Reviewed by Rosetta Diane Hoessli, Author
(*****) 5 Stars
From the back jacket of The Fatal Flotilla at Sea Oats Beach:
The dazzling lights of the Christmas Flotilla shimmer across Sea Oats Beach, transforming the December night into a twinkling wonderland. But for Breanna Hart, the brilliance dims when she discovers a gunshot fatality on an abandoned boat. The victim, known for his generosity in the animal welfare community, seems an unlikely target, making the suspicion cast upon one of Bree’s own neighbors all the more perplexing.
Driven by a connection to the victim’s love for animals and her own pursuit of truth, Bree begins a fact-finding mission. As an animal shelter volunteer, she sees a chance not only to solve the case but also to help a bloodhound named Tracker. If he can pick up overlooked clues, Bree hopes the police will train him as a K-9 detection dog and give him the forever home he deserves.
As Christmas Day approaches, Bree’s holiday plans compete with her investigation. Every question she asks edges her closer to a vicious killer who is definitely not feeling the holiday vibe.
Author Karen Whalen calls this novel ‘a cozy mystery beach read,’ which is spot-on. Written in the First Person (from the vantage point of main character Bree Hart), it’s easy to read, even easier to follow, and it’s my favorite so far in The Sea Oats Beach Mystery Series – primarily because of the characters.
Not only the humans, but the animals as well.
In this novel, by page three, I’m fully involved in a heartfelt love affair with Tracker, an aging bloodhound living at the animal rescue Bree volunteers for. He’s been there longer than any other resident, and he’s accepted his fate with typical bloodhound dignity. But Bree makes it her mission to find him a home – preferably working with law enforcement – and she’s not going to take ‘no’ for an answer. Then, by the second chapter, I’m rooting for a relinquished pregnant cat Bree names ‘Mama’ when she agrees to foster her until her kittens are born. These two characters are skillfully woven throughout the plot, providing both drama and humor to the mystery, and they held my attention throughout the story. In fact, as good as the story is, I don’t think it would’ve been as good without them.
They also provided me with the common link I needed to help me understand Bree, one of the most unique main characters I’ve ever met on the pages of a book.
Bree’s struggle with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), which makes her uncoordinated, vulnerable, and miserably convinced the entire world is watching every klutzy thing she does, can be difficult to relate to. It makes her seem self-absorbed, almost narcissistic, when she’s truly just the opposite. But her inability to turn down a helpless animal or a needy family member is a personality trait I totally get – and I want desperately for her to be successful. I love the way she tries to convince herself that she’s right to do everything she does as she goes about solving this mystery (even some things that are slightly illegal, which is fun since she has this scaredy-cat personality disorder), and puts herself in greater and greater peril.
Ms. Whalen’s beach descriptions are beautifully visual. She cleverly uses Christmas traditions on the island as part of the plot, as well as Bree’s bucket list of twelve Christmas ‘Things to Do’ that she hasn’t done since her mother died, while participating in a friendly Christmas race with her father, who’s marking off his own bucket list. Bree’s close friends and neighbors also become involved in this endeavor as they attempt to build her fragile ego and bring her into the warm embrace of their communal spirit.
Settling back and reading THE FATAL FLOTILLA AT SEA OATS BEACH, by Karen C. Whalen, is pure enjoyment. I highly recommend you do that as soon as possible.
I’m giving THE FATAL FLOTILLA AT SEA OATS BEACH five stars.