Mangrove Murders

Big Ben Mysteries #2

by Donn Fleming, Eli Blyden Sir. (Illustrator), dos Ene (Photographer)

There’s something happening here, what it is ain’t exactly clear …

What started out to be a fun Florida vacation for Chief of Police Big Ben Benson and his wife Carlene, gets blown away before they’re even off the plane from Boston. A woman is murdered at The Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota. In her pocket is a piece of paper with Carlene’s phone number scribbled on it. Yet, Big Ben’s wife has no idea who the dead woman is.
Meanwhile, bodies are piling up in the mangrove marshes of Southwest Florida. Cause of death? … some known, some unknown.
Are these events related? Big Ben shifts into cop mode to find out. But he’s not going to like what he’s about to a world-renown scientist who is mysteriously missing; a nefarious power group orchestrating a world-altering agenda; a seductive black widow assassin; questionable political maneuvering aimed at The White House; and an eccentric old hippie billionaire who knows more than she’ll tell.
The closer Big Ben gets to the truth, the more dangerous and unraveled his life becomes ...

360 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 4, 2015

Reviews

[Mark Mathes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book checks the boxes pretty well. Sarasota author who writes what he knows. Murder in chapter 2 at the Ringling Ca' d'Zan mansion. Intriguing recurring character: Chief Big Ben Benson in Chapter 3. He's back in Sarasota (SRQ to locals) from New England and his wife is entangled in the clue found with the murder vic. Terrific dialogue. Short chapters that hit the target and move on. Easy to read, whether in paperback (me) or ebook. Most chapters leave you hanging. What's next? Well, I'm circling back to Sarasota Sunrise, the earlier book. Because this one is neat.

[Leigh Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom found this book at a book sale in Venice FL, and this author is a local there. (though you can find this book on Amazon). I wanted something light to read between two heavier reads and I could not put this one down. It is a mystery, but there are so many webs off the main story, it keeps you guessing until the very end. I loved this book!!

[Cindy Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a story about Big Ben! Boy he gets into trouble! Lots of twists and turns. I like the way the characters are carried thru from one book to the other.
I’m looking forward to the next book.

[Ben · Rating 1 out of 5]

Painful to even finish. Stupid premise. It is clear that Fleming is a snowbird and has no clue of what Sarasota is actually about. Fleming wants so badly to be Randy Wayne White but doesn’t have the character development nor the writing chops. Dialogue is incredibly trite. His name dropping of places was a way too much. He references the very touristy places and doesn’t mention the actual local hangouts. Glad I got it used at a garage sale. I would have been upset had I paid full price for it. With some small changes it would be a great read for tweens who have not reached the correct grade level of reading. Do yourself a favor and let it stay in the 0.25 cent pile of books at the church garage sale.