A murder at the marine park.The holiday from hell. After the recent drama at the zoo, a trip to Mallorca for a spot of rest and relaxation sounds perfect to Madi and Auryn. But their holiday is about to take a deadly turn… Madi’s new-found comic book fame sees her roped into a wildlife documentary being filmed at the local marine park. Unimpressed by the manipulative side of the so-called stars … by the manipulative side of the so-called stars of the documentary, she is glad that her own part will be wrapped up quickly. But when one of them is found murdered… she realises she’s really jumped in at the deep end this time!
Can Madi solve the mystery, or will she end up as shark bait?
Pick up this mystery today and you’ll be up all night turning the pages to find out ‘whodunnit’!
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Another fabulous mystery. Madi is a magnetic for mayhem and murder. Her bond with Auryn becomes stronger. Katya makes a delightful appearance.
Parrots and Payback (a prequel) – A cute, little prequel about another day at the zoo with some of our favorite characters. A quick read where readers familiar with Mad’s zoo will know what’s going on. I personally would read this after The Peacock’s Poison, but that’s how I did it. LOL. 5*
Penguins and Mortal Peril #1 – A good thriller. A well written, intriguing suspense with a well thought out, twisting plot and believable characters. There’s interesting information about the zoo and its animals. Madi is an intelligent, caring person, especially with the animals, and takes loving care of the zoo. There’s also humor; beware of furry pyschos. The animals are a good part of the story and some even have their own personalities. I finished the book in one sitting, immersed in the mystery. If you liked Blooming, you’ll like this book, too. 5*
The Silence of the Snakes #2 – Spellbinding! Ruby just gets better with each book she writes. A well written, intriguing suspense with believable characters and a plot that doesn’t let the reader put down the book until the last page. This is a substantial story, not a weak cozy, that would make Christie proud to write. Don’t let this series pass you by, they’re must reads. 5*
Murder is a Monkey’s Game #3 – Another well written, intriguing suspense this time set in France. There’s an interesting plot that holds the reader’s attention, although a bit slower when compared to the previous two books. The characters are still interesting and the relationships between the characters are realistic and entertaining. While not necessary since each book is a standalone, I would recommend reading the books in order. Madi’s story is continuously evolving and her growth as a character, too. I contacted the author to review her work many books ago. 5*
Lions and the Living Dead #4 – Her best book yet! This is a substantial and intriguing suspense with a well written, fast paced plot and believable characters. The main characters continue to evolve and the new characters are developed enough to have weight. The descriptions and storylines are vivid and full. The dialog realistic. The story flows from page to page making it difficult to put the book down. I stayed up late to finish it. 5*
The Peacock’s Poison #5 – Another well written, well thought out story with our Madi and her crew. A longer book than usual, but just as substantial, that keeps the reader immersed in the pages until the end. Someone did their homework and makes it look bad for Madi. Poor dummy, bad move. Each book in the series gets better and the books always have you thinking. I watched this author mature as an author and her work doesn’t disappoint. I have to recommend this series as must reads. Start with Penguins #1 to meet Madi and finish with Lions. If these are the only two books of the series you read, you picked well. But don’t miss out on Silence and Monkey’s Game. Sequentially is how they should be read, but it’s not necessary, they’re all standalones. 5*
A Memory for Murder #6 – Oh my gosh! This book has it all: intrigue; romance; subterfuge; romance; stings; murders; and the list goes on. Every book in this series gets better and better, and this is the “betterest”. The amazing plot swings the reader in every direction; yah, some things are figured out, but there are some characters that are questionable. The characters, old and new, are interesting, have grown or have enough background where needed. Their dialog is realistic and there’s no stupidity in second guessing or questioning everything – just straight thoughts and actions. I couldn’t put this book down until I had finished it. The is the most substantial book by Ms. Loren and I’m looking forward to #7. I’m happy I volunteered to review her work. She has immense growth as an author since the first book I read by her, Snowed In With Death. 5*
Whales and a Watery Grave #7 – What what a way to die! Sorry, but the murder of this victim is extremely different from the usual murders found in other mystery books, which complicates the investigation. Ms. Loren does another fabulous job with this book, its characters and the murder itself. Well written, intriguing and suspenseful, the story line holds the reader glued to the pages, which zip by quickly. There’s continued growth with our favorite characters and the new characters are developed enough to either like or dislike them. The animal characters always add something to the stories. A simple, relaxing holiday in Mallorca isn’t in the cards for Madi and Auryn with the complex, intriguing murder, there’s suspects everywhere. 5*
Foxes and Fatal Attraction #9 – I just love the expressions of the fox and the hound, such a funny cover; it makes you wonder what has the clever fox happy and the hound worried. Well the story does give you that info. Another intriguing, substantial murder mystery with all of our favorite characters and the return of an old favorite or two, of which one brings even more secrets and subterfuge to Madi’s present and future. The animals still play a large part in the story and add to the humor, which blends in well with the drama and intrigue. Another wonderful addition to a great series. 5*
I did not enjoy this book in the series as much as the others. It was a little slow for me compared to the other stories. I recommend the series.
Another episode in Madigan Amos life. Of course, when she takes a holiday it becomes complicated by hidden agendas, characters that bear watching, animals, a death, mystery and violence, and suspicion and fear. But ends with well written and story line that keeps me turning pages till it is wrapped and love abounds. I’m not sure that life is stranger than Ms. Loren’s fiction. After meeting her cast I think I would tile this “Sharks and a watery Grave” and I think I missed the Whales. Only clue she gave this time was a possible wedding. What could go wrong? Very enjoyable b
Another great Madigan book!!! I love this series and I’m already excited for the next book!!!
STORY-LINE:
Madi and Auyrn deserve a vacation after all they recently experienced. Auryn chooses Mallorca for fun in the sun and relaxation. Madi learns Auryn has another reason for choosing Mallorca, as well. She finds herself evaluating The Big Blue for Auryn’s friend, and somehow she’s involved in a documentary.
As usual, nothing goes smoothly as she discovers jealousy, hidden agendas, fanatical animal rights activist, murder, and the publicist from hell waiting in Mallorca. Things turn deadly quickly. My cozy mystery book reviews follow.
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, DEVELOPMENT:
As usual Ruby Loren takes her readers on a roller coaster ride of adventure, mystery, and murder. With multi-level plotting, a cast of characters who intrigue, as well as including animal rights activist, my attention never wavered. I missed two books and opened this one to find Auryn is Madi’s fiance; surprised at this turn of events, I plan to read the two tales I missed as soon as possible.
With characters fully developed, and a storyline which has many surprises, this book is a sure hit with the cozy mystery reader. Ruby Loren’s scenes transition smoothly, and her writing flows well as she leads us towards the finale. When I thought I knew the culprit, Loren added another suspect to a growing list.
As usual, Madi learned another life lesson in this tale of intrigue and murder. I found myself fascinated by the facts about the Great White Sharks and their survival rate in captivity.
MY OPINION:
I found Whales And A Watery Grave a thoroughly entertaining read with characters who, if not likable, were realistic. Madi’s insecurities make her feel real and believable as she wrestles with problems and questions. Throwing the publicist from hell into the mix is hilarious; I laughed out loud at his antics and let’s not forget the involvement of MI-5.
At times I found myself wondering if Auryn is the right man for Madi. Sorry, you will have to read this fast-paced tale to find out. The plotting is multi-layered which kept me almost screaming out loud “who did it.” This is a clean, well-written story I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone who enjoys continuing characters and well-plotted thought out storylines set in a cozy mystery.
WHALES AND A WATERY GRAVE RECOMMENDATION: STARS 4
ALSO, PLEASE NOTE:
I received a copy of this book from the author. I chose to review with honest book reviews voluntarily. Lastly, reviews of any novel are dependent on the author’s opinion. Consequently, all reviews online and on my blog, are my opinions.
Another great story in the Madigan Amos Zoo Mysteries. Will Madi and Auryn finally get a vacation? A well written mystery, this story has the usual characters, some new characters, lots of humor, murder, jealousy and suspense. I always rush to devour the next book – usually in one sitting – and then moan because it is over. There are suspects galore, animals to help, and many road blocks in Madi’s path. You will be entertained.
Fun and Mystery at the Aquatic Zoo
In this episode, Madi is beginning to experience the encumbrances of fame. This is a fun mystery with several layers of plot that get tied up nicely at the end. There are a couple of laugh-out-loud moments that have kept me in smiles for days as I think of them. I really enjoy this writer and this series. I received this book (ARC) at no cost and chose to post my honest review.