Deep Sea Dead: A Pauline Sokol Mystery (Pauline Sokol Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Lori Avocato (Author)

Book Description

Series: Pauline Sokol Mysteries | Publication Date: April 25, 2006

Pauline Walks the Plank . . .

A confirmed landlubber, insurance fraud p.i. Pauline Sokol's never heard the call of the sea - or if she has, she didn't pay attention. But now the former RN is donning her nurse's whites once more to go undercover as part of the medical team of the Golden Dolphin - a lavish luxury liner that's setting sail for Bermuda.

There's something fishy going on aboard the super-deluxe dinghy, and it's Pauline's job to be the ship's designated secret snoop - if she doesn't get too distracted by the motley crew of friends and relatives who've decided to sail along with her . . . and by her sexy supervising fellow investigator, Jagger. But when a dead body turns up - in Pauline's cabin, no less! - and another nurse goes missing, Pauline realizes she may be over her head in shark-infested waters. And getting safely onto dry land may be a long swim back!

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Delightful.” (Publishers Weekly )

“Fans of Evanovich are sure to enjoy this funny, fast-paced series.” (Lisa Gardner, New York Times bestselling author )

“Clever, comical, and gutsy, Pauline Sokol is the perfect sleuth.” (Nancy J. Cohen, author of the Bad Hair Day Mysteries )

“An outrageous romp of a novel; a laugh and a shiver -- a book I just couldn’t put down.” (Christopher Whitcomb, former FBI agent and New York Times bestselling author of Cold Zero, Black, and White )

“A wonderful debut mystery . . . a solid who-done-it, chick lit style.” (Harriet Klausner )

“A wacky and outright hilarious new mystery series...great sparring dialogue, well-defined characters and comedy galore.” (Curled up with a Good Book Reviews )

“Sexy and sassy . . . a sure prescription for outrageous sleuthing.” (Carolyn Hart )

“A fresh, new voice in mystery . . . great fun and a diverting escape.” (Laura Van Wormer )

“A hilarious roller coaster ride.” (Merline Lovelace, USA Today Bestselling Author )

About the Author

After serving in the Air Force as a registered nurse, Lori Avocato decided to give up nursing to write fiction. She lives in New England and is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, PASIC, NINC, Romance Writers of America, the Author's Guild, and Sisters in Crime. She's raising two teenage sons (heaven help her!), and one darling dog, Spanky. Lori is the author of six novels featuring Pauline Sokol: A Dose of Murder; The Stiff and the Dead; One Dead Under the Cuckoo's Nest; Deep Sea Dead; Nip, Tuck, Dead; and Dead on Arrival.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Avon (April 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060837004
• ISBN-13: 978-0060837006
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #750,733 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

After completing four years in the Air Force as a registered nurse, I began writing novels with medial/military themes. The winnner of several writing contests, I have completed fifteen novels and now write the humorous mystery series, The Pauline Sokol Mysteries.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pauline takes the lead., April 26, 2006

By 

Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deep Sea Dead: A Pauline Sokol Mystery (Pauline Sokol Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

This time the whole wacky crew is going out to sea. To investigate her newest insurance-fraud case, Pauline Sokol must don a nursing outfit again. This time Pauline goes undercover as part of the medical team of the Golden Dolphin - a lavish luxury liner that is setting sail for Bermuda. With Pauline's fear of water and Goldie's fear of the Bermuda Triangle, the cruise is bound to be interesting.

When Pauline learned that Goldie and Miles would be sailing with her, but only as passengers and to give moral support, she was thrilled. But when Pauline learned that her parents purchased tickets too, she felt only concern that something horrible could happen. Of course the handsome and mysterious Jagger is nearby. Yet this time Pauline is the real investigator and he is only there in case back up is needed. One thing is for sure, when you sign on as part of this ship's crew, you put your life on the line.

***** Unlike the previous mysteries, Jagger actually slips and lets his feelings for Pauline show a bit. However, Jagger has some major competition aboard in the form of FBI Agent Tim Harwinton. Author Lori Avocato kept me guessing as to whom the guilty are, so you best pull out your best magnifying glass for this case! Oh, and if you are a fan of poetry by Poe, watch for the cute little nod of respect the author tosses out. I could not help but chuckle. Once again, OUTSTANDING! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deep Sea Dead is a highly entertaining tale of mystery, drama, and humor., May 1, 2006

By 

Fallen Angel Reviews (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deep Sea Dead: A Pauline Sokol Mystery (Pauline Sokol Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I enjoyed the idiosyncrasies of Pauline's character and thought that her quacky group of friends added a lot of flair to the story. This story just seemed to flow so smoothly and effortlessly that I didn't stop reading until I was finished with the whole book. I honestly can't wait to read the previous Pauline stories. I'll also be looking forward to more great stories from this talented author.

Tammy
Fallen Angel Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the best..., June 8, 2006

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deep Sea Dead: A Pauline Sokol Mystery (Pauline Sokol Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Pauline Sokol, nurse-turned-private investigator, is aboard a cruise ship bound for Bermuda. Her first solo assignment is to uncover who is responsible for the ship's medical insurance fraud, but when her cabin mate is murdered after a nurse disappears, Pauline finds herself with an even bigger mystery to solve.

Deep Sea Dead, the fourth title in the Pauline Sokol mystery series by author Lori Avocato, doesn't succeed in staying afloat.

Avocato can't seem to decide if she's writing a mystery or "chick lit." More emphasis is placed on describing the protagonist's clothing and her crush on her mentor than to the development and intricacies of a good whodunit.

The style is often juvenile ("Soon little dolphin heads popped out of the top of the tank...I think the smaller of the three smiled at me...") and the reader frequently struggles to grasp for missing details about character relationships--even the characters themselves--that one can only assume were developed in earlier books in the series.

The unraveling of the mystery is anti-climactic and even confusing, but there's little time to dwell on the disappointment before the reader's focus is returned to Pauline's love life and her little dolphin friends.