Red Herring

I recently had the opportunity to meet Clyde Ford while touring a Norhavan boat at the Seattle Boat Show (they love him!). As an avid reader of crime thrillers, I was intrigued with the concept of not only a mystery that takes place among boats, but in the very waters that we are boating. How unique! So I couldn't help but want to check Mr. Ford's books out. But must admit, as a lover of Michael Connelly, I have high expectations, and was afraid they might be unmet. They weren't. What a wonderful treat. To have a writer who could continue the drama and tension throughout the book with extraordinary writing and character development ... and at the same time ... take me to places we had seen in our own GB 46 was such fun. I highly recommend Ford's books to boaters and non-boaters alike. In fact, after reading his books, you may just want to go out and buy yourself a trawler!

If you enjoy intricately woven mysteries this is definitely one worth checking out, especially if you like a well crafted sense of place. Ford knows and loves boats and the waters around Bellingham and the San Juans and through his story you can feel the beauty and the challenges of the place that engender such strong passions. Ford's protagonists really struck a chord with me. I admire his skill at reflecting the complexities of his characters and their struggles to reconcile duty, honor, and integrity -- like so many a good yarn this one ends to soon. Thankfully there is plenty to keep chewing on while we wait for Charlie Noble's next adventure to begin. I hope he keeps gunkholing around the San Juans for a long time to come.

Carefully tuned and finely paced, this is a totally satisfying, modern, page-turning, mystery. The characters are well-crafted, and the dialogue weaves with the sizzling action seamlessly, like a musical prelude. The vivid descriptions of the Vancouver/Bellingham coastal islands, however, leave you breathless and wanting to jump aboard the nearest boat. I'm already a Charlie Nobel fan, I can't wait for the next installment to hit the shelves.

I thoroughly enjoyed this Charlie Noble novel by Clyde W Ford. You have the feeling that you are actually cruising the waters around Bellingham, WA. Character descriptions are excellent. I finished the tale in just over two days because I could not put it down. I eagerly look forward to future books in this series.