Tip-A-Canoe (James P. Dandy Elderhostel Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Peter Abresch (Author)

Book Description

Series: James P. Dandy Elderhostel Mysteries | Publication Date: January 2001

Frogless frog stew.

Spanish moss.

The swish of a canoe paddle dipping silently through the deep waters of a quiet lake. The far off sound of the twitter of birds and rustle of feathers.

Idyllic? Yes.

And deadly, since once again James P. Dandy and Dodee Swisher have met for an Elderhostel, this time in South Carolina, learning how to canoe on the Santee-Cooper lakes. The trip takes a startling turn when Jim and Dodee stumble across a body in the middle of Sparkleberry Swamp. The local sheriff stirs things up when he finds an empty dynamite box, and one of their group, a retired FBI guy, sees conspiracies everywhere.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

James P. Dandy, retired physical therapist and reluctant sleuth, and his paramour, Dodee Swisher, are attending a nature study Elderhostel on South Carolina's Santee Lakes. As the outing begins, a murder has occurred; another one follows, and then a group member disappears. Thanks to some cloying dialogue, this third Jim Dandy mystery is not as strong as the prior two entries in the series. Still, fans will find plenty to enjoy. The mystery itself is challenging, with many red herrings and a surprise ending; the outdoor scenes are vivid; and the story is well paced. Abresch also offers sensitive insights on love, aging and bereavement. Recommend this series to readers who like strong, active seniors as main characters. John Rowen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"...witty, entertaining adventure." -- Kathy Thomason, DorothyL newsgroup, 1/29/01

"For all collections." -- Library Journal

"Fun, witty, and most of the time downright humorous, Abresch pulls off well thought out scenes laced with strings of laugh-out-loud lines." -- Phillip Tomasso III, The Charlotte Austin Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Write Way Publishing; First Edition edition (January 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 188517392X
• ISBN-13: 978-1885173928
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,777,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wade into a great read, January 29, 2001

By 

Kathleene Thomason "katreads" (Dunbar, KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tip-A-Canoe (James P. Dandy Elderhostel Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Peter Abresch has brought back everyone's favorite sleuthing seniors James P. Dandy and Dodee Swisher for another Eldershostel adventure. In Tip A Canoe, Jim and Dodee are in South Carolina for an "active" Elderhostel, canoeing on the Santee Dam lakes. Accompanying them on their journey is an assortment of colorful characters including a former FBI agent who sees a crime around every corner, an ecologist who believes all dams should be blown up, a retired Army general who isn't taking retirement well and several other odd couples. When the first body is found, the local sheriff makes it clear that he feels the death is accidental and that he doesn't need any help. But between Dodee and her natural curiosity and the suspicions of the FBI, Jim finds himself snooping around and dodging bad guys and trying to keep from incurring the wrath of the local sheriff who doesn't believe there is anything to investigate. But when the former FBI vanishes, even the sheriff admits that there might be something to investigate. When Jim and Dodee misread the clues and take off to investigate, they quickly find themselves literally up the creek without a paddle. Abresch has once again used the background of the Elderhostel program to bring us a witty, entertaining adventure.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars baby boomers will love this mystery, February 23, 2001

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tip-A-Canoe (James P. Dandy Elderhostel Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Elderhostels are brief vacations that can be learning experiences for people over fifty-five years old. Maryland physical therapist James P. Dandy and Kansas Jayhawker artist-gallery owner Dodeee Swisher met at one and have been lovers ever since. The duo arranges to get together at an Elderhostel in South Carolina.

Jim prays that this time there are no dead bodies to interrupt his romantic rendezvous. However, he and Dodee find the corpse of natural resource agent Hank Davis in a nearby swamp. One of the other participants, a former FBI agent sees conspiracy written all over the death. Soon dynamite is missing and earlier an experienced boater drowns. Now an environmentalist talks of blowing up the dam. Dodee, with a reluctant Jim as her sidekick, begins seeking answers even though she knows she probably endangers their lives by doing so.

The James P. Dandy Elderhostel mysteries are funny yet exciting. The latest TIP A CANOE is one of the better entries in a strong series. Readers remain in the dark as to why the murders and who the killer is until the end of the novel due to a fabulous case of misdirection. Using passionate love between the middle age couple adds a dimension to this character-driven winning novel.

Harriet Klausne

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun mystery in an unlikely setting, May 18, 2001

By 

booksforabuck "BooksForABuck" (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Tip-A-Canoe (James P. Dandy Elderhostel Mysteries) (Hardcover)

This time, James P. Dandy promises, he won't get involved with the police. This time he'll use the Elderhostel to relax, spend some time with his girlfriend, and enjoy the beautiful South Carolina scenery and wildlife. Uh, maybe next time, Jim.

At first the bodies turning up don't really bother Jim--people have boating accidents all the time. When he finds a body under a canoe wedged upside down in a tree, he's more concerned. When one of his fellow Senior Citizens, this one an ex-FBI employee, vanishes, he has to get involved plunging both himself and his girlfriend Dodee into danger.

Author Peter Abresch does a wonderful job building distinctive characters, developing a romantic relationship that complements the mystery plot, and describing both the South Carolina setting and the staff and guests in the Elderhostel. Jim's fellow Elderhostel guests are all individual and, for the most part, pieces of work

Abresch writes with a light style and you'll find yourself smiling at both characters and Abresch's witty dialogue. Using Senior Citizens and an Elderhostel as the characters and setting is a nice change from the familiar twenty/thirty-something of mystery novels. Maybe TIP A CANOE won't save the world but it is one heck of a nice read.