Brick makes everything better. This got off to a really slow start with secret best-selling author, Rachel, teams up with Obadiah Ben-David (an awful name from an audiobook prospective since it switches between sometimes calling him Obadiah and others Ben-David and his dog is named Ben). Obadiah is a PI who is starting to investigate a murder and Rachel, who is experiencing horrible writers block, convinces him to let her tag along secretly hoping she'll get some ideas for her next book.
The first 2/3rd's of the book in the standard following up on leads and questioning witnesses. Which is fine except that constantly throughout Rachel is writing this book in her head, thinking about her agent, wondering who will play her main character in the movie etc. As a reader I'm always interested in how author's do what they do. But in this case it was too much that contributed nothing to the story. But then with 3 hours left things got really interesting and sped to the finish. I really wish more of the first part of the book had this kind of magic.
I've loved Beach's three previous books and highly recommend them but this one is for only after you've come to know Beach through his earlier works.
The first 2/3rd's of the book in the standard following up on leads and questioning witnesses. Which is fine except that constantly throughout Rachel is writing this book in her head, thinking about her agent, wondering who will play her main character in the movie etc. As a reader I'm always interested in how author's do what they do. But in this case it was too much that contributed nothing to the story. But then with 3 hours left things got really interesting and sped to the finish. I really wish more of the first part of the book had this kind of magic.
I've loved Beach's three previous books and highly recommend them but this one is for only after you've come to know Beach through his earlier works.
April 3, 2025
I was disappointed. It started out very good and then it wasn’t so good anymore. There were too many names to easily keep up with. The author with a pen name and the ghost writers, editors, publishers and all of the possible criminals became tedious to know who was who. I kept reading because I wanted to know whodunnit. I was tempted to cheat and skip to the end but I considered that it might get good again and I would miss some juicy parts. Surprisingly it did pick back up for a little while. This is book 1 of a series. It is my first and last book in this series. I am glad it is over.
May 19, 2025
Genuinely, this surprised me how good this was. Definitely going to pick up the backlist of this author's.
March 18, 2022
Landon Beach with his mystery murder thriller, HURON BREEZE, once again introduces us to small town America in a resort area with an array of unique characters. The most notable being Rachel Roberts, aka Riley Cannon, the world renown mystery thriller writer, but of late, has served as a ghost writer for several average mystery writers, turning mediocrity into a best seller. One little problem though, she’s having a devil of a time writing her own next book which is closely approaching deadline time. We’re talking severe writer’s block.
Her little resort town, Hampstead, Michigan,like all that are in and around the Great Lakes, has distinctive class delineation in the town. The rich, obscenely wealthy elite lived behind gated communities or private islands, with their magnificent, almost palatial homes, and the rest of the town is blended into middle class to the working class. There’s the local garage and boat marina where every one can get repairs done. It boasts of two main dining establishments, one for the elite who can afford surf and turf, the other the local hangout for morning breakfast, a place to enjoy a cold one for lunch, and a chicken or fish dinner or hamburger for dinner. You can tell by the parking lot if they make great coffee.
While making a run into town, trying to run writing themes, plots through her head, Rachel discovers a real murder just occurred overnight as a man stumbled out of the surf with a knife embedded in his back. And it happened in her friend’s yard, right on the beach. She quickly sees this may have possibilities for ideas for a new book plot. She begins asking around.
We quickly discover this little town of Hampstead is a regular Peyton’s Place, with all types of partner swapping, and “secrets” that are quietly spoken of or inferred. Beach introduces us to a plethora of colorful characters. All small town law enforcement have the typical out of condition, pudgy bodies and Hampstead is no different. Most of the town shows for breakfast at the restaurant lounge by the Lakeview neighborhood near the lake and then it is the beginning of the interrogatories. Rachel sees this as prime pickings for development of a plot and characters for her new book. She discovers a gold mine in 60+ Obadiah Ben-David, the local private investigator she is introduced to through the waitress/owner. He knows everyone in town, went to school with many of them. He knows the good guys and the bad boys, who sleeps with who, the partner swapping, the boring people, and who to keep an eye on. He is hired by the deceased’s parents to resolve the case. And Rachel finagles him into allowing her to tag along to learn the fine art of crime solving, but she hires him to teach her. So here we have a 40 yr old woman having a mid-life crisis who turns to a guy old enough to be her father, yet, they hit it off and find they make a good team.
Beach develops the relationships like this throughout the book and has the reader thinking like a detective.I grew up with a front row seat of the legal profession, and this story is developed as a cross between an examination of small town America and a police interrogation revealing all the ugly secrets. It leaves the reader pondering what next.
Beach also lends insight into the role that a publisher/agent plays in the life of an author,playing nursemaid, shoulder to cry on, to someone to kick ideas around with while reminding you of the approaching deadline and enormous amount of money prepaid for the book. These reps are almost like family if you’ve been writing any period of time. Beach offers insights into the publishing world through interactions with the agent.
HURON BREEZE leads us through the twists and turns of a murder investigation that explores lust, debauchery, addiction and greed, and how far one would go for greed. The dead bodies are stacked before the last page is turned and it is questionable who survives a massive drug deal gone bad. Beach invests time in developing the personalities of each of the characters introduced. They become like old familiar friends, and yet some do not age well. As a reader, you are pleased to see them meet fate. Beach produces well written murder mysteries that will have you guessing to the end on how the story will finish, on the up side or down. You’re never really sure until the last page is turned. HURON BREEZE is a winner for those who love a great murder mystery! Landon Beach gets a big 5* on this one!
Her little resort town, Hampstead, Michigan,like all that are in and around the Great Lakes, has distinctive class delineation in the town. The rich, obscenely wealthy elite lived behind gated communities or private islands, with their magnificent, almost palatial homes, and the rest of the town is blended into middle class to the working class. There’s the local garage and boat marina where every one can get repairs done. It boasts of two main dining establishments, one for the elite who can afford surf and turf, the other the local hangout for morning breakfast, a place to enjoy a cold one for lunch, and a chicken or fish dinner or hamburger for dinner. You can tell by the parking lot if they make great coffee.
While making a run into town, trying to run writing themes, plots through her head, Rachel discovers a real murder just occurred overnight as a man stumbled out of the surf with a knife embedded in his back. And it happened in her friend’s yard, right on the beach. She quickly sees this may have possibilities for ideas for a new book plot. She begins asking around.
We quickly discover this little town of Hampstead is a regular Peyton’s Place, with all types of partner swapping, and “secrets” that are quietly spoken of or inferred. Beach introduces us to a plethora of colorful characters. All small town law enforcement have the typical out of condition, pudgy bodies and Hampstead is no different. Most of the town shows for breakfast at the restaurant lounge by the Lakeview neighborhood near the lake and then it is the beginning of the interrogatories. Rachel sees this as prime pickings for development of a plot and characters for her new book. She discovers a gold mine in 60+ Obadiah Ben-David, the local private investigator she is introduced to through the waitress/owner. He knows everyone in town, went to school with many of them. He knows the good guys and the bad boys, who sleeps with who, the partner swapping, the boring people, and who to keep an eye on. He is hired by the deceased’s parents to resolve the case. And Rachel finagles him into allowing her to tag along to learn the fine art of crime solving, but she hires him to teach her. So here we have a 40 yr old woman having a mid-life crisis who turns to a guy old enough to be her father, yet, they hit it off and find they make a good team.
Beach develops the relationships like this throughout the book and has the reader thinking like a detective.I grew up with a front row seat of the legal profession, and this story is developed as a cross between an examination of small town America and a police interrogation revealing all the ugly secrets. It leaves the reader pondering what next.
Beach also lends insight into the role that a publisher/agent plays in the life of an author,playing nursemaid, shoulder to cry on, to someone to kick ideas around with while reminding you of the approaching deadline and enormous amount of money prepaid for the book. These reps are almost like family if you’ve been writing any period of time. Beach offers insights into the publishing world through interactions with the agent.
HURON BREEZE leads us through the twists and turns of a murder investigation that explores lust, debauchery, addiction and greed, and how far one would go for greed. The dead bodies are stacked before the last page is turned and it is questionable who survives a massive drug deal gone bad. Beach invests time in developing the personalities of each of the characters introduced. They become like old familiar friends, and yet some do not age well. As a reader, you are pleased to see them meet fate. Beach produces well written murder mysteries that will have you guessing to the end on how the story will finish, on the up side or down. You’re never really sure until the last page is turned. HURON BREEZE is a winner for those who love a great murder mystery! Landon Beach gets a big 5* on this one!
January 30, 2022
“Huron Breeze” is a wonderful crime/mystery story with complex characters and tight story telling. Typically, Beach’s books sit firmly in the thriller genre, but almost all have had elements of mystery or intrigue, so a pure mystery was A natural fit to his style. If you are a new reader to Beach, do not fear, Beach’s books can be read out of order, though a few Easter eggs will be missed that long time reader will smile at.
Overall, this is a great story and as always, I was sad when I turned the last page and had to leave Beach’s world. There are a few common themes that appear in most Beach novels, but despite the recurring formula, he finds a way to make them feel fresh and exciting.
One such theme is his main characters have troubled pasts or unresolved issues that haunt them in the present. In “Huron Breeze”, Rachel and Obadiah play the leading roles, and each start their journey with significant woes. Rachel, a bestselling novelist, struggles with severe writer’s block after the death of her father. Obadiah, the town’s most famous professional investigator, walks around with the pain of the passing of his young wife, who had succumbed to cancer. This setup helps set the tone and motivation for the MCs and makes “Huron Breeze” so much more than a whodunit. It is a story of personal triumph and coping that will leave every reader caring deeply for its characters.
Another, more fascinating recurring theme, is there is always some character in every Beach novel who is a technophobe. It stands out so much to me that I look for it in every story. Sometimes it’s a subtle “I hate cell phones” and other times it’s a conversation between characters about the perils of new technology. Whenever it happens, I imagine Beach sitting at a desk writing on his Hermes 3000 typewriter, by candlelight, laughing at the rest of us “always connected” humans!
I will wrap up this review with my favorite observations of Beach’s writing. Beach has an amazing ability to tell a complex story in a very neat and concise way. His pace is never slow, his books aren’t overly long by-word count, but the stories are always filled with tons of detail that make the world feel real and complete. As with his other books, I was hungry to read more! I wanted more adventures of Obadiah and Rachel. I really hope that one day Beach decides to write a series of novels around a single character. His method of storytelling could easily produce a character that holds an audience’s attention for a very long time. Perhaps that character will be Adrienne Astra?
Overall, this is a great story and as always, I was sad when I turned the last page and had to leave Beach’s world. There are a few common themes that appear in most Beach novels, but despite the recurring formula, he finds a way to make them feel fresh and exciting.
One such theme is his main characters have troubled pasts or unresolved issues that haunt them in the present. In “Huron Breeze”, Rachel and Obadiah play the leading roles, and each start their journey with significant woes. Rachel, a bestselling novelist, struggles with severe writer’s block after the death of her father. Obadiah, the town’s most famous professional investigator, walks around with the pain of the passing of his young wife, who had succumbed to cancer. This setup helps set the tone and motivation for the MCs and makes “Huron Breeze” so much more than a whodunit. It is a story of personal triumph and coping that will leave every reader caring deeply for its characters.
Another, more fascinating recurring theme, is there is always some character in every Beach novel who is a technophobe. It stands out so much to me that I look for it in every story. Sometimes it’s a subtle “I hate cell phones” and other times it’s a conversation between characters about the perils of new technology. Whenever it happens, I imagine Beach sitting at a desk writing on his Hermes 3000 typewriter, by candlelight, laughing at the rest of us “always connected” humans!
I will wrap up this review with my favorite observations of Beach’s writing. Beach has an amazing ability to tell a complex story in a very neat and concise way. His pace is never slow, his books aren’t overly long by-word count, but the stories are always filled with tons of detail that make the world feel real and complete. As with his other books, I was hungry to read more! I wanted more adventures of Obadiah and Rachel. I really hope that one day Beach decides to write a series of novels around a single character. His method of storytelling could easily produce a character that holds an audience’s attention for a very long time. Perhaps that character will be Adrienne Astra?
Want to read
January 23, 202212/27/2021 - rec from The Real Book Spy
August 24, 2023
The worst book I've read in a while. My very first DNF. I always finish a book, even if it's not great. I have a fear of putting it down right before things get good. I just can't with this book. There are a million things I'd like to say, but I'll try to summarize. This is like reading the transcription for a "How to be a writer" YouTube channel. It is also a master class in how to OVER describe every single f'n location and character in your book. I made it halfway through chapter 10 and so far the book is 90% description. The rest of the book feels like the author's braggadocious attempt to woo us w/ his knowledge of the literary world and ability to research. Just...no. I am reclaiming my time. Seems to be zero plot to this "novel". If you translated white noise to words, you'd have Huron Breeze.
April 2, 2024
I'm so lukewarm about this one, despite Scott Brick making everything better 🥺
It seems like a bizarre choice to me to keep interrupting the action and story to write a book in the characters head. It also drove me nuts that he kept referring to characters by first and last name EVERY TIME, like who else would it be? Plus two characters with Ben and Ingrid in their name seemed overkill
The mystery itself wasn't bad but it seemed broken up and ultimately anticlimactic that ...yeah 🤷♀️
It seems like a bizarre choice to me to keep interrupting the action and story to write a book in the characters head. It also drove me nuts that he kept referring to characters by first and last name EVERY TIME, like who else would it be? Plus two characters with Ben and Ingrid in their name seemed overkill
The mystery itself wasn't bad but it seemed broken up and ultimately anticlimactic that ...yeah 🤷♀️
December 27, 2022
Of the 4 books I have read by this author, this one is the least, but still I liked it.
Worth the effort for a quick, no brainer as it were.
Michigan, who knew stuff happens in Michigan except cars and football. Go Blue, beat Ohio State.
Worth the effort for a quick, no brainer as it were.
Michigan, who knew stuff happens in Michigan except cars and football. Go Blue, beat Ohio State.
March 16, 2025
great title, alas zero relevance to the story. which is generally the theme of this book - good ideas, nominal development. the main character is underwhelming at best - we are given no real evidence as to the what or why or how that makes her a supposed great writer - the HIGHEST grossing writer - although we get to slog through many many many pages of her explaining why she's a failing top grossing writer - none of which really add up to much of a backstory or really explain a 10-year hiatus. And the premise behind the anonymity is not fleshed out - she had a greedy mum - referenced in a couple of sentences - um, ok. Anyhow, a variety of good ideas w loads of potential but incredibly boring and scattered unfortunately. I'm boring myself just thinking about the tediousness of it.
December 27, 2021
Mr. Beach continues to traverse new territory, and I continue to voraciously consume his work like a pelican parked at the fish-cleaning table. Huron Breeze delivers the danger, adventure, and clever dialogue his loyal readers now crave; however, this novel explores a theme we have not yet visited in his previous books: the intricacies and challenges of the authorial process.
Rare is the novel that allows a reader a glimpse into the inspirations that drive a writer to produce great fiction, and I found myself grateful that Beach let us in. I felt almost frustrated with the industry pressures that harass his protagonist, a world-renowned author of fiction, into continued production, yet I appreciated the resilience she demonstrates and, thus, came to understand the stamina and rigor required to be a consistently creative and successful author. I was even more fascinated with how her experiences participating in the investigation central to the small-town mystery - which are themselves inherently interesting and wrapped in signature Landon-Beach action - inspire the storyline she simultaneously composes. I’m underqualified to compose much more than a 3-year-old’s soccer game review, but I feel more knowledgeable of the writing process and empathetic towards our great authors because of Huron Breeze.
As a habitual reader of Beach’s books, I was delighted to return to the small Lake-Huron town and revisit some of his more memorable characters and settings; I also enjoyed coming back to the familiar Great-Lakes culture that he so well describes. I have no idea where Beach might take us next, but I hope he continues to pursue his talent for developing mystery and refuses to allow the cut-throat book-publishing industry to badger him away from the genuine, unique storytelling so many of us have come to love.
Perhaps, Mr. Beach will acknowledge, in his moments of fatigue or frustration with the industry buzzards, that very few of those burpy birds could hold down 30 kids a class, 5 classes a day, 184 days a year - with quality instruction - nor officiate a ship full of ornery U.S. Navy sailors while still writing well enough to keep us all devouring their work.
Keep hooking 'em, Mr. Beach.
Rare is the novel that allows a reader a glimpse into the inspirations that drive a writer to produce great fiction, and I found myself grateful that Beach let us in. I felt almost frustrated with the industry pressures that harass his protagonist, a world-renowned author of fiction, into continued production, yet I appreciated the resilience she demonstrates and, thus, came to understand the stamina and rigor required to be a consistently creative and successful author. I was even more fascinated with how her experiences participating in the investigation central to the small-town mystery - which are themselves inherently interesting and wrapped in signature Landon-Beach action - inspire the storyline she simultaneously composes. I’m underqualified to compose much more than a 3-year-old’s soccer game review, but I feel more knowledgeable of the writing process and empathetic towards our great authors because of Huron Breeze.
As a habitual reader of Beach’s books, I was delighted to return to the small Lake-Huron town and revisit some of his more memorable characters and settings; I also enjoyed coming back to the familiar Great-Lakes culture that he so well describes. I have no idea where Beach might take us next, but I hope he continues to pursue his talent for developing mystery and refuses to allow the cut-throat book-publishing industry to badger him away from the genuine, unique storytelling so many of us have come to love.
Perhaps, Mr. Beach will acknowledge, in his moments of fatigue or frustration with the industry buzzards, that very few of those burpy birds could hold down 30 kids a class, 5 classes a day, 184 days a year - with quality instruction - nor officiate a ship full of ornery U.S. Navy sailors while still writing well enough to keep us all devouring their work.
Keep hooking 'em, Mr. Beach.
August 5, 2022
A Murder Mystery Beach Style
If you see the name Landon Beach on a book, just click borrow or buy. You will enjoy a well written, character driven book with a great story.
He does it again. He crafts a character focused murder mystery. I loved the framing story of a well known author who lives in the area needing inspiration for her next book. While I enjoyed Rachel Roberts, Topaz stole the show. Her smart, savvy agent was a highlight of the book. The insights on the book industry were entertaining and illuminating. I loved the fact that Rachel hides in plain sight, not chasing fame, though she has the fortune. Professional private investigator Obadiah Ben-David was wonderful as well. I loved the callouts to Iron Man!
As is the standard in a Beach novel, a rich variety of characters come to life as secrets are uncovered with a murder as the catalyst. I listened to the brilliant Scott Brick bringing Beach's characters to life with another fantastic performance. I loved the twist ending as well as Rachel outselling other she previously ghosted for. An entertaining thriller that gives insight into the publishing industry. I've been a fan of the author since his incredible Great Lakes series and he just keeps getting better. I can't wait to start his new book Narrator. The subject matter is definitely intriguing since I am a fan of several narrators.
If you see the name Landon Beach on a book, just click borrow or buy. You will enjoy a well written, character driven book with a great story.
He does it again. He crafts a character focused murder mystery. I loved the framing story of a well known author who lives in the area needing inspiration for her next book. While I enjoyed Rachel Roberts, Topaz stole the show. Her smart, savvy agent was a highlight of the book. The insights on the book industry were entertaining and illuminating. I loved the fact that Rachel hides in plain sight, not chasing fame, though she has the fortune. Professional private investigator Obadiah Ben-David was wonderful as well. I loved the callouts to Iron Man!
As is the standard in a Beach novel, a rich variety of characters come to life as secrets are uncovered with a murder as the catalyst. I listened to the brilliant Scott Brick bringing Beach's characters to life with another fantastic performance. I loved the twist ending as well as Rachel outselling other she previously ghosted for. An entertaining thriller that gives insight into the publishing industry. I've been a fan of the author since his incredible Great Lakes series and he just keeps getting better. I can't wait to start his new book Narrator. The subject matter is definitely intriguing since I am a fan of several narrators.
June 29, 2022
This was a breezy read that took the kitchen sink approach and threw it all in there- a murder, drug deals run afoul, a blockbuster author with writer's block, a grizzled detective with a secret, creepy possibly incestuous siblings. A nice way to kill two days of reading.
August 29, 2023
Huron Breeze is the first book in the Sunrise-Side series of books by Landon Beach. Books 1 and 2 are available; book 3 will be available at the end of this month, and book 4 available at the end of 2023. Huron Breeze is, of course, located on the shoreline of Lake Huron, on the “thumb” of Michigan. Here is the plotline.
Ten years ago, Riley Cannon (a legendary author) produced three of the bestselling thrillers of all time. Then, she up and vanished, leaving the last three books of the saga not finished and producing the largest mystery in all of publishing.
Now, one decade later, there’s word from her mega-agent, the powerful and glamorous Topaz Kennedy, that there’s a new Cannon novel all but finished. However, Topaz knows the actual truth: Riley Cannon’s not even begun writing it yet. With the clock ticking down toward the publication date, there are desperate measures are needed.
At the same time, Kaj Reynard is in the sunrise-side town of Hampstead, Michigan, and emerges from Lake Huron on a cool night in June and falls face down onto the beach right next to a fading bonfire with a knife sticking out of his back. Who would murder him? And why?
That’s where veteran Hampstead PI Obediah Ben-David, a guy that has never taken on a case which he couldn’t solve, comes in. However this is a whole different sort of mystery. The one piece of evidence is the knife, which doesn’t have any prints on it. Not a soul saw or heard a boat that night, and the woman sitting next to her bonfire didn’t see anybody else in the water. It’s almost as though the deep blue waters of Lake Huron murdered Kaj Reynard, and the Huron breezes blew him up to the shore.
With Hampstead now in jeopardy of losing its summer revenue from vacationers that are chilled to their bones about a killer on the loose. Ben-David takes an apprentice on, some computer coder, named Rachel Roberts, who lives just down the beach from where Kaj came ashore. Bored by her solitary existence spent behind a screen all day, she believes becoming a PI would be a welcome sea change in her life. However neither of them could possibly foresee the web of treachery, lies, and danger that they’ll encounter.
For when the summer Huron breezes show up, the inhibitions vanish, the blood boils, and nobody’s safe.
I especially enjoyed following the crime and its solution through the eyes of Rachel Roberts. She needs a plot for her next novel, and following Ben-David as he pursues the killer is like a dream come true for her. At the same time, Ben-David enjoys helping teach Rachel detective skills. Does he know that she has a pen name and a series of novels and movies in her past? Does he understand that she is searching for a plot, rather than a new career as a detective? I am anxious to read the rest of the series to see what she decides to do with her life.Beach is a very clever, creative writer and has created a propulsive can’t stop reading plot. He said in an interview with the Real Book Spy when he wrote Huron Breeze, he intended it to be a stand-alone mystery, but an audience of readers convinced him that he had the beginnings of a series featuring Rachel Roberts and based on the Lake Huron coastline.
My own summer challenge is to read books based in the Great Lakes region. I read Famous in a Small Town which takes place on the shore of Lake Michigan, Cleveland Noir where several of the stories take place on Cleveland’s Lake Erie beachfront, and now Huron Breeze, taking place on Lake Huron. In past years, I read a couple of books based on Lake Superior, my favorite of which was The Long Shining Water, and now I need to find one based in Lake Ontario.
Hope you have as much fun with Huron Breeze as I did.
Ten years ago, Riley Cannon (a legendary author) produced three of the bestselling thrillers of all time. Then, she up and vanished, leaving the last three books of the saga not finished and producing the largest mystery in all of publishing.
Now, one decade later, there’s word from her mega-agent, the powerful and glamorous Topaz Kennedy, that there’s a new Cannon novel all but finished. However, Topaz knows the actual truth: Riley Cannon’s not even begun writing it yet. With the clock ticking down toward the publication date, there are desperate measures are needed.
At the same time, Kaj Reynard is in the sunrise-side town of Hampstead, Michigan, and emerges from Lake Huron on a cool night in June and falls face down onto the beach right next to a fading bonfire with a knife sticking out of his back. Who would murder him? And why?
That’s where veteran Hampstead PI Obediah Ben-David, a guy that has never taken on a case which he couldn’t solve, comes in. However this is a whole different sort of mystery. The one piece of evidence is the knife, which doesn’t have any prints on it. Not a soul saw or heard a boat that night, and the woman sitting next to her bonfire didn’t see anybody else in the water. It’s almost as though the deep blue waters of Lake Huron murdered Kaj Reynard, and the Huron breezes blew him up to the shore.
With Hampstead now in jeopardy of losing its summer revenue from vacationers that are chilled to their bones about a killer on the loose. Ben-David takes an apprentice on, some computer coder, named Rachel Roberts, who lives just down the beach from where Kaj came ashore. Bored by her solitary existence spent behind a screen all day, she believes becoming a PI would be a welcome sea change in her life. However neither of them could possibly foresee the web of treachery, lies, and danger that they’ll encounter.
For when the summer Huron breezes show up, the inhibitions vanish, the blood boils, and nobody’s safe.
I especially enjoyed following the crime and its solution through the eyes of Rachel Roberts. She needs a plot for her next novel, and following Ben-David as he pursues the killer is like a dream come true for her. At the same time, Ben-David enjoys helping teach Rachel detective skills. Does he know that she has a pen name and a series of novels and movies in her past? Does he understand that she is searching for a plot, rather than a new career as a detective? I am anxious to read the rest of the series to see what she decides to do with her life.Beach is a very clever, creative writer and has created a propulsive can’t stop reading plot. He said in an interview with the Real Book Spy when he wrote Huron Breeze, he intended it to be a stand-alone mystery, but an audience of readers convinced him that he had the beginnings of a series featuring Rachel Roberts and based on the Lake Huron coastline.
My own summer challenge is to read books based in the Great Lakes region. I read Famous in a Small Town which takes place on the shore of Lake Michigan, Cleveland Noir where several of the stories take place on Cleveland’s Lake Erie beachfront, and now Huron Breeze, taking place on Lake Huron. In past years, I read a couple of books based on Lake Superior, my favorite of which was The Long Shining Water, and now I need to find one based in Lake Ontario.
Hope you have as much fun with Huron Breeze as I did.
November 10, 2025
Huron Breeze has so many characters it feels like the author tried to squeeze the entire population of Michigan into one novel. Every chapter introduces someone new cousins, neighbors, strangers, a guy who probably just wandered in for a Faygo, and none of them stick around long enough to matter. It’s like reading a mystery set during rush hour on I-696: crowded, chaotic, and filled with people you won’t remember five minutes later.
And then there’s all the completely unnecessary hype about “legendary author” Riley Cannon, who apparently exists just to pop up every few pages and remind us she famous, important, and maybe even starring in the upcoming movie adaptation (which, based on this book, may go straight to streaming). The plot buckles under the weight of its own cast and its own ego. Half the time it’s not even clear what’s happening — just that Riley Cannon would like us all to know she’s Riley Cannon.
The story gets so lost in its crowd of characters it might as well be wandering around Meijer trying to find the right aisle. And honestly? If it hadn’t been set in Michigan, I wouldn’t have finished it. Michigan loyalty is the only thing that kept me flipping pages.
Two stars because Michigan deserves better — and so do readers who can only memorize so many names before giving up.
And then there’s all the completely unnecessary hype about “legendary author” Riley Cannon, who apparently exists just to pop up every few pages and remind us she famous, important, and maybe even starring in the upcoming movie adaptation (which, based on this book, may go straight to streaming). The plot buckles under the weight of its own cast and its own ego. Half the time it’s not even clear what’s happening — just that Riley Cannon would like us all to know she’s Riley Cannon.
The story gets so lost in its crowd of characters it might as well be wandering around Meijer trying to find the right aisle. And honestly? If it hadn’t been set in Michigan, I wouldn’t have finished it. Michigan loyalty is the only thing that kept me flipping pages.
Two stars because Michigan deserves better — and so do readers who can only memorize so many names before giving up.
December 26, 2021
Huron Breeze is fun and focused and lovable. Beach’s previous novel, stygian mob thriller The Hike, closes with characters tumbling into an underwater death pit, and this one opens in a simpler, brighter world, with a single dying man stumbling up from the lake water, a surprise fish flopping around the deck of the characters’ settled lives. The murder summons a mighty detective, my favorite Beach person yet, Obadiah Ben-David, a bald bearded titan, a widowed Continental-Op-type with an old dog. Ben-David is a Hampstead native, a mensch, our mentor, and it’s his questions and instincts, his veteran’s calm, his hatred of lies, and his little tricks and big secrets that make this book. Beach’s virtuoso dialogue is perfect for driving a detective story: hilarious, freewheeling, sharp, poignant, and particular. His whole approach seems more open and lighthearted in this book, and it reminds me of the best Magnum, P.I. episodes, or something worldly and funny like Coen films. There are a thousand other things to enjoy–observations on writing and on the book industry, for example, or characters who live fully into their wild names: Baby Lloyd, Matty Joshua, Topaz Kennedy. Excellent fiction.
December 27, 2021
Landon Beach has written another top-notch novel, Huron Breeze, and he did it with a finesse as only a talented author could. As Kaj Reynard emerges from the water, he stumbles to the beach with a knife buried in his back. The investigation begins. Meanwhile, Riley Cannon, a best-selling author has promised her powerful agent, Topaz, a third book, but for 3 years has failed to come up with a plot. While struggling she meets PI Obadiah Ben-David and they team up to hunt down a killer. Along with the suspenseful twists and turns, the reader is also entertained by the humorous interaction of the characters. This murder mystery has a thrilling concept that checks all the boxes and has managed to surpass my high expectations. Beach’s latest book, Huron Breeze, is a page-turner and will not disappoint.
December 30, 2021
I've read all of Landon Beach's books, and this one's my favorite! It's a mystery in the true sense, but it also provides good suspense and heart-stopping moments as it culminates. The two main characters carry the story and are totally likable. You feel aligned with them and are right with them throughout the unfolding of the narrative. Most intriguing are the parallel stories going on - the mystery and the writing of a mystery. It was ingenious for a mystery writer to create a character who's struggling with writer's block and then becomes involved in investigating a murder that gives her a story to pen. What a smart idea, and it's so well done. As always, the bad guys are bad and the good guys are complex and show their vulnerabilities little by little. Great story, fun read, and many surprises!
January 8, 2022
Edge of your seat mystery!
“Huron Breeze” is Landon Beach’s most recent book - and it’s as engrossing as he previous novels! The characters are multi dimensional, the plot is a page tuner (I read it in a few days!) and the way the heroine Rachel was written made me want to be her friend. Her helper (I’m not a writer, so I don’t know what he’s called in the literary sense) Ben-David was a somewhat mysterious character - but once you know his backstory, you’re rooting for him as much as Rachel! Great plot twists, suspects who seem innocent or guilty but have indecipherable intent, and a setting that comes alive in his descriptions. Thank you, Landon, for such a fantastic book!
“Huron Breeze” is Landon Beach’s most recent book - and it’s as engrossing as he previous novels! The characters are multi dimensional, the plot is a page tuner (I read it in a few days!) and the way the heroine Rachel was written made me want to be her friend. Her helper (I’m not a writer, so I don’t know what he’s called in the literary sense) Ben-David was a somewhat mysterious character - but once you know his backstory, you’re rooting for him as much as Rachel! Great plot twists, suspects who seem innocent or guilty but have indecipherable intent, and a setting that comes alive in his descriptions. Thank you, Landon, for such a fantastic book!
September 27, 2023
Arrg. If it hadn't been set in Michigan, I wouldn't have finished it. It's one thing to not understand your subject (sniffing cocaine), or even insult your readers, but to insult your characters! It's just appalling. She would not have gone on the boat with Brandon. She would not have sent the book. He would not have trusted her so readily, he would have known how to swim, and he would not have missed the point of the inscription, nor misunderstood the picture. Arrg. Then, the repeated irritation of having dialogue dissected by so much parenthetical blather that the reader has to track back to find what the original comment, or question, is being answered. Do not tell me that this person is a screenwriter. I don't believe it.
December 26, 2021
Landon Beach ventures into my favorite genre “whodunit” with a fast paced, action packed mystery! I was immediately drawn to the female lead character, Riley Cannon, a writer who has not published (or revealed her identity) for ten years. As she contemplates her new novel she teams up with a private investigator for inspiration and immediately is swept up in a murder in her hometown. Expect surprises and interesting characters throughout the story!
It drew me in and was a thoroughly enjoyable read!
I realize that Beach has not promised us a sequel to this but I would like to
read more of Riley Cannon!
Escape into this lively mystery! I loved it!
It drew me in and was a thoroughly enjoyable read!
I realize that Beach has not promised us a sequel to this but I would like to
read more of Riley Cannon!
Escape into this lively mystery! I loved it!
December 27, 2021
I have read all of Landon Beach's books, and this may be favorite. The dual action of a "whodunit" coupled with a writer persevering past "writer's block" made the novel unique and doubly engaging for me. I loved the character development and rich settings. The unlikely bonds between interesting characters kept me intrigued and invested until the end. Landon Beach has created another delightful read that has wide appeal for anyone who enjoys a good mystery. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!
December 27, 2021
Landon Beach hits it out of the park with Huron Breeze! As a full time working mom, I don’t always have a ton of time to pleasure read. But, Beach’s books draw me in quickly and I can’t put them down. This edgy murder mystery has suspense, drama, and kept me guessing all the way through. Beach’s descriptive writing paints pictures in my head and makes me feel like I could live in Hampstead, the town where the murder occurred. Huron Breeze did not disappoint and I recommend it to anyone who wants a thrilling and surprising read.
January 28, 2022
I have read every one of Beach's books and it's a little crazy, but each one I read has become my favorite. This one did not disappoint and is now my new favorite - will the trend continue? I can't wait to find out! I have read so many authors whose best work was their earliest. Landon Beach keeps getting better as he ventures out to new territory and takes us along for another great adventure. This one is a mystery full of suspense, snappy dialogue, great characters and thrilling twists that urge you to turn one more page. I hope this author writes a sequel to Huron Breeze!
December 26, 2021
This is by far my favorite Landon Beach novel (and that is saying something because I love them all). The way he weaves the investigation into the creative process of writing a book was genius! The characters are well developed and I especially loved Rachel. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. I have been known to predict the endings of books and movies, but this one surprised me. I definitely recommend reading this book!
December 26, 2021
From the moment you open this mystery, you are brought into a murder that brings two unlikely people together to solve this crime.
A writer who came on the scene 10 years ago with 3 best selling novels and hasn’t been heard of since and a crusty PI who has his own secret to tell.
Can they sift through all the lies, half truths and danger that awaits them.
Huron Breeze will keep you on the edge of your seat through all the twists and turns.
A writer who came on the scene 10 years ago with 3 best selling novels and hasn’t been heard of since and a crusty PI who has his own secret to tell.
Can they sift through all the lies, half truths and danger that awaits them.
Huron Breeze will keep you on the edge of your seat through all the twists and turns.
December 27, 2021
Like all Landon Beach books, this is a great novel for those who want to be brought to the Great Lakes region. The descriptions of roads, beaches, towns, weather and people always transports me to this uniquely American region. Huron Breeze has a great heroine and hero, and it was a lot of fun to see their relationship grow as they worked to solve the biggest case of the summer in a small town. Thanks Mr. Beach for continuing to entertain us! I'm looking forward to the next one...
December 29, 2021
Loved this twisty murder mystery! Landon Beach crafts a charming, small-town feel with ease -- I feel like I grew up in this place. A quiet beach town filled with relatable, quirky characters that all seem to have something to hide...I especially enjoyed the evolving relationship between the unlikely duo that pair up to investigate the murder. At times I thought I had the mystery all figured out, but boy howdy was I wrong! This book had me guessing until the very end. Can't wait for another!
January 24, 2022
Beach has written another wonderfully complex, intriguing, compelling, and edge-of-your-seat thriller, and it quickly became the best book of its genre that I have read in a long time! The two intersecting plots entangle the reader in the mystery and suspense surrounding the town in such a seamless way that it makes it hard to put the book down. You’ll have a really hard time not binge-reading Huron Breeze.
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