The Surfing Corpse

P.C. Hawke Mysteries #2

by Paul Zindel

P.C. And Mackenzie`s junior class trip ends in disaster when practically all the kids witness classmate Timmy Warner plunge to his death over a 300-foot waterfall. But several months later, the class vice president swears that he`s seen Timmy at Venice Beach, California. P.C. And Mackenzie follow a trail of clues that evolve from deception to abduction to a second murder - and a life-and-death chase along the cliffs of Malibu Canyon.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens

128 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2001

About the author

Paul Zindel was an American author, playwright and educator.

In 1964, he wrote The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, his first and most successful play. The play ran off-Broadway in 1970, and on Broadway in 1971. It won the 1971 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It was also made into a 1972 movie by 20th Century Fox. Charlotte Zolotow, then a vice-president at Harper & Row (now Harper-Collins) contacted him to writing for her book label. Zindel wrote 39 books, all of them aimed at children or young adults. Many of these were set in his home town of Staten Island, New York. They tended to be semi-autobiographical, focusing on teenage misfits with abusive or neglectful parents. Despite the often dark subject matter of his books, which deal with loneliness, loss, and the effects of abuse, they are also filled with humor. Many of his novels have wacky titles, such as My Darling, My Hamburger, or Confessions of A Teenage Baboon.

The Pigman, first published in 1968, is widely taught in American schools, and also made it on to the list of most frequently banned books in America in the 1990s, because of what some deem offensive language.

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just okay. I was looking for audio book mysteries at the library so that their suspense could help the time go by faster in the car. This book didn't quite meet that aim. But it wasn't bad, really -- I guess I could almost compare it with an episode of Scooby Doo.

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never read one of these books before but the title of the book interested me.This book is about Timmy warner who was surfing and fell to drown or get sliced up by giant blades that were close by.His mom put a 3 million dollar life insurance for him so when he died the mom mysteriously disappeared.I thought this book was easily understandable at the begging but as it continued it got more confusing to me and it was hard to keep up with I just wish this book was easily understandable but this book was a big disappointment to me.Usually I am a big sucker for mystery books but this one just did not get me I bet the other books can be better but I probably am not up to reading another one of these books.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

My least favourite of the series so far. Still, good setting and pace.

[JohnP · Rating 2 out of 5]

Timmy Warner slips on a school field trip, falls into the river and drowns. All that turns up is his clothes and the fact that his mom took out a $3 million life insurace policy on him. As soon as the insurance money is paid out, the mom disappears. Not as simple as it sounds, but not a lot of mystery here, either. I was hoping for more after the disappointment of the first mystery, The Scream Museum, but Zindel continues to write these give-it-all-away-too-early mysteries. It's too bad, because this could have been much more interesting.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good.

[The Third Place A Teen Library]

F ZIN pch bk.2

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book was page turning, nail biting, can't put this book down excitement. I recommend this book to mystery lovers.

[Amanda Littlejohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was good