Dead Reckoning (The Still Waters Suspense Series Book 1)

Very disappointed. Funny - I was enjoying the book all the way up to the end - which had a surprise twist I certainly hadn't seen coming. But I really disliked the way that final resolution was handled by the characters. I can't say much more without committing a spoiler, which I dont want to do. But the message this book sends is, as far as I'm concerned, exactly the wrong one. I know this: I'll think long and hard before I buy any more books in this series - even though I loved, bought and enjoyed all the other books in the series that preceded this one.

And one more thing, while I'm at it :). The way to my heart - or to gain access to my "I'll buy any book you write" list - does NOT include protagonists who treat their pets with disdain. There was no animal abuse - as such. Just a man who made no pretense about loathing his cat. If he hated and resented the cat that much, it would have been better to find a loving home for it than subject the poor thing to so much overt loathing.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book until the end where everyone loses. It doesn’t make sense. The sheriff was murdered. He did Not commit suicide, so why doesn’t the wife get the money? If he committed suicide then Tommy is not a murderer...can’t have it both ways. Or am I missing something?
That said...great characters and well woven story.

Another excellent novel by Dawn Lee and Axel. They weave a suspenseful trail through the Florida panhandle that will keep the reader turning pages and wanting more. The characters are real and believable and the relationships intertwined just as you would find in any small rural town along the Gulf Coast. A great storyline that makes us anticipate each new book in the series.

I have read and enjoyed all of the Forgotten Coast books. So, I looked forward to reading this book about Evan Caldwell, who had been introduced in one of the earlier books. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations, in large part because there were so many errors that should have been caught by anyone reading the book before printing.

Other readers have mentioned plot inconsistencies, so I won't repeat those here. The authors thanked their editor in the dedication, but I cannot believe anyone did any proofing. Many sentences either had extra words of were missing words, and some spelling or usage errors were also noted. For example, someone was said to have "turned on his heal," when the correct phrase is turned on his heel. The sheriff who was murdered at the beginning of the book is referred to as Hutch most of the time. Maybe that's because the authors didn't decide how to spell his full name. Sometimes it was Hutchins and sometimes it was Hutchens. In one chapter , several paragraphs were repeated on two consecutive pages. At furst, I assumed I had just not but the correct button on my Kindle, and only thought I had turned the page. But closer inspection revealed that the same paragraphs were copied in full on those two pages.

I think that some of the characters in this story may turn out to be explored more fully in the second booj, and I look forward to that. I can only hope that more attention is paid to ensuring that readers have a book free of careless errors and plot inconsistencies next time.

Dead Reckoning: A Still Waters Suspense Thriller Book 1 is by Dawn Lee McKenna and Alex Blackwell. This series takes place in the Florida Panhandle in Gulf County, Florida in the Dead Lakes Recreation Area. Two men out hunting for coons made a terrible discovery. They found the dead body of Sheriff Ryan Hutchins.
Evan Caldwell had transferred from Miami, Florida to be near the nursing home where his wife, Hannah, was living. She had been transferred here when she wasn’t regaining consciousness after an accident. Although she had the accident on her lover’s boat, Evan still cared for her. Now he is called out to solve the murder of his boss.
Evan has to figure out who killed the sheriff but at the same downplay his appointment by the County Commissioners to interim sheriff. He has to walk a thin line to show his support for ex-sheriff and fit himself into his new role. With the help of Chief Beckett of the neighboring county, he works diligently to find the murderer.
Can he do this without antagonizing his own men and the commissioners as well as the sheriff of the next county?

The lead character, Evan, was introduced in Dawn Lee McKennas's series about Appalachacola Florida, the female police detective and chief, their families and those close to them.
Evan went to work a couple months ago at the sheriffs department in a nearby town. His main reason for relocating was his wife, Hannah, who was living in a nursing home there, comatose after hitting her head getting off her boyfriends boat.
The story opens with the sheriff found murdered in a deserted area. The town council appointed Even sheriff and assigned him to solve the case.
The book introduces several characters who seem like they will be carried over if the series continues. Goff, Beckett, Vi and the female CSI all seem to be good for that.
The book was well written and kept the mystery going, leading to an interesting conclusion. I appreciated that the crime was not solved as purely black and white.
I hope the series will allow Hannah to pass away. It was a good device to explain Evan leaving his city job but I personally have a difficult time keeping people alive in this way. No explanation I remember, such as brain activity was mentioned as a reason for that.

I know I recognize our lead character from a brief glimpse in The Forgotten Coast Florida Suspense Series. That brief glimpse from that excellent series has spun off in what promises to be another fantastic series here! I thoroughly enjoyed this book with all it's quirky characters, the murder/mystery, the demon cat and a whole host of fabulous opportunities and ways the characters and the series itself could go. The murder/mystery itself was intriguing. I never did figure it out and that, in itself, is rare. Excellent. I can't wait for more!

I was so apprehensive about having someone else writing with my favorite writer, but turns out they're a wonderful team. There's enough of a mixture of feminine and masculine to keep the story moving right along. Try as I may, I could only string it out about 2 days. I kept wanting to pick it up and keep reading.

The story line was great. Characters were interesting and well thought out.

I would highly recommend this as a good read, but you be the judge and give it a go.

After reading nine of the Forgotten Coast series, I decided to try Dawn's new series. I wasn't expecting to like it as well since Evan didn't seem to be an interesting character in her other books. However, I think I actually like this series better. I've also read the second book in the series and can't wait for the third one. I noticed a little difference in the writing style and couldn't figure out why until I saw there was a co-author. I have lived my entire life just an hour or so from these locations and own property near St. Joe as well. It's fun being able to actually visualize how the locations look while reading since I'm so familiar with the area. Dawn obviously has a huge following and everyone loves her, so I hesitate to mention this, but I didn't miss "Stoopid" in this series. Keep up the good work, Dawn.

I really enjoyed meeting and getting to more background on Evan Caldwell, since was first in the Forgotten Coast Series, book 5. I like the characters and all the complexities that comes across! I will say that the ending threw me as I wasn't that big of a twist and then very sharp detour as well to throw a little confusion and suspicion in the mix! This is a book you should definitely check out, it will not disappoint!

Excellent police procedural; plotting is first rate, better than what you'll find in most NYT bestsellers. Characters are interesting, human, and for the most part, people you'll feel you want to know. Or avoid. As in lock the doors, load the 12-gauge avoid. Twist at the end you never saw coming.
One minor quibble; editing errors.
Read the book, read the others he's written (and don't forget Dawn's Forgotten Coast series). They're as good as mysteries get.

McKenna & Blackwell team up taking a character from McKenna’s ‘Forgotten Coast” series, Deputy Lieutenant Evan Caldwell who is thrown into the Sheriffs position to investigate the murder of his former boss and former Police Sheriff. The story line is as much about the efforts and hardships of Caldwell’s ability to earn the respect and support of the other officers in a small Florida town, a sit is about solving a murder. Characters are well developed in this quick read having as plausible plot.

I've decided that there are no better authors when it comes to character development. I feel like I know the various characters very well. I've read a few books written by Dawn Lee McKenna and enjoyed them tremendously. Looks like I'll be adding Alex Blackwell to my list. I do, however, wonder how two authors collaborate successfully. Guess that will always be a mystery (no pun intended) to me.

Love this....I have read Dawn Lee’s Florida series, & am anxiously waiting for more of those. I’m happy to report that this new series is just as enjoyable. There was even a tiny reference to a couple of characters in the other series, which tickled me to no end.
More please!!!????

Subtle hints tend to make main character, Evan, a lawman who left a Miami and ran to a small town to come to terms with his domestic past, hard to get to know. Really wanting to be left alone, he ends up being the head of a murder investigation that gets solved despite his lack of popularity. Quick read with an ending that is unexpected. Felt like the characters could have been better developed.

LOVE everything Dawn Lee McKenna has written. This new Florida mystery series, written with Alex Blackwell, remains true to McKenna's unique voice. She has found a great writing partner. Lots of mystery, lots of humor, such great dialogue and of course Plutes the cat. Easy read and hard to put down..If you haven't read Forgotten Coast Florida Suspense series or See You, you are in for a treat.

When a well liked small town Fla sheriff is found shot to death it's anyone's guess who is responsible. But like all small towns there is a world of secrets that lurk just below the sleepy surface. I could not stop reading this dark suspenseful tale.

One of the best mystery writers out there brings us a new series based in Florida on the Gulf Coast. Dawn Lee McKenna has a way with words that make you feel like you are right there in the story. So many mystery plots are so predictable, but not this authors. There is always a twist.

Fans of MsMcKenna's Forgotten Coast Florida Suspense Series will welcome this new series in collaboration with Axel Blackwell. Great characters, great writing, excellent plot all rolled into a heck of a great story. Looking forward to book 2.

McKenna & Blackwell team up to create an unstoppable force in this police procedural/mystery.

Well written characters who are genuinely interesting and a creative and dynamic plot make this book difficult to put down. Evan Caldwell is one of those characters you will not be able to get enough of.

I highly recommend this book to fans of the genre.

This book was a little darker than the Forgotten Coast series, which I read first. However, the tone does fit with the main character's frame of mind given the difficult situation he currently lives in. The mystery was compelling to read and even though the ending was sad it was thought provoking. I only gave it 4 stars because the number of typos in this book was distracting, especially when the last name of one of the characters, Hutchins, was spelled as Hutchens twice! It's my maiden name so it really stood out to me. There were several typos in some of the Forgotten Coast books as well. I am looking forward to reading more in both series but I hope the editing improves.

Well written. Really liked the main character, as well all the characters. Story was interesting, and surprising. I didn't guess what happened. Would like to read more of this character. Can't wait for more of the series. Kind of reminded me of the Jessie in Paradise books by Robert Parker.

This story not only captures the character of the Port St. Joe area, but it is also very well written, and the ending will surprise most readers. I think this book should get wider distribution and even be put on some of the national book ratings sites. Dawn Lee's Apalachicola books were very good, but this one is even better.

If you have read Forgotten Coast ,Florida Suspense Series, then read this new mystery by the same author and in the FLorida Panhandle . It was an interesting murder , with lots of conflicting clues and a completely unexpected ending. Good read!!

Except you can tell the portions of the book that she didn't write. Her quirky sense of humor just doesn't shine through in those parts. But that doesn't change the fact that this was a good piece of storytelling, and a fine murder mystery. On to the next book!

I liked the storyline, the edgy unease with being the new guy put in charge, and didn't see the ending coming. But the loose ends such as missing file and missing cash were confusing, and the too numerous piddly typos were irksome.

One wonders if the tragedy of Hurricane Irma has erased a small Florida town with a Acting Sheriff like Evan or even Baxter. It would be a shame because they represent the humanity that we sometimes overlook. I hope not. This is a great snapshot of a community we would be lost without.

Another new favorite series from one of my favorite authors. I loved the characters and the humor in this book and I'm diving right into the second book as soon as I'm done writing this review. Keep 'em coming!

Dead Reckonig is a great book with a surprising end. It gave new meaning to the old adage of always getting your man. The author has a very interesting way of writing. I would give this book 5 stars.

Engaging writing style here. Good police works as the crime have me interested. However the loose ending is a real downer. And I can’t stand that destructive cat, Evan should just get rid of it , lol.

I gave the book five stars because the author gives the reader insight into how police procedure works and ultimately what is right. Things aren't always exactly black and white and the reader comes to understand this concept through the narrative. Recommend

Well done, just kept reading but still went wow when I got to the end of the book! Loved the rich characters and tiny crossover from the Florida Suspense series. Loved see a minor character from that series become the focal point. Wish the Sheriff name was consistent, kept wondering if that was the process with two authors, but that was minor.

Real Florida Crackers and displaced Florida transplants in a well written murder mystery that oozes with realism that jumps off the page for anyone that has spent any time in Wewa, Port St. Joe, Applach. Well written, good plot and hard to put down.

These are marvelous, authentic characters in an interesting setting. The plot has the usual twists that feature in every good mystery, but by far it is the sheriff and his relationships that make me eager yo read the next book in the series.

This story really had a lot of twists and turns. The cast of characters were very interesting and very intriguing as they meet and work with the new 'sheriff'. Looking forward to seeing how the continuing story plays out.

Really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the series.....started reading it on Kindle and LIKING it before I noticed the (co) author . What a pleasant surprise as I also thoroughly enjoyed the Forgotten Coast series.......looking forward to more of them as well. Really like the crossover. Well done, Ms McKenna, and thank you!

Almost stopped reading it after first few pages as it felt like the authors were trying to over impress with how many words and nuances they could introduce. Not being an easy quitter, I stayed with it and happy I did. Ultimately enjoyed the character and situation development, seemingly rang true to what the people we never hear about may face. Left just enough unanswered to lead to next book, and interest me in same. As with everything I read, and I read several books a week, I am "mentally jarred" by the spelling errors (spellcheck is not always your friend) and incorrect word usage. Once I shake my head and remember that spelling and composition are no longer taught as they were "in my day", I move on and enjoy the story. Thank you.

Didnt really see the final ending which was outstanding .....sometimes the book can take a quick left or right on tge storyline and the plot thickens This would be a gtreat example.... good at lunch read or maybe just for the weekend

Thoroughly enjoyed the trials presented to Evan Caldwell and can't wait to read the second book in this series. It will keep you I interested till the end but not so much that you can't put it down. I would definitely but the next book.