Deadly Currents (An RM Outdoor Adventures Mystery) [Paperback]

Beth Groundwater (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 8, 2011 | Series: An RM Outdoor Adventures Mystery (Book 1)

A new series from award-winning author Beth Groundwater

The Arkansas River, heart and soul of Salida, Colorado, fuels the small town’s economy and thrums in the blood of river ranger Mandy Tanner. When a whitewater rafting accident occurs, she deftly executes a rescue, but a man dies anyway. Turns out, it wasn’t the rapids that killed him—he was murdered. Tom King was a rich land developer with bitter business rivals, who cheated on his wife, refused to support his kayak-obsessed son, and infuriated environmentalists.       

Mandy’s world is upended again when tragedy strikes closer to home. Suspicious that the most recent death is connected to Tom King’s murder, Mandy goes on an emotionally turbulent quest for the truth—and ends up in dangerous waters.

Praise:

"Groundwater's novel is filled with river lore, vivid descriptions, and loving depictions of the varied characters who make up the tight-knit community."—ALFRED HITCHCOCK MYSTERY MAGAZINE

"A remarkable book by an author who clearly knows and loves her territory. Don’t miss it!"—NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER

"Comes rushing at you from the first page like roiling whitewater, and culminates in a riveting climax that lives up to this book's name. If you like outdoor adventure and gripping characters, this one's a must-read."—SANDI AULT, Mary Higgins Clark and WILLA Award-winning author of the WILD Mystery series

“A heart-racing debut with as many twists and turns and unexpected upsets as a ride through the rapids itself.”—MARGARET COEL, author of The Silent Spring

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This enjoyable first in a new cozy series from Groundwater (To Hell in a Handbasket) introduces Mandy Tanner, "a brand new seasonal river ranger" on Colorado's Arkansas River. When Mandy goes to the rescue of two people swept overboard while whitewater rafting, she manages to save only one. The death of real estate developer Tom King, of an apparent heart attack, threatens the viability of Mandy's uncle's rafting business, which provided the guide and equipment King used. Determined to prove that King's death wasn't her uncle's fault, Mandy is vindicated after the autopsy reveals that the developer was poisoned. Plenty of people wanted King dead, including his wife, upset by his philandering, and a business rival. The authentic details of whitewater rafting compensate for the routine detection and the less than compelling vicissitudes of Mandy's love life. (Mar.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Groundwater (A Real Basket Case, 2007) launches a new, action-packed series featuring white-water guide Mandy Tanner. Mandy, a river ranger at her uncle�s white-water rafting business, pulls a man from the river as part of her first day on the job. The man dies, but he did not drown. The victim, Tom King, was a real-estate developer with lots of nasty rivals. He also cheated on his wife and refused to support his son, an avid kayaker. He managed to make many environmentalists very unhappy, too. When Mandy�s uncle dies suddenly, she suspects something more than a heart attack and wonders whether the two deaths are related. Her independent investigation leads her through some very rough water. Readers who enjoy fast-moving stories and wilderness environments will keep turning the pages of this promising series debut. --Barbara Bibel

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: MIDNIGHT INK (March 8, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 073872162X
• ISBN-13: 978-0738721620
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #971,825 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Beth Groundwater writes two mystery series, the Claire Hanover gift basket designer series and the Rocky Mountain Outdoor Adventures series starring whitewater river ranger Mandy Tanner. The first book in her Claire Hanover series, A REAL BASKET CASE, was released in hardcover in 2007 and re-released in trade paperback and ebook in November, 2011. The book garnered good reviews from Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, and other national reviewers and was nominated for the 2007 Best First Novel Agatha Award. The second book in the series, TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET, was released in hardcover in 2009, also to good reviews, and was re-released in trade paperback and ebook in November, 2012. A third book is in the pipeline, to be released in November, 2013.

DEADLY CURRENTS, the first book in Beth's Rocky Mountain Outdoor Adventures series starring whitewater river ranger Mandy Tanner, was released in trade paperback and ebook in March, 2011 with good reviews from Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and Mystery Scene, among many other reviewers. The Kindle format was a bestseller on Amazon. The second book in the series, WICKED EDDIES, was released in May, 2012 and was chosen by Kirkus Reviews for its "Critics Picks in Mystery & Crime" list. The third, FATAL DESCENT, will be released in May, 2013.

Beth was an avid "river rat" in the 1980s, running whitewater rivers in the eastern US, and enjoyed reacquainting herself with that subculture while researching this series. In June, she was the parade VIP for the First in Boating on the Arkansas River (FIBArk) whitewater festival in Salida, Colorado, which is featured in DEADLY CURRENTS. Beth lives in Colorado and enjoys its many outdoor activities, including skiing and whitewater rafting.

Beth's science fiction novella, THE EPSILON ERIDANI ALTERNATIVE, was released in ebook and paperback in 2009. Also, she has published nine short stories, many multiple times in various formats, including audio. She enjoys meeting with book clubs in person or via Skype or speakerphone to discuss her books. Visit her website at http://bethgroundwater.com/ and her blog at http://bethgroundwater.blogspot.com/ for more information or to arrange a visit.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars There's Something Deadlier Than the White Water Rapids March 5, 2011

By Mark Baker HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Mandy Tanner has turned in her river guiding paddle for a job as a river ranger in her native Salida, Colorado. That's why she is on hand when a raft goes over a dangerous rapids sideways, tipping out all the people on board. Mandy rushes in to save two of the passengers, only to have one of them die on her when she gets him back to shore.

The dead man is Tom King, a rich developer. The trip was with the rafting company that Mandy's uncle owns, and Tom's widow is intent on suing Mandy's uncle, a prospect that would destroy his business.

Then comes word that Tom might have been murdered. Now Mandy is determined to find the killer and clear her uncle's reputation once and for all. But can she find the killer?

I love rafting (although I've never gone any big rapids), so I was looking forward to this book from the moment I heard about it. Mandy was a good guide into a world I am unfamiliar with. I liked her, most of the time. I felt some of her reactions to her boyfriend weren't fair to him, although I could see her side of things. But I really did like her and felt that those sub-plots were resolved well by the end.

The plot of the book started out rather slowly and could have been tighter. While I enjoyed some of the passages about life on the river and Mandy's job, I didn't feel they were really forwarding the story. As the book progressed, the story began to take center stage more and it all resolved for a great climax.

While all the books in this series won't be focused on river rafting, I am excited to see what other outdoor sports will be covered. I definitely plan another trip to Colorado with Mandy.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome on many fronts!! September 20, 2011

By N. Blackburn

Format:Paperback

Just a really cool book with a really cool main character and setting!! I really enjoyed most everything about this book. I was a bit apprehensive going into this book, because this book was classified as a cozy, which can really be hit or miss with me. In my opinion, it isn't. The other thing is that this book is really, really well written. What I loved most about it, is the outdoor setting. Beth did an awesome job of taking the readers to the town of Salida Colorado!

Most def. a series I would continue with!! Hint, Hint Beth!!

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't Like Water--Sucked Under Anyway June 4, 2011

By angela parson myers

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Warning: This review could include spoilers.

I have to admit I'm not really a water person. I don't even like to soak in a bath. My idea of enjoying the water is listening to it babble in brooks and writing insipid poetry about it.

But that didn't keep me from being sucked under by this book and becoming totally immersed in learning about white water rafting and the people who are involved in it. I immediately liked the protagonist, and though I was a bit suspicious of the love interest for awhile, I'm sure that was intentional, and by the end, I approved of the relationship. I took longer than usual to figure out who the villain was, yet when I did figure it out, it was logical and believable. (I did suspect, but just couldn't let go of my favorite pick for the role.)

In short, this is an action-filled and involving mystery with believable characters in an interesting setting that most of us have little or no experience with. I recommend it for summer vacation reading.