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Jay Leicester #2
Some People Die Quick
Jay Leicester, a retired airline pilot now running his own investigation firm, is sent a client by his old friend Guy Robbins, an attorney on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. The client is a horribly disfigured young female marine biologist who is Director of a research lab on Cat Island, twelve miles off the coast of Gulfport. Her disfigurement is the result of an attack by a tiger shark during a dive to the wreck of a World War Two German submarine sank during the war by the U.S. Navy off the coast of Chandeleur Island.
During a two year recovery period the scientist becomes convinced the attack was orchestrated by someone who wanted to steal the formula for a shark repellent being developed at the research lab. The repellent, if perfected, would be worth billions of dollars. How a pelagic shark could be used to attack a specific diver in the open ocean becomes the enigma behind the investigation of this mystery thriller.
One of the most enigmatic characters is the marine biologist herself. Annatoo Yillah, a direct descendant of Polynesian parents, is as strange as she is intelligent. A woman who, though educated in the west, believes she is an ancient God of Tiburon - a shark god. Other characters in the work Anna Yillah's two research assistants, George Lenoir and Vickey Fourche, brilliant graduate students from Mississippi State University, who worship and learn at the feet of their mentor; Susan Weems, a lifelong friend and former colleague of Anna Yillah, enters the scene with a bizarre tale of love and friendship; a career criminal and shrimp fisherman, Bob Sabado, who is tied to the lab by unrequited love. Then we meet Hebrone Opshinsky, one of those unforgettable characters that linger on in our mind forever. An "in-country" Viet Nam soldier trained as a silent killer and put back on the street after the war without any indoctrination in how to adjust to a peaceful society. A man who is more deadly than all the sharks in the Gulf of Mexico and lives among the underbelly of the shrimp fishermen along the docks of the Mississippi Coast. Finally, we meet a Police Detective and a Chief of Police who could not be more different in their investigative techniques. Both think Jay Leicester may be responsible for three murders and an attempt at a fourth.
After meeting with Anna Yillah and conferring with Guy Robbins, Jay takes the case and accompanies her to Cat Island. Understanding why a brilliant research scientist could believe an attack in the open ocean by a shark could be purposefully accomplished is the first priority. He learned quickly that not only was it possible, but that it was exactly what had happened.With hundreds of visiting scientists rotating on and off the island doing research, the list of possible suspects seems insurmountable, but soon is narrowed to a select few. To expose the antagonist Anna and Jay recreate the original dive on the German submarine. It goes horribly wrong resulting in a ghastly death and failing to reveal a murderer. Starting over, Leicester finds an unlikely ally in an original suspect. This assistance leads to the discovery of the killer, but not before another innocent life is lost, and Jay is confronted with his own mortality.
Pristine offshore islands, coastlines ruined by casino hotels, and Gulf of Mexico waters is the setting for intrigue, horror, and quick death. A must read for any aficionado of the Mystery/Thriller genre.
There are 10 ebooks in the Jay Leicester Mysteries Series by JC
Blood on the Vine
Some People Die Quick
Blind Overlook
Icy Blue Descent
The Electra File
Popping the Shine
Four Nines Fine
The Underground Lady
Akel Dama
The Candela of Cancri
During a two year recovery period the scientist becomes convinced the attack was orchestrated by someone who wanted to steal the formula for a shark repellent being developed at the research lab. The repellent, if perfected, would be worth billions of dollars. How a pelagic shark could be used to attack a specific diver in the open ocean becomes the enigma behind the investigation of this mystery thriller.
One of the most enigmatic characters is the marine biologist herself. Annatoo Yillah, a direct descendant of Polynesian parents, is as strange as she is intelligent. A woman who, though educated in the west, believes she is an ancient God of Tiburon - a shark god. Other characters in the work Anna Yillah's two research assistants, George Lenoir and Vickey Fourche, brilliant graduate students from Mississippi State University, who worship and learn at the feet of their mentor; Susan Weems, a lifelong friend and former colleague of Anna Yillah, enters the scene with a bizarre tale of love and friendship; a career criminal and shrimp fisherman, Bob Sabado, who is tied to the lab by unrequited love. Then we meet Hebrone Opshinsky, one of those unforgettable characters that linger on in our mind forever. An "in-country" Viet Nam soldier trained as a silent killer and put back on the street after the war without any indoctrination in how to adjust to a peaceful society. A man who is more deadly than all the sharks in the Gulf of Mexico and lives among the underbelly of the shrimp fishermen along the docks of the Mississippi Coast. Finally, we meet a Police Detective and a Chief of Police who could not be more different in their investigative techniques. Both think Jay Leicester may be responsible for three murders and an attempt at a fourth.
After meeting with Anna Yillah and conferring with Guy Robbins, Jay takes the case and accompanies her to Cat Island. Understanding why a brilliant research scientist could believe an attack in the open ocean by a shark could be purposefully accomplished is the first priority. He learned quickly that not only was it possible, but that it was exactly what had happened.With hundreds of visiting scientists rotating on and off the island doing research, the list of possible suspects seems insurmountable, but soon is narrowed to a select few. To expose the antagonist Anna and Jay recreate the original dive on the German submarine. It goes horribly wrong resulting in a ghastly death and failing to reveal a murderer. Starting over, Leicester finds an unlikely ally in an original suspect. This assistance leads to the discovery of the killer, but not before another innocent life is lost, and Jay is confronted with his own mortality.
Pristine offshore islands, coastlines ruined by casino hotels, and Gulf of Mexico waters is the setting for intrigue, horror, and quick death. A must read for any aficionado of the Mystery/Thriller genre.
There are 10 ebooks in the Jay Leicester Mysteries Series by JC
Blood on the Vine
Some People Die Quick
Blind Overlook
Icy Blue Descent
The Electra File
Popping the Shine
Four Nines Fine
The Underground Lady
Akel Dama
The Candela of Cancri
172 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 31, 2020
Good read
The plot, the characters and the setting made this a good read. It will keep you interested in what happens next.
The plot, the characters and the setting made this a good read. It will keep you interested in what happens next.
September 7, 2013
This was my first look at Mr. Simmons work. I enjoyed the author’s description of the geography of the Mississippi gulf. It sounds like an interesting and beautiful area. The book was exciting at times and fast moving, and kept me guessing until the end. If his description of the way people study sharks is anywhere near reality, I think the researchers have to be either the bravest people in the world or absolutely loony.
Mr. Simmons dwelt to excess on eyes. His protagonist could apparently read the characters of everyone he encountered just by looking into their eyes. Except for the murderer, of course.
Some of my criticisms of this book are simply personal preferences. Most of the time, the main character expresses social and political views that I respond well to, and he isn’t overly macho, which I expect in many PI books written by men. His women are a bit too perfect, however, and he sometimes comes across as pretentious and pedantic.
The author’s editor needed to give it another try; I, just reading casually, found quite a few errors in spelling, diction, and grammar. For instance, he used the term ‘in lieu’ instead of ‘because of’ or ‘considering’ to show why people were leaving a social gathering. And he called a place to sleep on a boat a ‘birth’ instead of ‘berth’. (Forgive me if I’m showing my ignorance.) And there was a multitude of run-on, awkward, and convoluted sentences that were out of place in a book that is otherwise well written. It’s almost as though he didn’t have this book copy edited.
On a personal note, I was surprised that a self-proclaimed wine connoisseur would drink Freixinet sparkling wine rather than veuve Clicquot or one of the other fine champagnes. Don’t get me wrong; Freixinet is a perfectly good wine for every day, and it’s a quarter of the price of veuve Clicquot. And to do him credit, he did offer a good one to the lady who knew fine wine. But I must say that listening to them display their wine expertise at length was irritating. Maybe because I can’t keep up. But champagne before dinner and cognac for afters didn’t ring true to me. As a dedicated champagne toper, I have found that most people in a social gathering prefer still wine or cocktails to champagne before dinner, and nobody wants afters.
All of which has nothing at all to do with a review of Some People Die Quick, which I am giving 3 ½ stars.
Mr. Simmons dwelt to excess on eyes. His protagonist could apparently read the characters of everyone he encountered just by looking into their eyes. Except for the murderer, of course.
Some of my criticisms of this book are simply personal preferences. Most of the time, the main character expresses social and political views that I respond well to, and he isn’t overly macho, which I expect in many PI books written by men. His women are a bit too perfect, however, and he sometimes comes across as pretentious and pedantic.
The author’s editor needed to give it another try; I, just reading casually, found quite a few errors in spelling, diction, and grammar. For instance, he used the term ‘in lieu’ instead of ‘because of’ or ‘considering’ to show why people were leaving a social gathering. And he called a place to sleep on a boat a ‘birth’ instead of ‘berth’. (Forgive me if I’m showing my ignorance.) And there was a multitude of run-on, awkward, and convoluted sentences that were out of place in a book that is otherwise well written. It’s almost as though he didn’t have this book copy edited.
On a personal note, I was surprised that a self-proclaimed wine connoisseur would drink Freixinet sparkling wine rather than veuve Clicquot or one of the other fine champagnes. Don’t get me wrong; Freixinet is a perfectly good wine for every day, and it’s a quarter of the price of veuve Clicquot. And to do him credit, he did offer a good one to the lady who knew fine wine. But I must say that listening to them display their wine expertise at length was irritating. Maybe because I can’t keep up. But champagne before dinner and cognac for afters didn’t ring true to me. As a dedicated champagne toper, I have found that most people in a social gathering prefer still wine or cocktails to champagne before dinner, and nobody wants afters.
All of which has nothing at all to do with a review of Some People Die Quick, which I am giving 3 ½ stars.
June 26, 2012
Sometimes I read a book and it just settles around me like an old flannel housecoat. JC Simmons does that to me. He is my modern day John D. MacDonald. Jay is my Travis McGee and I think the Memoirs ( a boat in book 5) will eventually become the Busted Flush. He deserves a place on my Kindle and his own file. I am so very glad I found this author, cause I seriously miss Travis.
May 5, 2013
Not a fan of sharks in any way, but this was a good story. A little gory in places and didn't like it as much as "Akel Dama", but I will definitely be reading more of Simmons' books. I rated it 4.2 stars; Jim finished it 6-30-13 and rated it 4.3.
July 9, 2012
An interesting who done it. It reads fast and the plot kept my attention. Simmons uses many nautical terms which I had to look up. Of course, much of this book takes place in and around boats.
May 16, 2015
Quick read
A good solid mystery without the need to spice it up with a romanticized plot.I look forward to reading more of this authors work.
A good solid mystery without the need to spice it up with a romanticized plot.I look forward to reading more of this authors work.
August 9, 2016
Really enjoyed this book. Lots of misspellings, however.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews