Sand Sharks

Deborah Knott Mysteries #15

by Margaret Maron

When Judge Deborah Knott travels to Wrightsville Beach for a summer conference for North Carolina District Court Judges, she stumbles upon the body of one of her colleagues. Meanwhile, Deborah's husband, Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant, is in Virginia with his son, tying up loose ends left by the death of his first wife. When another judge is found murdered at the conference, it soon becomes evident that Deborah may be the killer's next target. Her relaxing trip to the seaside soon transforms into a harrowing experience, and she must summon all of her strength and investigative expertise to track down the culprit before she becomes the next victim.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Southern, Audiobook, Cozy Mystery, Suspense

291 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Born and raised in central North Carolina, Margaret Maron lived in Italy before returning to the USA. In addition to a collection of short stories she also authored numerous mystery novels.

Her works have been translated into seven languages her Bootlegger's Daughter, a Washington Post Bestseller won Edgar Anthony, Agatha, and Macavity awards.

She was a past president of Sisters in Crime and of the American Crime writers' league, and a director on the national board for Mystery Writers of America.

Like Margaret Maron on Facebook
Follow Margaret Maron on Twitter

Reviews

[Renee Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

At this point, the formula is so predictable I can figure out most of the plot by myself. Also, my credibility level is now over-taxed with the number of life-threatening situations in which a judge can possbly find herself. I doubt a member of the Special Forces faces this many precarious predicaments....

For those of you just finding this series, go back to the beginning, and you will love them. As for me, I agree with the other 3-star reviewer: too many judges, too convoluted, and I finally skipped to the last chapter, which I could have done a lot sooner and still known as much. Had to go with 3 stars, instead of 2, on the rationale that the author's name DID cause me to pick up the book in the first place. I nearly rejected it, as this has been a downhill slide. This is my last.

oops! There goes my Amazon rating, sliding downhill again... shucks.

[Elena Santangelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy a visit with Judge Deborah Knott, and especially time spent in Margaret Maron's North Carolina. This time she took me to the beach near Wilmington, NC. I visited there in person many, many years ago and this novel reminded me of the warm breezes, hospitality, and amazing seafood of the location.

Deborah is attending a regional law seminar for judges and of course, bodies start cropping up. I have to admit, I had a little trouble keeping all the players straight, but I was listening while my Kindle read the book while I was doing chores. Probably if I'd had my full attention on the story I would have been fine. Or if the mechanical Kindle voice had know how to put the proper soft Carolina inflection on the endearment "Sugar." Or that "live oak" isn't pronounce with a short i. But that's the Kindle's fault, not Margaret's. The mystery was good, and the location and prose, delightful. Loved the resolution.

Recommended for cosy fans.

[Richard Brand · Rating 4 out of 5]

By the time you get the #15 you are bound to know the modus operandi of Maron. She tells a very good story and there are enough deaths to keep you happy, enough sex to entertain, and enough human joys and evil to make it seem real. The taking of revenge is a motive that has appeared in a number of her works. This is no exception to that rule. The other reality is one crime leads to another as the murder begins the downward slope of trying to prevent being caught be doing a second or third crime. Deborah continues to be a major weapon for justice and for solving murders. We do have several of her "past" exploits reappear in this saga. One is a helper and one is a romeo gone bad. Since I like the formula, I will certainly keep reading and will be sad when I reach the end, but none of these stories will ever take the place of Crime and Punishment.

[Brucie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Totally adequate girly detective story. The judge has a very supportive friends and family network, also gets along well with police. I put up with the food and clothes remarks because they fit. Recommended the series to my Mom.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't quite follow how Deborah figured out who dunnit and therefore took precautions, but the motive made sense afterward. Excellent reader.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Judge Deborah Knott attends a conference at Wrightsville Beach NC where a dishonest member of the bench gets unseated permanently. He had many enemies, and each one is now a suspect, for a twisty murder mystery at the seaside

[Eileen Lynx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story makes me want to go to the beach.

[Janet Hutchinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lawyers everywhere, and one dies, in interesting circumstances. I will admit, I did not expect the killer to be who he was.

[Spuddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review applies to the audio version.

#15 Judge Deborah Knott mystery. Deborah is off to the beach at Wilmington for a judges' conference while new husband Dwight takes his son and Deborah's brother Will north to Virginia to clear out his murdered ex-wife's house and ready it for selling, while attending some seminars of his own in that area. Deborah is looking forward to a few days of relaxing on the beach, seeing old friends and scarfing down some fresh seafood, but of course ends up smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation when she discovers the strangled body of Judge Pete Jeffries in the water.

She didn't know him well but had witnessed him being quite a butthead in just the few hours before his death that evening at Jonah's, a local restaurant. Her colleagues then fill the gaps with other stories of his greed and incompetence and the suspect list burgeons. When an older judge who is about to retire is deliberately run down on the way to a retirement reception for him, putting him into a coma, the local police detective and (privately) Deborah begin trying to figure out if the two incidents are related--and if so, how.

There were a lot of different personal things going on in this episode, and the mystery seemed somewhat secondary. Which is okay, because I love visiting with Deborah and her family and friends. Another wonderful episode in this series, which has become one of my very favorites, and probably THE favorite audio series for me now, since reader C.J. Critt does such a fantastic job of interpreting who Deborah is and also all the secondary characters as well as the peripheral characters who exist for just a short time. The down side? I have to wait many moons for the release of the next one!

[Vannessa Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only problem I have with Margaret Maron is the length of time it takes for the next book comes out. Margaret Maron is one of the few authors whom I never tire of reading.

In Sand Sharks we follow Judge Deborah Knott as she investigates who killed a judge that some power people in the field of law didn’t liked. Having stepmother issues with her stepson, Judge Knott throws herself into the investigation.

The southern humor and the strong storytelling by C.J. Critt will capture you and not let you go until you read the words “the end.”

A great read.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deborah Knott is at a judges conference, while hubby Dwight is attending to other matters in Virginia. When Deborah discovers the body of a colleague in the water, and a second judge is nearly killed in a hit and run, she accepts the local detective’s request to be his eyes and ears in the hunt for information.

The trouble with stories that takes place at a large gathering is that many names are introduced, but only four or five are memorable. In Sand Sharks, it was difficult to keep track of everyone at first, but I gradually got there. But then more names came up and I stopped trying to sort the judges out, especially when several were only mentioned once or twice.

On the up side, Margaret Maron does such a superb job of describing the gorgeous beach and town settings that it was easy to visualize. The pacing is spot on, and the secondary characters who did stand out added enough color and depth to keep them interesting. Sand Sharks wasn’t the most suspenseful of her books, but it was enjoyable.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started re-reading all the ones on my bookshelf, hoping to read them in order, but not quite succeeding. Love the characters and the settings, and the mysteries are not always obvious. Well worth reading, but do the series in order.
Deborah Knott series
1. Bootlegger's daughter - MARON, MARGARET
2. Southern discomfort - MARON, MARGARET
3. Shooting at loons - MARON, MARGARET
4. Up jumps the devil - MARON, MARGARET
5. Killer market - MARON, MARGARET
6. Home fires - MARON, MARGARET
7. Storm track - MARON, MARGARET
8. Uncommon clay - MARON, MARGARET
9. Slow dollar - MARON, MARGARET
10. High country fall - MARON, MARGARET
11. Rituals of the season - MARON, MARGARET
12. Winter's child - MARON, MARGARET
13. Hard row - MARON, MARGARET
14. Death's half acre - MARON, MARGARET
15. Sand sharks - MARON, MARGARET
16. Christmas mourning - MARON, MARGARET
17. Three-day town - MARON, MARGARET
18. The buzzard table - MARON, MARGARET
19. Designated daughters - MARON, MARGARET
20. Long upon the land - MARON, MARGARET
http://ww2.kdl.org/libcat/WhatsNext_P...

[Laura Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than the last few books. Probably because the story focused on Deborah. Just a few little things kept the book from being a five-star read. The entire book is told from Deborah's POV until near the end when we get a couple of chapters from the police detective and even one from his partner, two characters we really don't know and really slowed down an otherwise fast-paced story. And, once again, way too many insignificant secondary characters are introduced whom all get jumbled, creating way too much headache. "Sand Sharks" made a good argument for why people need to wear badges with a name tag at a conference. Also, Deborah's stroll on the beach which resulted in a near rape seemed ridiculously out of character. I can't believe a supposedly intelligent woman would take a solitary walk late at night in the dark on the beach with no one else around. And I was annoyed that Allen Stancil showed up in the story (though thank heaven he happened to be on the beach). Also, Rosemary acted the fool, but at least she got payback in the end.

[Jean Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would rate this a 3.5 actually and I’m not sure why it didn’t entertain me more. I have loved all the others. And I was looking forward to this one set in Wrightsville Beach.
All the fine details of place were there. Deborah was her consistent self, not content to take things for their surface value. She was off at a judge’s conference so Dwight was a voice on the phone and the Knott kin did not make any appearances. Maybe I just love the whole package too much to be content with a so-so mystery.
If this was the first one I read, I would not have been so delighted with the series. Since this is the last one (finally had to break down and order it in paperback) I’m disappointed to end on this note.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another slow walk with Judge Knott. This time she is at a judges meeting and we get to follow her as she visits with friends, sees several men she interacted with in the past and watch as she helps solve the murder of a fellow judge. Dwight is at another conference and Cal is visiting friends so this one features mostly Deborah. I am listening to these out of order so my next one I will check out will the the one before this. I keep moving back to get to the one where she and Dwight get together. I did love meeting Alan, who was almost her first husband. Only reason he was not - he was still married to someone else when he married Deborah.

[Rachel N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deborah Knott travels to Wrightsville Beach, NC for an annual judges conference. While there Deborah finds the body of another judge who has been strangled and thrown into a river. Deborah of course ends up being asked to help in the investigation by the local detective. I enjoy this series but feel a few of the books have been too much about Deborah's extended family and not enough of a mystery. It was nice to have Deborah's family mostly absent for a change to focus more on the mystery. This time a few chapters were told from the detectives POV which I don't remember the author doing in previous books.

[Marty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Judge Deborah Knott has recently married Dwight, a lawyer (widower) who came complete with a 9 year old son. Now she was leaving to attend a judges conference and would have a chance to be on her own for a week at a beautiful beach resort! … Luxury! Unfortunately the night before the conference opens, when leaving the restaurant where she and her friend had dinner, she stumbled on the body of another judge… one disliked by most of the people attending the conference. Who could have killed the judge??

[SueChor · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn’t very interesting, run of the mill, I thought. Descriptions of food, clothing, locations (the South), and superficial relationships left this reader bored. A murder did not enliven the story. Dialogue did not help. “Martha said, ‘Oh, look! There’s Rosemary and Dave.’” (page 79) Best part was page 46, where I ran across a character sporting a version of my own slightly unusual last name, Corpening, not much of an advertisement for the book. Gave it the second star because of that. Hmm, maybe I should change it to one?

[K.C · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this book up from a free book drop, I didn't expect it to be amazing but I thought it would be a fun read. I'm most definitely not the intended audience for this book so take my opinion with a grain of salt, this is the only Deborah Knott mystery I've ever read but I overall thought the plot was lazy, and a lot of descriptions of women who are not the main characters in this book reek of jealousy, and sexism. That being said I understand why people that are fans of this book, and Margret Maron would like it.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure why she fought with Dwight at the outset - didn't seem to add much to the plot. Two many new characters - again - and the weird footnotes referring to earlier books when a sentence would have sufficed? Made my train of thought lurch on the rails. Throwing a bunch of shade on her brother's friend seems to be a new technique but there was so much that I just knew it couldn't be him whodunnit. I did not, however, see the final culprit coming, so kudos for that. Finally got a mention of my current town and alma mater, which I've been waiting for fourteen books.

[Charlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first book in this series which is fairly long-running and it was okay. Maron's writing style is a bit like Marcia Muller and like Muller, she has populated the main character, Deborah Knott, with a host of characters. In this story, Knott has gone to a lawyer's retreat/meeting/conference and one of the participants is murdered. The number of suspects was staggering and towards the end of the book Maron threw in a few clues but it got confusing and in the end, I don't know that I really did care who killed who.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

During a conference for North Carolina judges, Deborah Knott finds the body of a colleague close to the restaurant most of the judges had dined in and then discovers he was definitely unethical. Next, another judge who was to be celebrated at his retirement party nearly dies from being hit by a car. Good mystery but a few too much about what she was wearing and the flirting, plus I have no idea the reason for the title.

[Crystal Toller · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Judge Deborah Knott goes to a Judges Conference in Wilmington a Judge who has made some controversial rulings is murdered and Judge Knott discovers the body. How She helps the Detective investigating the case solve the case makes for an entertaining read. Loved the characters in this book, especially Rosemary. Rosemary's revenge is the best as far as I am concerned. Another great addition to the series.

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this up in the library on a cruise ship when bad weather kept us from entering a port. Didn't know that it was a series. Humorous (although I'm not sure it meant to me), lots of descriptions of scenery and people's appearances and clothing which has nothing to do with the plot. One review on the back said it was a "good beach read" but that is giving it too much credit.

[kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve only read a handful of the books in this series. I do like the writing with all the returning characters. A good mystery! One of those books you can sink your teeth in a bit, not too fluffy and cozy. But of course there are elements of the cozy mystery as it’s not too dark or violent! Enjoyable read with clean language. Anyhow a satisfying ending!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy Judge Knott stories and this one didn't disappoint. Judge Knott goes to a convention of Judges and of course someone dies and Judge Knott as always finds the body. It's another judge who is killed and the police need her help to sort out all the facts.

[Mary Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoying entire series. Set in North Carolina and contains several references to the culture, dialect and habits of the people in NC mountains, our new home. Plots are interesting and believeable. Family interactions add depth and interest.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A favorite series of mine, and somehow I missed this one because Deborah and Dwight have only been married less than a year. She is in Wilmington at a judge's conference. A slimy colleague is killed, so there are many possible suspects. There are false trails aplenty.

[Pete Partin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow. A true cozy, but nothing clever about it. Knott is a judge in the Carolinas, goes to a judges' conference, another judge is murdered and Knott helps solve the murder. A lot of eating and drinking -

[Emily Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judge Deborah Knott is attending a conference for judges when she discovers the dead body of one of her colleagues. As is her nature, Deborah keeps picking away at the facts surrounding the murder until she is able to unravel the mystery.