Dead Wake — Dawn Lee McKenna

When the local florists find a dead guy in their wall, it opens up a decades-old missing persons case. It also opens up a Pandora's box of secrets - secrets that might have ramifications for Sheriff's Office investigator Maggie Redmond.

Maggie and Sheriff Wyatt Hamilton learn that local kingpin Bennett Boudreaux was the primary suspect in the disappearance of Holden Crawford almost forty years ago, but he had an alibi. The problem is, no one knows what that alibi was. The former sheriff won't tell, and even Boudreaux himself refuses to say.

When a photograph of Maggie's own father becomes an important part of the case evidence, learning Boudreaux's secret becomes even more crucial.

When is going to jail for a murder you didn't commit preferable to revealing the proof of your innocence? Who is Boudreaux really shielding?

It might be the same person Maggie wants to protect.

Reviews for The Forgotten Coast Florida Suspense series

Okay, I confess - I'm hooked on Dawn Lee McKenna. If she writes it, I'm going to buy it and read it without much thought about it.

Love the stories in this series, and love the characters. I read all I could get and am waiting for more.

Ms. McKenna is a truly gifted writer, especially with her dialogue.

I hope the Forgotten Coast series continues for many, many novels. It's a heck of a world to get lost inside of, and I really love these characters. But if McKenna kills the rooster, I'll never forgive her.

Reminded me of HBO's True Detective with its slightly ominous depiction of southern life.

I must add my praise for this unexpectedly complex book, which I bought because it's set in a location I've loved for years and because I enjoy good mysteries. I'm surprised but very happy to report that McKenna gave me considerably more than I expected.

The dialogue is masterful and her description of Apalachicola is dead-on. You actually feel the humidity and hear the rustle of the palm trees. I was so drawn into the book that I read it in one sitting - I couldn't put it down.

Taking a chance on a new author and falling in love with their writing style is as cool as discovering a musical group you'll end up listening to for decades. That is how I felt when I discovered Dawn Lee McKenna's book, Low Tide. I can see myself reading this author's books for many years.