Customer Reviews

Death Rides an Ill Wind

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St. Chris is about to be hit by the biggest hurricane since at least 1928, maybe 1867. Leila Mae, the tramp who caused the end of Kelly's marriage, blew into town with her new husband, Baron Thorsen at about the same time. She is trying to sell shares in a treasure hunt. A homeless woman called the spitter rewards Kel's generosity in buying her a meal with a very old coin. Soon the woman turns up dead and not as a victim of Hurricane Gilda.

This mystery is much better than Death Dances to a Reggae Beat. I liked the characters in the first novel and still do in the second, although the author hasn't figured out what to do with Angie and Peter yet. Kel's relationship with Michael is progressing well, but no mention is made of him at the end. What really happened to Leila Mae? The endings weren't neat by any means. But other than the sloppy ending the mystery was really enjoyable and the characterizations are still great. This is a really good beach book.

While sailing in the Americas, Christopher Columbus claims the Caribbean island of St. Chris in the name of Spain. The island is sold several times over the subsequent years before the United States finally purchases it. Currently, Kelly Ryan lives year round on St. Chris and works as a general manager for the radio station. One day while she is enjoying lunch with her friends, Kelly sees the woman who helped end her fifteen-year marriage. The other woman claims she has arrived on the island to salvage a treasure ship and offers a share of the bounty in return for a one-time $500 fee.

When a stage five hurricane hits St. Chris, Kelly still manages to keep the station on the air. Afterward, Kelly notices her rival remains on the island and wonders what is going on. Unable to resist, the curious Kelly soon places herself in danger.

DEATH RIDES AN ILL WIND provides the audience with a very good idea as to what happens to a small island during a brutal storm. The aftermath is as bad if not worse than the hurricane as communication, and most modern conveniences vanish. Kate Grilley's novel includes a mystery although the prime theme is a realistic human survivor drama (not a made for TV plot) that says never take weather for granted.

Harriet Klausner

This was a new author to me but I completely fell in love with the characters and I keep looking for more in the series. Please Kate Grilley, give your fans more, more, more.

As a mystery writer with my first novel in its initial release, I recognize Kate Grilley as an exceptional talent. Her first mystery, DANCE DANCES TO A REGGAE BEAT, earned a wide variety of awards. DEATH RIDES AN ILL WIND is a solid #2 mystery. Kelly Ryan, Grilley's sleuth, runs a radio station on the Caribbean island of St. Chris. This novel involves the island's effort to weather a hurricane, a woman from Kelly's past, treasure hunting, and, of course, a murder mystery. It is a most fulfillng read.