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Originally Posted by cromag
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I just started Dead Man's Float, by Beth Sherman. I picked it up quite a while ago -- mostly because it's set at the Jersey shore, an area that I'm very familiar with.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fbone
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I wonder if she is referring to Ocean Grove?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cromag
I've only just started, but the "fictional" town really sounds a lot like Ocean Grove. And the neighboring towns are identified as Bradley Beach and Neptune Township, there's a mention of Route 35, etc.
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The fictional setting of Oceanside Heights was almost certainly modeled after
Ocean Grove.
Oceanside Heights was incorporated by a religious organization which remains a major influence in town development, social standing, etc. This provides a setting for the mystery, and a major factor in the storyline, but religion itself isn't a major plot element -- at least, as far as I felt.
The plot involves the death of a young girl in a hotel fire many years ago, and the more recent death of the man everyone in town believes set the fire -- although he was never charged by police. It's a slow-paced read, but I liked it. There were several (logical) false trails. The solution was logical and satisfying and -- up until the final scene -- one of several possible paths.
The book is being pitched as a "cozy" mystery, both in the description and with the current cover design -- which features a "paper-doll" style cut-out of the heroine among pastel-colored Victorian homes at the shore. It came across to me as quite a bit "grittier" than a typical Cozy. I liked it, but I'd caution someone who is expecting a cozier read. The cover images of the original hardback and paperback editions are more "noir" and a better fit to the storyline, I think.
There were a couple of minor formatting issues. Also, the author makes a mistake that would probably only be obvious to a New Jersey resident -- and even then, only to a few. She refers to the Neptune City Sheriff from neighboring Neptune City -- in New Jersey, at least, the
Sheriff's office is part of the
county government. They handle the county court security, county correctional facilities, assist with warrants, etc. The sheriff would not usually be involved in local police work. I just substituted Neptune City Police Chief where necessary.
I'll be reading some short stories before deciding on my next novel.