Death by Blue Water

A Hayden Kent Mystery #1

by Kait Carson

Paralegal Hayden Kent knows first-hand that life in the Florida Keys can change from perfect to perilous in a heartbeat. When she discovers a man’s body at 120’ beneath the sea, she thinks she is witness to a tragic accident. She becomes the prime suspect when the man’s identity is revealed as Richard Anderson, the brother of the man who recently jilted her. A migraine stole Hayden’s memory of the night of Richard’s death.

As the evidence mounts, she joins forces with an Officer Janice Kirby. Together the two women follow the clues that uncover criminal activities at the highest levels and put Hayden’s life in jeopardy while she fights to stay free.

Genres: Mystery, Suspense, Cozy Mystery, Amateur Sleuth, Murder Mystery

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 11, 2014

About the author

Kait Carson writes the Hayden Kent Mysteries, set in the Fabulous Florida Keys, and is at work on a new mystery set in her adopted state of Maine. Her short fiction has been nationally published in the Trues and Woman’s World magazines and has appeared in the Silver Falchion Award-nominated Seventh Guppy Anthology Hook, Line, and Sinker. Her nonfiction essay was included in the Agatha Award-winning book Writing the Cozy Mystery. She is a former President of the Guppy Chapter of Sisters in Crime, a member of Sisters in Crime, and Guppies. Visit her website at www.kaitcarson.com.

Kait, her husband, four rescue cats, a sassy Cavapoo, and a flock of conures live in the far reaches of the Crown of Maine where long, dark, nights give birth to flights of fictional fantasies.

Reviews

[Jennifer S. Alderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-crafted and exciting mystery set in the warm waters off the Florida coast.

I enjoyed the characters, plot and setting. It was also fascinating to learn more about deep-sea diving – it sounds like an exhilarating experience!

[E.Michael Helms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strap On Your Gear And Dive In ! (But NOT before you check the gear!)

In "Death By Blue Water" Kait Carson has written a mystery that will have you holding your breath AND gulping for air! There are enough twists and turns and engaging characters (some you'll love, some you'll love to hate) to keep even the most scrupulous reader needing to clear his mask and double-check his gauges throughout the pages of this compelling tale. Others have given the gist of Hayden Kent's story, so I won't swim that path again.

As a certified but inactive diver, I took special delight in the underwater sequences which the author paints with vivid description and unerring detail. This lady knows her way around a dive boat and under the water! As an avid reader of mysteries, I was kept guessing "who-done-it" until near the very end, and even then there were a couple of surprises I failed to see coming! Ms. Carson weaves a complex yarn of misguided love, betrayal, greed, and murder with red herrings aplenty to steer the reader off course. And, she wraps all the loose tentacles neatly together in an exciting and satisfying conclusion.

"Death By Blue Water" will hold your attention from the time you descend into this intriguing read, until the moment you surface after experiencing an adventure you won't soon forget. So, gear up and dive in!

[Teresa Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a beautiful day to go diving, and Hayden Kent is at her favorite spot, the shipwreck of the Humboldt. Unfortunately, her pleasant outing is ruined when she discovers a dead body in the wreckage, and it isn’t one of the original crew members.

When the authorities show up, they don’t believe her story. They believe she is ‘narked’, a slang term for a condition that can cause divers to act irrationally. It doesn’t help that she also suffers from blinding migraines that cause her to black out. But once she and one of the Coast Guard divers, Paul Muller, dive down to the wreck, he sees the body for himself and realizes she’s right. During their ascent back to the surface, her regulator fails, and Paul saves her life. It seems the hoses on both of her regulators are defective.

She is asked to come down to the police station the next day to answer some questions, and takes her boss, lawyer Grant Huffman, with her. But their questioning makes her uncomfortable, and she walks away believing she is their number one suspect.

The reason she had gone on that dive was because of a bad break up with her boyfriend, Kevin Anderson. She was supposed to meet his brother, Richard, to give him Kevin’s things from her house, but a migraine caused her to cancel. When she woke up Saturday morning, she wasn’t at her house, but at a marina in a wet bathing suit, and no memory of how or why she was there. Then comes the news that the dead body was Richard Anderson, and witnesses claim to have seen her at the marina with him Friday night.

Desperate to clear her name, Hayden starts investigating the case, and she learns things about her ex-boyfriend she never knew. Her relationship with him was based on dozens of lies, and she’s not sure why he would lie to her. After someone breaks into her car one afternoon, she has a heated confrontation at her house with Kevin, who accuses her of killing his brother. (Methinks he doth protest too much!)

Hayden discovers a connection between the dead man and one of the officers investigating the case: he’s her brother-in-law. Two days before he was killed, his wife, Elena, had taken out a restraining order on him. There are recorded incidents of domestic abuse, and she admits to being on the boat with him Friday night. They had a fight; he hit her, even though she’s pregnant, and knocked her out. This makes her a viable suspect in her husband’s death, even more so than Hayden, but she not totally off the hook yet.

During another dive with her friend, Mallory, her air tanks fail. They discover that someone intentionally tampered with them, and since her name is on the side of the tanks, it is safe to say this is no accident. Then someone breaks into her house, knock her out and steal a charm bracelet she found during one of her dives.

Someone is trying to stop her from finding the truth, but Hayden is in too deep to stop. With the killer closing in on her, can she figure things out before someone cuts off her air supply permanently?

I found this book very interesting, because I know absolutely nothing about diving (you won’t find me near a body of water larger than my garden tub). The technical jargon didn’t go flying over my head, but I didn’t feel like I was being talked down to, either. It was presented in a very matter-of-fact way, like Hayden was teaching new students all about diving. The vulnerability of Hayden because of the migraines that cause blackouts added a different layer and dimension to her character that you don’t see very often. This was an intricately woven plot, with plenty of suspects (I guessed the wrong person!), and plenty of bad guys to hate. I loved it, and I cannot wait for Hayden’s next adventure. Well done, Kait, well done! Bravo!!! But I’m still not getting anywhere near the ocean…

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this mystery. I was captured from the very beginning. I was also very shocked by who the killer was. I was hoping for some appearances in future novels of this character. So to say I was disappointed is very true. But I see how the author came to the conclusion of who the killer should be. If I could have read this mystery straight through, I would have. I was turning pages so quickly when I had time to read. I wanted to know what in the heck was going on. Near the end I had who I thought was the best possible suspect. He was introduced early, had means and was what I considered a least likely suspect. Of course, I was WRONG! I love it when the author can fool me with their red herrings and amazing plot twists.

This is just a fantastic book. It is all about a gal who loves to do underwater diving. She is really good at it. Her boyfriend dumps her just when she thinks that he is going to give her a ring. This was a truly roller coaster ride for Hayden Kent. I loved it so much! I will definitely be reading more from this author! So Good! Please, you must read this book. Go get it today!

5 Stars!

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) from Net Galley in return for an honest review. I thank Net Galley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks Net Galley and Henery Press for the opportunity to read this title. Here is my review.

This was my first book by Kait Carson and it won't be my last.

At first I had a hard time getting into it, because there were pages and pages about a woman diving and the steps she had to take which was not making me feel all warm and cozy. I don't dive and I don't swim. However, once I got through that the story took off. The story points a finger at just about every character in the book and your like WTF!!! Ha!!

However, I think the ending was a little forced and wrapped up rather hastily but all in all it was a good book and I would read others by this author.

[HENERY PRESS PUBLISHING]

“Kait Carson’s Florida is dead on in this action-packed mystery! The enviable setting, compelling characters, and the author’s expertise on diving make for a fresh plot and an intriguing story masterfully woven into a satisfying conclusion.” – Krista Davis, New York Times Bestselling Author of the Domestic Diva Mysteries

[JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hayden Kent is a paralegal in the Florida Keys and a highly experienced diver. In fact, any time she has off from work, she is out diving. Reeling from a recent breakup with her boyfriend Kevin, she can't wait to get back in the water, hoping it will take her mind off her misery. She decides to make one of her favorite dives, to a shipwreck of the Humboldt. Just before she is to return to the boat waiting above her and its owner, her friend Cappy, she spots something: Looking down, she sees the body of a man, floating below her, sans eyes. Not a pretty sight, and one that leads her to an instant scream. When she recovers and makes her way back to the boat, she informs Cappy and he in turn calls the Coast Guard and the Patrol Boats.

At first disbelieving her story, the two officers of the respective agencies, Janice Kirby and Lt. Paul Muller, find out she's right when Lt. Muller makes the dive again with Hayden and sees the body. After the discovery, Hayden's life begins to go downhill.

Being questioned again, this time by the local police, they are slightly concerned she might have had something to do with the murder. This is because they have discovered the dead man is no less than the brother of her ex-boyfriend, Richard Anderson. Stunned by the news, Hayden can't figure out why they keep insisting she knew the dead man, and everywhere she turns it appears the evidence is just piling up against her.

This book had me riveted to the end. Hayden's confusion at the events surrounding her life, her breakup with Kevin, and why anyone would want to frame her for a murder she didn't commit sends her reeling. She never puts herself in danger by acting like others - going for long walks alone, for instance - but things keep happening and she can't figure out the reason why. Even Kevin tells her he's convinced she killed his brother because she was jealous of the fact that he moved on with his life.

The situations are not unbelievable, and you get drawn into the action almost as if you are watching it in real time. I found it difficult to stay with the current story and not turn to the end to find out the conclusion ("whodunit"). But all the twists and turns are worth it, and don't give in, because you'll enjoy the ending more if you wait. A great book, highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review but it in no way influenced my decision.

http://joannesbooks.blogspot.com

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

I tried snorkeling once and didn’t do too well so I am sure there is no scuba diving in my future. I will settle for virtual scuba diving with Hayden. I could tell immediately that Kait Carson was an avid scuba diver just by the way she described Hayden’s underwater adventures. She vividly tells us about her descents and ascents into the water as well as her underwater exploration and finding a dead body in the hull of ship. True to the cozy genre Hayden becomes the main suspect.

We not only meet Hayden, we meet Cappy, the owner of the charter that takes her to her diving spots, her friend Mallory and the guy she just broke up with Kevin. Quite the jerk, in my opinion. His brother happens to be identified as the body in the ship and the plot starts to thicken. It also brings Coast Guard Officer Paul Mueller to the story. Before he even takes a dip in the water he tries to say what Hayden saw below was an a hallucination. I learned a new term “narked” (nitrogen narcosis). Apparently if you come up from the depths too fast it can cause more than the bends. It can cause a variety of issues including seeing things that aren’t there, but there really was a body down there. Now 3 agencies are trying to find a killer. The Coast Guard, Marine Patrol and the police. And of course Hayden. She finally wraps her head around that she is actually a suspect and uses her paralegal training to find things everyone else seems to be missing.

I found myself totally immersed into this story. The writing style just flows perfectly. Whether in the water or on dry land the characters were engaging and very believable. I really felt Hayden’s pain as things continued to be revealed about her relationship with Kevin. The victim’s wife was also a character easy to empathize with, she was caught in an untenable position.

The story took us into a hot topic that surprised me but I am not going to spoil anything. Again I learned something :)

I really enjoyed this story. The theme was something totally fresh and new and I found it both interesting and entertaining, I can’t wait to read Death by Sunken Treasure out March 22.

[Sherrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an e-galley of Death by Blue Water through Net Galley and Henery Press in exchange for my honest review. The first thing that grabs you is the wonderful cover featuring a dive mask and a snorkel. I also like the handwriting font that is used for the author's name rather than the more traditional fonts that are typically shown on book covers. The main character is Hayden Kent, a paralegal living in Key West who is also and avid diver. Hayden who is still reeling from a recent breakup decides to go diving to take her mind off things and stumbles across a dead body wedged in a shipwreck. When it is revealed the victim is her ex-boyfriend's brother Hayden quickly becomes a suspect. In order to clear her name Hayden investigates the murder with help from her friends. The book got off to a great start and held my interest in the beginning but it began to drag about halfway through. The dialogue seems stilted and doesn't flow well in some places which makes for a cumbersome read. Also, the solution to the mystery was a bit disappointing and seemed rushed without all the threads being brought together. Not a show stopping cozy but interesting enough. I would be willing to check out future books by this author.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death By Blue Water is the first novel in the Hayden Kent Mystery series. It is a well written and professionally edited mystery novel.

Hayden, a paralegal and frequent diver, wakes up one morning after nursing a migraine, soaking wet, in her bathing suit, at a marina and not remembering anything from the night before. Soon she finds herself the main suspect in a murder. Since law enforcement doesn't believe her story she sets off to investigate the murder and clear herself.

The plot was original and interesting and the character development was good, but what I liked best about Death By Blue Water was the author's ability to make each scene come alive. I could easily visualize the diving scenes, almost feeling as though I was there.

The only problem I had was that Hayden came off as being a bit unstable and, sometimes, not that bright. It was hard for me to view her as a competent amateur detective.

I recommend Death By Blue Water, especially if you like heroines that are amateur investigators. The book ends with a HFN.

ARC provided by Henery Press via Netgalley.

[Lynn Farris · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Death by Blue Water” is the first book in the Hayden Kent Mystery series by Kait Carson. Kait Carson lives in Fort Denaud, Florida. She, like her protagonist Hayden Kent, is also a paralegal and an avid scuba diver.

As the story opens, Hayden discovers a body on a solo dive near a wreck of the Humbolt, 120 feet below the surface. The police suspect her, as the body is the brother of an ex-boyfriend, and she has no alibi, as a migraine has caused memory loss. So Hayden decides to use her skills as a paralegal to exonerate herself and joins forces with Officer Janice Kirby.

The strength of the book lies underwater. I was captivated by the information on scuba diving, which the author presents skillfully, with just the right amount of information. Despite finding a dead body in the deep along with facing other challenges, she made me want to try scuba diving. Carson writes, “She came to the sea for one of two reasons: to solve her problems, or celebrate and give herself the joy of concentrating on the miracle of the sea creatures that floated past.”

For the rest of the review see: http://www.examiner.com/article/sink-...

[Jake Ehrbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! It was truly one of the best books I've read in a while! It has something for everyone! It has the mystery aspect with who murdered Richard. It has a action scene at the end. It has diving quite frequently. I also really enjoyed how Haden had blackouts so she couldn't just remember what exactly happened. So that still left some mystery to whether or not she did it. The detail was slowly filled in so you have time to guess and adjust who you think did it. Then at the end you seem to find out a whole gold mine of information. That leads you to go back to the first guess (if your like me anyway). But the most amazing part is how it just seems to come together so nicely after you get the last final bit of information! I loved how the whole time you think it was only one bad guy but then you find out it was 2! This is definitely one of the best books I've read in a while by far and this will defiantly be getting a good rating from me!

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep blue clear water surrounds you diving into the ocean. The fish are clear, colourful and exciting. There see the flounder trying to enter the wheelhouse of the sunken ship. Swimming around to see what was attracting the flounder. You stare in horror at the dead man with an anchor twisted in his feet. This was what Hayden Kent experience on her last dive. The writing is so good I felt like I was with on the drive. Hayden doesn't understand why the authority's are treating as a suspect. Hayden learns she is being stalk and that she has never met the dead person. She doesn't understand why she is a suspect or is being. She sets out to find the reason.
The descriptions of the supporting personal in the book are in depth. You feel you are friends already. The ending surprise I didn't see it coming. I am already looking for the next book.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the first book in the Hayden Kent Cozy Mystery series, Death by Black Water, Kait Carson took us to the dangerous depth of scuba diving in the Florida Keys. Hayden Kent was a paralegal and a fellow professional scuba diver, when she discovered a dead body in a salvaged shipwreck. Before she knew it, she'd gotten embroiled into a conspiracy and a controversy, too. Due to blackouts, the police focused her attention on her as a prime suspect, when she'd done her own investigation and ran into her ex who wanted to do her in. A lot of dramatic depth and cutthroat action under the water and above the surface with tons of twists and turns in the Florid Keys, too.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I thought this was a good book. It was a bit heavy on the diving details at the beginning but once past that the story picked up quickly. There were lots of blind alleys and red herrings and I was guessing every which way usually unsuccessfully. What I didn't like was the way it ended in such a hurried manner. I thought there could have been more build up and suspense as the details were slowly exposed. Instead they were almost ticked off like a check list. Maybe the author ran up against a deadline but in the end it was a disappointing end to a good book. I will pick up the next in the series. I sure hope it doesn't take too long!

[Steven Woodford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kait Carson's mysteries get better and better. Death By Blue Water, a Hayden Kent mystery, brings a perilous shade of turquoise to the waters of the Florida Keys and will certainly make you heed warnings not to SCUBA dive alone. Carson paints the tropics with such vivid colors of sun-filled days and moonless nights that you can hear the water lapping the sides of a boat or see the stars reflected on the stillness of the ocean at midnight. Characters will stay with you like friends you haven't seen in a while and may haunt your dreams as well. Death By Blue Water is a must-read.

[Homerun2]

Made it to chapter 5. I found several elements of this very off-putting. The main character gets migraines which sometimes cause her to have blackouts and amnesia. I understand about migraines but never heard of this and couldn't find any basis in reality. She is very emotional and doesn't much act like the calm professional she is supposed to be. The plot keeps dropping odd surprises, like the fact that the lead character has found dead bodies in the past. I will never know if this is just a red herring - perhaps it was explained later. I won't be going on with this series.

[Polly · Rating 5 out of 5]

In spite of the fact that I wished for a more confrontational ending with the villain--sorry, I'm the vengeful sort--Death by Blue Water was a deep, dark dive, I mean ride. Ms. Carson described diving with the knowledge of one who knows what she's talking about, and she made me wish I could give it a try. Alas, that ship has sailed. This is a great start to a new series. Considering I liked her first series, I'm not surprised. Good read. Recommended.

[K. Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful adventure under the sea. Very likeable protagonist, Hayden. Lots of action. Good mystery.

[Judy Singer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death by Blue Water is an exciting mystery with lots of scuba diving information that non-divers wouldn't know. The book has many detailed diving scenes as well as references to rules and laws governing that potentially dangerous sport.
But, just like Hayden Kent's blackouts and foggy memory, the story is a bit confusing. It wasn't always easy to follow which incident was being referred to in conversations and I found myself checking back to see if I could figure out what was being discussed.
I know this was the first book in a series so maybe the next book will flesh things out a bit more. The main character is nicely portrayed and her best friend is equally well drawn. It would have been interesting to know what attracted her to her sleezy loser of an ex-boyfriend, but that definitely is left unexplained. In fact, the entire Anderson family is just sketched in, and our glimpses of Kevin are incredibly disturbing. Although we are told enough to follow the story, it is not as satisfying as it could have been.

[Fiona · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciate the author's attention to detail, sharing what it's like to scuba dive. There are some nice visual descriptions and some nice bits of maritime law worked in.

Unfortunately, I knew who the killer was a quarter of the way through the book. I skipped to the end to confirm it. I also noticed Hayden was becoming more unhinged as the story progressed, laughing at things that weren't funny. It made her character less likeable.

While I prefer stories written in third person, past tense, this felt like it was meant to be in first person, which is why the POV shift a couple of chapters in took me out of the story.

[Lori Herbst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, unique subject matter--well researched and vividly told!
Several times, I felt as if I was underwater with Hayden, with the claustrophobia, the freedom, the fear, and the joy. It was definitely a wonderful ride for this landlubber.
Add to that a multi-layered, interesting main character and a good supporting cast, a nail-biting mystery, and lots of high stakes. All together, the parts made for a page-turning book, the first in a series I will absolutely be continuing!

[Stacie Haden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this because I have a daughter named Hayden (No, she doesn't have my last name-I wouldn't name a child Hayden Haden) ☺ It was pretty good. I learned some things about Scuba diving and I liked the Florida Keys setting. I'm not sure about the main character, she didn't come off as very smart. I'll read another, hoping that will change.

[Ryan Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great start to a mystery series. It was also a new experience. It takes place on the Gulf coast in Florida. It follows paralegal Hayden as she is also diving. One such dive she discovered a body. It turns out thar his is her ex's brother whom she was soposed to me. She and an officer team up to solve the crime. It was wonderful and entertaining. Loved it for a murder mystery whodunit.

[Chris Blackton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Well written but a bit anti-climatic at the end! Will give another book by this author a try.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I have read this year. Loads of action, great characters and deep sea diving. Can't get better than that. New author to me. Looking forwards to the next book in the series.

[DelAnne Frazee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Death By Blue Water - A Hayden Kent Mystery
Author: Kait Carson
Published: 11-11-2014
Publisher: Henery Press
Pages: 246
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense
Sub Genre: Women Sleuths, Cozy Mystery, Amateur Sleuths; Police Procedurals
ISBN: 13: 9781940976464
ASIN: B00N11OD80
Reviewer: DelAnne
Reviewed For: NetGalley
Rating:



I received a copy of "Death By Blue Water" from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.


Description From the Publisher:

* First in a New Mystery Series *


Paralegal Hayden Kent knows first-hand that life in the Florida Keys can change from perfect to perilous in a heartbeat. When she discovers a man’s body at 120’ beneath the sea, she thinks she is witness to a tragic accident. She becomes the prime suspect when the victim is revealed to be the brother of the man who recently jilted her, and she has no alibi. A migraine stole Hayden’s memory of the night of the death.


As the evidence mounts, she joins forces with Officer Janice Kirby. Together the two women follow the clues that uncover criminal activities at the highest levels and put Hayden’s life in jeopardy while she fights to stay free.


My Review of "Death By Blue Water":

Set in the Florida Keys, my old stomping grounds, which are describe excellently by Kait Carson. I could practically smell the salt in the air and feel the sea breeze on my face. With Hayden and the other cast of characters so well developed you will soon feel that you have known them forever. A great new series by a talented author. "Death By Blue Water" moves in a quick, smooth pace. Fall into the story and follow Hayden Kent as she weeds out the killer. My rating of "Death By Blue Water" is 4.25 out of 5 stars.




Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N11OD80/...


Barnes and Noble link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/death...


GoodReads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...


The Reading Room link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...

[Chaitra · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a first in series, but the main character, Hayden Kent, has unearthed another body in the past. There's no co-relation, and she was neither suspect nor detective, but this bugged me for some reason. Especially since one of the law mentions that she had a migraine prior to the unearthing of this dead body, and she couldn't remember anything that happened the night before, when the dead body (alive then) was seen walking around in her neighborhood. This is similar to what has happened in the case of the fresh dead person. That was an interesting direction to take, I felt.

Up until then I was feeling very unsympathetic towards Hayden, who falls to pieces, literally, every two paragraphs. I understand her feeling fear and nervousness, but here there was more description than I could handle. It felt like I read about her inability to form sentences and swooning and sobbing more than I read about the murder mystery. But when I thought that the older dead person was going to be brought in, and there was a possibility that Hayden wasn't innocent, the additional description of her fear made sense. Needless to say, I lost interest once that wasn't the case. The solution of the mystery is also rather half baked.

I'm not sure I'll read another in the series, this wasn't for me.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing and technical editing was done really well, and the descriptions of the dives were excellent. The technical jargon made you realize that the author knows what she is talking about, and it was written so even a novice could understand it. And the description of the scenery during the dives painted a great picture, that made it feel as if I was in the ocean with the characters.

There were a couple of things that stood out to me that I want to mention, but please don’t let this deter you from picking up a copy! Two of the characters have blackouts, and can’t remember anything. At one point it is mentioned in the story that this is a huge coincidence. I’m glad that Carson put this in the book, but if there was a way that they both didn’t have blackouts, that would have been good.

And I don’t know if it’s because I was reading this book before I went to bed, but I kept mixing up the law enforcement characters. But this could be entirely on me, and nothing to do with the author’s writing. I was going to go back and re-read a bit to see if I was just too sleepy to concentrate, but got busy reading other books.

Even with the coincidence and the confusion regarding the law enforcement, I still enjoyed the book a lot, and am looking forward to reading Death by Sunken Treasure, the second book in the Hayden Kent mystery series.

[Susan Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diving in the ocean isn't something I'd ever do, and the atmosphere of such a sport is simply scary to me. But I put my fears aside to read Kait Carson's "Death by Blue Water," a great first mystery in her series. Hayden Kent is a paralegal who works for a supportive lawyer-boss named Grant Huffman. She's also a deep sea diver. Recently, her diving has helped her broken heart from a failed marriage to Kevin. As this story begins, she's diving over a favorite old wreck named the "Humboldt", 120 feet below the surface near Marathon, Florida. What she sees starts the story off at a gallop: the dead body of her former brother-in-law, Richard, his leg tangled in an anchor rope. Hayden also suffers from migraine headaches, which sometimes cause her to blackout. It's one of these episodes that makes her a key suspect in Richard's murder. Soon, her diving gear is sabotaged, and a number of curious events make it clear that someone doesn't want her to survive. But why? Carson does an expert job of describing diving, the equipment divers use, and the safety measures they follow. She really knows her stuff. Her characters are interesting, especially the suspicious ones, and her plot has twists and turns you don't anticipate. This first book in the series is a page-turner, and I anticipate more to come.