Shadow Over Cedar Key

Brandy O'Bannon Mystery #2

by Ann Turner Cook

Florida reporter Brandy O'Bannon is intrigued by a classified ad that asks an unidentified woman, who has been missing for twenty years, to come forward. The young mother and her two-year old daughter disappeared as Hurricane Agnes swept into the historic Gulf coast village of Cedar Key, although no fatalities were reported. When Brandy learns that a woman's skeleton was found a year later in the basement of one of the state's oldest and Cedar Key's most charming hotel, she begins a search for answers. The grisly fate of the private detective who placed the ad is soon discovered by Brandy's golden retriever. While trying to resolve both mysteries, Brandy ferrets out a new friend's true identity and guides her to self-knowledge. In the process, Brandy becomes the victim of attack, kidnapping, and hurricane. She outwits both nature and assailants, helps solve two brutal murders-and gets her front page story.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

258 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2003

About the author

Ann Turner Cook is an American mystery novelist, who was the model for the familiar Gerber Baby artwork seen on baby-food packages of the Gerber Products Company.
After retiring from teaching, Cook became a novelist. A member of the Mystery Writers of America, she is the author of the Brandy O'Bannon series of mystery novels set on Florida's Gulf Coast.

Reviews

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brandy O’Bannon is Nancy Drew for women who grew up devouring Carolyn Keene’s teenage heroine - of which I am one!

The fact that the story takes place in Florida is a real plus. Fortunately I have been to Cedar Key, so I won’t have to take another day trip to explore this delightful little town. I was there to tour their lighthouse on Seahorse Key.

Just a good old-fashioned mystery with some fun twists and turns. Again I’m so sorry she has passed away, I’d love her to know how much I enjoy her books. There are only two more in the series, much to my disappointment.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those "I can't put it down" books. Characterization is great, extremely suspenseful with a good ending.

[Annie Pisarello · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good murder mystery, especially if you are looking for Florida stories. You can recognize the locations, and the plot moves quickly. The story is a bit dated, but it makes a good light read.
Newspaper reporter Brandy O'Bannon comes from Gainesville to Cedar Key to investigate the disappearance of a woman 20 years prior as Hurricane Agnes battered the island. As another hurricane bares down, Brandy investigates two related murders, and is abducted in the process.