Deadly Tides

#policeprocedural #psychologicalsuspense #mistypinesmystery

by Mary Keliikoa

October 23 – November 17, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

A missing surf legend. Waterlogged clues. Can he trust his gut instincts to end the wave of murder?

Sheriff Jax Turner is learning to live again. Holding tight to the hope of reconciling with his FBI agent ex-wife, the wary man is determined to keep his focus on his coastal Oregon community. And after a concerned brother requests a welfare check, Jax is troubled to find the absent surf shop owner’s tracks lead to a pool of blood.

Now investigating a potential homicide, Turner chases a tip from his former spouse about a severed foot found on the beach. But when a torrent of leads links the victim to a politician’s son, a jealous competitor, and a get-straight program for youth, the steadfast lawman fears layers of lies and secret agendas will keep him from stopping a vicious killer.

Can he unravel the fatal agenda before he’s the next corpse to wash ashore?

If you like flawed heroes, gritty crimes, and dark twists and turns, then you’ll love Deadly Tides, the chilling second book in Mary Keliikoa’s Misty Pines Mystery Series.

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My Thoughts:

For the second book of the series, I was impressed with how the author gives you enough details of the characters and the previous book to bring you into where they’re at without overwhelming you with information. The first book was in depth and I’m happy to say that this one draws you in just as deep.

Kicking off the story with Abby searching for her mother who frequently escapes her home and wanders gives us a glimpse at another level of stress that she’s dealing with. On top of losing her daughter, the demise of her marriage to Jax, and her role as an FBI agent, Abby has a lot on her plate.

Jax is still in love with Abby and feels even more of a tug when their paths cross on a case he’s working. It could also be related to a previous case — and down the rabbit hole we go! Jax hasn’t made life easy for himself, retreating to a really dark place. But we get to see a little shift in his mindset and characterization. I love that the process is slow and more realistic than a complete 180 like we often read about. He also has to deal with the return of Margot — the nurse who cared for his and Abby’s daughter. Interesting how she seems to be in places where their case happens to lead.

Keliikoa takes us on a serpentine path, twisting back and forth between drawing Abby and Jax together, old cases, and other characters. As with the first book, I forced myself to slow down and absorb each detail because if I read at my standard fast pace, I would’ve missed something. The red herrings are subtle, yet also substantial in guiding you through each scene. Excited for the next mystery that Abby and Jax get to explore!

Praise for Deadly Tides:

“Keliikoa has crafted a page-turning second installment….An intense and satisfying whodunit.”
~ Kirkus Reviews

“In this atmospheric second entry in her Misty Pines series, Mary Keliikoa has crafted a taut, small-town police procedural with a fine cast of compelling characters. Deadly Tides is a marvelously labyrinthine mystery that lays bare the tortured nature of a spirit driven to murder. That alone would be enough to recommend it. But it’s also a poignant exploration of loss and the difficult journey that leads to healing. In the crime genre, that’s a rare and beautiful accomplishment.”
~ William Kent Krueger, author of Fox Creek and This Tender Land

“In Mary Keliikoa’s Deadly Tides, a small seaside town can be murder. A perfect blend of a twisty whodunnit and a heartbreaking examination of loss and love, Deadly Tides is a thrilling continuation of this new series!”
~ Rachel Howzell Hall, best-selling novelist of We Lie Here and These Toxic Things

“Fantastic! A severed foot, a pool of blood, a missing man, and an expanding web of suspects in the small Oregon town of Misty Pines. Sheriff Jax Turner sure has his hands full. Mary Keliikoa’s “Deadly Tides” is as taut as a drum, a real page-turner with a propulsive climax that’ll have you literally holding your breath. Loved it.”
~ Tracy Clark, author of the Cass Raines Chicago Mystery series and the Det. Harriet Foster series

About the Author:

Eighteen years in the legal field, and an over-active imagination, led Pacific NW native Mary Keliikoa to start writing mystery and suspense. She is the author of the award-winning HIDDEN PIECES and DEADLY TIDES, both part of the Misty Pines mystery series, the PI Kelly Pruett mystery series including the multi-award nominated DERAILED for best debut, and the upcoming stand-alone DON’T ASK, DON’T FOLLOW out Summer of 2024. She’s also had short stories in Woman’s World and the anthology, Peace, Love, and Crime.