The Body In Blackwater Bay

Blackwater Bay #1

by Paula Gosling

Detective Lt Jack Stryker, recently wounded in the line of duty, has gone to stay with his girlfriend in her family's cottage on Paradise Island for a holiday. When a mutilated body is found close by, however, he joins forces with the local sheriff to find the killer.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Paula Gosling is a US born crime writer. She has lived in the UK since the 1960s. Gosling started her writing career as a copy-writer and published her first novel, A Running Duck, in 1974. This won the John Creasey Award for the best first novel of the year and she has also received both the Gold Dagger for Monkey Puzzle in 1985. She is a past Chairman of the Crime Writers' Association.

Her novel A Running Duck, written in 1974 (also published as Fair Game), has been adapted twice into films, once as a Sylvester Stallone vehicle - Cobra and the second time as a film with Cindy Crawford entitled Fair Game.

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of Paul Gosling since her first novel (too many years ago). I’ve read her early books several times - they just work for me. Years passed and I somehow missed the Blackwater Bay series, so it is really nice to have a chance to connect with her writing again. This is a good basic detective novel set in an interesting geographical setting, which Gosling describes well. You also get a good feel for the local community. I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

[Susan Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice little read. The characters were interesting and the plot was three dimensional, meaning there was more than one story line. At bit of the drama seemed overdone. The first chapter is a has a good hook and does keep you in suspense until the end.

The edition I read was a paperback published in 1993 and has different cover art.

I donated this book to the Little Free Library on Wilmington Island, GA.

[Cindy Grossi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just so-so. I couldn’t get a grip on the main characters, other than Tos. It seemed to lack cohesiveness and I didn’t really care “who-dun-it”.

[Babete · Rating 3 out of 5]

( Biblioteca )

[Mary Hammock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Never read this author.
449 Pages

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kudos go to the good folks over at DorothyL for recommending this series to the group. Wow, what a first book in a series. There are lies and betrayal and secrets and murder(s) and all on an isolated island that has a grand total of SIX cottages!

Gosling leads with plenty of hints, red-herrings and angst to keep people guessing at every turn. I had *no* idea what was actually going on, but I sure enjoyed the ride!

Daria Grey is on Paradise Island to help her Aunt and to try and stay safe from her husband who is tormenting her. When husband Michael Grey ends up dead the hunt is on for the killer with Daria as the main suspect. Local cops ask for the help of the visiting Jack Stryker who is involved with Daria's former best friend, Kate. Throw in all the families in the other cottages and you have a wild and crazy bunch of people who have secrets at every turn.

I can't wait to read the next in the series.

[Lls · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read, but fun!

[Marti]

Passed on to me by Mom.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series! Great cozy