East Beach [Audio Cassette]

Ron Ely (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1995

With the murder of his wife and child, Jake Sands gives up his lucrative career as a "recoverer" of stolen or missing objects--and people. 2 cassettes.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Introduced in Night Shadows, Jake Sands is a cynical, scarred Vietnam veteran in his mid 40s, still grieving for his wife, son and unborn baby, victims of a killer whose real target had been himself. Although he had determined to do no more investigating, the superbly athletic Santa Barbara resident can't resist probing the beating murder of a friendly beach bunny/waitress named Julie. Eventually he connects her death to a winning ticket in the California lottery, with a $40-million prize gone unclaimed until a lawyer representing a five-man betting syndicate steps forward. The search for Julie's killer draws Jake, who holds Gingrichian views of the criminal justice system, into games of strenuous beach volleyball with a ruthless and domineering Australian and two other extraordinary athletes. After more murders, including those of three lottery syndicate members, a burst of vigilantism ends this contrived tale that dwells too long on Jake's tragedy and the impoverished beach culture. Ely, a former actor, writes authoritatively, but his talents aren't fully displayed in Jake.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Jake Sands, the grieving, coffee-swilling ex-sleuth introduced in Ely's skillful debut novel, Night Shadows , is again drawn into the investigation of a brutal murder, this time of a favorite waitress. A missing lottery ticket worth $40 million may supply a terrific motive, but suspects are nevertheless scarce. The few clues lead to Santa Barbara's intensely competitive beach volleyball scene, and Jake pursues them at considerable risk, as evidenced by a rapidly rising body count. Ely has few peers in constructing an intricate, tightly woven, rapidly paced plot, which is surely the essence of the successful mystery. The only clutter in his latest effort is the occasional lecture on the failures of the soft-on-crime justice system or the tax-and-spend government. Many readers will hope for less pontificating in the author's next book, but they will be anxious for its appearance. Dennis Dodge --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Dove Entertainment Inc (February 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787101354
• ISBN-13: 978-0787101350
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,484,748 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars East Beach is a smash!!, March 7, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: East Beach (Paperback)

East Beach is a detective formula mystery featuring a vulnerable Jake Sands. Sands digs into the death of a waitress, who served him coffee just the way he likes it. You see Sands is particular about his coffee and his waitresses. He is lured into the mystery of her death, and best of all the reader is taken along for the ride. If you like a Travis McGee, get involved, no holds barred type detective, then give this one a read.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I live in Santa Barbara and Ron's Portrayal is Spot On, January 3, 2006

By 

John Greathouse (Santa Barbara, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: East Beach (Paperback)

Great book. I have lived in Santa Barbara for nearly 15-years and Ron's does a great job of describing the "REAL" SB. The plot is sound and the pacing is excellent.

The Rumor is that he has written three additional novels, but the third Jake Sands novel was too heavily edited for his tastes by the publisher so he has chosen not to release it.

This is a shame, if the rumor is true.

If I ever bump into Ron here in town, I will try to get the facts and report back.

Maybe we should all email Simon & Schuster and express our desire for more Ron Ely works to see the light of day...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, June 6, 2005

By 

George R. Beinhorn "gb" (Mountain View, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: East Beach (Hardcover)

Great book. Ticks me off that the author has obviously been under-promoted by his publisher/agent. I enjoyed Ely's book for the ambience of Southern California/Santa Barbara, and for writing extremely well. Few authors, especially mystery writers, sound so natural.