Billingsgate Shoal [Mass Market Paperback]

Rick Boyer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 28, 1989

"Boyer is up there with the best." The Boston Globe
A Doc Adams Thriller, winner of the Edgar Award for Best Mystery Novel of the Year.
First, a fishing trawler runs aground on the Massachusetts shore. Then a young scuba diver sent to investigate the wreck is found dead in the water. Doc Adams, a friend of the dead diver, sets out through the stormy seas and blood-flecked sands of Cape Cod to plumb a murder he should have prevented. There he uncovers a hidden treasure in illegal arms and is nearly killed in the process. Doc lets the world think he's dead, the better to hunt for the killers of his friend. But if he makes a single mistake, he'll be clam chowder.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"Boyer is up there with the best." The Boston Globe
A Doc Adams Thriller, winner of the Edgar Award for Best Mystery Novel of the Year.
First, a fishing trawler runs aground on the Massachusetts shore. Then a young scuba diver sent to investigate the wreck is found dead in the water. Doc Adams, a friend of the dead diver, sets out through the stormy seas and blood-flecked sands of Cape Cod to plumb a murder he should have prevented. There he uncovers a hidden treasure in illegal arms and is nearly killed in the process. Doc lets the world think he's dead, the better to hunt for the killers of his friend. But if he makes a single mistake, he'll be clam chowder.

From AudioFile

Doc Adams becomes a self-styled investigator in this mystery, which leads him from a murder on Billingsgate Shoal to an arms-smuggling ring. Christopher Lane's unceremonious voice duplicates the persona of Dr. Adams's cool, calculated personality as he stumbles upon the pieces of this puzzling tale. Lane collects the additional characters we meet, wife Mary and sons, missing people rediscovered, and possible suspects, giving each voice a refined contrast. His storytelling supports the listener throughout this fast-moving novel. B.J.L. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Fawcett (November 28, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804105510
• ISBN-13: 978-0804105514
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,977,233 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars entertaining, but lacking in several departments, March 30, 2005

By 

clifford "akitonmyers" (Portland, OR, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Billingsgate Shoal (Mass Market Paperback)

This novel reads like it would play on the telivision along side Magnum PI. Its fun, quick and light enough to pass the Wonder Bread test. The protagonist does have a human side, but he is not weak at all and it builds a wall between the readers empathy and the novel.

If I were you, I would pass this up. It is very dated. It might have been cutting edge at one time, but it probably wouldnt even catch the time of day for the Edgar Awards these days.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nautical New England guy mystery, December 13, 2000

By 

Carol Peterson Hennekens (Colorado Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Billingsgate Shoal (Audio Cassette)

This is a very solid read. I'm a little surprised it won an Edgar but it was almost 20 years ago. Standards may have changed.

What stands out about this mystery is the nautical/Cape Cod element. Boats and ships and ship building are the core of this novel. I found this interesting. The plot is a little far fetched, but I'm not a bored guy trying to get through a mid-life crisis by poking my nose into a murder. My middle aged husband has gotten quite a kick out of this book - so maybe it's a guy thing.

Bottom line: a good read - easy to imagine the reader on the beach with this story. I'll check out at least one other Boyer book.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What am I missing?, August 6, 1999

By 

T. Young (Volcano, Hawaii USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Billingsgate Shoal (Mass Market Paperback)

How this book won any type of award is beyond me. The main character's wield of power over local law enforcement authorities is about as unrealistic as they come. I gave this book 164 pages to "grow up" but it let me down. Adios, Mr. Boyer.