The Shattered Shell [Hardcover]

Brendan DuBois (Author), DuBois (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1999

Ex-Department of Defense research analyst Lewis Cole is a man with a dangerous past. But in the small New England town of Tyler Beach, New Hampshire, he lives a quiet, unassuming life as a columnist for a Boston-based newspaper. In his third adventure, what promises to be another beautiful and peaceful New England winter for Lewis quickly turns into a nightmare from which he cannot escape. An arsonist is at work in the resort town, methodically burning down its unoccupied hotels and motels--and the police are baffled.

At the same time, another monstrous act of violence shocks the tiny town. When a close friend of Lewis's is severely beaten and then raped, barely escaping with her life, Lewis's unquenchable thirst for justice is re-ignited. Using all of his old connections, including Boston mob-connected "security consultant" and friend Felix Tinios, Lewis begins his own frantic search to find the identity of both the arsonist and the rapist.

Lewis knows that he and the other residents of Tyler Beach face extreme danger. What he doesn't know is that in his small hometown an indescribable evil lurks and even flourishes, destined to leave its shattering mark on anyone who gets in its way. Brendan DuBois scripts a thriller so finely written and woven with mesmerizing details that its chills ultimately rival those of the coldest and most desolate of New England winters.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Former Defense Department spook turned slick magazine writer Lewis Cole is back and better than ever in this third outing by Brendan DuBois. In Shattered Shell the author paints a vivid picture of a New England coastal town held in winter's grip. Cole, given a free ocean-side house in Tyler Beach, New Hampshire, and a large pension (as the only survivor of a biotech disaster), is ostensibly a columnist for Boston's Shoreline magazine. It's the cover he uses to dig into two crime stories--the rash of arson fires that are destroying closed motels in Tyler Beach and the brutal rape of the lesbian lover of Cole's best friend, police detective Diane Woods.

DuBois brings his characters to life gradually, giving even secondary players (such as Felix Tinios, who provides Cole with some major backup) full credibility. Equally important is the author's obvious love for the setting. When he describes Cole emerging from his snowed-in house during a blackout and observing the stars gleaming in the frozen sky, we know he's been there--and it puts us deeply into the scene as well. Other Cole books include Black Tide and Dead Sand. --Dick Adler

From Publishers Weekly

It's been five years since Dead Sand, the last mystery to feature defense department spook turned slick magazine writer Lewis Cole. This new one was worth waiting for: DuBois tells a strong, poignant story, meanwhile creating an exceptionally vivid picture of a New England coastal town held in winter's grip. Cole, given a free oceanside house in Tyler Beach, N.H., and a large pension after surviving a biotech disaster (he still checks his scars for swelling every morning in the shower), is a columnist for Boston's Shoreline magazine. But he hasn't given up his sleuthing ways, and here he's digging into two crime storiesAthe arson fires that are destroying closed motels in Tyler Beach, and the brutal rape of the young woman who is the lover of Cole's best friend, lesbian police detective Diane Woods. DuBois brings his characters to life gradually with a carefully chosen mixture of light and shadowAgiving even secondary players (such as Felix Tinios, a graduate of the North Boston crime scene who lists his occupation as "security consultant" and provides Cole with major backup) full credibility. Equally important is his obvious love for the setting. When DuBois describes Cole emerging from his snowed-in house during a blackout and observing the stars gleaming in the frozen sky, readers will know he's been thereAand he puts them deeply into the scene as well. Agent, Jed Mattes.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312193327
• ISBN-13: 978-0312193324
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,019,145 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Brendan DuBois of New Hampshire is the award-winning author of twelve novels and more than 100 short stories. His latest novel, "Deadly Cove," will be published in July 2011 by St. Martin's Press. His short fiction has appeared in Playboy, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, and numerous other magazines and anthologies including "The Best American Mystery Stories of the Century," published in 2000 by Houghton-Mifflin and edited by Tony Hillerman and Otto Penzler.

His short stories have twice won him the Shamus Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and have also earned him three Edgar Allan Poe Award nominations from the Mystery Writers of America.

Visit his website at www.BrendanDuBois.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My new favorite author, April 10, 1999

By 

Carole Snyder "c" (Northeast Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Shattered Shell (Hardcover)

Well, I'll admit that I discovered Brendan Dubois by buying his previous two books on the $1.66 rack at Target. I purchased them because of the price, the covers, and a predicted blizzard weekend. I couldn't believe what a bargain I got. They were absolutely the most fabulous books I've read in a while. Shattered Shell was wonderful. If you need a summary, you can rely on the previous posts. If you are looking for a new author to read, then I recommend all of Dubois' books. Please keep up the work.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable two-crime Lewis Cole mystery, February 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Shattered Shell (Hardcover)

With the arrival of winter, except for the hearty natives, Tyler Beach, New Hampshire is empty. The hotels that are normally filled by tourists are shut for the season. However, someone sees this as an opportunity to begin a serial arson spree, burning down many of the vacated structures.

Arson would be enough to shake the residents, but things turn personally ugly when someone rapes Kara Miles. The victim's lover, tough-minded private investigator, Diana Woods, calls her friend former DoD "research analyst" Lewis Cole for help. The case shocks Lewis, a reporter, because the normally intrepid Diana appears frightened and Kara provides him with a convoluted account of her sexual assault. Lewis knows his cozy quiet winter has ended.

The third Lewis Cole novel, SHATTERED SHELL, is an interesting who-done-it(s) due to the fascinating lead protagonist. Though obvious from almost the start, Brendan DuBois cleverly blends his two-crime subplots into an entertaining story line. The support cast, including the New England winter, augments the novel by bringing a regional flavor to the tale. Though not quite as much fun as the previous works (DEAD SAND and BLACK TIDE), the latest Cole mystery retains the enjoyment readers obtain from the series.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Surprise!!, July 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Shattered Shell (Hardcover)

I stumbled on this book quite by accident. I actually picked it out because of the New Hampshire location of the story, having vacationed there a couple of times and loving the area. The twists and turns this tale takes, make for a most enjoyable read and the characters quickly become "old friends." I had never read any of Mr. DuBois' books before, but I shall seek them out in the future!! I think this book would make an EXCELLENT movie!