TLC Book Tours Book Review: Left Turn At Paradise

Author: Thomas Shawver
Title: Left Turn At Paradise
Publisher: Alibi
Publish Date: August 26, 2014
Buy: Amazon

Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley & TLC Book Tours
Book Blurb: 

Michael Bevan is barely scraping by with his used bookstore and rare book collection when he discovers a timeworn journal that may change everything. Dating back to 1768, the tattered diary appears to be a chronicle kept during the first of legendary seafarer Captain James Cook’s three epic voyages through the Pacific islands. If it’s as valuable as Mike thinks it is, its sale may just bring enough to keep his faltering used bookstore afloat for another year.

Then he meets a pair of London dealers with startling news: Adrian Hart and Penelope Wilkes claim to possess the journal of Cook’s second voyage. Is it possible a third diary exists? One which might detail Cook’s explosive final voyage—and his death at the hands of native Hawaiians? Together, all three would be the holy grail of Pacific exploration. But before Mike can act, the two journals are stolen.

Chasing them down will sweep Michael, Adrian, and Penelope across the globe—past a dead body or two—and into a very sinister slice of paradise. High in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, in a remote and secretive Maori compound, a secret rests in the hands in of a man daring enough to rewrite history . . . and desperate enough to kill.

Review: Left Turn At Paradise is the second book in the A Rare Book Mystery. If you are so inclined The Dirty Book Murder is the first book, and an awesome mystery as well. However, you can jump in with this book an not be confused or disappointed.

It was a little slower in pacing for me, which right now isn't a good things, as I have the attention span of a fruit fly on pot.

But I still love the idea of a series of mysteries based on rare books. Really, how cool is that? And Michael Bevan isn't a cozy mystery sort of sleuth. He's really not all together likable, but you do root for him to solve the mystery.

His quest to find the two stolen books does make you wonder, considering his shop isn't doing all that well, but hey, this is fiction and anything can happen. (And it usually does) Like the rare volume being stolen and just as he's getting ready to close up shop and go back to law, he ends up on a hunt for all three journals.

I actually found the parts with the diary entries to be the most interesting. I also liked how Shawver weaved that story in with one of the antique book dealer's life.

Pillow was the most interesting character in the book. She's a bit dark and yet naive, and to be honest, she's broken. She's the sort of women you'd expect to find Bevan.

I didn't like this one quite as much as the first, but it was still a fun read.

Rating: 3 flowers