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

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: San Diego, Charlotte Truman, Alejandro Costilla (more...)

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.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

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

Snappy dialogue and descriptions... Skillful use of underutilized San Diego locations. -- Washington Post

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Onyx (June 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451412192
• ISBN-13: 978-0451412195
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,337,525 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 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 (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.

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 (REAL NAME)

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.

1 of 1 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

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.