Paranormal Murder Mystery: Beneath the Dune

Beneath the Dune by Walter Ramsay
paperback, 234 pages
Published: June 2011 by Pena Beach Press
ISBN13: 9780983440703
Source: Author
Read: November 2012
Goodreads, Amazon, IndieBound
 
Beneath the Dune rounded out my "battle of the thrillers". You might recall a few weeks ago I somehow found myself reading 3 thrillers at one time. I typically try to space out books of the same genre so I don't end up comparing them to one another. I guess I was just starved for an adrenaline rush.

Perhaps, if I had read Beneath the Dune by itself instead of so closely with other thrillers I would have given it higher marks. It had potential to be a great paranormal murder mystery. At one point, I did get a little creeped out. Yet, for the long haul it kind of fell flat for me.

While it could have been a cool literary device to switch to third person during the dream sequence, I found it jarring to go back and forth between third and first person. I might have liked it better if only the dream had been in third person to give it a more out of body feel, but even after Tucker woke up the story would stay in third person to the end of the chapter and I didn't like that.

Have you read my blog long? Know how I feel about sex scenes, particularly unnecessary/doesn't fit the story sex scenes? Yeah, Beneath the Dune had one of those. I was like, do you want to be a paranormal murder mystery or a steamy romance novel? I almost put the book down because it was so unneeded (at least in the level of detail).

I wanted to like this book and really thought it could have been a great book. However, it pushed too many of my literary pet peeves for me to thoroughly enjoy it.

Girl Who Reads is an advertising affiliate with Amazon and IndieBound; a small fee is earned when purchases are made using the above links. A free book was obtained from the source mentioned above in order to provide an honest and free review.


 

From the TBR Pile: Beneath the Dune

Beneath the Dune by Walter Ramsay

Tucker Lee Anderson’s boss needs him to check out a story over on the beachside. Not earth- shattering, it’s more of a follow up to the Ed Ventara case, he says. When Anderson, a staff reporter for a local Southern newspaper hears this, a red light goes off in his head. But wait, wasn’t Ventura the serial killer convicted of killing five children, even though they only found four bodies a few years back? Following the discovery of a child’s skeleton, what at first appears to be a straightforward case of suspected murder is anything but, when Anderson finds himself not only investigating the case, but also dabbling in ancestral research.

This laid-back divorced dad’s ordinary life soon takes a turn when in the process, he soon discovers family ties that bind him to both the present and the past—but what does this have to do with the child? Set in the Central Florida community of Brevard County, Beneath the Dune features an interesting cast of characters, and what Anderson uncovers is bound to shock a few upper class residents to the core. Steeped in suspense and blended with humor, the book has all the ingredients necessary for the making of mystery that is sure to hold you in its grip to the very end. From Goodreads.com

Published June 2011 by Pena Beach Press
paperback, 226 pages
ISBN13: 9780983440703
Goodreads, IndieBound, Amazon 

About the Author:

As a long time teacher and coach in New Jersey. When not at the Jersey Shore, Walter is a part time resident of the Central Florida coast. He became enamored with the beauty, culture, and people of this pristine area over 30 years ago, and still can't get enough. He has vigilantly taken the time to delve into the history of this beautiful coast line and incorporated that background into his writings. From Goodreads.com

Connect with the author:
Website: WalterRamsay.com
Twitter: @WalterRamsay
Facebook: Walter Ramsay

Praise for Beneath the Dune:

"Refreshing, that is a very simple word to describe this novel, just refreshing." ~ Giovanni Gelati, Goodreads

"a great read—filled with mystery, humor, and suspense—it will keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what could happen next." ~ T Lane, Webb Weaver Reviews