by Cynthia Chow

Details on how to win a copy of Murder Dives the Bahamas at the end of this review.

If you’re going to ever be lost at sea, there’s no better or more original way for your body to be retrieved than by dolphins. After a mercurial trip where famed photographer Tom Tiburon managed to anger everyone on board and subsequently disappeared on one of his routine unauthorized night dives, his body was actually carried back to the Dolphin Diver II by bottlenose dolphins.

The chartered diving expedition in the Bahamas to explore the Sugar Wreck had started well enough, with photographer Cinnamon Greene signed on along with her boyfriend, Danny Decker, her father, his pregnant girlfriend, her father’s friends and three other couples. However, it wasn’t long before Tom Tiburon, who despite his last name resembled more of an ass than a shark, managed to have confrontations with everyone on board, including his meek and verbally abused wife, Kimberly. When Tom’s body is uniquely returned to the ship and another death follows; only Cinnamon is certain that these were not accidents.

Cinnamon’s new occupation as a forensic photographer in Cliffview, California, has her father thinking that she may be seeing murder where there is none, but it is Danny’s reaction that is truly shocking. Promptly rejecting her suspicions and becoming angrily distant, Danny nearly removes himself completely from Cinnamon’s life as he focuses on his son and the prospect of his ex-wife’s pregnancy. Cinnamon is not left entirely on her own though. A very attractive policeman helps to mentor her through her forensic work, providing both professional and emotional support, both of which prove to be tantalizing considering the state of her personal life.

When evidence appears supporting Cinnamon’s assertions concerning Tom’s death, she is unable to resist investigating those who were on board the DDII, especially when she learns that nearly everyone on board knew or had ties to Tom before the fateful trip. Subsequent break-ins into her property would seem to reinforce this, although Cinnamon does display a remarkable lack of responsibility at returning possible evidence to the Miami Police.

The state of Cinnamon’s personal life receives as much focus as the mystery of Tom’s death, but because the author has made her so sympathetic and likable the reader will never feel distracted when the focus falls away from the main mystery plot. Cinnamon truly is a heroine the reader will appreciate, even as she questions her personal life choices and contemplates her future relationships. The details concerning diving and the very real dangers surrounding the recreational pastime are plentiful and educational as well, making this a very intriguing and promising series.

Check out KRL’s review of the previous book in this series The Bride Wore Black.

To enter to win an ebook copy of Murder Dives the Bahamas, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “Dives,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen December 28, 2013. U.S. residents only.

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Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).