by Diana Hockley

Details at the end of this review on how to win a copy of Hurricane Hole.

Get set for a rollicking good yarn!

Leila Stanford, daytime “soap” actress, is awaiting the outcome of negotiations for renewal of her contract. She decides to take a sailing holiday on the boat belonging to her and sister, Kate. Leila’s mistake is to take family friend and fugitive from justice, the light-fingered Gabe Alexander along as crew, because now she can’t get rid of him! When they arrive at Puerto Felice, Leila tries to shed Gabe, but he is having none of it. After all, unless he can con someone or steal a fat wallet, he has nowhere else to stay but on the boat with Leila – and food. Unbeknownst to them, a hurricane is bearing down on the harbor.

A gorgeous yacht sails into the harbor bringing with it mystery, death and the man–Leila hopes–of her dreams, captain Ari Sterns. That evening the yacht, “Pilgrim,” catches on fire. Leila gives Ari sanctuary on her boat, displacing Gabe who is wildly jealous, as he has to give up his bed–the settee– and sleep in the hammock on deck.

The children of a family whose boat is also moored in the harbor, go out trick or treating and are the witnesses to a the presence on the “Pilgrim” of a man, well known in the community, who is later found to have burned to death in the fire.

The mystery deepens with the machinations of a suspicious trio who are trying to get Ari to dive for them. The story is that a boat of theirs went down previously and they want their belongings back, but what are they really after?

This well-written and paced story is very easy to read and most enjoyable; the characters are likable and the ending is an absolute hoot!

Available only as an e-book, and excellent value at $2.99

To enter to win a copy of Hurricane Hole, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “Hurricane,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen November 30, 2013. U.S. residents only.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & short stories in our mystery section.

Diana Hockley is an Australian mystery author who lives in a southeast Queensland country town. She is the devoted slave of five ratties & usually finds an excuse to mention them in her writing, including her recent novel, The Naked Room. Since retiring from running a traveling mouse circus for 10 years, she is now the mouse judge for the Queensland Rat & Mouse Club shows. To learn more, check out her website.