Killer Swell: A Noah Braddock Novel (Noah Braddock Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Jeff Shelby (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 16, 2005 | Series: Noah Braddock Mysteries

Surfing and murder come together in this dazzling debut mystery series featuring San Diego private investigator Noah Braddock.

“Marilyn Crier peered in the window, and I knew the past was about to kick me in the ass.”

When Marilyn Crier calls surfer-cum-private investigator Noah Braddock, she doesn’t mention that she hasn’t seen him in more than a decade or that she’d despised him when he dated her daughter, Kate, in high school. She does, however, mention that Kate is missing and she wants Noah to find her. . . .

And so begins Killer Swell, the first book in a new mystery series featuring private investigator/surfer Noah Braddock. Author Jeff Shelby knows the surfing world and how to create a wonderfully authentic, vividly alive sense of place. Most of all, he knows how to create a memorable new hero: a man who is sometimes brash, often funny, always strong, and honorable.

With Killer Swell, Shelby carves out a place for himself next to the likes of Randy Wayne White, T. Jefferson Parker, and Carl Hiaasen. Crisp writing, rich details, and an amazing main character make Killer Swell a truly thrilling debut.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Smart-talking, wisecracking Noah Braddock, a surfing San Diego PI, doesn't catch any huge waves in his debut, but neither does he wipe out. Braddock is reluctant to meet his newest prospective client, Marilyn Crier, because she's the mother of his high school sweetheart, Kate; he hasn't forgotten how the wealthy Criers tried desperately—and successfully—to break up him and Kate. But Kate, now married, is missing, and Marilyn plays on his old feelings for her daughter to get him to take the case. Braddock finds Kate rather quickly, but not soon enough. Then he sets out to find out what happened to her in the dozen years since he last saw her. Drugs and drug lords, Feds and cops, as well as Kate's parents, sister and husband, all work to complicate the puzzle. Shelby handles the surf scene with finesse, avoiding high drama while providing entertaining background. If the verbal banter seems a bit forced at times, Braddock proves to be tough enough to keep going against the odds. Good action and a surprise plot twist make it a safe bet that Braddock will return.
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Review

Snappy dialogue and descriptions... Skillful use of underutilized San Diego locations. (Washington Post) Move over Spencer, Travis, and Elvis Cole...Jeff Shelby has rejuvenated the P.I. novel. (J.A. Konrath, Anthony Award nominated author of Bloody Mary) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult (June 16, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525948805
• ISBN-13: 978-0525948803
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,517,101 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jeff Shelby is the national bestselling author of the Noah Braddock books (Killer Swell, Wicked Break and Liquid Smoke), a series that has been compared to the works of Robert Crais and Robert B. Parker. He is also the author of the stand alone thriller Thread of Hope and the humorous cozy mystery, Stay At Home Dead, written under the pen name Jeffrey Allen. A graduate of the University of California, Irvine, he teaches high school English and coaches high school basketball in the suburbs of Dallas, where he lives with his daughter.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific debut, June 23, 2005

By 

J. A. KONRATH "Thriller Author" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Killer Swell: A Noah Braddock Novel (Noah Braddock Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I've been mourning the loss of John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee, beach bum and knight errant, since MacDonald passed away.

Finally, someone worthy enough came along to fill in that void.

Shelby has written the perfect PI novel, and the best debut of the year. Noah Braddock has got style, wit, and guts to spare.

If you love mysteries, you can't go wrong with this one. And if you love private eyes, you'll discover a new hero.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a Laid Back Surfer Mystery, July 21, 2006

By 

Lisa B. (Sewickley, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Killer Swell: A Noah Braddock Novel (Noah Braddock Mysteries) (Paperback)

Considering the surfer theme, I thought this was going to be somewhat of a take-off on Richard Barre's Wil Hardesty. Noah Braddock is nothing like Wil Hardesty and I still loved the book. Publisher's Weekly's review said that "the verbal banter seems a bit forced at times" and another review commented on the "tough guy posturing" which I admit gave me pause before buying the book. I wasn't rolling on the floor, but the dialogue between Noah and his six-foot-nine friend Carter and with other characters was hilarious. The story throughout flowed easily, even while going back into Noah's past; the characters were easy to keep straight and while I guessed the murderer towards the end, it certainly wasn't obvious. In short, Killer Swell provided what I most look for in a mystery -- pure entertainment with a backbone. I plan on buying Jeff Shelby's newly released book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun Debut, August 13, 2007

By 

Kara J. Jorges "Avid Reader" (Minneapolis) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Killer Swell: A Noah Braddock Novel (Noah Braddock Mysteries) (Paperback)

I'm always thrilled when I find a first novel, particularly one in a series, and this book was worth checking out. Its protagonist is Noah Braddock, a not-overly-ambitious private eye who lives in San Diego and loves to surf. Though he did hit the waves a couple of times, the surfing aspect had very little to do with the story, other than helping to define Noah's character.

Noah is shocked when the mother of his high school girlfriend shows up and asks him to find her. Noah and Kate Crier had dated for a year before Kate ended it when she left for college at Princeton. Noah hadn't seen her since, but he hadn't forgotten her, and when she winds up dead, he will stop at nothing to find her killer. Over the intervening years, Kate had changed from the woman Noah remembered, even developing a drug addiction and getting in trouble with the law. Noah winds up meeting some interesting individuals on the wrong side of the law, as well, when he begins his investigation.

Noah's best friend Carter is big and very loyal, as well as having connections on the seedy side. Noah's ex-girlfriend Liz is the homicide detective who draws Kate Crier's case, and the two of them play well off one another. There are a few other well-drawn side characters, as well, the best being crime boss Costilla, who meets Noah in strange places.

This book stars a likeable cast of characters and features a pretty decent murder mystery, as well. Like many other series, this one has a hook--surfing--but aside from its San Diego setting, the surfing aspect was very minor and had nothing to do with the story. There were no tense moments on the waves, nobody chased the hero on the water, and the mystery had nothing to do with surfing. It simply stars a hero who likes to unwind on a board. Though I wasn't so thrilled by this book I have vowed to own every Jeff Shelby novel in existence, I did like it well enough to buy more of his books if I see them. Shelby has started a fine mystery series with fun characters, and mystery fans should take note.