Customer Reviews

Killer Swell: A Noah Braddock Novel (Noah Braddock Mysteries)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

In this first book, Jeff Shelby introduces us to Noah Braddock, a San Diego local surfer who turns to Private Investigation in order to continue surfing. The only thing is he happens to be good at both surfing and being a PI!
Jeff uses colorful descriptives of the geography of San Diego and it's many tourist areas so well that you want to visit it immediately if you haven't already been, or are transported back to your vacation that you remember so well.
Get caught up in the wave of Noah's investigation of the disappearance of an ex-girlfriend of his High School years. Ride the wave as the plot turns up facts about the girl that Noah has held in "perfect" memory for so long, trashing his ideal images of her. Noah encounters acquaintances and friends from both sides of the border and of the law, each character very unique , but ordinary people you may be able to identify with.
Be sent crashing to the shores of conclusion as Noah wraps up his investigation.
Take a deep breath, smile with the pleasure of the ride, and decide whether you want to do it again.
Personally, I will turn my back once more to the beach, paddle out a little further, and wait for the next wave of Noah Braddock mysteries to arrive in 2006.
Killer Swell is a real page turner and the sequal can only be better.

In Mission Beach, California while meeting wealthy Marilyn Crier, surfer private investigator Noah Braddock thinks back eleven years ago when he dated her daughter Kate, but the mother ended the relationship like an avenging angel. Now Marilyn wants to hire Noah to find her missing daughter who failed to meet her spouse Randall Tower at the San Francisco Airport as planned. Noah wants to say no even when Marilyn mentions a former patron recommended him and she knows he loathes her; he reluctantly agrees to find Kate in spite of Marilyn.

Noah tries to remain detached as he questions Randall, staying in San Diego's La Valencia. After another confrontation this time with the spouse over Noah's motivation, he questions Randall about his relationship with Kate. He obtains typical marital woes not enough to make a wife run away, but Noah wonders why Randall seems calm with his spouse missing for two weeks. Noah visits the Marriott where Kate stays when she is in town. In the parking lot he notices an isolated poorly parked Mercedes in two spaces. Inside he finds Kate. His former lover, Detective Liz Santangelo heads the official homicide investigation by warning Noah to stay out of it, but he feels he owes Kate for what could have been.

This is a fun beach noir that grips the audience from the personality-expressive opening line until the final reunion over the Pacific rocks. Noah is a likable slacker who works enough to surf without bills hanging over his board, but once on a case throws everything into the investigation. The murder mystery uses the San Diego area to enhance a solid sleuthing story.

Harriet Klausner

Noah Braddock, surfer dude extraordinaire turned private investigator, makes his literary debut in "Killer Swell," an unusual whodunit which proves to be well worth a reader's investigation. Braddock, a character as fresh as the clean salt air wafting over his tiny beach front apartment in Mission Beach, near San Diego, is the antithesis of the typically brooding, cynical, divorced, alcohol-guzzling, investigators who "protagonize" so many sleuth books nowadays. He's a Californian!! And he is young - not quite thirty, smart, attractive, athletic, (he still rides the waves), witty, and definitely not lonely. He drinks beer, but otherwise I get the feeling that his body is a temple - although others are wont to beat up on it, especially if they don't like the questions he asks! Noah's got a couple of delightfully quirky friends, who would be extremely noir if they weren't continually drenched by the left coast sun. And he has a lush, lovely lady - sort of. Ambivalent Homicide Detective Liz Santangelo cannot decide whether to cuff Noah and read him his rights, or to take him home with her at night.

In "Killer Swell" Braddock learns that his first love, Kate Crier, has gone missing when her distraught mother, Marilyn, asks him to find her. Marilyn and Ken Crier, a wealthy society couple living in La Jolla, did everything in their power to break up their daughter's relationship with the socially inferior, and impoverished, Noah Braddock during the young twosome's high school years. They finally succeeded, and Kate and Noah have not seen each other for well over a decade. The Criers despised Noah, and the feeling was mutual, thus his shock that they are seeking to employ him now. He reluctantly accepts the case. He feels he owes it to Kate, in spite of his loathing for her parents.

The usual suspects are questioned, beginning with Kate's husband, Dr. Randall Tower, who is not very forthcoming. Apparently there were marital problems. Kate is unhappy, and a separation had been discussed, but nothing which would make her run away and stay away for over a week. For that matter, both Criers are evasive and only open up when our PI threatens to quit. Emily Crier, Kate's older sister, and Braddock's friend from school, looks to him for comfort and gives him some real clues as to what was going on in her sister's life.

The next step is a visit to the hotel where Kate stays when in town. That she chooses to go to the Marriott rather than her parent's home, or her sister's, says something about family relationships. The woman at the front desk tells Braddock that Kate had checked out two days early. In the hotel parking lot Noah spots an isolated Mercedes and gets a sick feeling in his gut. The smell emanating from the trunk says dead body loud and clear. It is Kate, and her life is long gone.

This fast-paced mystery is not terrible complex. However there's lots of excitement and a few unexpected twists and turns which will interest even the most discerning reader. The novel's real strength lies in the winning cast of characters, especially Braddock's buddies, his lady and even a major villain. And I am fascinated by surfing, a sport I tried but gave-up due to the fact I could never make it to a standing position. While there's not much board time, what there is is beautifully descriptive. I'm fairly picky when it comes to mysteries and thrillers. There are so many of these beach books on the market. Yet, I know I will come back for more of Noah Braddock. Jeff Shelby has created a character who is a real character. The narrative is exceptionally well written and the dialogue is excellent. What a debut! Way to go!!
JANA

jeff shelby has created a seriously cute hero.i am not reading these books in order.it does not matter.each plot is unique in its own right.i hope jeff writes many more.

Loved this book. I'm always looking for something fast, with good characters and a tad quirky in some way. I loved the writing style of this author. No extraneous gaff to wade through, lots of dialogue and action. All the characters are interesting. Fast paced, funny in places. I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend. Thanks.

This series is a fast fun read- only problem is it is taking way too long for the next book to appear. Maybe he should re release Dead Week to pacify us for a bit

Never saw this ending coming. There's nothing like a nice, fresh jolt of surprise at the end of a good mystery and "Killer Swell" delivers a healthy kick to the mid-section. Check other reviews for a sample of the overall plot but I would just like to add that Noah Braddock is a solid character because of his comfortable blend of permanent teenager and cold-eyed determination. As his female foil says to Noah: "You screw up, you do dumbass things, but in the end, you get it right. You just have to do some stupid things before you get to the right things." Yes, it's just Noah's way. "Killer Swell" is a very enjoyable meal of beer, sand, women, mystery and surf.