Listen to the Dead

Cape Island Mystery #5

by Randall Peffer

Harbormaster Corby Church enlists the aid of young police detective Yemanjâa Colâo to investigate after he finds human bones on Bird Island.

Genres: Mystery

353 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2010

About the author

Randall Peffer is the author of over 300 travel-lifestyle features for magazines like National Geographic, Smithsonian, Reader's Digest, Travel Holiday, Islands and Sail; he teaches writing and literature at Philips Academy in Andover.

Reviews

[Grey853]

When the skeleton of a young woman is found along the beach, a murder investigation begins. It brings together the harbormaster Church and Detective Colon as they dig through a boatload of lies, Church's included.

This book is written in a present tense and also flashes back and forth in time as it tells the tragic story of a woman's death. I normally avoid present tense books, but this grabbed my attention early and didn't let go. It's a real page-turner, something that's not easy to find these days.

[Diana Maculan]

3.5 stars. Author does a good job setting the tone in this engaging mystery. Harbormaster Corby Church comes across old skeletal remains while checking on the lighthouse of Bird Island. Detective Yemanjá Colon is assigned to the case and slowly finds herself attracted to Church, while at the same time afraid that he might be more than accidentally involved. Church's past uncovers a tangled web of unsavory characters and nefarious activities. Story goes back and forth from present to past, interwoven with Colon hearing the voice of the dead Remy. She uses what she hears, along with help of her grandmother, to help piece together various clues to solve the murder. The approach, while interesting, lost some of its flavor with me after a while. I did want the murderer uncovered (turned out to be whom I suspected) and hung on with it to the end. Liked the Colon and Church paring, as well as Colon's partner. Ending was a bit different, slightly unanswered with regards to Bitsy.

[Beth]

Actually a 2.5, I’m being generous with the 3. Story was good but too much involving spirits and seeing things with the dead, etc for me. Will not read more from this author.

[Shiela]

Atmospheric, well paced. Not a standout.

[Mara Sierocinski]

I got this from the library- not my usual picks but snowstorm coming- I got caught up in it. Not sure I liked any of the characters but wondered who was going to be the murderer - interesting going back and forth between now and 25 years ago. I'll probably try another of his books.

[Lee Howlett]

Really liked this murder mystery set on Cape Cod. It's based on a true story and Art Carlson does a terrific job narrating it. He reads like an old friend telling you a story.

[Sara]

What a crazy web that was woven in this murder mystery. I had no idea who the killer was.

[Schannon Mccloud]

I really liked this book. I like how the unsolved murders were tied into it and the legend of William Moore and his wife. very good.

[Carrie]

Pass.

[John Machata]

Did not work for me. Not terrible, but did not gel.