Sunday Synopsis

The Gray and Guilty Sea by Jack Nolte
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

It took me a very long time to read this relatively short novel. And that's not good.

The protagonist is Garrison Gage. I had trouble remembering if Garrison or Gage was his first name. Gage is a former private investigator who has moved from New York to the small seaside town of Barnacle Bluffs, Oregon in an attempt to heal from the murder of his wife. When a girl's body washes up on the beach, Gage is the one who finds her. He is then pulled into a struggle between remaining anonymous in town (with the exception of a friend who is also a former FBI agent who owns a bookstore in Barnacle Bluffs) and returning to his career as a private investigator. As Gage gets deeper and deeper into the investigative work, he puts himself in danger.

While the story was okay, it was not riveting or keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat, which was why it took me so long to read. It also had several typos and even grammar errors, which is a pet peeve of mine.

Another thing I found strange is that Gage was characterized in such a way that I thought he was an old man, maybe in his 60's. Then about halfway through the book, I find out he is about 40. I don't understand the way he was characterized. I also didn't like the way his romance with one of the other characters was written. The author appeared to be trying too hard to make it realistic, and it was not appealing.

The story was quite unrealistic and predictable. Apparently this is the first book in a series, but I doubt I will read any of the others. I just wasn't impressed with the author's ability to write, his writing style, or his lack of creativity. It was just "okay."

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