Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Tidewater Murder (Carolina Slade Mystery Series, #2)” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Tidewater Murder

(Caroline Slade Mystery #2)

C. Hope Clark (Goodreads Author)

4.20 · Rating details · 279 ratings · 69 reviews

In the deep waters off the coast of Beaufort, South Carolina, corpses are turning up faster than dolphins chasing a shrimp boat . . .

When federal agricultural investigator Carolina Slade's best friend is suspected of embezzlement and fraud in a sordid case involving drugs and migrant slavery, Slade must question her own long-held loyalties. She's desperate to believe in Sa ...more

Get A Copy

Paperback, 290 pages

Published April 24th 2013 by Bell Bridge Books (first published January 1st 2013)

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Tidewater Murder, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about Tidewater Murder

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 4.20 ·

Rating details

· 279 ratings · 69 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Tidewater Murder (Carolina Slade Mystery Series, #2)

May 04, 2013 Lyn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery

I ate up another Hope Clark mystery this weekend, and again, let me state I'm not a mystery reader. This reader of Jane Austen and Kiran Desai and Amy Walden (literary, international, etc) found out about Hope's fiction through her Funds for Writers newsletter and decided to take a risk on her stories. It's no risk whatsoever. In this sequel, Carolina Slade proves she's flesh and blood lifting off the pages, making me alternately cheer her on and want to cuss her out. "Slade, what are you doing? I ate up another Hope Clark mystery this weekend, and again, let me state I'm not a mystery reader. This reader of Jane Austen and Kiran Desai and Amy Walden (literary, international, etc) found out about Hope's fiction through her Funds for Writers newsletter and decided to take a risk on her stories. It's no risk whatsoever. In this sequel, Carolina Slade proves she's flesh and blood lifting off the pages, making me alternately cheer her on and want to cuss her out. "Slade, what are you doing?" I wanted to yell at her when she was letting loyalty, friendship, and bias distract the investigation. Then a chapter later I could see the artistry in Clark's development of a character who discovers consequences for her unbridled behavior. I love this. I gauge a good read by the ability of a character to feel like a sister, enemy, or friend. That's why we keep picking a story up.

I'm amazed at how much research Clark must have done to make this story happen. Gullah culture, farm business, police work, you name it, Clark has done the necessary digging and woven it so smoothly into her narrative, delivering in just the right doses so you don't feel you're mired in Wikipedia.

I also like the love triangle of this tale. Though Monroe is a bit too forgiving at times, he's a good balance to the possessive Wayne, and what woman doesn't love the thrill and danger of that kind of entanglement? Never mind the fun of following behind an investigator like Slade who dares do things I never would.

Finally, I salute Clark for what I call intelligent, modern feminism. There's no politics here, only a savvy awareness of the complex desires and strengths of a smart and strong woman. Women aren't asking to be treated like fragile princesses or hardy jocks, but we do want a combination of chivalrous care and hands-off respect. It's no more a double standard than men wanting it all on a silver plate, too. Carolina Slade embodies the woman of our times who can go it alone to fight for what she believes in while needing some boundaries, TLC, and protection. I enjoyed this glimpse of what women want plus a roller coaster ride of adventure.

Ready for the next book, Hope! Sorry, you don't get to rest because we keep expecting to see Slade coming around the corner! ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 02, 2021 Mary rated it it was ok

I loved the first book, but this one did not hold my interest. I didn’t care enough about the secondary characters to invest much in their outcomes.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

May 16, 2013 Warren Thurston rated it it was amazing

Sequels, all authors know are hard to do. Readers expect the second book to duplicate the same passion, tension and quality of writing. To have this expectation placed upon them can send some writers into the depths of despair. This did not happen to C. Hope Clark with her second novel, Tidewater Murder. It has surpassed the brilliance of its sibling and blossomed into a classic thriller in its own right.

The book follows the random path of the latest case Carolina Slade finds herself entwined in Sequels, all authors know are hard to do. Readers expect the second book to duplicate the same passion, tension and quality of writing. To have this expectation placed upon them can send some writers into the depths of despair. This did not happen to C. Hope Clark with her second novel, Tidewater Murder. It has surpassed the brilliance of its sibling and blossomed into a classic thriller in its own right.

The book follows the random path of the latest case Carolina Slade finds herself entwined in. Slade in her cavalier way, never approaches a problem at half pace. Flat out all the way to the bitter end regardless of who gets hurt, is her way. After the death of her husband, Slade has struggled in her role as a single mom. She hoped that her recent promotion and moving house would bring some sunshine into her life. But a phone call from the Beaufort Office of Agriculture blew her chances of brightness.

Savannah Conroy, an old girlfriend of Slade, was boss of the Beaufort Office of the Department of Agriculture. Monroe Pravette, a departmental auditor, had found irregularities with the file on the Heyward farm. Signatures on a loan document appeared forged, the loan was for $300,000 and Dan Heyward had gone missing.

The further Slade took her investigation of Savannah, the more out of hand events became. Dead bodies began to turn up in unexpected places. Voodoo raised its head when somebody placed a hex on Slade. The influence of the drug trade, physical and psychological intimidation of Slade and her family became part of Slade’s working environment.

She found herself teamed up once again with Wayne Largo. In an instant her emotions turned turbulent as she tried to assess what her relationship was with Wayne, professional, personal or both. Never one to walk away from adversity, Slade remained true to the pig-headed side of her personality. It was a stubbornness that placed her in fear of her life, as she stumbled upon acts of cruelty that she thought had vanished with the slavery of the nineteenth century.

C. Hope Clark has once again shown that she is a writer of substance. Tidewater Murder rocks from beginning to end with an intensity that will keep readers on the edge of their seat. The imagery of her words is strong, bringing the fictional world of Carolina Slade into the present. I felt like I was part of Slade’s world, sitting in the privileged position of overseer, never missing a single beat of the drama played out before me.

Readers, who enjoyed Lowcountry Bribe, won’t be disappointed with Tidewater Murder. It’s a book that totally involves the reader in the fabric of the tale. I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure and I’m sure all those who read it will feel the same.

Warren Thurston - Playwright

www.fivedollarplays.com ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

May 18, 2013 Lisa rated it liked it

Shelves: mysteries, book-reviews

* I received a free copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 2nd book in the Carolina Slade mysteries and this one finds Slade promoted and living in Columbia, South Carolina. When her best friend Savannah is accused of wrong-doing, Slade sets out to find the truth. And gets into trouble along the way. Like the first novel in the series, I enjoyed the setting and Slade's spunky personality. However, the book a little slow going and Slade's stubbornness g ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 13, 2013 Carla rated it it was amazing

Mysteries are my guilty pleasure. I want to be immediately engaged and entertained. But when I pick up this genre, I still want to learn something interesting. In Tidewater Murder, the author exactly fit my bill. It’s obvious that law enforcement and investigations come directly out of her background, and I gained some interesting tidbits on the Gullah tradition and agricultural practices I knew nothing about. Plus, her characters came to life with all their foibles exposed. Warning: This is a p ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 06, 2013 Dera rated it really liked it

It's official, Carolina Slade, or just Slade is my new new mystery heroine. I liked her in Lowcountry Bribe but loved her in this offering. I love southern literature and am in awe of the diversity in cultures the regions possess. This story is in the low country, one of my favorite regions because of the Gullah culture and the marshlands. Slade is quite the southern-bred lady, but fiercely independent and sharp-tongue and with sharp wit, a southern cross between Lucy and Miss Marple. Look forwa ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jun 28, 2020 Ellen Behrens rated it really liked it

Ohhh... this was sooo close to a five-star rating. So what missed for me? I'll get to that in a second.

First... It's been a few years since I read the first Carolina Slade mystery (Lowcountry Bribe) and loved it. Carolina Slade, an agricultural loan officer in LB and an agricultural loan investigator in TM, has all the qualities we love in an amateur sleuth: determined, smart, and vulnerable all at the same time. And what you'll find in this series you won't find anywhere else (at least that I Ohhh... this was sooo close to a five-star rating. So what missed for me? I'll get to that in a second.

First... It's been a few years since I read the first Carolina Slade mystery (Lowcountry Bribe) and loved it. Carolina Slade, an agricultural loan officer in LB and an agricultural loan investigator in TM, has all the qualities we love in an amateur sleuth: determined, smart, and vulnerable all at the same time. And what you'll find in this series you won't find anywhere else (at least that I know of) is the agricultural angle in these mysteries. Sound boring to you? Don't be such a city snob and take a look ;-)

Which brings me to the reason this book didn't quite hit five stars. I keep thinking of those carnival games when you swing the mallet down onto a pad and it send a ringer up a post to the bell and this time the mallet didn't come down quite hard enough to send ring the bell.

It has a great cast of characters: Carolina Slade finds out her BFF Savannah might have approved some bad loans, with even worse things going on around them. Could Savvy's returned ex-boyfriend Teddy be influencing her in a very bad way? Or is there more to the story? Toss in some tension between Slade and romantic-interest Wayne Largo, add a dash of flirtatious adoration from Slade's co-worker Monroe, and bless my soul you have a good southern gumbo, don't you?

The setting--South Carolina's low country--is never boring to read about. The working dynamic between Slade and her boss is too real (ever have a boss you couldn't seem to please no matter how hard you tried?). Plus there's the Gullah culture, with Kamba preaching on the corner, a man with more going on than it seems.

I won't recap the plot because that's even more confusing than the characters' relationships and histories. Perhaps I missed something critical in the way the story unfolded, but as Clark got further and furthing into the telling the whole structure seemed to wobble more and more. Fortunately, she tied things up before it all came crashing down. The plot was -- mostly -- tied up in the end, at least in a satisfactory way. But somehow I still felt like scratching my head at the end: "What just happened here?"

I guess that makes it a great re-read! ...more

flag Like · see review

Aug 19, 2017 IslandRiverScribe rated it it was ok

Shelves: police-american, z-abandoned, z-read-2017

The main character in this 2nd novel of the series, Carolina Slade, has been essentially written as too-stupid-to-live. The author has written Slade as a person who continually feels the need to prove her abilities and her independence to the entire world. Thus, she has created a character who flaunts the parameters of her job description as a federal fraud investigator, puts herself and her co-workers in truly mortal danger continually as a result and then has the audacity to throw fits of righ ...more

flag Like · see review

Oct 26, 2019 Shelley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-read

Southern Mystery with a Little Bit of Everything

C. Hope Clark's second installment in the Carolina Slade Mystery Series also relies heavily on Clark's agricultural background without boring the average reader with too much industry specific jargon and events. She uses the business she knows to again weave a tale of mystery filled with real-life issues that we all experience from time-to-time with family and friends. Clark expertly connects these things into another novel with a little bit of eve ...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 22, 2020 Beverly Turner rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I am always thrilled when I find a new-to-me writer that I like and then find out there is a series. I'm not sure how I found the first Carolina Slade mystery but I'm glad I did. I enjoyed that first one. But I think I enjoyed this one even more. I saw more depth to the main characters, Slade and Wayne, much the same as when I meet someone new in 'real life' and learn more about them. I love the fact that Slade isn't law enforcement, CIA, etc. She is an ordinary Jane like so many of us, working ...more

flag Like · see review

May 23, 2018 Diva rated it it was amazing

C. Hope Clark did it again with her wildly engaging character, Carolina Slade. Slade is thoughtful and adventurous, kind and strong. She is so interesting to read about in the first person point of view! I love how her thoughts and actions are so realistic. We all make mistakes, so why not a fictional character? I liked the tension brought about through a romantic relationship she has in the novel. I think a love triangle sums it up best. The story was intriguing, and the scene descriptions were ...more

flag Like · see review

Oct 23, 2017 Linda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Another Solid Story

You wouldn't think that making farm loans would be such a dangerous occupation. I guess I always saw farmers as salt of the earth types who worked hard, sold their crops, and repaid their loans. Of course that's if they are really farmers and not drug runners and traffickers in human misery.

When Carolina Slade makes the mistake of thinking she's investigating one thing when it actually is something else entirely chaos ensues. It's fun watching her get out of some self inflict ...more

flag Like · see review

Apr 14, 2019 Diane Large rated it really liked it

Having read the first mystery, I looked forward to this one and I was not disappointed. The characters are well developed and I'm learning more about farmers and agricultural loans. ...more

flag Like · see review

Apr 23, 2019 Terry rated it really liked it

Not quite as entertaining as the first but still an enjoyable read

flag Like · see review

May 01, 2014 Kathryn McClatchy rated it really liked it

Tidewater Murder is #2 in the Carolina Slade series by C. Hope Clark. I was late to the party, and unfortunately am reading the series in reverse order, having started with Palmetto Poison, which is #3. I really enjoyed Tidewater Murder, and would love to do an in-depth analysis of this book, but will forgo the pleasure because I don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun before they read the book. In the spirit of full-disclosure, a signed copy of this book was given to me by Hope Clark to review, but sh ...more

flag Like · see review

Jul 08, 2014 Janae Schiele rated it liked it

This is the second installment in the Carolina Slade Mystery series. I have not read the first installment, but found that this book stood enough on its own to enjoy it without reading the first one.

Obviously reviews are a personal opinion so some of this may not apply to you, but it really affected my ability to enjoy the book. There was way too much profanity. While some writers think that having their characters curse all the time makes them seem more realistic, I think it makes them seem mor
This is the second installment in the Carolina Slade Mystery series. I have not read the first installment, but found that this book stood enough on its own to enjoy it without reading the first one.

Obviously reviews are a personal opinion so some of this may not apply to you, but it really affected my ability to enjoy the book. There was way too much profanity. While some writers think that having their characters curse all the time makes them seem more realistic, I think it makes them seem more fake and a lot more immature than they are meant to be. Without as much profanity, this review would have easily earned another star. Like I said, it doesn’t bother everyone, but just know that you will be reading a curse word in almost every conversation in this book. Another thing that fit’s under personal belief’s is that there is voodoo and haints in this book. The thing that really got me though was that it had absolutely nothing to do with the story; I thought that in the end it would tie in a major part of the story (or at least be interesting). But it didn’t, some of the voodoo didn’t even tie in at the end, almost like it was forgotten. (Small spoiler) For example, a character gets “cursed”, but we never find out who did it. So again I think this book would have flowed a lot better without all the extra hooky spooky junk. There was also a few bedroom scenes that didn’t go into too many details, but it was still wasn’t rated PG if you know what I mean. Some people like books with all that stuff in it, but I am not one of them. (And no, I’m not an old church lady who makes people wash their mouths out with soap, ;) just in case you were wondering.)

Clark does a great job of creating characters. They were all their own person with their own quirks and dialogue that made them unique. I especially like the Monroe character; he was definitely someone that you would give your jello too (that will make sense after you read it ;)). I think Clark's writing style really made the characters come alive. However I did find that the main character, Slade, got annoying after awhile. She kept doing the same thing over and over and wouldn’t listen to Wayne, but complained when he wasn’t listening to her. It’s a really bad thing when the main character gets on your nerves. It’s okay to have a stubborn character in a story, but Slade needs to dial it down in order to at least be tolerable to read.

The beginning of the book start out exciting enough, but as the book went on it just got boring. Mostly because the characters were getting nothing accomplished to solve the case they are working on. While this actually happens in real life, if I am reading a story and nothing happens with the mystery for half of the book, I tend to get board. So the mystery could have used a lot more excitement. However, when it does finally start to pick up, it gets good, with twists and turns to keep you guessing. I wish the entire mystery was like that. Unfortunately, it’s mostly just the characters driving around getting in trouble for no good reason.

All in all Tidewater Murder was okay. Had the mystery been a lot stronger, I think I would have enjoyed this book way more than I did.
...more

flag Like · see review

Sep 26, 2013 Matthew Jackson rated it liked it

Shelves: popular-novel, own

I don't know C. Hope Clark personally - I've never had much correspondence with her or met her in person. But I have, for several years now, received her emails "Funds for Writers," which I highly recommend for any aspiring author. The emails contain advice, inspiring stories, announcements of various literary competitions, and also a listing of some publications that are looking for submissions of various sorts. With all the work Mrs. Clark has done helping other writers, I've wanted to read he I don't know C. Hope Clark personally - I've never had much correspondence with her or met her in person. But I have, for several years now, received her emails "Funds for Writers," which I highly recommend for any aspiring author. The emails contain advice, inspiring stories, announcements of various literary competitions, and also a listing of some publications that are looking for submissions of various sorts. With all the work Mrs. Clark has done helping other writers, I've wanted to read her own work for some time now, and I finally have.

Last night I finished Tidewater Murder: A Carolina Slade Mystery, which is her second book in the Carolina Slade mystery series. Unfortunately, I have not yet read the first book of the series, Lowcountry Bribe, but that didn't interfere with my ability to read, understand, and enjoy Tidewater Murder. And I will happily say that I truly enjoyed reading this novel. [Note - I know this statement doesn't seem to mesh well with my 3-star rating, but let me clarify that by saying I reserve 4-5 stars for masterful works of fiction (Tolstoy, Miller, Kerouac, Elliot, etc), which means 3 stars is about the best most modern books could hope to get from me on a rating scale.] I don't read a lot of contemporary novels, and almost never mysteries, so Tidewater Murder took me entirely by surprise.

From page #1, this book has what it takes to grab the reader. How often do you find both assonance and alliteration on the 1st page of a prose text? And I loved it! Not only is Mrs. Clark able to tell a good story, but she also understands how to use words. We have a glut of popular books right now which contain wonderful stories but are horribly written - this book actually combines the good story and the good writing. I'm a bit snotty when it comes to good writing, but I enjoyed Mrs. Clark's prose immensely. She puts together wonderful sentences, and even engages our mind a bit more with use of real vocabulary. Tidewater Murder takes some thinking to read, and I'm also quite fond of that. A final writing note - unlike many modern/post-modern writers, Mrs. Clark has no fear of adjectives and adverbs, which was another welcome breathe of something new.

And now, to the story - Tidewater Murder is a great story. There's plenty of action and suspense, and you definitely care about the characters and where the story might take them. I really liked Slade, the main character. She's well developed, layered, complex and very interesting/unique; a superior quality female protagonist. Slade works as a federal agricultural investigator, and Mrs. Clark's background in agriculture shines through in these scenes. Slade is a bit risky, a bit crazy, a bit stubborn, and even a bit unbelievable at time...but what good protagonist isn't? That's why they call the experience of reading a "temporary suspension of disbelief."

All in all, I highly recommend this novel for a nice weekend read - 'light' reading, in a sense, perhaps, but very well written, enjoyable, and interesting as well. I look forward to reading more from C. Hope Clark in the near future!
...more

flag Like · see review

May 11, 2013 Sharon rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Any reader who loves a well-crafted mystery with a strong woman protagonist

Some friends are as close as sisters. Others closer. Like melt on ice, or your first gasp of breath rising up from a river baptism. Carolina Slade, federal agriculture investigator, considers Savannah Conroy such a friend -- and Savvy’s in trouble. Falsified signatures on a six-figure farm loan, embezzlement, missing tomato crops and murder. The kind of trouble that leads straight to federal prison. Do not pass GO. Do not...

Humph! Not if Slade can help it.

A tornado of wit and warmth, wisecrackin Some friends are as close as sisters. Others closer. Like melt on ice, or your first gasp of breath rising up from a river baptism. Carolina Slade, federal agriculture investigator, considers Savannah Conroy such a friend -- and Savvy’s in trouble. Falsified signatures on a six-figure farm loan, embezzlement, missing tomato crops and murder. The kind of trouble that leads straight to federal prison. Do not pass GO. Do not...

Humph! Not if Slade can help it.

A tornado of wit and warmth, wisecracking Savannah Conroy is one of the most proficient rural loan managers the South Carolina Department of Agriculture has in its arsenal to keep farmers afloat. She’s damn good at her job. In the fifteen years Slade has known her, Savvy’s never missed a stiletto-heeled step. Why now? What, in the name of butter-drenched grits, is going on? And what -- if not everything -- does Savvy’s lying, cheating, cocaine-snorting ex have to do with the predicament she’s in? That Teddy Dawson is back in Savvy’s bed and has generously provided her a luxury Mercedes convertible are undisputed facts.

Could it be the love and faith of a good Southern woman caused this manipulating scoundrel to change? Not likely. Once a lowlife maggot, always a lowlife maggot. At least that’s what Slade’s gut is screaming.

In TIDEWATER MURDER, second installment of the Carolina Slade Mystery series (ISBN10: 1611942578, ISBN13: 978-1611942576, Bell Bridge Books, April 2013, 290 pp), the gutsy protagonist launches into an unorthodox investigation and once again drags her cohort, the charming Monroe Prevatte, with her. From the rooftop of a shed imprisoning abused Haitian workers to the marshes and fields surrounding St. Helena to the dark waters of the Atlantic Ocean, author C. Hope Clark invites readers to join her on another clever, fast-paced thrill ride through the Lowcountry of her beloved South Carolina.

Even Slade’s beau, Senior Special Agent Wayne Largo, can’t deter her dogged slog toward justice. When it comes to guts and loyalty, the damn woman has blinders on. And Heaven knows Wayne has tried, even going so far as to have Slade officially removed from the case.

But homesteading a backseat has never been Slade’s forté. Not on her job. Not as the widowed single mother of two. Certainly, not in Wayne Largo’s arms. Why, on God’s green earth, would she change her modus vivendi now?

In TIDEWATER MURDER, Carolina Slade gives as good as she gets -- and the baddies in this mystery dish out trouble aplenty. Fans of the series will continue to love this spirited, sassy heroine. I know I do. I’m giving TIDEWATER MURDER five rousing stars and look forward to the next installment by this talented author.

...more

flag Like · see review

Jul 29, 2014 Jeanie Bread rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed

When I started reading this book, Tidewater Murder, I realized that it seemed as though a commentator was describing the story background while the characters each had their own voice. The scenery descriptions and historical elements were authentic to Columbia, South Carolina, and its surrounding area. I was impressed by the author’s knowledge of, not only farming, but authenticity of southern colloquial expressions, as opposed to the northeast version I am familiar with.
Spade, responsible for i ...more

flag Like · see review

Jul 06, 2014 Donna Miller rated it it was amazing

It is often hard to enjoy a sequel without having read the previous books. This is not the case with C. Hope Clark's Tidewater Murder, the second book in her Tidewater Carolina Slade Mystery Series. The book rebuilds the personal life of Slade as she moves her two children following the death of her husband and a promotion to new town. Simultaneously, she receives news that her best friend, Savvy, who is also an employee of the Department of Agriculture, office is under an audit. Savvy is also p ...more

flag Like · see review

Jan 12, 2014 Judy rated it really liked it

In this second volume in the Carolina Slade mystery series, author Hope Clarke hones her skills as a novelist with great plotting, consistent character development, and a microscopic look at a world most of us know nothing about.

Clark is a former 25-year employee of the US Department of Agriculture, her husband a 30-year veteran of federal law enforcement. So it follows that her protagonist, Carolina Slade, is a rural loan manager for USDA. When her best friend, a loan manager in another county, ...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 29, 2014 Veronica Bergschneider rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Hope Clark's Tidewater Murder gives the reader another page-turner mystery in the Carolina Slade series. From beginning to end, the action never stops. Action comes both physically and emotionally in this book, giving it a more human quality than most mysteries.

Carolina Slade’s friendship with co-worker Savannah Conroy at the state Agriculture office takes the first test, which continues throughout the story. Others try repeatedly to remove Slade from the case due to her friendship, but she purs ...more

flag Like · see review

Oct 02, 2013 Linda Yezak rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery-suspense

Hope comes at her mystery from a different direction--not from professional law enforcement or from amateur sleuths, but from the direction of a federal investigator from the Department of Agriculture. Yep, this story took place in the world of tomatoes. And who knew how nerve-racking tomato crops could be?

When the papers for a loan sport different signatures, Slade's best friend, an ag agent in Beaufort, SC, becomes suspected of embezzlement and fraud. Slade investigates, intent on proving her ...more

flag Like · see review

May 20, 2014 Marci Martin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

It is hard to put down “Tidewater Murder”, the second book in the Carolina Slade mystery series. Author C Hope Clark writes with a fast-paced, page-a-minute style that keeps the story moving and the reader on edge. Every word, every sentence drives the story forward. As a follow up to “Lowcountry Bribe”, it builds on the suspense, crackling with anticipation in both plot and character.

Best friends, romantic interest with a professional conflict and single motherhood blend seamlessly in the prof ...more

flag Like · see review

Aug 12, 2014 Shelby rated it it was amazing

Normally I like to savor my mysteries. I restrict myself to reading one or two chapters a day. I can afford to do that since I feel like I have either purchased or borrowed nearly every American or British mystery ever written since 1974; I don’t feel in as much of a hurry to read every mystery ever written.
Having stated all this, I just want to say that I found it impossible to stick to my two chapter a day reading rule while reading Tidewater Murder by C. Hope Clark. Clark’s narrative flows l ...more

flag Like · see review

Oct 07, 2013 K.J. Pierce rated it it was amazing

C. Hope Clark’s Tidewater Murder finds Carolina Slade immersed in a far-reaching mystery that begins with an investigation into questionable loan paperwork that appears to finger her long-time friend Savannah as the culprit. Called on to investigate, Carolina has to navigate her friendship with Savvy, her relationship with Wayne Largo who has come in with the strong arm of the law, and her “what the hell is it anyway?” relationship with her co-worker Monroe and care for her children all while fi ...more

flag Like · see review

Apr 29, 2013 Kristine rated it really liked it

Full disclosure: I'm a Hope Clark fan. I've followed her Funds for Writers site and newsletter for years, and I love her editorials and voice. Her advice to writers is always sensible and right on, and I treasure that newsletter in my inbox! I absolutely loved her Shy Writer Reborn too, and when she came out with her first novel, Lowcountry Bribe, I was thrilled. It was a page-turner! The second in the series, Tidewater Murder, was also well-written. Clark is adept at narrating a story with skil ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 01, 2013 Nancy H Vest rated it really liked it

Tidewater Murder was a pleasant read for several reasons. The violence isn't overly graphic, but still makes it clear as to what is/has happened. The 'colorful' language is kept to a minimum, so that it's impactful when used. Also the characters are appropriately developed according to their part in the story (main vs. secondary).

Each character has specific traits unique to the character. For example, Carolina Slade uses nicknames for people like calling her Senior Special Agent boyfriend 'lawm ...more

flag Like · see review

Oct 05, 2013 Vickie rated it it was amazing

Tidewater Murder is the second book in C. Hope Clark’s Carolina Slade novels. I have to say that I think it is even better than the first novel, Lowcountry Bribe. Her characters are spot-on and full of personality. Each one of them is a fully drawn person that you think you might recognize if you ever saw them in South Carolina. Specifically well done is Slade herself. She’s not perfect, nor does she aspire to be. She goes and gets herself into a muddle because she reacts without thinking a prob ...more

flag Like · see review

Feb 28, 2014 Kirsten Silven rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Tidewater Murder, the second Carolina Slade novel by author C. Hope Great read with a well-developed setting, gripping plot and believable characters!

Clark, exceeds expectations and takes readers on a colorful journey into Slade's world as a federal agricultural investigator in the sequel to A Lowcountry Bribe.

The plot takes off when the heroine's best friend is suspected of fraud, challenging Slade's faith in her friend and her professional obligations. I fell in love with the characters from t ...more

flag Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
TideWater Murder	1	3	Jul 05, 2014 01:06PM

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Videos About This Book

Tidewater Murder, Book 2 Carolina Slade Mysteries

Add a comment

Genres

Mystery

10 users

American > Southern

3 users

Fiction

2 users

See top shelves…

About C. Hope Clark

C. Hope Clark

485 followers

C. Hope Clark was born and reared in the South, from Mississippi to South Carolina with a few stints in Alabama and Georgia. The granddaughter of a Mississippi cotton farmer, Hope holds a B.S. in Agriculture with honors from Clemson University and 25 years’ experience with the U. S. Department of Agriculture to include awards for her management, all of which enable her to talk the talk of Carolina C. Hope Clark was born and reared in the South, from Mississippi to South Carolina with a few stints in Alabama and Georgia. The granddaughter of a Mississippi cotton farmer, Hope holds a B.S. in Agriculture with honors from Clemson University and 25 years’ experience with the U. S. Department of Agriculture to include awards for her management, all of which enable her to talk the talk of Carolina Slade, the protagonist in most of her novels. Her love of writing, however, carried her up the ranks to the ability to retire young, and she left USDA to pen her stories and freelance.

Lowcountry Bribe‘s won several awards to include finalist status of the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense sponsored by Romance Writers of America. The novel enjoyed semi-finalist status (top 100 out of 10,000) in the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest. The book went on to win the 2012 Silver Falchion Award for Crime Fiction and the 2013 EPIC E-book Award for Best Mystery.

Tidewater Murder and Palmetto Poison followed close on Lowcountry's heels in the Carolina Slade series. Hope's recently released a new series, beginning with Murder on Edisto, of the Edisto Island Mysteries, followed by Edisto Jinx, with Echoes of Edisto and Affairs of Edisto forthcoming in 2016 and 2017..

Hope is married to a 30-year veteran of federal law enforcement, a Senior Special Agent, now a contract investigator. They met on a bribery investigation within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the basis for the opening scene to Lowcountry Bribe. Hope and her special agent live on the rural banks of Lake Murray outside of Chapin, South Carolina, forever spinning tales on their back porch, bourbon and coke in hand, when not tending a loveable flock of Orpington and Dominiquer hens.

She also currently manages FundsforWriters.com, a weekly newsletter service she founded that reaches almost 35,000 writers to include university professors, professional journalists and published mystery authors. Writer’s Digest has recognized the site in its annual 101 Best Web Sites for Writers for 16 years.

She’s published in The Writer Magazine, Writer’s Digest, Chicken Soup, Next Step Magazine, College Bound Teen, Voices of Youth Advocates (VOYA), TURF Magazine, Landscape Management and other trade and online publications. She speaks at several writers’ conferences a year. Hope is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, EPIC, International Thriller Writers, SE Writers Assoc. and MENSA. ...more