Little Blue Whales: A Novel

by Kenneth R. Lewis

A random and sadistic killer stalks the summer beaches of Oregon at the height of the tourist season. An enigma to the local police, the already troubled town of Cutter Point, on the southern Oregon coast, is thrown into panic when the killer’s body count of abducted and murdered young boys begins to rise. As newly hired police chief Kevin Kearnes wages an uphill battle for control of his agency, fighting corrupt city officials and even some members of his own department, a chance meeting with a beautiful and secretive woman leads to love, giving the recently divorced and damaged Kearnes a sense of renewed hope about his future. That is, until an old horror from his past resurfaces, manifesting itself in the same murder cases he’s investigating, and he begins a slow descent into his own personal hell of fear and self-doubt over his ability to still do his job. Soon, the discovery and hidden meaning of a child’s innocent toy, found half buried in the sand at a crime scene, puts Kearnes, the woman he loves, and the killer himself on a deadly collision course. And Kevin Kearnes is about to learn that the most dangerous secrets to keep…are the ones you don’t even know you have.

454 pages, Paperback

First published March 2, 2009

About the author

Ken Lewis lives with his wife JaNell and their two dogs, Chewie, and Lindie, in the small town of Rogue River, Oregon where he is the chief of police. His first novel, Little Blue Whales, was the Public Safety Writers Association 2010 Grand Prize Winner for Fiction. In 2012, his second crime novel, The Sparrow’s Blade, won an Eric Hoffer award for commercial fiction. Born in Idaho, Ken has been an avid outdoorsman all of his life, and when not working he can be found most days in fall and winter hunting wild game both large, and small, with a rifle or bow.

Reviews

[Patricia]

When Kevin Kearnes decided to leave Kansas and start a new life as Chief of Police in Cutter’s Point, Oregon he had no idea that the events in Cutter Point would send Kearnes on a trip through his past to reveal a secret that he had hidden from everyone including himself.

Kearnes arrived in Cutter Point to find that he was just the most recent person to fill the position of Chief of Police. It seems there had been a large turnover in the office of Chief of Police. This was probably due to the city officials who put their personal interests first and the good of the town second. Kearnes soon learned he had one good officer on his staff and that was Thud Compton. Thud was pleased with Kearnes arrival and had been optimistic that between the two of them the Police Department could be made into a force to make the town proud.

An incident involving a whale led Kearnes to meet Britt McGraw. His attraction to her was immediate. Britt is a beautiful woman and obviously has some secrets of her own. Kearnes found it difficult but not impossible to get close to Britt.

Tragedy struck in the form of a serial killer that is attacking children on the beaches of Oregon. As the investigation progressed, Kearnes felt that there was some memory from his past that had a bearing on the killings but that memory was just out of his reach. The killer has been perfecting his technique for years and has reached the point where few clues are left for the police to follow. The reader gets a peek into the twisted mind of the killer, Uriah Daniel Beck.

This is a debut novel with strong characters and an exciting story. Kearnes and Compton would make interesting characters for future novels.

Review first posted on www.armchairinterviews.com

[Julie Dolcemaschio]

With so many books out now with dull story lines, boring characters, and dialog no real person would ever speak, Little Blue Whales was a nice surprise.

Kevin Kearnes is the new police chief of Cutters Point, Oregon, a small seaside town. The story begins with the chief in a psychiatrists office, and from there we lean what landed him there, sporting a limp and a cane. The chief's past, long buried, resurfaces as he chases a serial killer/pedophile intent on ridding the town of pre-pubescent boys. The details of the murders can be hard to take, but for me it was this attention to detail that made the character of the killer so strong. The other characters, from the chief's right hand cop, Thud, to his love interest, Britt McGraw, leave you wanting more from these people. The scenery, the Oregon coast, makes you want to visit, especially after an endearing scene with Kevin and Britt collecting agates along the beach.

But it is Kevin Kearnes' long-repressed memory of an unspeakable childhood trauma that keeps readers riveted and turning pages as fast as they can to get to the next scene.

The scene, over two chapters, of a beached whale being blown up, is right out of a Joseph Wambaugh tale. As it unfolds, Lewis turns a tale of what was probably a good idea at the time into total chaos. I laughed through the whole thing.

Ken Lewis has a nice series going here, if he so chooses. I hope so, and I am guessing most readers will agree.

[Darcia Helle]

What happens when the future path you're on collides with the past you've buried deep? Little Blue Whales tackles that question and more. Ken Lewis' debut novel is fast-paced suspense with a few curves thrown in to keep you guessing. The characters drew me into their world and made me want to travel along with them. I'm looking forward to the upcoming sequel!

[Jason Fleming]

I really enjoyed the story - well planned, strong characters. Normally I would have given it four...but I had to take a star off because of the multitude of grammar issues.

[Kenneth R. Lewis]

What did I think? After working on this book for SEVEN years, I thought I'd never finish it! But I did.