Customer Reviews

Wicked Break (Noah Braddock Mysteries, No. 2)

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

 

 

WICKED BREAK by Jeff Shelby
July 12, 2006

Amazon Rating: 4/5 stars

This is my second novel by Jeff Shelby and as with the previous book, WICKED BREAK was very entertaining as well as a fast read. WICKED BREAK is another thriller featuring private investigator Noah Braddock, who grew up and currently lives in the San Diego coastal area of Southern California. His love of surfing and the ocean is a big part of these stories, as they define his personality and is what is unique about this protagonist.

In this second novel, Noah is approached by Peter Pluto, asking him to locate Peter's missing brother Linc. Nearly the entire novel is Noah's search for Linc, while all around him dead bodies are being found. Noah as always gets into a lot of trouble by taking the law into his own hands, and not letting the police know what is going on. A few times he comes close to being a dead body himself, but with dumb luck he always survives.

Carter, his best friend, helps add to the comedy relief and the two of them get into trouble together, nearly losing their lives a number of times before the story is over. The main gist of the story takes the reader to an Aryan Nation type of group, a San Diego based racial hate group that is somehow involved with the missing Linc (pun intended). There is a twist at the end, which I didn't see coming but it made a lot of sense, knowing how the story began.

There are two small subplots which involve Liz, a San Diego cop who was once romantically involved with Noah, as well as the story of Noah's relationship with his alcoholic mother. These two story lines aren't too important to the main plot of the missing young man, but they do help define Noah, allowing the reader to get a better picture of who he is and therefore have more interest in the series as a whole.

I think Jeff is doing a good job slowly building up this series. He's a new author but I can see he's got talent. It will be interesting to see how this series evolves. I will be interested to read the next book in the series!

I'm starting Killer Swell after reading Wicked Break--so I can say that Wicked Break was good enough to make me want to read another Noah Braddock mystery. For years I lived in San Diego, and Shelby has the ambience down just right, and he doesn't over- or under-do it. The characters make a good ensemble to work with the main character for a good series of novels. Braddock is conflicted enough to make him human, but not so much to make the reader neurotic. The story carries the reader along, but near the end it seems a bit contrived and ends on a somewhat disappointing note. However, it's not disappointing enough to keep me from reading more of these novels.

I'd really like to see an OTL tournament novel with the main characters.

I have to admit I read Liquid Smoke because it was offered free by Amazon but after I read it, I immediately went on-line and purchased Jeff's first two books. Even though I read them out of order, I was blown away. It takes alot for me to say "I was sad when the book ended" but that is exactly how I felt about Jeff's Noah Braddock Mysteries. Now he needs to get cracking and get a new one out.

jeff shelby has created a very likable character named noah braddock.from beginning to end,he is amusing and believable.his friend carter is a rough, tough good guy.

Jeff Shelby has done it again with this next installment of the Noah Braddock mystery series. If you liked Killer Swell, you will love Wicked Break!

I just finished reading Jeff Shelby's "Wicked Break" and enjoyed it immensely. It was thoroughly entertaining and I loved all the humor and give and go between Noah and his side-kick Carter. With each new book of Shelby's, we are getting acquainted with his characters a little bit at a time and that certainly keeps us coming back for more! I live in San Diego and love that this series takes place there. With each turn of the page I am picturing just where Braddock is and am breathlessly awaiting his next new adventure. Again, cudos to the author...Job Well Done!!!

Jeff Shelby is the author of two novels, the first, Killer Swell, worked on all levels. This one is no less assured and should be a big seller and keep the author with more on the way in this fresh new series.

Noah Braddock is the typical detective who doesn't want to be a detective, but is set apart by the storyline of the author as well as the delving into his personal story. The novel opens with Noah being asked to look into the disappearance of Peter Pluto's brother, Linc, a suspected Aryan. He begrudingly accepts the job and soon is surrounded by death and mayhem. Bailed out again at times by his sometime sidekick Carter, Noah stumbles along with bodies and trouble from the law providing occasional roadblocks.

Twists and turns make this novel a revelation and set it apart from other mysteries in the genre. When you think you have it figured out, something new will pop up, and when you really think you have it down, it goes in another direction. Shelby has a winner in Noah Braddock and I for one can't wait until we see where Noah goes in the future. The reluctant detective must have more in store. Keep them coming.

It is difficult to wade thru this one, despite the shallowness of the plot. I did not read the first of this series, and am not encouraged to do so by this weak entry. The scenes rise only to the level of bad TV. I read to escape that.