Fisherman's Bend

Jane Bunker #2

by Linda Greenlaw

When former Miami homicide detective Jane Bunker left her big-city life for Green Haven, Maine, she thought she was also leaving behind the pollution, noise, and dead bodies. Well, as any New Englander will tell you, two out of three ain't bad. After solving a murder and surviving a couple of attempts on her life (recounted in the bestselling mystery Slipknot), Jane Bunker believes she's finally earned a respite from murder and intrigue. But if she thinks it's time for her to soak up the peace and quiet she's been seeking, she should think again. On her way back from a routine investigation into some smashed equipment, Jane takes a moment to appreciate the beauty of a Maine autumn ? there's the sublime rainbow foliage of the highlands, the serene reflections of the setting sun on the bay's gentle waves, the elegant silhouette of a lobster boat on the bay. But her calm lasts only as long as it takes for Jane to make the chilling discovery that the vessel is in serious trouble with nobody aboard ? and that its owner has vanished without a trace... And that's the least of the mysteries. A young mariner dead of a heroin overdose; the real agenda of a charismatic Indian leader; a missing bait iron and a corpse painted red ? nothing is what it seems.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Linda Greenlaw's three bestselling books about life as a commercial fisherman -- THE HUNGRY OCEAN (1999), THE LOBSTER CHRONICLES (2002) and ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS (2004) -- have climbed as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. She is the winner of the U.S. Maritime Literature Award in 2003, and the New England Book Award for nonfiction in 2004. Time Magazine called her 2005 RECIPES FROM A VERY SMALL ISLAND, co-authored with her mother Martha Greenlaw, a "must-have cookbook".

Before becoming a writer, Linda Greenlaw was the captain of a sword boat, the career that earned her a prominent role in Sebastian Junger's THE PERFECT STORM and a portrayal in the subsequent film. She has been featured on Good Morning America, Today, CBS Sunday Morning, The Martha Stewart Show, and National Public Radio. She now lives on Isle au Haut, Maine, where she captains a lobster boat.

When Linda Greenlaw confessed a desire to write fiction, readers responded with an enthusiastic "Please do!" At last, she satisfies their hunger with SLIPKNOT, a sharp-witted, compulsively readable mystery, the first in a series featuring marine investigator Jane Bunker. As she proved in THE HUNGRY OCEAN, no one knows the sea like Linda Greenlaw. And as she proved in THE LOBSTER CHRONICLES, no one has a better way with the telling details of Maine village life. SLIPKNOT delivers everything readers want: a great setting, wonderful characters, an authentic and original detective -- and a story that will keep them on the edge of their seats. (from the author's website)

Series:
* Jane Bunker Mystery

Reviews

[Ann Amadori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second novel by Linda Greenlaw about Jane Bunker, insurance investigator and now deputy ,shows improvement over her first book of fiction, Slipknot. I hope she writes more!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane is a former Miami Homicide detective who moved to Green Haven Maine to leave behind the noise and dead bodies. She goes to investigate some smashed equipment she sees a boat with no one aboard, there is also a young man dead of a heroin overdose. Nothing is as it seems and Jane finds herself in danger trying to figure it all out. The book would be better for people really interested in boating and fishing as a way of life.

[Jeffrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The second Jane Bunker novel from Linda Greenlaw exposes her problems as a writer. She does not or cares not to do dialogue. Most of the book is the internal thoughts of the main character Jane Bunker, who resides in Maine and is friends with the local diner girl. In this novel, a fisherman disappears and Bunker finds a dead guy in the water, but not the right dead guy so she has to investigate the death of one person and the disappearance of Parker Alley who seems to have a lot more money than normally is earned by a lobsterman. Greenlaw's description of the sea and ships and mariners is right on, but the detective part of the book is neatly solved in one fell swoop. Some of the characters in Maine look like keepers but Greenlaw needs to get a better handle on the detective investigating and learn to write dialogue.

[Claire - The Coffeeholic Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Jane Bunker mystery is just as thrilling as the first book, Slipknot, which I was able to read a couple of years ago. This time, while Jane is aboard Quest vessel, the owner of the vessel was nowhere to be found. And there's a dead mariner somewhere in the deck too, missing equipment, and a chilling red corpse. Armed with her wit and intense desire to investigate, Jane delved into the mysteries of the ship and found herself almost sinking to the bottom with no anchor to help her.

Intense, compelling, thrilling, Fisherman's Bend has it all. I couldn't put this hardbound book down! Linda Greenlaw is brilliant!

[Marca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The character of Jane Bunker's second outing. Insurance investigator and deputy sheriff Jane investigates a lobster boat found adrift. Jane is likable, pragmatic, and not nuts. I like her. All kinds of intrigue, including drugs, factor into this small-town mystery. I'll read more of Jane.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reread this book in anticipation of Greenlaw's new Jane Bunker tale "Shiver Hitch". I read with a somewhat critical eye after seeing that some reviewers commented on the lack of dialogue in this series. It is true that much of the story is told in first person narration of Jane Bunker's observations and thoughts about small town Maine life and commercial fishing. I honestly don't mind it as I think it is meant to reflect a main character that is isolated in a new situation and traditionally a loner. This book touches on a number of deep themes affecting small coastal towns and marine industries as did its predecessor "Slipknot". If I have any minor criticism for this series, it is that it often bites off a lot of deeply complex themes for a short thriller. However, Greenlaw's mastery of this seaside universe and willingness to let Jane Bunker see the many sides of each contentious topic usually solves this issue for me.

[Elinor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid three stars, meaning an enjoyable book if not outstanding. The setting was the best part, a fishing village in Maine, and the author Linda Greenlaw, being part of that world, relayed all kinds of interesting lore about boats and fishing practices. The mystery almost took a back seat to the ocean and the people who make their living from it.

This is the second book in a series. Publishers always hope that every book in a series will stand alone, but as a reader I always feel like I am late to the party if I don't start at the beginning, and this was no exception. I have not read the first Jane Bunker mystery and so it took extra effort to figure out who she was, and ignore the references to past events. So my advice is to start with the first book, Slipknot, before proceeding to this one.

[AngryGreyCat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slipknot and Fisherman’s Bend are first and second in the Jane Bunker Mystery Series. Jane Bunker is a ex-Miami detective recently relocated to Maine and starting a new career as a Marine Insurance Investigator. She has lots of water and boating experience as the author does in real life. In the course of her duties, she comes across crimes that she then investigates. The mysteries are well plotted and the action flows throughout the books. I would not really characterize them as “cozy” but they are not really gory or graphic either. Highly recommend, especially for anyone who enjoys Maine and/or boats.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good mystery in an different kind of setting- commercial fishing in a small town in Maine. Some quirky side characters - my favorite is the popular, young woman running the diner who verbally spars with all the regulars. Come to think of it, Jane Bunker, the main character is quirky, too. (But maybe we all are.) She’s an insurance investigator and a deputy sheriff. She’s a likable, complex character. The story is well paced. I will tell you one thing - you won’t want to be a pilot, one of those local guys who guide ships into a port, after reading this!

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second book in the Jane Bunker series, equally as good as the first. Enjoy the boating concept as I know nothing about it. Jane Bunker, the main character, is such a wealth of information and has such strength and tenacity as an insurance investigator and as a Deputy Sheriff. Set in Maine, the author gives nice descriptions of the area, waterways and the people that live there. I know, it's fiction, but can see where circumstances could be true. Moving on to another of her books that is non-fiction, The Lobster Chronicles. Thanks Linda Greenlaw, for such good reads!!!!!

[Richp · Rating 2 out of 5]

The setting was the best part. The plot was ordinary, and the protagonist hard to believe and hard to take. The style was copied from Sue Grafton's Kinsey No phone (thanks Google for the mangle), but Greenlaw is clearly the lesser at pulling it off. One criticism in some reviews was the quick ending; in this case it was a good idea. Greenlaw, to her credit, followed up by not writing any more of these.

BTW I did like her first two NF books.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book features Jane Bunker, a duputy sherrif and marine insurance investigator. The mystery centers on a missing fisherman believed dead, the search for his body and the strange bags of coffee beans that fill his freezer. The conclusion is exciting although the mystery does take time to develop as we are introduced to to a host of interesting characters who make up Jane's life in a seaside town in Maine.

[Theda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read, and I love that she always explains the particular knot at the end of her books.

Strong female character, intriguing mystery, set in a fishing / lobstering environment - which she does an excellent job of describing.

Memorable quote:
"Confidence and competence speak much louder than screams of discrimination."

[Tina hogan Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because I was able to relate t the fishing aspects of the story. Being a commercial fisherwoman for 10 years in the 90,s this book brought back many memories of my fishing days. Agreed with a little flat in some areas but overall a good read

[Jess Yeomans · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a mariner who lives in Maine, I always enjoy reading a Jane Bunker story in the summer. It’s an entertaining read. Greenlaw’s extensive knowledge of coastal Maine and the fishing industry make this series very entertaining for those who have ties to either.

[Carol Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still think her endings are a little abrupt, but otherwise, not a bad quick read.

[Susan Willis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this a lot until it ended rather abruptly. I still have questions.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in the series - I liked it just as much if not a tad better.

[Cindyanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book, as well as the third and fourth in this series. Just need to get the first one.

[Johnmarilyn Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a little lost with all of the boat & sailing references, but the ending was spectacular!!

[Conan Tigard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love a good mystery, and that is what Fisherman's Bend is . . . a good mystery. I did enjoy the nautical setting of this book, as most mystery books I have read take place on land. As for the main character, Jane Bunker, I never really warmed up to her. I feel that a reader needs to make a connection with the main character so that they will care what happens to them, and this never really occurred with me.

The storyline is a good one though, and it will keep readers wondering what exactly is going to happen next. The only other issue I had with this story was the paragraph format. I know that it seems weird to talk about something like this, but it really bothered me. As you can see from the excerpt above, the paragraphs seem long with dialog on the middle of them. From my experience, the paragraphs should have been broken up with the dialog on a new line to make the story flow a little easier. It just seemed kind of weird to me. Now, bear in mind that my copy was an advanced uncorrected proof, so this may have been fixed in the final revision. This may all be a mute point.

Overall, Fisherman's Bend was a good mystery that could have been better. I know I would have liked the story more if I had made a stronger connection with the main character. Still, the story has merits that a reader will enjoy, especially if you love ships and the ocean . . . oh, and of course . . . murder.

I rated this book a 7½ out of 10.

[Gabriel Vigna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought Fishermans Bend by Linda Greenlaw was a great book that gets you scooped up in a mystery, which would be the genre of this book. The main character is Jane Bunker, with a few helpers and important people. This book takes place in downeast Maine in a made up town called Green Haven near Acadia, and the conflict here is solving a mystery for a heroin overdose death. I think this book is great because it combines a mystery with a classic downeast Maine fishing village. I liked how this book included how Jane fit in with the others, how the characters were portrayed, and how her adventures were described. I think the book could have had more improvement by having a longer ending, but it is fine the way it is. I think people who like mystery would most enjoy the book. The book exceeded my expectations in that there was a lot going on, and I was always curious as to what happened next while reading this. This book in my opinion is a good read because it incorporates many things into the life of Jane Bunker, and this all has an effect on how her mission plays out.

[Goose · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read Fisherman's Bend, Linda Greenlaw's sophomore fiction outing, hoping it woud have improved from her first Jane Bunker mystery, Slipknot. I was surprised to find that it didn't. The plot partially reminded me of a Scooby Doo episode. The characters that were enough to carry Slipknot were either missing such as the landlords or were present but seemed to have lost the quirkiness that had made them interesting. The worst part, to me, was the dialogue or lack there of. When Greenlaw introdues one promising character she has Jane actually relate what was talked about instead of writing the dialogue.

Once again, Greenlaw seemed more interested in the technical aspects and terms of boats and sailing and less intrested in what actually moves a good mystery from start to finish. I don't mean to be stern or a pain in the aft but perhaps Hyperion could suggest a new nonfiction book to her. Pass on this unless you absolutely loved the first one or you are her neighbor.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

#2 in the Jane Bunker mystery series. This 2008 entry was also apparently the last in the series. Author Greenlaw is known for being the captain of a swordfishing boat she wrote about in "The Hungry Ocean" (1999). The boat was a sister ship to the one immortalized in "The Perfect Storm" of book and movie fame. Her foray into the mystery field was apparently of limited success.

Jane Bunker is now a deputy sheriff as well as an insurance investigator. While investigating vandalized instruments, Jane and Cal encounter an unmanned lobster boat going in circles. The aquaculture research vessel searches for and recovers a body where predicted, but the body is not that of the missing lobsterman, whose assets were cleaned out before he disappeared.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

There isn't much character development in this short who-dun-it.

I had read Linda Greenlaw's version of the story in "Perfect Storm" and "All Fishermen are Liars" and they are better than this. In the Author's Note at the end she talks about how she learned various things in writing this - the impression I have is that this novel was a vehicle for stringing together some things she found interesting but wasn't all that successful as a story.

This is the second novel she's done with this character. (I have not read the first.) Perhaps next time she'll think of some good things to do with her hero.

[Kathi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I was able to figure out the mystery way before the main character did....which really was a let down because the main character was a detective in Miami who supposedly as a hight "clear rate" according to her inner thoughts. So how come I was able to figure out that the "dead" guy was a smuggler just from the amount of coffee he had in his freezer and she couldn't. Maybe she needs to watch move Discover or TLC to know something as basic as smugglers use coffee beans to throw drug dogs off the scent.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this & would put it on par with Sara Paretsky's mysteries. If you love the state of Maine (or at least the Down East part) and/or you have an interest in coastal life (by that I mean sailing) this will be just what you're looking for.

Interesting note: I listened to this. I liked the reading though I thought the reader's voice a bit more "girly" than my image of Jane...however, she made a mistake in the first couple minutes of the audio. The reader says "returne to Miami" when the actual text (YES, I checked...I'm a librarian fer goshsakes) reads "returned to Maine."

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Linda Greenlaw has written some nonfiction books about her life as a swordfish boat captain and her life as a lobster boat captain on a small island in Maine. I'm drawn in by her writing, but even more so by her topics, especially her love of Maine and the water. So when I saw that she had a mystery series in the making, I decided to try it. Very enjoyable! She really pulls on her background knowledge to put in the fishing details in the story, and of course, the setting is Maine.

[Selma de Oliveira · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot was good. The setting very appealing and descriptive. I like the little town in Maine type of setting. Nevertheless, the way the story was told by the main character makes it sound like you are reading a diary, very blunt. This book lacks emotion, passion, a little more spice would have done the job. It gives the impression that it was created with puzzles of wrong pieces. The landlords and the waiter in the diner were nonsense characters.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I preferred Greenlaw's previous Jane Bunker mystery, Slipknot to Fisherman's Bend. This one ended a bit too abruptly with the solution literally on the last half page of the novel. That being said, I will probably end up reading the next one too. I really like the character and setting, and these books are fun, so they are a good summertime or airplane read.