Last Exit in New Jersey [Kindle Edition]

C.E. Grundler (Author)

Book Description

Nice young ladies really shouldn't be dumping bodies at sea. Then again, that isn't stopping Hazel Moran, and she can't figure where anyone got the idea she was nice to begin with.

Raised aboard her father's aging schooner and riding shotgun in their eighteen-wheeler, she can handle almost anything on the road or water; it's her people skills that need work. Normally that isn't an issue—most people tend to leave her alone behind the wheel of a Kenworth. But when twenty-year-old Hazel and her father become the targets of some unsavory characters hunting for her missing cousin, their stolen tractor trailer, and a delivery that never arrived, she knows it's time to heed a lesson learned from her favorite hard-boiled paperbacks: playing nice will only end in tears.

It'll take all her ingenuity, not to mention some fishing tackle and high voltage, if Hazel hopes to protect her family and unravel this tangle of greed and betrayal. And anyone who gets too close, no matter the intent, will discover just how dangerous Hazel truly is as she sets in motion a twisted plan to uncover the truth, settle some scores, and not wind up dead in the process.

Gritty, offbeat, and darkly funny, Last Exit in New Jersey is a modern mystery that introduces an unforgettable new protagonist to the ranks of literature’s hard-boiled detectives.

Editorial Reviews

Review

NAMED ONE OF THE TOP THREE MYSTERIES OF 2010  -  Red Adept Review Annual Indie Awards

"This is one of the best books I have read in quite awhile. And, with as many books as I read, that's saying something."
- Red Adept Reviews

From the Back Cover

Somewhat hard-boiled, slightly noir, Last Exit in New Jersey is an offbeat tale that travels from a Delaware Bay ghost-town to metropolitan north Jersey, where boats and big rigs set the scene for danger, suspense, dark humor and an unlikely bit of romance.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 605 KB
• Print Length: 472 pages
• Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (March 6, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005J61DYW
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,611 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #48 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > Series

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 58 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars From "Red Adept Reviews" November 18, 2010

By Lynn ODell

Format:Kindle Edition

Plot/Storyline: 5 Stars

This is one of the best books I have read in quite awhile. And, with as many books as I read, that's saying something. The plot was a winding road leading across a vast coastline of mayhem. The storyline had me guessing right up until the last chapter.

The narrative was fast paced and nerve wracking. From the rather passive opening to the nail -biting action scenes, I was held enthralled.

The tale opened with the main character, Hazel, disposing of a dead body, along with her father and friend. The story climbed to several crescendos from there. The chapters alternated between being told from the point of view of Hazel to the viewpoint of Hammon, the other main character. Each chapter left me unable to stop reading until I had started the next.

Expertly composed, this novel kept me glued to my Kindle. I had question upon question about what was going on and how it was going to end. There was zero disappointment as the ending tied up everything neatly.

Character Development: 5 Stars

As noteworthy as the plot, the characters were terrific. Hazel was sassy and strong, yet with a compelling hint of vulnerability. She was completely believable.

Hammon was my favorite character. He was insane and confused, but that made him the most fun. His friend Annabelle was my second favorite character. They played off of each other with humor and melancholy in a wonderful mix.

Writing Style: 5 Stars

The composition style worked perfectly for this story. I loved the switching of viewpoints and the way it kept me guessing without contrived cliff-hangers. The dialogue was crisp and completely realistic. There was just the right amount of humor injected to give the tale a little lift, without downplaying the gravity of the situations. The descriptions were vivid enough to make me feel like I was watching this book on a movie screen.

Editing: 4 3/4 Stars

There were a few editing issues. Mostly, they involved missing words or incorrect verb tenses, seemingly from where a rewrite of a section was done. However, there were not so many as to spoil my reading experience.

*This Review is from a Review Copy provided by the author.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't put Last Exit down April 5, 2011

By Victoria Allman

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

With the opening line of "Nice young ladies really shouldn't be dumping bodies at sea.", you really can't help but be pulled into the story of Hazel, a strong-willed, 20-year old who is searching for her cousin who is missing. Between the dead bodies of the guys who come after her, looking for something she doesn't have and trying to figure out who she can trust, she must protect her father. She is chased up and down the eastern coastline on a boat she captains and swerves around the corners of the New Jersey highway in a Viper. This is one cool 20-year old!

I bought this book because of the boating aspect and was immediately drawn into the suspense of it all. This is great writing!

The characters are intriguing and well-written. There is humility and humor in everyone--even the bad guys. But, with all the plot twists, it is hard to figure out who the bad guys are. This book will keep you guessing right up until the last chapter. It will capture you from page one and keep you hooked the whole way through.

This thriller is a must read that you won't be able to put down.

Victoria Allman

author of: SEAsoned: A Chef's Journey With Her Captain

82 of 94 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes You Get What You Pay For September 4, 2011

By J. B. Perkins

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book on Kindle because of the great reviews, because I'm from New Jersey, and because - well it was only $.99. I really expected to like it and tried to like it. After I was half way through I gave up and stopped reading, which is something I hardly ever do. The characters are not likable and are very hard to care about. Hazel is in situation after situation where she kills or severely injures people which is not even remotely believable. After awhile I realized that I just didn't care about any of them or about what happened next. I think the author totally failed to make the story compelling or to define who the characters were. There was lots of action, but without character development it was all pretty empty. Some of the $.99 books are really excellent and sometimes - you get what you pay for.

More About the Author

C.E. Grundler has sailed single-handed since childhood and has first-hand experience in everything from boat restoration and repair to managing a boatyard and working in commercial marine transportation. Grundler has been published in Boating on the Hudson, Offshore Magazine and DIY Boat Owner Magazine. No Wake Zone, which picks up where Last Exit In New Jersey ends, will be available in May 2012, and Grundler is currently at work on Evacuation Route, the third thriller in the Last Exit series. When not writing, Grundler spends far too much time aboard an aging trawler by the name of Annabel Lee.

Author's site: http://cegrundler.com