Customer Reviews

The Houseboat Murders

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Houseboat Murders is a mystery that takes us into the lives of Jack McBride and his son, Troy, who are still struggling to settle into a life after the death of their wife and mother. Jack takes life one day at a time, ignoring the nagging thoughts of alcohol while Troy cringes with the introduction of yet another bimbo into his father's life. When Jack receives a call from the Sheriff's office where he once worked, he takes his son along to check out a murder scene. Horrifyingly, they discover three blood spattered victims dead in a houseboat. Jack completes his assignment, and while he doesn't plan to continue his involvement in the investigation, he is drawn further in as the story unfolds.

Troy, a typical teenage boy, discovers that one of the victims was a schoolmate, which preys upon his young mind. While drug dealers and corrupt law enforcement complicate the plot, Troy focuses on befriending a lonely "new girl" at school. When he begins to question her mysterious behavior, the plot thickens.

This story is a well-written mystery with all of the necessary bells and whistles to keep the reader coming back for more. The characters are compelling and the California setting completes the picture while the intricate plot unravels. As with all good mysteries, I was fooled right up until the end. At 130 pages, I only wish the book had been longer. Good job, Paul!

This book is so good, I couldn't put it down. That comment may be overworked, but I literally did not stop reading it once I started. What a great story. Well written and thoroughly enjoyable.

I read in my spare time, and when I started this book, I conveniently had a lot of spare time! The ironic plot and twisted events make The Houseboat Murders one of the best books I have ever read!

There are so many mystery/cop/detective stories out these days, it's hard to find new ideas, but the author does it here by having the killer (an adult) pose as a high school student to avoid capture. The kids in the story are as real as next-door, and serve to lighten the tone with their humor and teenaged concerns. This book manages to make you feel like you know everybody involved as well as you know your uncle and cousins-maybe better. You've got a very complicated murder case here, and several sub-plots. But the whole thing knits neatly and in relatively few pages. I liked it, a lot!

A friend sent me this book, and I read it in one shot-two hours. The story grabs you with three quick murders and then just flows. Characters are well done, but the author was too sketchy in developing the romance between the main cop and the assistant medical examiner. However, by involving a bunch of self-centered teenagers (is there any other kind?) Wagner delivers a story entertainingly different from your usual detective story. I've sent it on to another friend with a "good read" recommendation.

After I read The Houseboat Murders, I gave it to my wife. She saw that it was not a very thick book and said, "I should be able to finish it in a couple of days." Well, once she started she did not stop till the end. I heard her say: "This is so good I can't put it down. I'm really enjoying it," and several other positive remarks.
We both think the book is well written and recommend it to others. "Excellent" is the word I use to describe it.

Great story! And different. I'm a big fan of Detective stories--writers like John Stanford, Wambaugh, Robert Parker, ect.--this book has the same ingredients plus some teenaged characters that are just like kids my son hangs around with.
I gave it to him and he liked it too.

It is a quick read, just a few hours. The plot keeps your interest almost to the end when it becomes clear. The story focuses on and about teenagers. The story starts out like a Cape Fear sequel. There is plenty of action; murder, drugs, lots of money missing, teenage challenges, etc. No sex except some indirect references to some nudity and hookers. Try it, I think you'll like it.