Sand Sharks (A Deborah Knott Mystery, 15)

Before starting this review I read some of the others, and I can't really argue with any of them. A lot depends on one's expectations, I think. I only looked forward to the 15th of a series I've enjoyed; Judge Deborah Knott has kept me interested all this time and continued to do so. To really enjoy the book, the reader should have read at least number one, "The Bootlegger's Daughter." It helps to know that the judge is the youngest of 12 children of Kezzie Knott, a North Carolina bootlegger, now retired (we hope). Also, that she is the only daughter. From that start, all sorts of interesting stories flow. If possible, it would be useful to find one of the series that has a family tree to examine to keep everyone straight. The latest book stands on its own, but knowing what has gone before adds context and richness to the story so that it doesn't seem lacking in detail. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, white space included. Lately I have bogged down in books that offer too much detail; so I'm happy with a book that tells the story of four days in less time than that. And I'm looking forward to number 16!

When Judge Deborah Knott decides to attend the Spring Conference of Judges what she is seeking is a little beach time, a chance to mix and mingle with her friends and peers plus grab an insight on all the updates to the judicial system. What she never expected is to be the one that would discover a dead body the first night nor be involved in anything even remotely unsavory this far from home. With Dwight away with Cal cleaning out the home of his deceased ex-wife's in Virginia, Deborah's first line of support is unable to provide the emotional support she has come to rely on. He is always free with advice even if it is over the phone but any problems that arise will be hers to handle. After it is discovered the dead man was an unpopular and disliked judge who is suspected of a number of not unprofessional acts Deborah does her best to work the case on her own. Deborah is never one to sit idly by or shy away from any investigation whether her assistance is requested or not is asked by the officer to do a little snooping amoungst the judges and help him uncover why someone would want this judge killed. Deborah of course being the "helpful" officer of the court that she is jumps at the chance. While circulating through the crowd and listening in on the different workshops she spends a bit of that time asking questions of everyone including her cousin Reid Stephenson who it turns out is attending another conference in the same area. While Deborah would never suspect Reid of anything untoward, he appears to have had a history with the murdered judge and while it may be just a coincidence why is he pleading with her to not tell the authorities - what is Reid up to now? While Deborah has always viewed Reid as a younger brother such is not the case with her ex-husband Allen Stancil. Why are so many of the men in her life that she doesn't need showing up at the wrong place. It appears that Allan now is a respectable businessman with custody of his children but it seems he too has a questionable relationship with the judge prior to his being killed. There are so many judges, too much personal drama for her liking and way too much of her ex-husband who is really not an ex-husband since he failed to divorce the other wife first. On top of dealing with Reid, her ex-husband, a lecherous judge that refuses to understand she is not interested there is also the drama of the judge who just can't stop cheating on his wife even while they are trying to reconcile. What a mess Deborah is in now and Dwight is too far away to offer anything but emotional support which she needs but not as much as the comfort his presence brings. This book is what every reader dreams about - a great lead character, superior storyline and a mystery that until you are told "who did it" you cannot even venture to guess. The only downside is the number of judges mentioned can be a little confusing but not overwhelming as the story progresses and you figure out all the pl

When a Deborah Knott mystery becomes available, I have to declare a holiday and read it immediately. It's less about the suspense than about spending time with this complex, intelligent heroine. I love the way she thrives in the south with girlfriends and good old boys. She manages to be loving in a clear-eyed, unsentimental way. She knows how to stay independent and still fit in to a complex, ordered society. In this volume, Maron finds another reason to take Deborah out of Dobbs and give her a new background and cast of characters. I wasn't disturbed by the number of judges; in fact, Maron captured the spirit of a typical conference where you encounter a jumble of people, eat out a lot and discover a new side to your colleagues. With just a few tweaks to the presentation titles, this conference could have been one of mine. Maron does offer a true mystery plot, complete with clues and red herrings. The ending is plausible, although it's not as satisfying as in previous novels. I was amused by the reviewer who questioned how Deborah keeps getting involved with dead bodies. Like, duh, it's a mystery series! You expect a murder in every story, whether the heroine is a dog trainer, a PI, or, yes, a judge. But although I appreciate a good plot, that's not the main reason I keep reading this series. It's just fun to spend time with Deborah and watch her gracefully handle each new situation. We get snippets of legalese here and there and enough detail about the environment to make me admire people who chose to live in North Carolina. I even like the details about food and fashion. Deborah may be a judge who once lived in New York, but her tastes show she's a real southern gal. I hope the next volume takes us back to Dobbs so we can spend more time with Deborah's extended family and see her in action in the court room. Hopefully Deborah (along with the readers) will get more comfortable with those scenes involving Dwight's young son, Cal. It would be fun to hear from parents who know the realities of raising a kid that age. And now...we've got to wait a whole hear for the next Deborah Knott to come out. Let's just hope Maron doesn't get tempted to put Deborah aside for another type of book. We need our yearly fixes.

This latest Judge Knott book, was a very good read and tied together some old characters from previous books. The ongoing saga of her family and friends is delightful and very entertaining. You feet like they are part of your family and you just have to see what will happen to Deborah and the rest of the Knotts next.

Opening this book is like coming home again after a years absence. I have been reading and sharing in the adventures and life of Judge Deborah Knott since the first book way back when. Ms. Maron does not disappoint in this latest telling of the life and times of Judge Knott. Now she is a stepmother, feeling her way into the role and doing pretty good at it. She is able to step back and look at herself objectively (a very difficult thing) in her relationship with her stepson. She has new problems in this novel in that she is a wife and mother and a Judge and she must make all three work. And of course she sticks her nose into the latest murder mystery at the judges conference and before you know it she is up to her eyebrows in the solving of the murder. Again her ability to step back and look at things logically and objectively end up working to a solution. Margaret Maron never fails to satisfy. She always writes a novel of good suspense and tension, with well drawn characters and just enough menace to keep you up at night reading to the finish.